Your favorite baseball memory?

by MiCubsFan on Jul 21, 2008 5:23 PM CDT Comment 37 comments

I'm visiting from Bleed Cubbie Blue and have enjoyed reading your blog here. Seems like a lot of nice ppl here who have a good clear knowledge of your team. Some blogs it is not so unfortunately.

I've been a baseball fan for 40 years now and have lots of great memories such as Mickey Mantle hitting a homerun in old Tigers Stadium, I was 6 at the time!.... Lots of great memories of the Cubs through the years like when Sandberg hit 2 homers against the Cards in 1984 in the 9th and 10th innings to bring the Cubs from behind with both homers and the Cubs eventually won turning the corner and winning the division.

My all-time favorite baseball memory, however, comes from 1973. Game 2 of the 1973 world series with the Metstied with the A's in the top of the 12th inning with one man on and two outs and up to the plate steps Willie Mays. He is 42 years old and its obvious this is the end of his career. I found myself rooting for Willie to get a hit (I was rooting for the A's to beat the Mets, it goes back to 1969... its a Cub thing) and when he hit the ball back up the middle to drive in what proved to be the winning run I cheered for him as loudly as I would someone from the Cubs. It proved to be his last hit and RBI in his great career. I can still see that sweet swing and him hitting that ball as clearly as it was yesterday.

What is your favorite memory or memories of baseball? My biggest memory of the Rangers is seeing Nolan Ryan throw that unbelieveable curve ball. That was definitely the best curveball I ever saw in my lifetime. Looking forward to reading your favorite memories. :)

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That's an easy one

for me atleast…Juan in the ‘96 playoffs.

Josh Hamilton is better than you.

by Longhorn on Jul 21, 2008 5:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

2004

David Dellucci line drive to right field to beat the Angels…

Problem the last night i jumped out of my seat watching a Rangers game..

Well, actually i did when Chris Davis hit that go ahead homer in Yankee Stadium.

by tyd3311 on Jul 21, 2008 5:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

dammit

Probably the last time….

by tyd3311 on Jul 21, 2008 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Being at the Ballpark

for Kenny Rogers perfect game. That was absolutely insane.

And watching Hamilton in the Home Run Derby last week.

"Do you think anybody is gonna charge the mound when they know I take Akito? Hell no." - BGL

by mgmann on Jul 21, 2008 5:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Okay you got me..

I also jumped out of my seat when the balll hit the adidas sign behind the right center field bleachers…

by tyd3311 on Jul 21, 2008 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

bank of america sign

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Jul 21, 2008 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

my bad

by tyd3311 on Jul 21, 2008 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Being a young

Ranger fan there are not too many good memories but some of the better ones are the Tigers-Rangers game where we were down big and came back to win the game. Last year the game vs the Orioles where we scored 30 runs. This year the walk off HR against F-Rod but the best memory is probably the Home run derby.

by coolaid on Jul 21, 2008 5:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hmm ..

Baseball Memory: Kirk Gibson’s homerun in the ‘88 World Series.

Ranger Memory: The Rangers’ first playoff game which was a Burkett win over the Yankees. Not just the game, but the excitement of finally making the playoffs, and playing a great game.

by northtexan95 on Jul 21, 2008 6:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Even though I'm a Rangers fan

watching the bottom of the 9th inning of that Game 7 of the World Series between the NYY and Arizona, when Luis Gonzalez, I believe, hit that single of Mariano Rivera

"Well, the Dallas Mavericks got beat by the New Orleans Hornets last night ending their season. Word is that someone on the team is dating Jessica Simpson." - Jay Leno

LSB facebook group ---->>> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33345329288

by hinduplaya on Jul 21, 2008 6:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

man...

...that’s a good one.

by oc on Jul 21, 2008 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep. Correct.

And you’re right, that was pretty awesome too.

One that I remember was the Marlins clinching that 1st series against the Indians in 1997. That was a pretty neat moment.

