Tag: Sports Radio Service

Raptors humiliate Warriors 130-77; Siakam leads Toronto with 36 points

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Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) gets some hang time after slam dunking on the Golden State Warriors on Fri Apr 2, 2021 in Tampa Bay (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Warriors faced the Toronto Raptors in Tampa Friday night. The Warriors were hoping to rebound from a loss to the Miami Heat on Thursday. The team knew it would be a very tough task as Stephen Curry and Draymond Green were sitting out the game. Curry was in a lot of distress due to his back injury in the game against the Houston Rockets. Green sat out due to sprained finger.

Nonetheless, the Warriors felt they had a chance to beat the Raptors. Toronto has been struggling this season and entered the game with a record of 18-30. It turned out to be a night to forget for the Warrior players, coaching staff, and fans as Toronto drubbed the Warriors 130-77. 

The Warriors played well in the first quarter. The teams were evenly matched. Andrew Wiggins carried the load for the Warriors. Toronto’s Pascal Siakam and Gary Trent, Jr. led their team’s offense. The first quarter ended with Toronto holding a slim one-point advantage 27-26.

The Raptors, not known for defense and 30th in the NBA in rebounding, shut down the Warriors on both ends of the court in the second and third quarters. In the second quarter, Toronto went on a 20-1 run to lead 47-30. After Kelly Oubre made a three to start the quarter, the Warriors failed to make a field goal in the next six minutes and 30 seconds.

Toronto won the quarter 35-16 to lead 62-42 at the half. Toronto’s Pascal Siakam and Gary Trent paced the Raptors with 40 points in the first half. The Warriors, as a team, scored 40. Wiggins was the only Warrior that was able to put points on the board. He had 15 to lead the Warriors.

The nightmare continued in the third quarter. Toronto had its foot on the accelerator as they hammered the Warriors 46-14 to finish the third quarter leading by 53 points 108-53.

The Warriors had no flow to the offense. With Curry and Green in the lineup, the Warriors move the ball well. Without them, they floundered. They could not get anything going on offense. Their defense was non-existent without Draymond. The way the game was going, head coach Steve Kerr had to wonder if there was a Mercy rule.

There was no hope for a win. They still had to play the final 12 minutes of the game. Kerr sent in his reserves, and they lost the fourth quarter 22-21. Toronto sends Golden State down to one of the worst losses in team history, 130-77.

Game Notes and Stats: With the loss, the Warriors are 23-26 for the year. Toronto is 19-30

Andrew Wiggins led the Warriors with 15. The Raptors were able to double-team him in the second half and kept him from scoring. Nico Mannion and Jordan Poole each had. No other Warrior was in double figures. James Wiseman, Kelly Oubre, Jr., and Eric Paschall each had nine.

The Warriors shot 33% from the floor and were 11-for 32 from 3-point range. The Raptors mentioned earlier as not being very good on defense put up numbers that made them look like one of the NBA’s best defensive units. They had 14 steals, eight blocked shots, and forced 21 Warrior turnovers that led to 30 Toronto points. The Raptors, 30th in rebounding in the NBA, outrebounded the Warriors, 29th in that department, 57-45.

Pascal Siakam, celebrating his 27th birthday, led the Raptors with a season-high 36 points. He was 14-for-24 from the floor, and he connected on four threes. Gary Trent knocked down six threes to finish with 24 for the night. Og Anunoby had 21, Malachi Flynn 16, and Chris Boucher 10. 

The Warriors finish the three-game road trip in Atlanta on Sunday. The game will start at 4:30 pm

Stanford Holds On To Defeat South Carolina 66-65

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Stanford Cardinal women celebrate winning the Final Four against the South Carolina Gamecocks in San Antonio to advance to the Women’s Championship on Sunday Apr 4, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Friday afternoon the Stanford Cardinal Ladies took on the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four. One team had a far easier time advancing while the other had to make quite a comeback. South Carolina was able to get past sixth-seeded Texas who went cold as ice at the worst possible time.

On the other end of the spectrum Louisville had a great shot at beating Stanford but the Cardinal Ladies had a different scenario in mind. Struggling the start the game, Stanford mounted a comeback that Louisville was unable to squelch. Stanford had an amazing second half in that game that cemented the trip to the Final Four. The final score was 78-63.

