|

9/24/1964 – The Cubs official lineup showed Ernie Banks playing first base and batting fifth. John Boccabella started the game in his place and grounded out in the second and fourth innings. However, in the sixth Ron Santo tripled and so did Boccabella, scoring Santo. The Dodgers manager Walter Alston then protested the batting order. Boccabella’s triple was nullified and Santo placed back at third. Ernie Banks was deemed to be the proper batter and was called out and given a time at bat. However, this was an incorrect ruling by crew chief Frank Secory. According to rule 3.08(a)(3), Boccabella became the first baseman and the proper fifth place batter when he took the field in the top of the first inning as an unannounced substitute. Therefore, it was incorrect to remove Boccabella’s triple and to charge Banks with a time at bat. Boccabella finished the game at first base, collecting a single in the eighth inning. The Cubs won with a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning thanks to three walks, an error and Santo’s sacrifice fly. The final score was 4-3.

ByTom

9/24/1964 – The Cubs official lineup showed Ernie Banks playing first base and batting fifth. John Boccabella started the game in his place and grounded out in the second and fourth innings. However, in the sixth Ron Santo tripled and so did Boccabella, scoring Santo. The Dodgers manager Walter Alston then protested the batting order. Boccabella’s triple was nullified and Santo placed back at third. Ernie Banks was deemed to be the proper batter and was called out and given a time at bat. However, this was an incorrect ruling by crew chief Frank Secory. According to rule 3.08(a)(3), Boccabella became the first baseman and the proper fifth place batter when he took the field in the top of the first inning as an unannounced substitute. Therefore, it was incorrect to remove Boccabella’s triple and to charge Banks with a time at bat. Boccabella finished the game at first base, collecting a single in the eighth inning. The Cubs won with a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning thanks to three walks, an error and Santo’s sacrifice fly. The final score was 4-3.

|

7/6/1962 – In the top of the second inning with two outs, seventh-place hitter Mack Jones was the scheduled batter for the Braves. However, Del Crandall, eighth on the lineup sheet, strode to the plate and walked. Pitcher Bob Hendley should be the next batter but now Jones came to the plate. After Jones singled, the Cubs protested the order of the batters. The umpires ruled Hendley out and disallowed Jones’ single. The Braves went on to win the contest, 5-3, on Eddie Mathews’ 2-run homer in the tenth inning.

ByThis Day in Baseball

7/6/1962 – In the top of the second inning with two outs, seventh-place hitter Mack Jones was the scheduled batter for the Braves. However, Del Crandall, eighth on the lineup sheet, strode to the plate and walked. Pitcher Bob Hendley should be the next batter but now Jones came to the plate. After Jones singled, the Cubs protested the order of the batters. The umpires ruled Hendley out and disallowed Jones’ single. The Braves went on to win the contest, 5-3, on Eddie Mathews’ 2-run homer in the tenth inning.

|

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.

| |

Jack Harshman hurls a 16-inning shutout

ByThis Day in Baseball

8/13/1954 – In a 16-inning game in which the home-standing White Sox beat the Tigers, 1-0, substitute first-sacker Wayne Belardi batted out of turn. Reno Bertoia pinch ran for fifth-place hitting first baseman Walt Dropo in the thirteenth inning and stayed in the game playing second base. Belardi entered the game in the eighth spot at that time. In the fifteenth inning after fourth-place hitter Ray Boone had walked with one out, Belardi came to the plate in Bertoia’s spot and fouled out to the catcher. Detroit realized their mistake and sent Belardi up again the next inning and he successfully sacrificed catcher Red Wilson to second base. Both pitchers, Al Aber for Detroit and Jack Harshman for Chicago, pitched complete games.

|

8/4/1954 – In the top of the second in the game in Pittsburgh, the Reds batted out of order as Roy McMillan, the number eight hitter, batted instead of Ed Bailey in the number seven spot. He made an out to end the inning, so the Pirates did not say anything. Bailey came up to lead off the top of third when the proper hitter would have been the Reds pitcher. Bailey made an out, so again the Pirates kept quiet. The Reds discovered the mistake, and in the fifth and later the two batted in the correct order.

ByTom

8/4/1954 – In the top of the second in the game in Pittsburgh, the Reds batted out of order as Roy McMillan, the number eight hitter, batted instead of Ed Bailey in the number seven spot. He made an out to end the inning, so the Pirates did not say anything. Bailey came up to lead off the top of third when the proper hitter would have been the Reds pitcher. Bailey made an out, so again the Pirates kept quiet. The Reds discovered the mistake, and in the fifth and later the two batted in the correct order.

