Ken Burns' Baseball 10th Inning

[J.R.]

Through the course of baseball history, the Cubs have been involved in exactly two pennant battles that garnered national attention - Merkle's Boner and the Bartman incident. The Merkle incident was extensively covered in the original series, and I'd bet money that 2003 will get its due in the new eps.

 

I'm amazed that some of our more historically-aware posters are questioning the importance of the Polo Grounds. Just scratching the surface, we see that three MLB teams called it home over the course of 73 years, beginning in 1890. It was the site of 14 World Series, the Merkle incident, the SHRTW, the ascension of Babe Ruth and the entire Yankee franchise. MLB as a national concern was basically born at the Polo Grounds.

[illiniguy]

Through the course of baseball history, the Cubs have been involved in exactly two pennant battles that garnered national attention - Merkle's Boner and the Bartman incident. The Merkle incident was extensively covered in the original series, and I'd bet money that 2003 will get its due in the new eps.

 

I'm amazed that some of our more historically-aware posters are questioning the importance of the Polo Grounds. Just scratching the surface, we see that three MLB teams called it home over the course of 73 years, beginning in 1890. It was the site of 14 World Series, the Merkle incident, the SHRTW, the ascension of Babe Ruth and the entire Yankee franchise. MLB as a national concern was basically born at the Polo Grounds.

Yeah there is no way that the Bartman incident doesn't get covered. It's a pretty big story in baseball in the 00's.

[jersey cubs fan]

Through the course of baseball history, the Cubs have been involved in exactly two pennant battles that garnered national attention - Merkle's Boner and the Bartman incident. The Merkle incident was extensively covered in the original series, and I'd bet money that 2003 will get its due in the new eps.

 

I'm amazed that some of our more historically-aware posters are questioning the importance of the Polo Grounds. Just scratching the surface, we see that three MLB teams called it home over the course of 73 years, beginning in 1890. It was the site of 14 World Series, the Merkle incident, the SHRTW, the ascension of Babe Ruth and the entire Yankee franchise. MLB as a national concern was basically born at the Polo Grounds.

 

No it wasn't. Just because they gave multiple venues the same name doesn't mean it was the same venue. Similarly, Madison Square Garden isn't the same Madison Square Garden from history.

[J.R.]

No it wasn't. Just because they gave multiple venues the same name doesn't mean it was the same venue. Similarly, Madison Square Garden isn't the same Madison Square Garden from history.

 

Apples and oranges.

 

MSG was a name carried to multiple sites, but the Polo Grounds, in all incarnations, was always located at the base of Coogan's Bluff.

[jersey cubs fan]

No it wasn't. Just because they gave multiple venues the same name doesn't mean it was the same venue. Similarly, Madison Square Garden isn't the same Madison Square Garden from history.

 

Apples and oranges.

 

MSG was a name carried to multiple sites, but the Polo Grounds, in all incarnations, was always located at the base of Coogan's Bluff.

 

That's not apples and oranges, it's more like Granny Smith and Red Delicious. The Yankee Stadium that was recently torn down was more original than the 50 year old dump that was torn down in the 60's.

[J.R.]

Burns was not lamenting the demise of the stands themselves. The end of a long history at that site, and the end of NL baseball at the place where NY baseball got its start were his focus.

[jersey cubs fan]

Burns was not lamenting the demise of the stands themselves. The end of a long history at that site, and the end of NL baseball at the place where NY baseball got its start were his focus.

 

It was a 50 year history in a dump that teams couldn't wait to leave, the only reason it was lamented was because it was in NY.

[J.R.]

The Giants wanted to rebuild at the site before the city put in the housing developments.

[NCCubFan]

The 10th Inning airs this coming Tuesday and Wednesday evenings on PBS. It looks like it's actually 4 1/2 hours, not 4 as originally reported.

[J.R.]

Thanks for the heads-up.

[erik316wttn]

Burns was not lamenting the demise of the stands themselves. The end of a long history at that site, and the end of NL baseball at the place where NY baseball got its start were his focus.

 

It was a 50 year history in a dump that teams couldn't wait to leave, the only reason it was lamented was because it was in NY.

 

Do you ever like anything? Anything at all?

[erik316wttn]

I enjoyed part 1. It was fun re-living a lot of the baseball memories I had as a kid.

 

Of course it was pretty much: Strike, Ripken, Yankees, PED's, Home run chase, foreshadowing on Bonds, end.

