In “Rookie of the Year,” a mention in “Back to the Future II,” and I think one other, the Cubs have broken their jinx and wont he World Series. The Indians lost the pennant tot he White Sox in major League’s aftermath, we learn in “Major League II.” So, even they’ve broken their long pennant dry spell, if not the World Series jinx.
But, has any movie or book ever had the Red Sox breaking their jinx? And, am I missing one where the Cubs did? Tigertown had Detroit, and the original “Angels int he Outfield” rfeatured the Pirates, but it seems Boston would be due,
ISTR Sparky lyle lists them as defending champs in “The Year I Owned The Yankees,” but that’s been so long ago I read that, and it was just a one-sentence mention, that’s all.
I’ve never read anything that had the Red Sox winning the World Series, so apparently even fiction writers respect the Curse of the Bambino. Frankly, I think the Baseball Gods have justly punished them for dumping the best baseball player ever.
Now if only They would do something to bankrupt the Yankees the world would be as it should…
Sports Illustrated had an issue titled “Oh What a Finish!” the year of the baseball strike. I don’t think I read the article, since I mostly looked at the pictures when I was younger, but from what I recall SI fictionalized the remainder of the MLB season. The World Series pitted the Cubs against the Red Sox. Another theme of the magazine was the home run chase for the record that was at the time still held by Roger Maris.
watsonwill, I believe the production you’re referring to is No, No Nanette. Don’t know about the spelling, and I’ve heard it said that the legend about selling the Babe to pay for a play was untrue. No cites either way.
That’s it. Thanks. And yes, I have also heard that it wasn’t a “sell Babe to finance this play with THAT money”, but it sure is a funny myth at the least!
I’ve heard the same thing, but I checked www.ibdb.com (Internet Broadway Database) and it shows the No, No, Nanette opened in 1925 – long after the Babe was sold to New York – and ran for 321 performances, which was quite a good run back in those days.
I remember that issue well. Unfortunately, the Cubbies took home the title that year.
They printed a letter from someone a few weeks later asking if Ripken had continued his consecutive games played record. The reply was something like “Unfortunately, Ripken’s streak ended in early September, when he contracted chicken pox and pulled himself from the lineup to protect his teammates. Because that’s the kind of player he is.”
According to this site, someone’s selling the issue (Aug. 22, 1994) for $7.50. You could aso check the library to see if their collection goes back that far.
I don’t remember exactly how the series progressed, other than there was one moment during game 6 (it went to 7) when a short grounder by the Cubs went rolling up the first base line in an exact repeat of the Bill Buckner error of ‘86. The fans’ eyes grew wide with horror and…
The Sox first baseman grabs the ball and makes the easy out.
In this black comedy/thriller, the Red Sox might win their first World Series since 1919, if they can put up with a new, high-maintenance pitcher. How much will they tolerate from this superstar? And why are people turning up dead whenever the Red Sox come to town? Read and find out!
Mike Lupica Wild Pitch
Our hero is Charlie Stoddard, ace pitcher of the 1988 Mets, now 40 years old with a fresh mouth and a faded rotator cuff. After a Chinese miracle doctor manipulates his shoulder, Charlie finds that he can throw without pain, and promptly convinces his world-weary former catcher Ted “Gabby” Hartnett, now manager of the Red Sox, to sign him for crucial pennant-race games against the Yankees. Charlie has woman problems, not least with his ex-wife, because their son, age 20, is now the #1 starter for those Red Sox.
In this black comedy/thriller, the Red Sox might win their first World Series since 1919, if they can put up with a new, high-maintenance pitcher. How much will they tolerate from this superstar? And why are people turning up dead whenever the Red Sox come to town? Read and find out!
Mike Lupica Wild Pitch
Our hero is Charlie Stoddard, ace pitcher of the 1988 Mets, now 40 years old with a fresh mouth and a faded rotator cuff. After a Chinese miracle doctor manipulates his shoulder, Charlie finds that he can throw without pain, and promptly convinces his world-weary former catcher Ted “Gabby” Hartnett, now manager of the Red Sox, to sign him for crucial pennant-race games against the Yankees. Charlie has woman problems, not least with his ex-wife, because their son, age 20, is now the #1 starter for those Red Sox.
Henry Garfield Tartabull’s Throw
In August 1967, left-handed second baseman Cyrus Nygerski is released by the Beloit Turtles, just in time to see a crucial game at Comiskey Park. Red Sox rightfielder José Tartabull makes a storied throw to home plate to win a game for Boston. Or does he? Nygerski, possibly because he’s on acid, senses a rift in time: a window into an alternate universe where Tartabull’s throw fails and the '67 pennant race takes a fateful turn in a direction that will involve Nygerski personally.
The story also, as I’ve mentioned, involves werewolves.
In Taking Care of Business, Jim Belushi breaks out of prison to attend the 7th game of the World Series. IIRC, the Cubs win. (I forget who they were playing.)