1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,000 This is Retro Sports Radio. Visit RetroSeasons.com for more sports history. 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:17,000 Bill Resoto's Sports Caravan. 3 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:37,000 And now let's climb aboard the sports caravan for a news-packed feature-filled quarter hour with baseball's number one shortstop, star of the World Champion New York Yankees. 4 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:42,000 And in 1950, voted the American League's most valuable player, Bill Resoto. 5 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:48,000 Hello there, fans. And after the winter layoff, I'm really happy to get our radio sports caravan rolling again. 6 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,000 We're loading up with a lot of fine sports features for you each time. 7 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,000 And a little later in this show, I'm going to bring on a popular personality you all know. 8 00:00:55,000 --> 00:01:03,000 But first, Bill, with the new baseball season getting underway, I'm sure the fans would like to get a line on how you figure the 1954 Major League pennant race. 9 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:11,000 Well, I knew that pitch was coming, Bob. We've played most of the American and National League teams in spring training games, so I've had the chance to look the clubs over pretty well. 10 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,000 But you know how I hate going out on the limb picking the pennant races, Bob? 11 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:19,000 Well, don't go out too far, Phil, but let's get some sort of a picture first of your own league, the American. 12 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:27,000 Well, there's no question in my mind the Yankees will have a rough time making its six pennants in a row, chiefly because several of the other clubs have picked up important strength. 13 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:34,000 Sure, we added Big Harry Bird to our pitching staff in the big winter trade with the A's, but don't forget the Senators also bolstered their pitching staff. 14 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:43,000 In a deal that many baseball men couldn't figure out, Washington somehow swiped 18-game winner Maury McDermott away from the Red Sox, along with Tommy Umphlet in exchange for Jackie Jensen. 15 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:49,000 Now, that gives the Senators the makings of a great pitching crew in Bob Porterfield, Frank Shea, Chuck Stobbs, and McDermott. 16 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:55,000 Their outfield is now about the fastest in baseball, and given some added batting punch, the Nats could crack that first division. 17 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaking of the Red Sox, they look like the dark horse entry of the league. 18 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:04,000 Their top prospect is service returning Leo Carley, a lightning-fast lefty. 19 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:10,000 He showed a world of stuff back in the 1952 season, and with a little more experience, he should be a big winner for Boston. 20 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:17,000 All of their standout youngsters are 1953. Pierce Hall, Bowling, White, Skinny Brown, and the rest, they'll be back to spark the Bows Sox again. 21 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,000 And isn't there going to be some guy by the name of Ted Williams playing left field, Phil? 22 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:26,000 Oh, I haven't forgotten him, Bob, but sometimes I'd like to. The way he slams out those hits so nice and easy like. 23 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:33,000 The Red Sox will have Ted's power all season, and together with Jensen, who also busts the long ball, Boston might come up with a pennant-wrecking one-two punch. 24 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:34,000 Hey, what am I saying? 25 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,000 Well, it looks like you figure the Red Sox is the Yankees' closest competitors. 26 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:42,000 But what about the two teams who've been on New York's heels for the past few years, Cleveland and Chicago? 27 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:48,000 Well, they've kind of stood still since last season ended, and they're still trying to patch up their leaky defensive infield. 28 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:52,000 Cleveland has bought Rocky Nelson for first base, but Nelson had tryouts in the majors before. 29 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,000 And from where I see things, Cleveland won't beat us out this year either. 30 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,000 Say, Phil, how about those Go-Go White Sox? 31 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:04,000 Well, they're a scrappy bunch, all right, Bob, but in the stretch run of each season, Paul Richards' men seem to be more gone-gone than Go-Go. 32 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:09,000 Now, lack of bench strength, something the Yankees are lucky to have, has been knocking the White Sox out of the race. 33 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:16,000 This showed up last year when nobody could take over for Bob Elliott, Nellie Fox, Sam Milley, and Billy Pierce when they began to tire in September. 34 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:22,000 Chicago doesn't have much pitching depth, and if it weren't for Virgil Truk's terrific comeback, it would have been worse off. 35 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,000 Now, I can't see the White Sox at the top contender for 54. 36 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,000 Well, now, Phil, where does that leave Detroit, Philadelphia, and Baltimore? 