Now it was on to the Final Four for Stanford in search of a berth in the National Finals against a very tough South Carolina team that is well-balance offensively and defensively. After the first quarter Stanford again had a bit of a slow start when South Carolina went on a 11-2 run. The Cardinal turned that slow start around real quick and by the end of the quarter Stanford and South Carolina were locked at 15. This game would be a fight to the end with two extraordinary offenses and defenses.

South Carolina has some very tough shot blocking which did give Stanford some problems although with two minutes left in the half Stanford led by a slim margin 26-25. As the half came to an end Stanford had extended their lead 31-25. The slow start by Stanford to start the game was long forgotten. Haley Jones had the high score in the half with nine points followed by Lexie Hull with eight, and Ashton Prechtel had seven points off the bench.

South Carolina’s Zia Cooke had double digits with twelve points. She shot two three-pointers in the half and she was proving to be a handful for the Stanford defense. Through the first half the Cardinal defense were holding their own against Cooke, proving that they were up for the task.

Stanford’s Haley Jones picked up where she left off in the second half as the Cardinal ladies continued to lead in the third quarter. South Carolina was having none of it as Cooke continued her rampage. With three minutes left in the third quarter the score was tied at 43. As the third quarter came to an end, Stanford led 52-49. Stanford’s Haley Jones had shot twenty points while South Carolina’s Zia Cooke led her team with twenty-three points.

It was a wild fourth quarter with a heart-breaking conclusion for South Carolina. With 6 seconds left on the clock Carolina had a clear shot that simply failed giving Stanford the win 66-65. It could not have been a closer or well-played game by either teams. Haley Jones would finish with 24 points followed by Hull with 18 points. Lexie Hull had an amazing 13 rebounds. South Dakota’s Zia Cooke scored 25 points in the loss.

Sunday the Stanford Cardinal will play for the National title. They have achieved their goal for a berth in the finals and now await their opponent. They will either play Arizona or UConn. The time for this game is still to be determined.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: One game makes a season not; M’s come back on Giants in opener

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San Francisco Giants starter Kevin Gausman pitches into the sixth inning at T Mobile Field in Seattle against the Mariners on Thu Apr 1, 2021 (AP News photo)

#1 Michael you’ve said it dozens a times throughout the years one game doesn’t make a season but a comeback loss is a tough one to start the season?

#2 San Francisco Giant starter Kevin Gausman showed he had good stuff going six plus innings surrendering two hits, one earned run and striking out six hitters.

#3 Michael talk about Giant relievers Mike Wisler who gave up two hits and three runs and Jarlin Garcia pitched one third and gave up two earned runs and two walks for five more runs after relieving Gausman.

#4 Michael, talk about Buster Posey getting his first homer of 2021 and after taking all of last season off he looks like he’s ready.

#5 For tonight’s game at T Mobile Park for the Giants Johnny Cueto gets the call and for the Mariners Yusei Kikuchi makes his first start of the season. Cueto has had his battle with injuries since last season how ready does he look going into tonight’s game against Kikuchi?

Join Michael Duca for the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: With LeBron and Davis out of the line up Kings odds better against Lakers tonight

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The Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) throws down on the Los Angeles Lakers Andre Drummond (2) on Wed Mar 31, 2021 in the Staples Center in Los Angeles as the Lakers come visit the Golden One Center tonight against the Sacramento Kings (AP News photo)

#1 Jeremiah, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers (30-18) who was felled by an injury on March 20th when the Atlanta Hawks forward Solomon Hill fell on his ankle resulting in a high ankle sprain. LeBron isn’t expected back in the Lakers line up until April 20th.

#2 The Lakers have lost six of their last 12 games playing .500 and another source of the Lakers lacking is the absence of Anthony Davis who is suffering from calf injury. Davis has been out of the Lakers line up since Feb 14th. With LeBron and Davis gone the team has been a .500 club.

#3 The last time the Kings (22-26) faced the Lakers was on March 3rd and the Kings won it on their home floor 123-120 and yes you guessed it LeBron and Davis were not in the line up that night.

#4 The Kings had a five game win streak up until they played game 2 of their two game series in San Antonio the Spurs 120 (24-21) and the Kings 106. The Kings shooting was was real close in the second half but it was the first half scoring by the Spurs that clinched it for them.

