In 1976, before the Toronto group was awarded an American League franchise, a National League team was all but sold to the Toronto group. I remember the headlines. What NL team was all set to move to Toronto in 1976?
MLB Trivia
- Thread starter panther
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Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
Wow....I don't remember that. There were only 12 teams in each league back then....and that was the same year the Olympics were in Montreal, right? I'm gonna guess it was the Expos before the Big O was built. Total wild guess....just can't imagine who else it would have been.
The Olympics were in Montreal in 1976, it wasn't the Expos though.
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
No other guesses? Well, I suppose we can use process of elimination.....
Who would it NOT be for sure? No way would it be the Cardinals (are you kidding?), Cubs (are you kidding again?), Mets (not leaving Queens, no way), Reds (heyday of the Big Red Machine) or Dodgers (midst of the O'Malley regime) . We already eliminated the Expos. That leaves the Pirates, Braves, Giants, Phillies, Astros and Padres. I don't believe it was the Astros since I live in Houston and have never heard any such assertion. Don't think it was the Braves either....Ted Turner was the owner back then. Giants? I believe that Horace Stoneham owned the team back then and I don't recall any reports of him possibly selling to a Canadian group. That leaves the Padres, Phillies or Pirates. I'm gonna take a guess it was the Pirates. They were always a stepchild to the Steelers and that was at the height of the Steel Curtain dynasty. Right?? Or wrong?
Who would it NOT be for sure? No way would it be the Cardinals (are you kidding?), Cubs (are you kidding again?), Mets (not leaving Queens, no way), Reds (heyday of the Big Red Machine) or Dodgers (midst of the O'Malley regime) . We already eliminated the Expos. That leaves the Pirates, Braves, Giants, Phillies, Astros and Padres. I don't believe it was the Astros since I live in Houston and have never heard any such assertion. Don't think it was the Braves either....Ted Turner was the owner back then. Giants? I believe that Horace Stoneham owned the team back then and I don't recall any reports of him possibly selling to a Canadian group. That leaves the Padres, Phillies or Pirates. I'm gonna take a guess it was the Pirates. They were always a stepchild to the Steelers and that was at the height of the Steel Curtain dynasty. Right?? Or wrong?
Hang on. What about Angels Stadium of Anaheim?
I'm gonna go with the San Diego Padres, since they are rarely the answer to anything.
true that lol
But the Padres actually came pretty close to relocating to Washington D.C. in the 70's; not to Toronto.
So it looks like it was either the Phillies, Pirates or Giants. I can't figure it was either of the Pennsylvania teams. The Pirates won the series in 71 and three other division titles in the early 70s. That leaves the Giants. Except I can't remember a damn thing in that regard and I was living part time in the Bay Area at the time. Then again I've lost an awful lot of brain cells in the ensuing 40 years lol
true that lol
But the Padres actually came pretty close to relocating to Washington D.C. in the 70's; not to Toronto.
So it looks like it was either the Phillies, Pirates or Giants. I can't figure it was either of the Pennsylvania teams. The Pirates won the series in 71 and three other division titles in the early 70s. That leaves the Giants. Except I can't remember a damn thing in that regard and I was living part time in the Bay Area at the time. Then again I've lost an awful lot of brain cells in the ensuing 40 years lol
It was the San Francisco Giants. I was glad we were getting a NL team. I'm not a fan of the DH.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Toronto_Blue_Jays
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Toronto_Blue_Jays
Well I'll be damned.
As I was just saying
That leaves the Giants. Except I can't remember a damn thing in that regard and I was living part time in the Bay Area at the time. Then again I've lost an awful lot of brain cells in the ensuing 40 years lol
:1orglaugh
It does make sense, though. The Giants at that time were a bad team playing in an awful stadium.
Who are the only two Pittsburgh Pirates to ever win the Cy Young Award?
