Attending Historic Games

BEF · Post by **BEF** » Thu May 28, 2009 2:34 am

Sometimes a guy just falls into a gigantic vat of luck...I'm in Baltimore next week for business, so I decided a few months ago to go down a day early to catch a Nats game as I haven't yet been to their new ballpark. Called up a friend who has some connections and we got some great seats. Not unexpected...a Wednesday night game against the Giants, and two months ago that looked like a matchup of the two worst teams in the NL. And now? I'll be right down in front to see Big Unit (hopefully) win number 300.

That got me thinking about other historic games I've attended. At the top of the list, never to be dethroned, is the Bucky Dent game. I was a sophomore in college, sitting in the right field bleachers, not really realizing until Yaz popped up that what I just saw would go down in history (of course, the vast amount of pot circulating in the bleachers may have had something to do with my slow uptake on the situation. But that was then...kids, don't do drugs).

Next would be Game 6 of the '01 Series, when the Dbacks set a record for most hits in a 9 inning Series game. Then the 2004 All-Star Game in Houston; the game itself was a snore but the Derby was thrilling with Miguel Tejada going nuts and knocking out 15 in the second round (this was pre-Hamilton, so at the time it was a big deal).

I saw Clemens throw a perfect game through seven innings and end up with a one-hitter. Also at Busch in 1975 for Bob Gibson Day, when they had a retirement ceremony and opened up the center field gates and a Winnebago was driven on to the field as a retirement gift. And finally, I saw Carl Everett go ballistic on Ron Kulpa when he was warned about standing outside the batter's box. One of my favorite baseball quotes of all time came from Mike Piazza after that incident: "He just freaked out. When he was getting upset, I was out of there. He was not in a good mood."

So, how about some more?

Raskol · Post by **Raskol** » Thu May 28, 2009 4:43 am

Derek Lowe's no-no against the (Devil) Rays at Fenway. A beautiful day and we missed the first inning when he walked a batter, so we thought it was a perfect game. It took alot of beer to celebrate sufficiently.

Curt Schilling shaking off Tek in Oakland in the 9th inning of a no-no. BAM, instant hit.

This took alot of beer too...

Navel Lint · Post by **Navel Lint** » Thu May 28, 2009 5:44 am

Originally posted by BEF:

Sometimes a guy just falls into a gigantic vat of luck...I'm in Baltimore next week for business, so I decided a few months ago to go down a day early to catch a Nats game as I haven't yet been to their new ballpark. Called up a friend who has some connections and we got some great seats. Not unexpected...a Wednesday night game against the Giants, and two months ago that looked like a matchup of the two worst teams in the NL. And now? I'll be right down in front to see Big Unit (hopefully) win number 300.

I was in Wrigley Field Aug. of 20004 when Greg Maddux made his first attempt at win 300. It was very exciting that day as the Cubs had just gotten Nomar Garciaparra from Boston and he was making his first start. The Cubs did win the game but Maddux didn't get the win. He left after 6 inninings. It was very humid that day and Maddux was gased.

I've seen a lot of great games in Wrigley, but there have been very few that have created that kind of exciting/playoff feel type of emotion that was present that day.

Good Luck seeing number 300

LONG GONE · Post by **LONG GONE** » Thu May 28, 2009 5:50 am

1.Game 5 of the 84 World Sries Tigers win.

2.Cecil Fielder hit one over the roof in Tiger Stadium. I was in the concessions stand and missed it. LOL

3.Go to an interveiw with Dave Dombrowski before a double header against the Royals. First game the 2 teams combine to score over 40 runs.

4. Missed attempt to see Clemens win 300th.

5. 1999 All Star Game in Fenway Park. Witness to the All Century Team. Ted Williams tipping the hat to the Fenway faithful. Pedro's strike out game.

6. Bobby Abrue's Home Run Derby display.

7. Mark McGuiwre's 67,68,69,70th Home Runs during the 1998 season.

JohnZ · Post by **JohnZ** » Thu May 28, 2009 6:06 am

Game 7 of the NYY/ARZ WS with Shandler and Coleman.

Game 6 of SF/ANA WS and the great Angel comeback

Saw Nolan Ryan pitch at least 25 times as a kid. Two one-hitters.

Saw Sutton retire first 22 against Pirates and then lose the game.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Thu May 28, 2009 8:25 am

My favorite would be attending Phil Niekro's last game. He had been released by Cleveland I think a month earlier, but the Braves signed him to pitch the last game of his career in Fulton County Stadium on September 23, 1987. The fact that it took the BBWAA five years to put him in the Hall of Fame (he won 318 games playing for some very bad teams) is forever in my mind one of the many black marks against baseball. Anyway, Niekro did not make it out of the fifth, but the stadium was PACKED (rare in those days as the Braves were true bottom feeders then) and when he tipped his hat on being relieved...well, I never before or since have I seen a stadium erupt to honor a player that way.

