Classic MLB 11: MLB 1985-8/04/-Chicago White Sox @ New York Yankees: Tom Seaver Goes For 300

Source: This piece was originally posted at The New Democrat Plus

To me at least, Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton are the two best starting pitchers of the Baby Boom era. Pitchers who came up in the 1960s and 70s and pitched into the 1980s or so. To me they are the two best pitchers post Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson, from the generation before them. The only other pitcher I would consider with Seaver and Carlton, would be Jim Palmer. And not, not because I’m an Orioles fan, but he had the career, numbers, big games, everything else that puts him in the same class. Tom Seaver earned all of his victories, pitching for some mediocre New York Mets teams in the late 1960s and 1970s and some Cincinnati Reds teams that were in decline post Big Red Machine of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Not sure there was a better big game pitcher than Seaver of this era.

Classic MLB 11: MLB 1985-Chicago White Sox @ New York Yankees: Tom Seaver Goes For 300th

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NBC Sports: MLB 1984- Detroit Tigers @ Chicago White Sox: Jack Morris No-Hitter

Source:NBC Sports– Detroit Tigers manager Sparky Anderson.

Source:The New Democrat 

“1984 04 07 NBC GOW Tigers at White Sox Morris no hitter”

From Classic MLB

Floyd Bannister and the Chicago White Sox taking on the Detroit Tigers in April, 1984 in Chicago. During the early and mid 1980s, Bannister was one of the better pitchers in Major League Baseball, at least in the American League and then he wore out and became a mediocre pitcher.

Source:NBC Sports– The Detroit Tigers vs the Chicago White Sox, from 1984.

Here’s one example of why Jack Morris should be in the MLB Hall of Fame, because when he was on, he could be very dominant, because he threw hard and then throw in his devastating forkball and he could fool you. One of the last pitchers especially of his era that you wanted to fall behind, because of his forkball and he wouldn’t need to throw strikes to get you out.

The 1984 Detroit Tigers are about as a complete and great baseball team that MLB has had, at least since 1969 when divisional play started. They were very good defensively, had a very good, deep and all around lineup offensively. And had very good pitching, both starting and in the bullpen. And Jack Morris was a big part of that and should get more credit for it.

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Chicago White Sox TV: MLB 1980-10-05-80-Anaheim Angels @ Chicago White Sox: Full Game

Source:WGN Sports covering the Chicago White Sox.

“1980 MLB California Angels vs Chicago White Sox”

From Mercerr 22

Source:Baseball Classics

Not a good way to end a Major League Baseball season other than to see a game at the great Comiskey Park, than to have the 65-95 Anaheim Angels vs the 70-90 Chicago White Sox. Which is what the records of these two clubs would be after this game no matter who won or loss.

The White Sox of the 1970s were like their brothers from the National League the Chicago Cubs in the 1970s. You knew basically when the season would start that they would probably have a losing record. The question would be whether they would finish in last place or not.

The Angels were very different especially in the late 1970s after requiring star players like pitchers Nolan Ryan, Frank Tannana, hitters like Don Baylor, Brian Downing and several others, Rod Carew would be another one. They won the AL West in 1979 and at least going in the 1980 season were probably thinking they would at least contend for the AL West if not win the American League all together. Interesting that they would go from being a first place team in the AL West, to sixth place team in just one season.

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NBC Sports: MLB 1985- NBC GOW- Detroit Tigers @ Chicago White Sox: Full Game

Source:NBC Sports– Detroit Tigers OF Kirk Gibson, perhaps the most talented, all around MLB player in the 1980s. And that’s not a Sparky Anderson promo. It’s simply the truth.

“1985 05 11 NBC GOW Tigers at White Sox”

From Classic MLB

A very good matchup here with both the Tigers and White Sox being in contention for their division titles going into September that season. And with Bob Costas and Tony Kubek calling this game for NBC Sports, you can’t ask for more when it comes to broadcast network sports.

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Chicago White Sox TV: MLB 1981- Baltimore Orioles @ Chicago White Sox: Full Game

Source:Classic MLB– I think that’s Chicago White Sox catcher Carlton Fix at the plate.

“Wild game; poor video quality but worth a look anyway IMHO. A lot of runs scored here.”

From Classic MLB

1981 Carlton Fisk’s first season in Chicago.

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ESPN: SportCentury: Bo Jackson

Source:ESPN– The Mystery Man.

“Sports century Bo Jackson”

From Majik Man

All the time, you hear about great, talented athletes and how good they could’ve been, had they not just got into illegal drugs or alcohol, could’ve stayed out of prison, didn’t party as much, took care of themselves, etc. And they get asked the question about their careers, what if. That’s not Bo Jackson and the career that he had.

At some point, I think Bo would’ve had to choose either baseball or football and became the best baseball or football player that he could’ve been. He was essentially a full-time baseball player, who played for the Los Angeles Raiders in the offseason.

But who knows how good of an outfielder and hitter that Bo would’ve been, had he been playing for the Kansas City Royals or another MLB club, full-time, in the 1990s. As great and cool as it might be to be a great two-sport athlete, it takes a tole on you physically and mentally. Who knows who great a running back had Bo been, had he played for the Los Angeles Raiders full-time and didn’t play baseball in the spring and summer. We’ll never know, of course.

I’m not saying that playing two sports is the reason why Bo Jackson broke his hip on what look like a simple running play and gain, that he had against the Cincinnati Bengals, during the 1990 AFC Divisional Playoff. But like I said earlier, Bo is not a what if because of bad or illegal habits that he was involved when he wasn’t playing baseball or football.

But, Bo might be a what if, because he was simply too talented and didn’t have enough discipline to decide for himself that he needed to be the best baseball or football player that he could’ve been and let nature take its course. But it’s his life and decision to make and his responsibility to live with.

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