Later this year or early next year, I intend to celebrate the golden anniversary of these events I chose to cover.
Moving into this room downstairs so my niece could have a nursery upstairs worked out pretty well in some ways; with new bookshelves, I can access the World Book Encyclopedia from 1972 and many subsequent World Book Year Books whenever I see fit!
From there, I will derive champions of boxing's lower divisions, a basic thing about the NBA's lost franchise, what the New York Cosmos's attendance was before Pele (may he rest in peace) arrived, and much more.
Not only will I draw inspiration from that source, but this afternoon I've received just the thing for this blog. I'd better use it carefully, though; it's in good condition for something from its time.
It's The Official Associated Press Sports Almanac 1975, and it's got a wide range of stuff inside!
A few tidbits from these pages (The Official Associated Press Sports Almanac 1975. New York: Dell Publishing, 1975.):
The Portuguese national team hosted and won the world roller hockey championships.
Dan Kikuchi of San Jose State was the grand champion of the college judo tournament.
Giacomo Agostini of Italy rode his Yamaha to the 350cc motorcycle racing title.
In paddle tennis, a pair of New York men won the national open doubles championship against a team from Santa Monica.
Ruling the Mexico City bullring was Curro Rivera, with 12 kills in six bullfights, but no ears or tails.
The important stuff is in there, too. Best of all, I'll see all of 1974, probably! This almanac was printed in April of 1975, unlike the Information Please books of the '90s and 2000s, which put it all to bed after the World Series.
There are also quite a few things I could derive from the Hall of Shame volumes written by Nash and Zullo, of which my collection is growing. Last year I got curious about what was in the originals, having owned the 2012 Best of Blooperstown book for years. Will there be more in these posts about Ten-cent Beer Night and the extent of the World Football League's woes?
The reader will find out sometime after I do.
EDIT 1:47 p.m. EST: Changed it from Cosmos' to Cosmos's. The word "cosmos" is not plural.
