Blaze. Good & Great. Commitment
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Webster Slaughter Was The Coolest!
in Football
Webster was another childhood favorite growing up. I can remember writing a # 84 on the inside collar of my Dolphins jacket that I got for X-Mas back in 1989. That happened to be his best year too as he hauled in 65 passes for 1236 yards with 6 TD’s including a 97 yard bomb from Bernie..
George Hendrick
in Baseball
Happy Birthday to the Style Master himself Mr. George Hendrick! Known as the 1st MLB player to wear his pants down to his ankles. George sported a logo-less batting helmet for a bit too, after a hot streak. They called him ‘Silent George’ for his years of not talking to the media. Quiet guys rule!
On This Day - 1989 World Series Game 3 Earthquake
in Baseball
October 17th, 1989
Can you guys name the scheduled starting pitcher for the Oakland A’s in Game 3 of the 1989 World Series? He was minutes away from taking the mound when the Loma Prieta Earthquake struck San Francisco, causing extensive damage to the city and the postponement of Game 3 for eleven days. In fact our guy never even got to throw a pitch in the series because when the Battle of the Bay resumed, Manager Tony Larussa opted to go back with his Game 1 starter, Dave ‘Smoke’ Stewart, instead of his # 3 Pitcher. Game #2 starter Mike Moore won again in Game #4, giving Oakland the sweep of the Giants.
He’s also an answer in the Blaze #10 Pop Quiz.
Johnny Bailey
Do you know who holds the Chicago Bears Record for longest Punt Return TD? Nope. It’s not Devin Hester. It just happens to be our guy Johnny Bailey. The rookie returner raced 95 yards for a score back on December 29th, 1990. He would go on earn Pro Bowl honors in 1992 while leading the league in return average. Sadly he passed away in 2010 at just 43 from pancreatic cancer. R.I.P.
Michael Jackson Dyson
in Football
Happy Birthday to Michael Jackson Dyson. The former Browns & Ravens Wide out had his best season in 1996 when he hauled in 76 passes for 1201 yards and 14 touchdowns! He wore his legal last name Dyson, on his jersey for only one game in the opening week of the 1993 season against the Cincinnati Bengals when the NFL forced him to change from his #1 to #81. He went back to Jackson on the reverse for the rest of his career. Sadly MJ was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2017.
Benito Santiago
in Baseball
On this day, April 12th, 1993 Catcher Benito Santiago hits the 1st home run in Florida Marlins History.
Freshman Faulk Scores 7 Touchdowns In One Game!
Did you know that in his very first game at San Diego State Marshall Faulk scored Seven freaking Touchdowns!! That’s right 7!! He also ran for 386 yards on 37 carries scoring 44 points on his own in an Aztecs 55-34 victory over Pacific. Happy Birthday Marshall!
Happy Birthday to The Majik Man
in Football
Happy B-Day to the ‘Majik Man’ (7) Don Majkowski who in 1989 topped the NFL in passing with 4,319 yards and had 27 touchdowns. Majik led the ‘Cardiac Pack’ to a 10-6 record. Green Bay’s best record since 1972.
When Sir Charles wore #32
Happy Birthday to Sir Charles Barkley who changed his number from # 34 to # 32 for the ‘91-’92 season to honor his buddy Magic Johnson who would retire before the season after contracting HIV. It would be Chuck’s last year in Philly before heading west to Phoenix. The # 32 had previously been retired by the Sixers for a dude nicknamed ‘The Kangaroo Kid.’ Can you name that Philly Legend?
Rickey Jackson Played With His Jaw Wired Shut
in Football
Happy Birthday to the ‘City Champ’ of Pahokee, FL Rickey Jackson. Rickey fractured his cheekbone in a car accident on Nov. 17th, 1989. He would only miss two games. (the only 2 missed games of his 15 year career) The leader of the ‘Dome Patrol’ would play the rest of the season with his jaw wired shut while wearing this special helmet. So Cool !!!
On This Day - 1st Homer in Olympic Stadium
in Baseball
April 15th, 1977 - Ellis Valentine of the Montreal Expos hits the 1st Home Run in the new Olympic Stadium. Ellis batted in the only two runs in a 7-2 Expos loss that day. The third inning solo shot off the Phillies Steve Carlton & an eighth inning two out rbi single. He teamed up with CF Andre Dawson & LF Warren Cromartie to form one of the coolest OF Trio’s of All Time.
1996 NBA All-Star MVP Michael Jordan
in Basketball
1996 NBA All-Star Game
February 11, 1996 - San Antonio, Texas
In his first All-Star Game back from retirement Michael Jordan poured in 20 points along with 4 rebounds during an Eastern Conference 129-118 victory. The performance would earn him MVP honors, although many fans thought East teammate Shaquille O’Neal should have been named MVP for his 25 pts & 10 rebounds.
Danny Jackson's Immaculate Inning
in Baseball
Did you know that Danny Jackson is the only pitcher to have ever pitched an ‘Immaculate Inning’ in a World Series Game? That’s right in the 7th Inning of Game 5 during the 1985 World Series, Danny struck out the Cardinals Side with just 9 pitches.
Nickname Games - 'The Marathon By The Lake' - January 3rd, 1987
in Football
Today we’re remembering the AFC Divisional Round Cleveland Browns Overtime Victory over the New York Jets, most commonly referred to as ‘The Marathon By The Lake.’ Browns Quarterback Bernie Kosar threw for 489 yards in the 4 hour plus contest, a playoff passing yardage record he held until 2017. Who broke Bernie’s Record?
The Browns last Playoff Home game just happened to be another famous Nickname Game in Cleveland history:
The infamous ‘Red Right 88’ game played six years earlier against the Oakland Raiders back on 1-4-1981.
With the Marathon victory over NY, perhaps an even more popular Nickname game came to be the following week. Any guesses on that one?? Hint: 98 yards
Milwaukee Bucks Trivia
in Basketball
R.I.P Eric Turner
Safety Eric Turner was the 2nd overall pick of the 1991 draft by the Cleveland Browns. The UCLA Bruin is the highest selected Defensive Back in Draft history. Turner earned the first of his two Pro Bowl selections in 1994 when he tied for the league lead with 9 Interceptions, including a huge pick in the ‘94 AFC Wildcard game against New England where Cleveland pulled out their last playoff win, 20-13. Sadly E-Rock passed away in 2000 at age 31 from cancer. Happy Birthday! R.I.P.
Hey, Man, That's My Heisman!
Did you know that Bo Jackson’s Heisman Victory in 1985 was by the 2nd closest margin in Heisman history? Can you name the Hawkeye hurler who he topped by just 45 votes? For a bonus point. Which winner won by the closest margin?
Bummer Bake!
in Baseball
Bake McBride stepped up to the plate 3,853 times and got 1,153 hits over his 10 year career for a .299 average. If Bake had just gotten one more hit, just one more measly hit, he would be able to put a .300 average on his resume instead of .299. Bummer Bake.
Did You Know? - Johnnie 'Boo' LeMaster
in Baseball
Hey Dudes! Did you know that former San Francisco Giants shortstop Johnnie LeMaster is one of only two players in MLB history to hit an Inside the Park Homer in their 1st at-bat?