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6/9/1961 – The Los Angeles Angels were playing a doubleheader at Fenway Park. The Angels lineup for game two had Ken Hamlin batting first and Gene Leek eighth. However, Leek started the game by grounding out and the Red Sox did not comment. The next batter should have been the ninth-place hitter, pitcher Ryne Duren. However, Lee Thomas came to the plate and singled to left. At this point the Sox again did not comment. Leon Wagner, properly following Thomas, singled to right driving advancing Thomas to third. At this point, Boston could not protest the batter since Wagner was the correct one. Thomas scored on a ground out by the next batter, Ken Hunt. In the second inning, sixth place hitter Ken Aspromonte led off with a single and the seventh batter, Steve Bilko, was called out on strikes. Leek should have hit now but Hamlin strode to the plate and beat out an infield hit. The Red Sox now point the improper batter to the umpires and Leek, the proper batter, is called out. The Angels follow the correct lineup for the rest of the game and go on to beat the Red Sox, 5-1.

ByThis Day in Baseball

6/9/1961 – The Los Angeles Angels were playing a doubleheader at Fenway Park. The Angels lineup for game two had Ken Hamlin batting first and Gene Leek eighth. However, Leek started the game by grounding out and the Red Sox did not comment. The next batter should have been the ninth-place hitter, pitcher Ryne Duren. However, Lee Thomas came to the plate and singled to left. At this point the Sox again did not comment. Leon Wagner, properly following Thomas, singled to right driving advancing Thomas to third. At this point, Boston could not protest the batter since Wagner was the correct one. Thomas scored on a ground out by the next batter, Ken Hunt. In the second inning, sixth place hitter Ken Aspromonte led off with a single and the seventh batter, Steve Bilko, was called out on strikes. Leek should have hit now but Hamlin strode to the plate and beat out an infield hit. The Red Sox now point the improper batter to the umpires and Leek, the proper batter, is called out. The Angels follow the correct lineup for the rest of the game and go on to beat the Red Sox, 5-1.

The A’s sign Lew Krausse, who hurled 19 no-hitters and struck out 24 batters in one game on the scholastic level, as an amateur free agent the day after he graduates from high school for $125,000. Eight days from now, the 18 year-old fireballing phenom will throw a three-hit shutout against L.A. in his major league debut.

ByTom

The A’s sign Lew Krausse, who hurled 19 no-hitters and struck out 24 batters in one game on the scholastic level, as an amateur free agent the day after he graduates from high school for $125,000. Eight days from now, the 18 year-old fireballing phenom will throw a three-hit shutout against L.A. in his major league debut.

The Milwaukee Braves set a major-league record with four consecutive home runs in the 7th inning against Cincinnati

The Milwaukee Braves set a major-league record with four consecutive home runs in the 7th inning against Cincinnati

ByTom

1961 – The Milwaukee Braves set a major-league record with four consecutive home runs in the 7th inning against Cincinnati. Eddie Mathews and Hank Aaron hit back-to-back home runs off starter Jim Maloney; Joe Adcock greets reliever Marshall Bridges with another home run, and Frank Thomas sets the record. When these four teammates end their major-league careers, they will have hit a combined total of 1,889 homers. For all the bombardment, the Braves lose, 10 – 8.

1961 – Roberto Clemente’s second career home run off Sandy Koufax comes, like the first, at the Los Angeles Coliseum, a 1st-inning, bases-empty blast which gets Pittsburgh off to a quick 1 – 0 lead. Unlike the earlier Coliseum clout (his opposite-field moon shot of August 30, 1960), this one is pulled over the Coliseum’s notoriously surmountable left-field barrier. However, unlike Dodger left fielder – and left-handed hitter – Wally Moon’s stock in trade, the strategically-served pop flies derisively dubbed ‘Moon Shots’, this moon shot needs no air quotes, landing some 35 rows beyond the screen.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1961 – Roberto Clemente’s second career home run off Sandy Koufax comes, like the first, at the Los Angeles Coliseum, a 1st-inning, bases-empty blast which gets Pittsburgh off to a quick 1 – 0 lead. Unlike the earlier Coliseum clout (his opposite-field moon shot of August 30, 1960), this one is pulled over the Coliseum’s notoriously surmountable left-field barrier. However, unlike Dodger left fielder – and left-handed hitter – Wally Moon’s stock in trade, the strategically-served pop flies derisively dubbed ‘Moon Shots’, this moon shot needs no air quotes, landing some 35 rows beyond the screen.

