What was the most Memorable Game You have sen in person? [Archive]

sando69

07-11-2009, 01:17 AM

in my one & only visit to candlestink park, i sat in the right-centerfield bleachers for a memorable koufax-marichal afternoon duel.
willie mays hit a three-run homer in the 3rd inning, keying a 4-3 giant victory.
but the real excitement occurred when, during his first at-bat, future hall of famer juan marichal, offended that a return throw to the pitcher's mound had come too close to his ear, retaliated against catcher john roseboro by whacking him over the head with his bat!
of course, a bench clearing brawl ensued, and the rest is virtual dodger/giant history!
rosey left to get stitches, marichal was ejected & subsequently suspended and koufax went on to suffer an uncharacteristic & untimely loss (one of only five that season).
and, being the only dodger fans in an absolute sea of giants fans made the whole experience even more unforgettable!
edited to add:
btw, masanori murakami was credited with the "save" of ron herbel's victory that day.

Kawika

07-11-2009, 01:42 AM

Very neat that you saw a game in 1669! I only go as far as back as 1912. Watched Smokey Joe Wood set down Tesreau and the Giants in the fourth game of the World Series at the Polo Grounds. Best game I ever saw. I was on acid. All kidding aside, this, imho, is a great idea for a thread and I hope others will weigh in with their stories. As far as memorable games that mattered two come to mind. In 1957 when I was seven I attended Game 2 of the NY-Milwaukee WS at Yankee Stadium. Lew Burdette went all the way in a 4-2 win. The big thrill was seeing young Hank Aaron run out a triple. The other memorable game was Game 5 of the 1989 NL playoffs between the Giants and Cubs at Candlestick. Will Clark's single off Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams in the eighth won the pennant for my Giants (who were shortly thereafter dispatched by Oakland's Bash Brothers and the Loma Prieta Quake). Most intense face-off between a pitcher and a hitter I can ever recall being witness to. The most memorable game that didn't matter, the game for which I am most nostalgic, took place on August 14, 1959 between the Red Sox and Yanks at the old Old Yankee Stadium. It was the first night game I ever went to. My Dad, my brother and I sat in the dark upper left field grandstands as Whitey Ford and the Yanks appeared to easily handle Boston on the brightly lit field below, at least until the wheels fell off New York in the eighth. As the NYT wrote: "Fourteen Red Sox batted and nine of them scored in a nightmarish eighth-inning attack before 37,906 witnesses. The Yankees were the victims of the uprising, which lifted the Red Sox to an 11-6 triumph at the Stadium." Vic Wertz's grand slam off Ryne Duren was the kicker.

Wild Thing vs. The Thrill, Oct. 9, 1989
http://photos.imageevent.com/kawika_o_ka_pakipika/bbbofsfirstclass/miscellanybaseball/large/DMcD405.jpg

barrysloate

07-11-2009, 04:38 AM

Sixth game of the 1986 World Series. Was invited at the last minute. Who would have guessed the outcome?

Rich Klein

07-11-2009, 05:58 AM

But the one with the best story is the game we went to as part of the 1999 SABR National Convention.

A little digression here; a couple of weeks before the conference; I got a call from good friend Lew Lipset; asking if I wanted to go with that game with him. I said of course; because his ticket I knew would be better than the SABR tickets :) On the way to the game; he asked me; if the game runs long; do you mind leaving early?

Well; turned out no need for any of that as Randy Johnson (who pitched a masterful game and fanned his 2500th batter that night) was outpitched by a slug named Jose Jiminez (no relation to the astronaut) who decided to toss a no-hitter that night. In front of 500 SABR fans and other people --

I should also add that the late card/memorbilia dealer Bob Koehler used my extra ticket for that game and while he was still with us; we'd always joke that I had an extra ticket.

Here is the box from that game

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1999/B06250ARI1999.htm

Regards
Rich

I also went amongst other games to game 3 of the 2005 World Series; which lasted forever and a day.

None of the All-Star games I have been at have been really memorable.

First ever Interleague game was played at the Ballpark in Arlington; I made sure to buy tickets for that well in advance; actually made a few dollars for realizing importance before the average fan did.

I also want to note that in 2002 I went to the Red Sox game as part of the SABR convention -- and I have never really talked about this before -- but a few people I saw that weekend I would never see again. I walked to the ballpark with a great researcher named Dick Thompson, who wrote a fine tome on the Ferrell brothers -- and because of various circumstance -- that would be the last time I ever saw him before his untimely passing

Also -- my dear friends Audre and Eddie Gold were celebrating their 45th anniversary that weekend. By the end of the year; they were both gone. I still miss them dearly. And while we are at it; please say a prayer for their son Steve Gold; who is missing this year's National due to cancer treatments. This will be the 1st National in about 20 years we have not done dinner at least once during the show.

ChuckRoss

07-11-2009, 06:10 AM

I remember seeing a number of great Orioles games over the decades and can still picture the triple play they pulled off against the Yankees in the late 80's. But for me the most memorable game was the last game at Memorial Stadium. The game ended and no one there knew what was going to happen...were we just going to leave or did the O's have something planned? As people started shuffling around to get out of there while taking one last look, the music from Field of Dreams started playing and slowly, one at a time, all the O's greats (Brooks, Frank R, Boog Powell, etc) jogged out to their former positions. It actually brought chills. After a short ceremony, a limousine came in and the home plate was scooped up and driven over to the home plate spot at the still unfinished Camden Yards.

