December 27, 1954 – Former Duke University outfielder Al Spangler, who was optimistically compared to Richie Ashburn, signed his minor league contract with the Braves and was assigned to Jacksonville in the Sally League.
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Al Spangler tosses 18 bats onto the field in a tirade

ByTom

1962 – Losing takes its toll on the expansion Colt .45s, blanked by Milwaukee, 3-0. With a chance to tie in the eighth, Norm Larker is rung up on strikes then tossed out when he argues with umpire Augie Donatelli. Al Spangler gets the heave ho as well. Larker returns to the dugout and tosses 18 bats onto the field in a tirade. The league fines him $75 and he retorts it was worth every penny.

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1962 – Roman Mejias singles home the winning run in the ninth as Houston nips the Cardinals, 4-3, on “Stan Musial Day” in Houston . Dick Farrell admits the next day during a radio interview that he threw an illegal spitball at Musial, but the St. Louis legend drilled it for an RBI single. Farrell is fined and touches off a debate that mars his 12-strikeout performance.

ByTom

1962 – Roman Mejias singles home the winning run in the ninth as Houston nips the Cardinals, 4-3, on “Stan Musial Day” in Houston . Dick Farrell admits the next day during a radio interview that he threw an illegal spitball at Musial, but the St. Louis legend drilled it for an RBI single. Farrell is fined and touches off a debate that mars his 12-strikeout performance.

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1962 – Colt .45s ground into five double plays, still a franchise record, during a 4-0 meltdown in Pittsburgh. Shortstop Dick Groat starts three of them. Bob Friend defeats hard-luck Dick Farrell, who is wearing number “13” on Friday the 13th. It’s the 16th loss in the past 18 games for the sinking Colts.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1962 – Colt .45s ground into five double plays, still a franchise record, during a 4-0 meltdown in Pittsburgh. Shortstop Dick Groat starts three of them. Bob Friend defeats hard-luck Dick Farrell, who is wearing number “13” on Friday the 13th. It’s the 16th loss in the past 18 games for the sinking Colts.

The Colt .45s win when game is cut short due to fog
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The Colt .45s win when game is cut short due to fog

ByTom

1962 – The Colt .45s walk off with a 7-3 victory over Cincinnati, cut short due to fog. The Reds must have thought they’d entered some Biblical plague what with the heat, humidity, a blinding fog and those Texas-sized mosquitoes. A six-run rally puts Houston on top early. Manager Harry Craft has something else on his mind – the birth of his first grandchild is taking place at the same time.

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1962 – Dick Farrell ponders life’s unfairness. He is the losing pitcher while New York’s Al Jackson tosses a 2-0 one-hitter in the opener of a twinbill at the Polo Grounds. In the nightcap, the Colts explode for a 16-3 triumph. Winning pitcher Jim Golden gets support from four Houston homers and six Met errors, including three by first baseman “Marvelous” Marv Throneberry. Golden helps himself with three hits, including two triples.

ByTom

1962 – Dick Farrell ponders life’s unfairness. He is the losing pitcher while New York’s Al Jackson tosses a 2-0 one-hitter in the opener of a twinbill at the Polo Grounds. In the nightcap, the Colts explode for a 16-3 triumph. Winning pitcher Jim Golden gets support from four Houston homers and six Met errors, including three by first baseman “Marvelous” Marv Throneberry. Golden helps himself with three hits, including two triples.

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1962 – Bob Aspromonte celebrates his 24th birthday with two hits and two runs scored as the Colts subdue the Giants, 6-4. Hal Smith homers. Dick Farrell escapes a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to save it for Dave Giusti.

ByTom

1962 – Bob Aspromonte celebrates his 24th birthday with two hits and two runs scored as the Colts subdue the Giants, 6-4. Hal Smith homers. Dick Farrell escapes a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to save it for Dave Giusti.

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1962 – 78 fans, as well as umpire Jocko Conlan, are treated for heat stroke during an afternoon doubleheader at Colt Stadium. The Dodgers sweep the twinbill, 9-3 and 9-7, but complain about Houston’s stiffling heat afterwards. Don Buddin, a shortstop with a .160 average, belts the first grand slam in franchise history 

ByTom

1962 – 78 fans, as well as umpire Jocko Conlan, are treated for heat stroke during an afternoon doubleheader at Colt Stadium. The Dodgers sweep the twinbill, 9-3 and 9-7, but complain about Houston’s stiffling heat afterwards. Don Buddin, a shortstop with a .160 average, belts the first grand slam in franchise history 

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1962 – The Colts bomb the Dodgers, 13-1, using three homers and three triples. Carl Warwick, Roman Mejias and Bob Aspromonte go deep . Backup catcher Merritt Ranew belts a two-run triple as part of the eight-run fifth inning, his seventh three-bagger of the season to lead the National League.

ByTom

1962 – The Colts bomb the Dodgers, 13-1, using three homers and three triples. Carl Warwick, Roman Mejias and Bob Aspromonte go deep . Backup catcher Merritt Ranew belts a two-run triple as part of the eight-run fifth inning, his seventh three-bagger of the season to lead the National League.

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1962 – Weldon Appelt proposes to Harris County Commissioners a stadium plan using arches that he says could be built faster and cheaper than the proposed domed stadium. Elsewhere, the Colts stun the Cubs with five runs in the ninth for a 10-6 shocker. Carl Warwick’s two-run single precedes a three-run shot from Jim Pendleton in the uprising.

ByTom

1962 – Weldon Appelt proposes to Harris County Commissioners a stadium plan using arches that he says could be built faster and cheaper than the proposed domed stadium. Elsewhere, the Colts stun the Cubs with five runs in the ninth for a 10-6 shocker. Carl Warwick’s two-run single precedes a three-run shot from Jim Pendleton in the uprising.