Legends & Stars Batavia Sports Expo

Two-time National Basketball Association champion Cedric “Cornbread” Maxwell points to the pillars of the game when it comes to the question, “Who is the greatest NBA player of all time?”

“I measure it by those who changed the game,” said the former Boston Celtics standout on Sunday afternoon while taking part in the Legends & Stars Sports Expo at Batavia Downs Gaming. “Wilt Chamberlain changed the game. They had to change the game to fit him in.

“(Bill) Russell with his 11 championship rings. Those two guys are standard bearers for me when I think about greatness in players. Those would be my first two.”

When asked if personal statistics matter, he responded: “Yes, it is about numbers. It’s about winning championships. So, if you talk about winning championships, Bill Russell (of the Celtics), with 11 rings, is the greatest.”

Maxwell, the most valuable player in the 1981 NBA finals, did mention Lebron James and Michael Jordan, the two players who usually are at the top of the GOAT debate list.

“When it comes to those two, I would start with Lebron and then put Michael next,” he said.

The Celtics beat the Houston Rockets in ’81 with Maxwell and Larry Bird leading the way and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984 when Maxwell confidently told his teammates “to get on my back, boys” in the decisive seventh game (when he scored 24 points in a 111-102 victory).

Boston went on to win another title behind Hall of Famer Bird in 1986, a year after Maxwell was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.

When asked about playing with Bird, the 6-foot-8 power forward said he “didn’t pay much attention to him until he stepped on the floor (in 1979).”

“I averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds when Larry got there; I was the big dog,” he said. “I thought, early on, who is this guy? I didn’t think he could be that good. That was until he stepped on the court and he showed that he was the truth. He just set a different standard.”

Maxwell acknowledged that the NBA is much different today with its emphasis on three-point shooting. He noted that in the last game of the 1981 finals, only six three-pointers were taken.

“The ‘3’ was just an afterthought back then,” he said. “The game has changed completely, and I don’t think for the good. Understand that the three-point shot is an easier shot to take – not to make.”

He recalled that his teammate, the late Chris Ford, made the first three-point shot (in 1979).

“I got a chance to see that but I didn’t know that it was (a harbinger of) things to come.”

In his 26th year as a commentator for the Celtics’ radio broadcasts, Maxwell, 67, said he thinks this year’s Celtics have the right stuff to capture Banner 18, which would be the franchise’s first NBA crown since 2008.

“They’re hitting on all cylinders right now and even when their best player (Jason Tatum) isn’t scoring well, everybody else picks him up.,” he said. “The bench is really tough. I think that’s the difference between the really good teams and elite teams.”

Photo at top: Cedric Maxwell greets longtime Celtics' fan Vin Bukiewicz of Batavia.

DERRICK COLEMAN – Working to help inner-city youth

The former Syracuse Orange basketball star was the No. 1 pick in the 1990 NBA draft and 1991 league Rookie of the Year with the New Jersey Nets. The 6-foot-10 power forward played for three more teams in a pro career – averaging 16.5 points per game over 15 seasons.

Today, he lives in the city where he grew up, Detroit, advocating for inner-city boys and girls through various athletics. He said his latest venture is introducing the sport of lacrosse to youth.

“I was exposed to the sport while at Syracuse and now am working with USA Lacrosse to possibly bring summer camps to Detroit,” he said. “The mission of Derrick Coleman Elite Foundation is to create opportunities for kids to go to college.”

Photo: Derrick Coleman signs a shirt for Batavian Tony Calarco.

RYAN LEAF – Getting his life in order after football

Anyone who follows the NFL knows the story of former quarterback Ryan Leaf, the No. 2 overall pick of the San Diego Chargers in 1998 (after Peyton Manning), who failed to live up to his billing for a number of reasons beyond subpar play.

Leaf’s life went into a downward spiral after four years in the NFL, eventually landing him in prison for burglary and drug-related offenses.

He said he has been in recovery from substance use disorder for the past 11 years, and has devoted his life to helping others overcome the stigma of mental health and addiction as a program ambassador for Transcend Recovery Community.

“Asking for help is the strongest thing you’ll ever do,” Leaf said, referring to those struggling with substance use.

The father of a 5-year-old boy, Leaf, who starred at Washington State University, also works as a college football analyst for the ESPN network.

Photo: Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jack Ham, left, and Ryan Leaf.

RAY “BOOM BOOM” MANCINI – Making his mark in indie films

The World Boxing Association Lightweight champion from 1982-84, the Youngstown, Ohio native (and resident) posted a 29-5 career record. He was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2015.

Today, Mancini, 61, is an independent film producer, specializing in what he calls “high-concept film.”

“There are four successful themes for indie movies – horror/thriller, which is not my flavor; faith-based because you have to build an audience; documentaries, and high-concept film,” he said. “Our current project is a crime thriller in the world of EDM – electronic dance music.

“The one-line pitch is The Sopranos meets Saturday Night Fever. If you liked both of them, then you’ll like this.”

Mancini retired from the ring in 1992 and later moved to Los Angeles to learn about the movie industry.