Also, Boone against the Red Sox in 2001 or 2002, can’t remember which, hitting the walk-off in the 12th to win the ALCS.

You could also argue for the entire World Series in 2001 when the D-Backs beat the Yanks. That one was just damn good.

Finally, as a Rangers fan, my favorites were the Dellucci 2B to win that game against the A’s in Sept. of 2004, MY’s game winner off Coco when the Brewers came to Arlington last year, Hammy’s walk-off against the Angels two weeks ago, the Derby last week, and overall, probably my first baseball game, the day after we hung the F in 1996 when we beat the Angels 4-2. September 28, 1996. Pretty cool day for me.

Ian Kinsler has finally earned the right to be the third of my co-favorite players.

by utlonghorn24 on Jul 22, 2008 12:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

favorite baseball memory

Is simply the most recent time the rangers got a runner home from 3rd with less than 2 outs in a sacrificing manner.

If they actually get a hit it does not count.

by SaltyGoesYard on Jul 21, 2008 6:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

my favorite rangers memory is the night they clinched the division in ‘96. I was 10 so the details aren’t perfect, but i remember it being really cold and the game just wouldn’t end. Finally the Mariners lost their game that started 2 hours later and the stadium went crazy. I don’t remember if we ended up staying for the end of that game, but i’m pretty sure the rangers ended up losing.

exploding highfive

by sarnold on Jul 21, 2008 6:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

September 26, 1996

...when they hung the “F” in left… i was with my mom in right field… John Rhadigan interviewed me after the game for the LIN network. i had a sign… that said…

L – ovin’
I – t
N – ow!

...or in the summer of ‘87, when i bought my first pack of baseball cards at the Howdy Doody convenience store in South Arlington…

...got a Topps wax pack, and found a Texas Rangers baseball card…

...outfielder Ruben Sierra… the wood border was classic, the gum sucked…

...my mom fell in love with #3… and i fell in love with Texas Rangers baseball…

by oc on Jul 21, 2008 6:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I was about to ask where the hell Howdy Doody was in S. Arlington

Then I realized I was 2 at the time.

Plaschke: Scioscia, the former Dodgers catcher, is the model manager who has created an atmosphere of winning.
Junior:It's that simple. Mike Scioscia brings a Glade Plug-In labeled "Winning™" into the clubhouse and everyone who breathes it in gains 15 points in average.

by TheBZA on Jul 22, 2008 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

it's still there...

...Matlock and Sublett…

no more baseball cards though.

by oc on Jul 22, 2008 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wrong side of I-20

I know where that is, but wasn’t there as a kid. I was all about the Lone Star Comics

by TheBZA on Jul 22, 2008 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

memories

Baseball: Josh Beckett’s complete game shutout of the Yankees in the 2003 World Series. Because I was there in what will hopefully be the last World Series game in Yankee Stadium. My brother and I sat there and listened to Frank Sinatra sing “New York, New York” over and over again as thousands of depressed fans left and the Marlins had long left for the clubhouse party. 2-0 – the kid beat the Yankees. Baseball at its finest.

Rangers: lots of Nolan Ryan memories (kudos on his curve – not much was better than seeing Nolan lock a guys knees thinking the fastball was coming. Well, seeing the guy who knew the fastball was coming still not be able to catch up was better…). The best one: Robin Ventura’s head being struck by Nolan’s fist. Punk.

by JBImaknee on Jul 21, 2008 7:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Have been lucky to see some good games

Was in the centerfield bleachers with my wife and 2 boys on will Clark jersy night to witness the Kenny Rogers perfect game. I was also at the Nolan Ryan no hitter sitting behind 1st base with some girl that had no idea of the moment she was enjoying. Luckily the cute girl sitting in front of me was a fan and gave me a high five after every strike out. Was also in left centerfield the night Jose Canseco decide to hit 2 homeruns about 5 rows behind me that I almost had a play on. Unfortunatly the 3rd HR was about 40ft over my head to hit the back wall of the visitors dugout. Ialso enjoyed a night were Rusty Greer helped us come back from a huge deficit against the Royals. Almost left early, but almost caught a foul ball as I was standing up to leave. I sit back down and enjoyed the comeback. As a kid at the old stadium had Bobby Johnson throw me a ball after Charlie Hough threw his last warm up pitch. Actually had his fingernail marks in it. I also got to enjoy the Feldman vs. the Angels fight last year.