Next would be the April 21, 1982 game the Braves won against Cincinnati (in your face Marge and Schottzie) 4-3 to take the 13th game to start a season. The year before, the Braves only played 106 games due to the strike and were a mediocre 50-56, so to win 13 games to start the season was an exciting surprise. The staduim was electric watching the young guns like Murphy, Horner, Raffy Rameriez, Hubbard, and Bedrock play. Too bad I was chasing a lousy hot dog when Chambliss connected against Soto. Still, it was great to be there.

Lastly, I was in the stadium when the Braves lost the 1992 World Series in Game Six. I caught a Joe Carter BP home run, but it sucked the Braves lost in the 11th. Tied after 10, Toronto scored two off Charlie Liebrant. The Braves had been coming from behind all year and managed to score one in the bottom, but fell short. Still, it was a good game to be at. BTW, in the 1991 series, Game six, Liebrant also lost that one in the 11th. The starter in both games (1991 and 1992)? Avery. De ja vu all over again.

[ May 28, 2009, 02:25 PM: Message edited by: Edwards Kings ]

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Sat May 30, 2009 3:31 am

Was at Seaver's return as a Met in 1983.

Pitched opening day against Steve Carlton and the Mets won 2-0.

Was also at the Yankees-Red Sox game when Jeter made his infamous headfirst dive into the stands and came out with a bruised face and the ball.

kgrady · Post by **kgrady** » Sat May 30, 2009 6:20 am

The only "historic" game that I have attended was ALCS game 7 in 2007, Cleveland at Boston. I was uncharacteristically confident that the Red Sox would win and made the expense and 6-hour drive to see it happen.

Kevin

751542 · Post by **751542** » Sat May 30, 2009 9:42 am

ripkens 2129 and 2130....game over!!!

Schwartzstops · Post by **Schwartzstops** » Sat May 30, 2009 11:30 am

Great thread. My top four (typically this would be a top five but these lap the rest of the field):

4. Yankees clinch the '98 W.S. in San Diego

3. Jim Abbott's no-hitter vs. Cleveland, 9/4/93

2. David Wells' perfect game vs. Minnesota, 5/17/98

1. Games 3-4-5 of the 2001 W.S.

People forget that Game 3 was an amazing game on its own, with the Yankees winning a 2-1 pitchers' duel behind Roger Clemens. Game 4 was of course the Tino Martinez home run followed by Derek Jeter's "Mr. November" walkoff homer. Game 5 somehow topped it, with lightning striking a second time, this time on the Scott Brosius homer. Those three games probably constituted the most memorable and exciting 54-hour (give or take a few) stretch of my life.

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Sat May 30, 2009 3:11 pm

My top one is a great one - first game I ever went to was in 1975 - Opening day for the Indians in old Municipal Stadium. It was also the day that Frank Robinson became the first African-American manager in MLB. The place was packed, over 77,000 - and there was a huge ceremony before the game , with Rachel Robinson in attendance.

The biggest moment of the game came when Robinson, who was the player/manager inserted himself into the game as a pinch hitter late in the game and jacked a HR to lead the Tribe to victory. There wasn't a dry eye in the house - and needless to say I was hooked on baseball for life.

chimpat · Post by **chimpat** » Sun May 31, 2009 2:24 pm

Originally posted by Raskol:

Derek Lowe's no-no against the (Devil) Rays at Fenway. A beautiful day and we missed the first inning when he walked a batter, so we thought it was a perfect game. It took alot of beer to celebrate sufficiently.

I was at this game too Raskol. A buddy from college was in town for business so I went on ebay and got 4 tix pretty easily to see the terrible Devil Rays come to town. Great game, great day!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:58 am

Originally posted by RoundTrippers:

ripkens 2129 and 2130....game over!!! Hey, don't forget that you were at Palmeiro's 3,000 hit game too!!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:05 am

I'll add mine:

1. Packers win Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans, 1997. I was drunk in the stands, Tom was working in the press box.

2. Nolan Ryan wins 300th career game at Milwaukee County Stadium, July 31, 1990. I had been at Krause's one year and we bought 20+ tickets for that game and all drove down for it. The entire crowd was rooting for the visiting pitcher to win!!