“I got an education in LA and paid for it myself,” he said. “Now, we’re working with AMC Plus, Paramount Plus and Amazon.”

Photo: Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini autographs a photo of him in the ring.

Photos by Mike Pettinella.

One-time rivals and now close friends, former World Boxing Council heavyweight boxing champion Larry Holmes and former WBC No. 1 contender Gerry Cooney are in opposite corners when assessing the current state of professional boxing.

“I tell everybody – put ESPN Boxing on your phone and follow it. See the upcoming fights. Read the stories. Boxing is so exciting right now, in all the weight classes – men and women,” Cooney said.

Not so fast, according to Holmes.

“It sucks,” Holmes said, leaving little doubt of his opinion. “The big names aren’t out there. I’m not out there and Gerry’s not out there.”

Holmes and Cooney, photo at top, who squared off on June 11, 1982, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in a heavyweight title match with racial overtones, were together again this afternoon as part of the Legends & Stars Sports Expo at Batavia Downs Gaming.

They were among about three dozen former professional sports stars who signed memorabilia during the two-day event.

While Holmes, 74, and slowing down a bit, was a man of few words, Cooney, on the other hand, soaked up his time with light-hearted chatter and a willingness to have his photograph taken with the fans.

Cooney, 66, said he is a keen boxing observer and influencer, who talks about the sport on Sirius XM radio channel 156 on Monday and Friday afternoons. He admitted that boxing has lost its luster in recent years but sees a resurgence.

“People lost trust in boxing because there were so many mismatches and (promoter Don) King was doing his stuff. People turned away. They didn’t want to invite their children to it,” he said. “But now, those people who walked away from the game – they’re missing what’s going on. Boxing is great, in all the divisions.”

He rattled off several names, including Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Joe Joyce, Canelo Alvarez, and New Yorker Jared Anderson, and women standouts Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, which make him optimistic about boxing’s future.

“People walked away because the guys who really won weren’t getting the decisions. The scores were terrible. It’s all getting better,” he offered.

Cooney said the fact that there were so many different organizations and various “champions” also didn’t enhance the public’s perception of the sport. He said now organizers have “stripped down some of those divisions and that’s a good thing.”

When asked about that bout against Holmes – a fight in which both combatants were paid $10 million – Cooney said the promoters labeled him “The Great White Hope” and pushed the racial aspect that divided fans.

“There was so much racism back then,” he said. “It wasn’t about him and it wasn’t about me. I was in a camp with six or seven guys I went to high school with. We were eating lobster tail and turtle soup. We didn’t have any time for that.

“But they worked on us. I think the promoters, in that fight, promoted that to make money.”

At the time, Holmes, known as the “Easton (Pa.) Assassin” had a 39-0 record with 29 knockouts. Cooney, a Long Island native, was 25-0 with 22 knockouts.

Fighting in front of a Nevada record crowd of 29,214 and a worldwide pay-per-view audience, Holmes won by a technical knockout in the 13^th round. It was a hard-fought match, with Holmes sending Cooney to the canvas in Round 2 and the challenger being penalized three points on low blows.

Not long afterward, Holmes reached out to a dejected Cooney, starting their enduring friendship.

Photo by Mike Pettinella.

Sports memorabilia collectors had much to choose from this weekend when the Legends & Stars Sports Expo returned to Batavia Downs Gaming.

Akron's Bobby McClaine and his team of family, friends and volunteers put on another super event that featured a host of former Buffalo Bills and Sabres on Saturday and a dozen or so greats from baseball, football, basketball, hockey and boxing who appeared today.

"We've been doing this since February 2018 and it keeps growing and growing," McClaine said. "Our goal is for to be an experience for kids and adults to meet their heroes and to visit the many vendors who participate."

The next show is scheduled for October or November on a date that doesn't conflict with a Bills' home game, he noted.

Photo above: NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Ham, right, with Pittsburgh Steelers fan Pat Ward of Syracuse. That's Rocky Bleier, another Steeler great, in the background. Ham is a four-time Super Bowl champion and six-time All-Pro. All photos by Mike Pettinella.

Rocky Bleier, a halfback with the Steelers who also is a four-time Super Bowl champion, greets Webster residents Dave Libutti, right, and Donovan Perales. Former Steelers' wide receiver Louis Lipps also attended.

T.J. Woodward, operator of the Batavia Sports Cards booth, checks on a collectible on the vendor floor, which generated much activity over the two days.

Batavian Patrick Weissand was on top of Red Sox Nation when he had his Boston shirt signed by 1978 American League MVP and Hall of Famer Jim Rice. Rice led the AL in home runs three times during his exceptional career.

Paul Coffey, right, National Hockey League Hall of Fame and four-time Stanley Cup champion (three with the Edmonton Oilers) autographs a replica Stanley Cup for Dylan Nowak of Buffalo. Nowak said he made the cup mostly out of cake pans and it has enough space on it to record the championship teams and players' names for the next 38 years.

That's Rudy Ruettiger, subject of the inspirational movie, "Rudy," which depicts a young man's drive and dedication to make it onto the field as a defensive end for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Today, Ruettiger is a motivational speaker -- encouraging young and old to follow their dreams and to not let others define them.

