Two Minnesota miracles, two 26-Year cycles = all from G-d

בסייד

My previous Blog describes two 8-year cycles that began on October 6, 1965, when Sandy Koufax refused to pitch Game One of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur. I decided to look at other possible cycles which began after that day, and I have discovered a very interesting relationship to two specific events roughly 26 years apart, beginning 26 years after Sandy Koufax refused to pitch on Yom Kippur.

Miracle One:

1991 Baseball World Series — Game Seven — Minnesota Twins vs. Atlanta Braves — October 27

Perhaps One Of The Greatest World Series Games Ever Played — Most Valuable Player Jack Morris

While living in South Africa, I continued to follow the fortunes of the Minnesota Twins. No Internet existed and therefore, we relied on newspapers, radio and TV to keep up with the news. I was fortunate to work in an office that had access to various news services such as Reuters, Associated Press and the SAPA (South African Press Association).

It was impossible to follow the action live because it was already early morning before each game began. The Series was tied at three games each, meaning the team that won the seventh and final game would win the World Series. I would have loved to be able to watch this final game live, but I had to wait until the morning to find out the final score. And many years would pass until I saw a video replay of that game such as the one I have discovered below.

Reliving That Masterpiece

The complete game can be viewed by clicking on the link below-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT_MODis138

Commentators

Jim Kaat

Kaat featured as one of the starting pitchers in the 1965 World Series and here he was witnessing one of the greatest performances by two pitchers in the final game of any World Series.  In fact, because Sandy Koufax missed Game One of the 1965 World Series, Jim Kaat would be called upon to pitch against Koufax in all three games.

This would be the final time the Minnesota Twins appeared in the World Series and though Jack Morris was their star pitcher for this Series, this would be his only season playing in a Twins uniform.

Jack Buck

The final baseball play that Jack Buck narrated for CBS television was Gene Larkin‘s game-winner in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series.

The Twins are going to win the World Series! The Twins have won it! It’s a base hit! It’s a 1–0 10th inning victory!

 Miracle Two:

 The Minnesota Vikings Miracle Win — 2017 Playoffs — January 14, 2018

The Minneapolis Miracle (also known as the Minnesota Miracle) was the National Football Conference (NFC) divisional playoff game between the Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints on January 14, 2018, and specifically its final play. The game was played as part of the National Football League (NFL)’s 2017–18 playoffs.

The Saints came back from a 17–0 first-half deficit and established a 24–23 lead with 25 seconds remaining in the contest. On the last play of the game, Vikings quarterback Case Keenum threw a 27-yard pass to wide receiver Stefon Diggs; Saints safety Marcus Williams missed a tackle, allowing Diggs to run to the end zone to complete the 61-yard touchdown pass. This game was the first in NFL playoffs history to end in a touchdown as time expired.

A Link To That Final Play Follows

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgfqg5wFVDQ

Commentator

Joe Buck

Joe was in the broadcast booth and called that play. But 26 years earlier his father was sitting on the same piece of land which was at that time called the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome and called another play from Game 6 of the 1991 World Series.

During Fox’s broadcast of the 2002 World Series, Buck paid implicit tribute to his father, who had died a few months earlier (he had read the eulogy at his father’s funeral) by calling the final out of Game 6 (which tied the series at 3–3, and thus ensured there would be a Game 7 broadcast the next night) with the phrase, “We’ll see you tomorrow night.” This was the same phrase with which Jack Buck had famously called Kirby Puckett‘s home run off Braves pitcher Charlie Leibrandt which ended Game 6 of the 1991 World Series. Since then, Joe has continued to use this phrase.

Going Back To 1991 World Series — A Link To The Full Game 6 Broadcast Follows

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqRebj0-g4w

At the 3-hour 5 minute mark Joe Buck’s father Jack Buck makes his famous statement.

Joe Buck most certainly honors his father’s memory every time he repeats that statement.

It all seems part of G-d’s Plan which began the year Sandy Koufax honored G-d by not pitching on Yom Kippur in what would be his final World Series. And Jim Kaat came back to Minnesota to be one of the announcers to work with Jack Buck.