Fans discuss a factual error in "The Boyfriend" episode about a Mets-Phillies game on June 14, 1987 that never actually occurred, with mixed reactions about the show's usually accurate sports details.
"Mets - Phillies. We're enjoying a beautiful afternoon in the right field stands when a crucial Hernandez error opens the door to a five run Phillies ninth. Cost the Mets the game."
in reality on 6/14/1987: Mets and Phillies didn't even play each other.
Mets beat the Pirates 7-3 (W-Doug Sisk) Phillies beat the Expos 11-6 in a game that was noteworthy in that Mike Schmidt hit 3 HRs. the 2nd was his 2000th hit and 510th HR.
i'm a little disappointed that this didn't check out.
Ozmodiar wrote:
It's a conspiracy.
The CIA and FBI must have changed the records to throw suspicion away from the second spitter. Because if there were a second spitter they would have to admit the spitting was a planned and organized event, and that Keith Hernandez was just a patsy. Nobody could hit three home runs so accurately in such a short time. Nobody has been able to recreate that event without being a master hitter. Mike Schmidt was actually seen in the dug out drinking a coke when he was supposed to be rounding third - makes one think, eh?
I'm a bit surprised as well. Especially since in other episodes, their attention to detail, specifically where baseball is concerned, is commendable.
Like in "The Smelly Car", when Kramer bitches to Jerry about the Yankee roster moves Steinbrenner made.
"He's trading away our best young prospects, just like he did with Buhner, McGee, Drabek, McGriff..."
All four were, in fact, Yankee prospects early in their respective careers.
Willie McGee was selected by the White Sox in the free-agent draft of 1977, and taken by the Yankees in the secondary phase of the free-agent draft in 1978. He was traded to the Cardinals for pitcher Bob Sykes in October of 1981, never having played a single game for NY.
Doug Drabek, also drafted originally by the White Sox, was traded to the Yankees in August 1984, and subsequently traded to the Pirates in a six player deal that sent Rick Rhoden to NY. Drabek won the Cy Young Award for Pittsburgh in 1990.
Fred McGriff was selected by the Yankees in the 9th round of the 1981 free-agent draft, and was traded to Toronto without playing a game as a Yankee. McGriff just hit his 430th career home run last night against the Phillies.
Jay Buhner was traded from the Pirates to the Yankees in December 1984, He was traded to the Mariners in 1988 for Ken Phelps. This was the deal Steinbrenner was referring to when he came to the Costanza house to inform Frank and Estelle that George had died in "The Caddy".
Kudos to the researcher. These four guys were all superstar prospects that the Yankees traded away before they got anything out of them. For the most part, each was a great prospect, traded for players who had minimal success with NY, with the exception of Rick Rhoden. More on Rhoden, if anyone's interested, in another post.
Dave