On clearing you up on it, blah. It was just a chance for me to look back on a special season. In so doing, I had to set a theme, so I blindly plowed ahead and what came out came out. Thanks for taking it in the spirit with which it was given.
Re: Hershiser. I had the privilege of following Don Drysdale's historic scoreless innings streak via TV and radio in 1968, when he broke Walter Johnson's 55 year old record. I can still remember watching the evil Giants' catcher Dick Dietz leaning into a pitch with the bases loaded to get an HBP and break the streak at 45 innings, only to see the umpire make the rare ruling that Dietz had not made a proper attempt to avoid the pitch. Drysdale's record was mythical to those of us who lived through it.
Which only makes Hershiser's feat all the more memorable. The same TEAM?! As I watched his streak unfold and he got near, I couldn't believe I would have the privilege as a hometown fan to witness such a thing twice, once as a 13-year-old teenager, and once as a 33-year-old man. The streak alone made the season special. When Orel set a new record late in the season, I had no idea that in a few weeks I would get to witness two more historic performances, Hershiser's playoff pitching, and Kirk Gibson's famous "I don't believe what I just saw" homer.
One further comment. You know who epitomized that Dodger team? It was not Hershiser. It was not Gibson. It was journeyman third baseman Mickey Hatcher. Not so great as a fielder, and not blessed with the greatest hitting talent, he was a classic dirt-dog spit-and-grit ballplayer. That season and in the playoffs he came up with big hit after big hit. It was not the loaded New York Mets who represented the NL in that World Series, the titan that everyone expected to tilt with the mighty A's. The Mets had Gary Carter, Kieth Hernandez, and Darryl Strawberry, plus a really good supporting cast. They had Doc Gooden, Ron Darling, David Cone, Sid Fernandez and Bobby Ojeda as a rotation. The Dodgers downed 'em in seven games. They somehow accomplished THAT feat BEFORE they even faced the Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Don Baylor, Dave Henderson, Carney Lansford, Dave Parker A's, who also had Dave Stewart and Bob Welch in their rotation and Dennis Eckersley in relief. Those be two SERIOUS upsets. And this AFTER watching Hershiser's regular season brilliance.
Thanks for offering the occasion to think about it again. I have been so privileged as a sports fan. I long for one more hurrah, a Mariners appearance in the World Series, perhaps even a victory there. Who'd a thunk the Seahawks would ever do it. They did. Can DiPoto? Prob'ly not this year, but we can dream. Sometimes dreams come true.