#5 The Lakers are coming off a tough loss to the Milwaukee Bucks (30-17) 112-97. It was too much Giannis Anteokoumpo who scored 25 and Jrue Holiday led in scoring with 28. Lakers needless to say won’t be coming in too happy facing the Kings tonight.

Join Jeremiah for the Kings podcasts each Friday morning at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Astros late run rallies spoil A’s opener 8-1 at the Coliseum

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Houston Astros runner Jose Altuve (27) slides in safely at home behind Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy (12) at the Oakland Coliseum Thu Apr 1, 2021 (AP News photo)

Houston. 8. 9. 2

Oakland. 1. 6. o

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–Tonight’s opening game of the 2021 season offered several subtle contrasts.. The A’s started Chris Bassitt, 32 years old and at the peak of his career. Last year’s severely shortened season was the first he had spent from start to finish on a major league roster.

In his first four big league seasons, he went 4-14, 3.86. In 2019-20, however, he went a combined 15-7, 3.35, Last year those figures were 5-2, 2.29 , and he was, arguably, Oakland’s most reliable pitcher. He features, in declining order, a sinker, cutter, four seam fastball, change-up, curve, and slider. He looked sharp during this year’s spring training.

His thirty-seven year old opponent, Zack Greinke last faced the A’s in the Coliseum on September 8, 2020 , in the first of two seven inning games of a double header. The 18 year veteran pitched respectably but not particularly well. He gave up seven hits and four earned runs in six innings and was saddled with the 4-2 loss.

His 3-3, 4.03 record that year may have been a fluke, or it may be a sign that Houston’s formidable righty has started on the downward slide of his career. He throws fastballs, change-ups, sliders , change-up, and curves. He has been known to lob an occasional eephus pitch. Maybe he should have a chat with Jesús Luzardo. They could share a turkey sub.

This was the first game played in the Coliseum before a paying crowd since the A’s wild card play-in loss to Tampa Bay on October 2, 2019 before 54,005 fans. The limit for tonight’s attendance had been announced as 20% of capacity, but that was raised to 26% yesterday. The final gate tally for tonight was 10,436.

The face of the A’s had changed during the fans’ enforced absence from the Nimitz Palace. Gone, among others, are Khris Davis and Marcus Semien. The now-you-see-him, now-you-don’t Jed Lowie is back, and Elvis Andrus patrols the left side of the infield between him and Matt Chapman when they’re not in a shift.

Chapman and his fellow Gold Glover, Matt Olson, have played well this spring, and hopes are high that their 2020 fall-offs are a thing of the past. Another familiar face sporting the home whites was ex-Giant reliever Sergio Romo. The Athletics announced this morning that it had two promising pitchers, A.J. Puk and Daulton Jefferies, to the alternate site in Stockton and had placed to more pitchers, Mike Fiers and Trevor Rosenthal, who was expected to be the new closer, on the ten-day injured list, Fiers retroactively to March 29. Lefty hurler and one time Astro Reymin Guduan was promoted from Las Vegas to take up the slack. And, finally, the marvelously monikered Skye Bolt was DFA’d.

The closest thing to a threat that either team could muster in the first three innings came with two down in the home third when Andrus, batting ninth, lashed a rule book double over the low fence in left center field for Oakland’s first hit of the game and his first as an Athletic. He advanced to third on a wild pitch to Mark Canha and was standed when the A’s lead-off batter wiffed on a 73 mph curve ball.

The Astros immediately made Oakland regret its failure to seize the opporitunity. José Altuve opened the top of the fourth with a walk and advanced to third on Michael Brantley’s line drive double to right. Alex Bregman’s ground out to Chapman brought Altuve home with the game’s first tally.

A dramatic leaping catch of Kyle Tucker’s fly to right center by Chad Pinder saved a run and maybe more but didn’t prevent Altuve from moving over to third. The crowd cheered when Bassett plunked Carlos Correa with a 94 mph four seamer.

It cheered almost as much when Jordán Alvarez flew out to left to end the innning. One inning later, Pinder made another spectacular grab, robbing Altuve of an opposite field extra base hit with a horizontal flying catch of a a liner heading for the right field foul line.

