Opening Statements in Sirhan Trial; Injured Angel Makes Comeback, February 14, 1969

The prosecution makes opening statements in the trial of Sirhan B. Sirhan in the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Out of curiosity, how many Daily Mirror readers would be interested in following his trial? I hadn't planned on it, but it's possible.

"Kennedy must be assassinated before June 5." And the May Co. opens a Carlsbad store. A Democratic group supports Councilman Tom Bradley in his race against Mayor Sam Yorty.

Michael Sarne's "Joanna" at the Fox Village in Westswood. At left, Kevin Thomas interviews Vincent Minnelli, who is directing "On a Clear Day" with Barbra Streisand and Yves Montand. Above, a clip from "Bullitt," playing at the Pix Theatre, Hollywood near Vine. Love the sound of those engines!

Jim Murray and Mormon golfer Bill Casper visit the Joseph Smith farm in New York.

Baseball's expansion years are perfect times for comeback stories. Former Angel third baseman Paul Schaal was one of those players hoping for a fresh start. Schaal, a promising young player on some bad Angel teams, had been beaned in 1968 by Boston's Jose Santiago and spent 12 days in the hospital and months trying to get his balance back. The Times' Mitch Chortkoff visited with Schaal as he worked out at Huntington Beach High, readying for the Kansas City Royals' first spring training. "The count was 0-2. Both pitches were outside curves, but I had swung at one," Schaal said. "I had looked pretty bad. I thought [Santiago] would throw me another one." Schaal said he leaned out over the plate and Santiago threw a fastball. Schaal's 1968 season actually ended as a pinch-hitter against Boston. "I hit a fly ball to right field and as I ran down the baseline I tried to look at the ball," Schaal said. "Suddenly I began wobbling. That kind of scared me." The Angels let him go in the expansion draft. His best season in Kansas City statistically was 1971 with 11 home runs and a .274 average. He finished his career in 1974 with the Angels. "I'm sorry to leave the Angels, but expansion brings a lot of opportunities for ballplayers," he told Chortkoff. "I'm happy to be getting another chance." -- Keith Thursby

Comments

[Don]

I followed the Collins story; much better than The Changeling. But I suggest that closely following the Sirhan trial would be less worth the effort. There are already books that trace the Sirhan case, unlike the Collins case. My interest in the Collins documentation was much more in how the people related to one another than in how the story turned out.

The Daily Mirror blog is most engaging when it gives a glimpse into everyday life in past eras, as revealed in the newspapers and other contemporary documents. What was traffic like? What was commerce like? What was high culture and popular culture? How were racial and ethnic categories treated? What did LA look like?

But you are the bloggers, keep doing what you are most drawn to, and your interest will shine through.

[Jim]

Don I agree wholeheartedly with your post. The Collins info really showed how people lived in that time and the info was not previously presented.

The 2/14/69 newspaper really brings back memories. Grant Cooper, the defense attorney live a couple of blocks from whare I grew up and he became a celebrity in that case.

[jaded]

yes, please follow the Sirhan trial. It's a very important, and yet largely forgotten, part of L.A. history.

And don't forget the Manson trial!