Roberto Clemente’s guns down Willie Mays

Roberto Clemente’s guns down Willie Mays

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.'”

The Milwaukee Braves make the first 6 for 1 trade

The Milwaukee Braves make the first 6 for 1 trade

December 26, 1953 – In the first six-players-for-one deal in baseball history, the Braves acquired infielder Danny O’Connell from the Pittsburgh Pirates. O’Connell, a third baseman, was used as a second baseman by the Braves. He will hit .279 in 1954 but fall of quickly after that. He was traded for Larry Lassalle (minors), Sid…