With one out in the top of the sixth, Bregman hit a liner between Canha in left and Laureano in center, The speedy Laureano got to the ball, but it bounced off the heel of his glove for a double. After yielding a walk to Tucker, the A´s starter yielded the mound to Yusmeiro Petit, who got Correa out on a pop foul to catcher Sean Murphy but allowed both inherited runs to score on DH Jordán Alvarez´s two bagger to left.

Bassett left the game after throwing 68 pitches, 46 of them strikes, over 5-1/3 innings. He gave up four hits and was charged with all three Houston runs, and all of them were earned. He walked two, struck out three, and hit one batter. Petit threw 11 pitches, with five strikes. Lou Trevino replaced him after his two thirds of an inning stint.

Dusty Baker removed Greinke after six innings of work. His line was impressive, three hits, four strike outs, and a wild pitch. The rest, zeroes.

His replacement, Eoli Paredes, didn’t fare as well. Laureano led off the home seventh with a foul behind first base that Yuli Gourriel let drop for an at bat extending error. The A’s centerfielder took advantage of the miscue to blast a double to left, steal third, and score on Chapman’s sac fly to left. It took him 32 pitches to get out of the frame with only one, unearned, run charged to him.

Adam Kolarek was an off-season acquisition from the Dodgers. He took over for Trevino to start the eighth and promptly surrendered a home run to Brantley and then another to Bregman. A ground out, a walk, and a hit batter later, Kolarek was gone, giving way to J.B. Wendelkin, who stauched the flow.

The newly promoted Reymin Gudjuan suffered the indignity of pitching to Houston in its last half inning at the plate. Two of the three outs he achieved were sacrifice flies, which tells you something about his effectiveness. He gave up singles to Altuve and Correa, walks to Brantley and Bregman, and threw a wild pitch to Alvarez before he hit one of the sac flies. The win went to Greinke; the loss, to Bassett.

Warriors try hard still fall to Heat in Miami 116-109

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Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) throws down on the Golden State Warriors center Kevin Looney (5) and guard Kelly Oubre Jr on Thu Apr 1, 2021 in Miami (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Warriors started a three-game road trip on a sour note as they lost a very competitive contest to the host Miami Heat 116-109. The Heat made three deals at the NBA trade deadline in the hopes of going deep into the NBA playoffs this year. They added Trevor Ariza, Victor Oladipo, and Nemanja Bleica to strengthen their roster. The Warriors did not make any major moves. The one trade they made was to send Marquese Chriss to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Heat raced out to an early 14-4 lead in the first quarter. Andrew Wiggins led the Warriors back by making a couple of threes. Damion Lee connected on a three to give the Warriors the lead 21-19. Stephen Curry made a bucket to put Golden State up by 23-19. The Warriors finished the quarter with a slim one-point advantage 24-23. 

The teams traded leads several times in the second period. The teams were tied at 32, 37, 40, and 45. Miami went on a 10-2 run to lead 55-47. Curry made a three close the gap to two 56-54. Miami scored the last three points of the quarter to lead 59-54 at the intermission.

The Warriors played well to start the third quarter. They regained the lead 65-63 when Draymond Green knocked down a three. Miami wasn’t fazed. They led by two 77-75 when they started to pull away from the Warriors. They maintained their five-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. 

No matter how hard the Warriors tried, they could not regain the lead. The Heat’s big three of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Duncan Robinson kept turning away the Warriors. Miami increased the lead to ten 110-100 with time running out. Curry made two threes, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit. Miami wins 116-109.

Game Notes and Stats: With the loss, the Warriors are now 23-25 for the season. The Heat improved to 25-24.

Two of the Warrior starters were in double figures. Curry had 36 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists. Curry was nine-for 19 from the floor. He was five-for-eleven from behind the three-point arc. Draymond Green almost had a triple-double. Green’s line was 16 points, ten boards, and eight assists. Andrew Wiggins finished with 23 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Wiggins made five threes. Jordan Poole had nine, and Kelly Oubre 8.

As a team, the Warriors shot 44 % from the floor and made 15 threes in 37 attempts. The Warriors turned the ball over 20 times to lead to 27 Miami Heat points.

