Basketball and the NBA are today are one of the main staples of American sports. The league and the sport did not just pop up out of nowhere to take its place in our sports page. The league is the youngster among the mainstream sports. The league did not play its first game until 1946. By then basketball was already a mainstream sport however it did not have one strong league commanding fans attention. The sport had several leagues attacting the fans attention.
Philadelphia was always a main city in the sport right behind New York. Strangely enough the city sat out a year in the early sixties while the city of Syracuse, New York enjoyed one last season in the sun. The City of Philadelphia had first joined the league for the 1947-48 season. The Warriors had a good run in the City of Brotherly Love, however it did not last forever. After the 1961-62 season the Warriors were transferred to San Francisco, California.
Fans of Philadelphia did not take to this move lightly. As a result the Syracuse franchise in the league was brought out and transfered to Philadelphia on May 22, 1963, which was in time for the 1963-64 season. Happy Birthday '76ers!!
Tomorrow we look at the first running on the Preakness Stakes. Have a great weekend!!!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Watch this franchise move
Many sports teams have developed long relationships with their fans, because the franchises have stayed in that city for a very long time. Some teams have been in the same city for over 100 years. One team in particular, the Chicago Cubs have been in the same city for the last 136 years!!! Most teams will never be that lucky.
On May 21, 1918 what looked on the surface to be just an ordinary baseball game was played at Buffalo Park in Sacramento, California between the Sacramento Senators and the Salt Lake City Bees of the Pacifc Coast League. No one at the time really had the slightest idea what made this game so special.
In 1909 the city of Sacramento received an expansion team for the Pacific Coast League. After a few years the team ran into problems and was transferred late in the 1914 season (September 5) to San Francisco. After the season the franchise was transferred again, this time to Salt Lake City.
Just before the 1918 season began, the charter franchise of Portland, Oregon was transferred to Sacramento, as the baseball climate in Sacramento had since improved. If this were just a game where the old franchise came back town to visit its old haunts and fans as the visiting club that would be one thing, but this story continues on.
The new Sacramento Club did very well in its new home. The club played for the next 43 seasons in Sacramento. That was until the franchise was transferred again, this time to Honolulu, Hawaii. The City of Sacramento's history in the PCL was far from over and as was the history of its 1909-14 team. The 1909 team's stay in Salt Lake City did not last forever or even until the 1926 season, as the team was transferred back to California, this time to the balmy climate of Hollywood. The franchise continued on the move through two other cities through the end of the 1973 season, when it was transfered back to you guessed it Sacramento.
So the visiting club on this particular day was really not just the franchise that once belonged to Sacramento but, its future club as well!! For the record the Bees won the game by a score of 6-4.
Both clubs continued to move, as the 1909-14 franchise's second stay in Sacramento would last for only three seasons before moving yet again. Today this franchise is in its 12th city, Round Rock, Texas. The 1918-60 club has been in Colorado Springs, Colorado since 1988. Once again Sacramento is back in the league, a member since 2000 when its current team moved from Vancouver, British Columbia. So far no rumors of any of the these teams will be moving any time soon but, you never know. The current Sacramento Club is enjoying great success with its parent club a short distance away in Oakland. The Round Rock Club has the same type relationship with the Texas Rangers and the Colorado Springs Club with a tie up with the nearby Colorado Rockies.
So what is on tap for tomorrow? How about a single shift made in the NBA? See you then!!
On May 21, 1918 what looked on the surface to be just an ordinary baseball game was played at Buffalo Park in Sacramento, California between the Sacramento Senators and the Salt Lake City Bees of the Pacifc Coast League. No one at the time really had the slightest idea what made this game so special.
In 1909 the city of Sacramento received an expansion team for the Pacific Coast League. After a few years the team ran into problems and was transferred late in the 1914 season (September 5) to San Francisco. After the season the franchise was transferred again, this time to Salt Lake City.
Just before the 1918 season began, the charter franchise of Portland, Oregon was transferred to Sacramento, as the baseball climate in Sacramento had since improved. If this were just a game where the old franchise came back town to visit its old haunts and fans as the visiting club that would be one thing, but this story continues on.