Exhibitman

07-11-2009, 06:29 AM

1976 Game 3. Damned Reds...

ullmandds

07-11-2009, 06:59 AM

My most memorable game was game 4 of the 1978 world series...Dodgers v Yankees...in the bronx. Starters Ed Figueroa and Tommy John were locked in a scoreless duel before Reggie Smith struck with a three-run homer in the top of the fifth. John continued his shutout through the fifth, but, in the Yankees' half of the sixth, things got a little crazy.

Reggie Jackson finally got the Yankees on the board with a one-out RBI single. With Thurman Munson on second and Jackson on first, Lou Piniella hit a low, soft liner that shortstop Bill Russell fumbled (some claim intentionally). Russell recovered the ball and stepped on second to force Jackson, but his attempted throw to first to complete the double play struck a confused Jackson in the right hip and caromed into foul territory. Munson scored, partially because first baseman Steve Garvey stopped to yell at the first-base umpire over the non-interference call before retrieving the ball. The Dodgers' protests went for naught but would not had been necessary if Russell had made the proper play. Thinking Russell was going to catch Piniella's liner, Munson retreated to second and was thisclose to Russell when Russell stepped on second and threw to first. The inning would have been over if Russell had tagged Munson (out# 2) and stepped on second (out# 3) and the score would have remained 3-0, instead the score was then 3-2.

The Yankees tied it in the eighth when Munson doubled home Paul Blair. The score remained tied until the bottom of the tenth. Dodger rookie and Game 2 hero Bob Welch walked Roy White with one out. After Welch retired Munson, Jackson strode to the plate for his first confrontation with Welch since Game 2. This time, Reggie got the better end by singling White to second. Lou Piniella then lined a single to center, scoring White and tying the Series.

The bungled Russell/Jackson play changed the entire Series; instead of the Dodgers going up 3-1 in games, the Series was then tied and the momentum shifted to the Yankees who outscored the Dodgers 19-4 in the final two games.

And if this wasn't enough...I caught a foul ball off the bat of Reggie Smith. What a game for a 9 yr old!

pete ullman

Jay Wolt

07-11-2009, 07:00 AM

I've been fortunate to see perhaps 200 games from Mickey Mantle day in '69 to the opening of the "new" Yankee Stadium in '76 to all the playoff & World Series games in NY in 1981.

My favorite game was in 1981 on a cold dreary day in Sept when the Yanks faced Cleveland. John Denny was pitching and through tight at Reggie and the struck him out. Words were exchanged, nothing else. Reggie's next at bat he hits a titantic homer off of Denny and stood and watched it and slowly jogged around the bases where Denny was just about following him from 2nd to home yelling at him. Reggie stepped on home plate and went up to Denny and a fight ensued, both benchs emptied. Reggie had to be retrained and carried off the field, he was laughing the whole time.
While the fight was slowing down, Lou Piniella came charging out of the dugout towards the Indians. We assumed he was on the can when it first happened.

Old Mill Man

07-11-2009, 07:13 AM

In the 75 World series I was at game six and saw Carlton Fisk win the game as he jubiliantly waved his hands for the ball to stay fair and it was such a great moment I was only 13 then.Is that lucky?,LOl ;-)

canjond

07-11-2009, 07:18 AM

Jim Abbotts no-no on 9/4/93 again the Cleveland Indians. Boggs made an incredible play early in the game to save the no hitter. Who knew at the time how big that play would be.

It was an incredible moment to watch a pitcher with one hand achieve such an amazing feat.

terjung

07-11-2009, 07:24 AM

I don't have any legendary games under my belt, but I was able to get to see the Rays beat the Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series last year (the Rays only win). The atmosphere was electric and it was an experience that I will never forget.

rdixon1208

07-11-2009, 07:35 AM

I got to see Craig Biggio get his 3,000 hit here in Houston.

Jacklitsch

07-11-2009, 07:47 AM

This one is easy.

May 12, 1970 Wrigley Field, Chicago. Braves vs. Cubs.

Pat Jarvis serves up Ernie's 500th home run. I'm in the left field bleachers. The ball comes zooming toward me but the guy in front of me has the chance. Ball bounces off his hands back onto the field. Rico Carty picks up the ball and runs it in to give to Ernie.

It was a chilly, misty day, attendance 5,246 though I'm sure you'd find 20,000fans in Chicago who would claim to have been there. Me, I can prove it as I got my picture in next days paper. :cool:

jimonym

07-11-2009, 07:52 AM

ALCS Game 5 (October 18, 2004).
Stage 2 in Boston's epic comeback/NY's epic collapse.
14 innings, five hours and forty-nine minutes.
David Ortiz won it with a walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the 14th, after a 10-pitch at bat...
I still haven't heard another Fenway roar to match it.

yanks12025

07-11-2009, 07:56 AM

Game 2 of the 2004 ALDS Twins vs. Yankees. The Yankees won in extra innings.

jimonym,
2004 Red Sox*

jimonym

07-11-2009, 08:38 AM

Is that asterisk to denote the team that stole the Yankees' "Mystique" and "Aura" and holds them still? :)

You have to admit the fortunes of the two franchises switched in 2004 and the Yankees are the ones who seem to seldom get things right now.

Of course, that could change again, but for five years it's been true.

oldjudge

07-11-2009, 08:43 AM

Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS when Aaron Boone hit the HR off Tim Wakefield. One often forgotten fact is Jason Giambi hit two solo HRs in the game to keep the Yankees close.

Wite3

07-11-2009, 09:09 AM

I have a few....

Kirk Gibson W.S. HR is the best.

Other notable...
Ramon Martinez no-hitter.
Fernando Tatis, two grand slams in the same inning (this is a record that will probably never be broken).
1981 All-Star game.

