NBC Sports: MLB 1979-All Star Game-National League @ American League: Full Game

Source:NBC Sports– Cincinnati Reds 2b Joe Morgan.

Source:The New Democrat

“1979 MLB All-Star Game (Seattle) Original Broadcast”

From Classic MLB

Playing an all-star baseball game at a football stadium. The Kingdome despite being fairly close to the action for baseball and a very loud stadium for both baseball and football, was basically a football stadium, because of its size, sixty-five thousand seats for football. And in the high fifty-thousands for baseball.

This was a great game where Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Dave Parker who was a five-tool player up until the mid 1980s, throws out a baserunner from the outfield wall unassisted. Perhaps the best defensive play in MLB All Star game history.

For all the talk about this game being a slugfest with the lineups that both teams had and the stadium they were playing at, this game could’ve been played at Shea Stadium in New York, or Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City. Because this was a pitchers duel with the Americans beating the Nationals 3-2.

Goes to show you that great pitching, especially when that great pitching throws hard with control, will beat great hitting. Especially if those great hitters are expecting a big game because of the ballpark that they are playing at.

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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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NBC Sports: MLB 1986-5-03-GOW-Anaheim Angels @ Milwaukee Brewers: Full Game

Source:NBC Sports– MLB Game of The Week.

“1986 05 03 NBC GOW California Angels At Milwaukee Brewers”

From NBC Sports

This photo is from a video that no longer exists anywhere online, except for this blog and other blogs that have used this photo to talk about this game. But the video of this game was either deleted or blocked on YouTube.

Source:NBC Sports– the Angels and Brewers from 1986.

The 1986 Angels were a very good, if not great all around team: hitting, pitching, and defense that should’ve at least gotten to the World Series. But of course lost three straight games in the ALCS after having a 3-1 lead in that series.

The Angels, who contended both in 84 and 85 in the AL West, which was back before the wildcard came into both leagues, looked like the team to beat in the AL West both seasons. 1986, they weren’t expected to win the AL West, especially the way that they did by being in first place most of the season. But in 86, they put it together for the whole season, both with their offense and pitching. And managed to avoid fading in August and September like they did in 84 and 85.

The 1986 Brewers, were somewhat in transition. Especially with their pitching and weren’t contenders at all and about a 500 ball club.

You can also see this post on Blogger.

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NBC Sports: MLB 1985-GOW-6/22-New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers: Full Game

Source:NBC Sports– Phil Neikro and the New York Yankees, taking on the Detroit Tigers in 1985.

“1985 06 15 NBC GOW Tigers at Yankees”

From NBC Sports

1985 is the perfect example of why MLB should’ve went to the three division format in both the American and National League with the playoff wildcards well before 1994.

Because you had four ninety win teams in 1985 and each division champion would’ve had at least ninety wins. The Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East, Kansas City Royals in the AL Central, and the Anaheim Angels in the AL West. The New York Yankees as a wildcard team in 85 would’ve have more wins than every division winner except for the Blue Jays.

If you go with two wild cards in each league, the Detroit Tigers would’ve just barely misses the AL Playoffs in 85 with 84 wins, a game behind the Chicago White Sox. 1985 was a great year for MLB and the Yankees and Tigers were both in the playoff race that year. And played each other on NBC which is this game.

You can also see this post at FreeState MD, on WordPress.

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NBC Sports: MLB 1979-ALCS-Game 1-Anaheim Angeles @ Baltimore Orioles

Source:GI Bomber– The Earl of Baltimore: Orioles Manager Earl Weaver.

“Nolan Ryan’s last start as an Angel.”

From GI Bomber

Nolan Ryan vs. Jim Palmer, I mean you couldn’t ask for anything more. Perhaps the two best pitchers in the American League at this point and in Jim Palmer’s case perhaps the best pitcher in the American League.

I have Palmer, Steve Carlton and Tom Seaver as the top three pitchers of this era in Major League Baseball. But Ryan didn’t pitch very well against the Orioles at least at Baltimore Memorial Stadium. He was a much better pitcher at Anaheim Stadium for the Angels than he was on the road.

This was an excellent matchup for an ALCS. Both the Angels and Orioles had good pitching, in the Orioles case great pitching. Both teams had very good lineups offensively and played good defense. The Orioles just simply did those things better than the Angels in this series.

You can also see this post at FreeState MD, on WordPress.

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