Category Archives: Sports

Quick reminder: there is a baseball quizzo tonight at Ugly American. All baseball questions asked by Mike Minion. Action starts at 8:05 p.m., and if you’re a baseball fan, it’s a great way to get on the JGTSI scoreboard.

Derek Jeter just got his 3,000th hit. What 6 players who spent at least part of their careers in Philadelphia hit 3,000? Find out here.

What former Phillies owner tried to change the team name to the “Live Wires“, before being run out of the league for stating that there was a conspiracy against his team?

How the Phillies choked in the 1915 World Series.

A special week dedicated to booze and baseball this week on Philly Sports History. Here are a few highlights.

Part 3 of my interview with author Bruce Kuklick, where he talks about why the A’s could never get a beer license at Shibe Park.

How Schmidt’s Beer helped Harry Kalas become the Phillies announcer.

How getting league officials drunk earned the 1871 Philadelphia A’s a pennant.

Remembering that strange night at Wrigley two years ago when Shane got beer dumped on him.

If you’re a fan of local history, part 1 and part 2 of my interviews with Penn professor and author of a book about Shibe Park Bruce Kuklick are must reads.

Did you know that Babe Ruth played the last game of his career right here in Philly?

The first MLB player ever killed in war was a Phillies third baseman who was killed in WWI.

Last week, Wilson Valdez became the first position player on theto win a game pitching since 1945. So what legendary local slugger won that game in 1945? Find out here.

The story of a legendary South Philly boxer who was killed by his girlfriend when she caught him with a transvestite. You don’t need to care about sports to be blown away by this one. A few more things of interest on the site right now:

Be sure to vote for who has the best moustache in Philly Sports History: Mike Schmidt, Sal Fasano, or Sparky Lyle.

Read about the crazy 23-22 game the Phillies won over the Cubs on a windy day in 1979.

Read about the former Phillie who is the only player to ever commit 4 errors on a single play.

And finally, another must read about a local athlete dying young…The Tragedy of Slim Jones.

You’re gonna dig this video. Guaranteed. A few more things of interest on Philly Sports History right now:

• An 80-something fan reminisces about his days living next door to Shibe, and watching games from his roof.

• Pete Rose steals 3 bases in one inning…at age 39.

• The Phils relief pitcher who lost a game…two months after he retired.

• RIP to Philly Negro League player Stanley “Doc” Glenn.

• Ryan Howard passes the most underrated Phillie of All-Time for 2nd on team’s all-time home run list.

• And did Phillies relief pitchers used to drink during games? Click here to find out.

If you like sports and haven’t checked out our new sports blog yet, please give it a look. It’s getting rave reviews, and evven though I’m biased I think it’s pretty daggone cool. Some very interesting things on the site right now.

• On May 4th, 1980, Don Baylor batted out of order for the Dodgers against the Phils. He grounded into a force out. After Dallas Green complained, Baylor got to bat again and hit a home run. A very strange story with a twist ending. A must read.

• The Eagles drafted a 26-year old Canadian named Danny Watkins in the first round of the draft. Who knows if he’ll be a star or a bust, but I highly doubt the Birds picked him over 5 future Hall of Famers like they did in the 1983 draft.

• Raul Ibanez just ended an 0-35 streak, with a double last night preventing him from joining three Phils who held the record for most at bats w/o a hit at 36. Who were they, and which one later managed a team to two World Series wins? Find out here.

• What former Phillies pitcher pitched two 20-inning games in one year, including all 26 innings of the longest game in MLB history? The answer is here.

• The Bruins and Flyers are facing off in the playoffs. What happened when they faced each other in the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals?

• Finally, you simply must see this photo.

Buzz Bissinger wrote a couple of articles about race and the NBA recently that were so offbase and ridiculous that I felt like I had to respond. Here is my response. I think you’ll like it, even if you’re not a big basketball fan. I pretty much dismantle everything Buzz says on the topic. I am a big fan of Buzz Bissinger’s, but I just thought he was way off the mark here.

Maac Attack has established itself as the pace car in this year’s JGT Brackettacular. (You can view entire scoreboard here.) Meanwhile, the complete meltdown of the Big East has left many brackets in tatters, even some teams in the Top 10. Basket Nihilist is in 4th place but had Pitt winning it all. Odabashian and Bo is a Bum are tied for 6th but had Syracuse and Pitt winning it all, respectively. As for me, my bold pick of Notre Dame as National champs makes me look like a jackass. Notre Dame is horrible, as is the entire Big East. 11 teams in the tourney, and only 2 make the Sweet 16? Embarrassment. Of course, the battle for 50th rages on as well, as 3 teams are tied for 49th and 6 teams are tied for 52nd. Remember, the 50th place team gets a $50 gift certificate to Plough and Stars. Here’s the Top 10 after week 1.

1. MAAC Attack 50
2. Eobphilly 47
3. Dry Your Eyes Guys 45
4. Basket Nihilist 44
5. Pickle Sniffers 44
6. Free Brandon Davies 43
7. Odabashian 43
8. UPSETALERT 43
9. Waldo 43
10. BO is a bum 43

It’s that time again folks! The most wonderful time of the sports year. March Madness is upon us, and it’s time for an annual tradition: the JGT Bracket-tacular. Here’s how it works. CLICK HERE to enter. (You will need to sign up for a Yahoo account if you don’t have one. Don’t worry, it takes like 30 seconds.) You then fill out your picks. All picks must be submitted by Thursday at 11 a.m. Then sit back, relax, and enjoy the tournament, and root for your picks, because we’ve got some sweet prizes.

First Place: $75 gift certificate to City Tap House

2nd Place: $50 gift certificate to O’Neals

3rd Place: $25 gift certificate to Locust Rendezvous

Mystery Bonus Prize: $50 gift certificate to Plough and the Stars. I will announce what this prize is for once the games start on Thursday.

Good luck!

As you may remember, I released a dope rhyme last year when the Phillies came back to beat the Rockies in the NLDS. Then, before the Series, I released a cheesy one about the team. I’m getting back to the dope stuff with this one. In case you are unaware, Tree Fo’ Fo’ is an homage to the great Moses Malone, who, when asked how the Sixers would do in the 1983 NBA Playoffs, responded simply “Fo’ Fo’ Fo’,” indicating that the Sixers would win every game. I feel like the Phillies have that kind of same swagger, so that’s sort of what the song is about. If you enjoy it, please click “like” below. Go Phils!

• First of all, just recorded a sports podcast with Lee Russakoff of Comcast.net. We discuss Cliff Lee, why the NHL is better than the NBA, and I give Lee a quiz on doughnuts.

• A bandwagon fan’s view of the Flyers run in the NHL Finals.

• Hurry up and join our iSportacus World Cup Pool! Get your picks in before tomorrow!

• BMT and I get in a brief but glorious flame war in a debate about Monster Trucks.

• Finally, is the Cliff Lee trade bound to be the worst trade in Phillies history?