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1964 World Series Photo Gallery
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1964 World Series Aftermath:
Baseball Plays Its Version of “Musical Chairs!”
Photo Credits: All from Google search
Information: Information: Excerpts edited from Johnny Keene Wikipedia page, including the quote about Johnny Keene’s career. And from article about Johnny Keene on Retro Simba
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I was 13 years old and it was a great WS! David Halberstam’s “October 1964” is absolutely one of the best baseball and social history books ever written. A must read!
James,
I agree that Halberstan’s book was tremendous. I was the same age in 1964. I also remember during the WS that year, Nikita Khrushchev was ousted as leader in the Soviet Union. It was also deep into the Presidential election season with Lyndon Johnson going up against Barry Goldwater. The nation had sustained a summer of riots as civil rights legislation was being fought. 56 years later, it seems at times, that we are fighting the same battles.
Wasn’t it a GREAT season?! So exciting except my Dodgers went into a nosedive as defending World Champs. It was a wonderful time growing up in Newark, NJ. The NY World’s Fair opened as did brand new Shea Stadium. All we did was play baseball, morning, noon and night! Kept me skinny as a rail. Attended Williamsport Baseball Camp for two weeks in July. Still have my report card ……….average. Would try to get Phillie’s games on my transistor radio at night but boy, the static was annoying out in Williamsport. Great memories.
Keene always struck me as being a bit off track.
Yeah, growing up and those great summers stretching out…playing ball, watching the Giants, Dodgers, Yankees, green grass, Good Humors, movies and the shore…girls later.
Barry Goldwater in ’64, “A Choice not an Echo.” Mocked for making outrageous statements–though many, later, were thought to be quite reasonable.
The former genius manager Gene Mauch was responsible for the greatest collapse in baseball history.
All good points, Bill. Thanks!
Wilhelm happens to be blessed with a native instinct for recognizing when somebody’s “a bit off track.” (Don’t ask; just trust me on this.)
Then again, he may be pulling our collective jersey to say that in ’64 we were all playing ball (true), watching ball ( also true), pounding Good Humor bars (excessively true), hitting movie theaters (that too) and the shore (well, not this landlocked Cornhusker) — but that girls came. . .”later”??! Please, Bill! Our group suspension of disbelief isn’t quite THAT willing.
On the other hand, with fifty-plus years’ hindsight to help show me the way I cannot agree more with Dr. Schaefer that many of Barry Goldwater’s ideas of that long-ago time, once thought to dominate the treacherous fringes of thoughtful social discourse, have proven to be not only “quite reasonable,” but prescient, in fact. Even if he wasn’t chasing after wimmin in his callow and wasted youth, the gentleman (I mean Bill here) definitely knows whereof he speaks. In that singular regard you mind. (The Jints? Not so much.)
Dr. Livacari’s baseball blog is not really an open invitation to his many followers to sound off on political issues of the day, but I wouldn’t object if WS (not World Series, and not White Sox either) chooses to tie the geopolitics of 56 years ago to the many exasperating cultural experiences plaguing us in ’20. I am confident he won’t be thinking about those many connections for the very first time.
All that gibberish notwithstanding, Gary, I too greatly enjoyed your article. It sparked a ton of intoxicating memories. Thank you!
Thanks Michael…I THINK I catch your drift! Haha…Thanks again!
You see, Michael, even the perspicacious Dr. Livacari sometimes struggles to interpret your lofty eloquence. You speak of intoxicating memories. And I must say, a taste of the grape does help me to better understand you. (hope you enjoy my “stench” of humor!)
Just for clarification, I did conflate a decade or so in reference to my callow youth. Yes, by 1964, I was more interested in girls than Happy Felton’s Knothole Gang.
Ain’t we got fun?
You guys are a stitch! Gutman and I just converse in lowly English! Nothing like you guys!
The new “Dynamic Duo” – Schaefer and Keedy. Wow! Awesome lingo!