There was no shortage of Buffalo Bills' collectibles.

Longtime Baltimore Orioles fan Linda Nosbisch of Lancaster with Rafael Palmeiro, four-time All-Star first baseman who hit 569 home runs and compiled 3,020 hits for the Orioles, Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers.

Mini helmets are big in the collectible world. That's Bills' receiver Stefan Diggs on top and former Bills' linebacker Shane Conlan on the bottom.

Dave Robinson, Graig Nettles and Alan Trammell all reached the pinnacle of success in professional sports.

Robinson was a star linebacker for the Green Bay Packers teams that won NFL championships in 1965, 1966 and 1967 – the latter two culminating with victories in Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II.

Nettles was a power hitting and Gold Glove third baseman for the New York Yankees teams that won the World Series in 1977 and 1978.

And Trammell was an elite shortstop who earned World Series MVP honors in leading the Detroit Tigers to the title in 1984.

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Legends & Stars is a bit hit with sports' memorabilia fans

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The trio was in town on Sunday, putting their signatures on a variety of sports memorabilia for collectors at the Legends & Stars show at Batavia Downs Gaming. Each of them gave about five minutes of their time to The Batavian.

ROBINSON PLAYED FOR TWO GREATS

Dave Robinson’s stellar NFL career took place in Green Bay (1963-1972) and Washington (1973-74), playing for two legendary coaches – Vince Lombardi and George Allen, respectively. He said he still follows both teams and felt mixed emotions when they faced off against each other last week.

“Once a Packer always a Packer,” Robinson, now 81, said. “I really wanted to see the Packers break that (then three-game) losing streak that they had, but I hated to see them do it against the Commanders (formerly Redskins) – and they didn’t. But that's the only time I really have a conflict is when the two teams play each other.”

Robinson brought up Lombardi and Allen, noting that they were similar in their approach to the game.

“They both did things thousands of times, so it became second nature to you,” he said. “The difference was that when Lombardi did it, he did it in a thousand different ways. George used to do the same thing over and over again. So, his game got a little stale by the end of the season. That’s why his playoff record wasn’t that great because the players weren’t as motivated. They had heard it all before.”

Robinson is one of a dozen “Lombardi” Packers inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his honor coming in 2013.

“I think there are six in there from the defense,” he said. “We didn’t know that we’d end up in the Hall of Fame, but we knew we had a tough bunch of guys.”

He said that Lombardi, understanding that most quarterbacks were right-handed and teams tended to run more plays to the right, built up the left side of the defense.

“We had Willie Davis to my insider, Herb Adderley to my outside, inside linebacker was Ray Nitschke and safety was Willie Wood,” he offered. “When you looked to your right, there were five future Hall of Famers on the field at one time.”

Following Green Bay’s victory over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II, Robinson said he went up to tell Oakland (and former Buffalo Bills) quarterback Daryle Lamonica “nice game,” when Lamonica shared that he was told all week to not throw the ball to the right.

Robinson said that Lamonica told him that by the fourth quarter, he thought he had lulled the Packers to sleep and tried to hit receiver Fred Belitnikoff with a quick slant to that side. That’s when Adderley intercepted the ball and returned it 60 yards for the first defensive touchdown in Super Bowl history.

“I said to him, ‘They told you don’t do it. You should have listened to your coaches,” Robinson said with a hearty laugh.

NETTLES CRITIQUES CURRENT YANKEES

Nettles, now 78, said he continues to follow the fortunes of the Yankees, the club he played on from 1973-83. All told, Nettles played for six teams – ending his 22-year career in 1988.

Assessing this year’s loss to Houston in the American League Championship Series, Nettles said it seemed as though the Yankees’ hitters were swinging for the fences.

“Well, to me it looked like everybody’s trying to hit home runs instead of getting base hits,” he said. “A lot of strikeouts and a lot of swinging at bad pitches. It seems they would take a good pitch and swing at the bad pitches.”

He said he noticed many times that batters were taking the first pitch, which would end up right over the heart of the plate.

“For some reason, guys like to take the first pitch and that’s usually the best pitch. My theory was to guess strike on the first pitch and swing at it,” he added.

When asked about Aaron Judge and his American League record 62 homers, Nettles said “it was great for baseball and I sure hope he stays with the Yankees.”

“You know, he gambled on himself with the contract (by not signing a long-term deal with New York prior to the season) and now he’s got every right to listen to the offers,” he said. “But I hoe he stays in New York with the Yankees.”

When asked why he doesn’t attend Yankees’ Old Timers Day festivities, Nettles said “they stopped inviting me about five years ago and I don’t know why, really.”

“I don't know if somebody – whoever is in charge, somebody doesn't like me. I don't know.”

When asked if his nickname “Puff” stemmed from him being a practical joker, Nettles said he got that moniker from his ability to leave the scene without anyone noticing.