37 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,000 Well, the Tigers can't be laughed off so easily. 38 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:36,000 They are the league's most improved team and may stir up a heap of trouble this year with the First Division teams. 39 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:41,000 Ray Boone's extra-base slugging and Harvey Keene's steady sticking promise to rack up many a starting pitcher. 40 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:47,000 And the Tigers have a good mound core of their own operating in Billy Heft, Ted Gray, Ralph Branker, and Ned Garble. 41 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:53,000 The A's and Orioles will be trying out a lot of young players and probably won't figure much in the flag chase this year. 42 00:03:53,000 --> 00:04:00,000 A pair of Bobs, Trice for the A's and Charlie for Baltimore are a couple of star pitchers who will snatch most of these tail-enders' headlines. 43 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:03,000 Well, how does the National League race shape up in your crystal ball, Swami? 44 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:11,000 Well, you know, I said in the beginning I didn't want to go out on a limb, so I'd better start crawling back to safe ground with just a fast rundown of the National League. 45 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:18,000 The Dodgers hole on the pennant looks safe to me unless the return of pitchers Chet Nichols from the Army to Milwaukee can make the difference. 46 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,000 And I don't think Chet or the other brave additions are enough. 47 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:28,000 Willie Mays should fill a big hole for the Giants, but I'm afraid Leo DeRosha's pitching problems will lose a lot of sleep for him before the season is over. 48 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:33,000 From there on, it's anybody's guess, but it will probably be the Cardinals, Phillies, Reds, Cubs, and Pirates in that order. 49 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:39,000 Well, starting next time, Phil will be back with his mailbag session answering the sports questions sent in by our listeners. 50 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:46,000 So if any of you fans have a sports query, especially about baseball, be sure and send it in to us here on the sports caravan. 51 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:53,000 Address all mail to Phil Rizzuto in care of this station. It'll be forwarded to Phil for his attention. 52 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:58,000 Say, how many of you fans listening in would like to be a baseball manager? 53 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:04,000 I'll bet most of you at one time or another have pictured yourselves at the helm, masterminding some big league team. 54 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:10,000 Well, each time two fans get just that opportunity on this program in our game of grandstand manager. 55 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,000 Phil, suppose you tell everybody all about it. 56 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,000 We're glad to, Bob. It's a lot of fun and it's easy. 57 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:19,000 On each program, we recall a crucial moment from a regular major league ball game. 58 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,000 A tight spot, we present calls for a manager's strategy. 59 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:26,000 I'll help you out with the names of pinch hitters and relief pitchers who are available for the situation. 60 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:32,000 Then it's up to my two competing fans to play their roles of managers and come up with their own winning solutions. 61 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:35,000 Today we have with us Rosemary Pavlik and Kathy Buell. 62 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,000 Rosemary, tell me, where are you from? 63 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,000 I'm from Pittsburgh, Phil. 64 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:40,000 And what do you do, Rosemary? 65 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,000 I'm a stewardess for American Airlines. 66 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:46,000 Oh, that's wonderful. Tell me, what happens when somebody gets sick on those planes like me? 67 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:51,000 It could never happen, Phil, because when you fly with American, it's like sitting in your own living room. 68 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:52,000 Do you like your work? 69 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:54,000 Yes, very much. 70 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,000 Okay. And Kathy, what do you do? 71 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,000 I'm a stewardess for American Airlines, too. 72 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,000 Oh, do you work together on the same plane? 73 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,000 No, unfortunately, we haven't had the pleasure yet. 74 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,000 Oh, I see. Do you like your work, too, Kathy? 75 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:06,000 Very much, yes. 76 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:07,000 And where are you from? 77 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:08,000 I'm from California. 78 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:12,000 Oh, good. Well, if you're all ready, then, here's Bob Gladstone with today's game. 79 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:17,000 Well, it's the first game of the 1953 World Series with Brooklyn playing the Yankees in Yankee Stadium. 