Ernie Harwell – “The Shot Heard Round the World”

First Series Nationally Televised Baseball Series

On October 3, 1951, Ernie Harwell was part of the NBC TV broadcast team for the playoff series between the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants. Harwell’s efforts were not recorded and most remember Russ Hodges‘ radio call of Bobby Thomson’s game winning home run.

Our next podcast will be released on Friday, December 10th.  This podcast will feature the late, great Ernie Harwell.

Ernie Harwell & Red Barber Remember

The Impossible True Story – Last Day of the Season

Last Day of the Regular Season

October 3, 2010 is shaping up to be quite a horse race for the end of the 2010 Major League Season. Three teams are fighting for the last two National League Playoff spots. The Padres are in San Francisco. A San Francisco (91 – 69) win at home against San Diego (90 – 71) will clinch the NL West for the Giants.

A Padres win coupled with an Atlanta Braves (90 – 71) loss will clinch the NL West for San Diego.  If the Braves win along with San Diego, the Giants and Padres would play a one-game tiebreaker for the NL West title in San Diego on Monday night.  The loser would then go to Atlanta for a one-game playoff for the wild card on Tuesday night.

The impossible true story continues.  Last night across movie theaters in America, the Disney movie of Secretariat was previewed.  The movie opens on a grand scale on October 8th.  “This movie was outstanding.  All sports fans need to pay tribute to Secretariat – The Babe Ruth of horse racing,” said Ed Kasputis, Creative Director of Baseball PhD.  “The human drama of this movie will again be played out today as the Padres, Giants and Braves try to end a long regular season in triumph and valor.”

Secretariat – The Movie

Secretariat – The Babe Ruth of Horse Racing

The Magical Finish – June 9, 1973 – Belmont Stakes

Shot Heard ‘Round the World

This week is Giants‘ week with our podcast featuring the San Francisco Giants being released on Friday, September 3rd.  You can’t talk about the Giants without knowing about the Shot Heard ‘Round the World. October 3, 1951, the Giants are playing the Brooklyn Dodgers in a best of three playoff series.  The winner goes to the World Series to play the Yankees, the loser stays in New York to watch.

Bottom of the 9th, the Giants are trailing by 2.  Enjoy the video.

Ernie Hallway and Red Barber – Shot Heard ‘Round the World

April 7, 1977

On April 7, 1977 the Toronto Blue Jays played their first game at Exhibition Stadium against the Chicago White Sox.  The video below will attest that Toronto needed a dome stadium.  Five years later after the 1982 Grey Cup, momentum for building a dome stadium took root after miserable weather dimmed the Grey Cup game.

Construction started on October 3, 1986 and the SkyDome opened on June 3, 1989.  In 2005, the SkyDome’s name was changed to Rogers Centre.  Ed, Farley and Mark will be reviewing this great multi-purpose stadium during our podcast featuring the Toronto Blue Jays.  This podcast will be released on Friday, August 13th.

Opening Day – April 7, 1977, Exhibition Stadium