Happy 19th birthday, Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen, who "would sit in his room for hours with the door locked as a teen, practicing the guitar."
Jan. 29
It was a Tuesday night, and I was in first grade at Clark Elementary in Paducah. And I doubt they had even heard of him. Nonetheless, I am furious that my parents didn't get me down to Nashville to see the Bruce Springsteen concert at Mother's Music Emporium:
-- "Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?"
-- "Let the Four Winds Blow"
-- "You Mean So Much To Me"
-- "Kitty's Back"
-- "Incident on 57th Street"
-- "Rosalita"
Feb. 2
Steve Lawrence breaks up Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on The Carol Burnett Show, and tomorrow night CBS Playhouse 90 airs what will be one of the year's most hailed teleplays.
Feb. 5
The '50s revival is in full effect.
Feb. 7
There's a commercial amid this Three on a Match clip that discusses a new snack product that completely intrigues me. "Hostess O's. ... The donut with filling in every bite. ... How do they do it?" Furthermore, why didn't it fly?
Feb. 21
Tim Horton dies, but Tim Hortons lives on.
Feb. 22
Happy 24th birthday, Julius Erving. "'... Well, Julius, these people have attained these things because they have gone through this system here in America, which is a very competitive, hard-nosed system. The way you can attain things that you see and you want is to become part of that system is to conform to the ideals of that same system and place yourself on an avenue that's going to lead you to bigger and better things. ...'"
March 2
Grammy Awards. The "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female" winner is Aretha Franklin's "Master of Eyes."I'm pretty sure I've never heard that song, and it doesn't appear to be available at YouTube. Stevie Wonder is, however, and he's fantastic. Love the shots of how genuinely impressed the studio audience of peers is. Check out how completely into the moment Marvin Hamlisch is, about three minutes in.
March 3
Johnny Cash on Columbo.
March 4
People debuts.
March 7
Shaggy-stoled Lucille Ball is a limber, interesting interview—so funny, so quick, so smart, so aware—on The Dick Cavett Show. She says she was thrilled to made Cecille B. DeMille's cast as the “elephant girl” in 1952’sThe Greatest Show on Earth but eventually had to let go of the role to focus on her pregnancy with her first child, Lucy. No regrets, though. “I was delighted to be pregnant,” Ball sweetly tells Cavett. “Nothing else mattered.” Ball also says that early in her career she was embarrassed to admit that Jamestown, N.Y., was her hometown because she felt it too dull. She identified Butte, Mont., instead. Over the course of her life, however, Ball says she came to love Jamestown. “Is there a plaque there?” Cavett asks. “No, Ball replies, “there’s a plot.”
Meanwhile, North Carolina might be en route to abolishing its Eugenics Commission.
March 10
"A Japanese World War II soldier, Second Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda, surrenders in the Philippines."
April 3
Tornadoes.
April 10
Video hasn't yet killed the radio star.
April 13
The New York Nets, playing at the Nassau Coliseum, beat the Kentucky Colonels, 119-106, in Game 1 of the American Basketball Association Eastern Division finals. The Nets beat the Virginia Squires, four games to one, in an opening-round series. Now they're on their way to a four-game sweep of the Colonels, and next will be a four-games-to-one win over the Utah Stars for the ABA championship. Per Wikipedia: "The 1973–74 season saw the Nets finally put all the pieces together. The key event of the season though would come in the 1973 offseason, as the Nets acquired Julius Erving from the Virginia Squires. With Erving, who was affectionately known as 'Dr. J', the Nets ended the season with a franchise record 55 victories. After Erving was voted the ABA's MVP, the Nets advanced in the playoffs and won their first title ... The success continued into the 1974–75 season as they topped the previous season's win record by winning 58 games—a record that still stands to this day. The Nets, though, were eliminated four games to one, by the Spirits of St. Louis in the first round of the 1975 ABA playoffs. The Nets continued their winning ways in the 1975–76 season—the final season for the ABA—with Erving leading them to a successful 55-win season; he also was named MVP again that year. After a grueling series with the Denver Nuggets, the Nets won the last ABA championship series in league history in six games, giving the Nets their second championship in three years. The summer of 1976 saw the ABA-NBA merger finally take place. As part of the merger agreement, four teams from the ABA—the Nets, Nuggets, Pacers and San Antonio Spurs—joined the NBA. The Nets and Nuggets had actually applied to join the NBA in 1975, but were forced to play a lame-duck season in the ABA by court order. Prior to their first NBA season, the Nets traded two draft picks to the Kansas City Kings for guard Nate Archibald. The Nets appeared to be poised to pick up where they left off in the ABA. However, they got a rude surprise when the NBA forced the Nets to pay an additional $4.8 million directly to the Knicks for 'invading' the New York area. Coming on the heels of the $3.2 million that the team had to pay for joining the NBA, this left Boe short of cash, and he was forced to renege on a promised pay raise for Erving. Erving refused to play for the Nets under these conditions and refused to report to camp. The Nets offered Erving's contract to the Knicks in return for waiving the indemnity, but the Knicks turned it down. When the Philadelphia 76ers offered to acquire Erving for $3 million—roughly the same amount they had to pay for NBA membership--Boe had little choice but to accept. In essence, the Nets were forced to trade their franchise player for a berth in the NBA."
