Guest post: The Jemmer reviews the re-broadcast of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series

Away we go.

December 23, 2010 at 8:37PM
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
(The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Commenter "The Jemmer" submitted a guest post last week with his thoughts on MLB Network's replay of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. Here we go: ------------------------

The MLB Network (gosh I love cable) aired, for the first time in 50 years, game 7 of the 1960 World Series in which Bill Mazeroski hit a home run to win the game and the series over the Yankees, managed by 70 year old Casey Stengel.

Observations on the broadcast:

Roberto Clemente stepped in the bucket BIG TIME. If my kid did this we'd be drilling in the basement night and day to correct it. He was able to scratch out a .314 batting average in 1960 in spite of this defect in his mechanics.

The lack of graphics was refreshing – the game actually filled the screen. Nowadays you feel like the game is on picture-in-picture half the time with the strike zone tracker, etc.

How did Yogi Berra manage to be such a great player with a body that looks like the old broken-down janitor from your elementary school? He looked like he was made to push a mop bucket instead of hold the record for most World Series games played. He hit a three-run homer and scored another run in this game.

You have to really pay attention so you don't miss anything – no instant replay. It's amazing how spoiled we are with instant replay and highlights always available.

The newsreel cameramen stood on top of the 3rd deck roof. Something tells me OSHA was not present, ensuring they were tied-off.

Play-by-play men for each team announced the game. Not at the same time, first Bob Prince of the Pirates, then Mel Allen of the Yanks. No yuck-it-up stories about Sturgis … no Snapper Mow-em' down innings. God I miss Herb Carneal.

That Moose Skowron had some forearms I tell you.

The Pirates pitcher, Vern Law, the 1960 Cy Young winner, laid down a perfect bunt with runners on 1st and 2nd and beat it out for a hit. I had no idea this was legal under the rules.

Roger Maris had an issue with balls and strikes and at one point walked back and put his nose about 3 inches from the ump's face. The umpire did NOT act like Maris had questioned his manhood publicly and throw him out of the game with great demonstration. Refreshing.

Minnesota connection on the Pirates 1960 roster: U of M multi-sport star and later AD Paul Giel – it was his second to last year in the bigs, pitching only 19 innings for the inaugural Twins and 1 inning for the Athletics in 1961.

Hal Smith hit a three-run homer in the bottom of 8th to put the Pirates up 9-7. A camera shot into the dugout after he rounded the bases shows a security guard with his hat on backward – perhaps the first recorded instance of a rally-cap?

Players that were pulled near the middle of the game (starting pitcher Vern Law and catcher Smoky Burgess) were in street clothes during the postgame interviews. Incredibly, they left the dugout during Game 7 and showered up.

about the writer

Michael Rand

Columnist / Reporter

Michael Rand is the Star Tribune's Digital Sports Senior Writer and host/creator of the Daily Delivery podcast. In 25 years covering Minnesota sports at the Star Tribune, he has seen just about everything (except, of course, a Vikings Super Bowl).

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