Dodgers Stadium in October.
So the San Francisco Giants’ Game 1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies today got me thinking.
When was the last time a West Coast team was even in the World Series?
Well, that’d be the last time the Giants were there, with Barry Bonds and Co. falling to the Anaheim Angels in seven games in the 2002 classic — which I predicted, for the record, in seven, in newsprint that fall. But yeah, that was waaaaay back when people actually read newspapers. Remember those days, Pembertonian?
Since 1990, when the Oakland Athletics were swept by the Cincinnati Reds , there’s been only one other Series with a West Coast bias … and that one was a snoozefest, with the San Diego Padres getting swept aside by the New York Yankees in 1998.
At least the Giants-Angels series was a good one, probably the best series since given it was the last one to go the distance.
Sad.
What ever happened to the good ol’ days? When people read newspapers. Tommy Lasorda shot out of the dugout with fists in the air. And I had nothing to worry about outside the stale bubblegum in my latest pack of Topps Traded. Life was good back then, hitting the jackpot (50 whole cents!) on my schoolyard bet with Kevin Crawford when Kirk Gibson hit that memorable shot against the Oakland Athletics.
Look at this West Coast representation in the Series back in the 70s and 80s.
1972 Oakland A’s 4, Cincinnati Reds 3
1973 Oakland A’s 4, N.Y. Mets 3
1974 Oakland A’s 4, L.A. Dodgers 1
1977 N.Y. Yankees 4, L.A. Dodgers 2
1978 N.Y. Yankees 4, L.A. Dodgers 2
1981 L.A. Dodgers 4, N.Y. Yankees 2
1984 Detroit Tigers 4, San Diego Padres 1
1988 L.A. Dodgers 4, Oakland A’s 1
1989 Oakland A’s 4, S.F. Giants 0
What in Gibby’s name happened after that?
1. The Dodgers went in the crapper.
2. The Yankees got good again.
So when our homey Beau-C last night sent the text, “We’re on our way to the World Series!!!” I couldn’t help but reply …
“Sounds like you’re on your way to crazy town.”
“The looney bin.”
“ASH.”
But maybe the craziness will happen. Heck, all of us Left Coasters could use something to cheer for … even if it is for the Giants.
I mean, have you looked at our football teams? California is 4-11 in the NFL this season, and the 49ers (everyone’s pick to win the NFC West) are still 0-for five games in.
There isn’t a Southern California team in a title hunt in anything right now, so this is all we got.
Get it done Giants. Don’t make me start rooting for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Shit, the Beckhams just lost tonight in the MLS playoffs too. Awesome.
