Ain't History Fun?

Baseball is great because it has a history. Other "sports" just don't measure up. Yeah, in the early 18th Century Chuck Bednarik knocked Frank Gifford goofy enough that he would someday think it was a good idea to marry Kathie Lee, and in the late Victorian period Dr. Naismith figured out a use for freakishly tall people, but baseball is the only game with a real, living history. The [sponsor unnamed on principle] Hometown Heroes recognitions wouldn't even make sense in any other game.
Most of baseball's history is wonderful, but there are painful exceptions. See Aaron F. Boone, Bucky F. Dent, Bobby Valentine with his foot in the Dodger Stadium fence, Pete Reiser planting his face into the Ebbets Field wall. Then there is one of the most famous episodes in baseball history: the Phillies collapse in 1964. I don't remember it, as I was 3 years old at the time. But throughout my life as a fan, any time a team has threatened to lose a lead once thought insurmountable, the '64 Phillies have been referenced. The first question for me was, "How did these guys ever get a big lead in the first place?"
The only impressive offensive numbers were posted by Richie (Later known as Dick by name and attitude) Allen, who produced .318, 29HRs, 91RBI, and Johnny Callison, with .274, but 31HRs and 104 RBI. No one else on the team bested Wes Covington's 13HRs and 58RBI. Not a lineup to scare anyone.
The pitching was the better end of things with Jim Bunning and Chris Short, both adequate starters. Yes, Bunning is in the Hall of Fame, but that has a lot more to do with his later life career as a pitiful Republican (redundant, I know) senator from the dopey state of Kentucky, and baseball's perpetual desire to kiss enough government butt to keep the anti-trust exemption in place. Short was 17-9 with a stellar 2.20ERA, while Bunning posted 19-8 with a 2.63.
As the legend tells, they led by 6.5 with 12 to play. On Sept. 21, they commenced a 10 game losing streak. By the time they won their last 2 games, it didn't matter. The Cardinals had passed them, and it took the Phillies beating the Reds in those last two to tie Cincy for second place. The winners were led by 57 wins (out of 93) from Bob Gibson, Curt Simmons and Ray Sadecki. These were the Cardinals of Brock, Flood, Boyer, Groat, Shannon, White, McCarver and Javier. I'm not sure why the Phillies were ever ahead of them in the first place.
There is no such confusion about this season. The 2006 Cardinals were universally recognized as head and shoulders above the rest of their division. Pujols, Rolen, and Edmonds in the middle of the order; Molina, a second coming of Matheny, to handle the pitchers; Juan Encarnacion newly placed in right field. Just throw some guys out there to staff the other spots; won't make any difference. Chris Carpenter won the Cy Young last year. Mulder, ace 1a, along with Marquis, who couldn't be nearly as erratic as last year. Could he? And, after all, Izzy will be there to clean everything up. And besides, the Astros have no offense. Cakewalk. Should just go straight to the playoffs.
Six months later, the losing streak has reached seven. The lead is down to 1.5. There are five left to play. I don't want to see the Cards make any history this year. Now, most of us would be thrilled to see them lose in the NLDS to the Mets. Just get there! Let sleeping Phillies lie.