Joshua

CTDean

07-11-2009, 09:18 AM

The Mets were playing two Sunday games with Philadelphia at Shea, and I was set up at a baseball card show in the picnic area beyond the left center field fence. When game one started the show slowed down, so I spent some time peeping through the fence by the visitors bull pen watching Steve Carlton throw a complete game. When game two started I headed back to my spot to peep through the fence to catch the game and almost bumped heads with Steve Carlton who was peeping through the fence from the other side to check out the card show. We both laughed and then talked for awhile. A memory that will last forever.

FrankWakefield

07-11-2009, 09:40 AM

Wow... the "most"...

1963 I saw Mr. Musial play...

1964 saw World Series game 7, Gibson got the win, Mantle hit a home run.

I think it was 1965 when I saw Mike Shannon put on cather's equipment after neither Uecker nor McCarver could catch, the Giants won that day with Spahn.

I saw Lou Brock's 3000th hit in 1979.

In 1982 I saw game 2 of the World Series, Darryl Porter's wrong field double got the Cards going for a win after a horrible game 1.

I think it was 1984 when I saw the Cubs beat the Cards in a NBC game of the week Saturday game, McGee had a couple of home runs I think, maybe Suitter gave up 2 home runs to Sandburg, Cubs won maybe 12-11 in 11 innings.

In Cincy I saw Mario Soto a pitch away from a no hitter, the Reds were up 1-0 in the 9th, 2 outs, 2 strikes on George Hendricks, and Mario dusts him off and knocks him down. George gets up, dusts himself off, jams his helmet back on his head, and lines the next pitch, a knee high inside blazing fastball, over the left field fence, a low line drive. George silently circles the bases, the Reds fans stand silently and watch. (Reds won in the bottom of the 9th) Now why knock a guy down in that situation??

I saw Pete Rose's hit # 4192....

I sat in Atlanta watching the Braves pile up runs against the Yankees in game 4, 6-0 after 5 innings. Some Yankee fans got drunk, and a few passed out... they missed the Yankees score 3 in the 6th, 3 more in the 8th to tie (University of Kentucky graduate Jim Leyritz hit a home run in the 8th), then the Yankees got 2 in the top of the 10th and held on to win 8-6. 4 hours, 17 minutes of baseball.

Oh... I sat through that Cardinals loss in 2004, game 4 of the World Series as the Red Sox won it all. The Sox fans were reverent, soaking it all in...

But I'm going to pick this game:

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j106/greatwake/nohitterticket.jpg

This is the game that Rich Klein mentions above... we were at the same game! This was the last baseball game I attended with my Dad... Wife, kids and I flew to Las Vegas, stayed a couple of days, rented a car and drove to the Grand Canyon, then down to Phoenix, where we turned in the car and met up with my parents who lived in Tucson, who would take us back there for a few days. We just happened to meet in Phoenix where the Cardinals happened to be playing, and we happened to have tickets! And after years of letters and phone calls I finally met Lew Lipset at this game. I'd called him saying I was going to be at it, we told one another about our seat locations, he couldn't get up to me, I was happy to go down to him, and I now wish I'd met Rich that evening... maybe Lew gave a cursory introduction, I don't recall. (Hello, Rich!) Lew and I talked for a few minutes before the game. As I recall his seats were behind the first base dugout, near the plate end, and maybe 16 or 18 rows from the field...

I vividly recall hearing the pop of the ball as Randy Johnson warmed up in the bullpen, down and to the left of where I was sitting. He looked intense. This was a pitchers' duel. Johnson was dominant, Jimenez held on best he could. 0-0 after 8. Top of the 9th Darren Bragg draws a walk. Johnson walks McGuire. 1st and 2nd with Eric Davis up, Johnson strikes him out. Then what I recall is Thomas Howard fighting off an evil pitch with a shortened swing, the bat breaks and the ball bounces out into left field, Bragg, a good runner who was going on contact, dashes across the plate. And that was the only run of the game. Retrosheet says it was 2 hours 10 minutes, I don't doubt it... Mr. Johnson and Mr. Jimenez were pitchers that day, 2 complete games.

A few years later I finally was at a game when Colorado was at St. Louis. I'd taken this ticket stub along. Half a dozen Rockies were signing, I missed out on some autographs staying focused on Jimenez, who had walked over to sign. He saw that I held a sign with his name and asking for an autograph (in Spanish), a ticket stub, and a Sharpie. He walked over and asked me what I had, while he signed for everyone but me. Soon I figured out he wanted me to talk about how good he was that night, so everyone else could hear. I obliged him. That ticket was the last thing I saw him sign that day, and I'm grateful for it.

A memorable game, because of Dad, because of the no hitter, how we got there, meeting Mr. Lipset....

Ladder7

07-11-2009, 09:45 AM

Fenway for just a fin a piece!
July, 1967. A sunny weekday afternoon at Fenway with about fifty other Dorchester delinquents from a City of Boston youth center. Tix were easy that early in the season of Impossibility. $2.50 grandstand tix, olive loaf and mustard sandwiches and a Mountain Dew!
Lonborg won, but what I remember most. The crazy grounds guy climbing the ladder of that big wall (noone called it the Monster back then) to walk the top and toss down the balls after BP. No stub, no pictures :(

RichardSimon

07-11-2009, 10:34 AM

I was at the last Giants-Dodgers game ever played in NYC at the Polo Grounds 1957 won by the Giants, I was at Jim Bunning's perfect game in 1964, I was at the longest game in baseball history Giants-Mets in 1964 (23 inns, 7+ hours and it included a triple play), I was at the Robin Ventura walk off home run/single in 1999 at the NLCS game 5 Mets vs Braves and I was at the last 2 games ever played at Shea Stadium :( .

