(Editor's note: Warning, this is a very long post! It does end with a short interview with Bob Shaw and a question for all of you bloggers out there.) Considering that this is first and foremost a baseball blog, I guess it is kind of odd that we going into game 4 or the World Series and I still haven’t written a thing about it. I had a story all set to go during game 1, I watched every pitch and while it was going on I was looking up some fun game 1 facts. Cliff Lee was brilliant and even though I am not a fan of his or the Phillies, the further he got in the game, the more I wanted him to hang onto the shutout. During the commercial after the 8th innings I really started writing. The Yankees had never been shut out in a game one in 40 appearances and it looked like it was gonna happen. I started writing my post and it was going to be titled “There’s a First Time for Everything”.
Lee was really dominate throughout the game and I thought for sure that he was headed for uncharted territory, that he would be the first pitcher to shut the Yankees down in a Game 1. Bring on the 9th inning and Jeter and Damon led it off with two consecutive base hits to set the table for Mark Tei$$eria. This is where the wheels fell off. Maybe not fell off, but they definitely wobbled a bit. Teixx had two on and no outs and the stage was set for him to have the chance to prove himself as a legitimate big game slugger. As good as Lee was, he couldn’t get one past Teixx and he drilled a weak ground ball up the middle for a textbook double play ball. Unfortunately Jimmy Rollins made a horrible off balance throw that sailed over Ryan Howards head and the shut out was no longer. Jeter scored and Teixx was on first and A-Roid was at bat with a big chance to show that he was for real, too. The Yankees slugger was 0-3 at this point, but I thought for sure that he would deliver. He did, he delivered a weak swing through a curve ball to strike out for out number two. Posada followed his lead and the game was over. Phillies win 6-0 and Cliff Lee had gone the distance, striking out 10 and walking none, allowing just six hits and one unearned run. Afterwards a sportscaster called it one of the top ten pitching performances of all time. Lee looked good, but I beg to differ. He didn’t even get the shutout. Had he blanked the Yankees, he would have joined the ranks of Christy Mathewson, Dizzy Dean, Brett Saberhagen, Sandy Koufax, Mordecai Brown and Jack Morris. Guys who took the big stage and put up donuts all night long.
For me, the best World Series pitching performance that I had ever seen came from Jack Morris in 1991, an extra inning shutout, that was top-ten of all time if any game was. Another top ten of all time pitching matchup was game 5 of the World Series in 1959. Sandy Koufax and the Los Angeles Dodgers against Bob Shaw and the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox were down 3 games to one, facing elimination and playing at the LA Coliseum in front of better than 92,000 screaming fans. For 7+ innings, right handed pitching Bob Shaw shut down the Dodgers lineup which included Wally Moon, John Roseboro, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges and Junior Gilliam. Gilliam, the leadoff batter actually had a great night, going 4 for 5, but Shaw shut the Dodgers down. They stranded runners in every inning and when Shaw was lifted in the 8th inning, he had a 1-0 lead. Koufax was perhaps even more spectacular, he held the Sox to just 5 hits in 7 innings and the lone run that they scored crossed the plate when Sherm Lollar bounced into a double play. 18 innings, 6 pitchers and 1 run scored. There were no RBIs, no pies in the face, just one of the most nail bitingly great World Series of all time.
The man who got the win, who outdueled Koufax, was know other than Bob Shaw who had gone 18-6 with a 18-6 with a 2.69 ERA during the regular season was the man who came away with the win to keep the Sox alive for one more game. Of course the next game Johnny Podres beat the Sox behind home runs from Chuck Essegian, Wally Moon and Duke Snider and the Dodgers won it all in 6 games, but Bob Shaw, who was otherwise a journeyman pitcher, became a legend that night. He and Billy Pierce and Dick Donavon combined to do what Cliff Lee couldn’t. They threw a shutout in the World Series and beat the heavily favored Dodgers in front of 92 thousand plus Dodgers fans. Bob Shaw was a fascinating figure in White Sox history and I had been trying to track him down for a while, but we never managed to be in the same place at the same time. He lived in Tequesta, Florida which is a small town on the ocean, about 20 miles north of Palm Beach.
