Sports Time Travel: Where Do You Go?

[sportstar1212]

April 20, 1912- First game at Fenway Park

I'd also like to have seen Wayne Gretzky play live.

[Tigers6884]

April 20, 1912- First game at Fenway Park

I'd also like to have seen Wayne Gretzky play live.

Fun fact: Tiger Stadium and Fenway Park opened in the same season, but sadly only one still stands.

[infrared41]

and...

1955 World Series - Any of the games at Ebbets Field.

1984 World Series - Game 5...wait, I was actually at that one. Never mind.

1944 World Series - Both teams had the same home field (Sportsman's Park in St. Louis) and it was the one and only World Series appearance by the St. Louis Browns (the Browns are now the Orioles, kids)

1951 NL Tie-breaker Series - Game 3. Do I really need to explain this one?

[Kramerica Industries]

some time around 1918-1920. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig would be something incredible.

You'd have to go see Gehrig play High School ball since he'd still be 3-5 years from his Yankees debut, but I get what you're saying.

Anyway, this is a great idea for a topic.

Speaking of that, I'd love to see Joe DiMaggio play for the old San Francisco Seals.

ah, while DiMaggio was playing for the Seals in the old Pacific Coast League, he actually had a hit streak even longer than his MLB-record 56 game one. I believe he had a 61-gamer in 1934. Model of consistency, what an excellent ballplayer.

of course, from my perspective, going back to around 1920 not only works for the Babe, it works for the Ruth and Gehrig Yankees, to the Gehrig/DiMaggio Yankees, to the DiMaggio/Yogi Yankees, then the Mick/Yogi Yankees (I could obviously add several other excellent ballplayers from all respective eras). The Yankees won 20 World Series titles between 1923-1962 and several other pennants as well. For all the talk that exists about the '27 and '98 teams, the '39 Yankees are underrated in baseball lore. That team had a run differential of +411. Freaking nuts.

In other words, I didn't quite think of this topic in the same vein as most others did, but it's certainly interesting to think about nonetheless. It would've been fascinating to witness the rise of the NFL into the prominence of American sports because I'm pretty certain that up through and into the 1960's, college football was more popular than the NFL, and of course both paled in comparison to baseball.

[infrared41]

some time around 1918-1920. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig would be something incredible.

You'd have to go see Gehrig play High School ball since he'd still be 3-5 years from his Yankees debut, but I get what you're saying.

Anyway, this is a great idea for a topic.

Speaking of that, I'd love to see Joe DiMaggio play for the old San Francisco Seals.

ah, while DiMaggio was playing for the Seals in the old Pacific Coast League, he actually had a hit streak even longer than his MLB-record 56 game one. I believe he had a 61-gamer in 1934. Model of consistency, what an excellent ballplayer.

of course, from my perspective, going back to around 1920 not only works for the Babe, it works for the Ruth and Gehrig Yankees, to the Gehrig/DiMaggio Yankees, to the DiMaggio/Yogi Yankees, then the Mick/Yogi Yankees (I could obviously add several other excellent ballplayers from all respective eras). The Yankees won 20 World Series titles between 1923-1962 and several other pennants as well. For all the talk that exists about the '27 and '98 teams, the '39 Yankees are underrated in baseball lore. That team had a run differential of +411. Freaking nuts.

In other words, I didn't quite think of this topic in the same vein as most others did, but it's certainly interesting to think about nonetheless. It would've been fascinating to witness the rise of the NFL into the prominence of American sports because I'm pretty certain that up through and into the 1960's, college football was more popular than the NFL, and of course both paled in comparison to baseball.

Ah...you meant going back to 1918 and staying a while.

[Kramerica Industries]

kinda, yeah. Like I said, I had a different interpretation on the question, but any and all interpretations can have some interesting conclusions.

[FGM13]

In addition to seeing the Oilers in the 80's, all of Edmonton sports in the 80's would be amazing. The Eskimos were an absolute machine back then. Also, 1987 Canada Cup and 1972 Summit Series.

[jhans203]

Oooo ... I love this topic.

I think right off the bat I would love to witness New York City baseball in the golden age of baseball. I would love to attend a game at Yankee Stadium, Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds in the early-mid 50s. Heck, I might even try to save the Dodgers from moving to LA.

But, I'd love to attend a Niners game in Kezar Stadium, the first Super Bowl and maybe an old Bears-Packers game in Wrigley Field.

Then of course I would go to some Jazz game in Utah and New Orleans. I'd love to watch Pistol Pete in his prime. But, I'd also make sure to go to Game 7 of the 1971 ABA Finals. I would have LOVED to have been there to celebrate the Stars win.

As far as CHANGING history I would try to keep the Dodgers in Brooklyn. I would also try to convince the Jazz to not sign Gail Goodrich. Not only did that keep Magic Johnson off the team, but essentially Moses Malone as well, because the Jazz wanted a first round pick back in letting him go in the ABA dispersal draft that went to the Lakers in the Goodrich trade. Could you imagine Pistol Pete, Magic and Moses all on the same team? Oy!

Anyways ... this is fun!

[Tigers6884]

Oooo ... I love this topic.

