Vintage Baseball Reflections

Jackie Robinson's Speech - October 15, 1972

Jackie Robinson's Speech - October 15, 1972 - his last public speech Jackie Robinson is by no means the greatest player in baseball history. He holds no cherished records in the manner of a Hank Aaron or a Joe DiMaggio, and his career numbers fall far short of the statistical milestones by which we currently measure “greatness”. But as former Negro League star Buck O’Neill once observed, Robinson may not have been the best player of his era, but he was the right player for the task history set before him. As such, Jackie Robinson is the pivotal figure in baseball’s narrative and perhaps its greatest hero. Only a man with Robinson’s singular mix of talent, tenacity, and temperament could have taken up the lonely task of breaking baseball’s color barrier. No player before or since has had to perform under the weight of such a great burden. On one shoulder, Robinson bore the hopes and future aspirations of a people too long denied their share of the American promise; on the other, he bore the fierce scorn and violent enmity of those who preferred that baseball, and American life in general, remain a segregated affair. That he rose to the challenge and thrived under the pressure was an affirmation of America’s founding principle, the proposition that all men are indeed created equal. His triumph, coming a full seven years before Rosa Parks’ defiant “sit”, can be seen as the first great victory of the modern civil rights movement. Martin Luther King, Jr, who followed Robinson’s exploits as a teenager, hailed him as “a pilgrim that walked in the lonesome byways toward the high road of Freedom… a sit-inner before sit-ins, a freedom rider before freedom rides.” His success paved the way for a new generation of superstars – Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Frank Robinson, to name but a few - who would go on to revolutionize the game and help redefine American culture. Jackie's Career Highlights: https://thisdayinbaseball.com/jackie-robinsonjackie-robinson-career-highlights/ [https://thisdayinbaseball.com/jackie-robinsonjackie-robinson-career-highlights/]

Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds extends his hitting streak to 44 game

On July 31, 1978, Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds extends his hitting streak to 44 games, tying Willie Keeler’s National League record set 81 years ago. Rose singles against Hall of Famer Phil Niekro in Cincinnati’s 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves. Classic Broadcasts are old-time broadcasts that have been put together from various sources. Many are found on the Internet Archives in a raw form. If you wish to take a deeper dive, that includes: Scorecards, Rosters, Newspaper Clippings. All members can jump over to : www.vintagebaseballreflections.com and join the membership platform

July 31, 2003 Gary Carter Number Retired

On July 31, 2003 the Montreal Expos retired number 8 as a tribute to Gary Carter, their first player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. During his 12-year tenure with the Expos, Carter was selected to the National League All-Star team 7 times and won 3 Gold Glove Awards. After the Expos moved to Washington, D.C. to become the Washington Nationals following the 2004 season, a banner displaying Carter’s number along with those of other Expos stars Andre Dawson, Tim Raines and Rusty Staub was hung from the rafters at the Bell Centre, home of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens. * This Day In Baseball [https://thisdayinbaseball.com/] - Learn more about the players, teams and seasons Classic Broadcasts are old-time broadcasts that have been put together from various sources. Many are found on the Internet Archives in a raw form. If you wish to take a deeper dive, that includes: Scorecards, Rosters, Newspaper Clippings. All members can jump over to : www.vintagebaseballreflections.com and join the membership platform

July 24 1983 - Phil Rizzuto calls George Brett pine tar game

July 24, 1983 - Phil Rizzuto calls the At Bat when Goose Gossage faces George Brett with Two outs in the 9th Classic Broadcasts are old-time broadcasts that have been put together from various sources. Many are found on the Internet Archives in a raw form. If you wish to take a deeper dive, that includes: Scorecards, Rosters, Newspaper Clippings. All members can jump over to : www.vintagebaseballreflections.com and join the membership platform

July 25 record number of Hall of Famers return to Cooperstown - Daily Rewind

July 25, 2004, a record number of Hall of Famers return to Cooperstown to witness the Induction of Dennis Eckersley and Paul Molitor. In all, 53 living Hall of Fame members are on hand for the ceremony. July 25, 1978, the New York Yankees name Bob Lemon as manager, jettisoning Billy Martin. Under Lemon’s leadership, the Yankees will erase a nine-and-a-half-game deficit and win the American League East on their way to the World Championship. July 25, 1966, Casey Stengel and Ted Williams are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Both men make memorable speeches in Cooperstown. Williams calls for the election of former Negro leagues stars to the Hall of Fame. Five years later, Satchel Paige will become the first Negro Leagues standout to take his place in Cooperstown. Stengel amazes the crowd with his recollections of his nearly six decades in baseball. July 25, 1955, the largest contingent of living Hall of Famers to date congregate in Cooperstown for the Induction Ceremony. The new members include: third baseman Home Run Baker, center fielder Joe DiMaggio, catcher Gabby Hartnett, pitcher Ted Lyons, catcher Ray Schalk, and pitcher Dazzy Vance. A record crowd attends the ceremony, many coming to cheer on DiMaggio, one of the most popular players of his era. July 25, 1941, Lefty Grove of the Boston Red Sox wins his 300th game, a 10-6 decision over the Cleveland Indians. Despite giving up 12 hits, Grove becomes the sixth pitcher in the modern era to reach the milestone July 25, 1883, future Hall of Famer Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn pitches a 1-0 no-hitter against Worcester. Radbourn wins 48 games that season, and 309 in his career. Historical Recap performed by: Robyn Newton from - Robyn Says [https://www.robynsays.com/] This Day In Baseball is Sponsored by - www.vintagebaseballreflections.com - Join the membership today and listen to 50 years of baseball history told to you by the folks who were there! As a special offer, all our listeners can use the term - thisdayinbaseball at the membership check out. Trivia is provided by -Horseshide [http://horsehidetrivia.blogspot.com/] Trivia Mentioned in this episode: Classic Baseball Broadcasts [https://baseballdailyrewind.com/-sign-up-page-] Classic Baseball Broadcasts [https://baseballdailyrewind.com/-sign-up-page-]