Historically Speaking: Twice As Nice

I've read your mind. You're thinking What's happening beyond that wily House of Georges jump? I'll give you a hint: It rhymes with facemall, knocker, and mocksing.

* All-Star reflections: The American League won 9-7 at the Polo Grounds in New York today in 1934; the National League took the victory today in 1951 by an 8-3 mark at Briggs Stadium in Detroit; and again 7-3 three years later in Washington D.C.; same winner, same city in 1962, a 3-1 tally; in 1990 the A.L. blanked their opponents 2-0 at Wrigley Field.

* Today in 1951 Sugar Ray Robinson lost for only the second time in 133 fights. Randy Turpin took the middleweight title from Robinson, who would become the champ again later that year, as well as from 1955-57, and from 1958-60.

* After hitting a July 4th grand slam against Oakland and another on the 7th against Boston, Texas Ranger Larry Parrish hit his third of the week today in 1982 against the Detroit Tigers in a 6-5 victory.

* One final All-Star tidbit that deserves its own entry. In the above-mentioned 1934 contest between the A.L. and the N.L., starting pitcher Carl Hubbell fanned five consecutive future Hall of Famers to give the National League an early 4-0 lead. Fifty years later to the date, N.L.ers Fernando Valenzuela and Dwight Gooden (the youngest to ever appear in an All-Star Game) combine for six consecutive Ks. Valenzuela gets Dave Winfield, Reggie Jackson, and George Brett on strikes; Gooden follows him up with consecutive strikeouts of Lance Parrish, Chet Lemon, and Alvin Davis.

* Ten years ago today, the United States Women's Soccer Team defeated China for the World Cup, prompting not this moment, but this one.

And your Sports Illustrated quote of the day came from the mouth of...



...Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts, who, in 1978, told of his most-cherished All-Star Game memory: "When Mickey Mantle bunted with the wind blowing out in Crosley Field."