The Heat had six players in double-figures. Jimmy Butler paced the Heat with 22, Duncan Robinson 21, Bam Adebayo 19, Tyler Herro 20, Trevor Ariza 10, and former Warrior Andre Iguodala 10. Andre tormented his former teammates as he knocked down two threes to help propel Miami to victory. 

The Warriors play Friday night again when they face the Toronto Raptors. The game will start at 5 pm.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria: Kings playing well; Can they beat Lakers again?

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Former Sacramento King Rudy Gay (22) of the San Antonio Spurs drives on the Kings Maurice Harkless (right) on Wed Mar 31, 2021 in San Antonio (AP News photo)

#1 The Kings (22-26) really had a great run winning five straight games until they ran into the San Antonio Spurs in their second game of the series to snap the win streak 120-106 on Wednesday night in San Antonio.

#2 The Kings struggled in the first half and that pretty much put them at a deficit, the Spurs head coach Gregg Poppovich always comes in with a game plan and worked it to avoid getting swept.

#3 The Spurs DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs in scoring with 26 points and five rebounds sometimes it’s hard to contain a player that’s making all the difference in a game. The Kings struggled to shut DeRozan down.

#4 The Kings De’Aaron Fox was Sacramento’s top scorer with 20 points, the Kings simply came up short with three players in double figures Delon Wright followed up with 16 and Buddy Hield with 14.

#5 The Kings will try and get back in the win column on Friday as they host the Los Angeles Kings at Golden One Center. The Lakers (30-18) have gone 6-6 in their last 12 games the Lakers lost to the Kings in their last meeting in a narrow game 123-120 on Mar 3rd at Golden One Center.

Join Tony Renteria for the Kings podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Tony Renteria Thu Apr 1, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

Stanford Cardinal/Final Four podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Stanford knows South Carolina no joke

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Stanford Cardinal forward Cameron Brink is jubilant after the Elite 8 win over Louisville Cardinals on Tue Mar 30, 2021 at the Alamodome in San Antonio (gostanford.com photo)

#1 The two number ones gather for the Women’s Final Four on Friday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio the No.1 South Carolina Gamecocks (26-4) who bring in a seven game win streak most recently defeated No.6 Texas (21-10) and that game wasn’t even close 62-34. Will South Carolina’s defense have to be something to be concerned about for No.1 Stanford Cardinal (29-2).

#2 The Cardinal are coming off a come back win against the Louisville Cardinals 78-63. The Cardinal were behind by 12 points at half time but bounced right back in the third and fourth quarters to get the 78-63 win.

#3 For Louisville their only scorer to finish in double figures was guard Dana Evans with 24 points for Evans it had to be tough doing all the lifting against a solid Stanford defense in the second half.

#4 The second half of Tuesday night’s game was the difference and the fourth quarter the Cardinal allowed the Cardinals to score only 13 points once again the Cardinal defense shutdown their opponent and got them in the next round.

#5 So it’s South Carolina and Stanford in the Final Four always exciting to get there and the Cardinal and head coach Tara VanDerveer have been itching to win a Final Four how do you like Stanford’s chances against South Carolina on Friday night.

Jerry Feitelberg podcasted Stanford basketball for the 2020-21 season for http://www.sportradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal/Final Four podcast with Jerry Feitelberg Thu Apr 1, 2021 by Sports Radio Service (soundcloud.com)

 

Sharks Tame Wild 4-2

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The Minnesota Wild forward Nico Sturm (7) tries to reach for the puck as the San Jose Sharks center Patrick Marleau (12) and defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) defend during Wed Mar 31, 2021 at SAP Center in San Jose (AP News photo)

By Mary Walsh

The San Jose Sharks beat the Minnesota Wild 4-2 in San Jose Wednesday. Rudolfs Balcers, Ryan Donato, Nikolai Knyzhov and Evander Kane Scored for the Sharks, while Martin Jones made 26 saves for the win. The Sharks defense generated five points in the game. Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello scored for the Wild, and Kaapo Kahkonen made 29 saves in the loss.

After the game, Sharks Head Coach Bob Boughner talked about the Sharks defensive game:

“I liked how aggressive we were in the d-zone, jump in and check. We didn’t give much, you know, we blocked shots. I thought we were really physical tonight, you know, and yeah, we played a lot in the o-zone. That is the blueprint for how we want to play on most nights and every night.”