The Cardinals hit out of turn for the second time in less than a month

ByThis Day in Baseball

8/21/1953 – The Cardinals hit out of turn for the second time in less than a month. Playing at home against Cincinnati, the Redbirds went down in order in the first inning. Ray Jablonski was due up to start the second but Steve Bilko batted one slot early in the order. After Bilko grounded out, the Cardinals discovered the error and told the umpires who declared Jablonski out. Then Bilko hit again in his proper place and homered for the game’s first run. The Cards won, 4-0.

|

7/24/1953 – The Cardinals were in Philadelphia and manager Eddie Stanky turned in a lineup card with the first three batters listed as Solly Hemus, Stanky and Stan Musial. However as the game started the Redbirds followed the lineup as posted in the dugout. Stanky batted and struck out. Then Hemus singled and as Musial came to the plate Phillies skipper Steve O’Neill spoke with plate Umpire Bill Jackowski. The single by Hemus was nullified and Musial declared out. Musial later stole home for the Redbirds only run of the game as two Granny Hamner homers defeated the Cards, 2-1.

ByTom

7/24/1953 – The Cardinals were in Philadelphia and manager Eddie Stanky turned in a lineup card with the first three batters listed as Solly Hemus, Stanky and Stan Musial. However as the game started the Redbirds followed the lineup as posted in the dugout. Stanky batted and struck out. Then Hemus singled and as Musial came to the plate Phillies skipper Steve O’Neill spoke with plate Umpire Bill Jackowski. The single by Hemus was nullified and Musial declared out. Musial later stole home for the Redbirds only run of the game as two Granny Hamner homers defeated the Cards, 2-1.

|

8/24/1952 – After losing the first game of a doubleheader, the Philadelphia Athletics started the second game confused. Eddie Joost struck out and Ferris Fain doubled to left. Dave Philley then walked although he was listed in the fifth spot in the order not third. Gus Zernial doubled, bringing White Sox manager Paul Richards out of the dugout. According to the official lineup, Cass Michaels followed Philley. After a 15-minute delay while the umpires read the rule book, Michaels was declared out and Zernial’s double was eliminated. However, the Athletics still won the game, 5-1.

ByThis Day in Baseball

8/24/1952 – After losing the first game of a doubleheader, the Philadelphia Athletics started the second game confused. Eddie Joost struck out and Ferris Fain doubled to left. Dave Philley then walked although he was listed in the fifth spot in the order not third. Gus Zernial doubled, bringing White Sox manager Paul Richards out of the dugout. According to the official lineup, Cass Michaels followed Philley. After a 15-minute delay while the umpires read the rule book, Michaels was declared out and Zernial’s double was eliminated. However, the Athletics still won the game, 5-1.

|

8/3/1952 – The Yankees were playing a double header against the Browns in St. Louis. In the top of the second in the first game, Gene Woodling, who was the number seven hitter in the order came up in Gil McDougald’s number six spot. After Woodling took a ball, the Yankees discovered the mistake and McDougald came up without penalty with the count 1-0. He fouled out.

ByThis Day in Baseball

8/3/1952 – The Yankees were playing a double header against the Browns in St. Louis. In the top of the second in the first game, Gene Woodling, who was the number seven hitter in the order came up in Gil McDougald’s number six spot. After Woodling took a ball, the Yankees discovered the mistake and McDougald came up without penalty with the count 1-0. He fouled out.

|

8/1/1951 – In the first game of two at Wrigley Field, the score was tied at one apiece in the top of the seventh inning. The Giants had the bases loaded with no one out after two singles and an intentional walk to catcher Wes Westrum. Davey Williams ran for Westrum, who was hitting in the eighth spot in the lineup. The Giants failed to score in the frame and Williams remained in the game playing second base and Sal Yvars entered the contest to catch and bat in the first slot in the lineup. In the eighth inning, the Giants had a run across with two out and runners on first and second. It was Williams turn to hit but New York manager Leo Durocher insisted to plate umpire Lee Ballanfant that Yvars was the proper batter. Ballanfant correctly did not comment on the idea and allowed Yvars to come to the plate. Since Yvars struck out for the final out of the inning, the Cubs remained quiet about the batting out of order. Chicago scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to win the contest, 3-2.

ByTom

8/1/1951 – In the first game of two at Wrigley Field, the score was tied at one apiece in the top of the seventh inning. The Giants had the bases loaded with no one out after two singles and an intentional walk to catcher Wes Westrum. Davey Williams ran for Westrum, who was hitting in the eighth spot in the lineup. The Giants failed to score in the frame and Williams remained in the game playing second base and Sal Yvars entered the contest to catch and bat in the first slot in the lineup. In the eighth inning, the Giants had a run across with two out and runners on first and second. It was Williams turn to hit but New York manager Leo Durocher insisted to plate umpire Lee Ballanfant that Yvars was the proper batter. Ballanfant correctly did not comment on the idea and allowed Yvars to come to the plate. Since Yvars struck out for the final out of the inning, the Cubs remained quiet about the batting out of order. Chicago scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to win the contest, 3-2.