Classic Baseball Broadcasts

• Frank Robinson was the first black manager when the Cleveland Indians hired him, but there was another black player who managed before Robbie . . . .
•  On November 4, 1948  Jake Powell, 39, former big league baseball star, shot himself to death in Washington police headquarters late today while being questioned on bad check charges.Powell had been picked up at the Union Station the complaint of a local hotel where he had been staying the past three days. After Powell was taken to the check and fraud division of local police headquarters and during the questioning police said he asked permission to leave the room for several minutes. Police said he stepped outside the door pulled out a 25-caliber revolver and shot himself once in the chest and once in the right temple. With him when he was taken into custody was a woman who identified herself as Josephine Amder, of Deland, Fla. she told police she and Powell had planned to be married during the day, but later changed their plans.But Mrs. Elizabeth Powell, to whom the ballplayer had been married several years, said she was still his wife and as far as she was concerned there had been no separation.
• On November 4, 1889 — After a formal meeting of representatives from all National League chapters, the Brotherhood issues a “Manifesto” in which it claims that “players have been bought, sold and exchanged as though they were sheep instead of American citizens.” This bold statement constitutes a declaration of war between the Brotherhood and major league officials which will soon explode into the formation of the Players League.
• 86 years later . . . .
• On November 4, 1976 — The first mass-market free agent re-entry draft is held at the New York Plaza Hotel. Among those available are Reggie Jackson, Willie McCovey, Joe Rudi, Don Gullett, Gene Tenace, Nate Colbert, Rollie Fingers, Don Baylor, and Bobby Grich. McCovey and Colbert are the only two players not selected, but McCovey will catch on with the Giants in spring training and have a banner year at his old first base position. Jackson will go onto star for the New York Yankees and win two World Championships. Fingers will have several excellent seasons for the Padres and Brewers including winning an MVP and Cy Young award. Baylor will go to win an MVP award.
• On November 4, 1959 — – Ernie Banks wins his second National League MVP Award in a row on the strength of his 45 home runs and 143 RBI for the Chicago Cubs. Eddie Mathews finishes second. What really made 1959 special for Ernie was his defense, his 3.5 Dwar is the highest of his career, he will be rewarded with a gold glove in 1960, but he was much better in 1959.   Fun fact from 1955 to 1960 his 248 home runs were more than anyone else in the majors, including Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron. His 5 Grand slams in a single season is still tied for the single season record in the NL. And was the MLB record until 1987.
• On November 4, 2001, the Arizona Diamondbacks win their first World Series championship. Down a run to the Yankees in the ninth, the D-Backs rally against New York closer Mariano Rivera, winning on a single by Luis Gonzalez, 3-2. Tony Wolmack had tied the game 2 batters earlier, doubling down the right-field line.It was the first time since 1985, two twenty-game winners start Game 7 of the World Series when Yankee right-hander Roger Clemens (20-3) faces Curt Schilling (22-6) of the Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark in Arizona. Sixteen years ago, Bret Saberhagen (20-6) of the Royals squared off against Cardinal hurler John Tudor (21-8) in the Fall Classic finale at Kauffman Stadium.The four-year-old Diamondbacks, the youngest franchise to win a Fall Classic, end New York’s string of three consecutive World Championships. Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling share the Series MVP honors. The Arizona pitchers are the first multiple winners since the Los Angeles Dodgers trio of Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager shared the award in the 1981 World Series. Following the 2010 season, a panel of experts at the MLB Network will vote this game the 9th greatest game of the past fifty years.It was the first time since 1985, two twenty-game winners start Game 7 of the World Series when Yankee right-hander Roger Clemens (20-3) faces Curt Schilling (22-6) of the Diamondbacks at Bank One Ballpark in Arizona. Sixteen years ago, Bret Saberhagen (20-6) of the Royals squared off against Cardinal hurler John Tudor (21-8) in the Fall Classic finale at Kauffman Stadium.
• Birthday boy Dick Groat Born: November 4, 1930, Wilkinsburg, PA The acknowledged leader of the Pirates, Groat was a good-hitting shortstop with great range. He helped Pittsburgh to the World Series title in 1960, and after being dealt to St. Louis, played for their World Championship team in 1964. At Duke Univeristy, Groat was an All-American baskertball player who spurned offers to make professional basketball his career. In 1960 he was named National League Most Valuable Player, when he won the batting title. Best Season, 1960 groat staved off challengers to win the batting title with a .325 mark. He excelled at Forbes Field: batting .363 at home and .290 in road games. A singles hitters, Groat had just 32 extra-base hits, one of the lowest marks by an MVP winner, but he was sure-handed in the field, as usual. As he did much of his career, Groat hit well against southpaws: .376 in 178 at-bats. After he slumped in July, Groat responded by hitting .373 in August and .344 in September/October. On September 6, a Lew Burdette pitch broke Groat's wrist, sidelining the shortstop for nearly four weeks. He returned the last weekend of the year and played in the World Series.

After his playing career, Banks became the first African-American to manage in the Major Leagues on May 8, 1973, when, as a coach, he took over for ejected manager Whitey Lockman during extra innings of a 3-2 win over the Padres in San Diego