[chuckywang]

A little too Yankees heavy for my liking but overall incredibly entertaining.

 

I enjoyed this a bit more than the original, primarily because the events took place during my childhood. Of course, it points a huge finger at the players for the 1994 strike and at Barry Bonds (to be continued).

[NonProfitCow]

"There's no highlight reels for bunts."

[Sammy Sofa]

I liked it. Can't say it was really "Yankee heavy" since the Braves and Giants each got comparable time as well.

[TruffleShuffle]

one thing that burns said on the colbert report struck me - george foster reach the 50 home run mark in 1977, and then the next guy to do it was cecil fielder 13 years later. then by the mid to late 90s everyone (brady anderson, luis gonzalez, greg vaughn) could do it.

[jersey cubs fan]

Burns was not lamenting the demise of the stands themselves. The end of a long history at that site, and the end of NL baseball at the place where NY baseball got its start were his focus.

 

It was a 50 year history in a dump that teams couldn't wait to leave, the only reason it was lamented was because it was in NY.

 

Do you ever like anything? Anything at all?

 

Bears victories.

[jersey cubs fan]

one thing that burns said on the colbert report struck me - george foster reach the 50 home run mark in 1977, and then the next guy to do it was cecil fielder 13 years later. then by the mid to late 90s everyone (brady anderson, luis gonzalez, greg vaughn) could do it.

 

That struck you?

[soapy]

I thought it was entertaining enough. Like some others mentioned, it was cool seeing stuff I actually remembered, unlike most of the original series. I thought the '98 homerun chase portion was well done. I also liked the perspective they used with guys coming from hispanic nations and giving you the angle of: of course these guys are going to do whatever it takes to get to/stay in the majors. What else is there?

[Sammy Sofa]

I thought it was entertaining enough. Like some others mentioned, it was cool seeing stuff I actually remembered, unlike most of the original series. I thought the '98 homerun chase portion was well done. I also liked the perspective they used with guys coming from hispanic nations and giving you the angle of: of course these guys are going to do whatever it takes to get to/stay in the majors. What else is there?

 

I didn't know anything about those small leagues here made up of guys from Latin America who couldn't make it in the bigs or the minors. That would make an amazing 30 for 30 film.

[chuckywang]

The documentary also pretty much said that Barry Bonds got jealous at the attention McGwire/Sosa got in 1998 and that led him to take steroids himself to pump up his HR numbers. Is this actually true, or is it just another storytelling device that sounds good on TV?

[jersey cubs fan]

The documentary also pretty much said that Barry Bonds got jealous at the attention McGwire/Sosa got in 1998 and that led him to take steroids himself to pump up his HR numbers. Is this actually true, or is it just another storytelling device that sounds good on TV?

It's the theory that just about everybody has gone with. He was great, but didn't get the recognition, so he wanted to get greater.

[soapy]

The documentary also pretty much said that Barry Bonds got jealous at the attention McGwire/Sosa got in 1998 and that led him to take steroids himself to pump up his HR numbers. Is this actually true, or is it just another storytelling device that sounds good on TV?

It's the theory that just about everybody has gone with. He was great, but didn't get the recognition, so he wanted to get greater.

 

Yeah, that story has been reported many times. He was upset that Sosa/McGwire were getting all the attention while he was being ignored (relatively speaking) even though he was the superior player. He wasn't going to have the kind of legacy those guys would have unless he started hitting 60+ HRs a season.

[NonProfitCow]

I thought it was entertaining enough. Like some others mentioned, it was cool seeing stuff I actually remembered, unlike most of the original series. I thought the '98 homerun chase portion was well done. I also liked the perspective they used with guys coming from hispanic nations and giving you the angle of: of course these guys are going to do whatever it takes to get to/stay in the majors. What else is there?

 

I didn't know anything about those small leagues here made up of guys from Latin America who couldn't make it in the bigs or the minors. That would make an amazing 30 for 30 film.

Watch "Sugar." It's not completely about that, but gives you an idea of what these kids go through.

[TruffleShuffle]

one thing that burns said on the colbert report struck me - george foster reach the 50 home run mark in 1977, and then the next guy to do it was cecil fielder 13 years later. then by the mid to late 90s everyone (brady anderson, luis gonzalez, greg vaughn) could do it.

 

That struck you?

 

yes, i didn't realize that hitting 50 was as rare as it was before steroids.