by Ranger Capt on Jul 21, 2008 8:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

just remembered or did I misremember

The Brewers game last year when Coco blew the save. I think it was 3-0 and we put up 4 to win. There was alot of high fiving with fans that night as well.

by Ranger Capt on Jul 21, 2008 11:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

5 singles in a row or something.

That was awesome. MY, of course, with the game-winner.

Ian Kinsler has finally earned the right to be the third of my co-favorite players.

by utlonghorn24 on Jul 22, 2008 12:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Has to be....

‘96 and the first trip to the playoffs.

Kenny Rogers perfect game is close behind though.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Jul 21, 2008 8:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I dont know if its my favorite

but the first ranger memory that popped into my mind (not the first overall though) was when I went to a ranger game back in the old stadium with my older sis and my dad. I must have been 8, 10 tops, and gary green came to the plate with the bases loaded. My sister said something to the affect of I hope he hits a grand slam which I promptly rebuffed with a firm scoff and a comment that he wasnt going to do anything cause he sucked balls and the very next pitch he hit a bases clearing triple. Ever since I have been for the most part overly optimistic (or tried to be) when it comes to rooting for my teams.

I'm sorry my parents never had me sarcamsized.

by rchawk12 on Jul 21, 2008 9:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

just the other day

my dad and I were at the game against the Angels when Josh Hamilton hit the walk-off 2 run HR…

it seemed like we were going to lose the whole game, yet it was fun because it also seemed like the first game I had been to in a while when the crowd was excited and into the game…

but when he hit the HR, the place went absolutely crazy, I nearly accidently fell of the third deck where we were sitting on the first row in between 1st base and the foul pole

Warner Madrigal is the Rangers most underrated prospect by a longshot; he SHOULD be be closing games within 3 years IMO. Matt Harrison is underrated too.

by dstar442005 on Jul 21, 2008 9:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I was at that game too

second one I went to this year, the other being that slugfest early on with the royals that we almost coughed up. Hamilton hit a no doubt homer in that game too. The only difference between those two homers was that the royals one was a no doubt shot from the second it left his bat (saw it from the rawlings grill, first time I went there too) and the angels one I left DURING THE BOTTOM OF THE 6TH. Yea im not bitter for having to leave in the bottom of the sixth of a tie game with the angels cause two people wanted to leave (out of 7).

Thats what happens when one of those people is my ride’s girlfriend. I got back to my car and had multiple people text me about that homer, people who dont even like baseball and dont usually watch it. So yea, not only did I leave ridiculously early from the best game of the year so far, but I also didnt get to watch it on tv. Phew, okay I needed to vent, see what happens when you bring up bad memories.

I'm sorry my parents never had me sarcamsized.

by rchawk12 on Jul 21, 2008 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tie

Two special games. Nolan Ryan’s 7th no hitter, and Kenny Rogers’ perfect game. Lots of single play highlights, including the Gary Matthews Jr. catch in deep CF, and Pudge Rodriguez picking a runner off second base who only had a three step lead. One made national TV over and over, and the other preserved the Rangers’ first place standing on a night it could have been lost.

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Jul 21, 2008 11:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Nolans 7th and 6th No Hitters were special

as was Kenny’s Perfect Game, i watched those on tv, but the game that i was actually at and meant a lot to me was back in the 1980s Geno Petralli Hit a tying two-run pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the 8th inning off of Roger Clemens during a nationally televised Monday night baseball game of the week against the first place Boston Red Sox on August 25, 1986 at Arlington Stadium, this allowed Ruben Sierra to win the game with a home run in the bottom of the 9th as the surprising Rangers remained close to the California Angels in pursuit of the 1986 AL West title.

by TRFAN on Jul 22, 2008 12:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Here here.