RichardSimon

07-11-2009, 10:40 AM

birdman42

07-11-2009, 11:01 AM

Memorial Stadium for the 1983 playoffs and Series. This was back in the day (did I just say that?) when actual fans could get tickets. I brought a chair and a blanket and sat out in line the night before with a couple hundred other fans. Darn Os were too good that year; never got to use my Game 5 playoff tix or game 6-7 Series tix. Ah, well, I did see Boddicker strike out 14 in game 2 of the playoffs. Series seats were in the next-to-the-top row along the third base side. Go up one row and you could look out over the edge of the stadium to see the city below

But that's not #1...

Friday, October 1, 1982. Weaver had announced at the beginning of the season that he'd be retiring at the end, and that Ripken kid had come up from the minors. The Brewers come to town for a four-game series, three games up on the Os. A Friday evening doubleheader, with 48,000 fans shaking brooms and screaming "Sweep! Sweep!" for two full games. Os won both, of course, then again Saturday, to set up the Sunday game (which Palmer lost, 10-2). Gives me chills just typing this.

Bill

sox1903wschamp

07-11-2009, 11:11 AM

Great thread and stories from everyone. 8/17/76, Royals Staduim, KC vs Clev. It is George Brett's 2nd season in the bigs and he is on fire. Royals win 4-3 in 10 and after a one out hit from Brett in the 10th, he steals 2 bases including HOME with 2 outs in the 10th to win the game. I was in the upper deck behind home plate and had a great view of it.

The fans of Kansas City knew right then that they had something special. I kept score in my own unique detailed way of a 15 year old.

triwak

07-11-2009, 11:27 AM

A few:

1) Saw Lou Brock double up someone at first base from left field after catching a line drive. Gibson was pitching. 1968.

2) Saw Gibson get his 2999th strike-out! Hank Aaron got a pinch-hit single during his farewell tour.

3) Saw George Brett creep his average up to .399 in mid-September, 1980. Think he went 4-for-5.

4) Saw final two games in St. Louis, 1998. McGwire hit HR's #67-70. Maybe it is tainted now, but still the most exciting sporting event I've ever witnessed!

5) Saw the playoff game where Rick Ankiel lost his mind. With a 6-0 lead in the third, he threw something like 10 wild pitches, and was never the same again.

ethicsprof

07-11-2009, 11:38 AM

Seeing Joe DiMaggio hit the homer in an Old Timers Game still is my favorite.

best,

barry

drc

07-11-2009, 12:00 PM

When I was in high school, I skipped school to go to see the NCAA Cross Country (running) Championships that took place nearby. That was good fun, in part because I was a runner. Cross country really is cross country, as the runners run a 10K across fields, over the grass and mud, through the woods. It's one of the few NCAA sports that doesn't take place in a contained, artificial field, stadium or building. Even long distance running in track & field season takes place on a synthetic track inside a stadium.

Rich Klein

07-11-2009, 12:39 PM

Wow... the "most"...

This is the game that Rich Klein mentions above... we were at the same game! This was the last baseball game I attended with my Dad... Wife, kids and I flew to Las Vegas, stayed a couple of days, rented a car and drove to the Grand Canyon, then down to Phoenix, where we turned in the car and met up with my parents who lived in Tucson, who would take us back there for a few days. We just happened to meet in Phoenix where the Cardinals happened to be playing, and we happened to have tickets! And after years of letters and phone calls I finally met Lew Lipset at this game. I'd called him saying I was going to be at it, we told one another about our seat locations, he couldn't get up to me, I was happy to go down to him, and I now wish I'd met Rich that evening... maybe Lew gave a cursory introduction, I don't recall. (Hello, Rich!) Lew and I talked for a few minutes before the game. As I recall his seats were behind the first base dugout, near the plate end, and maybe 16 or 18 rows from the field...

I vividly recall hearing the pop of the ball as Randy Johnson warmed up in the bullpen, down and to the left of where I was sitting. He looked intense. This was a pitchers' duel. Johnson was dominant, Jimenez held on best he could. 0-0 after 8. Top of the 9th Darren Bragg draws a walk. Johnson walks McGuire. 1st and 2nd with Eric Davis up, Johnson strikes him out. Then what I recall is Thomas Howard fighting off an evil pitch with a shortened swing, the bat breaks and the ball bounces out into left field, Bragg, a good runner who was going on contact, dashes across the plate. And that was the only run of the game. Retrosheet says it was 2 hours 10 minutes, I don't doubt it... Mr. Johnson and Mr. Jimenez were pitchers that day, 2 complete games.

A few years later I finally was at a game when Colorado was at St. Louis. I'd taken this ticket stub along. Half a dozen Rockies were signing, I missed out on some autographs staying focused on Jimenez, who had walked over to sign. He saw that I held a sign with his name and asking for an autograph (in Spanish), a ticket stub, and a Sharpie. He walked over and asked me what I had, while he signed for everyone but me. Soon I figured out he wanted me to talk about how good he was that night, so everyone else could hear. I obliged him. That ticket was the last thing I saw him sign that day, and I'm grateful for it.

A memorable game, because of Dad, because of the no hitter, how we got there, meeting Mr. Lipset....

Lew did give us a cursory introduction -- how about that; meeting up with you again after all these years :)

And you are spot on about where his tickets were for that game.

