On May 24, 1969 — At San Diego Stadium For the first time since the start of the season, a span of forty-one games, Don Kessinger does not reach base. The Cubs Gold Glove shortstop grounds out four times and hits into a fly-ball double play that caught everyone off guard in his last at-bat. It should never have happened. Umpire Augie Donatelli ruled that Cito Gaston. the Padre center fielder, caught Kessinger’s line drive in the eighth inning when it appeared from the press box as if Gaston clearly trapped the ball. Gaston also seemed surprised but recovered when he saw Donatelli’s right arm in the air and threw to first to double Ted Abernathy.
The Chicago Cub’s however still win with a score of 7-5 win against the San Diego Padres behind Ernie Banks Grand slam.
Banks said, “Those grand slams really do something special to you. They are an experience of great joy because they usually always put your team ahead.” In this case with the Cubs trailing 4-3 it did just that giving them a 7-4 advantage. The Grannis was Banks 17 of his career leaving him 2 behind Gil Hodges for the National League Record.