I had to drive though there on other business and I called Shaw to see if we could work something out. This was in August of 1998. He was set to leave for Las Vegas that day to promote his business Synthetic Turf International at a trade show, but he said that if I hurried, I could chat with him until his airport limo picked him up. I put the pedal to the floor and arrived at his home just in time. I knew that I had less than an hour with the man, but wanted to get acquainted with him before we got right down to interview mode, so some coffee was poured and baseball was talked. Before I get into the short little mini interview, here is a quick introduction on the right handed pitcher who went by the name Robert J. "Bob" Shaw. He broke into the big leagues at age 24 in 1957 with the Detroit Tigers. That year he went 0-1 in 7 relief appearance.
Midway though the next season he was traded to the Chicago White Sox. He was 5-2 for them in 40 games that year, starting only 5 times. He spent parts of 4 seasons with the Go Go Sox but none were better than their American League Pennant winning campaign in 1959. That was the Sox’ first World Series appearance since the Black Sox scandal in 1919, it took them 40 years to get back to the big one. Shaw split his time between the bullpen and the rotation that year, but by the end of the season he had solidified his role as their number 2 starter behind Early Wynn. During the regular season he was 18-6 with a 2.69 ERA. He led the AL in winning percentage and tossed 8 complete games and pitched in 230 innings. He appeared in 47 games, notched 3 saves and 3 shutouts on the way to the AL Flag. His career would last for 11 seasons before he retired at the age of 34 after a disappointing year with the Chicago Cubs in 1967. Over those 11 seasons he won 108 games against 98 losses with a 3.52 ERA. He wasn’t an overpowering pitcher by any means, but he was a fast worker who let the ball be put in play, but never really hit the barrel of the bat. He was a similar pitcher to Mark Buehrle. He was a workhorse pitcher and the more he worked, the better he got. He only topped 200 innings three times during his career and those were his three best years and his win total never dipped below 15 and his ERA never went higher than 2.80 when working that often.
That ERA came in 1962, his lone All Star appearance. He went 15-9 for the Braves with 12 complete games that year. He also won 11 games for the miserable Mets in 1966 and hit a home run for the Giants in 1965. All that was good, but he became part of baseball folklore on Tuesday October 6, 1959 when he outdueled Sandy Koufax in front of 92,706 fans crammed into the Los Angeles Coliseum while the White Sox faced elimination, down 3 games to one. Shaw had grown up in the Bronx and had watched Joe DiMaggio, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra all come through in the fall. On that night it was his turn and without a Superman effort, the Sox season would be done. He held the Dodgers to 9 hits over 7.1 innings, allowing 1 walk and striking out one. It wasn’t a spectacular stat line, but it was a spectacular performance. Now that you know a little bit about the man, the interview is almost redundant, but since this tape is 11 years old and still plays, I will post it anyway.
Over the years, Shaw had been accused of throwing a spitball, but I didn’t have the chance to ask that question on tape, but I did bring it up and I remember his response. Something along the lines of “No, I never threw a spitter, but it is really funny to me that you are bringing that up considering your parents hadn’t even met when I played my final game”. I would have loved to be able to get in touch with Mr. Shaw to ask him his prediction for this 2009 World Series. I would bet that he would be pulling for the Phillies. He loved the underdog and he loved to see the Yankees go down. Without any further adieu, here it is, from August 19, 1998…
Collective Troll: What was your fondest memory of pitching on the big stage in the 1959 World Series?
Bob Shaw: The excitement of the players, their families and the fans. The combination of that made it the most excitement that I had ever felt. It was a thrill just to be there, but getting to make two starts with that many people watching was amazing, I just wanted to do well and not make a bunch of mistakes with so many people watching.