April 14
The Flyers advance.
April 20
BILL STANFILL
CONGRATULATIONS
SUPER BOWL VIII
"G" CLUB
4-20-74
April 22
Claudine opens in the United States.
April 28
The Rose d'Or Festival opens in Switzerland. Barbra Streisand makes her German-language TV debut, and the Bulgarians get hosed. Sing Sala Bim looks like an interesting program.
May 4
World's Fair opens in Spokane, Wash.
May 7
I want to learn more about what happened to American-made cars. I know the Pinto is the butt of a lot of jokes, but my family loved our Pintos and I still think they look pretty good.
May 8
I trust in God
I love my country
And will respect its laws
I will play fair
And strive to win
But win or lose
I will always do my best
May 16
"At least I'll get my washing done."
May 19
It's a new era for the National Hockey League, as the Philadelphia Flyers become the first of the 1967 expansion class to break the Original Six's hold on the Stanley Cup.
May 20
The very curious Identikit opens. I absolutely want to one day visit the Rome shopping mall that is in the movieabout 45 minutes in, and I think I'll close our Christmas cards this year, "With respectful affection, ..."
June 4
"... 10-Cent Beer Night was the Indians' most desperate stunt in the club's most desperate era. Cleveland was mired in the AL East cellar for half a decade despite the best efforts of ace hurler Gaylord Perry, who won 24 games and the Cy Young Award in 1972. Stagnant attendance at Municipal Stadium (their turnout in 1973 had been the second-lowest since World War II) prompted the announcement that at selected games stadium vendors would offer a 10-ounce cup of Strohs for just 10 cents. ... After the Rangers took an early lead, the alcohol-fueled frenzy that had pushed fans through the turnstiles began to push them onto the field. In the second inning, a large woman jumped into the Indians' on-deck circle and lifted her shirt; in the fourth, a naked man slid into second as Rangers outfielder Tom Grieve circled the bases with his second homer of the game; and in the fifth, a father-and-son team welcomed Hargrove to Cleveland by leaping into the infield and mooning the crowd. ..."
June 22
June 22, 1974 ... Soul Train line dances are so, so much fun.
June 26
"The Universal Product Code is scanned for the first time, to sell a package of Wrigley's chewing gum at the Marsh Supermarket in Troy, Ohio."
June 27
The Flip Wilson Show ends on NBC.
June 28
Elton John's Caribou is released.
July 4
A Prairie Home Companion debuts.
July 17
Chicago Fire 25, Jacksonville Sharks 22. Stick around to the end to hear the Chicago Fire song that is played as the stadium clears.
August 5
Vicki is the first advancer in today's Price Is Right when she bids $404 on the (awesome) Jorges Games People Play carpeting and the actual retail price turns out to be exactly $404. I don't think Bob Barker nearly made enough hay about this accomplishment.
Aug. 8
"The president's story ... From every indication we have now, it will lead us in a tragic direction." By the way,George Montgomery knew what he was talking about. Plus,
Elvis Presley+Ziggy Stardust=Mud.
NFL Films heads to Clemmons, N.C., for the PGA Championship, Aug. 8-11, 1974. 5 stars, highly recommended.August 16
According to the uploader of this video, Chicago had a TV special, Meanwhile Back at the Ranch, that aired on this date. Both of my brothers and sister were all into Chicago, so I'm sure this was a big evening for all of them.
Aug. 24
The previous week saw Davey Lopes record a three-homer game and then a five-steal game for the Dodgers but that the Reds won five of six to to maintain "its relentless pursuit" in the National League West, reports Herman Weiskopf in "The Week" column in the Sept. 2 Sports Illustrated. Johnny Bench, Weiskopf notes, has driven in 48 runs in Cincinnati's last 44 games. Also, Oakland manager Alvin Dark banned hard liquor on team flights.
LA 79-47 CIN 2.5GB ATL 9 HOUS 13.5 SF 13.5 SD 30
ST. L 66-61 PITT 1GB PHIL 2.5 MONT 6 NY 11 CHI 12
OAK 72-55 KC 4GB TEX 6.5 CHI 10.5 MINN 11 CAL 22
BOS 70-55 NY 6GB BALT 7 CLEV 7.5 MIL 10 DET 12.5
Sept. 2
Elvis Presley in Las Vegas.
Sept. 9
Rhoda debuts.
Sept. 13
ABC promised about its fall lineup, "What You See On ABC This Fall, You'll Be Talking About Tomorrow!"Indeed, last night's Odd Couple was awesome.
