I'm stuck this week in a day job I can't get out of, but I'll soon share my thoughts on the first week of spring training. Meanwhile, here's something to put optimism in your hearts and hometown pride in your stirrup stockings: An LP-length retrospective on the 1962 season, complete with radio broadcast snippets. Lon Simmons, Russ Hodges, and -- holy Toledo! -- a few appearances by Bill King. That's now my all-time favorite album cover, after anything by the Ohio Players.
Two minutes in, and it's already pure audio heaven. Here's Hodges describing Willie Mays' first at-bat on Opening Day, April 10:
Two minutes in, and it's already pure audio heaven. Here's Hodges describing Willie Mays' first at-bat on Opening Day, April 10:
"The fans here today are seeing something they've never seen. Willie is wearing a 'batter's helmet.' In previous years he always wore the cap with the plastic inner lining, but at the request of manager Alvin Dark, he went for the full helmet. He wears it right over his baseball cap.(Hat tip to longtime reader Big O.)
Spahn throws to the Giants' center fielder. There's a swing and a long drive to deep left-center field, and you can tell it....Bye Bye Baby! What a way to start off the season!"
