Baseball in 1961

Potomac Party-Poopers WSH 8-15-1 MIN 6-12-2 WP-Gabler(1-0) LP-Schroll(0-1) HR-Zipfel(1) Killebrew(3) WSH-Went ahead with 2 in the top of the 14th. MIN-Home opener at Metropolitan Stadium. W-L:WSH(4-5) MIN(4-5)

First At Last! LAA 6-9-2 DET 2-6-0 WP-Fowler(1-0) LP-Foytack(0-2) HR-Averill(1) Cash(5) Hunt(6) LAA-First Franchise Win. LAA-Hunt hits 3-run homer in 9th to ensure first win. Injuries-LAA loses both Kluszewski(7 games) and Wagner(10 games) to injuries. DET also loses Boros(1 game) to injury. W-L: LAA(1-8) DET (3-5)

Over The Moon STL 7-18-0 LAD 9-10-3 WP-L. Sherry(1-0) LP-McDaniel(0-1) HR-Neal(2) Moon(1, game-winner in 9th) STL-4 Cards with 3 hits(Flood, White, Musial, Grammas) LAD-Moon, 4 hits(2 triples, single, home run), 4 RBI Inning-by-inning Top 1st-Cards score run on 2 hits and 2 errors. Bot 2nd-Moon triples, scores on Neal HR. Top 4th-Cards score 3 runs, take 4-2 lead(Javier 2-run double). Top 5th-Cards score after Musial double, scoring on Fielder's Choice by H.R. Smith. Top 6th-Don Drysdale leaves game after 5-2/3 ineffective innings with only 2 strikeouts(allowed 13 hits). Top 7th-Cards pinch-hit for Broglio(6 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits), score 2 additional runs for 7-2 lead. Bot 7th-Dodgers explode for 5 runs to tie it, the last 2 on Moon's 2nd triple. Top 9th-Cards leave potential go-ahead runs(Flood, White) on 2nd and 3rd. Bot 9th-W. Davis walks, T. Davis bunt attempt popped to 1st, Snider flied to right, Moon homered with 2 outs to end it. STL(3-6) LAD(5-5) Que...

Hammering MIL 8-12-2 PHI 3-9-0 WP-Willey(1-1) Buzhardt(0-2) HR-Mathews(1) Aaron(3) Willey(1) Aaron-4 hits in 5 at-bats W-L:MIL(4-4) PHI(2-7)

6-Shooter! CHC 9-13-1 PIT 2-7-1 WP-Cardwell(2-0) LP-Mizell(0-1) HR-Banks(3) Santo(1) CHC-6 wins in a row. PIT-5 losses in a row. Cubs outscored Pirates 28-11 in series. W-L:CHC(6-2) PIT(4-5)

Lordy, it's Gordy! CIN 5-10-1 SFG 3-8-0 WP-Jay(2-0) LP-Sanford(0-1) SV-Brosnan(2) HR-Coleman(4, 3rd in last 2 games) Freese(2) Edwards(2) SFG-Kuenn out 10 games with injury W-L:CIN(5-3) SFG(5-4, 5 game winning streak snapped)

14 K Gold WSH 0-3-0 CWS 4-9-0 WP-Pizarro(2-0) LP-Gabler(0-1, relieved McClain after he left with injury in 3rd) HR-Landis(1) Pizarro-14 strikeouts, complete-game shutout. W-L:WSH(3-5) CWS(4-4)

Casey Who? LAA 2-6-1 NYY 3-9-0 WP-Terry(2-0) LP-Moeller(0-2) SV-Coates(1) HR-Wagner(3) Skowron, Kubek, 2 hits apiece. W-L:LAA(0-8) NYY(7-1)

WGN PROMO COPY, 4-20-61 "The first-place Cubs are in action tonight as they take on the defending champion Pirates live from Pittsburgh, starting with the Lead-Off-Man show at 6:55, right here on Channel 9." "This is WGN Television, Channel 9 in Chicago. Stay tuned now for Quick Draw McGraw, it's 6 O'clock."(tone signal) Of course, not a single Cubs promo that aired that year had those words "first-place." But Quick Draw McGraw was on at 6(in color).

Stuck in the Mud-cat DET 1-4-0 CLE 4-12-1 WP-Grant(1-0) LP-Mossi(1-1) HR-Cash(4) Grant-10 strikeouts W-L:DET(3-4) CLE(5-2)

I'll resume my AL recreates with the games of 4/20 in a little bit. While it is somewhat of a surprise that the Cubs are leading in the NL portion, it is no surprise who is leading in the AL: one hint, they rhyme with "Spankees." There are a couple of surprises at the top of the home run list, though: Ken Hunt(LAA) 5, Leo Posada(KCA) 4. Some of the more established names like Maris, Mantle do have a ways to go yet, so it's a sure bet both Hunt and Posada will have decent power numbers as the season progresses. For right now, though, here are your American League standings through 4/19: NYY               6-1 BOS               5-2 CLE               4-2 BAL               5-3 DET  ...