“It’s just that I could disappear quickly, after a couple of beers,” he said. “I just say goodbye. I don't even say goodbye. If I had one night having too many beers, the next day I was hurting. So, the next night I just left after about two beers … and they didn’t know where I went.”

When asked about the 1978 playoff game against the Boston Red Sox (won by the Yankees, 5-4), Nettles talked about the last out – a foul pop-up off the bat of Carl Yastrzemski that landed in Nettles’ glove.

“I’m just glad it wasn't hit very high because I didn't like pop-ups,” he said. “That was the hardest thing for me because you never practice them; you can’t practice them during batting practice.”

TRAMMELL REMEMBERS MAGICAL YEAR

The 1984 Detroit Tigers arguably is one of the greatest teams ever – a team that won 35 of its first 40 games, went 104-58 during the regular season and captured the World Series in five games against the San Diego Padres.

Trammell, now 64, was the leader of that bunch, which was managed by the legendary Sparky Anderson, and included stars such as relief pitcher Willie Hernandez (who won the AL MVP and Cy Young Award), second baseman Lou Whitaker, catcher Lance Parrish, outfielders Kirk Gibson and Chet Lemon and starting pitcher Jack Morris.

When asked about the team’s place in MLB history, Trammell said, “I’m not going to be the one to try to rank it because that’s too hard, but during that particular year … it didn’t matter if we were playing the 1927 Yankees (with Babe Ruth), we were going to win.”

“That was just our feeling. Going into the Series, if you don't feel confident that you’re going to win, then you shouldn’t be there. So, my point is that it was our year and nobody was going to beat us in that particular year.”

Trammell, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018, mentioned that the 35-5 start is the best in baseball history, adding that the team won 17 road games in a row as well.

“We were confident and we had a pretty balanced team,” he said. “I was hoping that maybe we'd be able to win another championship, but unfortunately, that didn't happen. But at least for that one year, we were the best.”

Photo: Dave Robinson, an All-Pro linebacker with the Green Bay Packers, displays his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring to Ken Van Remmen of West Seneca during Sunday's Legends & Stars show at Batavia Downs Gaming. Photo by Mike Pettinella.

If a National Basketball Association franchise featured three Rookies of the Year in a span of five seasons, you’d have to think that team was destined for greatness.

That club was the Buffalo Braves and the three first-year standouts were center Bob McAdoo (1973), point guard Ernie DiGregorio (1974) and forward Adrian Dantley (1977). All three of those former players were among the luminaries that took part in the Legends & Stars memorabilia show today at Batavia Downs Gaming.

Unfortunately for the fans of the Braves (and there were thousands upon thousands of them), the team stayed in Buffalo for only eight seasons – 1970-71 through 1977-78 – before the franchise was relocated to San Diego and renamed the Clippers.

The Braves, behind McAdoo, DiGregorio and hometown hero Randy Smith, were among the elite teams in the league in the mid-1970s, making it to the playoffs three times and losing in a pair of hard-fought six-game series to the Boston Celtics in 1974 and 1976. The Celtics went on to capture the NBA titles in those seasons.

But continued success was not to be as financial concerns, problems with the lease at the old Memorial Auditorium and changes in team ownership led to the franchise’s demise. The city’s loss of the team is still considered to be one of the lowest moments in Buffalo sports history.

The Batavian caught up to the trio during their autograph sessions, posing the question, “What went wrong?”

DIGREGORIO: POINT GUARD EXTRAORDINARE

“First of all, I loved playing in Buffalo because as you see the crowds and the fans were tremendous. They loved to support the team,” said DiGregorio, who starred at his hometown Providence College before becoming the No. 3 pick in the 1973 NBA draft. “I had a great time in Buffalo, but the owner of the team, Paul Snyder, had it in his head that he was going to sell the team.

“So, when he started to sell the team to John Y. Brown and made him part-owner, that’s when they started trading Dantley, trading me, trading McAdoo – cleaning house – and everybody knew that eventually the team was going to be moved. So, that was the reason why Buffalo moved from Buffalo to the (San Diego) Clippers.”

DiGregorio, now 71 (the same age as McAdoo and four years older than Dantley), said that in hindsight, it was “a stupid thing to do.”

“A franchise today is worth a billion dollars,” he said. “And he probably sold it for $5 or $10 million … But when the owners have the mindset that they're going to sell, that’s what happened.”

When this reporter mentioned that the NBA became a hot item just three years later when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird burst onto the scene, that prompted DiGregorio to talk about the Braves’ limited appearances north of the border.

“We used to go up to Toronto and play five games a year in Maple Leaf Gardens just to introduce the City of Toronto to the NBA,” he said. “And ironically, as McAdoo told me last night, you can't get a ticket for the Toronto Raptors, they’re sold out (every game). So, it was definitely the wrong move.”

DiGregorio, at 6-foot, had a spectacular rookie season, averaging 15 points per game, while leading the league in assists (his 25 in one game still is an NBA record) and free throw percentage. The following year, however, he suffered a torn meniscus of his left knee and was limited to 31 games.

“It was a torn cartilage. And in those days, they never had arthroscopic surgery,” he said. “So, it was a big thing. They cut it and put you in the hospital for a couple of weeks.”

