Sunday, February 26, 2012

Answers


Game 6 was the first game back in San Francisco after the Yankees went up by three games to two in New York. The previous game was October 10, this one was October 15 because of a travel day and three days of rain (and couldn't we use that about now). The Giants won behind Billy Pierce's complete game three-hitter.

The price of a ticket to sit in the lower boxes was $12.00. Adjusted for inflation, that is just a few cents over $90. I would gladly shell out $90 for a lower box seat to a World Series, I mean, aren't some field boxes for regular games a lot more than that now? No one ever said that Major League Baseball has not made money in the Selig era.

Ford C. Frick was the Commissioner of Baseball in 1962. Joesph Cronin was the president of the American League, Warren Giles of the National League. The "Detroit Three" refers, of course, to the three car companies located in Detroit. But in 1962, there were some other American car companies. Notably, American Motors, was located in Indiana, the Rambler was the third best selling car in the early sixties. In 1962, American Motors was being run by George W. Romney (he downsized it). Jeep was still an independent car company in 1962, as well.

The Giants Executive Family consisted on Horace C. Stoneham, President; Charles S. Feeny, Vice-President; Charles H. Stoneham, Vice-President; Edward T. Brannick, Secretary; and Edgar P. Feeley, Treasurer.

Felipe Alou, of course, managed the Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants. Harvey Kuenn played left field in Game 6, he went on to manage the Milwaukee Brewers in their only World Series appearance in 1982.

Orlando Cepeda got three hits in Game 6, and two rbi. He was also caught stealing once. The losing pitcher was Whitey Ford, lasting only 4 2/3 innings and giving up all five runs. The Giants did not hit a home run, although Roger Maris did hit a solo shot. The Giants starting lineup:
Harvey Kuenn - LF
Charley Hiller - 2B
Felipe Alou - RF
Willie Mays - CF
Orlando Cepeda - 1B
Jimmy Davenport - 3B
Ed Bailey - C
Jose Pagan - SS
Billy Pierce - P

The Giants' Equipment Manager was Eddie Logan. "Doc" Bowman was the Trainer.

Juan Marichal was the only Giant pitcher not born in the US.

You get a lot to like - filter, flavor, pack or box! You may remember the jingle, "You get a lot to like with a Marlboro. Filter, flavor, pack or box!" Although I found a clip on YouTube where it was "... filter, flavor, flip-top box!" Lee Marvin was not a Marlboro man, this is his preference.

WSTF was the ticker symbol for Westaff - or what had been previously known as Western Staffing, Inc. until the marketers were let loose. It was bought out by a privately held company, The Select Family of Staffing Companies. In 1962, Western Staffing was Western Girl, Inc., even though they could provide men. It was, "One of America's Finest Temporary Office Help Agencies."

Trick question, but MOC was right on it. The Giants and doggers ended 1962 in a tie atop the NL West, and a three game series decided the outcome. The Giants won 9 against LA during the regular season, in which they won 101 games. The final season total, 103 - 62.

Harrah's Tahoe featured Guy Lombardo, Polly Bergen, Lonesome George Gobel, Louis Armstrong and Harry Belafonte. Imaging staying at the Lake for two days and catching Louis Armstrong and Harry Belafonte on consecutive nights! You could have done it on November 7 and 8, 1962.

The winner's share was $9883 and the loser's share was $7291. Righteous bucks!

A few other advertisements of the day: Roos-Atkins; Laura Scudder's Potato Chips, "The noisiest chips in the world"; soft whirled Wonder Bread; RCA Victor "Mark 8" color TV. And, your Chevron dealers, featuring "no increase in price, just driving pleasure." That was because they were using Methyl. Not Methyl-something, just Methyl, their trademarked antiknock compound before Techron came along. Methyl, by the way, was the first research breakthrough in antiknock compounds since Ethyl.

How about some more of those groovy San Francisco World Series programs in 2012?

Friday, February 24, 2012

Panda Unimpressive

At the risk (or perhaps the enjoyment) of generating some flak here on the ol' blog, I must register my general dismay over our cuddly Panda's attitude & bulk. Let's face it - this guy came into camp last year in about as good a shape as he can be. The result was increased agility in the field & vastly improved hitting. The fact that he clearly gained some weight during the season (with some drop in his production in the latter stages) was not lost on me. I hoped for another off-season of hard work & conditioning.

