As we enter the third week of April, spring is certainly back — after our five inches, or so, of snowfall on Easter Sunday (April 12).
But despite the nice warmer weather and green grass, replacing the white snow, there are no events happening due to the continued escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the coronavirus, which still restricts people from congregating together.
It sure is different. Things we took for granted are not happening. There are some signs of improvement. But there are also indications of things worsening.
In the meantime, cancellations are the sign of the times and some “experts” are predicting nothing will happen with large gatherings until well into 2021.
I have spending some of my time researching past high school track and field and watching some video of “old” Major League baseball games. Last week, I wrote about the 1952 World Series — between the Dodgers and Yankees.
Since then, I have watched some of Game 7 of the 1965 World Series, played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota on the sunny afternoon (61 degrees) of October 13, 1965. The Los Angeles Dodgers, behind the stellar pitching of lefty Sandy Koufax, shutout the Twins 2-0 to win the series.
Interestingly, that was the Twins’ only home-field loss in three World Series appearances. Minnesota has been 11-1 at home (3-1 in ’65 and a perfect 4-0 in both ’87 and ’91).
I also watched some 1958 World Series highlights — the Milwaukee Braves vs. the New York Yankees. Left-handers Warren Spahn and Whitey Ford squared off in Game 1 at Milwaukee’s County Stadium.
Another highlight was viewing the last three innings of the classic Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, played at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Bill Mazeroski’s leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Pirates to a thrilling 10-9 victory over the Yankees for the title.
Here’s something I learned about that game, which is this week’s trivia question. Who was Hal Smith and what did he do one inning earlier — in the bottom of the eighth?
There are many interesting facts about that ’60 Game 7, including the fact that no one, and I mean no one, struck out in the entire contest. That’s amazing. Nineteen runs were scored and nobody, from either team, struck out once.
Another interesting item is that the 1960 World Series MVP was not from the winning Pirates, but from the losing Yankees — and it was not Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris or Yogi Berra. Who was it?
Sailor, Jonas, Lutmer lead Adrian track performers in early 1980s
While several athletes from Fulda were highlighted in last week’s third edition of my recent high school track and field articles from the past, this week’s feature is all about Slayton’s remarkable 1978 boys state track championship.
Adrian’s turn is upcoming, as several Dragons — including hurdler Brenda Sailor and middle-distance runners Myron Jonas and John Lutmer — had state track and field meet success in the early 1980s.
In 1981, Sailor placed third at the state in both the 100-meter high hurdles (15.53) and in the 200-meter lows (30.47), scoring a dozen points for the Adrian girls. The year before (1980), Brenda finished second at the state track meet in the 200-meter low hurdles with her time of 30.05. She likely also ran a leg on Adrian’s sixth-place 880-yard relay team, which clocked a fine time of 1:47.94.
Adrian’s boys placed fourth in the medley relay (3:37.50) at the 1980 state meet and half-miler Myron Jonas finished sixth in the 800 (2:00.33) the following year when the Dragons also nabbed a sixth in the mile relay with an excellent time of 3:29.71, finishing right on the heels of Hills-Beaver Creek (fifth, 3:29.23).
Adrian’s Medley Relay was third in the 1982 boys’ state meet (3:40.27) and two years later, the Dragons scored 14 points at the 1984 state meet with a first-place finish in the medley relay (3:35.99) and a fourth by John Lutmer in the 800 (1:57.66). Lutmer finished second in 1983 with his time of 1:59.35.
Running on Adrian’s winning medley in ’84 were junior Tom Reisdorfer (200), senior James Ruppert (200), junior Jim Groenewold (400) and senior John Lutmer (800), who finished his splendid career with a grand total of 12 regional medals, along with five state-meet medals.
The ‘84 mile relay team of senior Dave Haugom, Lutmer, Groenewold and Ruppert just missed placing, finishing seventh with a fine time of 3:29.0.
I need to find out the four members of those Dragon girls sprinters from 1980, along with the boys 1980 medley, 1981 mile relay and 1982 medley. If you know, send me the answers to lknutson5169@gmail.com or call or text me at 507-822-2053. Thanks.