CT: In 1959 you led the league in winning percentage and finished third in Cy Young voting behind your teammate Early Wynn. Of all of your victories that year, which ones stand out the most in the regular season?
BS: I grew up in the Bronx and I lived in Garden City, Long Island so it was always special to play and beat the Yankees.
CT: Was it exciting to be in a pennant race with the Sox in 1959?
BS: It was very exciting playing on a winning team where everyone had a winning attitude. You would feel confident that you can pull off a win in the late innings even if you were behind. Everybody wanted to win so badly on that team, everyone picked everyone else up, so if you lost a game, it was a team loss, not one guy.
CT: What was the toughest team on you personally that year, in 1959?
BS: The Baltimore Orioles always had my number. Brooks Robinson, Bob Boyd, Walt Dropo and Gene Woodling. They just hit me well all the time.
CT: The White Sox had a very solid coaching staff that year…
BS: Ray Berres is the best pitching coach that I have ever been around. I owe a great deal to Ray Berres and Al Lopez, too. Lopez trusted me with the potential elimination game, game 5. He had all the confidence in me and I couldn’t let him down, he was a great manager. Ray Berres’ knowledge of mechanics and his ability to teach is uncanny. I don’t think I would have ever had any success if not for him. I was really lucky that as a young pitcher still, that I was able to learn from Berres and Lopez, too. They were both catchers and they knew pitchers well.
CT: What about spring training in Sarasota and Florida, was that a good experience for you?
BS: I must say that I enjoyed both Tampa and Sarasota more than any other place. The people in all of the spring training towns in Florida were very friendly and knowledgeable. I really liked the Columbia Restaurant in Sarasota and I think it is still there. I almost bought a lot in Sorrento Shores.
CT: Did you enjoy your time with the Sox? Do you still keep in touch with any of the guys?
BS: I did thoroughly enjoy playing in Chicago, for the White Sox, but unfortunately, I rarely see any of my old teammates.
CT: What is the one thing you are most remembered for, and what would you like to be remembered for?
BS: Fortunately it’s a good thing and the same thing. I will always be known as the guy who beat Koufax 1-0 in the World Series.
CT: Aside from the Sox, what was your favorite team to play for?
BS: The San Francisco Giants. That team in 1965 had Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Willie McCovey and Jesus Alou. Our pitching rotation was Juan Marichal, me, Gaylord Perry, Warren Spahn and Jack Harshman. There were 5 Hall of Famers on that team and a lot of stars.
CT: You mentioned that you played with Mays and McCovey; you also played with Hank Aaron-it had to be nice having those guys on your team. You did have to face some of the best hitters of all time in the American and National Leagues. Who was the greatest hitter of all-time and who were some of the toughest guys to get out for you?
BS: Well, Ted Williams was the greatest hitter ever.
Two guys who aren’t in the Hall of Fame, but were always tough to get out no matter what were Jackie Brandt and Tito Francona.
CT: As a pitcher, was it better or more exciting for you to face Hall of Fame caliber batters because of the challenge?
BS: Yes, it was definitely more exciting to face a great hitter, but you still had to get everyone out.
CT: How about as a batter, who was the toughest pitcher you ever faced?
BS: The best pitcher I ever faced, maybe the best I ever saw was Sandy Koufax. I got a hit off of Johny Podres in game two, and I really wanted to hit Koufax. He struck me out though. Another guy who I never had any luck against, who gave everyone a really tough time was Ryne Duren
of the Yankees. I’ve enjoyed our conversation, but I have a plain to catch and the limo is here. Give me a call and we’ll finish this up later.
CT: Thanks Bob, have a safe trip!
