|
1961
MILWAUKEE BRAVES
The 1961 Milwaukee Braves nostalgic video is another in a continuing series of Braves vintage promotional films now being restored and offered by "Rare Sportsfilms"! "Big Moments With The Braves" highlights the Braves' 1961 season, both at home and on the road as they battle other teams in the National League. Shown on this video are nice scenes of every ballpark in the league except Crosley Field and Busch Stadium. Particularly outstanding are shots of the Coliseum in Los Angeles, Forbes Field, Connie Mack Stadium, and Wrigley Field.
Throughout the tape you'll see the '61 Braves in action: Pitchers Warren Spahn, 18-game winner Lew Burdette, Carl Willey and rookies Don Nottebart, Tony Cloninger and Bob Hendley. Hank Aaron's .327 average and 120 RBI are tops on the Braves, Joe Adcock leads the team with 35 HR, and Eddie Mathews hits 30 or more HR for the 9th straight year, setting a new N.L. record. New Braves for 1961 are off-season acquisitions Roy McMillan and Frank Bolling who provide needed defensive help. Ex-Cub Frank Thomas arrived to help the Braves set a new major league record in 1961. Against Cincinnati, Mathews, Aaron, Adcock and Thomas hit 4 home runs in a row! You'll also see young rookie Mack Jones and future star Joe Torre, who took over for catcher Del Crandall, sidelined much of the year with a sore throwing arm.
The St. Louis Cardinals are guests of the Braves on Opening Day at County Stadium with two 21-game winners from the previous season, Spahn and Ernie Broglio opposing each other. Some of the outstanding pre-game shots include nice closeups of Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst, and the two great N.L. 3rd basemen, Eddie Mathews and Ken Boyer. It's Mathews who scores the first run of the season with a homer into the rightfield bleachers in the fourth inning, but the Braves lose 2-1 in extra innings when infielder Daryl Spencer hits a home run for the Cardinals. The inability to hold a lead in the late innings would haunt the Braves throughout the season and by early September Manager Chuck Dressen is replaced by Birdie Tebbetts.
In this video, you'll not only see Braves players, but also the stars on other teams such as rookie Billy Williams, Ernie Banks, George Altman, and Glen Hobbie of the Cubs, Harvey Kuenn, Stu Miller, Orlando Cepada and Willie Mays of the Giants, Wally Moon, Ron Fairly and Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers, John Buzhardt and Don Demeter of the Phils, batting champion Roberto Clemente of the Pirates and Joey Jay, Frank Robinson, Vada Pinson, Jerry Lynch, Jim O'Toole and Manager Fred Hutchinson of the pennant-winning Reds. O'Toole, while running the bases, gets involved in a bench-clearing brawl with Eddie Mathews at 3rd base during a Reds-Braves tussle at County Stadium!
The biggest moment of the season however, comes the night of August 11, when Warren Spahn beats the Chicago Cubs for his 300th major league victory. Warren's own sac fly in the 4th gives the Braves the lead 1-0. After the Cubs tie the game, Gino Cimoli's HR in the 8th gives the Braves and Spahn a 2-1 win over Jack Curtis.
Get your own copy of this nostalgic Braves video by sending $29.95 + $5.00 shipping (Illinois residents must add $2.00 sales tax) to:
"RARE SPORTSFILMS N",
1126 Tennyson Lane,
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 527-8890
Go Back
|
