WWTBAM Bored

I watched a replay of Game 5 of the 1956 World Series on my new favorite channel last night (the MLB Network). They first inning was missing from the film, but the rest of what the showed was the regular broadcast. Gillette must have been the sole sponser since all the commercials were for their razors. They had no center field camera back then, nor did they have instant replay. So it was interesting to watch that game to see how the broadcast of games has changed. They had two guys doing the play-by-play, but they split time so that the viewer only heard one of them. Mel Allen did the first four and a half innings, and then Vin Scully did the last half of the game.

For the past two years, I've subscribed to MLB Extra Innings mainly to watch the Rockies play (since I live in the Rangers' market), but I have also watch other team's broadcasts as well. If the Rockies or Rangers weren't on and if the Dodgers were playing at home, more often than not, I found myself watching their games just to listen to Vin Scully. Even at whatever age he is now, he is still the best play-by-play announcer in baseball. So it was neat seeing and hearing him from 52 years ago.

And by the way, Don Larsen finished that game without allowing a Dodger baserunner...

Rogers Sports with its four cable networks I think genuinely adds extra value to Rogers' owning the Toronto Blue Jays, by the number and quality of U.S. feeds from various home parks it broadcasts. Increases the general awareness of baseball in Canada, and so on.

They show some Dodger home games with Vin Scully announcing. I knew his rep, but had not heard him, at least not lately.

I was initially put off by his style and the amount of extra information he adds in, but I have changed my mind. In the sense which occurred to me, that to him, the players are not demi-god millionaires, but a bunch of -- albeit talented -- overgrown kids only a few years out of high school, and often from a school within hailing distance of Dodger Stadium. And that is how he calls it. And how I now appreciate his work.

dh41:

I watched a replay of Game 5 of the 1956 World Series...

I tried to play "sick" that day but my Mom wasn't having any of it. Her mantra was: "If you aren't bleeding or puking, you are going to school."

I didn't realize at the time what a big deal Larsen's accomplishment was.

ne1410s wrote:dh41:

I watched a replay of Game 5 of the 1956 World Series...

I tried to play "sick" that day but my Mom wasn't having any of it. Her mantra was: "If you aren't bleeding or puking, you are going to school."

I didn't realize at the time what a big deal Larsen's accomplishment was.

I know I made sure I had sniffles and a cold the day of John Glenn's flight. My recollection is that the CBC connected to CBS and Walter Cronkite. Might be off.

(actually, what I wanted to say is that there are lots of kids who would have been GLAD to take a puke if it meant being able to see get out of school and see the World Series. )

ne1410s wrote:dh41:

I watched a replay of Game 5 of the 1956 World Series...

I tried to play "sick" that day but my Mom wasn't having any of it. Her mantra was: "If you aren't bleeding or puking, you are going to school."

I didn't realize at the time what a big deal Larsen's accomplishment was.

It's still coming up in RadioDude's Sports Trivia 2Nite! Every time they change evening DJs, it comes up in a month or two. Easy pickings for the regulars.