Watching Full Vintage Games on Youtube...

[Harliduck]

We are so lucky to be living in the age of the internet. I routinely utilize youtube to watch players I could only view in pictures and read about. I LOVE the pre-war footage and am still amazed that our beloved game really hasn't changed a whole lot. Before I was able to watch these clips, I would not have thought a stud from 1909 could compete with the players now...after watching hours of footage I disagree with that statement. A stud is a stud. In fact, it is clear to me the players today have lost some of the talents the past players perfected. Bunting mostly...that fine art is almost DEAD. Ever seen Phil Rizzuto lay down a bunt??? Bunting and the threat of the bunt changes the game...entirely. Can you imagine if Ty Cobb batted today and they put a shift on him??

I stumbled across this game the other night, Game 7 of the 1952 WS (Yankees vs. Dodgers), playing in such an amazing pressure packed event and for all the marbles. I knew who won being a Post War stat geek, and I knew Billy Martin made the amazing catch to save the game, but that was all I knew. Watching such iconic HOFers play in the entirety, not just news clips, was unreal. The bunting...there were attempts by Mantle, Robinson, Rizzuto, and yes, even Duke Snider tried to lay one down! Watching Mantle at 20 years old was something else, pure poetry. Pee Wee Reese was a master at SS, what hands. Anyway...here is a link if anyone is interested...what a game. Nothing better than watching in it's entirety like this...not just clips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqZnPQnxO9U

[Cliff Bowman]

I watched the near complete game between the Phillies and Cubs played on September 27, 1977 in Wrigley Field on YouTube last night. I remember coming home from school as a ten year old in New Jersey to watch the second half of the game on a Philadelphia station. It was the division clinching game for the Phillies that year, but oddly it is missing the Cubs bottom of the ninth and showing the Phillies celebrating. As a lifelong Cub fan I didn't mind that. A few things stood out to me, when a player reached base they immediately discarded the batting helmet and wore a cap on the bases, when Tug McGraw relieved starter Larry Christenson, Christenson stayed at the mound until McGraw got there and handed him the ball and then walked off, and the camera showed a concessionaire walking around selling Cubs memorabilia including pennants, team photos, caps, etc. That is really a contrast from baseball today. It was also the final game of Dave Giusti's career, he got lit up by the Phillies in the top of the ninth when the game shuts off. ETA, I was also surprised at how much bunting there was in the game, both Mike Schmidt and Bobby Murcer attempted bunts for hits with runners on base. You never see sluggers do that today.

[brian1961]

John, I am in complete agreement with you. While I have not seen the complete 1952 World Series seventh game you mention, I do want to see it one day. I've seen the segment when Mickey Mantle faced Joe Black, walloping a crucial homer. No doubt about it, what Mickey did in the 6th and 7th games made him "the toast of the town" in New York, and the star to watch in the future.

As I recall YOUTUBE carries both those games in their entirety. Their heritage traces to when the games were filmed from the television broadcast, which I believe is referred to as a kinescope. These World Series films had been sent to our US servicemen fighting the Korean War at the time.

Thanks for reminding me of these, bro. They will be worth the time. That 1952 Series was one of the greatest ever. ---Brian Powell

[AustinMike]

Incredible!!! Thanks for the link!! I didn't know these were on Youtube.

[seanofjapan]

LOL, I didn`t know about the ability to see full old games on Youtube until reading this either, thanks!

[bnorth]

I watch youtube all the time and never even though about full baseball games being on there. Awesome, thanks for posting this.

I usually watch the best TV show ever made on there "The Red Green Show".

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Absolutely astounding! I have only watched an inning or so of Game 6 of the '52 Series, but I am blown away! To see Mantle, Robinson , Campanella, etc in the flesh is amazing. When I get home from work tomorrow night and get settled in, I know what I will be watching!

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[Manny Trillo]

I really want to find time to do this one time when I was visiting my parents I watched the 1972 World Series on Major League Baseball Network, this is before YouTube became prevalent. I was really impressed with Frank Robinson, and was shocked at the condition of the outfield!

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