Sept. 14
Coming off an 11-1 1973 campaign and Gator Bowl victory, Texas Tech kicks off its new football season with a 24-3 victory in Lubbock over Iowa State, and here's the game in its entirety--in three minutes, courtesy ofRandall Rudd. The big news of the season, per "Seth C" at DoubleTNation.com, turns out to be that the school's "Masked Rider" mascot, for the first time, is a woman.
Sept. 14: Rev. Al Sharpton thanks James Brown, after the singer's criticism for black-on-black crime, for "The Payback," "the young black theme song of 1974."
Lyrics per www.sing365.com:
Hey! Gotta gotta pay back!! (The big payback)
Revenge!! I'm mad (the big payback)
Got to get back! Need some get back!! Pay Back! (the big payback)
That's it!! Payback!!! Revenge!!!
I'm mad!!
Get down with my girlfriend, That ain't right!!
Hollarin' cussin', you wanna fight
Payback is a thing you gotta see
Brother do any damn thing to me
Sold me out, for chump change (yes you did!!)
Told me that they, they had it all arranged
You handed me down, and thats a fact
Now you're pumped, You gotta get ready For the big payback!! (the big payback!!)
That's where I am, the big payback (the big payback!!)
I can do wheelin', I can do dealin' (yes you can!!) But I don't do no damn
squealin'
I can dig rappin', I'm ready!! I can dig scrappin'
But I can't dig that backstabbin' (Oh No!!)
The brother get ready!! Thats a fact!!
Get ready you Mother, for the big payback (The big Payback!!)
Let me hit 'em hit'em!! Hey Hey!! WOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Took my money, you got my honey
Don't want me to see what you doing to me
I got to get back I gotta deal with you!! [x4]
Hey let me tell ya!!
Get down with my woman, that ain't right! You hollarin' and cussin', you wanna
fight!!
Don't do me no darn favor,
I don't know karate, but I know KA-RAZY!!!! (yes we do!!)
Get ready thats a fact, Get ready you Mother for the big payback (the big payback!)
Hey!! I'm a man! I'm a man! I'm a son of a man, but don't they tell ya then
hop again
Get ready for the big payback (the big payback!!) Hit 'em again!!
Get ready I need it, I need a hit again!! Say it once [x3] Hit 'em again!!
(the big payback!!) Sold me out for chump change
Said my woman had it all arranged
Tryin' to make a deal, she wants to squeal But I had my boys on her heals
Saw me comin', told a lie Went down like you wanted to cry
I don't care what she does, she'll be doin' just like she was
Take your kids and raise them up, Somebody think I have a right to be tough
Take her, take that woman, it's one place she found
Just run that mother out of town!!
Got to get up!! Got to get up, get out!! [x2]
I'm mad!! I want revenge, I want revenge (the big payback!!) I want revenge [x3]
(the big payback!!) Give me those hits!! I want some hits!! I need those hits, hit me!!
Sept. 21
The Lawrence Welk Show rolls on!
In the Sept. 21, 1974, Bob Newhart Show, Dr. Hartley is trying to line up accommodations for a retreat for his therapy group. A "Wigwam City" rejects the business. This makes me happily think of Cave City's Wigwam Village #2. Later in the same episode, Carol relays someone else's exclamation of "tough darts!" Which, of course, brings up another happy memory ...
Sept. 22
Sept. 28
Football.
College-football note ... After upsetting Nebraska on Sept. 21, Wisconsin has slipped back out of the Associated Press Top 25 after losing at Colorado on Sept. 28.
College-football note ... After upsetting Nebraska on Sept. 21, Wisconsin has slipped back out of the Associated Press Top 25 after losing at Colorado on Sept. 28.
Sept. 29
There is almost nothing in the Sunday morning, Sept. 29, 1974, Park City Daily News of Bowling Green about the NFL.
Week 3 kicks off on this date, and yet the only indications that I found in the entire newspaper that an NFL season is underway are mentions of today's telecasts--noon and 3 p.m. Central games on Nashville's WSM-4 (NBC/AFC) and a 12:30 kickoff on WLAC-5 (CBS/NFC)--in the TV listings. And, of course, we aren't told which games we will actually see.
The October Football Digest slates all of the following games for noon Central kickoff:
-- Browns (1-1) at Cardinals (2-0)
-- Dolphins (1-1) at Chargers
-- Chiefs (1-1) at Oilers (1-1)
-- Colts (0-2) at Eagles (1-1)
-- Jets (1-1) at Bills (1-1)
-- Bengals (1-1) at 49ers (2-0)
-- Rams (2-0) at Patriots (2-0)
-- Falcons (0-2) at Saints (0-2)
-- Bears (1-1) at Vikings (2-0)
-- Giants (0-2) at Cowboys (1-1)
-- Lions (0-2) at Packers (1-1)
It occurs to me today that I really don't know how it gets determined what games end up showing on a given network affiliate. My guess is that the local affiliate gets to decide from the list of available broadcasts. It seemed, for example, that KFVS CBS Channel 12 out of Cape Girardeau, Mo., always showed the St. Louis Cardinals whenever they were available. WPSD NBC Channel 6 out of Paducah, with no local-ish AFC team to favor, would simply go with the best available game of the time slot.
