Classic Baseball Radio

Brooks Robinson And The Redemptions, Cincinnati Reds at Baltimore Orioles, 1970 World Series Game 5

The 1969 World Series saw the Baltimore Orioles humbled by the Miracle Mets. The team carried that burden through the 1970 season, using it not to fall, but to rise. After 108 wins in the regular season, they stormed back to the World Series.Facing them were Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine." While the Orioles' offence delivered the runs, it's widely regarded that the defence won the World Series in 1970. And if the defence won the series, the MVP holding back the Reds was Brooks Robinson.For five games, Robinson put on a defensive clinic that has never been equalled. He repeatedly dove to his left and right, backhanded rockets down the line, and made seemingly impossible throws from foul territory to rob Johnny Bench and Lee May of base hits.And he hit.429 into the bargain.Today's broadcast is Game 5 of the series. The Orioles won two on the road and have split the first two games in Memorial Stadium. Can they seal the win, wipe away 1969, and lift the trophy?Jim Simpson calls the game.You can find the boxscore here: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL197010150.shtml This game was played on October 15, 1970.

Lew Burdette's Complete Pitching Lessons, Milwaukee Braves at New York Yankees, 1957 World Series Game 7

What options do you have when your Game 7 starting pitcher falls ill? For the Milwaukee Braves in 1957, the answer was to call back Lew Burdette from two days' rest to pitch in the winner-takes-all duel against the New York Yankees. Burdette had already pitched two complete games and a shutout in the second. Now the weight of facing the Yankees, who were looking to go back-to-back in the Fall Classic. Meanwhile, the ferocious arm of Don Larsen — who pitched a perfect game in the 1956 World Series — was waiting for the Braves. With the respective MVPs of Hank Aaron and Mickey Mantle in the outfields, joined by Eddie Matthews and Yogi Berra offering back-up, the 1957 Series brings action, tension, and stars together. Bob Neale and Earl Gillespie are behind the radio microphones from Yankee Stadium. You can find the boxscore here: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA195710100.shtml This game was played on October 10, 1957.

Passeau's Near Perfect Pitching, Chicago Cubs at Detroit Tigers, October 5, 1945

The 1945 World Series between the Chicago Cubs an the Detroit Tigers is all square heading into Game 3 game apiece. The Cubs starting pitcher is 36-year-old veteran Claude Passeau, and he's about to throw a near perfect game with just 28 plate appearances by the Tigers. While his name is not brought up in discussions of the best pitchers of the era, his performance in Game Three is one of the all-time pitching appearances in World Series history. When the Cubs return to Wrigley Field, the Curse of the Billy Goat would kick in, but for now sit back with Bill Slater and Al Helfer behind the microphone. You can find the boxscore here: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET194510050.shtml This game was played on October 5, 1945.

The Pilots' All-Stars, New York Yankees at Seattle Pilots, May 14, 1969

The Seattle Pilots organisation spent just one year in Seattle before moving to Milwaukee and rebranding as the Brewers. With just one year on the books, the Pilots' record brings up some interesting triva. While several players on the 1969 roster would feature in various All-Star games, only two would wear the Pilots in the celebration of baseball. Don Mincher would return following his 1967 All-Star pick, but for today's classic, let's pick out right fielder Mike Hegan. Hegan spent fourteen years in The Show, playing for the Yankees, the Pilots (and staying with the organisation to wear a Brewers uniform), the Athletics, back to the Yankees, and then back again to the Brewers. He made the All-Star game just once. In 1969. For the Seattle Pilots. That’s in the future. Right now, he's about to face his former team as the Yankees visit Sick's Stadium in Seattle. Frank Messer and Jerry Coleman take you through the game. You can find the boxscore here: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SE1/SE1196905130.shtml This game was played on May 13, 1969.

Go West, Young Man, Chicago White Sox at Los Angeles Dodgers, October 8, 1959

Two years after the Dodgers and the Giants moved to California to establish Major League Baseball on the West Coast, the Dodgers found themselves in the World Series. Following three games in the Los Angeles Colosseum, the Series returns to Cominsky Park with the Dodgers ahead 3-2. Larry Sherry had already won a game, saved two others, and is now on the mound in Game Six. The White Sox Early Wynn also returns as a starter, but on short rest of only two days, the White Sox are taking a gamble – a curious turn of phrase, as this is the first World Series for the White Sox since the Black Sox Scandal of 1917. Mel Allen and By Saam will talk you through the plays in a must-win game for the White Sox. You can find the boxscore here: https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA195910080.shtml This game was played on October 8, 1959.