History beckons again

Been progressively obsessively engrossed in Sox history. Took a giat 1000p encloypedia of Sox history, and have been becoming blitzedout with the 1951 - 1967 Sox, when they were one of the best teams in the majors after being such a sucky franchise from 1921 -1950. And man, that 30y period after the Black Sox scandel were terrible.

Funny how great those teams were. Appracio, Fox, Minoso, Pierce, Peters, Klu we all know about. 1959, the pennant winners. 1964, one game out. And the 1967 team that took it into the last weekend. We know about those teams and players and all that 88 years of frustration or whatever others call it.

Those teams had the bad luck of bucking their heads against the Yankee's (or Cleveland, but mainly the Yanks) in that period - no World Series wins for them. But those teams were also amongst the best in baseball during that period. There is no culture or worship of losing other frachises use to sell their teams, but these teams of the middle period* of Sox competitiveness are still worshipped by Sox fans. Among the older Sox fans (like my Dad), these are the greatest teams ever ( 'till 2005. Impossible to argue). I'm getting old enough and cranky as well - enough to start arguing "Mike Squires" -v- Jim Spencer" as the best fielding first baseman of all time.

But the progression of the team, the duels w/ NY and Cleveland through the 1950's and Red Sox and Twins in the late 1960's, and all the other pre Harry Carey years are fascinating. Names and stories are familier, but they have to be put into a proper context.

And yes, I still get very angry whenever I see "Eight Men Out".

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*= 1900- 1920, 1951- 1967, and 1990 -2008