We did follow it up eventually, but those tapes are long gone. Fortunately his memory of that fateful 1959 season is alive and well. The Go-Go Sox are a team that has always fascinated me and the grand stage of the 1959 World Series is one of the best I can think of. The great Hall of Fame players involved the 90,000 plus fans and the unlikely heroes. The fact that big Ted Kluzewski had as many RBI (10) in the World Series as he had in the regular season speaks volumes on big-game players stepping their game up for the big stage. There have been many, but Kirk Gibson keeps on coming to mind… I can’t believe that I didn’t watch the World Series last night, that has to be a first for me. I have sat in front of the TV mesmerized every year since 1977, but this year, these match-ups just don’t grab me. CC Sabathia didn’t look too good in game 1, but tonight he has a shot at redemption against Joe Blanton and the Phillies. May the best team win, I really don’t care… What do you guys consider the best World Series pitching performances to be? Gotta go to work, troll out.
Here is another card from the 1964 Topps (regular sized set), card #154 of Dick Tracewski. If you are reading this automatic post, I am still likely at Pirate City, spending the afternoon with my little brother(s). They are not literally my brothers, but I am a volunteer with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program and I always spend Thursdays with my little brother and this week he wanted to watch practice. There will be a long story to follow, but for now-enjoy a few more cards from the 1964 set. I opted to follow Aaron with Dick Tracewski, a light hitting middle infielder who spent 8 seasons in the big leagues-the first 4 with the Dodgers and the final four with Detroit. Tracewski wore the same uniform number as Aaron and this card shows it prominently. DT played for a much shorter period of time (15 fewer seasons) so naturally his stats aren’t as impressive as Hammerin’ Hank’s. Where Aaron swatted 755 career homers, Tracewski hit 8. Where Aaron topped the 300 batting average plateau 14 times, Tracewski topped the Mendoza Line only 4 times. He was a career .213 hitter. That said, where it matters most, Tracewski trumps Aaron. The Hammer earned his lone World Series ring in 1957 with the Braves. Tracewski won 4 rings over his 8 year career. With the Dodgers in 1963 and again in 1965 and he also won it all with the Detroit Tigers in 1968 and earned his final ring with them in 1984 while serving as their 3rd base coach. In 3 Series’ 
Tracewski appeared in 12 games and got 4 hits in 30 at-bats for a career .133 postseason batting average. Tracewski also sits in the history books having served more coaching time than any coach in Detroit Tigers history, spending 24 years as coach with them at the big league level. He is also one of the few managers in baseball history to go undefeated. He won 2 games as the Skipper for Detroit in 1979 without a loss. Sparky Anderson took over for him and did well (56-50) and the Tigers finished 5th in the AL East, but there is no telling how well they would have done if Tracewski remained at the helm. I love Hammerin’ Hank, but Dick Tracewski has him beat. I love this game, I love this hobby! Check back later for a full spring training update… Go Rays! Troll out.
Tommy Davis was born Herman Thomas Davis Jr. in March of 1939 in Brooklyn, New York. The year of his birth was the same year that Leo Durocher took over as the Brooklyn Dodgers manager. They finished third in the National League, led at the plate by Dolph Camilli and on the mound by Luke Hamlin won 20 games. Davis was a natural athlete and excelled at all sports. He was a childhood friend of NBA Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkins and they were teammates on the Boy High School basketball team in Brooklyn. Davis was courted by the New York Yankees, but it alleged that a phone call from Jackie Robinson persuaded Davis to sign with the Brooklyn Dodgers as a 17-year-old. He was assigned to Class D Hornell Dodgers in the nearby Pony League. He batted .325 in 41 games and was moved to the Kokomo Dodgers in the Midwest League the following year. It was there he met former Brooklyn Dodgers All Star centerfielder Pete Reiser who managed Kokomo for part of the season. Reiser helped Davis improve his already sweet swing and he led the Midwest League in batting with a .356 average-he also added 17 homers. The next year he jumped from Class D ball all the way up to AA and AAA later that year. 