Now, with healthy new contract in-hand, he has basically declared that 'he is what he is' ... which is clearly out-of-shape again, with little intention to get back into shape. Fortunately, he looks better than the 2010 Panda, but nothing like the pre-season 2011 Panda. His supposed workouts were much more secretive this time. Even if his claim about muscle mass is true, he cannot possibly be as nimble in the field. He is a 3B, not a 1B, C, or a DH. Nimbleness is a required tool.

More than anything else, I am put off by his attitude about the whole thing. The 'work hard to get in shape, perform well, get a big contract' progression does not seem to have had a lasting effect on him. He comes off as less humble & more brash about the whole thing.

I am put off by it. With question marks all over the lineup (whether about new guys & how they'll fit in or guys coming off of injuries or guys coming off of unproductive seasons), he is really the cornerstone. He needs to be ultra-ready.

P.S. - Zo's diversion on the trivia test was not lost on me. Game 6 was not the 1-0 finale. It was a game that the Giants won. That being said, I didn't have too many of his answers without looking them up. Mike Murphy was the only gimme.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Trivia Time


2012 is the 50th anniversary of a Giants World Series appearance, the first World Series appearance for the San Francisco Giants. The Giants were not successful in this series. But being in the World Series is pretty damn good, as the Texas Rangers' fans should remind themselves.

The Giants put some pretty good players on the field for this series, Willie McCovey, Tom Haller, Orlando Cepeda, a couple of Alous, and one Willie Mays. The Yanks countered with some pretty fair talent themselves, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, Yogi Berra and Elston Howard.

This is a program from Game 6 of that World Series, held at Candlestick Park on October 15, 1962. Put on your thinking caps.

What was the final score of this game?

What was the price of a ticket to sit in the lower boxes at Candlestick?

Who was the Commissioner of Baseball?

The Giants Executive Family lists five individuals. Who were they?

The Giants outfield had two players that went on to manage Major League baseball teams. Who were they and what teams did they manage?

Who got three hits in this game, and who was the winning and losing pitcher?

Who was the Giants' equipment manager?

The Giants had one pitcher not born is the United States of America. Name him.

No problem advertising cigarettes in 1962. The full page Marlboro advertisement features a long, lean cowboy enjoying a smoke. Marlboro's tag line was, "You get a lot to like - ________ (fill in the blank)"

WSTF (formerly Nasdaq, now privately owned). What was it in 1962?

What was the Giants record against the hated dodgers in 1962?

The Yankees had two pitchers who were recipients of the Cy Young Award. The 1962 Giants also had two pitchers who would win Cy Youngs. Name these four men (hint: one Giant was not on the World Series Roster).

Harrah's Tahoe - swingin' place in 1962. Name the performers advertised as appearing from September 27 through November 25 (Yes, you've heard of them).

What was the dollar value of the winner's share?

Answers and more in the near future.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

I'll be happiest when the ink dries

Andrew Baggarly is no longer with the San Jose Mercury-News and no longer writes Extra Baggs. He's now with CSN-Bay Area and he penned a little piece about my favorite off-season topic.

Matt Cain needs an extension. Giants: get it done!

--M.C.

Monday, February 13, 2012

By the numbers

World Series odds have been posted. The Giants come in at 16-to-1, the eighth best of thirty teams. The Phillies are number one (6/1), followed by the Angels and Yankees (13/2), Tigers (8/1), Rangers (9/1), Red Sox (12/1), and Marlins (15/1).

Let's see, statistics has always been a weak spot for me, so I think that "16-to-1" means that if they played 17 games then the Giants would win 16 of them! Awesome! What a great team. Wait--what's that? Oh, it means that if there were 16 teams in the league then the Giants would be one of them. Hmm, that doesn't sound very good. I know, they are betting odds, so that must mean that if I bet a dollar on the Giants that I'll win sixteen bucks!! Now we're talking. Time to scrounge up some cash! OK, OK, I'm doing a wikipedia search and it says that if they played the season 1,000 times the Giants would be the champs 160 times. Better get cracking, that's a lot of World Series lawn gnomes I'll have to buy. Maybe I can use my winnings!

Tell me, O My Brothers, what does "16-to-1" mean to you?

--M.C.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Pitchers and Catchers Report in Ten Days

Ain't it grand? Can't hardly wait, me buckos. Baseball is almost here!

Drop us a line, eh? Chime in. Tell us how you're feeling. Talk amongst yourselves.

Me? Thanks for asking. I'm pretty stoked about the 2012 team.


--M.C.