Summer of '68: The Season That Changed Baseball--And America--Forever
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26 “changing events”: Daniels interview.
26 “plain of Lethe” : James Hillman, The Soul’s Code: In Search of Character and Calling, 46–47.
27 “to be a ballplayer:” Gibson, 15.
27 Monarchs: Ibid., 19.
28 Globetrotters: Ibid., 46–48.
28 Passing Martin Luther King: Ibid., 184.
28 “Martin enjoyed sports”: Rev. Billy Kyles, author interview, June 15, 2011.
30 “greatly admired”: Gibson, 124.
30 King and Jackie Robinson: SI.com, Dave Zirin, January 18, 2010, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/dave_zirin/01/18/mlk/index.html
30 King meeting with Olympic athletes: Ibid.
30 “I agree with them”: “Bob Gibson: Black Man Nobody Wanted—Until He Was a Hero,” Dwight Chapin, Los Angeles Times, July 5, 1968.
31 John Carlos speechless: Hoffer, 156.
31 Sirens and lightning: Kyles interview.
31 Mason Temple: http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/civilrights/tn1.htm
32 Martin Luther King’s last speech is chronicled in many places but none surpasses Hampton Sides’ Hellhound on his Trail, 139–141.
32 Elvis Presley film at State Theater: Photo by Ernest C. Withers, exhibited at Memphis International Airport, June 17, 2011.
33 “after you make a touchdown”: Andrew Young interview, audio for exhibit outside Room 306 of the Lorraine Hotel, National Civil Rights Museum.
33 King assassination: Kyles interview; Sides, 168–170; “An Assassination Remembered,” Time, March 31, 2008.
34 Bobby Kennedy in Indianapolis: Thurston Clarke, The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days That Inspired America, 91–98; audio available on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zb9EjHXyJc
35 “you can kill the dreamer, but you cannot kill the dream”: Kyles interview; The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306, a film by Adam Pertofsky (dir.), Rock Paper Scissors with the National Civil Rights Museum, 2008. I’d also highly recommend a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, which has been built around the Lorraine Hotel. The tour includes the apartment building from across the street, where James Earl Ray fired his shots. I was also struck by how a wreath was put on the balcony railing outside Room 306 a few days after King’s assassination and one has been maintained ever since.
35 peanut butter and jelly sandwich: Kyles interview.
36 in St. Petersburg: Gibson, 184–185.
36 Boston Celtics: http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/tag/william-f-bill-russell; “Sportsman of the Year: Bill Russell,” Sports Illustrated, December 23, 1968; John Gardella, 2010–2011 Official NBA Guide; Russell and Branch, 148–149.
39 Drysdale’s scoreless streak: Drysdale and Verdi, 163–178; Jeff Torborg, author interview, March 9, 2009.
42 Green Bay Packers: David Maraniss, When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi, 410–415; Russell and Branch, 111.
43 “a different direction”: Lamar Hunt, author interview, December 2000.
45 Kennedy assassination: Clarke, 271–273; YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXuHcQ1Mrqs; “The Teammates,” New York Times, June 8, 1968.
46 “From here on”: “the Aftermath—Baseball Takes a Beating,” Sporting News, June 22, 1968.
46 Three . . . took matters : “Compounding a Felony,” New York Times, June 12, 1969; “Ballplayers Urge Day of Mourning,” Chicago Tribune, June 8, 1968.
46 “Among all the mealy-mouthed statements”: “Baseball’s Brass Further Tarnished,” Red Smith, Washington Post, June 11, 1968.
46 Mets refuse to play: “Giants Yield to Mets and Postpone Today ’s Game out of Respect for Kennedy,” New York Times, June 8, 1968.
47 “You guys are wrong”: Sporting News, June 22, 1968; Robert Lipsyte, “The Rebellion,” New York Times, June 15, 1968.
47 Pappas-Wagner confrontation: Milt Pappas with Wayne Mausser and Larry Names, Out at Home: Triumph and Tragedy in the Life of a Major Leaguer, 189–190.