He shared that the Braves’ head coach, Dr. Jack Ramsay, believed that DiGregorio had lost a step, “but I didn’t believe that. I had all of my career highs after the injury – and it was a common injury. But those are the breaks; I could have got hurt before I even came to Buffalo and would have never made Rookie of the Year. I had my day in the sun.”

DiGregorio went on to play with the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics after leaving Buffalo in 1977, but his best memories are with the Braves.

“Some of my great games were against the Celtics in the playoffs,” he said. “In fact, my third year, I had been benched most of the whole year. And then I played in the playoffs. And they were writing the headlines in the paper in Boston – Ernie D’s gang is in town. So, proved that I could still play.”

BOB MCADOO: PROLIFIC SCORER

Bob McAdoo, who led the league in scoring average for three straight seasons (30 ppg in 1973-74, 34.5 ppg in 1974-75 and 31 ppg in 1975-76), said he didn’t understand what was going on in the front office – calling it “strictly business” that doomed the franchise.

“When I look back, I see the teams we could have possibly had with Adrian Dantley and Moses Malone, and they ended up trading all three of us that same year (1976-77),” he said. “That was a team that would have been good for the next seven, eight years because we were very young. But you know, as players we don't have any control over what happens with management.”

The 1974-75 NBA Most Valuable Player, the 6-foot-9 McAdoo was the first of the center/power forwards or “stretch fours” that could score from well beyond the paint. He was a scoring machine, earning the call “Two for McAdoo” from Buffalo Braves radio personality Van Miller.

But he saw the writing on the wall when John Y. Brown didn’t meet his contract demands.

“I got traded to the Knicks in the middle of the season,” said McAdoo, who went on to win two NBA titles as a member of the 1981-82 and 1984-85 Lakers.

When asked if he any expectations when he joined the Braves as the No. 2 overall pick of the draft, McAdoo said he “didn’t have a clue until Ramsay started me in December.”

“This is after Bob Kaufman got hurt, and he inserted me into the lineup. And from December to the end of the season, my rookie year, I averaged 33 points a game. That’s when I kind of knew that I could score with anybody in this league.”

McAdoo, who played one year at the University of North Carolina, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.

ADRIAN DANTLEY: SIX-TIME ALL-STAR

Dantley, the former University of Notre Dame star who was instrumental in ending UCLA’s 88-game winning streak in 1974, just shook his head when wondering what could have been.

“We lost the team because it was all about finances,” he said. “And we had two different owners and each owner was trading away players during the year. So, we never got to be what we thought it might have been.

“In our frontcourt, we had three Hall of Famers – Moses Malone, who they traded before the season; McAdoo, who was traded about 30 games into the season, and then they traded me at the end of the season. We talk about that all of the time. How great of a team that could have been with Ernie D and Randy Smith.”

Dantley recalls “getting bounced around” from team to team in his early years. He played with seven teams, in all – Buffalo, Indiana, Lakers, Utah, Detroit, Dallas and Milwaukee.

“When I went to Indiana, I remember the coach telling me to not buy a house because we’re going to be trading you in a couple weeks,” he said. “That took about 20 games and then I went to LA.”

At the end of his 15-year NBA career, Dantley had a scoring average of 24.3 and, in 2008, was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

“For me, it was about perseverance,” he said. “Nobody likes to get traded. But, I guess you could say that I had a pretty good career.”

Photos from Legends & Stars show by Mike Pettinella.

The fall edition of the Legends & Stars memorabilia show concluded this afternoon at Batavia Downs with appearances from those who made their mark in the professional baseball, football and basketball ranks, as well as participation by a host of vendors of collectibles. Check out these photos by Batavia publisher Howard Owens, who was thrilled to meet Alan Trammell and Graig Nettles, who, like Owens, are natives of San Diego.

Former New York Yankee third baseman Graig Nettles signing a seat from old Yankee stadium for Buffalo resident Mike Emo.

That's Alan Trammell, ex-All-Star shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. Trammell led the 1984 Tigers to 104-58 record and was named World Series MVP that year.

Helmets, cards, jerseys and much more were available in the Park Place room at Batavia Downs Gaming.

A young Josh Allen fan watches as Darryl Strawberry, former slugger for the New York Mets and New York Yankees, signs a Mets' shirt. Today, Strawberry is in full-time Christian ministry.

Former Buffalo Bills' running back LeSean McCoy signs his jersey for a collector. McCoy surpassed the 10,000-yard rushing mark during his time with the Bills.

Former Buffalo Bills' Pro Bowl center Eric Wood made fine use of the Sharpies during his signing stint.

This year’s New York at Boston “Wild Card” game to advance in the American League baseball playoffs triggered a host of memories for Ron Guidry, the winning pitcher in the Yankees’ thrilling 5-4 victory over the Red Sox in the Oct. 2, 1978 tie-breaker game to determine the champion of the AL’s East Division.

