Last week SABR member Bruce Markusen, current Manager of Program Presentations and former Senior Researcher for the Baseball Hall of Fame, was the guest speaker at an event I attended. The program was sponsored by The Oneida County Historical Society, in conjunction with the year long Sports Exhibit that is located at its site in Utica, NY.

As chairman of the exhibit, I had the privilege to introduce Bruce. The author of three books- Baseball’s Last Dynasty: Charlie Finley’s Oakland A’s (which SABR selected as the bast baseball book of 1998, Roberto Clemente: The Great One, and The Orlando Cepeda Story (scheduled for release Spring 2001, Bruce shared with us his impressions of some of the most noteworthy World Series in baseball history. Following are highlights of Bruce’s comments, with occasional notes and details supplied by me.

Bruce noted that some Series that took six games to determine a champion are not given the credit they deserve as great drama, as 7 game series usually are. The 1996 Series between the Yanks and Braves had its highlights including the dramatic extra inning home run hit by Jim Leyritz off Mark Wolers. Bruce noted that the ball caught by Yankee third baseman Charlie Hayes to secure the championship was hit by Utica native Mark Lemke. Especially noteworthy was that this was the first Yankee championship since 1978. The 1993 Series between the Phillies and the Blue Jays was mentioned because of the offensive power on the part of both teams. But also of note was the fact that games were played in Canada, making it international and that it ended with a rarity in World series play — a walk off home run, hit by Joe Carter.

Some Series are trend setters. For example, Bruce noted teat the 1970 Series between the Reds and the O’s was the first that was played on artificial turf. In addition, one can’t ignore the play of Brooks Robinson and I can only imagine the impact that must have had on all those hopeful future major leaguers who would run home from school to watch the games and see that it took more than hitting to win a game. By the way, Brooks also hit .429 with 2 homers and 6 RBI. Alas, the 1971 Series, which featured a return visit by the O’s against that year’s NL Champ Pirates, would mark the beginning of the eventual elimination of World Series day games as game #4 becomes the first World Series game played at night.

There were Series of controversy such as the 1965 Series featuring the Dodgers against the Twins. Ace lefthander Sandy Koufax refused to pitch the first game due to the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur and instead pitched to a 5-1 loss in the second game. However he came back in games 5 and 7 to pitch shut outs against Jim Kaat and lead the Dodgers to the championship. The 1973 Series against the Mets and A’s featured some underhanded maneuvering by Charlie Finley as he tried to force second baseman Mike Andrews to sign an affidavit that he was injured. Andrews had committed 2 errors in game two and Finley wanted to replace him on the roster. His plan failed and Bruce notes that Andrews received a standing ovation the next time he came to bat in Shea, truly a rarity for an opposing player.

Two Series that Bruce made reference to that were considered major upsets were the 1990 Series featuring the Reds vs. A’s and the 1969 Series in which the ‘Amazin’ Mets beat the O’s. The A’s were expected to pulverize the Reds but instead it was the Reds who outscored the A’s 22-8 for a four game sweep. As for the Mets, what else needs to be said? One item of interest, though, was the Cleon Jones ‘Did it or didn’t it hit him’ incident.. Bruce said that Gil Hodges should be in the HOF just based on the old ‘Look at the shoe polish on the ball’ trick that he pulled. Was that even the ball that was in the game?

The 1989 Series between the Giants and the A’s will always be referred to as the ‘Earthquake Series’ as the Bay area experienced a quake that measured 7.1 on the Richter scale, the largest in San Francisco since the 1906 quake that measured 8.3. Suddenly, the national pastime took a back seat to the forces of nature, as Commissioner Fay Vincent postponed game three, referring to the Series as "our modest little sporting event". And the 1971 Series will always be known as Roberto Clemente’s ‘Coming out Party’. A national audience learned what the fans of Pittsburgh had known for a long time about their rightfielder. As Bruce told us, Willie Stargell was in a slump during the first two games and Clemente told him while the two of them were in an elevator," Don’t worry Willie. I’ll carry the team". Clemente batted .414 and was named Series MVP and in spite of facing four 20 game winners, the Pirates won in seven games.

But for the ‘classic Fall Classic’, Bruce’s vote goes to the 1975 Series between the Reds and the Red Sox. This series had it all: sheer excitement, comebacks, future HOF’ers, great plays, even a story behind that classic footage of Fisk’s HR. Seems that Harry Coyle, the network producer had placed a cameraman in a small cubbyhole inside the Green Monster. His instructions were to follow the flight of the ball, no matter what, if one were hit to left field. Sometime during the game, an uninvited guest, (spelled r a t), was spotted by the cameraman and he repositioned himself in this relatively small cubbyhole. In doing so, he was now facing home plate so when Fisk hit the HR, instead of following the ball, he decided to keep the camera on Carlton, thus that very unusual shot from left field.

In closing, Bruce notes that unlike the Super Bowl, which he feels has actually become somewhat of a caracature of itself, the World Series remains compelling as well as competitive, providing us with great moments, great players and numerous subplots. Even journeyman players can become heroes and have the spotlight over the course of a series. Afterwards, Bruce shared his thoughts on DH’s being eligible for HOF induction - ("as long as the current rules support it, I am in favor; after all, how is it different from relief pitchers?") and the possibility of a special section of the HOF for ‘Players of Distinction’ (similar to the Diamond Angle’s SITT HOF) — (There has been no discussion that he is aware of and lack of space would be a factor).

Being a Yankee fan, Bruce was able to return home to Cooperstown that evening one happy camper as his team (and mine) finally found their offense and rallied for a 7-1 victory over the Mariners.