By Keith Antigiovanni
Two years ago baseball commissioner Bud Selig eliminated any chance of an all-Texas World Series when the he coerced the Astros into the American League. Sorry to my fellow Texans but there wont be a Lone Star version of the "Subway Series" or the "Freeway Series" or even the "Battle of I-70".
Because for the first time in major league baseball's long and storied history two clubs from the state of Texas will face each other as division rivals in the American League West when the Texas Rangers faces its neighbors to the southeast, the Houston Astros in Houston on Easter night to beging first a three game series.
On paper this looks like a mismatch as the Rangers come off a third straight postseason appearance and fourth straight winning season including two straight World Series in 2010-2011 while the Astros are currently in the franchises worst stretches since the expansion years of the 1960's and early 1970's even though Houston has also been to a World Series this past decade.
Although the Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston will be division rivals for the first time this year the history of professional baseball in Texas tells us otherwise. For the record, before MLB expanded to a national game, the cities of Dallas,Fort Worth and Houston housed "minor league" clubs from the dawn of the 20th Century up until the early 1960's.
Dallas,Fort Worth, Houston, all members of the AA Texas League dominated on the field and established fierce rivalries with each other. Dallas and Fort Worth were both charters members of the second Texas League which began in 1902 while Houston was a charter member of the South Texas League. In 1907, the two leagues came together like peanut butter and chocolate to form, what else? The Texas League.
Dallas and Houston established itself early on as dominant clubs until 1919 when Fort Worth aka "Atz Cats" after their manager Jake Atz won 7 straight regular season pennants through 1925 and won five of six Dixie Series against the champion from the Southern Association.
Houston would become a powerhouse in the Post War years winning four pennants, five playoff titles and three Dixie Series until its move up to AAA in 1959 when it joined the American Association along with Dallas and Fort Worth.
The three clubs move to the American Association was in response to being named charter franchises in the proposed third major league, the Continental League, however it new league never got off the ground but Houston was awarded an expansion franchise in the National League (1962) along while Dallas and Fort Worth had to wait 10 more years until it the former expansion Washington Senators moved to North Texas after the 1971 season.
From 1972 through 2001 the two clubs rarely met and only co-existed in the nation's second biggest state until interleague play arrived in the late 1990's but didnt meet until 2001. Since then the Rangers lead the "Lone Star Series" 43-30.
Football is still king in Texas with the Cowboys neverending popularity and the Texans rise to relevance but these teams only meet every four years and now with Texas A&M in the SEC the state's greatest football rivalry is gone. Hopefully America's Pastime can fill the void as the Rangers seek to continue as one of baseball's elite while the Astros try to adjust to the AL.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Super Bowl IV Review
Its hard to believe that its been four months since the latest blog entry but this one reviews the broadcast of Super Bowl IV covered by CBS on January 11, 1970.
First of all it was interesting to hear the late great Jack Buck (play-by-play) teamed with future great Pat Summerall (analyst) for this game. Buck and Summerall were a broadcasting team on CBS in the late 1960's. The Buck/Summerall pairing reminded me a lot of FOX current No.1 broadcast team Joe Buck and Troy Aikman and made me think that if Summerall could make the transition to play-by-play why not Aikman?
Summerall and Aikman have low-key, no frill personalities and at times the Buck/Aikman team can be dull since both men sound alike the way Jack Buck and Summerall did. Of course it was CBS policy in the 1960's and 1970's that the play-by-play man was a professional announcer while the analyst was a former athlete.
This changed in 1974 when Summerall was teamed with another former player Tom Brookshier. This team lasted until 1981 when CBS broke them up and paired Summerall with former Oakland Raiders Head Coach John Madden and Brookshier was promoted to play-by-play.
Summerall would go to work two more Super Bowls as an analyst for CBS working with another late great announcer (Ray Scott) in Super Bowls VI and VIII.
As for the game itself, it was easy watching and easy listening. The Kansas City Chiefs took a 16-0 lead in the first half while the Minnesota Vikings tried to make a game ot it with a touchdown in the third quarter but the Chiefs sealed the game on a Len Dawson to Otis Taylor touchdown pass late in the third. The Vikings quarterback Joe Kapp tried but was harried by the KC pass rush and threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter.