“When it got down this year to the last couple of days in New York and Boston, and then now you got a playoff game, well, yeah, I started getting phone calls left and right about the playoffs,” said Guidry, who was in town today to sign autographs at the Legends & Stars Fall 2021 Sports Expo at Batavia Downs Gaming.

“So, yeah, it brought back some memories. The only problem is we didn't win this time.”

That moved the conversation to 1978, a season in which the Yankees rallied from a 14 ½ game deficit to the Bosox to end in a tie with 99-63 records. A one-game playoff was in order and, by virtue of a coin flip, it was to be played in Fenway Park in Boston.

Guidry, the AL’s best pitcher that season, started on the mound for the Yankees.

When it was mentioned that he started on short rest, he said, “Yeah. Maybe a day.”

The 5-9, 175-pound left-handed strikeout artist pitched into the seventh inning, leaving with a 4-2 lead.

The big blow in the contest -- as any baseball fan knows -- was a three-run homer by light-hitting Yankee shortstop Bucky Dent in the seventh inning that erased Boston’s 2-0 lead and gave Dent a nickname that lives in infamy.

“That was the only time that I really was upset with (manager) Bob Lemon because I really didn't want to come out of the game,” he said. “I really thought that I could; that I still had enough.”

He recalled that George Scott got a base hit between first and second base, prompting Lemon to call for reliever Goose Gossage.

“It was a ground ball – it wasn't like he hit a ball on the wall or a screamer. You know, he just snuck it in. And I still felt like I had some stuff. I still felt like I could have at least completed that seventh inning to where Goose only had to look at pitching to innings. Now, taking me out that early, he almost has to go three innings. And it was pretty hot that day. But, it worked out.”

When asked if it was more nerve-wracking for him after he came out of the game, Guidry said he never got nervous.

“People always ask me that and this is what I tell them,” he said. “You either do the job or you don't. There's no in-between, I do a good job or don't, we win or we lose, that’s it.”

Guidry said his “goal” was to put his team in a position to win that game.

“So, when I come out of that, when I came out of that game, we were winning 4-2. And then then very next inning, you know, Reggie (Jackson) hit a home run to make it 5-2. Now, we got a little cushion but no cushion is safe in Boston, in Fenway Park.”

He said that while Dent’s homer is remembered as the big hit, Guidry said the game-saving play was made by Yankee right fielder Lou Piniella in the ninth inning with the score 5-4.

Boston’s Jerry Remy hit a line drive that Piniella could not see due to the late afternoon sun. As the ball hit the turf and almost bounced by him, Piniella stabbed at it and it landed in his glove. That prevented the baserunner, Rick Burleson, from advancing from first to third base. A deep fly out by Jim Rice, the next batter, could only move Burleson to third – instead of being a sacrifice fly.

With two outs and two on, Gossage got Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski on a foul pop to third baseman Graig Nettles for the game’s final out.

“If Piniella doesn't cut that ball off Burleson goes third, and he might have even scored,” Guidry reasoned. “But you know, he cuts it off. And I think he just saw it at the last second.”

He credited the Yankees’ outfielders for knowing where to position themselves for certain hitters.

“Those guys were so intelligent. Because we didn't have an outfield that had blistering speed or anything like that. You know? They were just good ballplayers. (Mickey) Rivers was the only one who had speed,” he said. “But the most amazing thing was you didn't have to worry about them being out of position. They knew where to play guys.”

The 1978 Yankees went on to beat the Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series for their 22^nd championship. Guidry posted three more victories in the playoffs and World Series, finishing with a 28-3 mark.

For his regular season success (25-3, 1.74 earned run average), Guidry was named the league’s Cy Young Award winner and finished second to Rice in the Most Valuable Player voting.

Guidry retired following the 1988 season with a 170-91 won-loss record, 3.29 ERA and 1,778 strikeouts.

The Lafayette, La. native (and resident) shared his thoughts on a few other topics:

On this year’s Yankees vs. Red Sox playoff game:

“I didn’t like going back to Boston for that because, looking at the whole thing, the first time (1978), we did it, but it gets much harder to do it again. So now, each team has won one. If it ever happens again, that’s going to be a great story."

On infield shifting in today’s game:

“No, we didn’t have that. I mean you shifted certain guys, because you know, a lot of guys just hit the ball in certain areas,” he said. “If I'm going to pitch and know that I'm going to be throwing a guy a certain way, then I might tell my infielders or outfielders to shift this way or that way.

“Now, with all the analytical stuff, sometimes it helps them and sometimes it hurts. You watch teams that know how to hit the ball behind runners and stuff like that? Even though they’re left or right handed, when they start shifting, you can drive a battleship between first and second, or second and third because there’s only one guy playing somewhere around there. You just hope it don't hurt at the worst possible moment.”

On his nicknames – Gator and Louisiana Lightning:

“My teammates gave me the nickname, Gator,” he said. “When I got called up in 1975, the Yankees were playing at Shea Stadium as the old (Yankee) stadium was being refurbished. And when I got there, you know, I got off the plane and I went to Shea Stadium, got dressed and they were already playing because we had a doubleheader against Boston.