Rich

FrankWakefield

07-11-2009, 01:08 PM

Hello again, Rich...

Ten years ago... would you recall that as you sat, Lew was to your left? I do believe he introduced us, told me you were a fellow collector, then Lew and I talked a bit.

You had excellent seats for a game that was great, for purists and fans. For some folks a quick game with few hits and only one run would have been a bit boring. What a game! As I remember the evening, we watched them roll open the roof to Also Sprach Zarathustra. I can close my eyes and see the stars overhead, I can still see tall Randy Johnson looking from the mound into left as that ground ball oozed its way past the short stop.

FW

calvindog

07-11-2009, 01:10 PM

Game 3, 1978 World Series, the Dodgers were leading the Yankees 2-0 in games; Sutton pitching for the Dodgers and Roy White hitting a homerun down the right field line in the first inning. The game was best known for the incredible plays made by Graig Nettles at third base.

Peter_Spaeth

07-11-2009, 02:29 PM

Game 7, 71 World Series. Blass when he was still good over Cuellar. Clemente HR. Pirates win 2-1.

Rich Klein

07-11-2009, 04:09 PM

tedzan

07-11-2009, 04:11 PM

Well, I would like to say Don Larsen's W.S. PERFECT GAME in 1956, which I saw; but, not at Yankee Stadium.

Or, I can say the record-breaking NFL game at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore in the Fall of '72. Where Namath threw
for 500 yards and Unitas threw for 390 yards. I was there for that amazing game and still have the ticket to prove it.

But, here is my most exciting game......Sept of '51 my cousin pulls up to my house in his 1951 Buick Riviera convertible
and says he has two tickets to Ebbets Field. We arrive in Flatbush to an SRO crowd in the stadium. The Dodgers take
a 1-0 lead into the 9th inning. The Giants lead off in the 9th with two guys on base. Bobby Thomson slices a ball to RF.
Carl Furillo (the veritable rifle arm) wings the ball to home as the runner slides. The Umpire raises his arm to signify OUT.
Then the Ump changes his call to SAFE.....all "bedlam" breaks out in Brooklyn.

Apparently, when the dust cleared it, Campy had dropped the ball. The Giants went on to win 2-1. This game exemplified
the entire 1951 season, in which BB saw one of the greatest comebacks ever by the Giants....that culminated with Bobby
Thomson's "shot heard around the world" in the final playoff game between these two NY rivals.

TED Z

robedits

07-11-2009, 04:22 PM

Tom Seaver's 300th win at the Stadium (85).

Yanks win at Stadium vs Twins,9-8,after being down 8-0. Sometime mid-80s. mattingl'y homer sailed right over my head in the blue seats for the game-winner if I remember!

First game attended with my dad at Yankee Stadium '66 or '67. Dad pointing out the Mick to me during BP. I remember it was late summer,vs Chisox or Det. Clearly in my mind,I remember Mick hitting a GW homer,but I don't think he played the whole game. MIght have been as a PH!

First time with dad at shea during '64 worlds fair.I was only 6,so I have no memories of the game,other than the fact that I ate too much ice cream and my baby brother got sick and we had to leave!

Again,with dad ..and 2 friends at a night game at Shea,when Yankees played there,it was 1974. Against the angels. Frank Robby I think knocked one out. Dad had a minor heart attack at the game and DROVE US ALL HOME before taking himself to the hospital. Top THAT for danger :-) He didnt tell us until later about the attack; I just thought he looked ill. He did take some bullets and shrapnel in WW2,so he was a tough bird.

Gooden's 1H,10-0 (?) shutout at shea vs the Cubs (84),where I think he broke the rookie K record for one season as a P.

Dont remember much about this game,but dad's friend jack Lang (writer) got me into Mets dugout in '72 before the game to sit with Kooz,Staub,Grote and co. We saw Seaver and I asked for his autograph for me and my brother (Yogi gave us a couple of baseballs!),but he was crabby and I heard him say to Kooz ("who the f is this kid?"). My dad,who was with Jack talking to him on the top of the steps,heard that. Dad was a big,tough guy and I was embarassed when he said to Seaver "please don't talk that way about my boy". I wasn't exactly a baby myself,I was 13 and about 6 feet tall. Tom just walked away and my pop was steamed. Jack got us 2 autos later on and brought them to my dad at his school. Maybe Tom was having a bad day. Biggest thrill,though,was meeting Mays and noticing how strong his arms looked and how big his hands were when he shook my hand. Got his auto on my glove,along with Rusty's and Kooz...and my younger brother used it in a game in the rain a few days later. Still have the glove in my garage;cant see the autos anymore,sadly.

GREAT thread!

T206Collector

07-11-2009, 05:50 PM

My top 5 are probably:

The "Aaron Boone" game -- 2003 ALCS Game 7
Game 7 of the 1986 WS
Jeter's "Mr. November" Game -- 2001 WS Game 4
Cone and Well's perfect games (1999 and 1998 respectively)

I also saw Al Leiter throw a no-hitter against the Rockies on May 11, 1996 in Miami.

sealmark2

07-11-2009, 05:57 PM

How about TWO no hitters four months apart? I was at Catfish's perfecto on May 8, 1968 and Gaylord's no-no on September 17, of that year. In those days the players were really cooperative so I have autographed programs and ticket stubs framed on my office wall from both games. No I did not work at the ballparks I just happened to hit it right as a fan.

Also, regarding Catfish's feat the story would have you believe there were thousands of people in the stands. Just ask any A's fan. In fact there were probably 1000 +/- of us at the conclusion when Roseboro fanned.