3. Robin Yount collects his 3,000th hit at Milwaukee County Stadium on Sept. 9, 1992. We had terrible seats, but each time Yount came up we ran down to home plate and cheered from the aisles. Everyone was standing anyway, so nobody cared. We were right down the first base line when he singled and they picked him up and carried him around like a prince. A great memory for someone who just loved watching Rockin' Robin play.

4. The rest of the list would be filled with Lambeau Field visits!!

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:31 pm

Originally posted by BEF:

Sometimes a guy just falls into a gigantic vat of luck...I'm in Baltimore next week for business, so I decided a few months ago to go down a day early to catch a Nats game as I haven't yet been to their new ballpark. Called up a friend who has some connections and we got some great seats. Not unexpected...a Wednesday night game against the Giants, and two months ago that looked like a matchup of the two worst teams in the NL. And now? I'll be right down in front to see Big Unit (hopefully) win number 300.Sorry, guy...

ETA: Forecast is for rain all afternoon tomorrow (70% chance).

[ June 03, 2009, 10:35 PM: Message edited by: King of Queens ]

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:57 pm

Hanson up to pitch Saturday. I have tickets....Sunday...Dooooh!

May have to try and make a switch!

Navel Lint · Post by **Navel Lint** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:34 am

Originally posted by King of Queens:

quote:Originally posted by BEF:

Sometimes a guy just falls into a gigantic vat of luck...I'm in Baltimore next week for business, so I decided a few months ago to go down a day early to catch a Nats game as I haven't yet been to their new ballpark. Called up a friend who has some connections and we got some great seats. Not unexpected...a Wednesday night game against the Giants, and two months ago that looked like a matchup of the two worst teams in the NL. And now? I'll be right down in front to see Big Unit (hopefully) win number 300.Sorry, guy...

ETA: Forecast is for rain all afternoon tomorrow (70% chance). [/QUOTE]Watching the game on TV right now, sixth inning, Randy and the Giants are winning 2 - 0.

Looks like about 5 thousand people in the stands.

Navel Lint · Post by **Navel Lint** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:35 am

Originally posted by rucrew2:

quote:Originally posted by King of Queens:

quote:Originally posted by BEF:

Sometimes a guy just falls into a gigantic vat of luck...I'm in Baltimore next week for business, so I decided a few months ago to go down a day early to catch a Nats game as I haven't yet been to their new ballpark. Called up a friend who has some connections and we got some great seats. Not unexpected...a Wednesday night game against the Giants, and two months ago that looked like a matchup of the two worst teams in the NL. And now? I'll be right down in front to see Big Unit (hopefully) win number 300.Sorry, guy...

ETA: Forecast is for rain all afternoon tomorrow (70% chance). [/QUOTE]Watching the game on TV right now, sixth inning, Randy and the Giants are winning 2 - 0.

Looks like about 5 thousand people in the stands. [/QUOTE]Just as I posted that last note. Error and a double. Giants 2-1

Navel Lint · Post by **Navel Lint** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:44 am

Originally posted by rucrew2:

quote:Originally posted by King of Queens:

quote:Originally posted by BEF:

Sometimes a guy just falls into a gigantic vat of luck...I'm in Baltimore next week for business, so I decided a few months ago to go down a day early to catch a Nats game as I haven't yet been to their new ballpark. Called up a friend who has some connections and we got some great seats. Not unexpected...a Wednesday night game against the Giants, and two months ago that looked like a matchup of the two worst teams in the NL. And now? I'll be right down in front to see Big Unit (hopefully) win number 300.Sorry, guy...

ETA: Forecast is for rain all afternoon tomorrow (70% chance). [/QUOTE]Looks like about 5 thousand people in the stands. [/QUOTE]If he wins number 300, there may be more un-used game tickets for sale on EBay than would normally be expected for a historic game because of yesterdays rainout

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 2:10 pm

Not vintage, but a win. Maybe the last 300 winner.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:28 am

Originally posted by Edwards Kings:

Hanson up to pitch Saturday. I have tickets....Sunday...Dooooh!

May have to try and make a switch! Rainout last night. Hanson now scheduled to start...SUNDAY! Yeah, Baby!

Cooperstown · Post by **Cooperstown** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 8:22 am

I still remember the first game I ever want to at 9 years old. Wrigley Field, Sandy Koufax in town pitching against rookie, Ken Holtzman. Koufax gives up 2 1st inning runs and pitches a perfect game the rest of the way. Too bad for him as Holtzman only gives up 1 run in a complete game win.

Actually, I don't remember it too well; just that I was there. But I do have the box score as linked below.