This game is not very memorable except for the fact that it was the final game played before the NFL and AFL became one league and for the NFL Films version of it with a miked up Hank Stram saying "65 Toss Power Trap" or "matriculate the ball down the field."
Kansas City's 23-7 win was the high point for Hank Stram's coaching career with is very underrated in today's press. Stram was the first head coach for the Dallas Texans/ Chiefs franchise and was the closest thing the AFL had that could be compared to the NFL's Vince Lombardi.
The Chiefs had the best winning percentage in the AFL and the most titles with three (1962, 1966, 1969). They even faced Lombardi's Packers in Super Bowl I only to be dismissed, 35-10, in what was a close first half. Stram would leave the Chiefs after 1974.
The other team in this game, the Minnesota Vikings, made its first Super Bowl appearance but it would preview the fortunes of the franchise for the 1970's. The Vikings would go on to dominate the NFC Central the next decade winning 8 division titles and would make three more Super Bowl appearances only to lose them all in convincing fashion.
Ah, yes how I can I forget the Super Bowl commercials. First of all there werent that many, maybe 20 during the entire broadcast. You might ask how that can be? Easy answer. Most commercial breaks contained only one commercial and they were each about a minute long. The ads were mostly car, beer and insurance but the big difference between the ads from 1970 and todays are that the ones from 1970 dont insult you're intelligence and were not loud, violent or obnoxious.
If you get a chance, go to youtube and watch Super Bowl IV, it is not a great game but it is very easy on the ears.
First of all it was interesting to hear the late great Jack Buck (play-by-play) teamed with future great Pat Summerall (analyst) for this game. Buck and Summerall were a broadcasting team on CBS in the late 1960's. The Buck/Summerall pairing reminded me a lot of FOX current No.1 broadcast team Joe Buck and Troy Aikman and made me think that if Summerall could make the transition to play-by-play why not Aikman?
Summerall and Aikman have low-key, no frill personalities and at times the Buck/Aikman team can be dull since both men sound alike the way Jack Buck and Summerall did. Of course it was CBS policy in the 1960's and 1970's that the play-by-play man was a professional announcer while the analyst was a former athlete.
This changed in 1974 when Summerall was teamed with another former player Tom Brookshier. This team lasted until 1981 when CBS broke them up and paired Summerall with former Oakland Raiders Head Coach John Madden and Brookshier was promoted to play-by-play.
Summerall would go to work two more Super Bowls as an analyst for CBS working with another late great announcer (Ray Scott) in Super Bowls VI and VIII.
As for the game itself, it was easy watching and easy listening. The Kansas City Chiefs took a 16-0 lead in the first half while the Minnesota Vikings tried to make a game ot it with a touchdown in the third quarter but the Chiefs sealed the game on a Len Dawson to Otis Taylor touchdown pass late in the third. The Vikings quarterback Joe Kapp tried but was harried by the KC pass rush and threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter.
This game is not very memorable except for the fact that it was the final game played before the NFL and AFL became one league and for the NFL Films version of it with a miked up Hank Stram saying "65 Toss Power Trap" or "matriculate the ball down the field."
Kansas City's 23-7 win was the high point for Hank Stram's coaching career with is very underrated in today's press. Stram was the first head coach for the Dallas Texans/ Chiefs franchise and was the closest thing the AFL had that could be compared to the NFL's Vince Lombardi.
The Chiefs had the best winning percentage in the AFL and the most titles with three (1962, 1966, 1969). They even faced Lombardi's Packers in Super Bowl I only to be dismissed, 35-10, in what was a close first half. Stram would leave the Chiefs after 1974.
The other team in this game, the Minnesota Vikings, made its first Super Bowl appearance but it would preview the fortunes of the franchise for the 1970's. The Vikings would go on to dominate the NFC Central the next decade winning 8 division titles and would make three more Super Bowl appearances only to lose them all in convincing fashion.
Ah, yes how I can I forget the Super Bowl commercials. First of all there werent that many, maybe 20 during the entire broadcast. You might ask how that can be? Easy answer. Most commercial breaks contained only one commercial and they were each about a minute long. The ads were mostly car, beer and insurance but the big difference between the ads from 1970 and todays are that the ones from 1970 dont insult you're intelligence and were not loud, violent or obnoxious.
If you get a chance, go to youtube and watch Super Bowl IV, it is not a great game but it is very easy on the ears.