Because of March Madness, I've had to slide back my recreates to the late, late parts of the night and will now offer capsules of the remainder of the 4-19-61 schedule and the standings(the NL ones this time) heading into the 4-20 games: I promise, there will be a surprise when we get there. Capsules first: Cubs 9, Pirates 4(11 innings) Cubbies built a 4-0 lead in this one, only to have the Pirates score 4 in the 7th to tie and have the game-winning run cut down at home by a Billy Williams throw as Don Hoak was cut down trying to score from 1st on a double by Dick Schofield in the 10th. A 2-run homer by Ed Bouchee, single by Billy Williams and another 2-run shot by Ernie Banks in the 11th propelled the streaking Cubs to their 5th win in a row and first place in the NL. Braves 8, Phillies 1 Al Spangler's 2 homers and solo shots by Henry Aaron(2nd) and Lee Maye(1st) sparked the Braves to the win, which snapped a 4-game losing streak and made a complete-game winner out...

I'll do a Cubs-Pirates box and story later today, all I can tell you there was another big Cub inning and that's all I'm gonna tell you-except for the fact that I pinch-hit Altman for Ashburn with a slightly disastrous result. And that Dick Bertell, he's quite good...

Drive For Five CIN 3-7-1 SFG 6-11-3 WP-McCormick(1-1) LP-Hook(0-2) SV-Miller(2) HR-McCormick(1) Pinson(2) Coleman(2.3) Haller(1) SFG-5th win in a row W-L:CIN(4-3) SFG (5-3)

Streak-snapper KCA 1-4-1 BAL 2-8-1(10 innings) WP-Wilhelm(1-0) LP-Fischer(0-2) HR-Posada(4) Ron Hansen:Game-Winning single in 10th snaps 3-game losing streak. W-L:BAL(5-3) KCA(2-5)

Streaking Twins MIN 4-12-0 BOS 2-8-1 WP-Kaat(1-1) LP-Conley(0-1) HR-Martin(1) Killebrew(2) Yastrzemski(1) Twins-4th win in a row W-L: MIN(4-4) BOS(5-2)

Johnny on the spot LAA 3-10-1 NYY 4-12-0(in 14 innings) WP-Arroyo(2-0) LP-Donohue(0-1) HR-Hunt(5) Rice(2) Stafford(1) Mantle(1) Johnny Blanchard's single scores Arroyo with winning run in 14th Injury Report-Rice(LAA) out 5 games W-L:LAA(0-7) NYY(6-1)

The Duke of Snider STL 4-12-1 LAD 9-13-0 WP-Craig(2-1) LP-Cicotte(0-1) HR-Snider(1, 2) Grammas(2) Duke Snider-2 homers, 4 RBI's, 3 runs scored W-L:STL(2-5) LAD(5-3)

The Loes-down CIN 0-4-1 SFG 6-11-2 WP-Loes(1-1) LP-Purkey(1-1) HR-Cepeda(1) McCovey(1) W-L:CIN(4-2) SFG(4-3)

Frank's Big Shew MIL 1-5-0 PHI 2-6-0 WP-Sullivan(2-0) LP-Burdette(1-1) HR-Aaron(1) Frank Sullivan, 11 strikeouts for Phils W-L:MIL(2-4) PHI(2-5)

Cubs spoil Pirates home-opening party with 7 in 6th, 10-4 Everyone gets a hit in 20-hit attack BY EDWARD PRELL, Chicago Tribune Press Service PITTSBURGH, Apr 18-They got their rings, their 1960 World Series flag, then they abandoned ship in the 6th. An Opening Day ring ceremony was crashed big time by the Cubbies as they treated the World Champion Pirates like scurvy with a 12-batter, 7-run 6th en route to a 10-4 win, the Cubbies 4th in a row after dropping their first 2. Pirates strike 1st in 2nd After 1-1/2 scoreless innings, the Pirates turned 2 triples into 3 runs in the home half of the 2nd, Bob Clemente's 3-bagger starting the festivities, then scoring on Don Hoak's sac fly. Dick Schofield thought he'd triple too, Smokey Burgess got him one better with his home run giving the champs a 3-0 lead and a cushion which the festive faithful was certain would be the winning one. The Cubbies strung together 3 straight singles from Don Zimmer, league-leading hitter Billy ...

SENATORS STAGE OWN FIREWORKS, SPOIL SOX HOME OPENER, 6-5 Home run by Cottier gives Senators lead, win BY RICHARD DOZER Chuck Cottier had his eyes on Jim Landis from the very first pitch. The Senators second baseman flied out to Landis each of the first 3 times he was at the plate, then when the game counted, staged his own fireworks display with a lead-off double off Billy Pierce in the 8th and for good measure made Turk Lown a victim for the 2nd time in the young season in the 9th with a 2-run homer to help spoil the Sox home opener, 6-5 in front of a crushed Comiskey crowd. It started with Minnie After Pierce put down an opening Senator threat in the first, fan favorite Minnie Minoso sent Bennie Daniels' fastball over the right field wall for the first Comiskey run of '61. After a lead-off double by Pierce in the 3rd, Minoso struck again with a 2-run shot, giving the Sox a seemingly commanding 3-0 lead after 3. By that time, Cottier had already flied twice to Landis an...