So, anyhow, I'm guessing Nashville CBS goes with the South-laden Falcons-Saints game in New Orleans. Nashville NBC wouldn't have an AFC market to favor, so that would lead us to defending Super Bowl champs at upstart Chargers. However, I think Football Digest has that time wrong; would San Diego really kick off at 10 local time? Given that doubt, my guess is we're going to be served up "Broadway Joe" vs. "The Juice."
The only 3 p.m. Central kickoff, per Football Digest, is Steelers (1-0-1) at Raiders (1-1). And even if Miami is available in that second slot, I'm going with the "Immaculate Reception" revisit if it's my call.
Finally, NFL Monday Night Football brings us Broncos (0-1-1) at Redskins (1-1). You should've heard last week's telecast when Howard Cosell was trying to gas this clunker. Regardless, of course, I'm watching. For one thing, unless it's a cloudy day across northern Tennessee and southern Kentucky today, I likely will have problems tuning in today's NBC and CBS telecasts up here in Bowling Green. And in that case, I will be especially eager to see Cosell's halftime highlights (brought to us by White Owl cigars) on local WBKO Channel 13, an ABC affiliate.
So, in summary, ...
By the way, in reading today's DN, I do know that the baseball season is winding down. Per this morning's newspaper standings, both Los Angeles and Oakland have maintained their leads in the West divisions (though the Dodgers are still having to hold off the Reds). The two East divisions are both tied. Boston has slipped to third place, leaving Baltimore percentage points ahead of New York. Philadelphia drifted from contention, and Pittsburgh has inched percentage points ahead of St. Louis.
BAL 86-71 NY 87-72 BOS 3.5GB CLE 11.5 MIL 11.5 DET 15.5
OAK 89-70 TEX 6.5GB MIN 7.5 CHI 11.5 KC 11.5 CAL 24.5
PIT 85-73 ST.L 84-74 PHI 7GB MON 8 NY 16 CHI 19
LA 99-59 CIN 2.5GB ATL 13.5 HOU 20 SF 28.5 SD 40.5
Actually, unless there was rain in "Crabcake Clemson" last night, we do have a sole leader in the A.L. East, as these DN standings don't reflect a late Milwaukee-at-Baltimore result. The Dodgers' final in San Diego also isn't factored. Several other Saturday-night games ended after press time, but the others--such as Minnesota at California--had no bearing on the playoff races.
Sept. 30
I really should've learned more about the history of Bowling Green's Daily News when I worked there. Here's the equivalent of the "about us" tab from the Sept. 30, 1974, edition:
Founded by the late John B. Gaines
C.M. Gaines, Publisher from 1922 to 1947
John B. Gaines, Publisher
J. Ray Gaines, Editor
Daily News founded in 1882. Democrat founded in 1854. Messenger founded in 1908. Consolidated January 1, 1917.
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for reproduction of all the local news printed in this newspaper as well as all AP news dispatches.
Daily News Platform
1. Industry sufficient to employ this section's working age population.
2. Intelligent planning for handling of city traffic and strict enforcement of traffic laws.
3. Furtherance of education in Southern Kentucky.
4. Improved highways and farm-to-market roads for Southern Kentucky.
Oct. 3
Baseball's regular season is finito:
-- The A's and Dodgers won the Wests. Los Angeles finished 102-60; Cincinnati was the regular season's second-best team (98-64), but the Reds are done. Oakland's top challenger was Texas (84-76 this season, 5.5 games off the A's lead), and there's a lot of reason to think the Rangers are headed for big things. Mike Hargrove is going to be rookie of the year; young Jeff Burroughs, American League Most Valuable Player.
-- It rained in Montreal, so the Cardinals, 1 game behind Pittsburgh, in the National League East had all evening to worry whether the Cubs could beat the Pirates and keep St. Louis's season alive. Indeed, when Pirate Bob Robertson swung and missed with two out and bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, it appeared that Pittsburgh had lost, 4-3. Chicago catcher Steve Swisher dropped the ball, however. Robertson reached safely, and a run scored to send the game to a 10th inning--when Manny Sanguillen singled home Al Oliver for a 5-4 Pittsburgh victory. With the Pirates record now improved to 88-74, the Cardinals were 1.5 back and eliminated from contention. The rained-out game with the Expos was simply canceled.
