1963 – On an all-or-nothing day for the Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax, he gives up long balls to Roberto Clemente and Donn Clendenon, but strikes out 9 Pirates batters in 7 innings, and also gives up six runs. Sandy’s performance probably looks pretty good to Pirate skipper Danny Murtaugh, whose own staff gives up 19 runs, but it doesn’t prepare fans for the four-year run on which Brooklyn’s late-blooming bonus baby is about to embark.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1963 – On an all-or-nothing day for the Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax, he gives up long balls to Roberto Clemente and Donn Clendenon, but strikes out 9 Pirates batters in 7 innings, and also gives up six runs. Sandy’s performance probably looks pretty good to Pirate skipper Danny Murtaugh, whose own staff gives up 19 runs, but it doesn’t prepare fans for the four-year run on which Brooklyn’s late-blooming bonus baby is about to embark.

1963 – The Cincinnati Reds sell veteran pitcher Johnny Klippstein to the Philadelphia Phillies. After going 7-7 over two seasons with Philadelphia, Klippstein will help the Minnesota Twins win the American League pennant in 1965, posting a 9-3 record.

ByTom

1963 – The Cincinnati Reds sell veteran pitcher Johnny Klippstein to the Philadelphia Phillies. After going 7-7 over two seasons with Philadelphia, Klippstein will help the Minnesota Twins win the American League pennant in 1965, posting a 9-3 record.

1963 – The New York Mets, who finished last in the National League with a 40-120 record in their inaugural season, purchase pitcher Carl Willey from the Milwaukee Braves. Willey will boost a pitching rotation that includes Roger Craig, Al Jackson and Tracy Stallard. The Mets will improve to 51-111 this season.

ByTom

1963 – The New York Mets, who finished last in the National League with a 40-120 record in their inaugural season, purchase pitcher Carl Willey from the Milwaukee Braves. Willey will boost a pitching rotation that includes Roger Craig, Al Jackson and Tracy Stallard. The Mets will improve to 51-111 this season.

Pete Rose

Pete Rose plays in his first spring training game

ByThis Day in Baseball

On March 10, 1963, a little known minor league infielder named Pete Rose plays in his first spring training game. The 21-year-old Rose, who goes 2-for-2 in his debut against the Chicago White Sox, will make the Cincinnati Reds’ Opening Day roster. As the team’s starting second baseman, Rose will win the National League’s Rookie…

Songwriters Ruth Roberts and Bill Katz introduced the official Met theme song, Meet the Mets

Songwriters Ruth Roberts and Bill Katz introduced the official Met theme song, Meet the Mets

ByTom

Songwriters Ruth Roberts and Bill Katz introduced the official Met theme song, Meet the Mets, to the public. The tune will be modernized in 1984, adding Long Island, New Jersey, Brooklyn, Queens, Uptown and Down, to the team’s East side, West side geographical realm.

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1963 – Reliever Jim Umbricht undergoes 6-1/2 hours of surgery at Methodist Hospital to remove malignant cancer tumors from his leg, thigh and groin. Two months later, he is back on the mound pitching for the Colt .45s. 

ByTom

1963 – Reliever Jim Umbricht undergoes 6-1/2 hours of surgery at Methodist Hospital to remove malignant cancer tumors from his leg, thigh and groin. Two months later, he is back on the mound pitching for the Colt .45s.