“I walked in and met the manager and he told me to go to the bullpen. And when I walked in the bullpen, of course, I met Sparky Lyle and Dick Tidrow and a couple of other guys, and they started talking to you about where you’re from. And they asked me what we had a lot of in Louisiana and I told them, we got mosquitoes and snakes and alligators.

“And, I don't remember who it was; it was either Sparky or Dick Tidrow and they said, ‘We’re just going to call you Gator because we can't pronounce that last name. So, you know, that's the nickname that was given to you by your teammates. So, that's the one that you treasure the most.”

Regarding Louisiana Lightning, he said that was given to him by longtime Yankees broadcaster Phil Rizzuto during Guidry’s 18-strikeout performance against the California Angels on June 17, 1978.

“It’s a catchy thing, but it’s tough to sign when you’ve got to sign a lot of it,” he said.

Photo at top: New York Yankees pitching great Ron Guidry talks with Dino Labbate of Rochester as he autographs baseball memorabilia at today's Legends & Stars 2021 Fall Sports Expo at Batavia Downs Gaming. Photo at bottom: Guidry and Hall of Fame infielder/designated hitter Paul Molitor, who faced Guidry while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1978-1992. Photos by Mike Pettinella.

As he looked around and saw the large crowd on hand for the Legends & Stars Fall 2021 Batavia Sports Expo today at Batavia Downs Gaming, Robert McClaine was quick to point out the degree of cooperation that it takes to make these card/autograph shows successful.

McClaine, a resident of nearby Akron, is co-owner of Legends & Stars – teaming with friends Brian Burke and Chris Sabatello about three years ago to purchase what was an established business.

“We are trying to take this to the next level to bring in the Jim Kellys, Josh Allens, Emmitt Smiths, Michael Irvins, Jerome Bettises,” McClaine said. “I mean we've had numerous guys here in little Batavia, New York. We’re getting Emmitt Smith, the leading rusher in NFL history.

“We're getting him to Batavia, New York, and we're so fortunate to have the partnership with numerous agents in the area, numerous agents in the country to bring these players to Batavia -- which is quite it's quite an accomplishment, quite an experience.”

While Emmitt Smith did not appear at this particular show, the stars were shining brightly in the form of baseball greats Paul Molitor and Ron Guidry and football legends Kellen Winslow Sr., Lenny Moore, Rickey Jackson and Buffalo Bills Jim Kelly, Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas and Joe DeLamielluere.

Current members of the Bills attended as well, something that McClaine sees as vital to his team’s “family focused approach.”

“We want kids to come in and leave here with smiles on their faces,” he said. “They got to see Jordan Poyer or Micah Hyde or Dawson Knox. That's what it's all about. And even the dads are coming up with smiles on their face since Ron Guidry was their hero or Jim Kelly was their hero growing up there, that's what it's all about.

“It's a family type atmosphere. And we want people to leave with smiles on their faces like that was the best experience.”

McClaine said Legends & Stars works with player and former players’ agents to book them for their events.

“So, we're in the show promoting business, not in a player promoting business. We’re not on the hook necessarily for the players. But it gets people through the door,” he said. “That’s all we can ask for. We can't tell people to spend money at the dealer tables. All we can do is try to bring the lineup as promoted and get people through the door.”

For the Downs’ event, he said more than 70 card and memorabilia vendors signed up to rent space. The athletes are compensated by what they charge for autographs and photos, and also receive a stipend from Legends & Stars.

“We have numerous dealers that come to every one of our shows,” he said. “It's just a great partnership, not necessarily with the dealers, but also with the casino. There's nothing like the staff at Batavia Downs (which, for this event, is directed by Mary Bucceri with assistance from Ryan Hasenauer). I mean whatever we ask, they do, and it just works.”

The next Legends & Stars sports expo at Batavia Downs is scheduled for Feb. 26-27, 2022.

“We don't have any guests lined up quite yet, but if you use social media – we’re on Twitter and Facebook – and have our own website, www.legendsandstars.net. Keep checking back and we'll give updates as soon as we know,” McClaine said.

Photo at top: Robert McClaine at registration desk with his son, Logan; daughter, Olivia; and mother, Carol. 

Jim Kelly, Buffalo Bills QB and NFL Hall of Famer

The Calarco-Smith family of Elba in line for a Jim Kelly autograph -- Justin, Liz and kids, from left, Nico, Noah and Lucia

Lucia's hat after a visit with Jim Kelly

Plenty of action on the vendor floor

Baseball Hall of Famer Paul Molitor, left, with Milwaukee Brewers' fan Batavian Vin Pontillo

Josh Currier of Batavia selling his Buf on Weck merchandise

Elba's Norm Itjen assisting NFL Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow Sr. sign numerous items

Autographed baseballs ready for purchase

And there were plenty of helmets to go around as well

Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox, currently out with a broken hand, but still able to sign a bunch of jerseys

Andre Rison, wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers' team that won Super Bowl XXXI.

Photos by Mike Pettinella. 

