I think another important point, vis-a-vis early 20th century clothing, is that there was no air conditioning. The temperature at which people were comfortable was likely significantly higher.

DC was notoriously unliveable during the summer, which is why Congress went out of session and everyone who could left for the mountains or other cooler places.

Home air conditioning didn't become nearly universal until sometime in the 70's. My parents lived in Cleveland Park in DC in the 50's, and we never had it then. During the summer I'd strip down to my shorts and sleep on the linoleum floor in the basement with the dehumidifier running full blast, and in midsummer days on the playground the baseball field was nearly always deserted whenever there wasn't an actual game being played. I'm reasonably sure that it would be a complete shock to the average 21st century American nervous system (mine included) to have to go without midsummer air conditioning for more than a few days at a time.

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That was reinforced in the 1955 World Series, when Jackie Robinson caused Turley to completely unravel in game 3 by running halfway down the line from third to home every time Turley went into his windup, screaming like Monica Seles every time he did it.

It's not 1955, but I noticed Jackie doing similar things when I last rewatched Game 7 of the 1952 World Series. I think most have forgotten what a terror on the basepaths he truly was, especially when he was on third base. You don't see guys doing that anymore, that's for sure.

Other than Tex Rickard's voice and that game saving catch by Billy Martin, the most memorable moment for me in that kinescope was the sight of Roy Campanella bunting for a hit, and beating it out. While Robinson's base stealing exploits are part of his legend and well known to all, what often gets overlooked is the fact that the Dodgers as a team stole 50% more bases that year than the team with the second highest total. They were pretty much the only team in the first postwar decade that made aggressive base running a part of their overall offensive strategy, even if by deadball era or 2012 standards their SB totals weren't all that high.

That Hardball Times, IIRC, called it the greatest Game Seven ever. It's certainly the greatest game most contemporary fans don't know anything about (unlike 1960's Game Seven, 1975's Game Six, the Thomson game, etc.)


(T)he game would certainly have been remembered more if there were video footage. That, and if Washington didn't go from the end of 1971 to the beginning of 2005 without a team. History tends to be forgotten when nobody has an incentive to remember it.

It would probably be a better remembered game if both franchises were still in their native cities.

It's not 1955, but I noticed Jackie doing similar things when I last rewatched Game 7 of the 1952 World Series. I think most have forgotten what a terror on the basepaths he truly was, especially when he was on third base. You don't see guys doing that anymore, that's for sure.

If you want to see a really modern terror on the base paths, watch any game in which Bryce Harper gets on base. In fact, I used that exact phrase recently to describe him. He might not be screaming at the pitcher these days (although he was known for his antics on the bases in his college and minor league days), but he definitely keeps the defense on their toes. He's worth a good handful of runs scored simply by his reckless endeavors running the bases. I doubt that television captures it the way you might see it in person at a game. Any of you with a chance to go to a Nats game in the post-season, DO IT.

If you want to see a really modern terror on the base paths, watch any game in which Bryce Harper gets on base.

Harper "runs for a triple" right out of the box - a ferocious baserunner, not the least bit worried about embarrassing weak-armed outfielders. Folks that haven't been watching him closely may be in for a surprise.