-- In the American League East, meanwhile, the Orioles closed the season with their ninth-straight victory. Baltimore won 16 of its last 18 and went 28-6 since Aug. 29. It entered the regular season's final day with a two-game lead in the division, so the playoff berth was already determined. Still, the New York Yankees went out and beat the Milwaukee Brewers to finish 89-73. It was New York's best A.L. East finish since 1970. The Boston Red Sox, who appeared to be the division's best team until Carlton Fisk was injured for the remainder of the season, closed 84-78, 7 games back and in third place.
-- The season's most memorable moment, of course, was Hank Aaron's 715th, record-breaking home run back on April 8. Lou Brock also logged a terrific accomplishment when he broke Maury Wills's single-season record for stolen bases, with his 105th steal on Sept. 29. Nolan Ryan threw his third career no-hitter, on Sept. 28. He topped 300 strikeouts for the third straight season--but also walked 202 batters. Ryan in '74 and Bob Feller in 1938 are the only pitchers to ever allow more than 200 bases on balls in a season.
-- The Cleveland Indians are expected to name Frank Robinson their player-manager today.
-- The playoffs start Saturday, Oct. 5, with the Orioles in Oakland and the Dodgers in Pittsburgh to begin best-of-five series.
Oct. 4
My dad turned 49 yesterday, 1974. And Traffic played in San Francisco.
Oct. 5
Top 10 songs of the week ending Oct. 5, 1974.
Oct. 7
Oct. 9
stevewymt Steve Hensley
On this day in history: October 9th 1974 - UK Coach Adolph Rupp visited Hazard for the last time when he appeared at Dawahares.
9 Oct
Oct. 16
Oct. 18
The new ABA season opens Oct. 18, and I'm really excited about the Kentucky Colonels. They made it to the Eastern Division finals last year, and they've got Louie Dampier and Dan Issel from UK, Ron Thomas from U of L and Bird Averitt, who's from Hoptown.
On today 1974, the president and Donald Rumsfeld are spending a lot of time together.
Meanwhile, it has been a very bad morning in Memphis.
A pretty excellent Friday night at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, N.J.,however.
Oct. 19
Items from the Oct. 19, 1974, Middlesboro (Ky.) Daily News:
-- Covington's Kentucky Post and Times Star has endorsed Gov. Wendell Ford (D-Owensboro) in his race to unseat Sen. Marlow Cook (R-Louisville).
-- A 19- and 20-year-old have been charged with malicious burning of a building other than a dwelling in connection with an Aug. 1 fire that destroyed the offices of Whitesburg's Mountain Eagle ("It Screams"), and state police are still looking for two other suspects. (1975-preview continued: Here's how the case came out.)
-- The Middlesboro Public Library is showing Buster Keaton's The General at 2 p.m. Eastern today. No charge.
Oct. 24
Oakland and Los Angeles open the World Series on Saturday, Oct. 12, 1974, at Dodger Stadium. The A's and Dodgers needed four games each to eliminate the Orioles and Pirates in the league championship series.
Baltimore beat out 10 hits, including home runs by Paul Blair, Bobby Grich and Brooks Robinson, in a 6-3 Game 1 victory on Sunday, Oct. 6, in Oakland. But then the Orioles failed to score for 26 straight innings over three games. Down 2-0 in Game 4 on Wednesday, Oct. 9, Baltimore got its leadoff man in the bottom of the eighth, Don Baylor, on base with a single. Rollie Fingers came on for Jim Hunter then and retired the side. In the bottom of the ninth, Baylor came back up with two out, Enos Cabell on second and Jim Palmer (running for Boog Powell, who had just singled in Blair) on first. Fingers struck out Baylor on four pitches, and the A's were headed back to the World Series.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, swept the weekend games at Three Rivers Stadium, racking up 21 hits over the two games. In Game 3 in Los Angeles, however, the Dodgers found themselves behind, 5-0, before they ever even came to the plate. Willie Stargell and Richie Hebner homered, and Walt Alston replaced his starting pitcher, Doug Rau, with Charlie Hough before the top half of the first inning was through. The Pirates won Game 3, 7-0, but the series got back to normal on Wednesday, Oct. 9, as Los Angeles recorded 12 hits and a 12-1 victory. Don Sutton got his second pitching victory of the series, and Steve Garvey hit two home runs.