80 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:21,000 New York jumped off to an early 5-1 lead, but in the sixth inning, 81 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:27,000 Schuber's homer routed Yankee starting pitcher Ali Reynolds, and Johnny Sane took over to put out the fire. 82 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:32,000 In the Dodgers' seventh inning, with the score now 5-4 against them, Roy Campanella, single to left, 83 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:37,000 went to third on Gil Hodges' hit through short and scored to tie up the game on Carl Ferillo's hit. 84 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:41,000 Hodges went to second on the play, and the next Brooklyn batter is Billy Cox. 85 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:43,000 He'll be followed to bat by the pitcher. 86 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:47,000 That's the set-up, Yankees versus Dodgers, a tie game in the seventh inning. 87 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,000 Brooklyn batting has two men on base and nobody out. 88 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:53,000 Now, Kathy, as Yankees manager, would you leave Sane in to face Cox, 89 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:57,000 or would you replace him with either left-handed Bob Kuzawa or right-handed Jim McDonald, 90 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:00,000 both of these pitchers warming up in the bullpen? 91 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:06,000 Being a Yankee manager in this situation, I think I'd leave Johnny Sane in 92 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:14,000 because Cox being a right-handed batter, Johnny Sane is simply our best relief right-handed pitcher. 93 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:15,000 I'd leave Johnny Sane in. 94 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,000 That's very sound logic, Kathy. 95 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,000 And what about you, Rosemary, as the Dodgers manager? 96 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:23,000 With the possible lead runs on base, would you have Cox bunt or hit away in this situation? 97 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:26,000 Well, I believe, Phil, that I would have him bunt 98 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:31,000 because the Dodgers would still have two outs left to get their runs in. 99 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,000 Well, that's very good logic, too. 100 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,000 Well, I'd end up with girl managers pretty soon. 101 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,000 Well, Bill, how did the Yankee and Dodger managers mastermind this spot? 102 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:42,000 Well, Casey Stanger left Sane in the game, and Charlie Dressen ordered Cox to bunt the runners along. 103 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:44,000 However, Cox bunted into a force out at third. 104 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,000 The pitcher did the same thing, and the Yankees eventually won the game 105 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,000 with the Sane the winner, 9-5. 106 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,000 Well, Rosemary and Kathy, I want to thank you very much for taking your time 107 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,000 for American Airlines and joining us. 108 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:58,000 And for your appearance here, you'll each receive a year's free subscription from Sports Magazine. 109 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,000 And now it's a real pleasure to introduce my guest star. 110 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,000 He's Bill Stern, one of America's ace sportscasters. 111 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:05,000 How are you doing these days, Bill? 112 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:06,000 Just fine, Phil. 113 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,000 Well, Bill, how long have you been announcing sports? 114 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,000 Since 1934. 115 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:13,000 Oh, my gosh. Can you tell my listeners how you got started? 116 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:19,000 Yes, I was the stage manager at the Radio City Music Hall, and I pestered NBC to death. 117 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:20,000 Can we say NBC? 118 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,000 Oh, certainly you can. 119 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:24,000 I pestered them to death. They were right across the street in Radio City. 120 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:28,000 And finally, to get rid of me, they let me do two minutes of a football game. 121 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:31,000 And Graham McNamee was the sports announcer in those days. 122 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:34,000 And he waited until Navy drove down to the William & Mary goal line. 123 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:37,000 It was a Navy-William & Mary game, and that's the two minutes he let me do, 124 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:38,000 and anybody would sound good. 125 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,000 Well, you really do get excited during the football game, 126 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:43,000 because I know I've listened to you many times, and it's a great thrill, too. 127 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:44,000 Thank you, Phil. 128 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,000 Well, what was the most thrilling sports event that you ever broadcasted, Bill? 129 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:51,000 I think probably the end of the 1939 Rose Bowl, 130 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:55,000 where Duke, a team that had been unscored on, unbeaten, untied, 131 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:58,000 and was leading Southern Cal 3-0 with just seconds left in the game, 132 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:01,000 was beaten 7-3 on four forward passes. 