José Feliciano Sings It His Way
An anthem nobody expected, a man who wouldn't be traded, a bunt with two outs, and a city that waited 79 years to the day.
Ed. 10.07.26
José Feliciano Sings It His Way (1968)
Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell picked the anthem singers for the World Series games in Detroit against the Cardinals. For Game 5 he chose José Feliciano, a 23-year-old with a hit record, who took his acoustic guitar and turned the anthem into something slow and soulful. Plenty of people hated it, and the switchboards at NBC and Tiger Stadium lit up. Detroit won 5-3 and took the Series. Today a personal take on the anthem is routine. On this day it was a scandal.
Curt Flood Says No (1969)
One year later to the day, the Cardinals traded Curt Flood to Philadelphia in a seven-player deal. Flood, a seven-time Gold Glove center fielder, refused to report and took the reserve clause to court. In 1972 the Supreme Court ruled against him, 5-3. Three years later an arbitrator freed Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally, and free agency was born. Flood lost his case and won the argument.
Black Friday (1977)
The 101-win Phillies led the Dodgers 5-3 in Game 3 of the NLCS, two outs and nobody on in the ninth. Then pinch hitter Vic Davalillo laid down a drag bunt and beat it out. Another pinch hitter, Manny Mota, doubled, a relay throw got away, and the Dodgers scored three times to win 6-5. They clinched the pennant the next day. Philadelphia still calls it Black Friday.
Washington, 79 Years to the Day (2012)
On October 7, 1933, the Senators lost Game 5 of the World Series at Griffith Stadium. Then Washington lost two franchises, to Minnesota and Texas, and spent 33 years with no team at all. On October 7, 2012, the Nationals finally played a postseason game, in St. Louis. Rookie Tyler Moore's two-out, two-run pinch single in the eighth won it, 3-2. Seventy-nine years, to the day.