He started the 1959 season with the Spokane Indians of the Pacific Coast League and led the PCL in batting with a .345 average. He had 211 hits, 9 triples and 18 homers-for 315 total bases. After just 4 years in the Dodgers minor league system (and a .336 average overall) Davis was ready for the big leagues. He started the 1960 season in Los Angeles, but they already had an established outfield with Frank Howard, Wally Moon and Duke Snider. Davis fought his way into the line-up, played all 3 outfield positions and third base. He appeared in 110 games, hit .276 and had 11 homers and 44 RBI. He finished 5th in the Rookie of the Year vote with his teammate Frank Howard winning the honor. In 1961 Davis became a regular in the Dodgers line-up. By 1962 Davis was a 23-year old superstar. He was the Dodgers’ primary leftfielder (although he played a little 3rd and center) and he started both of the All Star Games that year in left field. He put up explosive offensive numbers and had one of the best seasons that ANY Dodger ever had. He finished with a .346 batting average, winning the NLs batting crown, he had 27 homers and drove in 153 runs to lead the league in that category, too. The 153 RBI remains a franchise record for the Los Angeles Dodgers as does his 230 hits that year. He finished third in the MVP vote, behind his teammate Maury Wills and Willie Mays. The Dodgers met the Yankees in the World Series, Davis was their cleanup hitter and he batted .400 in his first World Series. The next season he repeated as an All Star and repeated as batting champ. In their history he is the ONLY Los Angeles Dodger to win a batting title and he did it TWICE. His numbers fell off a bit in 1964 and in ’65 he broke his ankle in May while trying to break up a double play. His season was over after just one month. Lou Johnson was brought in to replace him in the line-up and the Dodgers went on to win the WS again. He was back in 1966 and played in 100 games between left field and third base. He hit .313, but his power and speed weren’t there. Losing an entire year to an injury was taxing to his timing and readiness. The Dodgers won the NL Pennant, but lost to Baltimore in the WS. After the ’66 Series Davis was traded to the New York Mets and so began his career as a journeyman with a bat. He played for 11 different teams over the next 10 years and never did return to his form in the early 60’s. He did not play in another All Star Game or another World Series. 
His career ended after the Royals released him during spring training in 1977. His final numbers include a .295 career batting average with 2121 hits in 1999 games. He had 153 homers and 1052 RBI. As a pinch hitter he owns the best career batting average in history with a .320 average (63 for 197). In 2005 he published a book called “Tales From the Dodgers Dugout” which I never got to finish. If anyone has a copy… Gotta go take a test. Afterwards I will try to add some more pics to this post... If anyone has these Giant cards to spare, my want list is 
#17 Ken Hill Texas Rangers
#145 Tony Clark Peak Performers Detroit Tigers (Tony was the 2nd overall player selected in the 1990 draft)
#16 Mike Piazza Los Angeles Dodgers (Piazza was a 62nd round pick in the 1988 draft, and was the 1993 NL Rookie of the Year)
#65 Will Clark Texas Rangers (Will the Thrill didn’t bring home a ROY Award or a ring or an MVP, but he’s still one of the most popular players out there… Popular with the fans, not necessarily with the Baseball Writers)
In 18 at bats he managed just 2 hits (.111) and did little to set the table for the Dodgers big bats. I don’t know if would have helped, barring Steve Garvey (.381) and Steve Yeager (.364) Bill Russell, Joe Ferguson and Jimmy Wynn were in a 3 way tie for the team lead in runs batted in with 2 a piece. I would guess this wasn’t too memorable a series for Dodgers fans. If Upper Deck just had a piece of Lopes shirt or pants or whatever lying around they could have highlighted the 1981 Series when Lopes stole 4 bases and the Dodgers actually won. Just a thought. Dodgers fan, this puppy is on the block… Troll out.
