On August 20, 1958, Dale Long of the Chicago Cubs becomes the first left-handed catcher in the major leagues since 1902. Normally a first baseman, Long is summoned to go behind the plate after Sammy Taylor is lifted for a pinch-hitter and Cal Neeman is ejected.
1958 – When is scoring position not scoring position? When Roberto Clemente’s in right field, of course – as his tutor, Willie Mays, is reminded, to his great embarrassment. “The Giants only had one shot at Pirates’ starter Curt Raydon,” writes Bob Stevens in the San Francisco Chronicle. “In the 7th, Willie Mays, after walking in the 1st and 4th innings, led off with a line-drive single to right. Leon Wagner walked and Orlando Cepeda belted one safely to the same field. Even though the Giants were trailing 8 – 0 and had none away, Mays tried to score and was thrown out – Roberto Clemente to Bill Hall. Willie was out by so far he didn’t even try to slide. After the game Herman Franks, the traffic cop at third base, said, ‘I sent him in. It wasn’t Willie’s fault.'”
On June 2, 1958, Brooks Robinson lines into a triple play against the Washington Senators. In the bottom of the sixth inning with Orioles on first and second base of an eventual 2-1 loss, Brooks Robinson lines into a triple play when Senator shortstop Rocky Bridges snares the wicked drive, steps on second, and then…
Forbes Field’s vast centerfield expanse provides the setting for one of Willie Mays’ greatest catches, coming at the expense of his young friend, admirer, protégé and rival, Roberto Clemente. Clemente hits a ball that seems headed towards a light tower in left center. The New York Times’s Roscoe McGowen recounts what happens next: “In the 1st inning, with two Pirates on base and one out, Roberto Clemente whacked a terrific drive toward the screen surrounding the light tower in left center field, more than 440 feet from home plate. Willie astonished the players, as well as the fans, by leaping high against the screen and making a glove-twisting catch. Most observers thought the ball had bounced off the screen.” Clemente then almost compounds his misfortune the following inning: “Clemente got into the catching act in the Giants’ 2nd inning. Going almost to the wall for Daryl Spencer’s long drive, Roberto saw the ball bounce out of his glove as he was making one of his ‘basket catches.’ But he snared the ball before it could drop to the ground.”
One of very few pictures showing Hank Aaron playing second base and completing a double play at Wrigley Field. August, 11th,1955 Aaron played second base 43 times during his career. He turned 25 double plays and made 7 errors. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Sponsor this Page Listen to Voices From The Past on Our Podcast The Daily…
In a game which will be best remembered for Willie Mays making a spectacular over-the-shoulder grab of a ball hit to deep to center field, robbing Vic Wertz of an extra-base hit, Dusty Rhodes becomes the second player in World Series history to end a game with a homer. The Giants pinch-hitter’s walk-off three-run home run off Bob Lemon beats the Indians 5-2 in Game 1 of the Fall Classic.
On September 10, 1954, New York Giants catcher Ray Katt commits a major league record four passed balls in one inning. Katt experiences a nightmarish eighth inning while trying to catch knuckleballs from future Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm.
On July 22, 1954, At Yankee Stadium, during the first game of a double header New York Yankees skipper Casey Stengel makes some unusual changes in order to get more power into the lineup in the top of the ninth inning. Stengel puts Phil Rizzuto at second base and installs Mickey Mantle as his…
September 22, 1953, Ebbets Field, only 2,365 fans see Jackie Robinson’s only career appearance at shortstop, at his request (1st SS start since Negro Leagues). Jackie had 3 assists and 2 putouts (Photo: snaring liner in 5th off the bat of Danny O’Connell below) as Brooklyn wrapped up a 60-17 home record in ‘53…
The Dodgers set the National League mark for consecutive games with a double play when they complete a twin killing in their twenty-third straight contest, a 10-5 loss to Chicago at Wrigley Field. The fifth inning 1-4-3 DP, pitcher Clyde King to second baseman Jackie Robinson to first baseman Gil Hodges, leaves Brooklyn two shy of the major league record.
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