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
You know, I apologize to you guys. The reference I was using was a bit dated and didn't include not only Angels Stadium but also Nationals Stadium. My bad....free beer for everyone!
Wow....I never would have guessed that in a million years! Good one!
I'm going to guess Harvey Haddix and John Candelaria.
Did Drabek win it?
After the Toronto group lost the Giants, MLB said the American League was set to expand to Seattle (to make up for losing the Pilots) & Toronto would be a natural for the AL East. Ewing Kaufmann put in a good word for Toronto-his wife was from Toronto.
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
Ah yes, I believe that Drabek did win it. I recall that Drayton McLane way overpaid him and Greg Swindell the year he bought the Astros and there was a lot of chatter about bringing in a Cy Young winner. In addition to Haddix and the Candy Man, the only other big-time arms I remember from years past are Steve Blass, Bob Veale and Vernon Law but I don't know if it was any of those guys. If not....I'm drawing a blank. :dunno:
Did Dock Ellis win it? I'm going out on a limb with this one.
Wow....I never would have guessed that in a million years! Good one!
Thanks Jagger but actually I didn't guess it. I was totally stumped. Had no recall of it at all even though it makes sense in hindsight. You were the big help on that one by narrowing the field to three.
I'm going to guess Harvey Haddix and John Candelaria
No to both. I also figured Candelaria would have been one of them but he wasn't.
Did Drabek win it?
Yes! That's one.
Doc Ellis is another logical guess, but no.
the only other big-time arms I remember from years past are Steve Blass, Bob Veale and Vernon Law but I don't know if it was any of those guys.
Nothing wrong with your recall coming up with those three, that's for sure :hatsoff: And yes, it was Vern Law :thumbsup:
Thanks Jagger but actually I didn't guess it. I was totally stumped. Had no recall of it at all even though it makes sense in hindsight. You were the big help on that one by narrowing the field to three.
I'm going to guess Harvey Haddix and John Candelaria
No to both. I also figured Candelaria would have been one of them but he wasn't.
Did Drabek win it?
Yes! That's one.
Doc Ellis is another logical guess, but no.
the only other big-time arms I remember from years past are Steve Blass, Bob Veale and Vernon Law but I don't know if it was any of those guys.
Nothing wrong with your recall coming up with those three, that's for sure :hatsoff: And yes, it was Vern Law :thumbsup:
Damn Vern Law.:hatsoff: to you Jagger for the correct answer. Great question pool_hustler!!:clap:
Jagger69
Three lullabies in an ancient tongue
Wow....Vernon Law. Who'd a thunk it??
OK....this question comes with a video:
This is obviously Russ Hodges' call of the famous "shot heard 'round the world" walk-off home run by Bobby Thomson of the NY Giants hit against pitcher Ralph Branca of the Brooklyn Dodgers in their 1-game winner-take-all playoff game at the Polo Grounds on October 3, 1951. Three questions for you:
1) Sal Maglie was the starting pitcher that day for the Giants. Who started for the Dodgers?
2) Who had been warming up in the Dodger bullpen alongside Branca before he came in to pitch to Thomson?
3) Who was in the on-deck circle when Thomson hit his famous home run?
These are either really tough or really easy depending upon how much of a student of baseball history you are so....what say ye??
OK....this question comes with a video:
This is obviously Russ Hodges' call of the famous "shot heard 'round the world" walk-off home run by Bobby Thomson of the NY Giants hit against pitcher Ralph Branca of the Brooklyn Dodgers in their 1-game winner-take-all playoff game at the Polo Grounds on October 3, 1951. Three questions for you:
1) Sal Maglie was the starting pitcher that day for the Giants. Who started for the Dodgers?
2) Who had been warming up in the Dodger bullpen alongside Branca before he came in to pitch to Thomson?
3) Who was in the on-deck circle when Thomson hit his famous home run?
These are either really tough or really easy depending upon how much of a student of baseball history you are so....what say ye??
