Category Archives: Sports

Court Rejects Chessman’s Appeal for Clemency

Posted on April 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

   Trout season opens – and The Times’ Saturday sports cover features a cartoon by Alex Perez.  April 30, 1960: Caryl Chessman’s long fight to avoid the gas chamber is just about over. On the jump: Dick Clark tells a … Continue reading →

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Lakers Moving to L.A.

Posted on April 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

April 28, 1960: The Lakers became the newest member of Los Angeles' growing collection of sports teams, agreeing to move from Minneapolis in time for the 1960-61 season. Owner Robert Short and the Coliseum Commission agreed on playing dates and … Continue reading →

Posted in Lakers, Sports | 1 Comment

Beverly Hills Confidential

Posted on April 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

  April 25, 1960: Beverly Hills Police Chief Clinton H. Anderson describes the Johnny Stompanato killing in “Beverly Hills Is My Beat.” The book, which also covers the Bugsy Siegel murder,  is readily available via Bookfinder. On the jump, hundreds … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Dodgers, Homicide, Nightclubs, Sports | 1 Comment

Hot Stove League

Posted on April 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 11, 1960: How do you rate as a grandstand manager? Try your hand with the Baltimore Orioles of 1959 and see if you come up with the same strategy as manager Paul Richards.

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Woman Dresses as Man to See Prizefights

Posted on April 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

     April 17, 1910: As I have said before, early 20th century Los Angeles is an acquired taste. Many people prefer the ill-defined “noir” period that is written in smoke and shadows – and just as elusive.  Quite honestly, … Continue reading →

Posted in Countdown to Watts, Sports | Comments Off on Woman Dresses as Man to See Prizefights

Gene Mauch to Manage Phillies

Posted on April 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

April 15, 1960: Gene Mauch, perhaps the best manager never to win a World Series title, was ready to start his big league career running the Philadelphia Phillies. "My ambition isn't just to be a big league manager but the … Continue reading →

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Dodgers Open With 11th Inning Win Over Cubs, 3-2

Posted on April 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

April 13, 1960: The Dodgers opened the season with another record crowd at the Coliseum, with 67,550 fans watching a 3-2 victory over the Cubs. Chuck Essegian's home run made the difference and Don Drysdale stuck out 14 as the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Sports | Comments Off on Dodgers Open With 11th Inning Win Over Cubs, 3-2

Giants Open Candlestick Park With Win

Posted on April 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

    April 13, 1960: Candlestick Park opened in San Francisco and The Times' Al Wolf described the stadium as "magnificent." Candlestick Park?

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Dodgers Swap Don Zimmer

Posted on April 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

April 8, 1960: Don Zimmer, the Dodgers' vocal and often-angry backup infielder who thought he should be starting or at least playing, finally got his wish to leave L.A. as the big name in a four-player trade with the Cubs. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Sports | Comments Off on Dodgers Swap Don Zimmer

Hot Stove League

Posted on April 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 10, 1960: The Times published the Hot Stove League as a daily feature, but I’m posting them once a week so they’ll last longer. Is Don Blasingame safe or out?

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Westbrook Pegler, April 4, 1926

Posted on April 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

April 4, 1926: Westbrook Pegler, writing of Connie Mack and the Philadelphia Athletics, says, “The dealers came crowding from neighboring stands and bought up Mr. MacGillicuddy's athletes and soon he was left with nothing but his franchise and a wardrobe … Continue reading →

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USC Can’t Compete With Pro Teams, President Says

Posted on April 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

April 3, 1960: The president of USC says his athletic program can't compete with the Rams and Dodgers. And in an era of declining attendance for Southern California college teams while the pros were thriving, Dr. Norman Topping said college … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Sports | Comments Off on USC Can’t Compete With Pro Teams, President Says

The Long and Short of Baseball Fashions

Posted on April 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Photograph by Phil Bath / Los Angeles Times WELL, FANCY THIS! – Portland Beaver Manager Bill Sweeney’s reaction to Hollywood’s Fred Haney’s “new look” was expressed with sweet peas and a curtsey. April 2, 1950: How could The Times … Continue reading →

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Baseball Executives Say TV Games Are Bad for Business

Posted on April 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

  April 1, 1950:  The Hollywood Stars were worried television was bad for business. The Stars, coming off a 1949 season in which they won the Pacific Coast League title, were televising their home games locally. But after disappointing attendance … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood, Sports, Television | 1 Comment

Artist’s Notebook: L.A. Marathon

Posted on March 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

  “L.A. Marathon,” by Marion Eisenmann Marion Eisenmann and I decided to try something different from our exploration of local landmarks by going to Santa Monica to see the finish of the 2010 L.A. Marathon. I found a good viewing … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Marion Eisenmann, Nuestro Pueblo, Sports | Comments Off on Artist’s Notebook: L.A. Marathon

Meet Pat Nixon

Posted on March 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

   March 22, 1960: Pat Nixon supported herself after her parents died, including work as a movie extra. Look for her in “Becky Sharp.” On the jump, “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond” … and Roy Campanella is taken … Continue reading →

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Jim Murray, March 20, 1980

Posted on March 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 20, 1980: Jim Murray on the Fosbury flop.

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Westbrook Pegler on the Phillies, March 22, 1926

Posted on March 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 20, 1926: I have to say, Peg was a pretty fair sports columnist, as he shows in this piece on the Phillies.  He writes: "They will lose with rousing reluctance, the customers will see earnest, if not polished, … Continue reading →

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Ted Williams Praises Dodger Hitters

Posted on March 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

Well, it was the 1970s….   March 19, 1970: Ted Williams, manager of the Washington Senators who knew a few things about hitting, had high praise for two Dodgers. "Within three years (Bill) Bucker will lead the National League in … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Sports | 2 Comments

Golden State Freeway Segment Opens

Posted on March 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 19, 1960: A 2.8-mile section of the Golden State Freeway opens and  officials hope that it will relieve congestion. Also on the jump, complaints about poorly designed off-ramps on the Ventura Freeway in the San Fernando Valley … … Continue reading →

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