Ruben’s shot was off Calvin Shiraldi.

"I am not a never-nude" - Tobias Fünke

by jcAustin on Jul 22, 2008 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ruebn Sierra. Comeback. Whole stadium rooting for him. Home run. Holy shit. Standing ovation. Nearly cried.

I was there with my Pops.

I’ve never felt like an entire stadium was rooting so hard for one guy to succeed like we were rooting for Ruben. The roar when we coaxed him out for his curtain call was special.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 22, 2008 1:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Favorite Ranger moment...

...was the September 1996 game. I can’t remember how many innings it went, but it went long enough to see the “F” posted on the scoreboard.

Favorite baseball memory: My wife asked me one day if I could watch any game what would it be? I said Yankees vs Red Sox at Fenway Park. The subject never came back up. Three months later for my 50th birthday, she presented me with two tickets for the final Yankees vs Red Sox game at Fenway in 2004, tickets for a tour of Fenway, airline tickets to Boston, and a map with a line drawn from Boston to Cooperstown, NY. Then she said she was paying for the whole weekend…everything! I cried. I bought tickets for the Saturday game so we went to two games, had a great time in Boston, and drove to Cooperstown. We spent almost 9 hours just looking. That was the year the Ichiro broke the all time hit record in a season and I was interviewed by a Japanese TV station who I really don’t think spoke English or even knew what I was saying. What a gift!

"The path you choose, you also choose its destination..."

by pro82 on Jul 22, 2008 8:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

nice

"I am not a never-nude" - Tobias Fünke

by jcAustin on Jul 22, 2008 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very cool

Always wanted to go to Cooperstown.

I’ve kind of informally been planning on finally making the pilgrimage when Pudge gets inducted, but I’m thinking that might be too crazy of a time to visit… too many other baseball tourists, ya know?

Anyone ever been to Cooperstown for an induction? Is it just a flustercluck or can you still enjoy the museum and everything?

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 22, 2008 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

easy

Nolan’s 6th no-hitter. I remember watching it with my dad on TV. Even from the 1st and 2nd inning, we would hoot and holler with every K, saying how great his fastball was that night. I don’t remember who called that game, but I do remember them saying how tired he had had to be and how his arm had to be hurting yet each inning after the 7th he kept dialing it up a notch. It may be my memory but I could have sworn he hit 99 a few times those last couple of batters. And then Ricky came up…and got sat down.

Close second was my brother pitching a no-hitter when he was a freshmen and I was a senior and it was the first time we were on the same team. I trotted in from right field before the final out after he gave up a walk. He K’d the last guy too.

by corbsclinton on Jul 22, 2008 8:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Being about 5 ft away

from “the catch” by GMJ against Houston two years ago. I was probably the first person who knew he caught that ball.

by TheBZA on Jul 22, 2008 9:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

kenny's perfect game

i was there when i was 10. pretty hard to go to a game that will ever eclipse that. the stadium was pretty full that night because the weather was nice and the ballpark was still new. from about the 7th inning on the stadium was rocking after every out louder than any game in any sport i have ever been to. i was sitting down the right field line so i got a perfect view of rusty greer laying out. still have my will clark jersey that was the giveaway that night somewhere.

by selppuc on Jul 22, 2008 11:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes, Nolan's 6th

Ruben Sierra hitting a winning homer off Calvin Shiraldi. Delucci’s shot in ‘04. Hamilton’s shocker against krod. MaxRam taking it at home then throwing the runner out at third. Luis Gonzalez winning hit in the WS v Rivera. The entire playoffs and WS in 86. (except for the Mets winning.) The year of the Tiger (1968) The Big Red Machine v. the Swingin A’s in the early 70’s. Reggie Jackson’s all star game shot into the lights at Tiger Stadium….... and many more. Baseball been very very good to me.

"I am not a never-nude" - Tobias Fünke

by jcAustin on Jul 22, 2008 11:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs