RetroSeasons recaps past sports seasons through stories, photos, videos, and stats from every team, league, and stadium in history. Coverage includes the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, as well as vintage media from defunct teams and leagues.
Felipe Alou's journey through the world of baseball is a testament to his enduring presence in the sport. Born in the Dominican Republic, Alou initially pursued a career in track and field before turning his attention to baseball. His athletic prowess caught the eye of Major League Baseball scouts, and he signed with the New York Giants in
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1962 NL Tie-breaker G3 - San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers Radio
On October 3, 1962, the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers faced off at Dodger Stadium in a critical matchup, closing the National League's regular season. The Giants, led by right-hander Juan Marichal, entered this game needing a win to continue their pursuit of a postseason berth, while the Dodgers, starting left-hander Johnny Podres, were looking to halt the Giants' momentum and secure their spot. The game was emblematic of the fierce rivalry and high stakes that defined the season, as both teams were battling for the National League pennant in one of the most tightly contested races of the decade.
The game itself was a back-and-forth battle, with the Giants taking an early lead in the third inning, capitalizing on a series of defensive miscues by the Dodgers. San Francisco held that slim margin until the sixth inning, when Dodgers third baseman Tommy Davis launched a two-run homer to give Los Angeles a brief lead. Maury Wills, always a threat on the bases, added to the Dodgers' edge by stealing multiple bases, including his 104th of the season. However, the Giants orchestrated a dramatic ninth-inning rally, led by Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda, to reclaim control and secure the victory with a four-run burst.
With this win, the Giants forced a tie with the Dodgers, necessitating a tiebreaker playoff to determine the National League champion. The intense pennant race, marked by remarkable performances from players like Wills and Mays, would ultimately see the Giants advance, although they would fall short in the World Series against the New York Yankees. The game remains a key moment in a storied rivalry and a pivotal chapter in the Giants' and Dodgers' long-standing competition.
As the calendar flipped to September 29, 1971, the New York Yankees were set to...
1971-Sep-29 • NYY/WAS • New York Yankees vs Washington Senators - Radio Broadcast / As the calendar flipped to September 29, 1971, the New York Yankees were set to square off against the Washington Senators in what was a routine late-season contest. The Yankees, having had a middling season, were trying to finish strong. The Senators, on the other hand, were in the midst of their final season before moving to Texas to become the Rangers, a fact that added a certain poignancy to every game they played. This particular match-up was notable for the fact that it was one of the last games the Senators would play in Washington D.C., a fact that was not lost on the fans or the players. The air was thick with nostalgia, and the typically straightforward game of baseball took on a different hue, as every pitch, every swing, and every cheer echoed with the weight of history.
In a regular season game on June 6, 1970, at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, a notable...
Detroit TIgers vs Oakland A's - Radio Broadcast / In a regular season game on June 6, 1970, at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, a notable game unfolded between the Detroit Tigers and the Oakland Athletics. The Tigers' pitcher, Joe Niekro, and the Athletics' pitcher, Chuck Dobson, both took the mound with the intention of guiding their teams to victory. This game occurred during a significant period for both franchises: the Athletics were in the process of building a team that would dominate the early 1970s, while the Tigers aimed to sustain the competitive spirit that led them to a World Series championship in 1968.
The game started off quietly, with no runs scored in the initial innings. Momentum shifted in the fourth inning when Norm Cash hit a two-run homer for the Tigers, setting the stage for a competitive match. The Athletics managed to score two unearned runs in the second inning, taking advantage of errors by the Tigers. Key moments for the Tigers included solo home runs by Bill Freehan in the fifth and ninth innings, which were crucial in maintaining their lead. In the eighth inning, Matty Alou hit a two-run homer for the Athletics, narrowing the gap in the score. However, the pitching of Joe Niekro, coupled with John Hiller securing a save, ensured that the Tigers maintained their lead, resulting in a 6-4 win.
In the 1967 season, both the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves showcased considerable performance. The...
Atlanta Braves vs New York Mets - Radio Broadcast / In the 1967 season, both the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves showcased considerable performance. The Cubs, though talented, had a challenging season, ending 5th in the NL with a 87-74 record. Their inconsistency hindered a promising start, and they missed the postseason. Players like Ernie Banks and Ron Santo contributed solid performances, but the team's overall lack of depth was apparent.