Mark K. Bowers
(sealmark)

ErikV

07-11-2009, 06:00 PM

My most memorable game was October 11,1980 at Angels Stadium.
The Milwaukee Brewers vs California Angels. Charlie Moore of the
Brewers hit for the cycle.

I suppose a close second was Pac Bell Park, August 6,2007. I
missed seeing Barry Bonds record breaking 756 homerun by one
game. He hit 756 the following evening.

Steve D

07-11-2009, 06:11 PM

I was at Nolan Ryan's 7th no hitter on May 1, 1991. Section 102, Row 1, Seat 20 (first row, field level, next to the Rangers' bullpen) :)

Steve

B O'Brien

07-11-2009, 07:05 PM

Being the younger fan that I am am, I don't stack up to most of y'alls stories.

I pulled a stupid one a couple years ago here in ATL. I called in a favor to get a pair of front row seats behind the plate, toward the 3B side at Turner Field to watch Randy Johnson (liked him since '89) against the Braves. I get off work early to go and meet some people for drinks at a bar about half way down the train line to the park. We get to having a real good time and I decide to skip the game.

I get to talking to some people at the bar and they are talking about Randy mowing down the Braves through 5+, so I catch a cab and manage to see the last three outs from my PERFECT seats.

Long story short, I had to many drinks and missed most of my favorite pitcher tossing a perfect game, while I could have watched in all in the best seats of my life. At least I got to see the last few pitches. I now only order beers after I get in the stadium, which is only about once a season with kids now.

Take care,
Bob

Steve D

07-11-2009, 09:54 PM

Bob,

Your story reminds me of a similar instance. I think it was in July 1991, I'd driven up to Arlington TX (I lived in San Antonio at the time - a 270 mile drive) to see the Rangers play the Angels. I went to one or two games, and then drove back. I'd thought of going to the game that day, but decided that I needed to get back home since I had to be at work the next day.

Anyway, I drove home, and then turned on the TV, only to find that Nolan Ryan had another no hitter going (#8). I was sweating it out until Dave Winfield broke it up in either the 7th or 8th inning.

After having been at Nolan's 7th no-no, to have missed him going for #8 only two months later, still bugs me.

Steve

mets41

07-12-2009, 12:16 AM

1: mid-60's at Connie Mack Stadium, Phila.: my father and I were sitting in lf (about row 5). Bill White, then of the Cards, hit a homer. After getting home, a friend of mine called me and said he saw us on tv. In 1974, I got to meet White and I told how how he got me on tv.

2: 8/4/85, Yankee Stadium: Seaver's 300th Win.

3: late 80's or early 90's at the Vet, Phila.: top of the 1st, Gwynn hit into a triple play. With runners on 1st and 2nd, both runners ran on the pitch. Randy Ready, 2nd baseman, broke to cover 2nd and caught Gwynn's liner, tagged 2nd and threw to 1st. (the runner coming fron 1st was close enough that Ready could have completed an unassisted triple play, but chose to throw to 1st)

4: final day of the 1991 season at the Vet, Phila.: David Cone, then of the Mets, struck out 19 Phillies.

5: Apr., 2003, at the Vet, Phila.: Kevin Millwood's no hitter vs. the Giants

Danny Smith

07-12-2009, 07:44 AM

I have not seen anything in person in comparison to some of the stories previously mentioned, but i'm pretty sure after I go to the Home Run Derby and the All Star Game on Monday and Tuesday those will top my list for a long time to come.

Danny

packs

07-12-2009, 09:18 PM

I was lucky enough to see what I think is still the last recorded unassisted triple play, Randy Velarde's at Yankee Stadium.

But the best ever was David Cone's Perfect Game against the Expos.

Andy Baran

07-13-2009, 07:27 AM

Game 4 of the 2004 World Series in St. Louis. My wait for the Sox to win the Championship was over, and I was there!

Jewish-collector

07-13-2009, 08:29 AM

Game 7 of the 1979 World Series vs Pirates at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. O's lost, of course :( They could never beat Pittsburgh.

Koufax

07-13-2009, 08:53 AM

Mine was George Brett's pine tar game in '83. Sat 4th row behind Royals dugout. Amazing what unfolded that day. Memories:
- Gossage was throwing absolute beebies, only Brett could get around on smoke like that
- Fans really didn't have any idea what Brett was called out for. We knew it had something to do with the bat, fans were clueless about the pine tar rule prior to that day.
- When we left the stadium, we knew it was an interesting occurrence, but had no idea it would capture such attention for such a long time.

Fast forward to late 1984. I'm in a book store and I see a book called "Pine Tarred and Feathered", covering the 1983 season. I'm flipping thru the book, looking at pictures, and see photos to the pine tar game. After a minute or two, I think "Hey, I was at that game!". Lo and behold, there I am in 2 photos in the book in the background as Brett is storming out of the dugout. Then I look at the cover of the book ... and yes, there's me, front and center watching Brett run out of the dugout. My 2 minutes of fame! Needless to say, I bought the book and my kids have gotten a big kick out of it.

As with others on this thread, I was also at Seaver's 300th at Yankee Stadium, watching his White Sox beat the Yankees. Seaver was my childhood hero, so it was an amazing game to attend. Also, was the last game I ever went to with my folks.

kkkkandp

07-13-2009, 09:05 AM

Yankees vs. Cardinals. Monday, October 12. I was 13 years old. My uncle had two tickets, but was called in to a business meeting at the last minute and couldn't go to the game. He dropped me and my 10 year old cousin (his son) off at the gate and picked us up after the game. Not many parents would be comfortable with that arrangement these days!