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-sco ... 6609250CHN

FYI, anyone wanting to get a box score for any game ever played, you can get it from this site. I got my Dad a box score for the first game he ever went to from the early 40's. The average fantasy player would have hated the box scores from that era. LOL

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:10 am

This probably doesen't count, but I'll tell the story anyway.

As soon as I found out about the game of baseball, I was hooked. I have a elementary school report card with a lot of "unsatisfactories" checked off and a note at the bottom of the report card that says, "Danny has a hard time paying attention. He is suffering from baseballitis". That is one of my most prized possessions now.

Anyway, as a pennance for such a bad report card I was banned from listening to most Giants games over the summer. One night I asked for the radio to listen to music, the Giants game was over, so my parents gave me the ok. Switching channels on the a/m I heard the word "Giants" and tuned it back. It was Vin Scully with the pre-game show for the Dodgers. I thought at least I can root against the Dodgers. The sound went in and out, we lived 400 miles from LA, the reception was poor, but it was Scully and it was baseball. Koufax vs. Bob Hendley. Both pitchers had perfect games through four innings. In the fifth, Lou Johnson walked, was sacrificed to second, stole third and went home on the wild throw from the catcher.

I went from rooting against the Dodgers to rooting for a DOUBLE no-hitter. Koufax remained perfect through six and Hendley still hadn't given up a hit. In the seventh Koufax mowed them down, but Hendley finally gave up a hit to Johnson.

The game ended without another baserunner. 1-0. A perfect game for Koufax. A one-hitter for Hendley. One baserunner, in Johnson, for the whole game. Amazing stuff.

Best game I ever "saw".

[ June 08, 2009, 04:16 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]

Bullgod · Post by **Bullgod** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:46 am

Well I have a few games that I went to that were memorable and/or historic.

#4- June 1st,1990...Got to play centerfield in the Chicago Public league championship game at Wrigley Field. I hit a triple and slid head first into 3rd base like my guy Charlie Hustle! Pretty cool too bad we lost 8-3 (remember that score)

#3- September 7th,1985...Reds vs. Cubs

Pete Rose my all-time favorite baseball player was stuck on 4,189 and I had been figuring it out in my 13 year old brain all summer. He was going to break the record when I'm there!!! Everytime he came to bat the park went crazy. Wind was blowing out, seven HR's were hit including Dave Parker with 2 and a guy who the Cubs would later throw aside(because he just wasn't that good anymore) Dennis Eckersley!!! Well ole Pete went 0-4 with a BB. But that was an electric day in the ball park.

#2 & #1 These go together like @*#$ and stink...I call them "The Wake" and "The Funeral" respectively.

October 14, 2003 Yeah, I'm a Cubs fan. After we grabbed a quick 1-0 lead in the 1st after each subsequent Marlins out I would stand up in the right field bleachers and announce for the world to hear "23 more outs til the World Series" which was met with a rousing cheer. Well we all know what happened and NO it was NOT Bartman's fault (or mine!). Funny that chant never got past 5 MORE OUTS!!! I swear that was one of the worst days of my life (i'm fortunate to be able to say that about a baseball game!) and when it was over and we had lost 8-3 (ironic to me) I sat in the bleachers for about 15 minutes trying to collect my thoughts. Finally we left and went home.

"The Funeral"; My cousin had tickets to Game 7 and had to beg me to go! I couldn't take another loss but I couldn't stand NOT being there if they did it! I knew we were going to lose! We got down early and I was cussin and swearing why did you drag me here! Then Kerry Wood jacks a home run and I'm sucked back in! Damn fandom it sucks!!! So again you know what happened. As we were leaving a couple people were saying "it's ok we'll do it next year". I wanted to slap some sense into them but hey they are eternal optimists. Not me, I was duped again! So we leave the park and I'm walking down Sheffield towards my car, my cousin is off buying illegal Cubs 2003 world series t-shirts and I feel someone grab my sweatshirt by my shoulder! I'm ready to kill anyone that touches me at this point. I turn to my right and there is a horses head two inches from my face! He's pulling on my sweatshirt and the cop on top of the horse is laughing hysterically! I said can you please get your horse off of me its been a bad night already. Looking back on it, its pretty damn funny. But I still get that sick feeling thinking back to those 2 games!

[ June 11, 2009, 03:53 PM: Message edited by: Bullgod ]

TOXIC ASSETS · Post by **TOXIC ASSETS** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 1:16 pm

Not a "historic" game but memorable...

Sept 1, 1997 Yankees vs Phillies This was back when the Yanks were at their peak and the Phils were awful. Curt Schilling strikes out 16 Yankees that day in the most dominating pitching performance I've ever seen. Remember it well because it was a day game on Labor Day.