Category Archives: Sports

Tough Season for Angels’ Alex Johnson

Posted on June 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 20, 1970: Alex Johnson would win the Angels' only batting title in 1970, finishing with a .329 batting average. But like everything else in Johnson's perplexing career, the season would not be without trouble. In the first inning of … Continue reading →

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Governor Bans Fourth of July Prizefight

Posted on June 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 19, 1910: The Times publishes an editorial cartoon by Albert Jean Taylor praising Gov. James Gillett’s ban on the Fourth of July fight between Jack Johnson and James J. Jeffries, which was to be held in San Francisco. … Continue reading →

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Oh, Say, Can You See….

Posted on June 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 11, 1980: Ever since Sinatra and the Bee Gees sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium, everybody wants to try….

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Get Your Lakers Tickets!

Posted on June 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 10, 1960: The Lakers started selling season tickets for their new home in Los Angeles and what a different world it was. Season ticket holders would be assured of at least 25 home games in the new Los … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Lakers, Sports | 1 Comment

Jim Murray: John Wooden Is the Best Coach in the History of College Basketball

Posted on June 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

  USC stalls UCLA, 46-44, the Bruins’ first defeat at Pauley Pavilion. March 9, 1969: Sports columnist Jim Murray calls John Wooden “the best basketball coach in the history of the collegiate game — or maybe the game, period. He … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jim Murray, Sports | 1 Comment

John Wooden at UCLA

Posted on June 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

April 21, 1948: The Times reports that John Wooden is coming to UCLA as “head cage mentor.”  On the jump, Wooden takes UCLA to the NCAA title for his last game, March 31, 1975.

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Make Way for Tomorrow

Posted on May 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

May 25, 1950: Gilmore Stadium, a major link to the history of sports in Los Angeles, will be demolished to make room for the new home of CBS television. "Nobody knows how big this television industry is going to be," a … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Hollywood, Sports, Television | 1 Comment

Angels’ Forecast a Little Cloudy

Posted on May 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

  May 20, 1970: Looking back, it's hard to imagine anyone comparing the 1969 Miracle Mets to the 1970 disastrous Angels. But after Rudy May pitched a two-hitter to beat the White Sox, longtime baseball executive Frank Lane tried to … Continue reading →

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Dodgers Release Furillo

Posted on May 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

  May 18, 1960: The Dodgers sent Carl Furillo, one of the Boys of Summer from Brooklyn, packing. An unhappy Furillo was given his release and the Dodgers recalled Frank Howard from the minors. Furillo, a career .299 hitter who … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Sports | 1 Comment

On the Frontiers of Sports

Posted on May 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

  May 15, 1910: New rules are approved to avoid some football injuries. For example, “no pushing or pulling of the man with the ball” and the flying tackle is banned. But the rules committee keeps the forward pass after … Continue reading →

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Talking to the Dodgers’ Nobe Kawano

Posted on May 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

May 10, 1960: Jeane Hoffman does a nice profile of the Dodger’s Nobe (Nobu in this story) Kawano with a shout-out to his brother Yosh. 

Posted in Dodgers, Sports | 1 Comment

Jack Johnson Training for Title Fight

Posted on May 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

May 10, 1910: Jack Johnson starts training for his Fourth of July fight with Jim Jeffries by going 12 miles in the morning and an additional five in the afternoon. “Newspaper men present at the taking of pictures of Jack … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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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