Ah, the memories! Every Boston sports fan has them. For those who are new to Boston, or just visiting, here are some "must see" landmarks in one of America's great sports towns.
South Main Street, Worcester, Mass.: While not technically in Boston, in fact nearly forty miles away, it was here that Carlton Fisk hit his historic home run in the bottom of the twelfth inning of game six of the 1975 World Series on the television in my apartment. A recent transplant to the East Coast from St. Louis Cardinal country, I was moved that night to develop a rooting interest in the Red Sox as my American League favorite, a decision with consequences that reverberate to this day for my wife.
Fisk's home run.
One Boston Place, Boston. It was here that the world, or at least the part of the world that I occupied, first learned of the tragic death of Len Bias from a cocaine overdose. A Boston Celtics season ticket holder at the firm where I worked came walking down the hall mumbling "Len Bias is dead" in a somber tone that suggested the President had been shot. The first-round pick that the Celtics used to select Bias--projected to be "the next Michael Jordan"--was acquired in exchange for Gerald Henderson, a starting guard on the Celtics' 1986 championship squad whose steal of a James Worthy pass in game two of the 1984 NBA Finals led to a Celtics victory in overtime.
The tragic death of Len Bias taught us all a lesson that one hopes will never be forgotten; never trade a starting shooting guard for a draft choice.
Len Bias is the tall guy.
Massachusetts Turnpike, Framingham exit. Okay, so it's not even in the same county. Still, it is here that David Henderson hit the home run on the radio of a Toyota Corolla against California Angels' relief pitcher Donnie Moore in Game 5 of the 1986 American League Championship Series as my fiancee and I were returning from a getaway weekend at a Vermont bed-and-breakfast that did not have a TV. With only one strike needed to clinch the Angels' first-ever pennant, Henderson homered to tie the game, and in the 11th drove in what proved to be the winning run with a sacrifice fly off Moore. The teams returned to Boston where the Sox won two straight games to advance to the 1986 World Series.
Moore, who had long battled depression, was subsequently traded to the Kansas City Royals, which didn't help. He ultimately committed suicide as California fans and the media never forgave or forgot that he "blew" game five. In Donnie's memory, I recall for my wife this significant moment in baseball history whenever we pass this exit.
"Kansas City sucks, but at least Tampa Bay doesn't have a team yet."
Nino's Pizza, Cambridge Street, Boston. It is here that I once had a slice of pizza with my friend Vince and noticed an autographed picture of Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito eating in the same booth we were sitting in. This is my only link to the 1972 Boston Bruins, the team that won the franchise's last Stanley Cup. Esposito was known for his gritty play in front of the net, which often produced second-chance goals. He is the punch line to the most famous graffito in Boston sports history. "Jesus Saves" wrote an anonymous author with a religious turn of mind above a urinal; "Espo scores on the rebound!" a wag writes just underneath.
"Let's go to Nino's!"
Jordan's Furniture, Natick, Mass. Not Boston, but closer than Framingham. In the 1986 Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics face a tough Milwaukee Bucks team led by Sidney Moncrieff. Celtics center Robert Parrish sprains his ankle as we're shopping for a couch--and comes back out after half-time to play hurt! There's a TV with the game on at the sales counter--I can't tear myself away as I watch Parrish gut it out in a demonstration that inspires his teammates to sweep the series. My wife asks me whether I prefer a bluish-green sofa, or one that's covered with red chintz. I say "Go with the blue-green one." She has buyer's remorse as soon as the thing is delivered and blames me. Parish retires in 1997, outlasting the couch by several years.
"Don't sit on the couch if you're sweaty!"
Beacon Street, Boston. On November 23, 1984, my girlfriend and I are scheduled to have dinner at a fashionable restaurant with her smug sister--an investment banker--and her husband. It is the fourth quarter of the Boston College-Miami game, with Miami leading 45-41. "John and Della are waiting out in the car," my girlfriend says. "There's only time for one more play," I say--"tell Della to blow it out her panty hose." My girlfriend starts to get all teary-eyed. "You and your stupid sports!" she says. "All right," I say and turn off the TV. Gerard Phelan catches Doug Flutie's "Hail Mary" pass and BC wins, 47-41. Thankfully, I have since been able to see the replay a few times.
"Cancel that reservation!"
Suggestion: Next time, call the restaurant and tell them you'll be a few minutes late, the ball is about to be snapped for the college freaking football play of the century.
"Look at the cute little kitty!"
Looney Tunes Records, Newbury Street, Boston. In 1987 I sell the only Michael Jackson album I ever owned--"Thriller"--at this used record store. Chuck Sullivan, son of New England Patriots' owner Billy Sullivan, organizes the Jackson Family "Victory Tour", which includes Michael, Jermaine, Tito, Randy, Marlon and Jackie Jackson--in fact, every Jackson since Andrew.
Andrew Jackson: He couldn't make it.
The tour is a financial disaster, leading to the sale of the Patriots to Victor Kiam, then to James Orthwein, who threatens to move the team to St. Louis. Instead, Robert Kraft purchases the team, and three Super Bowl victories are the improbable result of this "Butterfly Effect"--the notion popularized by mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz that the flapping of a butterfly's wings in Brazil can cause a tornado in Texas.
"Attention ladies and gentlemen--game five is cancelled."
Hanscom Field, Bedford, Massachusetts. It is here that, on October 28, 2004, I was scheduled to board a flight for St. Louis to see Game 5 of the 2004 World Series, which ended on October 27, 2004. Also not in Boston.
Bucky Bleepin' Dent.
Greenwich Village, New York. While technically outside the 617 area code, it is here that Bucky Dent hit his historic home run off Mike Torrez on a television in an apartment, propelling the New York Yankees to victory in a one-game playoff to decide the 1978 American League Eastern Division champions. I sat on a couch between two college classmates, both Yankee fans. I suppose it could have been worse, but only if I had been there in person.
This is easily the best thing I've read this year on FOX blogs. I can relate to all of it. Well, all of it except that you saw an autographed picture eating in the same booth you were in. That's just wierd.
gerbil, great read. Funny how we can remember where we were when our teams won or lost, but when our wives ask us if we remember our first date, we quietly nod our head and hope they remind us.
Con Chapman is a Boston-area writer. He is the author of "The Year of the Gerbil: How the Yankees Won (and the Red Sox Lost) the Greatest Pennant Race Ever," a history of the 1978 AL East pennant race, and a number of plays, including "Number One Hockey Mom," "Please, Pope," and "What Mickey Belle Isle Told You," a trilogy about hockey (JAC Publishing). His work is available on Amazon Shorts (at 49 cents a dowload), and he writes on sports for Flak Magazine.