Friday, October 26, 2012
SEC Update: Week 9
By Keith Antigiovanni
Week 9 for the SEC begins tomorrow with plenty of good matchups. First the #1 team in the nation, Alabama (7-0, 4-0) faces another undefeated SEC team, Mississippi St. (7-0, 3-0). Alabama must continue to win while Mississippi St. is thinking upset all the way.
Florida (7-0, 4-0) and Georgia (6-1, 4-1) play in their annual "World's Largest Cocktail Party" in Jacksonville. If Florida wins they clinch the SEC East title for the 12th time since 1992 but if Georgia wins they have the inside track for a second straight division title.
Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2) tries to bounce back against struggling Auburn (1-6, 0-5).
Missouri (3-4) looks for its first SEC win against Kentucky (1-7, 0-5).
Tennessee (3-4, 0-4) is still trying to win its first SEC win this year against South Carolina (6-2, 4-2).
Ole Miss (4-3, 1-2) vs. Arkansas (3-4, 2-2).
In other news, the Champions Bowl pitting the Big-12 champion vs. the SEC champion is set for 2014 as an answer to the Rose Bowl which features the Pac-12 and Big Ten champions.
Week 9 for the SEC begins tomorrow with plenty of good matchups. First the #1 team in the nation, Alabama (7-0, 4-0) faces another undefeated SEC team, Mississippi St. (7-0, 3-0). Alabama must continue to win while Mississippi St. is thinking upset all the way.
Florida (7-0, 4-0) and Georgia (6-1, 4-1) play in their annual "World's Largest Cocktail Party" in Jacksonville. If Florida wins they clinch the SEC East title for the 12th time since 1992 but if Georgia wins they have the inside track for a second straight division title.
Texas A&M (5-2, 2-2) tries to bounce back against struggling Auburn (1-6, 0-5).
Missouri (3-4) looks for its first SEC win against Kentucky (1-7, 0-5).
Tennessee (3-4, 0-4) is still trying to win its first SEC win this year against South Carolina (6-2, 4-2).
Ole Miss (4-3, 1-2) vs. Arkansas (3-4, 2-2).
In other news, the Champions Bowl pitting the Big-12 champion vs. the SEC champion is set for 2014 as an answer to the Rose Bowl which features the Pac-12 and Big Ten champions.
Friday, October 5, 2012
NL Wild Card
By Keith Antigiovanni
The National League Wild Card game between the St Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves is not only the first year for this postseason experiment but matches two great successful NL franchises that have forged a memorable postseason rivalry the past 30 years. The Cardinals are the most successful NL franchise ever while the Braves are the best NL team since 1991 and have future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones in his final playoff run after announcing it would be his final year.
In 1982 Whitey Herzog's led the Cardinals to the NL East title while Joe Torre led the Braves to the NL West title. St. Louis went on to sweep the Atlanta in the NLCS en route to the World Series title over the Brewers. Herzog would lead the Cardinals to two more WS appearances in 1985 and 1987 while Torre would be dismissed after the 1984 season.
In 1996 Tony LaRussa led the Cardinals to the NL Central title in his first year as manager for the Redbirds, made the NLCS and were leading the defending WS champion Braves 3-1 until Atlanta stormed back and won the final three games and get back to the World Series.
In 2011 the Braves led the Wild Card for most of the year until a late season collapse and a Cardinal late season run gave St. Louis the playoff berth en route to their 11th World Series title.
Its only fitting that the Braves face the team that nudged them out on the final day of the 2011 regular season and for the Cardinals to defend their title as a true Wild Card team after winning it all as a Wild Card team the previous year.
The National League Wild Card game between the St Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves is not only the first year for this postseason experiment but matches two great successful NL franchises that have forged a memorable postseason rivalry the past 30 years. The Cardinals are the most successful NL franchise ever while the Braves are the best NL team since 1991 and have future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones in his final playoff run after announcing it would be his final year.
In 1982 Whitey Herzog's led the Cardinals to the NL East title while Joe Torre led the Braves to the NL West title. St. Louis went on to sweep the Atlanta in the NLCS en route to the World Series title over the Brewers. Herzog would lead the Cardinals to two more WS appearances in 1985 and 1987 while Torre would be dismissed after the 1984 season.