The new Sacramento Club did very well in its new home. The club played for the next 43 seasons in Sacramento. That was until the franchise was transferred again, this time to Honolulu, Hawaii. The City of Sacramento's history in the PCL was far from over and as was the history of its 1909-14 team. The 1909 team's stay in Salt Lake City did not last forever or even until the 1926 season, as the team was transferred back to California, this time to the balmy climate of Hollywood. The franchise continued on the move through two other cities through the end of the 1973 season, when it was transfered back to you guessed it Sacramento.
So the visiting club on this particular day was really not just the franchise that once belonged to Sacramento but, its future club as well!! For the record the Bees won the game by a score of 6-4.
Both clubs continued to move, as the 1909-14 franchise's second stay in Sacramento would last for only three seasons before moving yet again. Today this franchise is in its 12th city, Round Rock, Texas. The 1918-60 club has been in Colorado Springs, Colorado since 1988. Once again Sacramento is back in the league, a member since 2000 when its current team moved from Vancouver, British Columbia. So far no rumors of any of the these teams will be moving any time soon but, you never know. The current Sacramento Club is enjoying great success with its parent club a short distance away in Oakland. The Round Rock Club has the same type relationship with the Texas Rangers and the Colorado Springs Club with a tie up with the nearby Colorado Rockies.
So what is on tap for tomorrow? How about a single shift made in the NBA? See you then!!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
A funny thing happened on the way
As with any sport, baseball has its strange stories, stranger stories and then this tale.
On May 20, 1937 in the Class D Nebraska State League, the Fairbury Jeffs traveled to South Dakota to Eastside Park in Sioux Falls to play the Canaries. In the fourth inning, Rabbit Padget tripled, however his manager Ralph Brandon tried to wave him home. Padget was thrown out at the plate. The very next hitter Ralph Cardner did the same exact thing. Two triples, two outs.
How bad was Brandon as the Canaries manager? The team still managed to win the game 6-2 and both halves of the pennant race. Oh well, nobodies is perfect.
Tomorrow we will look at a baseball franchise that could not stay put.
On May 20, 1937 in the Class D Nebraska State League, the Fairbury Jeffs traveled to South Dakota to Eastside Park in Sioux Falls to play the Canaries. In the fourth inning, Rabbit Padget tripled, however his manager Ralph Brandon tried to wave him home. Padget was thrown out at the plate. The very next hitter Ralph Cardner did the same exact thing. Two triples, two outs.
How bad was Brandon as the Canaries manager? The team still managed to win the game 6-2 and both halves of the pennant race. Oh well, nobodies is perfect.
Tomorrow we will look at a baseball franchise that could not stay put.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Guaranteed Win Night
One of the greatest things about sports is that you know what is going to happen when the game starts. You could see a record setting performance in any game that you attend. A baseball game could be 1-0 in 18 innings or you could watch a team score 30 runs. In basketball, the final score could be 80-78 or it could 155-152 in triple overtime.
The Rochester Red Wings of baseballs International League were in first place in mid-May in 1970. Another great things about sports is the promotions, especially in baseball. With the last place Buffalo Bisons coming to town, they scheduled guaranteed win night on May 19. Attending fans would be admitted the next nights game for free if the Bisons win.
Those who thought they had a chance for a free ticket, had their hopes quickly dashed. At the end of three innings the home club lead the game by a score of 14-0. The Red Wings went on to win the game very comfortably by a score of 27-4. New league records, new club records, not this time. Despite the games huge score no records were set this night, not unless you want to count most runs scored on guaranteed win night.
Tomorrow we will go deeper into baseballs minor leagues with another strange tale.
The Rochester Red Wings of baseballs International League were in first place in mid-May in 1970. Another great things about sports is the promotions, especially in baseball. With the last place Buffalo Bisons coming to town, they scheduled guaranteed win night on May 19. Attending fans would be admitted the next nights game for free if the Bisons win.
Those who thought they had a chance for a free ticket, had their hopes quickly dashed. At the end of three innings the home club lead the game by a score of 14-0. The Red Wings went on to win the game very comfortably by a score of 27-4. New league records, new club records, not this time. Despite the games huge score no records were set this night, not unless you want to count most runs scored on guaranteed win night.