Reeled In KCA 3-6-2 BAL 0-2-1 WP-Bass(1-0) LP-Barber(1-1) HR-Posada(3) Bass-Complete game 2-hitter(both hits by Jim Gentile) Injury-Dave Philley(BAL) out 7 games W-L:KCA(2-4) BAL(4-3)

Got brushed back by weather-related wireless issues yesterday, so these 2 games will get "boxed" and "Chicago Tribune"-storied at some point today: Washington 6, Chicago WS 5 Kansas City 3, Baltimore 0 On the latter, Norm Bass "reeled in" a 2-hit shutout! Details as promised later.

Twins win 3rd! MIN 8-9-4 BOS 4-5-2 WP-Pascual(1-0) LP-Delock(0-1) HR-Allison(3) Killebrew(1) Pascual 8 strikeouts W-L:MIN(3-4) BOS(5-1)

Another Bronx Bombing LAA 6-9-2 NYY 12-14-2 WP-Turley(1-0) LP-McBride(0-2) HR-Kluzsewski(2) Richardson 4-5, 4 runs scored Skowron 3 RBI's, leads majors with 10 W-L: LAA(0-6) NYY(5-1)

Another Blank Fired DET 2-7-1 CLE 0-6-0 WP-Lary(1-1) LP-Bell(1-1) SV-Fox(1) Second shutout win in a row for Tigers HR-Lary(1) W-L:DET(3-3) CLE(4-2)

6 For White!  STL 14-20-1 LAD 7-11-2(10 innings) WP-McDaniel(1-0) LP-Craig(1-1) HR-Roseboro(1,2) Bill White-6-for 6(1 walk ), 2 hits in 10th. STL-7 runs in 10th after Dodgers scored 3 in bottom of 9th to tie. Bob Gibson-9 walks in 7-1/3 innings. Sandy Koufax-used as reliever in 10th. Roseboro-2 HR's, 4 RBI's. I AM EXHAUSTED!

Those Davis Boys PIT 1-7-1 LAD 3-7-0 WP-Williams(1-0) LP-Law(1-1) SV-L. Sherry HR-Stuart(1) W. Davis-1-2, 2 walks, 2 runs scored, stolen base. T. Davis-2-4, 2 RBI's, including the go-ahead run in 7th. S. Williams-10 strikeouts in 8-1/3 innings. W-L:PIT(4-2) LAD(4-2)

Sweep at the Stick PHI 2-7-0 SFG 5-9-0 WP-Jones(1-1) LP-Roberts(0-2) SV-Miller F. Alou-Tripled for 2nd consecutive game, 2 RBI. W-L: PHI(1-5) SFG(3-3)

Rampaging Redlegs CIN 11-15-0 STL 1-8-0 WP-O' Toole(2-0) LP-Sadecki(0-1) HR-Pinson(1) Pinson 4-6, 5 RBI's CIN-5 runs in 7th. W-L CIN(4-1) STL(1-4)

Hobbie Horse MIL 0-8-0 CHC 2-6-1 WP-Hobbie(1-1) LP-Spahn(1-1) SV-Elston(2) HR-Williams(3) MIL-Aaron grounded into 2 double plays. W/L-MIL(2-3) CHC-(3-2)

Battey's 2nd home run insures DH sweep for Twins Twins win 2nd on only 4 hits BALTIMORE, Apr 16(AP)-It'll go down in Oriole lore as a combined 4-hitter. Unfortunately for the Birds, they all left the yard. Earl Battey's 2nd home run of the game in the 9th inning gave the Minnesota Twins a wild and wooly 7-6 win in game 2 of today's double-header at Memorial Stadium after the Orioles had scored 3 times in the bottom of the 8th to take a 6-5 lead. Jim Lemon's lead-off homer off Milt Pappas tied the score at 6, then one out later, Battey, who had homered in the 7th, sent Pappas's fastball sailing in the early Maryland evening, giving the Twins the lead and the eventual win after winning pitcher Ray Moore got Jim Gentile to foul out to Battey, ending the game and the double-header, which the Twins swept, scoring a 6-1 victory in the opening game. Orioles score 3 in 8th off Ramos, Moore The Twins entered the bottom of the 8th in game 2 with a 5-3 lead ...

Game 1 LAA 4-9-0 BOS 6-7-0 WP-Schwall(1-0) LP-Moeller(0-1) SV-Forneieles(2) HR-Wertz(1) Hunt(4) Schwall(1) Buddin(1) Hunt(LAA) leads AL with 4 home runs Game 2 LAA 3-6-0 BOS 8-12-1 WP-Monboquette(2-0) LP-Grba(0-2) HR-Moran(1) Kluszewski(1) Geiger(1) Red Sox are 5-0 Injuries: LAA-Pearson out 5 BOS-Green out 5

Game 1 KCA 3-8-1 NYY4-11-1 WP-Terry(1-0) LP-Shaw(0-1) SV-Arroyo(1) Game 2 KC 2-8-1 NYY 7-11-1 WP-Ford(2-0) LP-Archer(0-2) HR-Maris(2) Ford 11 strikeouts, Skowron bases-clearing double in 7th