Your first favorite player.

[Crash Course]

Originally Posted by Ytown Tribe fan

Well, it's a nice story and all. And Sanchez was an exciting player. But you just missed Nettles by THIS much. He must've been off that day.

Pretty nice seats for your first-ever ballgame, though. And you got to see Thurman Munson.

Nettles was a PH in that game. Munson had a good game. Here's the story:

Staten Island Advance
August 9, 1973

Yank old pros win one with two out in 9th
By Jim Ogle

Gene Michael has a bad foot, a sore bunion and a bandaged big toe … but, he’s a professional; Felipe Alou packs 38 years and pulled a calf muscle in yesterday’s pre-game drill … but he’s a real pro, too.

Thurman Munson has an inbred spirit of competition ("He even wants to beat me at ping pong." says his wife, Diane) and the instincts of a riverboat gambler … and he used both; Bobby Murcer is emerging from team frustration as a leader, a guy who is "bustin’ his butt" everyday.

Put them together and they spell a 3-2, ninth-inning victory over the Texas Rangers yesterday. It was a rerun of what had been happening for two weeks—until the quartet of pros changed the script, chasing frustration and finding opportunities.

Chagrined at what he thought was a bad call on a 3-0 pitch, Murcer ripped a double to open the ninth. With one out, Munson lined a single to center that scored Murcer despite Bobby holding up a bit.

"The way things have been going with us I thought he’d make a sensational diving catch," Murcer said. "When the ball hopped up on him, I was going to make the try." Harris didn’t even make a throw.

Celerino Sanchez took a called third strike and it was up to Felipe, who had driven home the first run with a long fly, but had an 0 for 23 streak going. In the streak were a lot of caught line drives, but now Felipe topped a slow roller to Toby Harrah – and beat it out.

Gene Michael had played a doubleheader Tuesday night and was given yesterday off -- until the eighth inning. He came up for the first time and looped a 3-1 pitch into right field, just in front of Bill Sudakis, who had made two fine catches earlier.

The ball was in short right field, Sudakis can throw but there was never a chance to cut off the winning run -- because Munson likes to take chances.

"I had a super jump because Harrah and Nelson left the middle open," Munson said. "As soon as I saw Gene start to move the bat on the 3-1 pitch I was rolling. I was already at third while Dick (Howser) was still watching the ball. I was going man, no matter what.

"No, I didn’t know where the ball was. All I knew Gene had hit it and there were two out, so what could happen if I kept going. We just had to pull one out like that."

"I’m surprised we won the SOB," a weary Murcer said. "The way things have been happening to us, you have to be surprised when something good happens."

"I think I’m a better hitter with men on base," Michael said. "I concentrate more and try harder to do something. I know I’m not a good hitter, so, I try to compensate by delivering hits when they count. I’ve been doing pretty well this year."

The RBI enabled Gene to reach 40 for the first time in his career, while it was also his fifth game-winning hit, which gave the Yanks a two-game streak. It’s little, but welcome.

Fritz Peterson stood to lose the game despite making only one pitch -- which Nelson beat out for a single. Covering first, Peterson had aggravated the muscle in his thigh that he pulled last Saturday. Fritz left and Fred Beene went the rest of the way for his sixth victory without a defeat.

"In my book I pitched a complete game," Beene said. "I know it won’t be in the records, but in my mind I have pitched a complete game.

"Maybe a complete game was once one of my goals, but now I’m only concerned with ‘the team’ and I’m just glad to be here and lucky enough to contribute."

[hmrsf]

Dwight Evans.

There are 100 reasons but it started when I was a kid living on dead end street. In the '70's we would play whiffel ball and each one of us would be one of the Sox. One of the older kids said I batted like Dewey. I was bow legged skinney little kid. At the time Dwight did not play all that well, but I did not know any better. I would study how he played and both of us got better as the years went by.

My parents went through a messy divorice. Keeping Sox on the radio or on the TV was like having my dad around. When ever I was down Dewey always came through with the big hit or great catch! Dependable Dewey always came through and never let you down.

He will always have a special spot in my heart. He is a HOF to me.

[Ytown Tribe fan]

That is a wonderful story, hmrsf. Maybe you can catch up to Dewey at the AAA All-Star Game in Pawtucket on July 12th and tell him in person. He'll be there with a bunch of stars and I'm sure he'll be signing autographs and such.

He is a big-time HoFer and those yahoos who vote should realize it pretty soon!

[Joseph]

Originally Posted by hmrsf

Why the Big Q?

I thought first baseman's gloves looked really cool so I took up the position, Carlos was the 1b for the sox so I looked to him to see how to play first. I was also a big Ellis Burks fan.

you should definatly go see Evans at the all-star game!