 

Seven NFL Hall of Famers -- including Buffalo Bills’ greats Andre Reed, Jim Kelly (photo above), Thurman Thomas and Joe DeLamielluere – and former Major League Baseball standouts Ron Guidry and Paul Molitor are headlining this weekend’s Legends & Stars Batavia Sports Expo at Batavia Downs Gaming on Park Road.

The event runs from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. today and from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

“We have a tremendous lineup of sports legends with us this year,” said Ryan Hasenauer, Batavia Downs Gaming marketing director. “This gives people an opportunity to come out and purchase all kinds of great memorabilia and cards – anything sports related.”

Other NFL Hall of Famers scheduled to appear are linebacker Rickey Jackson, halfback Lenny Moore and tight end Kellen Winslow Sr.

Guidry, a left-hander pitcher, is a two-time World Series champion with the New York Yankees (1977-78) and won the Cy Young Award in 1978. Molitor, an infielder and designated hitter, is a member of the 3,000 hit club and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.

Hasenauer said collectors will be glad to know that many vendors have signed up to participate.

Admission is $10 person each day and must be paid in cash. Each paid admission guest receives the following:

• $10 Casino free play voucher (only for guests ages 18 & up);
• One raffle ticket for “Dealer Bucks” Giveaways awarded throughout the day.

Children 12 & Under are admitted at no charge, but will not receive a raffle ticket or a casino free play voucher.

The lineup for “legends and stars” and their autograph session times are as follows. Prices for autographs vary depending upon the item to be signed. Photo opportunities also will be available.

TODAY

-- Joe Cribbs, running back, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins; 3x All-Pro. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

-- Joe DeLamielluere, offensive guard,  Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns; HOF '03, 6x Pro Bowl, 8x All-Pro. 6 to 7 p.m.

-- Jordan Poyer, safety, Buffalo Bills. 6 to 7 p.m.

-- Andre Reed, wide receiver, Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins; HOF '14, 4x AFC Champ, 7x Pro Bowl. 7 to 8 p.m.

-- Thurman Thomas, running back, Buffalo Bills; HOF '07, 1991 NFL MVP, 5x Pro Bowl, 4x AFC Champ. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

-- Carlos "Boogie" Basham Jr., defensive end, Buffalo Bills; 2021 2nd Round Draft Pick. 3 to 4 p.m.

-- Marty Cordova, left fielder, Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles; 1995 AL ROY. 11 a.m. to noon.

-- Doug Drabek, pitcher, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles; 1990 NL Cy Young, 1994 All-Star. 11 a.m. to noon.

-- Ron Guidry (photo above), pitcher, New York Yankees; 2x World Series Champ, 1978 AL Cy Young, 5x Gold Glove, 4x All-Star, Yankees Co-Captain 1986-88. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

-- Micah Hyde, safety, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packer; 2017 Pro Bowl. 1 to 2 p.m.

-- Rickey Jackson, linebacker, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers; HOF '10, Super Bowl XXIX Champion, 6x Pro Bowl. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

-- Stevie Johnson, wide receiver, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, San Diego Chargers; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

-- Jim Kelly, quarterback, Buffalo Bills; HOF '02, 5x Pro Bowl, 4x AFC Champ. Noon to 1 p.m.

-- Dawson Knox, tight end, Buffalo Bills; 2 to 3 p.m.

-- Paul Molitor, infielder/DH, Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins; HOF '04, 3,000 Hit Club, 1993 World Series Champ, 1993 WS MVP, 7x All-Star, 4x Silver Slugger. Noon to 1 p.m.

-- Lenny Moore, halfback/wide receiver, Baltimore Colts; HOF '75, 2x NFL Champion, 1956 NFL ROY, 1964 NFL MVP, 7x Pro Bowl. 11 a.m. to noon.

-- Eric Moulds, wide receiver, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans; 3x Pro Bowl. 1 to 2 p.m.

-- Andre Rison, wide receiver, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders; Super Bowl XXXI Champion, 1990 All Pro, 5x Pro Bowl. 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

-- Greg Rousseau, defensive end, Buffalo Bills; 2021 1st Round Draft Pick. 2 to 3 p.m.

-- Devin Singletary, running back, Buffalo Bills. 2 to 3 p.m.

-- Sean Waltman, WWE Hall of Famer/DX Member. Noon to 3 p.m.

-- Kellen Winslow Sr., tight end, San Diego Chargers; HOF '02, 3x All-Pro, 5x Pro Bowl. 1 to 2 p.m.

Celebrity Bartending to Benefit Connor O’Neil

A celebrity bartending event is set for 8:30 tonight at the Labatt Blue Zone at 34 Rush. A portion of food and drink purchases made from 8:30-10:30 p.m. will benefit Connor O’Neil, a 9-year-old boy from Lockport who has been stricken with a rare form of malignant brain cancer.

Appearing will be 97 Rock’s DJ Jickster, Channel 2’s Patrick Hammer, Channel 4’s Dave Greber, Buffalo Hockey Legend Danny Gare and Thurman Thomas.

There will be live auctions for autographed sports memorabilia as well with all proceeds benefitting #ConnorStrong. For more information on #ConnorStrong, visit https://connorstrong.org/.