Did you miss the 1960 World Series? Here's your chance!
September 24, 2010 7:48 PM   Subscribe

Thanks, Bing! It was a long haul for the Pirates, they hadn't won since 1925, and, until recently, we didn't have a film record of the win.
posted by HuronBob (21 comments total) 11 users marked this as a favorite
 
This is yes!
posted by dirigibleman at 7:54 PM on September 24, 2010


Mazeroski's game 7 walk-off home run.
posted by starman at 7:59 PM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]


Clearly, Robert Bader is an older man. Were he a younger lad, he would have posted it to YouTube upon finding the gem.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:00 PM on September 24, 2010


Clearly, Robert Bader is an older man. Were he a younger lad, he would have posted it to YouTube upon finding the gem.

No, Bader wants to monetize this asset for Bing's estate.

Even as a Yankee fan, I cannot wait to see this game. Somewhere in December when I am sick of the selfishness that is pro football, we will be treated to this game. Then, two months until pitchers and catchers report!!
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:16 PM on September 24, 2010


Oh yes
posted by Senator at 8:19 PM on September 24, 2010


The production is simple by today’s standards. NBC appeared to use about five cameras. The graphics were simple (the players’ names and little else) and rarely used. There were no instant replays, no isolated cameras, no analysis, no dugout reporters and no sponsored trivia quizzes.

Damn. If they still showed that, I might watch it.
posted by Malor at 8:21 PM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]


It's great, it's fantastic --

But I can't help but wonder if the most beautiful thing in baseball is going to change a bit with a teevee there, instead of just people and a radio.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm happy it's been found, but for something that's found, something else is lost.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:25 PM on September 24, 2010


Excellent use of the word conflagration! :

“We were in this beautiful apartment, listening on shortwave, and when it got close Bing opened a bottle of Scotch and was tapping it against the mantel,” Kathryn Crosby said. “When Mazeroski hit the home run, he tapped it hard; the Scotch flew into the fireplace and started a conflagration. I was screaming and Nonie said, ‘It’s very nice to celebrate things, but couldn’t we be more restrained?’ ”
posted by mannequito at 8:28 PM on September 24, 2010


I can't wait to see how people's first hand recollections of the game over the years compares to the actual footage of the game. Sometimes the legend fueled by imperfect memories is greater than the actual event.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 8:30 PM on September 24, 2010


I was hoping somebody would post this. It's an amazing story about an amazing sports memory. Thanks!
posted by ardgedee at 8:36 PM on September 24, 2010


This is going to be AWESOME!

My only hope is that MLB Network will show the actual game, not how they do "Baseball Memories" where plays and individual pitches are interrupted by slo-mo effects and people talking over the footage. Do interviews and such in between innings, but please, MLBN, leave the game intact!
posted by fireoyster at 8:50 PM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]


So who was the 1960 Miss World Series then...?
posted by Webbster at 8:54 PM on September 24, 2010


Sometimes the legend fueled by imperfect memories is greater than the actual event.

Indeed. I imagine Herb Soltman's annual gathering might lose many of its followers, if you can now see what was only heard for so long. (I didn't find the actual broadcast online, but you can buy it on an Old Time Radio CD collection here, which still irks me - OTR should shared, as no one is adding value beyond distribution).
posted by filthy light thief at 8:56 PM on September 24, 2010 [1 favorite]


There were no instant replays, no isolated cameras, no analysis, no dugout reporters and no sponsored trivia quizzes.

Damn. If they still showed that, I might watch it.


I remember a few years ago there was some strike or lock out on a station in Canada so they had to show hockey and football games without commentary, and ratings actually went up.
posted by bobo123 at 9:24 PM on September 24, 2010 [2 favorites]


I don't even really watch baseball, nor do I know much about Bing Crosby, but I still found this article fascinating. I love it when lost media is discovered!

(Fingers crossed for those old Doctor Who episodes. Maybe Bing was a fan?)
posted by punchdrunkhistory at 9:36 PM on September 24, 2010


Nice post. I never realized that Bing Crosby had been a part owner of the Pirates

When Mazeroski hit the home run, he tapped it hard; the Scotch flew into the fireplace and started a conflagration.

I also hadn't realized (until I just checked) that there hasn't been a World Series game played outside, during the day, for over 25 years. Back then, all World Series games were played in the daytime, when we had to be in school. I listened to a little portable radio in class and then on the bus going home, as the Pirates quickly went ahead 4-0 and then fell behind 5-4. By the end, when Maz hit his home run, I'd gotten to the TV in our basement, and at that point I yelled and jumped so high I cracked my head on a low rafter down there. No conflagration, but still an afternoon to remember.

p.s. Interestingly, the Yankees scored more than twice as many runs as the Pirates (55 to 27), and still lost the series. And Yankee second baseman Bobby Richardson is still the only World Series MVP from a losing team.
posted by LeLiLo at 9:54 PM on September 24, 2010 [2 favorites]


When I read the headline I assumed that somehow Microsoft's search engine had found a hidden gem on the internet.
posted by Mick at 4:43 AM on September 25, 2010 [6 favorites]


That game is still a huge deal here in Pittsburgh. I'm an outsider here myself but it seems to be at the level of VJ day or the moon landing in local legend. For anyone old enough, it's one of those "do you remember where you were when it happened?" things.
posted by octothorpe at 5:38 AM on September 25, 2010


It will be interesting to see the footage. The quality of Kinescopes can vary wildly. Some are hardly distinguishable from the actual broadcast, while others are painfully unwatchable. Given Crosby's interest/involvement in recording technology, I have to think these films are going to look surprisingly good.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:01 AM on September 25, 2010


I am sick of the selfishness that is pro football,

As a fan of the Montreal Expos, I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry at your comment.
posted by docgonzo at 8:37 AM on September 25, 2010 [1 favorite]


I bet Bing lit up a celebratory joint post game.
posted by Rarebit Fiend at 9:04 PM on September 26, 2010


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