There Used to Be a Ballpark

Fans had a great view of the Hudson River and the Palisades from Hilltop Park.
There Used to Be a Ballpark is a song written by Joe Raposo and recorded by Frank Sinatra for Sinatra’s 1973 album, Ol’ Blue Eyes Is Back.
The song expresses sadness at the loss of a baseball team and its ballpark, which [...]

The SportsLifer Top 50 Countdown

In the third installment of his all-time top 50 sports events attended, the SportsLifer recalls the play of Willie Mays, Joe Namath, Lawrence Taylor and others.
First installment: 41-50. includes the St. Louis Hawks, Holy Cross, and a Ranger rout.
Second installment, 31-40. stars Lew Alcindor, The Mick, and the Boston Marathon
The SportsLifer countdown, 21-30, continues:
30. Joe [...]

Playing Ball, Riding the Rails

Old Newburgh, Dutchess & Connectictut railroad bridge in the woods, Verbank, NY.
Baseball and trains. Boy oh boy, what a powerful combination.
Playing big league ball and riding the rails. Well for 80 years, major league baseball teams traveled almost exclusively by train. It wasn’t until the 1950s, when jet travel became faster and cheaper, that [...]

Big Brown Shoes

A friend of mine who loves to play the ponies sent me an e-mail recently, linking Big Brown’s stunning loss in the Belmont Stakes to an ancient proverb.
For want of a nail, the shoe was lost;
For want of the shoe, the horse was lost;
For want of the horse, the rider was lost;
For want of the [...]

Softball Rally

The softball team rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning last night to win, 9-8. We’re now primed for a playoff run with a 6-4 record and four games remaining.
Meanwhile, gearing up for the big blue tournament next week in suburban New York.

Eight Changes for Major League Baseball

Eight changes major league baseball should make immediately:

Drop the rule giving the league that wins the All-Star game home-field advantage in the World Series. Give it to the team with the best record.
Institute instant replay immediately — for home run calls only, nothing else. Run a video control center like the National Hockey League.
Make the [...]

The SportsLifer Top 50 Countdown

This week, the SportsLifer continues his countdown of memorable events he has witnessed. In the initial installment last week, events 41-50 were featured.
40. Ron Hassey long home run helps Yankees Beat Blue Jays 7-5, September, 1985
39. The Boston Massacre, game two, Yanks beat Red Sox 13-2, September, 1978
38. Mickey Mantle makes final appearance at [...]

The Last Champions

On October 14, 1908, a cool, crisp Wednesday afternoon in Detroit, the Chicago Cubs were sitting on top of the world after shutting out the Detroit Tigers, 2-0, to win their second straight World Series.
On a cold December 28th afternoon at Comiskey Park in Chicago, the Chicago (now Arizona) Cardinals outscored the Philadelphia Eagles, [...]

What Goes Around, Comes Around

Heard from an old college buddy the other day. Jeff turned me on to a few things during our days on the hill in the early way back when, including a certain rock artist from New Jersey, name of Springsteen.
Anyway, Jeff, who was never much of a sports fan, e-mailed me the other day [...]

Thank You, Big Blue

Never been a big Celtics fan. Always rooted against them when they faced the Lakers and 76ers in the glory years, always wanted Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain and later Magic Johnson to beat The Green.
In fact, I root against all the Boston teams. Didn’t always feel that way. Actually rooted for the Red Sox [...]