Jim Ray Hart breaks shoulder in ML debut

Jul 7, 1963 | Debut

July 7, 1963 – Jim Ray Hart makes his ML debut at Candlestick Park as the Giants take on the Cardinals in a double-header.

Hart recalls what happened the first time he faced Gibson:

“Between games, (Willie) Mays came over to me and said, ‘Now, in the second game, you’re going up against Bob Gibson.’ I only half-listened to what he was saying, figuring it didn’t make much difference. So I walked up to the plate the first time and started digging a little hole with my back foot…No sooner did I start digging that hole than I hear Willie screaming from the dugout: ‘Noooooo!’ Well, the first pitch came inside. No harm done, though. So I dug in again. The next thing I knew, there was a loud crack and my left shoulder was broken. I should have listened to Willie.”

Hart would miss the rest of the season with a broken shoulder.

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Learn More about the teams, players, ball parks and events that happened on this date in history just click the tags! 1963 | Bob Gibson | Candlestick Park | Jim Ray Hart | July 7 | San Francisco Giants | St. Louis Cardinals | Willie Mays