47 Frank Mankiewicz sent telegrams: Associated Press, “Kennedy Aide Applauds Stand of Mets, 4 Players,” June 12, 1968.
47 “We had been working on a trade”: “Atlanta Gets Pappas in 6-Player Deal,” Richard Dozer, Chicago Tribune, June 12, 1968.
48 “Baseball again returned to normalcy–confusion.”: Sporting News, June 22, 1968.
48 “disorganized, illogical and thoroughly shabby”: Ibid.
48 “This is the portrait of a commissioner trying to please everyone”: “Soft Generals Never Last, Eckert Warned,” New York Daily News, June 9, 1968.
48 Dodgers armbands: National Baseball Hall of Fame research; Tom Shieber, author interview, Hall of Fame, May 15, 2011.
49 End of Drysdale’s streak: Drysdale and Verdi, 171–174.
49 “there was no escaping the pervasive realities of 1968”: Gibson, 187.
50 “hogging the headlines”: Ibid., 187.
50 “infuriated”: Ibid.
50 “such intensity”: Briles interview.
50 Gibson’s shutout streak: National Baseball Hall of Fame research; Bill Francis, author interview, Hall of Fame, July 5, 2011.
52 “ You saw it.” Gibson, 189.
PART III
53 “have it slip away”: Dick McAuliffe, author interview, July 15, 2011.
55 “In ’67, we were really”: Ibid.
55 “The team really grew up last year”: Sporting News, March 23, 1968.
55 Lakeland and Tigertown: http://springtrainingonline.com/teams/detroit-tigers.htm
55 one of the last big-league teams to integrate: George Cantor, The Tigers of ’68: Baseball’s Last Real Champions, 26.
55 Team breakdown: Ibid., 14.
56 “The door was open”: Jon Warden interview.
56 Denny McLain incident: Cantor, 16–17; Mark Pattison and David Raglin, Sock It to ’Em Tigers, 111–112; Denny McLain with Eli Zaret, I told You I Wasn’t Perfect, 81–82; “Baseball’s Big Scandal,” Sports Illustrated, February 23, 1970.
57 orange hair: Cantor, 17.
57 contacts, Hammond organ, bowling: “Never Touch a Superstar,” Bill Freehan with Steve Gelman and Dick Shaap, Sports Illustrated, March 2, 1970; McLain, 83, 105.
58 “Me? Revel in the media”: McLain, 168.
58 cortisone shots: Mead interview; McLain, 127.
59 McLain’s background: McLain, 13–21; Pattison and Raglin, 109–110.
59 Tom McLain’s death: “He’d done a lot for baseball, and he’ ll be the first to let you know it,” Chicago Tribune, David Condon, October 27, 1968.
60 “clobbered pretty good”: Lolich interview.
61 Return to Portland: Lolich interview; “Lolich Tops Premier Win,” (Portland) Oregonian, May 31, 1962.
62 Gerry Staley’s instruction: Lolich interview.
62 Riding motorcycles: Lolich interview; “Mickey Lolich: Out From Behind McLain’s Shadow,” Super Sports, March 1969.
62 “Denny McLain was Denny McLain”: McAuliffe interview.
63 “Nobody cared”: The Wild Ride to Super Bowl I, NFL Films, directors Ray Didinger, Jeff Hillegass, 2004.
63 Super Bowl name: www.superbowl.com.
64 No footage exists: Patrick Pano, NFL Films, author interview, January 11, 2006.
64 “hooked on football”: Hugh Hefner, author interview, January 14, 2006.
64 “too predictable to be memorable”: Michael MacCambridge, author interview, January 15, 2006.
64 “bigger, grander”: MacCambridge interview.
65 Tigers in camp: Warden interview.
67 “a graduate course in capturing the magic”: Gillette and Enders, 133.
68 Detroit under curfew: Warden interview.
68 Riots in Detroit: http://www.67riots.rutgers.edu/d_index.htm; Todd Gitlin, The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage, 245; Kurlansky, 8.
