The Greatest Baseball Game in History?

[Moonlight Graham]

I'm reading "Baseball, an Illustrated History" by Ken Burns and Geoffrey C. Ward, it's an absolute great read, with all these great photos and anecdotes, and there's this moment near the end when they say that possibly the greatest game in World Series history took place at Fenway Park in 1975 between the Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds.

And so I wondered if you all agreed with this statement. If not, I'm sure you're all keeping a treasured moment seen on television or at the ball park.

So when and where was it? What is it that makes this game or this particular play so special to you? And ... do you have it on tape?

[Thudhugger]

Moonlight, Being from Idaho there wasn't alot of pro games nearby I did get to enjoy a Mariners game one birthday but couldn't say that it was the greatest game I ever saw.

However, that being said one of my other hobbies is old time radio shows and throughout the years I have accumulated several old baseball games. The oldest one I have has the announcers discussing this new up and coming rookie taking over for an ailing Babe Ruth for that game. The Rookie is Lou Gehrig and he hits a two run homer in the game. I also have the 1961 game when Maris hits his 61st homer to pass Ruth, and the Willie Mays "The Catch" game. Plus several World series games. Not all are in the best quality for listening to, but those that are...well it puts you back in your childhood with your am radio listening to Red Barber calling the game after you were sent to bed.

Thud

[wjr953]

Moonlight,
For me, that '75 WS Game 6, has to be my personal favorite. I have been a lifelong Red Sox fan (can't say "long-suffering" anymore!) and that was the game with Carlton Fisk's home run that saved the Red Sox bacon in that series. They lived to play another day, but unfortunately as we all know, they lost game seven and the series. That Cincinnati team was quite a team. Their pitching wasn't the best, but the Big Red Machine sure could mash the baseball.

As it would happen, I'm also reading the Ken Burns baseball book! So far I'm about 3/4ths of the way through it. I also have the complete Ken Burns "Baseball" DVD set. My wife surprised me with it a few months ago. God, I love that woman!!! The book is jam-packed with stuff, but the DVD's are just incredible. A little background. My wife and I were watching TV one night (PBS), and I happened to mention the Ken Burns Baseball Anthology. I told her that I was going to buy that someday, but it was soooooo expensive and I just could not bring myself to spend the money. Don't you know, about 4 months later, she hands the DVD set to me, along with the History of Baseball book. I was just totally flabbergasted, speechless. She is so good to me, I can't even begin to tell you. Anyways, together we have watched the first three DVD's or "Innings" as they're labeled. Some really remarkable stories and film footage. If you're as much of a baseball junkie as I am, it's something you just have to have. I highly recommend it.


Thud, I had heard that you can download podcasts with broadcasts of old baseball games. Now I don't remember exactly who I heard that from, but I vaguely remember something mentioned about "Baseball Historian", I believe there's a website for this. I wish I had more information for you, but that's all I can remember right now. (old age, the memory is the 2nd thing to go!) I'll check with the guy that told me about this and see if I can get more info. If anyone else has any input on this, please feel free to chime in. Thanks guys.

bill

[Moonlight Graham]

You're definitely right Bill, this documentary is a must have! I've already watched the first 6 innings, but then I saw the book also existed and since I've always had this great feelings with books, I stopped watching the series for a time and read the book instead. But when I'm through with the book (that is certainly by the end of the week), I plan to watch the whole series starting from the 1st inning again. I really like the interviews with Buck O'Neil.

As for the Baseball Historian you mentioned, I think I found the page:
http://www.podcastalley.com/podcast_det ... od_id=6980

Any more stuff on the game of the century out there?

[wjr953]

Definitely. He seems like a real interesting person. Someone that you'd really like to just sit there and listen to the stories he has to tell. This series really brings a lot of the old time ballplayers to life. Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, etc. it goes on and on.

Thanks for the link to the Baseball Historian. If anyone has an iPod and likes to listen to old time broadcasts of baseball games, then you can download them via podcast and listen to them. Some of the best memories I have are of summer nights, listening to Red Sox games on the radio. To me, listening to games on the radio, if you have a real good announcer, is better sometimes than watching on TV. Using my imagination to fill in the blanks, just like when I was a kid. Priceless.

br

[Moonlight Graham]

Bill, I found another link to the Baseball Historian which seems to be the one you were looking for:

http://baseballhistorian.libsyn.com/

[crackofthebat]

Greatest game in World Series History? I would vote for the seventh game of the 1960 World Series when Bill Mazeroski hit a walk off homer to win the series for the Pirates over the highly favored Yankees. Back in those days when the series was played during the day our school teachers used to let us listen to the game on the radio in class. I had just gotten home from school and turned on the old black and white TV when Bill Mazeroski hit his homer. My second place vote would go for Don Larsen's perfect game. I think you tend to favor the games you heard or saw in your lifetime that became part of your baseball background.