“That ball is out of here boys, forget it, forget it.”
“Another ball finds the magnetic glove.”
“Now that’s it, daddy.”
“Brooks Robinson, held to one hit in 1969, hits the jackpot in 70. From the taste of ashes to the taste of champagne.”
History tells us that the magical Birds from Baltimore won three World Championships. Maybe in 1966, the O’s didn’t really deserve to ruin Sandy Koufax’s last year. In 1983, we had weakest of the teams dating back to 1979, but it was good enough to beat an aging Phillies team.
But in 1970, the Birds deserved to win the big prize. After all, we should have never lost to the stinking Mets.
All the above quotes are from the audio of the 1970 NBC production of the World Series videotape. It is narrated by the late Curt Gowdy. Simply, it’s incredible. All three World Series tapes are available to the public. The ’66 tape seems dated and is done by O’s great broadcaster Chuck Thompson. The 1983 tape is narrated by Mel Allen. They are both average.
The ’70 DVD rules. Who were those amazing writers?
My three boys know that when they see a homer leave the park, they yell, “That ball is out of here, boys, forget it.”
Now what is that? I’m pretty sure they put a microphone on Reds coach Alex Grammas. Baseball Reference tells us that Grammas was born in 1926 and hails from Mississippi. That accounts for his deep Southern accent. The powerful Reds stake an early 4-0 lead in game one off Jim Palmer. And then Boog Powell steps in. I’m not certain what he’s muttering but it’s something like, “That’s a Mountain of a Man.”
And then Boog strikes. And Grammas can only say, “forget it.”
That series also gave the Orioles a break. In game one, Bernie Carbo, charged home on Ty Cline’s chopper at the plate. Maybe the call was incorrect but Carbo was called out as the late catcher Ellie Hendricks allegedly tagged him.
We hear plenty from Sparky Anderson. “There is no way he ever tagged him.” And the umpire keeps on calling Sparky, daddy.
It’s priceless stuff. Of course for Orioles fans, it was the series that showed the world that Brooks Robinson was the greatest defensive third baseman in the history of the game. It inspired all those great quotes. From Frank Robinson: “When I was in the National League, I thought Brooks was in the same class as Ron Santo, Jim Ray Hart and Ken Boyer. When I played with him, I realized he was in a class by himself.”
Sports Illustrated correctly observed that Brooks’ play on Lee May’s sure double in game one was considered one of the finest defensive plays in the history of the game.
Sorry, for the Brooks bragging. Gowdy’s line on the tape is also perfect: “It only seemed he didn’t have a chance.”
On that wicked liner that Johnny Bench hit in game five: “Fair or foul, Houdini on the hot corner, makes sure.”
And when the last out is a routine grounder to Brooks at third, Brooks and Mike Cuellar hug on the mound.
“Sweet Bird of Ecstasy,” Gowdy exclaims.
What a great team.
