next »

[anakin]

You'da thunk St Louis had won the whole shebang, the way they celebrated.

C'mon Texas!

(My sister, the big SL fan, would kill me if she saw this!)

And that is because, in 20 years, people beyond Texas and St. Louis aren't going to remember who won the 2011 World Series.  But they're going to remember things that happened in that game--very possibly the most eventful, unexpected, and emotional World Series game in any of our lifetimes, to this point.

Keep on hatin' on us.  We're OK with that.  If we lose tonight, I'm even OK with that, so long as Texas beats us and it's not us beating ourselves.  Regardless, NOBODY is going to take the past 8 weeks oiut of the record books, or out of the collective memory that is Cardinal Nation. 

True that! Many parallels and flashbacks with Game 6 of the '91 World Series game, Twins vs. Braves. It was tied in the 7th and stayed that way until the 11th inning. Kirby Puckett was up, Charlie Liebrandt pitching. The count was 2-1. Kirby slapped the next one to deep-left-center field (6th row, IIRC) and the Twins won game 6 in 11, 4-3. The next night, Jack Morris had a ten-inning-long moment of zen that, if you ask me, is the finest World Series game ever pitched. He threw a seven-hit shutout. Meanwhile, all it took to win was a single from Gene Larking to score Dan Gladden in the bottom of the 10th.

I still remember watching Puckett's hit lift into the 6th-row seats of left-center and the fist pump as he ran the bases.

[slinger]

You'da thunk St Louis had won the whole shebang, the way they celebrated.

C'mon Texas!

(My sister, the big SL fan, would kill me if she saw this!)

And that is because, in 20 years, people beyond Texas and St. Louis aren't going to remember who won the 2011 World Series.  But they're going to remember things that happened in that game--very possibly the most eventful, unexpected, and emotional World Series game in any of our lifetimes, to this point.

Keep on hatin' on us.  We're OK with that.  If we lose tonight, I'm even OK with that, so long as Texas beats us and it's not us beating ourselves.  Regardless, NOBODY is going to take the past 8 weeks oiut of the record books, or out of the collective memory that is Cardinal Nation. 

Well said.  Last night the world saw the everyday devotion and strength of the Cardinals and Cardinal nation.  They are a team that never gives up. Ever. Cards are second only to the Yankees in World Championships. We might be just a flyover drinking town with a baseball problem, but the Cardinals have so much rich history. Everyone here has a story about growing up red. It's personal for us; it's family.

[dr_alcott]

You'da thunk St Louis had won the whole shebang, the way they celebrated.

C'mon Texas!

(My sister, the big SL fan, would kill me if she saw this!)

And that is because, in 20 years, people beyond Texas and St. Louis aren't going to remember who won the 2011 World Series.  But they're going to remember things that happened in that game--very possibly the most eventful, unexpected, and emotional World Series game in any of our lifetimes, to this point.

Keep on hatin' on us.  We're OK with that.  If we lose tonight, I'm even OK with that, so long as Texas beats us and it's not us beating ourselves.  Regardless, NOBODY is going to take the past 8 weeks oiut of the record books, or out of the collective memory that is Cardinal Nation. 

True that! Many parallels and flashbacks with Game 6 of the '91 World Series game, Twins vs. Braves. It was tied in the 7th and stayed that way until the 11th inning. Kirby Puckett was up, Charlie Liebrandt pitching. The count was 2-1. Kirby slapped the next one to deep-left-center field (6th row, IIRC) and the Twins won game 6 in 11, 4-3. The next night, Jack Morris had a ten-inning-long moment of zen that, if you ask me, is the finest World Series game ever pitched. He threw a seven-hit shutout. Meanwhile, all it took to win was a single from Gene Larking to score Dan Gladden in the bottom of the 10th.

I still remember watching Puckett's hit lift into the 6th-row seats of left-center and the fist pump as he ran the bases.

Oh, man, was that an incredible game. I remember it too (though not in as much detail as you do, Anakin).

[john_proctor]

That game last night was Homeric. Epic. One of the top three or four baseball games I've ever seen.

Even the errors factored into its greatness (home town boy makes a critical error - little league style - at a crucial moment to give away a run then comes back in the bottom of the 11th to hit the game winner).

Managerially, it was intense, as well (I think Washington shouldn't have pinch hit away his stronger pitcher in the 10th).

