Yankee classic..Righetti's nohitter!

[Sixty one]

I just happened to watch the last two innings of Dave's nohitter thrown on July 4, 1983. I was reminded of all the players that are still active in the game or who played for both teams...like Boggs who made the last out. Mattingly was playing first and wore uniform number 46.
However, what amazed me more than anything else was the fact that the players, in their prime, looked thinner. I don't know if it was my imagination or was this just before the "juice" era began? Do any of you have the same thoughts?

[jimmyclark]

Yes, also in 1970s games. I have seen 1952 World Series films and those players (Mize, Robinson, Campanella) seem pretty chunky. A lot of it is chemicals..legal and illegal, more emphasis on power when there was a lot more emphasis on speed in 70s and 80s. People are fatter nowadays and we can't expect athletes to be immune from that.
My favorite part of the Righetti no-hitter is Frank Messer saying "no one has left the ballpark" and Bill White chuckling "I can think of one person who has left. He is crossing the Gorge Washington bridge right now". How come Michael Kay doesn't duplicate Scooter?

[Nome]

Yes, also in 1970s games. I have seen 1952 World Series films and those players (Mize, Robinson, Campanella) seem pretty chunky. A lot of it is chemicals..legal and illegal, more emphasis on power when there was a lot more emphasis on speed in 70s and 80s. People are fatter nowadays and we can't expect athletes to be immune from that.
My favorite part of the Righetti no-hitter is Frank Messer saying "no one has left the ballpark" and Bill White chuckling "I can think of one person who has left. He is crossing the Gorge Washington bridge right now". How come Michael Kay doesn't duplicate Scooter?

Cuz Scooter could get away with leaving early and Michael Kay couldn't.

Andy

[Nome]

I just happened to watch the last two innings of Dave's nohitter thrown on July 4, 1983. I was reminded of all the players that are still active in the game or who played for both teams...like Boggs who made the last out. Mattingly was playing first and wore uniform number 46.
However, what amazed me more than anything else was the fact that the players, in their prime, looked thinner. I don't know if it was my imagination or was this just before the "juice" era began? Do any of you have the same thoughts?

Of course you remember that Rags pitched his no no on George's bDay. Also on Yankee Mikes BDay.

Andy

[PeteRFNY]

I was just talking about this with someone the other day...the players looked like athletic guys then, not tree trunks on legs.

Whether it is improved weight programs or some "chemical helpers", players definitely look a lot different now.

The REALLY frightening thing about those games is how TIGHT everyone wore thier uniforms. How was THAT comfortable???

BTW - I was fortunate enough to be AT Righetti's No-hitter. What people never talk about - and what made the no-hitter even MORE amazing - was the fact that the Yankees were doing special July 4th "giveaways" (TVs, tickets, a car, etc) between EVERY half-inning, with the radio and TV guys right on the field. As a result, the time between each half-inning took FOR-freaking-EVER.

I think actually this helped Righetti in the end because it was HOT as HELL that day, and gave him a breather between innings that he would not have normally had.

[Nome]

I was just talking about this with someone the other day...the players looked like athletic guys then, not tree trunks on legs.

Whether it is improved weight programs or some "chemical helpers", players definitely look a lot different now.

The REALLY frightening thing about those games is how TIGHT everyone wore thier uniforms. How was THAT comfortable???

BTW - I was fortunate enough to be AT Righetti's No-hitter. What people never talk about - and what made the no-hitter even MORE amazing - was the fact that the Yankees were doing special July 4th "giveaways" (TVs, tickets, a car, etc) between EVERY half-inning, with the radio and TV guys right on the field. As a result, the time between each half-inning took FOR-freaking-EVER.

I think actually this helped Righetti in the end because it was HOT as HELL that day, and gave him a breather between innings that he would not have normally had.

Look at a photo of the Mick in his prime. Compare him to Giambi or any of the HR hitters of today. Mick was built and an athlete. The others are swollen

Andy

[Yanks1976]

The game that made me a Yankees fan. It was my 7th Birthday, I was at the game and it is the first Yanks game I remember going to.

[wexy]

Richard Nixon was at the game, they showed him cheering in the owners' box after the no-no was finished.

[#7forever]

I took my Dad and younger brother to the game. What an amazing day, hot as hell, but we were in the shade behind 1st base. My Dad was so excited, he talks about it to this day as the best game he ever attended. As he ages it becomes more and more a thrill for me.
But I'm off topic. Yes, as you look at those players, like Don Baylor, Jim Rice, etc. the so called big guys of the era, it is evident that in future years there was some enhancement.

[BRNXBMRS]

I was in the pool on 7/4/83 and my neighbor yells over the fence saying Righetti is throwing a no-hitter and we all ran inside to watch. Looking at the players body type, last night I was watching the Reggie Jackson Yankeeography and he along with Lou Pinella, Thurman etc,would be a small players compared to todays players.

[Romeo the Yankee]

I went inside on this hot 4th of July leaving a family cookout to watch the game on a little black and white TV jumping for joy and screaming as Rags strikes out Boggs. And lots of cold ones after