68 Detroit riots: Horton interview.
69 philosophy of coaching: Russell, 100.
70 “If we can rebound”: Roland
Lazenby, Jerry West: The Life and Legend of a Basketball Icon, 262.
70 “Track is really psychic”: Sports Illustrated, December 23, 1968.
71 “a fantastic athlete” : Ibid.
71 “He is an unbelievable man”: Lazenby, 263.
72 “hated anything (Celtic) green”: Ibid., 246.
72 Wilt Chamberlain trade: http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/tag/wilton-n-wilt-chamberlain
72 “Don’t be shy”: Gates Brown interview; Pattison and Raglin, 3–7.
76 “Don’t worry, Skip”: Bill Freehan with Steve Gelman and Dick Schaap, Behind the Mask, 16.
76 “still in the worst way”: Warden interview.
PART IV
79 road map: Horton interview.
80 tour of Detroit: On the Road with Tom Stanton, September 9, 2010.
80 “follow us on the radio”: Lolich interview.
80 “best go home”: Horton interview.
80 Detroit’s shrinking population: http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2008/04/report_detroits_population_to.html; http://mapscroll.blogspot.com/2009/06/shrinking-of-detroit.html; http://www.forbes.com/2007/06/11/ghost-cities-future-biz-cx_21cities_ee_0611ghostcities.html
81 Henry Ford’s old neighborhood: “Henry Ford’s Detroit Neighborhood Tries Hard to Keep Up Appearances,” Wall Street Journal, September 11, 2008.
83 “never really felt any pressure”: Horton interview.
83 every port of call home: Ibid.
85 Walking the rails: Ibid; Grant Eldridge and Karen Elizabeth Bush, Willie Horton: Detroit’s Own Willie the Wonder, 18–24.
86 “worst in the league”: McLain, 84–85, 91–92.
86 “that was Denny McLain”: Brown interview.
87 Key victory: Jerry Green, Year of the Tiger: A Diary of Detroit’s World Champions, 123–124.
87 Fans tune in Harwell: Lolich interview.
87 “ridiculous divisive gossip”: Freehan, 94.
88 The Lost Son of Havana: Luis Tiant, author interview, June 12, 2002.
88 Tiant’s background: Luis Tiant, with Joe Fitzgerald, El Tiante: The Luis Tiant Story, 22–25; http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=tiantlu01
89 “I didn’t want him to come to America”: Rob Ruck, Raceball: How the Major Leagues Colonized the Black and Latin Game, 71.
90 “still have nightmares”: Howard interview.
90 “the ball last”: Bob Dolgan, Baseball Digest, July 2002.
90 “finish what you started”: Ryan interview.
90 “It’s the amount of money”: Dick Bosman, author interview, June 22, 2009.
91 the Robinsons . . . complained: Dolgan.
91 “never seen a fastball thrown so hard”: Ibid.
91 “He’s a great pitcher”: Tiant, 67.
92 McLain serenades Tiger Stadium crowd: Green, 117.
92 Astrodome conditions: “Tiant Claims Throw to 1st ‘Moved Away,’” July 10, 1968.
93 “No better example”: “National League Wins All-Star Game, 1–0, on Mays’s Unearned Run in First,” Leonard Koppett, New York Times, July 10, 1968.
93 “I watched you on television”: Tiant, 73.
94 “The Orioles are not winning”: “Ousted Bauer Blasts Choice of Successor,” Los Angeles Times, July 12, 1968.
95 “a pennant contender”: “Orioles Name Earl Weaver,” Chicago Tribune, July 1968.
95 Home run club: Hank Aaron, author interview, October 2, 2000.
95 “huge block ‘S’”: “Aaron, r.f.—Story of Superman in Flannels,” Jim Murray, Los Angeles Times, July 23, 1968.
96 “not sure I’ve mastered it yet”: “Record Looms for Wilhelm By Birthday,” Washington Post, July 24, 1968.
