That was a great game to be at; the Yanks first WS home game in 12 years. I've watched every game of that 76 WS and it just seemed to me that the Yanks were at such an emotional high after beating the Royals in such a dramatic fashion, that they were thoroughly overwhelmed by the World Series. The Reds just blew them away. The four-game sweep is proof enough of that, but when you also take into consideration that the Reds made no offensive substitutions (part of that was because that was the first year the DH was used) and didn't trail until the first inning of Game 4, and that lasted until the top of the 4th, you really get an idea of how one-sided it was. I don't think there was any way the Yanks, or any other team for that matter, could've beaten the Reds in 1976. Were you at Game 5 of the ALCS in 76 too?
wiedep That must've been scary. I assume you didn't swarm the field. I wouldn't have, but given the euphoria and sense of relief felt at that moment, the fan reaction was almost understandable.
Absolutely not. It was a a riot in every sense of the word. Drug and alcohol fueled rage, not relief. I was concerned for the safety of my 12 year old brother who was separated from me by the herd running down the aisles for almost 20 minutes.
The version that Rocco Scotti sang in Cleveland was just as good, but didn’t get much national attention because the Indians were so bad in those days. His performance of the anthem at the 1981 All Star Game is on RUclips.
The Yankees were the AL Champs from 1976-1978. Unfortunately, in 1976 the Reds swept the Yankees in the World Series. If you look at the scoreboard, you can tell it's a short team name like REDS and not DODGERS (1977 & 1978).
+hdsrvc If the stadium organ was so far removed for timing to be an issue they should have rolled out a decent piano for an artist of Mr. Merrill's stature.
@@rockintetster Not only that, but Yankee Stadium's sound system was centrally located in centerfield, so there was a delay of 1-2 seconds for the singer.
+John Sweeney I agree! I believe at the time the late John Grady was organist at the Met as well as St. Patrick's Cathedral. If the stadium organ was so far removed for timing to be an issue they should have rolled out a decent piano for an artist of Mr. Merrill's stature.
Not necessarily. He just didn't want to mess up the words. I have seen great opera stars, like Pavarotti, Sutherland etc. use the score on stage in concert performances. Perfectly acceptable. This is the way OUR National Anthem *should* be sung -- not all the pop, crap versions by "no-voice" singers -- in my opinion.
Robert Merrill was a great singer, but he had a faulty memory for words and, as a young man, was a stutterer. So it's understandable he'd want the lyrics in front of him, just in case.
Any singer can dry up on words. It would be a terrible embarrassment to forget the words the way Robert Goulet did once with the Canadian anthem. Better to have them in front of you and be safe.
The best rendition ever no one else ever comes close
We even get to hear a little of Bob Sheppard here too...
Just too good to be true. Nothing like it anymore.
Wow. What a voice.
Robert R I P , you are my Idol
I was 1 month and 3 days old. Awesome.
The combination of Merrill's voice with the organist was perfection.
Wow! Such a beautiful perfomance!
The best nobody else even comes close
What a voice ❤
Was there, it was cold that night.
That was a great game to be at; the Yanks first WS home game in 12 years. I've watched every game of that 76 WS and it just seemed to me that the Yanks were at such an emotional high after beating the Royals in such a dramatic fashion, that they were thoroughly overwhelmed by the World Series. The Reds just blew them away. The four-game sweep is proof enough of that, but when you also take into consideration that the Reds made no offensive substitutions (part of that was because that was the first year the DH was used) and didn't trail until the first inning of Game 4, and that lasted until the top of the 4th, you really get an idea of how one-sided it was. I don't think there was any way the Yanks, or any other team for that matter, could've beaten the Reds in 1976. Were you at Game 5 of the ALCS in 76 too?
Reds were just superior.
At the riot? Yes. everyone storming the field should have been arrested.
wiedep That must've been scary. I assume you didn't swarm the field. I wouldn't have, but given the euphoria and sense of relief felt at that moment, the fan reaction was almost understandable.
Absolutely not.
It was a a riot in every sense of the word.
Drug and alcohol fueled rage, not relief.
I was concerned for the safety of my 12 year old brother who was separated from me by the herd running down the aisles for almost 20 minutes.
I saw the thumbnail and went, "Why is Robert De Niro singing the national anthem and why are they calling him Robert Merrill?"
O'er the ramparts we...what now?
The version that Rocco Scotti sang in Cleveland was just as good, but didn’t get much national attention because the Indians were so bad in those days. His performance of the anthem at the 1981 All Star Game is on RUclips.
😚
The Yankees were not in the 1976 world series. This was 1977
The Yankees were the AL Champs from 1976-1978. Unfortunately, in 1976 the Reds swept the Yankees in the World Series. If you look at the scoreboard, you can tell it's a short team name like REDS and not DODGERS (1977 & 1978).
Oops you’re right. I guess I tried to block that awful series from my memory.
Look! it's ENRICO Palazzo
Angelo G. Hahahahaha exactly
Too bad they couldn't have found a better accompanist for the Maestro -- someone who could actually play the piece -- IMO
+kraftpr that is Eddie Layton - he couldn't have a better accompanist . the timing sounds off because Eddie is in the booth and Robert is on the field
That's not Eddie Layton its Toby Wright. And it was a different organ than you're used to.
+hdsrvc If the stadium organ was so far removed for timing to be an issue they should have rolled out a decent piano for an artist of Mr. Merrill's
stature.
kraftpr With all due respect accompanying a vocalist in a stadium Is about as difficult as hitting 95 mph fastball with a blindfold on
@@rockintetster Not only that, but Yankee Stadium's sound system was centrally located in centerfield, so there was a delay of 1-2 seconds for the singer.
He didn't even have the national anthem memorized.
Bob should have grabbed an accompanyist from the Met instead of this calliope player/
+John Sweeney I agree! I believe at the time the late John Grady was organist at the Met as well as St. Patrick's Cathedral. If the stadium organ was so far removed for timing to be an issue they should have rolled out a decent piano for an artist of Mr. Merrill's stature.
Lol, he must have sung the anthem over 1000 times and he’s still carrying the lyrics. Oh well, he was famous for his voice, not his brains.
Messed them up, too.
Hang on, isnt he cheating???? Good singers dont have the anthems lyrics on a paper in front of you
Not necessarily. He just didn't want to mess up the words. I have seen great opera stars, like Pavarotti, Sutherland etc. use the score on stage in concert performances. Perfectly acceptable. This is the way OUR National Anthem *should* be sung -- not all the pop, crap versions by "no-voice" singers -- in my opinion.
Robert Merrill was a great singer, but he had a faulty memory for words and, as a young man, was a stutterer. So it's understandable he'd want the lyrics in front of him, just in case.
Any singer can dry up on words. It would be a terrible embarrassment to forget the words the way Robert Goulet did once with the Canadian anthem. Better to have them in front of you and be safe.
@@kraftpr but he DID mess them up.
This is the way it is supposed to be sung, not this ghetto-style "singing". What a disgrace.