Sharks Captain Logan Couture talked about what they need to do to carry this success forward:

“We’ve just got to keep playing the way we are. I thought we defended pretty hard and we created a lot of offense. We could have had more than the three we scored, or the fourth with the empty-netter, but a lot of good looks, I think our game’s in a good spot right now.”

In a scoreless first period, the teams each got credit for 10 shots. Evander Kane took three of those shots for the Sharks. Each team had one power play. The Wild had one shot on their power play and the Sharks had two on theirs. The Wild won 60% of the first period face-offs.

The Sharks got the scoring started in the second period, at 4:41. Rudolfs Balcers caught a pass from Tomas Hertl just as he arrived in front of the blue paint. He did not slow down as he stopped the puck on his backhand, then swept it around Kahkonen’s skate. Assists went to Hertl and Brent Burns.

The Sharks made it 2-0 at 9:22 with a power play goal. Brent Burns shot the puck right up the middle. Kahkonen stopped it but left a rebound. Ryan Donato was there to gather it up and tuck it under the goaltender. Assists went to Burns and Mario Ferraro.

That was the only power play for the second period. The Sharks outshot the Wild 14-9. The Sharks improved in the face-of circle, winning 55% of them.
Kirill Kaprizov cut the Sharks lead to 2-1 at 8:23. He carried the puck at speed from below the goal line, past one point to the other before taking the shot, which went past Jones on the far side. Carson Soucy got the assist.

The Sharks’ third goal started when Rudolfs Balcers carried the puck onto the zone. It was knocked off of his stick but Tomas Hertl was right there to get it back and pass it to Erik Karlsson. Karlsson found Nikolai Knyzhov just coming across the blue line, Knyzhov let the traffic settle into place in front of the net before shooting it past Kahkonen’s glove. Assists on Knyzhov’s first NHL goal went to Karlsson and Hertl.

Kaprizov knocked Logan Couture off the puck at 12:18. While Evander Kane was giving Kaprizov a piece of his mind about the hit, Ryan Hartman went after Kane. All the skaters on the ice converged after that but the result was just two minor penalties: cross-checking to Hartman and roughing to Kane.

The Wild made it 3-2 with their net empty and 12.1 seconds left in the game. Kevin Fiala took a shot from the point with three skaters blocking Jones’ view. The puck went off of Mats Zuccarello and in. Assists went to Fiala and Jared Spurgeon.

Evander Kane scored from just outside the Sharks’ blue line, into an empty net with one second left in the game. It was his sixth shot of the night.

The Sharks won the third period face-off battle 9-6. Each team had a power play in the period, with the Sharks taking three shots and the Wild taking two. In overall third period shots, the teams were tied at 9 each.

The Sharks next play on Friday against the Kings in Los Angeles at 7:00 PM PT.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A One on One with Orlando Cepeda

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Former San Francisco Giant first baseman and Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda the subject of Amaury Pi Gonzalez’ interview on That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary (file photo mercurynews.com)

A One on One with Orlando Cepeda

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

On the eve of the 2021 baseball season, I had the pleasure of speaking over the phone with the great Cha Cha, Orlando Cepeda, somebody I have not seen or spoken with in a few years. Through the years we have spoken numerous times.

During the 1990’s working Giants Spanish radio at Candlestick and later at ATT, SBC, PAC BELL Park. He used to come around and we would talk. On some occasions he sat with me during a radio broadcast and did some commentary. Orlando was one of the first Major League Players who endorsed The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame when it was founded in 1999 in San Francisco.

He is enshrined in that Hall of Fame as well as in The National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown. He won the rookie of the year with the San Francisco Giants in 1958, the Most Valuable Player of the National League in 1967 with the St Louis Cardinals.

He was one of the most popular players ever to wear a San Francisco Giants uniform. The interview was conducted in Spanish, Orlando born in Ponce, Puerto Rico always prefer to speak Spanish when we talk. In our chat we talked about the day when the Giants retired his number 30 prior to a game in Candlestick Park against the St Louis Cardinals in 1999, a ceremony on the field with Giants announcer Lon Simmons, yours truly who was asked by the Giants to be the co-mc with Simmons, Jack Buck, radio voice of the St. Louis Cardinals and the owner of the Giants Peter Magowan.