Robin Roberts, who will finish his career playing with three other clubs, wins his last game for the Phillies, beating the Giants at Candlestick Park, 3-2. The future Hall of Famer’s lone victory this season, a complete-game six-hitter, is his 234th win for Philadelphia, the most by a right-hander in franchise history.

ByTom

Robin Roberts, who will finish his career playing with three other clubs, wins his last game for the Phillies, beating the Giants at Candlestick Park, 3-2. The future Hall of Famer’s lone victory this season, a complete-game six-hitter, is his 234th win for Philadelphia, the most by a right-hander in franchise history.

1961 – Roberto Clemente hits a 1st-inning home run and has a 4th-inning outfield assist, in Pittsburgh’s 5 – 2 win over Philly. In UPI’s account, Clemente’s name and nationality undergo unnerving transformations: “Alberto, whose 1st inning homer was his seventh of the year, was banished in the 8th inning in a spectacular arm-waving argument with first base umpire Ed Sudol. The fiery Cuban insisted he beat out a grounder to short but was overruled. Before leaving the field, Clemente tossed a cap high above the Pirate dugout.”

ByBaseball

1961 – Roberto Clemente hits a 1st-inning home run and has a 4th-inning outfield assist, in Pittsburgh’s 5 – 2 win over Philly. In UPI’s account, Clemente’s name and nationality undergo unnerving transformations: “Alberto, whose 1st inning homer was his seventh of the year, was banished in the 8th inning in a spectacular arm-waving argument with first base umpire Ed Sudol. The fiery Cuban insisted he beat out a grounder to short but was overruled. Before leaving the field, Clemente tossed a cap high above the Pirate dugout.”

1961 – Joe Torre’s “most embarrassing moment” comes today. The Braves’ rookie is victim No. 7 out of 27 on the season for Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente, a somewhat sick total of outfield assists for a man seven years in the league. While nothing out of the ordinary for Roberto, this moment will be impossible to forget for Joe Torre, no matter how much he may want to: “I got a hit to right field and rounded first base as most runners do. Clemente picked up the ball, faked a throw to second and threw it so fast behind me to first base I was caught and tagged out. It was my most embarrassing moment on the field.” The sixth-inning, rally-killing baserunning gaffe is somewhat differently portrayed in Pirates beat writer Les Biederman’s contemporary account: “The only time the Braves had a chance to score on Harvey Haddix after the 1st inning came in the 6th inning when Torre singled to right with Frank Thomas on second. Torre rounded first and Dick Stuart cut off Clemente’s throw home and politely tagged out Torre. Then Clemente completed the inning by going to the 375-foot mark and spearing Joe Adcock’s long shot.” Whether Biederman or Torre’s account is most accurate, this remains a truly cringe-worthy moment and a valuable lesson for the young rookie, learned the hard way.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1961 – Joe Torre’s “most embarrassing moment” comes today. The Braves’ rookie is victim No. 7 out of 27 on the season for Pirates right fielder Roberto Clemente, a somewhat sick total of outfield assists for a man seven years in the league. While nothing out of the ordinary for Roberto, this moment will be impossible to forget for Joe Torre, no matter how much he may want to: “I got a hit to right field and rounded first base as most runners do. Clemente picked up the ball, faked a throw to second and threw it so fast behind me to first base I was caught and tagged out. It was my most embarrassing moment on the field.” The sixth-inning, rally-killing baserunning gaffe is somewhat differently portrayed in Pirates beat writer Les Biederman’s contemporary account: “The only time the Braves had a chance to score on Harvey Haddix after the 1st inning came in the 6th inning when Torre singled to right with Frank Thomas on second. Torre rounded first and Dick Stuart cut off Clemente’s throw home and politely tagged out Torre. Then Clemente completed the inning by going to the 375-foot mark and spearing Joe Adcock’s long shot.” Whether Biederman or Torre’s account is most accurate, this remains a truly cringe-worthy moment and a valuable lesson for the young rookie, learned the hard way.