In 1996 Tony LaRussa led the Cardinals to the NL Central title in his first year as manager for the Redbirds, made the NLCS and were leading the defending WS champion Braves 3-1 until Atlanta stormed back and won the final three games and get back to the World Series.
In 2011 the Braves led the Wild Card for most of the year until a late season collapse and a Cardinal late season run gave St. Louis the playoff berth en route to their 11th World Series title.
Its only fitting that the Braves face the team that nudged them out on the final day of the 2011 regular season and for the Cardinals to defend their title as a true Wild Card team after winning it all as a Wild Card team the previous year.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
NFL Game of the Week
By Keith Antigiovanni
The Tennessee Titans (0-1) go west to face the San Diego
Chargers (1-0) this Sunday in an intra-conference match-up. The Titans lost on
opening day to the AFC rival New England Patriots 34-13 in Nashville while the
Chargers beat AFC West rival the Oakland Raiders 22-14 on the road.
The Titans are coming off a 9-7 season in 2011 in which they
missed the postseason on a tie-breaker while the Chargers are coming off an 8-8
season and also missed the playoffs.
Historically both franchises are charter American Football
League (AFL) clubs from 1960 and were the participants of the first two AFL
Championship games in 1960 and 1961. The Houston Oilers won the 1960 AFL title
24-16 over the Los Angeles Chargers and then won the 1961 AFL title 10-3 over the
San Diego Chargers after the Southern California franchise moved 100 miles
southeast following the 1960 season.
Houston qualified for a third straight AFL title game in
1962 but were defeated by the Dallas Texans 20-17 followed by the Chargers in
1963 who won their first and only AFL championship over the Boston Patriots
51-10 at Balboa Stadium.
This is not considered a “glamour” game because neither is a
“big market” team but an important early-season game for both teams. The
Chargers are usually slow starters under Norv Turner and need to get off a
strong start to save Turner’s job while the Titans need a win to avoid going
0-2 .
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Pacific Coast League Regular Season Standings
By Keith Antigiovanni
The regular season wrapped up on Labor Day with the Reno Aces (81-63) winning the PCL Pacific North. Reno faces the PCL Pacific South champion Sacramento Rivercats (86-58).
The Albuquerque Isotopes (80-64) also held on to their lead and won the PCL American South and will face the PCL American North champion Omaha Storm Chasers (83-61).
The winners of the two playoff series will square off in the PCL championship series with the winner advancing to the Triple A championship game in a couple of weeks.
The regular season wrapped up on Labor Day with the Reno Aces (81-63) winning the PCL Pacific North. Reno faces the PCL Pacific South champion Sacramento Rivercats (86-58).
The Albuquerque Isotopes (80-64) also held on to their lead and won the PCL American South and will face the PCL American North champion Omaha Storm Chasers (83-61).
The winners of the two playoff series will square off in the PCL championship series with the winner advancing to the Triple A championship game in a couple of weeks.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Pacific Coast League Standings
By Keith Antigiovanni
There is just over one week left in the PCL regular season.
The Albuquerque Isotopes are 4 games up on the New Orleans Zephyrs with a magic number of 6 to clinch the PCL American South. The defending PCL Champ Omaha Storm Chasers have already clinched the PCL American North.
The Reno Aces are also 4 games in the PCL Pacific North over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and also have a magic number of 6 to clinch. The defending PCL Pacific South champion Sacramento River Cats have a 5.5 game lead over the Las Vegas 51's with a magic number of 4.
There are no Wild Cards in the PCL and the first-round series will consist of the PCL Pacific North vs South champion and the PCL American North vs South champion. The eventual PCL champion will face the International League champion in the Triple A championship game on September 18.
There is just over one week left in the PCL regular season.
The Albuquerque Isotopes are 4 games up on the New Orleans Zephyrs with a magic number of 6 to clinch the PCL American South. The defending PCL Champ Omaha Storm Chasers have already clinched the PCL American North.
The Reno Aces are also 4 games in the PCL Pacific North over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and also have a magic number of 6 to clinch. The defending PCL Pacific South champion Sacramento River Cats have a 5.5 game lead over the Las Vegas 51's with a magic number of 4.
There are no Wild Cards in the PCL and the first-round series will consist of the PCL Pacific North vs South champion and the PCL American North vs South champion. The eventual PCL champion will face the International League champion in the Triple A championship game on September 18.
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