We were all on the field between home plate and the mound, lined-up behind a podium. Towards the end of the ceremony a big Number 30 was unveiled in front of the fence in right-center field as the fans stood-up and cheered. I asked Orlando about that moment, responded right away.

Orlando: “Yes, of course I remember and I also remember that Mr. Magowan told me “now Orlando the next step for you is the Hall of Fame” and that helped me a lot. Soon I was in the Hall of Fame. He was a great owner…Magowan loved the game, very committed owner and that was a great honor for me that the Giants retired number “30”.

Orlando was in good spirits. We reminisced about some of the great points in his career. Like the people who saw him play in San Francisco and remember him playing with the Giants in 1958, his very first year in the majors. Is it true that in 1958 you were more popular than the great Willie Mays in San Francisco?

Orlando: ”Well, what happened is that I was a rookie; it was a new team for me. Willie came from New York, and I did very well that year, you know, people liked me in San Francisco. Willie is the greatest ballplayer ever, but good things happened to me that year, and when that happens and the people like you…also I had a good year…and that’s what happened”.

(That year he won the Rookie of the Year hitting .312 with 25 home runs and 96 runs batted-in) In 1967 Orlando was traded to the St Louis Cardinals from pitcher Ray Sadecki. Were you happy when that trade happened?

Orlando: “Well, I had problems with Herman Franks (Giants manager) and it was going to be me or McCovey who was going to be traded”

About his arrival in St Louis? Orlando responded

Orlando: “I had a great welcome there, the guys like Gibson, McCarver, and Brock they all welcome me and treated me very well”

At one the time in the interview, there was a moment when even before I asked the next question, he said something about five Puerto Ricans in the Hall of Fame. And that is true. Puerto Ricans like Roberto Clemente, Iván Rodríguez, and Roberto Alomar and soon to be Edgar Martínez who was born in New York to Puerto Rican parents, moved to the island to live with his grandmother, he said: Orlando followed…

Orlando: “Yes, great…we have five Puerto Ricans now in the Hall of Fame, that’s great, I am very proud of that”.

How about your relation with your compatriot Roberto Clemente?

Orlando: “When I first played with the Giants, Roberto was already playing (since 1955) with the Pirates, Roberto helped me a lot, he was a great guy”

I asked him about what does he thinks about the recent changes in the game of baseball, many with the purpose of making the game faster

Orlando: “Well, a lot of people making these changes never played the game, they are not baseball people, they are computer and business people and all that, but not real baseball people”.

Orlando’s opinion is a common one for older players who had to do everything to win a game, including bunting, hit and run and other stuff that today is well…cancelled in baseball? Orlando was getting a little tired, and he said:

Orlando: “I am speaking too fast, too much”

He seemed to be a little short of breath, so we paused. Then… after a few seconds. We spoke about Opening Day in baseball this April 1.

Orlando: “I am hoping to be at the Giants first game at home April 9”

He said as we said goodbye mutually wished each other well and told me he send his best wishes to everybody. A couple of years ago Orlando had a cardiac incident and spent some time in the hospital. However he made a public appearance in January 2018 to celebrate the 80th birthday of Willie McCovey at AT&T Park.

Gracious, passionate and always ready to talk baseball, it was fun to talk for about 15 minutes, not more, but he seemed alert and with very good memory of some of the events we spoke about in his very stellar career. Other stuff we touch bases, like, he doesn’t agree much with some of the changes in the game today, although he did say at the end of his career the DH rule helped him, he played in 1973 (next to his last year) with the Boston Red Sox, as he said “I was one of the first designated hitters”.

1973 was the first year for the DH rule, Orlando seems to be fine with that, but not with some of the recent changes in the game as previous stated.

Muchas gracias al gran Orlando Cepeda por su cortesía de concederme esta entrevista por la vía telefónica, sigues siendo el mismo Cha Cha, que Dios te Bendiga. Translation “Thanks to the great Orlando Cepeda for his courtesy granting me this interview over the phone, your still the same Cha Cha, may God Bless You.

Stay well and stay tuned

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president and Orlando Cepeda is a founder of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com