After this game, Al Michaels said he went off on Cosell because he was so drunk during the game. Michaels said in his autobiography that a writer went to the bar to get a shot of vodka and the bartender was able to give him 3 drops. He, understandably, wanted more but the bartender said that they were out because “Mr. Cosell drank the rest of it.”
Maybe the most awkward announcing in the history of sports. This game pretty much signalled the end of Howard Cosell as a presence on ABC, as Michaels basically issued a "him or me" ultimatum after the game. Cosell was still scheduled to work the 1985 World Series a year later but was pulled over controversy emanating from his book I Never Played the Game, and replaced by scheduled field reporter Tim McCarver.
From what I understand, there was a Sunday afternoon regular season game late in the '85 year and many affiliates didnt even carry it because of competing NFL football and Michaels said on Bob Costas' then radio show that Cosell seemed so lost that both he and Jim Palmer had to carry him through the whole telecast.
@@ryanstrnad1852 The last baseball game that Howard Cosell (and really the last ever assignment that he ever did period, for ABC Sports) ever broadcast was a game between the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome in Minneapolis on September 29, 1985. Al Michaels later wrote in his autobiography that after that game was over, neither he nor Jim Palmer ever saw or spoke to Howard Cosell again.
By 1984-85, I think that it was very apparent that "the game" had all but passed Howard Cosell by. I don't know if he was phoning it in or not, but none the less, other commentators like Tim McCarver in baseball or John Madden in the NFL were breaking through to a level of much sharper, more incisive analysis. Cosell meanwhile, would constantly harp on how misleading the "time of possession" statistic well after his point was made.
1:49:37 Very difficult to listen to as a drunken Cosell repeatedly talks over Michaels. This was the game that ended Cosell's tenure as a postseason commentator with ABC.
Remember that Howard Cosell was actually scheduled to join Al Michaels and Jim Palmer on commentary for ABC's coverage of the 1985 World Series. But then "all hell broke loose" when the top brass at ABC Sports caught wind of what Cosell wrote in his book entitled I Never Played the Game. Basically, Cosell was very critical and negative towards the people that employed him and worked with at ABC (he was pretty much "biting the hands that fed him" so to speak) and finally decided that they had to remove him from the baseball booth. This is how we got Tim McCarver to broadcast the first of nearly 25 World Series, since he was brought in to fill Howard Cosell's now vacant spot.
I don't know what if there's any, is the exact "protocol" for a baseball broadcaster, but I would figure that if the batter is now at home plate, then it's the play-by-play announcer's turn to talk. Howard Cosell, all but broke that rule by continuing to ramble when Al Michaels was trying to set-up the next at-bat or pitch. I would've given anything to actually see what Al Michaels and Jim Palmer were going through when having to work with Howard Cosell during this particular game. I would imagine that Cosell was really testing their patience as the game went on.
There was a short lived umpire strike in the 1984 postseason and for the ALCS replacement umpires were used for all three games. Bill Deegan was a former AL umpire who umped before inside protector became mandatory. And FWIW he was the plate umpire for all three games of the ALCS.
After this game, Al Michaels said he went off on Cosell because he was so drunk during the game. Michaels said in his autobiography that a writer went to the bar to get a shot of vodka and the bartender was able to give him 3 drops. He, understandably, wanted more but the bartender said that they were out because “Mr. Cosell drank the rest of it.”
I had no idea that there was a player on the ‘84 Tigers who looked like Dan Aykroyed. lol
That 84 Tigers team was a machine
Love ABC’s theme from these 80s games.
That was a good formidable theme.
thanks! love me tigers 80s games. ANY and all please please.
Maybe the most awkward announcing in the history of sports. This game pretty much signalled the end of Howard Cosell as a presence on ABC, as Michaels basically issued a "him or me" ultimatum after the game. Cosell was still scheduled to work the 1985 World Series a year later but was pulled over controversy emanating from his book I Never Played the Game, and replaced by scheduled field reporter Tim McCarver.
From what I understand, there was a Sunday afternoon regular season game late in the '85 year and many affiliates didnt even carry it because of competing NFL football and Michaels said on Bob Costas' then radio show that Cosell seemed so lost that both he and Jim Palmer had to carry him through the whole telecast.
@@ryanstrnad1852 The last baseball game that Howard Cosell (and really the last ever assignment that he ever did period, for ABC Sports) ever broadcast was a game between the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome in Minneapolis on September 29, 1985. Al Michaels later wrote in his autobiography that after that game was over, neither he nor Jim Palmer ever saw or spoke to Howard Cosell again.
By 1984-85, I think that it was very apparent that "the game" had all but passed Howard Cosell by. I don't know if he was phoning it in or not, but none the less, other commentators like Tim McCarver in baseball or John Madden in the NFL were breaking through to a level of much sharper, more incisive analysis. Cosell meanwhile, would constantly harp on how misleading the "time of possession" statistic well after his point was made.
Johnny Grubb’s decisive double lost to baseball history!
4:54 - Oleta Adams singing the national anthem
1:49:37 Very difficult to listen to as a drunken Cosell repeatedly talks over Michaels. This was the game that ended Cosell's tenure as a postseason commentator with ABC.
Remember that Howard Cosell was actually scheduled to join Al Michaels and Jim Palmer on commentary for ABC's coverage of the 1985 World Series. But then "all hell broke loose" when the top brass at ABC Sports caught wind of what Cosell wrote in his book entitled I Never Played the Game.
Basically, Cosell was very critical and negative towards the people that employed him and worked with at ABC (he was pretty much "biting the hands that fed him" so to speak) and finally decided that they had to remove him from the baseball booth. This is how we got Tim McCarver to broadcast the first of nearly 25 World Series, since he was brought in to fill Howard Cosell's now vacant spot.
I don't know what if there's any, is the exact "protocol" for a baseball broadcaster, but I would figure that if the batter is now at home plate, then it's the play-by-play announcer's turn to talk. Howard Cosell, all but broke that rule by continuing to ramble when Al Michaels was trying to set-up the next at-bat or pitch.
I would've given anything to actually see what Al Michaels and Jim Palmer were going through when having to work with Howard Cosell during this particular game. I would imagine that Cosell was really testing their patience as the game went on.
I think Dick Howser had the worst playoff record of any World Series winning manager - 8-15.
"Alfalfa" LOL
Go Cubs!
The home plate umpire having the chest protector outside of his uniform
There was a short lived umpire strike in the 1984 postseason and for the ALCS replacement umpires were used for all three games. Bill Deegan was a former AL umpire who umped before inside protector became mandatory. And FWIW he was the plate umpire for all three games of the ALCS.
Howard Cossell was so painful to listen to