96 Hansen triple play: Associated Press, “Hansen in Triple Play Unassisted,” July 31, 1968.
97 “fighting for thirty wins”: Tiant, 67.
97 “If Luis played for us”: Ibid, 68.
97 “So all I want is twenty wins”: Ibid.
97 “never have an easy inning”: Tiant interview.
97 “hurt his arm”: Tiant, 70.
98 Alvin Dark legacy: Cepeda interview; Ruck, 164–165.
99 “It’s a different race”: Daniels interview.
99 Balke’s involvement: Ibid.
100 “No you’re not”: Ibid.
100 “Chemistry”: Horton interview.
101 Plane in Pool: Cantor, 137–140; Lolich interview; Brown interview.
102 “patient at plate”: Tim McCarver, with Phil Pepe, Few and Chosen: Defining Greatness Across the Eras, 98.
103 Flood background: Brad Snyder, A Well-Paid Slave: Curt Flood’s Fight for Free Agency in Professional Sports. This remains the definitive work for anyone wishing to read more about Flood and his epic court battle.
103 “child of the Sixties”: Ken Burns, Baseball (PBS, 1996).
104 Following in Lombardi’s footsteps: If Snyder’s biography is the one to read about Flood, then certainly David Maraniss’s When Pride Still Mattered remains the standard on the football coaching legend.
104 “new regime”: Maraniss, 443.
105 “not dead”: Ibid., 444.
106 Chicago: Tom Hayden, author interview, February 28, 2011, and May 28, 2011.
106 Lombardi VP choice: Maraniss, 445.
106 Nixon then Kennedy: Ibid, 446.
106 Kennedy telegram: Ibid. Also cited in several other publications.
107 Harrelson at Tiger Stadium: Ken Harrelson, author interview, August 16, 2011; Green, 94–95; McLain, 88.
108 “whole world gone crazy”: Green, 74.
108 “doesn’t need . . . basic training”: Ibid, 96.
108 No permits in Chicago: Hayden interview; Kurlansky, 281.
108 16 million watched on television: www.nielsenwire.com; also available on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvebyWqLXeo&feature=related.
108 Tigers-White Sox game rescheduled for Milwaukee: Cantor, 136.
109 “pro-war stances”: Kurlansky, 281.
109 “ We flew into Chicago”: Larry Dierker, author interview, July 13, 2011.
110 “clubbing anyone they could find”: Kurlansky, 282.
110 “amazed by what was going on”: Dierker interview.
111 “guy who made us go”: Brown interview.
111 “hard as I’ve ever been hit”: McAuliffe interview.
112 “I’m dead”: Green, 163.
112 McLain missed fight: Ibid., 165.
113 McAuliffe suspended: McAuliffe interview; Green, 166.
114 “I feel so funky”: Cantor, 109.
114 blackboard in Yankee Stadium: Green, 170; Cantor, 110.
115 Showdown with Dark: Tiant interview; Tiant, 71.
PART V
117 “pins and needles”: Hayden interview.
118 “a little guy, always arguing”: Freehan, 22.
118 “good memory”: Hayden interview.
118 “some of the best amateur baseball”: Freehan, 21.
118 “ Wouldn’t it be funny?”: Green, 173.
119 “It took a lot”: McAuliffe interview.
119 “only four games ahead”: Green, 174.
120 “it will just about be over”: Ibid, 177.
120 “If we beat them tomorrow ”: Ibid, 179.
120 “It’s first goddamn inning”: McLain, 99.
121 “Fastball’s coming”: Ibid, 100.
121 “flair for showmanship”: Green, 179.
122 Ed Sullivan: McLain, 102–103; Green, 187; Cantor, 144.
122 Winning No. 30: McLain, 104–106; Green, 189–196; Cantor, 145–148.
122 “How could I be a thirty-game winner?”: Green, 189–190.
124 Children’s Crusade: Cantor, 145.
125 Gibson’s closing run: “Gibson was great in ‘68,” Bill Deane, Baseball Analysts, http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2005/06/gibson_was_grea_1.php