Quick Take

    Who was the idiot who made the prediction last week that we were staring at a Giants-A’s World Series this year? OK, you can stop with the e-mails now; I WAS WRONG. But I’m not through prognosticating; a minor little setback isn’t going to stop me. I’m going on record right now that the Brooklyn Dodgers will beat the New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series. Furthermore, I predict that Jackie Robinson will steal home in Game 1 of the Series. Just remember----you read it here first!!

Story of the Week

SPORTS STADIUMS & ME

    I’m a red-blooded American male, and I love ‘em. I love ‘em old, I love ‘em young, I love ‘em big, I love ‘em small, I love ‘em short, I love ‘em tall, the truth be known, I love ‘em all. We’re talkin’ sports stadiums here; what did you think I was referring to? This article deals with my personal involvement with those beautiful creations.

    My not-too-shabby memory has stored all the stadiums I’ve been in for baseball, football, basketball, hockey and boxing events, going way back into the 40’s when I was a little "sports junkie." I mean all such pro events, pro meaning major league baseball, minor league baseball, the NFL, the AFL, the Canadian Football League, the Arena Football League, the NBA, the ABA, the NHL, the WHA and pro fights. And for good measure, I add college to the mix.

    There is one asterisk; I am including the same venue more than once if I’ve seen more than one sport in it. For example, the LA Coliseum is a two-timer for me; baseball and football. And the LA Forum is a three-peat for me; basketball, hockey and boxing. However, no stadium counts more than once per each sport; I saw high-hundreds (or more) of baseball games at old Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis, but baseball there counts only once in my tabulation.

    OK, so what are the numbers? Baseball stadiums 34, basketball stadiums 21, football stadiums 20, hockey stadiums 14, boxing stadiums 7. Included in the stats are World Series games in St. Louis, LA and New York, one major league All-Star game in St. Louis, NBA playoff games in St. Louis, Philadelphia, LA, Portland and Salt Lake City, NFL playoff games in Dallas, Denver, Cleveland and Kansas City, two Super Bowls in New Orleans, NHL playoff games in St. Louis, Chicago, LA, Calgary and Edmonton, one NHL All-Star game in St. Louis, a Rose Bowl and a Cotton Bowl. With it all, my only regret is that I never saw "dem bums" play at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.     

    I’ve spent over $42 million on sports events down through the years; ok, so that’s stretching it, but only a little bit. Make no mistake about it; I’ve never met a sports stadium I didn’t absolutely love, and I never will.

Last Week’s Trivia

    Who is the pitcher who registered an incredible three shutout performances in just six days in World Series competition? Christy Mathewson of the New York Giants did it to the Philadelphia Athletics in 1905. I wasn’t there!

Trivia Question of the Week

    Who are the only three major league pitchers to record at least 4,000 career strikeouts? See next week’s Sports Junkie for the answer.