Ronald Reagan Depicts Hall of Famer’s Comeback in ‘The Winning Team,’ with Doris Day

The troubled life of a baseball legend is depicted in this 1952 film.

by Rich Watson
 

Few major league pitchers were as dominant as Grover Cleveland Alexander. During the 1910s and 20s, when professional baseball was still new, he set records left and right that stand today: 373 wins, the all-time National League co-leader; 28 wins in his rookie season, a modern rookie record; 90 shutouts, a NL record; a three-time winner of the pitching Triple Crown (wins, ERA, strikeouts), and a World Series championship.

Alexander (AKA “Old Pete”) achieved all this despite suffering epileptic seizures stemming from a freak playing accident, which also led to bouts of alcoholism.

In 1952, his career was chronicled in a movie: The Winning Team, with Ronald Reagan and Doris Day.

Raincheck

 

Feeling under the weather. Need to take a week off. Come back August 18.

The Championship Marriage of Ray Knight and Nancy Lopez

One of the most popular sports marriages of the 80s involved this couple, who both won championships during their time together.

by Rich Watson

In modern World Series history, third baseman Ray Knight will forever be remembered as the player who scored the winning run in one of the most improbable comebacks ever: Game 6 of the 1986 Fall Classic. 

The Mets came back from within one strike of losing the Series to the Red Sox and not only won the game but the Series as well. Knight was named MVP for his efforts: a .391 batting average with five RBI.

It was the highlight of a fourteen-year career in which he was named an All-Star twice. For a longer span, though, Knight was also known as the husband of a golf legend: Nancy Lopez.