Saw Tom Tresh tie the game at 2 - 2 in the bottom of the ninth with a home run off Bob Gibson only to have Tim McCarver hit a home run in the top of the tenth to win it.

whitehse

07-13-2009, 09:11 AM

Having worked on major league baseball for 7 years I have seen all star games and playoff games. (Unfortunatly no world series as of yet) My most memorable game was the day I spent with Pete Rose being his shadow at Wrigley Field the weekend he tied Cobbs record. There were 2 of us assigned to be Pete's shadow because of death threats and other issues that came up. We were with Pete wherever he went including on the field. We were walking back from his press conference held under the right field stands when a 2 hopper came right at us and I grabbed it with my bare hand. Pete looked at me and said it was a nice catch but he had no clue my hand was now on fire!! When he tied Cobb's record I was in the dugout with the whole team and watched this record tying event with the Reds.

The interesting thing is a few months ago I found a Youtube video that show me in the dugout as Pete Rose was running out to the field on this day. You cant see my face all that well but it is definitly me standing there against the water cooler!! when I get home tonight I will link the video as the computers at work have blocked youtube.

I have seen at least 2 thousand games but that one was one of the best!!

Rob D.

07-13-2009, 09:19 AM

World Series game, late '70s. Being at the game was cool enough, but what made it great was that we sat behind a guy who kept trying to negotiate with the vendors walking the aisles.

"$4 for popcorn? I'll give you a dollar."

"I can't pay $6 for a beer. How about a discount ... $3?"

Vintagedegu

07-13-2009, 10:36 AM

GasHouseGang

07-13-2009, 11:23 AM

The most memorable game I actually attended was August 17, 1980. Went to the game where George Brett went 4 for 4 at the plate and moved his season batting average to .401. Brett had been on an incredible tear and everyone wanted to see him go for the elusive .400. We were only able to buy standing room only tickets, which meant we actually stood up the whole game. But the crowd was really electric and it was great to cheer on Brett and be there for the moment.

WhenItWasAHobby

07-13-2009, 12:26 PM

Mine would have to be Sept. 8, 1993 in the Astrodome where Darryl Kile no-hit the Mets.

Honorable mention would be my first game ever which was July 5, 1967 at Forbes Field where the Pirates beat the Reds 6-1. The highlight of that game was rightfielder Roberto Clemente throwing out a runner, Lee May, coming from third to home on a bloop single. In May's defense, the ball appeared to be catchable so he had to hold up at third until it hit the ground. Still an unbelievable play and it wasn't even that close as Clemente's throw was dead-on perfect to Jerry May.

tedzan

07-13-2009, 02:08 PM

1980 was an exciting season, as I am a Phillies fan, it was great to finally see the Phillies win their first World Series
after their 100 year franchise. Sorry to recall this if you are a Royals fan.

And, it was exciting to follow George Brett flirting with a .400 BA. I still remember what he modestly said to the press
when asked how he just missed the .400......."I didn't have enough Walks".
Brett had only 58 BB's in 1980.

Indeed, the key to batting .400 (for the past 70 years) is to accrue a good amount of Walks....as it reduces your of-
ficial AB's.

When Ted Williams batted .406 in 1941, his numbers were very similar to Brett's; however, Williams Walked 145 times.

TED Z

Rickyy

07-13-2009, 03:30 PM

I don't remember the specific games as they were all regular season or exhibitions, but I do recall seeing the players.

Lotte Orions vs SF Giants this was an exhibition game between the 1971 Japanese Pacific League Champions vs the SF Giants. The Japanese team came to train with the Giants in Casa Grande and they did an friendly game at Candlestick. It was memorable because this was the only time I saw Wille Mays play in person. Willie McCovey also played a few innings and a couple of Japanese hall of famers as well and George Altman who was a big american star in Japan at the time.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs SF Giants - I'm thinking this was 1972? Memorable because I saw Roberto Clemente play in person (his last year) and ofcoruse Pops Stargell. I recall Clemente made a rocket throw to home to prevent a runner from scoring.

Oakland A's vs Texas Rangers 1974. I recall it was Glenn Abbot vs Jackie Brown...Billy Martin had the Rangers competitive with Jim Bibby and Ferguson Jenkins that year. I saw Rudi, Jackson, Bando, Green, Tenance...the 2nd year of their 3 straight world series champions. I think Reggie hit a double and the A's won ofcourse.

Giants vs Dodgers 1978 ... I sat in the bleachers in the upperdeck in an August day game and it was still freezing cold! I don't recall the score, but I remember Ron Cey killing my Giants again!

Ricky Y

DixieBaseball

07-13-2009, 09:26 PM

- Music City Miracle... This playoff game was by far the most memorable game I have ever seen and it was in Nashville!