Literally down to one strike.

Twice.

And take nothing away from Texas. That's a damned fine ball club (Napoli's throw from his knees - because his ankle would never have taken the stress of a set-to-throw - to pick off Holliday - who was injured on the play, himself and taken out of the line up for the critical late innings. . .  My God. That was poetry).

I am seriously considering adding that game to a syllabus one day, the way it reflects so many traditionally American ways of thinking about redemption, determination, pluck, pragmatism, endurance, and hope.

It was an essay in baseball form about everything America hopes it has as virtues. Virgil couldn't have written something that more captured our sense of national self.

Mr. Doubleday had something just like that in mind, I'm sure.

[southerntransplant]

Mr. Doubleday had something just like that in mind, I'm sure.

Indeed. It was an epic game.

[dr_alcott]

Another similarity between last night's and 1991's game 6: Joe Buck's final call--"We will see you tomorrow night"--was his father's in 1991:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PuAnVlRWf7o

John_Proctor, your post makes me wish I hadn't kept falling asleep in the extras.

[john_proctor]

omygosh.

Not only did I not fall asleep, I couldn't get to sleep for an hour or more afterward.

Woke up Goody who went to bed at 11:30 so I could tell her all about it.

Alas.

She was not as enthralled, as I. I realized my mistake quickly: as a novice to baseball she was not yet ready to understand the sublime greatness of the game.

Indeed, perhaps I erred.

So I let it go after the second "Hmm? Baby, whathf***timeizit?" and contented myself with explaining it all to the bird dogs (whose enthusiasm, though muted, remained higher than Goody's).

Nevertheless, in the reasoned light of day,she has decided that this is the price of being married to me and has become outright Buddhist about it (though not yet, I believe, regarding it as endearing).

[amlithist]

John Proctor, your comment reminded me of one of my friends:  she and her husand underwent an ugly, ugly divorce some years ago.  Dividing the house, other funds, custody of the kids, etc. all went pretty smoothly. The real hang-up:  who would get to keep the Cardinals' season tickets (and rights to renew same).

The lawyers cost her about $15,000, but she got the tickets.  (Hey, they were sweet seats!)

[southerntransplant]

Huh. I didn't realize that there hasn't been a Game 7 since 2002.

[jonesey]

I am seriously considering adding that game to a syllabus one day, the way it reflects so many traditionally American ways of thinking about redemption, determination, pluck, pragmatism, endurance, and hope.

It was an essay in baseball form about everything America hopes it has as virtues. Virgil couldn't have written something that more captured our sense of national self.

You might have to tape it, since most of your students, like the rest of the country, aren't watching it (on track to be the lowest rated WS ever). 

[john_proctor]

I am seriously considering adding that game to a syllabus one day, the way it reflects so many traditionally American ways of thinking about redemption, determination, pluck, pragmatism, endurance, and hope.

It was an essay in baseball form about everything America hopes it has as virtues. Virgil couldn't have written something that more captured our sense of national self.

You might have to tape it, since most of your students, like the rest of the country, aren't watching it (on track to be the lowest rated WS ever).  

This, of course, grieves but does not surprise.

I live in a world where students know the adventures of Harry Potter better than those of Odysseus, where Lindsy Lohan is better known than Hypatia by logarithmic measure.

Alas, greatness and meaning are rarely coterminous with popular familiarity.

[jonesey]

Alas, greatness and meaning are rarely coterminous with popular familiarity.

Very true.  IIRC, baseball's ratings, in general, have declined, along with its popularity as a sport, for several years now.  I suppose we could chalk it up to "it's boring" (the most common refrain I've heard), but I think it has to do with our love of high scoring games and physical conflict (hence the popularity of college football, even amongst those who have never attended college). 

[cgfunmathguy]

Alas, greatness and meaning are rarely coterminous with popular familiarity.

Sadly, true. I might adopt this for my new tagline. May I?

[jonesey]

<hijack>

Texas also boasts three Tier 1 universities and Johnson Space Center. I guess your blind dislike for a state you admit you've never ever been to has stoppered up your perspective.

Yes, Texas is treating its colleges and universities just fine.

<end hijack>

[john_proctor]

Alas, greatness and meaning are rarely coterminous with popular familiarity.

Sadly, true. I might adopt this for my new tagline. May I?

I see no reason why not.