On the nationally-televised Hullabaloo, a program which showcases rock and roll groups, host Soupy Sales is joined by his two sons, Tony and Hunt, to perform Meet the Mets, with the unlikely tune also accompanied by the show’s go-go dancers halfway through the song. The Sales’ children were on the program as guests musicians, featuring their rock and roll band, Tony and the Tigers.

ByBaseball

On the nationally-televised Hullabaloo, a program which showcases rock and roll groups, host Soupy Sales is joined by his two sons, Tony and Hunt, to perform Meet the Mets, with the unlikely tune also accompanied by the show’s go-go dancers halfway through the song. The Sales’ children were on the program as guests musicians, featuring their rock and roll band, Tony and the Tigers.

New York Mets sign Tom Seaver to first contract

New York Mets sign Tom Seaver to first contract

ByThis Day in Baseball

April 3, 1966, Tom Seaver picks the Mets’ name from a hat in a lottery, signing with the team for a reported $50,000 bonus. Tom’s father had threatened a lawsuit, necessitating the special draft, after his son’s contract with Atlanta was voided by Commissioner William Eckert because the right-hander’s college team, USC had played two…

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Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers end their dual holdout

ByThis Day in Baseball

On March 30, 1966 — Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale’s refusal to report to spring training ends when the hurlers agree to the Dodgers’ offer of $235,000, signing for $130,000 and $105,000, respectively. The LA starters’ joint holdout lasts for 32 days, threatening retirement in an effort to acquire pay raises. The pair had begun…

1966 – For the second straight day, fans at Fort Myers’ Terry Park are treated to a tie-breaking, game-winning 500-foot homer. Unfortunately, unlike yesterday’s Met-killing clout (courtesy of Roberto Clemente), today’s bomb benefits the visiting Washington Senators, thanks to their very large left fielder, Frank Howard.

ByTom

1966 – For the second straight day, fans at Fort Myers’ Terry Park are treated to a tie-breaking, game-winning 500-foot homer. Unfortunately, unlike yesterday’s Met-killing clout (courtesy of Roberto Clemente), today’s bomb benefits the visiting Washington Senators, thanks to their very large left fielder, Frank Howard.

1966 – Roberto Clemente’s prodigious pre-season blast beats the still mediocre Mets, proving that his March 14th moon shot was no mirage. This has to make Harry Walker one happy camper, as the Pirate skipper had called for increased power numbers before the exhibition season began. According to UPI, “Clemente hit a tape-measure home run, estimated at 500 feet, over the center-field fence to crack the 5 – 5 tie in the 8th.” Thirty-some-odd years later, this vicious shot remains vividly etched in its victim’s consciousness. Darrell Sutherland recalls: “I threw a fastball a foot inside and he hit it on a dead line. It was still going up as it went over the center field fence.”

ByTom

1966 – Roberto Clemente’s prodigious pre-season blast beats the still mediocre Mets, proving that his March 14th moon shot was no mirage. This has to make Harry Walker one happy camper, as the Pirate skipper had called for increased power numbers before the exhibition season began. According to UPI, “Clemente hit a tape-measure home run, estimated at 500 feet, over the center-field fence to crack the 5 – 5 tie in the 8th.” Thirty-some-odd years later, this vicious shot remains vividly etched in its victim’s consciousness. Darrell Sutherland recalls: “I threw a fastball a foot inside and he hit it on a dead line. It was still going up as it went over the center field fence.”

In a spring training game in Houston’s Astrodome, the Dodgers and Astros become the first major league teams to play on artificial grass

In a spring training game in Houston’s Astrodome, the Dodgers and Astros become the first major league teams to play on artificial grass

ByTom

In a spring training game in Houston’s Astrodome, the Dodgers and Astros become the first major league teams to play on artificial grass. The material, which will become known as AstroTurf, was developed by Monsanto to overcome the team’s inability to grow grass indoors.

Demolition of Wrigley Field. Photo dated: March 19, 1966.

Demolition of Wrigley Field. Photo dated: March 19, 1966.

ByThis Day in Baseball

    Demolition of Wrigley Field. Photo dated: March 19, 1966.   @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Other Resources & Links   [et_pb_signup provider=”getresponse” getresponse_list=”Thomas Hannon|zs45L” success_action=”redirect” success_redirect_url=”https://thisdayinbaseball.com/join-the-community/” success_redirect_query=”on|off|off|off|off” title=”Baseball history from Doubleday to Present Day” button_text=”Join us!” description=” This Day In Baseball gives you cool facts and stories through baseball’s rich history. ” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#E02B20″ link_option_url=”https://thisdayinbaseball.com/join-the-community/” link_option_url_new_window=”on”…

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1966 – Players with the Astros and Dodgers are flown from Florida to Houston to test the new artificial surface. Balls bounce too high in the infield and engineers add more sand under the rug to make it behave more like natural grass. 

ByTom

1966 – Players with the Astros and Dodgers are flown from Florida to Houston to test the new artificial surface. Balls bounce too high in the infield and engineers add more sand under the rug to make it behave more like natural grass. 

sandy koufax don drysdale

Pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale play hardball when negotiating with the Los Angeles Dodgers

ByThis Day in Baseball

1966 – Pitchers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale play hardball when negotiating with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The duo signs movie contracts showing they are serious about retiring from baseball if their salary demands are not met.

Roberto Clemente’s three-run, 450-foot home run powers the Pirates to their fourth straight exhibition victory. Clemente’s blast follows 8th-inning singles by Manny Mota and Gene Alley and, judging from its epic dimensions, the early indications are that manager Harry Walker’s call for increased power and run production from his already-raking right fielder has not fallen on deaf ears. And just in case these indications are somehow too subtle or ambiguous, Clemente will amplify them by about 50 feet on March 24th.

Roberto Clemente’s three-run, 450-foot home run powers the Pirates to their fourth straight exhibition victory. Clemente’s blast follows 8th-inning singles by Manny Mota and Gene Alley and, judging from its epic dimensions, the early indications are that manager Harry Walker’s call for increased power and run production from his already-raking right fielder has not fallen on deaf ears. And just in case these indications are somehow too subtle or ambiguous, Clemente will amplify them by about 50 feet on March 24th.

ByTom

1966 – Roberto Clemente’s three-run, 450-foot home run powers the Pirates to their fourth straight exhibition victory. Clemente’s blast follows 8th-inning singles by Manny Mota and Gene Alley and, judging from its epic dimensions, the early indications are that manager Harry Walker’s call for increased power and run production from his already-raking right fielder has not fallen on deaf ears. And just in case these indications are somehow too subtle or ambiguous, Clemente will amplify them by about 50 feet on March 24th.