-The second most memorable game for me was seeing Michael Jordan playing for the B-Ham Barons against the Nashville Xpress in 93-94ish... I had front row seats in Right field and a Hitachi 8mm in hand, and recorded the whole game as I sat and watched him play right field, bat, etc... (You gotta remember, at the time, he had just won 3 straight rings and was a living legend, so the ball park at Greer Stadium was sold out and rocking)

- My third most memorable game was probably an assortment of games I saw as a kid... The Big Red Machine in the mid to late 70's w/ Charlie Hustle, George Foster, and the HOF gang as well as the Atlanta Braves w/ Dale Murphy,Bob Horner, and Niekro... (I lived 3 hours between both cities, so it was an annual trip... Good memories - Great Thread!) :D

deadballpaul

07-13-2009, 10:38 PM

Mine was in September 1987, Cardinals at Mets. 3rd game of the series & the Mets were going for the sweep, & a 1/2 game lead in the division. However, Terry Pendelton drove a Roger McDowell sinker over the center field wall late in the game, & the Cardinals went on to win. It killed the Mets momentum, & they never recovered. I have never forgiven Pendelton for that. It was hard to be mad at McDowell. It was a nasty sinker that Pendelton seemed to golf off his shoe tops. :(

smokeyjoewood

07-14-2009, 12:47 AM

Game 5 of the 1984 WS for me, when Gibby went deep off of Gossage the place went berserk. I ran out on the field after the game and snagged a piece of sod, which I then planted in my backyard the next day. My lifespan was nearly as short as that piece of grass, my pops was pissed about me running out on the field for at least a month.

illini805

07-14-2009, 12:21 PM

I went to every game in the 1982 World Series, my father worked for the Cardinals back then and it was a treat for me growing up. The best game I remember and I was at was when Willie Mcgee hit a 3 run shot in Game 3....What a series and what a game!

HRBAKER

07-14-2009, 12:51 PM

Tom Glavine 8 innings of one hit ball, one single mistake by Jim Poole to Dave Justice brought Atlanta the championship.
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s172/hrbaker/WSticket.jpg

Anthony S.

07-14-2009, 01:10 PM

I was there to see Greg Maddux's 300th win. Also Barry's juiced 71st dong back in 2001. I also saw Johnny LeMaster get more than one hit in a game. But I have a feeling that nothing will ever top this one I attended back in 1982....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fZCCAqoSwY

rsst206

07-14-2009, 02:48 PM

For me was Nolan Ryans 6th No hitter. I had season tickets at the time. A Die Hard A's fan but also a die hard Nolan Ryan Fan. Thinking wow this 43 yr old man just blanked the league leading A's. Thinking I witnessed history. That this would never happen again. I waited over 2 hrs at the Hyatt where the rangers were staying and he was gracious enough to sign the ticket stub along with the Nolan Ryan hat I had on.

mikeycook

07-14-2009, 06:35 PM

October 2, 1978, Fenway Park.

9 years old

Bucky Dent

Took me 26 years to recover.

jobermeyer2

07-14-2009, 07:34 PM

I got laid off on a Thursday in October, 1995. The good news is I had already purchased my Seattle Mariners playoff package, with Game 3 scheduled for Friday!

Game 5, 1995, Divisional Series, Mariners vs. Yankees. As a Mariners fan, it was about as good as it gets. Randy Johnson comes out of the bullpen late in the game (I think the 9th) after pitching in Game 3 two days earlier. Cora's bunt single... Griffey's single up the middle... and Edgar's double down the left field line put the Mariners in the ALCS. Bedlam ensued. It was awesome.

Jeff

MVSNYC

07-14-2009, 07:45 PM

growing-up in NY, i've been to a ton of Yankees & Mets games...one of the best i've seen in person, was Robin Ventura's "Grand Slam Single" in the 1999 NLCS...it was raining, and the game seemed to have lasted forever!

The Mets tied the score 3–3 with a bases-loaded walk with one out in the 15th, bringing up Ventura, he came thru with the first walk-off grand slam—and the first grand slam in extra innings—in postseason history, clearing the center-right field wall and forcing Game 6, but is officially credited with only a 1-run single after being mobbed by teammates upon passing first base.

ocjack

07-14-2009, 08:05 PM

That's an easy one.

1961, Los Angeles Wrigley Field, Maris hits his 50th. home run.

redmansam

07-14-2009, 10:40 PM

It was the summer of 1956 in old Crosley Field.After the Little League season was over,we all got on a bus and made the trip to Cincinnati to see a doubleheader between the Red Legs and the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Unfortunately,the Dodgers won both games,but the real highlight was seeing big Klu hit a grandslam into the Sun Deck in right field.I have always felt this 1956 Reds team was the first Big Red Machine.They hit more home runs in fewer games than any year of the 1970's BRM.

kcohen

07-15-2009, 06:50 AM

Growing up in the DC area, didn't have a chance to attend meaningful regular games. Most memorable for me would be the 1962 and 1969 All Star games - back when the All Star game seemed to matter.

Fred

07-15-2009, 07:02 PM

I can't remember all of the games I've been to. Here are a few:

Reuschel brothers combined on a shut out against the Dodgers at Wrigley Field. I think it was 1975 or 1976.

I saw a skinny/scrawny Barry Bonds play many games at ASU (1980, 1981 or it could have been 1982). Don Wakamatsu (Mariners Mgr) was on the team with Odibe McDowell (cool name, made it to the bigs with the Rangers I think).

Game 4 of the 1998 WS. Pads lost to the Yanks in 4 straight. Kind of a bummer to see the Yanks piling up in celebration on the Padres infield at the end of the game.

Closing Day at Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego)

Opening Day at Petco Park (San Diego) - David Wells started the game. Trevor Hoffman came in, blew the save but the Padres came back and won. I'll remember it because all of the fans were cheering wildly when Trevor came in. "Trevor, Trevor, Trevor". When the inning was over you could hear people screaming "Trevor, Trevor - YOU SUCK!". Kind of sad to see it but at least the Pads came back to win the game. Trevor is a great player and a ROLE MODEL. He's actually someone you'd like your kid to emulate.

Lots more playoff games and other neat games where cool plays took place... Soooooo many games.... Most I ever made was about 70+ home games (one season) for the Padres back in about 1977 or so.