He is another “what if?” player, although he wasn't afraid of flying, he just came up in a very deep organization. As a shortstop in the Dodgers organization, when he signed Pee Wee Reese had a strong hold on the position and when he moved to third base, Don Zimmer jumped in as the Dodgers shortstop for a couple of years, both of them blocking Wills. Maury Wills spent 9 seasons in the minor leagues before finally earning a spot on the team in ’59. That year he platooned with Zimmer, but ultimately made Zimm expendable and took over as the Dodgers full time shortstop in 1961 and was an All Star immediately. You have to wonder what kind of numbers Wills would have put up if he was in the big leagues at 21 or even 25. As is, beginning full-time at 27, Maurice Morning Wills was the shortstop and base stealer of the 60’s. He remained on the Hall of Fame for the maximum of 15 years, but never received more than 40% of the vote, making him another Dodgers MVP overlooked by the Hall of Fame. Other than his stolen base totals, his career numbers in hits (2134 career, 193rd All Time) and runs (1067) aren’t Hall of Fame caliber, but there is something to be said for his dominance on the base paths, his postseason leadership and the way that he changed the game. Cases for Wills to the Hall will come later, until then, enjoy his final Topps card. I love this game, I love its history and I love this hobby! But I am sick of working all the time… Please bear with me, I will be blogging it up regularly by the start of 2010 for sure! As an end note, if you are a Wills fan, I would recommend his 1991 autobiography "On the Run". It covers more than just baseball and goes deep into his personal life-it is a really good read. Troll out.
He went to 4 World Series’ with the Dodgers and won 3 of them. He spent 12 seasons in Dodger Blue and hit a fairly (hah!) respectable .260 over that time, he also swatted 90 of his 183 career homers in a Dodgers uniform.
In fact, the back of the card on his 1962 Topps card #375 (which is today’s card of the day!) says:
I think it might be more bizarre that after those off years in the late 60’s he became an All Star for the first time in ’73 after 16 seasons in the league. 19 seasons after his start he played for the Toronto Blue Jays during their inaugural season in 1977 and led the team in doubles, homers and runs batted in. He was also the Blue Jays first All Star. He struck out as a pinch hitter in his lone at bat.
I think if nothing else you could say that Ron had a fairly consistent career. He stuck around the majors for 21 years, averaged nearly 100 hits per year in around 350 at-bats and according to the back of his cards he weight never varied more than 5 pounds and he went from a wispy outfielder to a cagey DH. That is impressive to me. Thanks for the fodder 
Frank Howard, who drew first blood off of Ford in game 4 would bat .300 (3 for 10) in the series, had only one other hit in the series-a double off of Ford in game 1. This would be Frank Howard’s first and only World Series appearance and Hondo was a hero in the deciding game. That is my take of the event, here is what the back of the card had to say:
Howard had come up through the Dodgers system; he was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1960 and had delivered 4 twenty-plus homerun seasons for the Dodgers. His best year in Los Angeles came in 1962 when he batted .296 with 31 homers and 119 RBIs. He had his worst batting average and somewhat of an off year in 1964 (.226/24/69), but still paced the team in homeruns and had only 4 errors in right field in nearly 1000 innings. PLUS he delivered some big hits in the World Series sweep of the Yankees. Still, (exactly) 2 months after his big home run the Dodgers sent him to Washington as part of a monster 7-player trade. Howard became a Senator along with Ken McMullen, Phil Ortega, Dick Nen and Pete Richert. The trade brought Claude Osteen and John Kennedy to the Dodgers. Kennedy would be a utility infielder and pinch hitter for a couple of seasons for the Dodgers, but Claude Osteen would pitch for the Dodgers for 9 seasons, representing them in 3 All Star games and he was a huge factor in the Dodgers World Series victory in 1965. Of course Howard flourished in Washington; he earned his nickname the Capital Punisher there due to his power. 
He would lead the league in homers twice with the Senators and go to 4 All Star games. With Washington he was in the top-10 in the league in homers and RBI 5 times in 7 seasons there. Frank Howard would retire after spending the 1973 season with the Detroit Tigers. He hit 382 homers (56th All Time) over his 16 year career. He also drove in 1,119 runs (180th All Time), but also struck out 1,460 times, good for 52nd of all time. Most importantly he hit that big homerun off of Whitey Ford on October 3, 1963, sealing the Yankees’ doom. I love this game, I love this hobby. Troll out.
