Tracy hit a home run off of Nolan Ryan which turned out to be a the game winner but I don't know if that was his greatest moment. I remember him as an affable guy who just wasn't very good but someone you rooted for.

I don't know whether it was my age or whether the late-80s were a "simpler," more "innocent" time, but I don't recall being nearly as critical (or even aware) of bad players back then. I suppose part of it is that player evaluation has come a long way in 20 years, as players like Tracy look a lot worse to me now than they did back then.

1) The massive, bone-crushing bearhug he laid on Kirk Gibson amid the celebration of his Game 1 HR.

2) Striking out to end Tom Browning's perfect game in 1988 (which happened on Orel Hershiser's 30th birthday)

DODGERS 7TH: Hamilton popped to first; Griffin walked; Sax
singled to center [Griffin to third]; CADARET REPLACED STEWART
(PITCHING); WOODSON BATTED FOR STUBBS; Woodson grounded out
(shortstop to second to first) [Griffin scored, Sax to second];
Hatcher flied to center; 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Dodgers 4,
Athletics 2.

I doubt the pitching was better. Rather, I think the hitting was worse, at least in part because of PEDs.

Won't Congress do something about this scourge? D4P needs fonder memories of the late 1990s.

During an "inspirational" locker room speech, Woodson reportedly blew a fuse and shouted, "Stop your nonsense dribble right now Pillsbury!"

Mariano Duncan was seen snickering and quietly clapping in the background. Mike Piazza had to bite his fist to keep from breaking up.

I am starting to think the games at Dodger stadium might be more fun.

I'll very likely sell them as I'd rather go to a regular season game. I much prefer the games that count unless I can get to a spring training facility and be able to chat with the players and coaches.

I suspect there will be people who want to get a glimpse of the Boston team though. You can cram a lot of people into that stadium. They might just make it general admission in two different price ranges.

"Stanford has to be the least talked about top-15 team in the country. Never mind what you hear about alleged defensive stalwarts UCLA and Washington State. To this point the Cardinal has had far and away the best defense in the Pac-10. No, they can't score. I'm just saying, given the right opponent(s), they can make some noise in March."

http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=117

The best part will be bringing my 5 year old son and wife to their first Dodger game and Dodger dogs.

I will have to share with my boy how at one time there used to be this thing called "foul ball territory" at Dodger stadium. Right down where all those rich people are sitting. ;)

I wonder what a Bob Gibson would be like in today's game. They would protect him by not letting him go 9 innings so often, but I can't imagine a guy posting those sick E.R.A.s in the modern game.

Gibson '68: 278 IP, 2.23 ERA, 8.5 K/9, 1.9 BB/9, .8 HR/9

Peavy '07: 271.3 IP, 2.85 ERA, 8.5 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, .6 HR/9

Conclusion: Gibson would be pretty good still.

;)

But since Orel was my point of reference for pitchers, I thought Fernando was a bum.

We all did.

A little nostalgic because I hadn't heard/seen Tracy's name in a while.

IIRC, I would characterize this as his greatest moment because it set up another great Gibson moment that season.

25
The mound was raised after 1968. It wasn't just Bob Gibson who went crazy that year. It was also the last year of a 30 game winner Denny McLain the greatest character in baseball in the 70's.

(my deepest apologies to the poet)

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3220296

But I can't be too bitter, at least it prompted a mention of my alma mater on the best Dodgers site on the web.