Contrastingly, the Braves had a more successful year, finishing 7th in the NL with a 77-85 record. Hank Aaron and Phil Niekro were instrumental, with Aaron hitting .307 with 39 home runs and Niekro posting an ERA of 1.87. However, despite these individual achievements, the Braves couldn't secure a postseason berth, as they struggled with inconsistent pitching and defense.
The Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium in a pivotal...
1962 NL Tie-breaker G2 - San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers Radio / The Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium in a pivotal late-season matchup. The Dodgers were in a tight pennant race with the Giants and the NL-leading Pittsburgh Pirates, while the Giants were also jockeying for position in the playoff hunt. Veteran right-handers Don Drysdale of the Dodgers and Billy O'Dell of the Giants took the mound, with both teams looking to gain an advantage in the standings.
The game started as a pitcher's duel, with the Giants scratching across a run in the 2nd inning on an RBI double by Felipe Alou. However, the Dodgers erupted for 7 runs in the 6th inning, highlighted by a bases-clearing double by Jim Gilliam and a key error by Giants catcher Ed Bailey. The Giants fought back, plating 4 runs in the 6th to cut the deficit to 7-5. They tied the game at 7-7 in the 8th on an unearned run, setting up a dramatic 9th inning.
In the bottom of the 9th, the Dodgers loaded the bases and Maury Wills scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Tommy Davis, giving Los Angeles an 8-7 victory. The win kept the Dodgers in the thick of the pennant race, while the Giants fell further back. The 1962 season would go down to the wire, with the Dodgers ultimately edging the Giants by 4 games to claim the National League title.
#MauryWills #DonDrysdale #TommyDavis #FelipeAlou #SanFranciscoGiants #LosAngelesDodgers #DodgerStadium #PennantRace
The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers faced off in Game 1 of a...
1962 NL Tie-breaker G1 - Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Francisco Giants Radio / The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers faced off in Game 1 of a best-of-three tiebreaker series on October 1, 1962, at Candlestick Park to determine the National League pennant winner. Both teams had finished the regular season with identical 101-61 records, forcing this playoff. The Giants sent Billy Pierce to the mound against the Dodgers' ace Sandy Koufax. This matchup was particularly significant as the Dodgers had just endured a late-season collapse, losing six of their last seven games and failing to score in their final 21 innings. Meanwhile, the Giants had surged, winning five of their last seven to force this tiebreaker.
The Giants wasted no time in breaking the Dodgers' scoreless streak, as Willie Mays hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Koufax. Jim Davenport added a solo shot in the second, chasing Koufax from the game after just one-plus innings. The Giants continued to pour it on, with Mays hitting his second home run of the game in the sixth inning, followed immediately by an Orlando Cepeda homer. Meanwhile, Pierce was dominant on the mound for San Francisco, keeping the Dodgers' bats quiet throughout the game. The Giants added three more runs in the eighth to put the game out of reach.
The final score was 8-0 in favor of the Giants, giving them a 1-0 lead in the tiebreaker series. Pierce pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits while striking out six. Mays finished the game 3-for-3 with two home runs, three RBIs, and three runs scored. This victory put the Giants one win away from the National League pennant. They would go on to win the series in three games, advancing to face the New York Yankees in the World Series, which the Yankees would win in seven games.
#WillieMays #BillyPierce #SandyKoufax #OrlandoCepeda #JimDavenport #1962NLPennantRace #GiantsDodgersRivalry #CandlestickPark #NLTiebreaker #MLBPlayoffs
In the 1962 season, both the New York Giants and the New York Mets experienced...
San Francisco Giants vs New York Mets - Radio Broadcast / In the 1962 season, both the New York Giants and the New York Mets experienced contrasting fortunes in Major League Baseball. The Giants, led by manager Alvin Dark, showcased a strong performance, finishing the regular season with a commendable record of 103 wins and 62 losses. They featured standout players such as Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda, who contributed significantly to their success. However, despite their remarkable regular season, the Giants fell short in the World Series, losing to the American League champions, the New York Yankees, in a tightly contested seven-game series.
On the other hand, the newly formed New York Mets had a difficult inaugural season. Managed by Casey Stengel, the Mets struggled to find their footing, concluding the season with a disappointing record of 40 wins and 120 losses. Plagued by inconsistent performances and a lack of experienced players, the Mets faced significant challenges throughout the year. Despite the team's struggles, the 1962 season laid the groundwork for the Mets' future development and eventual rise to success in the years to come.