I think right off the bat I would love to witness New York City baseball in the golden age of baseball. I would love to attend a game at Yankee Stadium, Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds in the early-mid 50s. Heck, I might even try to save the Dodgers from moving to LA.

But, I'd love to attend a Niners game in Kezar Stadium, the first Super Bowl and maybe an old Bears-Packers game in Wrigley Field.

Then of course I would go to some Jazz game in Utah and New Orleans. I'd love to watch Pistol Pete in his prime. But, I'd also make sure to go to Game 7 of the 1971 ABA Finals. I would have LOVED to have been there to celebrate the Stars win.

As far as CHANGING history I would try to keep the Dodgers in Brooklyn. I would also try to convince the Jazz to not sign Gail Goodrich. Not only did that keep Magic Johnson off the team, but essentially Moses Malone as well, because the Jazz wanted a first round pick back in letting him go in the ABA dispersal draft that went to the Lakers in the Goodrich trade. Could you imagine Pistol Pete, Magic and Moses all on the same team? Oy!

Anyways ... this is fun!

Well, you're welcome for starting this! These ideas do sound really cool, especially the Bears game at Wrigley Field!

[CubsFanBudMan]

These ideas are all really cool. However, we would have to avoid the action" ones as they would cause a huge change in history as well as a time paradox (some might cause our creation to never take place). Meeting your heros would be cool, but don't try to save their lives or save your team.

Going to historic games would be fine, because that would only cause a small change in attendance.

Nah, it'll be fine. I grabbed a foul ball as a souvenir while I went back in time to Wrigley to watch Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS. The Cubs still won, right?

Good one.

1908 seems like an obvious choice, but nah...

1996 NBA Finals, where I would find my past self in SRO and share some tips/warnings. Maybe even make some money off those 2003 Cubs.

[CS85]

I'd like to go back to watch the 40's Bears destroy teams. It'd be fascinating to see guys get crippled and maimed playing Kill The Guy With The Ball. It'd also be hilarious to see George Halas hurling obscenities left and right, namely his apparent personal favorite, which I can't say here, but if you've watched Deadwood you heard it about 3 million times.

[Tigers6884]

Another game I'd go to would be game 7 of the 2001 World Series. Walk off base hit, first championship in a franchise's history, a surprise bullpen appearance by one of my favorite players of all time (Randy Johnson). That game had everything!

[infrared41]

And...

Braves vs. Dodgers - Ebbets Field April 15, 1947 (Shame on you if you don't know the significance of this one)

1969 Rose Bowl - USC vs.Ohio State

[BlueSky]

Fantastic topic. So many come to mind it's tough to list them all and the first one might be a surprise.

First, @BRich...I hear you about the Jazz. Saw a few of their games in the Superdome. "Pisssstolllllll Pete!" Did you ever see the ABA Buccaneers play at UNO? That was pretty cool although I wish I had known the significance of what I was watching at the time.

I would have loved to have seen (in person):

- Secretariat's remarkable win in the 1973 Belmont Stakes (YouTube it for one of the greatest sports performances and most exciting calls ever.)

- the first Saints regular season game in 1967

- Super Bowl III

- 1967 World Series (Bob Gibson & the Cardinals vs. Boston)

- 1958 NFL Championship (Colts-Giants OT)

- Miracle on Ice

That's the short list. I'm sure something else will come to mind.

[sc49erfan15]

-1960s-70s to see the ABA, specifically the Carolina Cougars, Dr. J., David Thompson, George Gervin, Artis Gilmore...

-Late 1980s-early 1990s to see the Charlotte Hornets in their infancy. I was alive for this, but too young to fully experience it.

-1980s to see the 49ers dynasty and the USFL, specifically Steve Young.

-1930s-1950s not to see the MLB - but to see the Negro Leagues and minor league baseball in its heyday.

[JackieMoon]

That's easy. I would go to a Reds Game with my Grandpa at Crosley Field. He use to have story upon story of that place. Just getting to enjoy one more game with my Gramps would be awesome.

[FiddySicks]

But, I'd love to attend a Niners game in Kezar Stadium

My dad actually had season tickets when they played in Kezar.

He also has stories of being part of the "Knothole Gang" at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. I think that would be pretty cool to go back and see.

Man, It's definitely a bit of a trip sometimes to think about just how much older he is than me.

[tigerslionspistonshabs]

I'd have to say the Montreal Forum in the mid 1950's, with Maurice & Henri Richard, Beliveau, Jacques Plante, etc. Preferably during the 1955-56 Cup final against Detroit.

I've been to Tiger Stadium several times, but the team was quite crap during the time I watched. I'd love to go back to the '68 Series while the city was tense under the race riots.

[Dalcowboyfan92]

Both events in 1979:

- "The Fight" in the 1979 Daytona 500. Would've loved to see the fist-fight first hand.

- And Roger Staubach's last comeback against hated Washington, eliminating the Redskins from the Playoffs.

[sc49erfan15]

I'd like to go back to see one of the late 1970s-early 1980s World 600s in Charlotte - my dad and uncle were involved in debacle involving spilled liquor and an overturned charcoal grill in the infield that resulted in a fire and the red flagging of the race. Unfortunately, I can't find any race summaries detailed enough to pinpoint exactly which year it was.