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1965 – Frank Thomas drills two home runs and drives in five during a doubleheader sweep of the Mets, 4-3 and 3-2. He is then traded to Milwaukee for a minor leaguer. Thomas accounts for all four runs in the opener while Robin Roberts wins his fourth game of the month. Bob Bruce spins a four-hitter in the nightcap while Rusty Staub goes deep. But all of Gotham buzzes instead about the sudden retirement of 75-year-old Met skipper Casey Stengel.

ByTom

1965 – Frank Thomas drills two home runs and drives in five during a doubleheader sweep of the Mets, 4-3 and 3-2. He is then traded to Milwaukee for a minor leaguer. Thomas accounts for all four runs in the opener while Robin Roberts wins his fourth game of the month. Bob Bruce spins a four-hitter in the nightcap while Rusty Staub goes deep. But all of Gotham buzzes instead about the sudden retirement of 75-year-old Met skipper Casey Stengel.

Roberto Clemente
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Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente demonstrates his greatness with one of the defensive gems of the century

ByTom

1965 – Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente demonstrates his greatness with one of the defensive gems of the century. The Pirates misjudge a bunt from Bob Lillis that rolls casually into shallow left. Clemente dashes in from right field to grab it and throw out Walt Bondat third. His hustle is rewarded when the Bucs rally to overcome Houston, 10-9, in eleven innings.

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1965 – The rift between owners Roy Hofheinz and R.E. “Bob” Smith reaches its climax when Hofheinz buys out Smith’s remaining shares of the Houston Sports Association. Smith dared the Judge to do it, thinking he couldn’t come up with the funds but Hofheinz put the money together, breaking Smith’s heart. On the field, the road-weary Astros lose in St. Louis, 9-4.

ByTom

1965 – The rift between owners Roy Hofheinz and R.E. “Bob” Smith reaches its climax when Hofheinz buys out Smith’s remaining shares of the Houston Sports Association. Smith dared the Judge to do it, thinking he couldn’t come up with the funds but Hofheinz put the money together, breaking Smith’s heart. On the field, the road-weary Astros lose in St. Louis, 9-4.

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1965 – The Braves smuggle their own fireworks from Milwaukee through Los Angeles and San Francisco just so they could challenge the Home Run Spectacular at the Astrodome. They get their chance when Joe Torre takes Larry Dierker deep, tossing firecrackers onto the field and lighting sparklers in the dugout. Houston fans applaud the gesture. Milwaukee wins, 7-1. 

ByTom

1965 – The Braves smuggle their own fireworks from Milwaukee through Los Angeles and San Francisco just so they could challenge the Home Run Spectacular at the Astrodome. They get their chance when Joe Torre takes Larry Dierker deep, tossing firecrackers onto the field and lighting sparklers in the dugout. Houston fans applaud the gesture. Milwaukee wins, 7-1. 

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1965 – Bob Bruce outduels Bob Gibson as Houston blanks the Cardinals, 2-0. Bruce allows six hits. Gibson surrenders only four but one of them is a two-run double by Bob Lillis for the game’s only tallies.

ByTom

1965 – Bob Bruce outduels Bob Gibson as Houston blanks the Cardinals, 2-0. Bruce allows six hits. Gibson surrenders only four but one of them is a two-run double by Bob Lillis for the game’s only tallies.

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1965 – Joe Morgan stays hot, clubbing two home runs to lead a 10-1 thumping of the Mets in a 19-hit attack. Dick Farrell cruises through a five-hitter and is named to represent Houston at the All-Star Game for the fourth time.

ByTom

1965 – Joe Morgan stays hot, clubbing two home runs to lead a 10-1 thumping of the Mets in a 19-hit attack. Dick Farrell cruises through a five-hitter and is named to represent Houston at the All-Star Game for the fourth time.

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1965 – The Astros pass the one million mark in attendance for the first time during a 6-2 victory over the Mets. A two-run triple by Joe Morgan highlights the scoring. Larry Dierker outpitches Hall-of-Famer Warren Spahn who is a quarter-century older than the 18-year-old righthander.

ByTom

1965 – The Astros pass the one million mark in attendance for the first time during a 6-2 victory over the Mets. A two-run triple by Joe Morgan highlights the scoring. Larry Dierker outpitches Hall-of-Famer Warren Spahn who is a quarter-century older than the 18-year-old righthander.

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1965 – After 140 relief appearances, Claude Raymond makes his first big league start, scattering seven hits for a complete-game 10-1 triumph at St. Louis. Lee Maye, Jim Gentile and Jim Wynn blast homers while Bob Aspromonte drives in three. Rain cancels the second game of the scheduled twinbill.

ByTom

1965 – After 140 relief appearances, Claude Raymond makes his first big league start, scattering seven hits for a complete-game 10-1 triumph at St. Louis. Lee Maye, Jim Gentile and Jim Wynn blast homers while Bob Aspromonte drives in three. Rain cancels the second game of the scheduled twinbill.

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1965 – Ron Brand drives a three-run shot into the left field seats off Bob Gibson in the ninth to shock St. Louis, 5-2. Walt Bond homers for the other two runs. Elsewhere, first baseman Jim Gentile is acquired from the Kansas City A’s for two players and cash.

ByTom

1965 – Ron Brand drives a three-run shot into the left field seats off Bob Gibson in the ninth to shock St. Louis, 5-2. Walt Bond homers for the other two runs. Elsewhere, first baseman Jim Gentile is acquired from the Kansas City A’s for two players and cash.

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1965 – The Astros score six times in the eighth inning to stun Milwaukee, 7-2. Four walks, a throwing error and a “hit” that fell out of Rico Carty’s glove doom the Braves. Bob Bruce is the winning pitcher. 

ByTom

1965 – The Astros score six times in the eighth inning to stun Milwaukee, 7-2. Four walks, a throwing error and a “hit” that fell out of Rico Carty’s glove doom the Braves. Bob Bruce is the winning pitcher.