Tomorrow we will go deeper into baseballs minor leagues with another strange tale.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Hockey history is full of very exciting and memorable games. The game played on May 18, 1986 between the mighty Montreal Canadians and the Calgary Flames was a most exciting record setting finish. The game went to overtime when the third period ended with a 2-2 tie. Following the face off the puck quickly found its way to Canadians forward Mike McPhee, whose pass set up center Brian Skrudland who promptly stuffed it past Flames goalie Mike Vernon to win the game just 9 seconds into the overtime period.
Most overtime periods do not end in just 9 seconds in any sport but this special game did. One of the many ironies of this feat, was that Skrudland, an Alberta native, would later play briefly for the Flames and now lives in Calgary.
For more events that happened on May 18 or in Hockey please check out my website at http://sites.google.com/site/professionalsportshistory/
As for tomorrow we will check out a Baseball promise fulfiled in 1970.
Most overtime periods do not end in just 9 seconds in any sport but this special game did. One of the many ironies of this feat, was that Skrudland, an Alberta native, would later play briefly for the Flames and now lives in Calgary.
For more events that happened on May 18 or in Hockey please check out my website at http://sites.google.com/site/professionalsportshistory/
As for tomorrow we will check out a Baseball promise fulfiled in 1970.
Monday, May 17, 2010
One Great finish
Growing up in Southern california I grew accustomed to seeing folks leave a game early. You would ask them why they would say I want to beat the traffic. I could never understand the logic. I once heard a homily in church describing one of the feats I am about to write about.
On May 17, 1996 the Seattle Mariners played the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore in the first of a three game series. If fans were looking for a pitchers duel, they were at the wrong game. Both teams sent pitcher after pitcher trying to find someone who could keep the runners from crossing the plate. As the game went on it got wilder and wilder.
Finally the bottom of the ninth rolled around and the Mariners thanks to 2 runs scored in the top of the ninth held a 13-10 lead. The Orioles were not finished. A double and two walks loaded the bases, however the made two outs in the process of loading the bases for catcher Chris Hoiles. Hoiles got the games 42 hit with a walk off grand slam home run to win the game 14-13. A most exciting finish to be sure. Twentythree players have now had an ultimate grand slam, 14 times the feat like Hoiles can with two outs.
Tomorrow we look at another exciting finish, this one in Hockey.
On May 17, 1996 the Seattle Mariners played the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore in the first of a three game series. If fans were looking for a pitchers duel, they were at the wrong game. Both teams sent pitcher after pitcher trying to find someone who could keep the runners from crossing the plate. As the game went on it got wilder and wilder.
Finally the bottom of the ninth rolled around and the Mariners thanks to 2 runs scored in the top of the ninth held a 13-10 lead. The Orioles were not finished. A double and two walks loaded the bases, however the made two outs in the process of loading the bases for catcher Chris Hoiles. Hoiles got the games 42 hit with a walk off grand slam home run to win the game 14-13. A most exciting finish to be sure. Twentythree players have now had an ultimate grand slam, 14 times the feat like Hoiles can with two outs.
Tomorrow we look at another exciting finish, this one in Hockey.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Under the Lights
One of Baseballs most celebrated events was its first night game. It was in in 1935 at Crosley field in Cincinnati, Ohio. Today however we are looking at the first night game in the American League. The other first night game was on May 16, 1939 at Shibe park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Athletics hosted the Cleveland Indians. The Indians won the game by a score of 8-3. The game took 10 innings to play. 15 thousand fans watched Al Milnar of the Indians pitch against Lynn Nelson of the Athletics. Neither pitcher was around when the Indians 5 run 10th inning.
Today night games are very common place. More games are played at night today then during the day. Up until the 1930s all games were played in the day time. The Negro Leagues were first to take up the playing of night games, the minors soon followed. Major League baseball was abit slow to try it. Today it is a necessity.
Tomorrow we look at one great finish.
Today night games are very common place. More games are played at night today then during the day. Up until the 1930s all games were played in the day time. The Negro Leagues were first to take up the playing of night games, the minors soon followed. Major League baseball was abit slow to try it. Today it is a necessity.
Tomorrow we look at one great finish.
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