Nov. 19
In "There Is Nothing Like a Nurse," the 4077 nurses are evacuated upon intelligence of a forthcoming air raid. It turns out to be a harmless pamphlet drop by so-called "5 O'clock Charlie," and the nurses return to much jubilation. The end. Over the course of the episode, the show's makers appeared to have jammed in several very funny, probably leftover gags (trapping Major Burns in a latrine with a jeep, Hawkeye's riffing over a mailed-from-home wedding film, etc.) that were probably each too short to carry their own storyline. M*A*S*H was in its third season, and it has really found its stroke. The show is confident enough by this point to fly plot-light and play to its established base. This episode is probably unlikely to have won over any too many new converts to CBS at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, but it's a treat for fans who get to explore all sorts of little idiosyncrasies of their beloved characters through this highly amusing amalgamation of one- to three-minute, only loosely associated scenes. In addition to the gags, there are three separate musical numbers led by guitar-toting Capt. Calvin Spalding, portrayed by Loudon Wainwright III, Rufus's dad. Loudon III is the 1946 yield of the union of a Life editor and yoga teacher. He's a Chapel Hill native, a former "new Dylan" and still a frequent contributor to the scores and soundtracks of hit movies, such as Knocked Up.Baseball's regular season is finito:
-- The A's and Dodgers won the Wests. Los Angeles finished 102-60; Cincinnati was the regular season's second-best team (98-64), but the Reds are done. Oakland's top challenger was Texas (84-76 this season, 5.5 games off the A's lead), and there's a lot of reason to think the Rangers are headed for big things. Mike Hargrove is going to be rookie of the year; young Jeff Burroughs, American League Most Valuable Player.
-- It rained in Montreal, so the Cardinals, 1 game behind Pittsburgh, in the National League East had all evening to worry whether the Cubs could beat the Pirates and keep St. Louis's season alive. Indeed, when Pirate Bob Robertson swung and missed with two out and bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, it appeared that Pittsburgh had lost, 4-3. Chicago catcher Steve Swisher dropped the ball, however. Robertson reached safely, and a run scored to send the game to a 10th inning--when Manny Sanguillen singled home Al Oliver for a 5-4 Pittsburgh victory. With the Pirates record now improved to 88-74, the Cardinals were 1.5 back and eliminated from contention. The rained-out game with the Expos was simply canceled.
-- In the American League East, meanwhile, the Orioles closed the season with their ninth-straight victory. Baltimore won 16 of its last 18 and went 28-6 since Aug. 29. It entered the regular season's final day with a two-game lead in the division, so the playoff berth was already determined. Still, the New York Yankees went out and beat the Milwaukee Brewers to finish 89-73. It was New York's best A.L. East finish since 1970. The Boston Red Sox, who appeared to be the division's best team until Carlton Fisk was injured for the remainder of the season, closed 84-78, 7 games back and in third place.
-- The season's most memorable moment, of course, was Hank Aaron's 715th, record-breaking home run back on April 8. Lou Brock also logged a terrific accomplishment when he broke Maury Wills's single-season record for stolen bases, with his 105th steal on Sept. 29. Nolan Ryan threw his third career no-hitter, on Sept. 28. He topped 300 strikeouts for the third straight season--but also walked 202 batters. Ryan in '74 and Bob Feller in 1938 are the only pitchers to ever allow more than 200 bases on balls in a season.
-- The Cleveland Indians are expected to name Frank Robinson their player-manager today.
-- The playoffs start Saturday, Oct. 5, with the Orioles in Oakland and the Dodgers in Pittsburgh to begin best-of-five series.
Oct. 4
My dad turned 49 yesterday, 1974. And Traffic played in San Francisco.
Oct. 5
Top 10 songs of the week ending Oct. 5, 1974.
Oct. 7
We interrupt this football season, sort of, to return you to baseball. After four straight footballs (two college, two pro), an Evel Knievel, a tennis and a golf (from most to least recent), baseball returns to the Sports Illustrated cover in the form of Jim "Catfish" Hunter's smiling mug.
Press time was always a problem for me and SI, as sports-geek kid me simply wanted data on my favorite players and teams and SI was always a little bit behind what was happening now. For example, when the Oct. 7, 1974, edition had to go to the presses, SI didn't yet know which teams had won the Easts, so Ron Fimrite had to spend a little time on both the Yankees and (eventual champion) Orioles in the American League half of his playoffs preview and both the Cardinals and the (eventual champion) Pirates in the National League half.
I imagine, though, that delay might've helped SI find its thoughtful and sometimes-askew voice. Because it simply couldn't compete with your daily newspaper on telling readers who won and who lost yesterday, it stepped back and did more analysis and off-beat stuff. This issue has something on lacrosse and one of those long takeouts with sketches on bullfighting. Those long takeouts with sketches are always great to read as an adult now, but kid me knew to just stay away from those things.
Even not knowing which teams might advance from the East Divisions, Fimrite expects the two league-championship series to go to the West champions: "Neither team finished its season impressively. The A's backed into the American League West title, losing to the White Sox on the evening the tenacious Texas Rangers mathematically eliminated themselves by losing to Kansas City. And the Dodgers required the services of their season-long whipping boys, the San Diego Padres, whom they defeated Saturday night for the 16th time in 18 meetings, to clinch at least a tie for their division championship. Neither team was annihilating the opposition in the last days of the long season, but the demolition potential nonetheless exists. The major concern for the Westerners in the playoffs was that they would be confronting Eastern Division champions sharpened at the finish by far keener competition."
