The Alou brothers and Orlando Cepeda lead an 18-hit attack as San Francisco overpowers the Cubs, 14 – 1. Dick Ellsworth gives up six runs in the 1st without retiring a batter. Cepeda hits two homers and a double and drives in five runs, while Felipe Alou hits his first grand slam and brother Matty Alou his first major league homer. Matty will combine with Jesus Alou in 1965 to homer in the same game. Mike McCormick is the easy winner.

ByBaseball

The Alou brothers and Orlando Cepeda lead an 18-hit attack as San Francisco overpowers the Cubs, 14 – 1. Dick Ellsworth gives up six runs in the 1st without retiring a batter. Cepeda hits two homers and a double and drives in five runs, while Felipe Alou hits his first grand slam and brother Matty Alou his first major league homer. Matty will combine with Jesus Alou in 1965 to homer in the same game. Mike McCormick is the easy winner.

The White Sox purchase Wes Covington from the Braves. Covington will play for four teams this season, before settling in with a number of solid years for the Phillies.

ByBaseball

The White Sox purchase Wes Covington from the Braves. Covington will play for four teams this season, before settling in with a number of solid years for the Phillies.

The Cardinals tie a major-league record when three pinch hitters – Charlie James, Don Taussig and Alex Grammas – strike out in the 9th inning against the Reds. Cincinnati’s Bill Henry pitches just the 9th to save the 3 – 2 win, the Reds’ 9th in a row.

ByBaseball

The Cardinals tie a major-league record when three pinch hitters – Charlie James, Don Taussig and Alex Grammas – strike out in the 9th inning against the Reds. Cincinnati’s Bill Henry pitches just the 9th to save the 3 – 2 win, the Reds’ 9th in a row.

Mike McCormick fires his second 3-hit shutout of the year, stopping the Pirates, 3 – 0. The Giants are 3-up, 3-down in eight of the nine innings, but score three in the 5th, two on McCormick’s single.

ByBaseball

Mike McCormick fires his second 3-hit shutout of the year, stopping the Pirates, 3 – 0. The Giants are 3-up, 3-down in eight of the nine innings, but score three in the 5th, two on McCormick’s single.

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Baltimore Orioles slugger Jim Gentile becomes the first major leaguer to hit grand slams in consecutive innings

ByThis Day in Baseball

On May 9, 1961, Baltimore Orioles slugger Jim Gentile of the Orioles becomes the third player to hit grand slams in consecutive innings (after Tony Lazzeri in 1936 and Jim Tabor in 1939; Rudy York also hit two grand slams in a game in 1946, but not in consecutive innings) when he belts one-off Pedro…

The Pirates’ most dangerous hitter, Roberto Clemente, leads his team to a 9 – 6 decision over San Francisco, going 3 for 4 with a home run and 4 RBI, but his scariest shot comes before the game and travels about 60 feet. Les Biederman of The Sporting News reports: “Gino Cimoli can attest that Roberto Clemente hits the ball as hard as any batter in the league. Cimoli was pitching the final turn in batting practice before the night game with the Giants at Forbes Field when Clemente hit the last pitch before the Giants stepped into the cage. It was a liner that caught Cimoli on the left side below the heart and he went down in a heap. The Pirates outfielder walked off under his own steam. X-rays failed to reveal a fracture although Cimoli had a badly bruised side from the terrific impact of the ball.”

ByBaseball

The Pirates’ most dangerous hitter, Roberto Clemente, leads his team to a 9 – 6 decision over San Francisco, going 3 for 4 with a home run and 4 RBI, but his scariest shot comes before the game and travels about 60 feet. Les Biederman of The Sporting News reports: “Gino Cimoli can attest that Roberto Clemente hits the ball as hard as any batter in the league. Cimoli was pitching the final turn in batting practice before the night game with the Giants at Forbes Field when Clemente hit the last pitch before the Giants stepped into the cage. It was a liner that caught Cimoli on the left side below the heart and he went down in a heap. The Pirates outfielder walked off under his own steam. X-rays failed to reveal a fracture although Cimoli had a badly bruised side from the terrific impact of the ball.”

Tom Seaver Signed Jersey New York Mets -- COA

New York announces that it will be known as the Mets, short for Metropolitans

ByThis Day in Baseball

On May 8, 1961, The new National League entry in New York is officially named the “Mets.” Not Metropolitans, just Mets. At a ceremony at the Savoy Hilton, owner Joan Payson swings a bottle of champagne and, after three unsuccessful whacks, turns the job over to a waiter who uses a bottle opener. The “Mets” was the choice among the 10…

The New York Metropolitan Baseball Club, Inc. announces the New York National League franchise’s team nickname will be the Mets.

The New York Metropolitan Baseball Club, Inc. announces the New York National League franchise’s team nickname will be the Mets.

ByTom

The New York Metropolitan Baseball Club, Inc. announces the New York National League franchise’s team nickname will be the Mets. Other names considered included the Avengers, Burros (a play on the word boroughs), Continentals, Islanders, Jets, Rebels, Skyliners, and the Meadowlarks, which was the first choice of owner Joan Payson.

The Angels trade P Tex Clevenger and OF Bob Cerv to the Yankees for P Ryne Duren, P Johnny James and OF Lee Thomas. For Cerv, it is his third tour of duty in pinstripes.

ByBaseball

The Angels trade P Tex Clevenger and OF Bob Cerv to the Yankees for P Ryne Duren, P Johnny James and OF Lee Thomas. For Cerv, it is his third tour of duty in pinstripes.