133 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,000 Was that the game where Tipton was kicking them out on the one-foot line? 134 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,000 You're so right. You've got a good memory. 135 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:06,000 Eric Tipton. 136 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:07,000 Yes, I remember that very well. 137 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:09,000 That's right. Yes, Red Tipton. Great football player. 138 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,000 And did they make a touchdown to beat Duke? 139 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:16,000 Southern Cal sent in a fourth-string quarterback by the name of Doyle Nave, 140 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,000 and he started throwing passes to a third-string end, Al Kruger. 141 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,000 They completed four in a row, and the fourth one was just before the end of the ball game, 142 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:23,000 and that beat Duke. 143 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,000 I bet you were a little hoarse after that game, weren't you? 144 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:26,000 I sure was. 145 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:30,000 Well, who do you consider the most outstanding athlete you ever saw, Bill? 146 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,000 The best athlete in any sport, Phil? 147 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,000 Yeah, I know it's a tough question, Bill, but... 148 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:38,000 I would say Henry Armstrong, pound for pound. 149 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:40,000 Oh, gee, I miss seeing him fight, but I know he was terrific. 150 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,000 Great. I think he's the best I ever saw. 151 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:46,000 If you take everybody pound for pound, I'd say you're right up there yourself. 152 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:47,000 Oh, no, I don't compare with Duke. 153 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,000 Yes, you do, Phil. Yes, you do. 154 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:51,000 I had to stop for a minute before I answered that question. 155 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:52,000 Well, thank you very much, Bill. 156 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:56,000 But can you remember anyone you ever saw that looked like a great coming star to you, 157 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,000 but just seemed to disappear? 158 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:02,000 That looked like a great coming star and just seemed to disappear? 159 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:05,000 Well, I've seen fighters that I thought were tremendous. 160 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:09,000 I thought Tommy Collins a year ago, I saw him beat Chavez so badly, 161 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,000 they had to stop the fight. 162 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,000 His next fight was with Carter for the Lightweight Championship. 163 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,000 I thought not only the kid had a chance, I thought he'd win, 164 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,000 and he made such a miserable showing, he gave up boxing. 165 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:20,000 It's hard to figure out how those things happen. 166 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:21,000 Yes, it is. 167 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:25,000 Well, what's a typical day in the life of a busy sports director like yourself, Bill? 168 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:29,000 Well, Phil, it depends on what season and what we're doing. 169 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:31,000 I get into the office normally around 11 o'clock in the morning. 170 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:34,000 We have a show which requires a lot of writing and a lot of rehearsing, 171 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:39,000 goes on at 6.15 at night, and then a television show that goes on 11.10 in the evening. 172 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:42,000 And between rehearsing and writing and knowing what you're going to talk about, 173 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,000 that's generally the day. 174 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:47,000 Well, Bill Stern, I want to thank you very much for being with us tonight. 175 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:50,000 We certainly appreciate it, although it was a switch me interviewing you. 176 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:51,000 Phil, I want to ask you a question. 177 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:54,000 If I come up the Yankee Stadium, will you let me play short stuff? 178 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,000 Yes, a second game of a doubleheader on a hot day. 179 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:00,000 Thank you very much, Phil. I enjoyed it tremendously. 180 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,000 Before you leave, Bill Stern, I want you to take this Longines watch. 181 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,000 It's called the Ball Players Watch. Wear it in good health. 182 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:33,000 Thank you, Phil. I shall.