Bottom of the 33rd: Hope, Redemption, and Baseball's Longest Game by Dan Barry

Every year as baseball season approaches, I pick a baseball book to read. This year it was Bottom of the 33rd, about the longest game in baseball history.

On April 18, 1981, a ball game sprang eternal. For eight hours, the night seemed to suspend a town and two teams between their collective pasts and futures, between their collective sorrows and joys—the shivering fans; their wives at home; the umpires; the batboys approaching manhood; the ejected manager, peering through a hole in the backstop; the sportswriters and broadcasters; and the players themselves—two destined for the Hall of Fame (Cal Ripken and Wade Boggs), the few to play only briefly or forgettably in the big leagues, and the many stuck in minor-league purgatory, duty bound and loyal forever to the game. 

With Bottom of the 33rd, Barry delivers a lyrical meditation on small-town lives, minor-league dreams, and the elements of time and community that conspired one fateful night to produce a baseball game seemingly without end. An unforgettable portrait of ambition and endurance, Bottom of the 33rd is the rare sports book that changes the way we perceive America’s pastime—and America’s past.

I remember hearing about this game the morning after it happened, so reading about it was fun. Some big names were in that game, too. Cal Ripken Jr, Wade Boggs, Bruce Hurst, who all went on to be superstars. 

So how do you fill a book about a single ball game. With back stories of the players and others involved in the game. Surprising how interesting most of them were.

This is a must read for every baseball fan out there. 

Montreal Expo's Dennis Martinez 1991 Perfect Game

This week, TSN showed Montreal Expos Dennis Martinez's prefect game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 28, 1991. I recorded it and watched it this afternoon. It was interesting to say the least.

Dennis Martinez, know as El Presidente,  struck out 5 and although I wasn't counting, gave up only a few fly balls to the outfield. One Dodger, Juan Samuel, attempted to bunt for a single but Martinez dove to the ground, bare-handed the ball and threw him out. Afterwards when he was being interviewed, he was asked if there was a moment he was worried and it was the last out, a long fly ball which hung up. Martinez also was 1-3 at the plate with a single in the 8th. The announcer, Dave Van Horn, was worried the extra running might tire him out.

During that same, 2 team records were ready to be broken, one good and one bad. For the Expo's they could've set a record for longest team non scoring inning streak. It started sometime during Thursday nights game, then they were shut out in 10 innings Friday night, more on that in a minute, and again on Saturday. Sunday they scored 2 runs in the 7th.

The other streak was for the Dodgers. They were one inning away from matching their longest inning streak for shutting out the other team. 
Martinez was pitching against Mike Morgan. Morgan had a tough day taking the loss. He only gave up 3 hits and NO earned runs. The 7th inning started with Alfredo Griffin booting the ball. Then Larry Walker drove him in with a triple. With Walker standing on third, Griffin again gave up an error to bring him in. Morgan took the loss, never giving up an earned run.

Now about Friday nights game. Mark Gardner for the Expos threw a 9 inning no hitter. The only problem was, the Expos never scored. Morgan then pitched in the 10th gave up a hit and was pulled. The next pitcher gave up the run, giving Gardner the loss. Later in the year there was a 8 man committee set up to determine if Roger Maris should be given the home run title over the Babe. They then were asked to rule on Gardner's game. The rulings? Maris gets the HR record. Gardner denied the no-hitter.

One final interesting item. Going into Friday nights game, the Dodgers had not given up a 9 inning no-hitter to any team since 1938. That weekend, they gave up two

Watching the Cubs Win at Wrigley Field

Today Teena and I headed out to Wrigleyville to watch the Chicago Cubs take on the Colorado Rockies in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.

It was hot.

We attempted to walk around the outside of the stadium, but is was all under construction. Hate to have a fire on game day and need this firehouse to respond.

On the foul poles flies the names of the Cubs Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees. Ferguson Jenkins from Chatham Ontario, is one of my all time favorite pitchers. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991, winning 284 games in his career and a Cy Young award in 1971, which not only was a first for a Canadian, but also a first for a Chicago Cub.

Yes I came away with a Jenkins jersey.

One of the new cool things that the Cubs do with their new scoreboards is flash a picture and stats of the Cub player being introduced, and on the other show his signature.

The lineups for today's game. Being from Toronto, Teena and I were so surprised to see that Jose Reyes was traded from the Jays to the Rockies. It was fun seeing him in the lineup for his first game with his new team.

The famed Wrigley Field Ivy.

First pitch.

Jose was second in the batting order. he got a hit then was thrown out trying to steal second.

Our view. See the seats in the second picture. They are across the street.

Many houses have them.

Or customers could sit in the a/c.

Some people love to go to the Caribbean or Bahamas. Give me Wrigley any day.

Some action.

There was a huge crowd for the game, considering it is an afternoon workday, a Wednesday afternoon.

The Ace of my fantasy baseball team, the Rumrunners, is Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta.

The final inning.

Cubs win!

What a great afternoon! I am so glad that Teena got to experience the atmosphere of this stadium. In fact with most stadiums the fans just leave, the Cubs raise the "W" flag and play the Cubs song ... and very few leave until it is all over!

An sunny afternoon at Wrigley Field with a Cubs win. Nothing to me could be better than watching a Blue Jays victory!

Canada vs Venezuela in Pan Am Woman's Baseball

Tonight Craig, Kevin and I went to see our Canadian women take on Venezuela in woman's baseball in the Pan Am games. It was a perfect night for a game.

This is the first year for woman's baseball in the game. Our men won Gold a couple of days ago. I'm hoping for the same for the woman. Yesterday they opened the tournament with a 13-1 drubbing over Cuba.

The walkway into the park.

The countries who participate in this sport proudly have their flags waving over the stadium.

The field is the same configuration as any major league baseball stadium. In fact, I think 327 feet to right field is a little longer than many stadiums.

The national anthems are played.

Canada was the away team so came to bat first. Here is the first pitch.

A Team Canada hit in the first inning by DH Amanda Asay. This is where Canada did most of their damage. They had two on base with one out when Venezuela's left fielder Marianne Perez dropped a fly ball. Next a bad throw by their second baseman pulled their first base first off the bag while attempting to turn a double play. After Canada scored five runs, Venezuela pulled their pitcher, Dayvis Cazorla, after only getting one out in the inning. She had no support behind here in the field.

Autumn Mills pitched a great game for Canada giving up only 2 runs off 4 hits in the 6 innings she pitched.

A strike! Mills struck out 3 in the game.

I like pitchers with a high leg kick.

Looking good, taking in an inning from the media area.

Esquia Rengal pitched great for Venezuela in 5.2 innings of relief, giving up just 2 runs on 5 hits.

Kevin, Craig and I all felt Canada's second baseman, Nicole Luchanski, was the star of the game. She walked both times in her first two at bats, had 2 hits in 3 at bats and drove in 2. On top of that, she made a sensational leaping grab to rob Venezuela of an extra base hit. Here she is driving the ball to left.

The 9-3 win places Canada in first place in the tournament. It was a fun night and always special to be there cheering on Canada, especially when they win!