A while back I promised to post details on this, just in case this is seen by a baseball fan who wants to plan a trip to Pittsburgh.

Oct. 13 is my favorite day of the year, or at least it's tied with Christmas & whatever day Arlo comes here. It's the anniversary of the Pirates winning the 1960 World Series over the Yankees, one of the most fondly-remembered events in this city's history.

I'll try not to go into much boring detail, just enough to convey why it's special. The Pirates had not won a World Series in 35 years. In the first 6 games of the best-of-7 series, each team won 3 games. The Pirates won 3 close games, & the Yanks won by scores of 10-0, 12-0, & 16-1, breaking many records. In game 7, the Pirates were losing 7-4 when they batted in the 8th inning. They got 5 runs in an 8th inning filled with wacky events, like a ground ball taking a bad hop off a pebble & striking the Yanks' shortstop in the Adam's apple, & a 3-run home run by a back-up catcher who didn't even start the game. The Yankees tied the game in the 9th, but the Pirates won in the bottom of the 9th on Bill Mazeroski's home run.

Each year on the anniversary, a crowd gathers at the Forbes Field Wall (see my topic titled "June 28") & listens to a tape of the entire original radio broadcast of the game. It starts right at 1:00, when the original game started. A crowd of about 200 people, some from as far away as Chicago, New Jersey, & Houston, gathers each year. They're a close-knit group, much like the Blunderites. Some former Pirate players also come along & hangout. Everybody cheers as if the game is happening right in front of them.

I know of no other sporting event commemorated in this fashion. It's a celebration not only of baseball, but of simpler times. It's the last "pure" event I know of--No corporate sponsors or anybody else trying to make a buck.

Some ask why I bother going to this every year. My friend Tom from northern PA, who has been going to this as long as I have, has the perfect answer. "Anybody who has to ask the question wouldn't understand the answer."

But if you have any other questions, you can put 'em here.

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by joe bloggs on Jul 13, 2001 ---</FONT></center>

i remember where i was when the homerun was hit..and i'm in pa...i oughta ponder this.

Why is the ground transportation of goods called SHIPPING?

Why is there an interstate highway in Honolulu?

Does the water in your sink really spin one direction in the northern hemisphere and the other one in the south?

Why is there more matter than antimatter?

If you were able to make a hole all the way through the Earth, and drop something down it, so it would fall all the way through and fly out the other end, then come back down and fall through again, and up past where you'd dropped it, then fall back and go through again, and keep repeating the process, losing some energy to friction and entropy each time, how many hours would it take before it just finally settled down in the center of the Earth and burned up?

Todd, you'd fit right in!

I shoulda been more specific---I'll answer any questions about the Oct. 13 event. Can't answer your questions, ZoWie, but maybe you can tell me----Why do we drive on the parkway & park in the driveway?

entropy...powerful word...

nobody ever said that word to me..ever..'cept maybe me.

makes me think of deadheads!

A couple things I forgot to mention--

Oct. 13 is on a Saturday this year, Sunday next year. This might work out better for out-of-towners.

Newspaper coverage of last year's event--
http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20001014mazreg1.asp


The first picture you'll see was on the front page. That's me---bottom right-hand corner, big sunglasses, white dress shirt (I was going to a team reunion party afterward)---not my best picture.

Some day I'll get good at this & my thoughts will be organized & I'll accomplish in one post what I now accomplish in 3 or 4 posts--but here's a funny story I forgot to mention until now.

A local sports author likes to go on radio talk shows a couple of days before the Oct. 13 event to publicize it. We've become friends over the years.

He'll name some of the former Pirates who will be there, & also some of the ordinary people, too. He's mentioned my name a few times.

2 years ago, he mentioned me on a morning show. I don't know anything about how media works. I guess the wire services or somebody have people who listen to radio stations all over the country & take notes & send out anything useful to stations all over the country. Anyway, it was reported on radio all over the country that the event would be attended by Bob Friend, Nellie Briles (2 former Pirate pitchers), & Joe ____________, as if my presence was newsworthy. Out-of-town friends were calling & asking me if I were some minor Pittsburgh celebrity! One even thought I played for the Pirates once!

Just goes to show how sloppy news organizations can be & how well they check things.

Ever think about the similarities between folk music & baseball?

We pass down stories about baseball games & players to future generations---just like folk songs.

Folk singers like Arlo, Pete, & Ramblin' Jack are like people we feel we know---just like our favorite ballplayers.

My mom met Pat Boone at a baseball game, does that count?

Yea, sure does, Diane... I can relate, Joe, the Dodgers had a magical season, just the year before, in '59. Was only their 2nd season in LA & since Dodger stadiom wasn't built yet, they played in the LA Colesium. They ended up on a playoff with somebody & beat the White sox in World Series, w/ a scrappy team . Maury Wills was the heart & soul w/ his base stealing, Left fied was only 250" from home plate w/ a big 100' screen. Wally Moon led the team in home runs cause he perfected a high pop-up swing that would just clear the screen, definitatly simpler, more fun time! Everyone in LA loved Vin Scully, so they'd take a transistor radio, to the game & listen to him, sounded like he was on the PA system, doin play-by play! LA has a short memory, so no comemorative stuff happens, now, too bad!

Wally Moon & his "moon shots!"

Wally Moon & I share the same birthday. I wrote to him a couple of years ago & got a nice autographed picture.

1998 was the year I lost my mind. I turned 40, which I didn't mind, but I realized that a lot of old ballplayers were getting older. I wrote over 250 letters to former players that year, complete with stamped return envelopes, & got a nice collection of stuff back. Maybe I'll discuss this more when I have more time.

I love Vin Scully. I've got some audio tapes of him broadcasting games on radio, including 2 from when the Dodgers were in Brooklyn.

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by joe bloggs on Jul 18, 2001 ---</FONT></center>

My good friend Tom's favorite saying:

"Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand."

Altho' I'm sure he'll never see this.....

Congratulations, Maz, on your induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame today!

It's on TV today on ESPN at 1:30 Eastern. I've met Maz & he's a very nice, humble man who appreciates his fans. There are worse ways to spend your time than watching the induction or coming here to post a note of congratulations (even if he won't see it).

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by joe bloggs:

My good friend Tom's favorite saying:

"Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand."<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I've already posted my theory about baseball being a metaphor for the spiritual journey, so I can't do it again. Too bad you weren't around then, Joe. It might have gone over with at least one person then.

I woulda liked to have seen that, Pat. I know how you feel. I don't start much baseball discussion here myself, because I realize this isn't ESPN.com, unless I have a really unique take like this October 13 event. Mostly, I can come onto this thread if I wanna talk to myself.

By the way, my earlier post was wrong. It was on ESPN Classic, which I don't even get. Hope I didn't steer anybody wrong.