BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

(See previous post)

The anchors on 1010 News Radio have been actually chuckling in an almost "too stunned"/"Am I reading this right?" state of semi-disbelief, regarding the Mets being THOROUGHLY wiped out yesterday.

Not surprisingly, the word "embarrassing" was being used with alarming frequency.............

Talk about "The agony of defeat"......humiliation unchecked..............

"NYO"

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

I have the feeling that a least a FEW bus fans were then on hand, to record all of those ancient buses gathering at the Polo Grounds, back in '62......REAL BUSES to be caught on film!

Even after the PATH takeover of the H&M in September, 1962, everyone I knew STILL referred to the system as "the tubes"; in the E-L timetables of that era, the term "PATH TUBES" was used (Your's Truly STILL, and always will, refer to PATH as "the tubes"!)

Even in the 1990's, ACADEMY"s rush-hour Boulevard East run to Hoboken had their Flex Metro's sporting HUGE roller curtains reading: "PATH TUBES".

Casey Stengal?

Ohhh, man, one can only BEGIN to imagine the VERY vocal comments on the 2023 Mets!!!!

Back in the early 1960's, I remember the TV commercials (as well as ads) where Yogi Berra was touting "YOO HOO" (I LOVED the stuff!)

Back in the day, "The Bombers" were, indeed, "larger than life" to "Noo Yawk" baseball fans (recall the "I LOVE LUCY" episode, "LUCY MEETS BOB HOPE", where the Ricardos and the Mertzes go up to Yankee Stadium for a game; the fans DRESSED UP to go to see a game, back then!)

William Frawley (aka Fred Mertz) was a HUGE baseball fan, and LOVED the Yankees; in fact, it was in his contract that he would be able to "skip work" when the Yankees were in the World Series!

In fact, he was close friends with a number of pro ballplayers back then, and enjoyed "chewin' the fat" with they guys at a bar or a club.

In the "PALM SPRINGS" episode ("I Love Lucy") episode Fred laments not being able to go see the Hollywood Stars, due to a rain-out!

I've also read about "Dem Bums"....regular neighborhood guys who rode the subway, washed their cars, mowed their lawns, with their wives shopping at neighborhood stores.........could you imagine today's grossly-overpaid Prima Donna players as "regular Joes"?

I know I sure can't, even with my vivid imagination!

For both the Yankees AND the Mets, the 2024 season is going to be QUITE interesting, to say the VERY least......(!!)

"NYO"

["POLO GROUNDS SHUTTLE"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

......and.......the Yankees lost AGAIN this afternoon; let's see now of a MAJOR miracle can FINALLY help the hapless "Miracle Mets" this evening (I ain't holding my breath, on this one!)

"NYO"

["RIDE IRT LINES TO THE WORLD SERIES"]

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........well, my goodness gracious......bless my soul.......the "Miracle Mets" actually performed a MIRACLE and FINALLY won a game!

It was a VERY narrow win for them (7-6), but still, for the 2023 Mets, the fact that they actually WON a game is a MIRACLE in itself!

Can they possibly win TWO games in a row

Or, was tonight's LONG-overdue victory just a "flash in a pan"

Stay tuned, fellows.........

"NYO"

["BALL GAME TO-DAY! RIDE THE INTERBOROUGH"!]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

.........well, this sultry Monday evening, the "Miracle Mets" actually pulled off another MIRACLE.....they actually won TWO (yep, count 'em, TWO!) games in a row, with a pretty decent score!!

However, the "Bronx Bombers", sadly, BOMBED (again) royally tonight.

IMHO, even the most "casual" baseball fan from the "Noo Yawk" area have to be scratching their collective heads in confusion, frustration, (and amazement!) this tumultous 2023 season!

This has been one WILD season, for sure....you CAN'T make this stuff up.........

"NYO"

['TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

From "The Bambino" himself:

"Every strike brings me closer to a home run."

"Yesterday's home runs don't win today's games"

"I've never heard boos after a home run, but I've sure heard plenty after a strikeout"

'Nuff said, Mr. Ruth.............

"NYO"

["INTERBOROUGH LINES TO THE WORLD SERIES"]

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Last evening, the Amazin' NY Mets were hoping to have their third straight win (which they had not had in month); well, they lost, BUT, at LEAST they were on the scoreboard.......the "Bombers" were shut out, and in the roughest shape they've been in for many a year.

It's a safe bet that the hopes for the World Series and the post-season will have to wait until 2024...........

"NYO"

["FOUL BALL!"]

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This evening, the Mets sent a lot of happy fans home on the #7 trains after their game at Citi Field, taking the series from Pittsburgh (this is also the first time that the Amazins have taken a series in quite some time!)

The Yankees are now below .500, and at their lowest in quite a few years, after losing to the Braves.

And, so, the "pendulum" continues to swing back and forth.......

"NYO"

["SHEA STADIUM"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Agreed.

Recall, when baseball was a GAME, and NOT a multi-million dollar enterprise, as it is today.

Recall, also, the big steroid scandal of some years back?

I recall one wag at the time commenting: "Babe Ruth 'bulked up' the old-fashioned way: beer, sodas, and hot dogs!"

Not to take away from those players today who act......and PLAY......like professionals, but, you and I BOTH know that NONE could ever HOPE to come within striking distances of the legendary "Bombers" (the Yankee players, NOT the GRUMMANS!)

Then, too, look at other baseball legends from many years ago, such as Willy Mays, Hank Arron, and, of course, the pioneering Jackie Robinson (one of "Dem Bums" from Brooklyn)

Recall, also, years back, Phil "The Scooter" Rizzuto, doing the tv commercials for "The Money Store"?

And, also, back in the day, seeing Yogi Berra's mug adorning car card ads for "Yoo Hoo"!

It is no wonder why so many boys back then aspired to be pro baseball players when they grew up.

Recall, also, kids hanging around Yankee Stadium and Ebbetts Field, hoping to get their ball signed by one of their heroes?

That so many of these "Golden Era" baseball legends were truly "larger than life" heroes makes you think of the massive crowds and long, long lines waiting to pay their last respects to "The Bambino" when he passed on to that big ballfield in the sky, while lying in state at Yankee Stadium (surely, many mourners arrived via public transportation)

This one man had become a legend, for certain, within his own lifetime.

The "Sultan of Swat" was indeed "royalty" to the Yankee fans of that long-ago era.

Even I can remember that, back in the 60's, at least in the "Noo Yawk" area, that the "Bombers" were indeed "gods", larger than life in so many ways.........

"NYO"

["BASEBALL SPECIAL"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

Funny you mention these points, because it seems much of today's Yankee players seem to have more in common with those misbegotten Grummans than the legends of old who played The Stadium I(a).

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

BTW:

The Amazin' Mets scored another win, earlier tonight, beating the Cardinals........

"NYO"

["PLAY BALL!"]

(as Ryan Field, Eyewitness News sports anchor, said earlier this evening:

".....the Yanks had the night off, thankfully....."