Fimrite refers to Charlie O. Finley as Oakland's "Mephistophelean owner," and I look forward to investigating this weekend what that might mean. He spends a little time, too, on the Washingtons of Oakland--designated pinch-runner Herb and Claudell, who didn't play baseball at Berkeley High School (which makes it pretty remarkable that he's hitting .280 as a 20-year-old rookie).
Baltimore is obviously a dangerous foe for Oakland, Fimrite writes, given that the Orioles took the A's to five games in 1973 and eliminated Oakland in 1971. With Jim Palmer's and Dave McNally's recoveries from injuries, Baltimore's pitching to match Oakland's. Manager Earl Weaver platoons outfielders, first basemen and catchers, but he tends to send out third baseman Brooks Robinson, shortstop Mark Belanger and second baseman Bobby Grich every day.
As for Los Angeles, Fimrite imagines that the Dodgers might've won 110 games had they not lost Tommy John at midseason to injury. Even as it is, "the Dodgers are simply hard to hold off," Fimrite writes. Los Angeles still has a 20-game winner in Andy Messersmith, Don Sutton has improved in John's absence and third-starter Doug Rau is promising.
They'll be tested, because, of Pittsburgh, Fimrite writes, "The Pirate offense consisted of having Rennie Stennett, Manny Sanguillen, Al Oliver, Willie Stargell, Richie Zisk and Richie Hebner pound the stuffing out of the ball. The Pirates were plainly the best-hitting team in baseball, and they swung at everything thrown in their direction, eschewing the base on balls as the coward's way to first base."
Games 1 and 2 of both series are Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6, respectively. Curt Gowdy, Tony Kubek and new Indians player/manager Frank Robinson will be at Oakland-Alameda County Stadium this weekend to handle NBC's coverage. Jim Simpson and Maury Wills (who no longer holds baseball's record for single-season steals) will be at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh for Game 1 of the N.L. affair. NBC is not carrying Game 2, as it conflicts with the network's Week 4 AFC football coverage.
Speaking of which, I figured out the times on the schedules printed in the October Football Digest. They're all local to the home teams. I'm switching them here, however, to Paducah time:
-- Colts at Patriots, noon Sunday, Oct. 6;
-- Bills at Packers, noon;
-- Falcons at Giants, noon;
-- Saints at Bears, noon;
-- Redskins at Bengals, noon;
-- Raiders at Browns, noon;
-- Steelers at Oilers, noon;
-- Broncos at Chiefs, 3 p.m.;
-- Vikings at Cowboys, 3 p.m.;
-- Lions at Rams, 3 p.m.;
-- Cardinals at 49ers, 3 p.m.;
-- Eagles at Chargers, 3 p.m., and
-- Jets at Dolphins, 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7.
My guesses for what we'll get to see on Channels 6, 12 and 3 ...
Oct. 9
stevewymt Steve Hensley
On this day in history: October 9th 1974 - UK Coach Adolph Rupp visited Hazard for the last time when he appeared at Dawahares.
9 Oct
Oct. 16
I'm pretending like, sometimes, my TV set goes on the fritz or things get busy down at the office.
I have managed to keep up with the third Bob Newhart Show season. Episode 5, which originally aired on Oct. 12, 1974, delivered at least a half-dozen out-loud laughs--none louder than the "Foster child" gag between Dr. Hartley and his sister.
Oct. 18
The new ABA season opens Oct. 18, and I'm really excited about the Kentucky Colonels. They made it to the Eastern Division finals last year, and they've got Louie Dampier and Dan Issel from UK, Ron Thomas from U of L and Bird Averitt, who's from Hoptown.
On today 1974, the president and Donald Rumsfeld are spending a lot of time together.
Meanwhile, it has been a very bad morning in Memphis.
A pretty excellent Friday night at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, N.J.,however.
Oct. 19
Items from the Oct. 19, 1974, Middlesboro (Ky.) Daily News:
-- Covington's Kentucky Post and Times Star has endorsed Gov. Wendell Ford (D-Owensboro) in his race to unseat Sen. Marlow Cook (R-Louisville).
-- A 19- and 20-year-old have been charged with malicious burning of a building other than a dwelling in connection with an Aug. 1 fire that destroyed the offices of Whitesburg's Mountain Eagle ("It Screams"), and state police are still looking for two other suspects. (1975-preview continued: Here's how the case came out.)
-- The Middlesboro Public Library is showing Buster Keaton's The General at 2 p.m. Eastern today. No charge.
Oct. 24
Oakland and Los Angeles open the World Series on Saturday, Oct. 12, 1974, at Dodger Stadium. The A's and Dodgers needed four games each to eliminate the Orioles and Pirates in the league championship series.
Baltimore beat out 10 hits, including home runs by Paul Blair, Bobby Grich and Brooks Robinson, in a 6-3 Game 1 victory on Sunday, Oct. 6, in Oakland. But then the Orioles failed to score for 26 straight innings over three games. Down 2-0 in Game 4 on Wednesday, Oct. 9, Baltimore got its leadoff man in the bottom of the eighth, Don Baylor, on base with a single. Rollie Fingers came on for Jim Hunter then and retired the side. In the bottom of the ninth, Baylor came back up with two out, Enos Cabell on second and Jim Palmer (running for Boog Powell, who had just singled in Blair) on first. Fingers struck out Baylor on four pitches, and the A's were headed back to the World Series.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, swept the weekend games at Three Rivers Stadium, racking up 21 hits over the two games. In Game 3 in Los Angeles, however, the Dodgers found themselves behind, 5-0, before they ever even came to the plate. Willie Stargell and Richie Hebner homered, and Walt Alston replaced his starting pitcher, Doug Rau, with Charlie Hough before the top half of the first inning was through. The Pirates won Game 3, 7-0, but the series got back to normal on Wednesday, Oct. 9, as Los Angeles recorded 12 hits and a 12-1 victory. Don Sutton got his second pitching victory of the series, and Steve Garvey hit two home runs.
Nov. 19
Go Heath: "Joe B. Hall, who is on the hot seat after a disastrous 13-13 season in his second year as head coach, presides over an easy 97-70 win in the first game of the season against Northwestern. Four freshmen -- Mike Phillips (14 minutes), Rick Robey (17 minutes), Jack Givens (16 minutes), and James Lee (12 minutes) -- get a significant amount of playing time."
Eddie Robinson is at the height of his powers in 1974. He's already won three "black college football national championships," and he's on his way to aPelican Bowl championship on Dec. 7. His quarterback in the second half of the 1960s is starting for the Los Angeles Rams, and his quarterback now is headed on to big things. And he's pitching Oldsmobile Toronadoes!
Dec. 7
Go Heath: "Fifteenth-ranked Kentucky (now 2-0 after a win over Miami of Ohio) heads to Bloomington for a matchup with Number 3 Indiana. The result is humiliating: the Hoosiers blow out Kentucky by the score of 98-74. UK is outrebounded 49-36, and the Hoosiers shoot 34 FTs to only 19 for Kentucky. Toward the end of the game, Indiana coach Bob Knight gets into an argument with Hall and appears to whack Hall on the back of the head, adding insult to injury.
"At the end of the 1973 season, Knight defeated Hall in the Elite Eight to prevent UK from reaching the Final Four. In fact, Knight has never lost to UK as the Indiana coach -- he has beaten the Cats five times in a row. It is hard to see how Hall can make UK into a national power if he can't even be the best team in his region."
Dec. 9
Go Heath: "In what may be the most important game he ever coached, Hall leads UK onto the floor at Freedom Hall only two days after the IU disaster. This time the opponent is the University of North Carolina, ranked 9th in the AP poll. Dean Smith, the UNC coach, has an all-time record of 7-2 against UK, and he has Phil Ford, Mitch Kupchak, and Walter Davis. I (at least) would have expected the Heels to roll over the shattered Cats.
Dec. 9
Go Heath: "In what may be the most important game he ever coached, Hall leads UK onto the floor at Freedom Hall only two days after the IU disaster. This time the opponent is the University of North Carolina, ranked 9th in the AP poll. Dean Smith, the UNC coach, has an all-time record of 7-2 against UK, and he has Phil Ford, Mitch Kupchak, and Walter Davis. I (at least) would have expected the Heels to roll over the shattered Cats.
"But this does not happen. Jimmy Dan Conner, who has the best name of any UK player ever, plays a spectacular game -- shooting 15-21 from the field and 5-6 from the line for a total of 35 points. Meanwhile, Phil Ford is off his game, shooting only 5-12 from the field. The Cats win 90-78 and the season is saved."This is the last time UK will ever beat a team coached by Dean Smith."
Dec. 24
Merry Christmas from The Waltons.
Dec. 28
Go Heath: "UK closes 1974 in spectacular fashion with two huge wins at Freedom Hall. They crush Number 18 Kansas 100-63 behind 29 points from Kevin Grevey. Then they hammer Number 13 Notre Dame 113-96 on a night where they went an amazing 51-86 from the floor. The two wins mean that UK finishes the non-conference portion of their season with a record of 7-1, and they move up to 9th in the AP poll.
Go Heath: "UK closes 1974 in spectacular fashion with two huge wins at Freedom Hall. They crush Number 18 Kansas 100-63 behind 29 points from Kevin Grevey. Then they hammer Number 13 Notre Dame 113-96 on a night where they went an amazing 51-86 from the floor. The two wins mean that UK finishes the non-conference portion of their season with a record of 7-1, and they move up to 9th in the AP poll.
"A new era in Kentucky basketball is underway, and the life of at least one 8-year-old in Paducah is about to change forever."
"Straight to the bottom of the charts." Fantastic first five minutes on thisSeptember 1974 performance of "Blinded by the Light."