The 1959 Homerun Derby

The 1959 Homerun Derby

Filmed in December 1959, “Home Run Derby” was a groundbreaking weekly television series that pitted baseball’s top sluggers against one another in head-to-head battles for long ball supremacy. The show took place at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles (home of the Pacific Coast League’s Angels), chosen because of its near-symmetrical dimensions. Unlike modern derbies, hitters…

Dick Stuart Stats & Facts

Dick Stuart Stats & Facts

  Special Memory or Event? Want to have some fun? Advertise your business? Dedicate this page Dick Stuart Position: First BasemanBats: Right  •  Throws: Right6-4, 212lb (193cm, 96kg)Born: November 7, 1932 in San Francisco, CADied: December 15, 2002  in Redwood City, CABuried: CrematedHigh School: Sequoia HS (Redwood City, CA)Debut: July 10, 1958 (11,566th in major league history)vs. CHC 5 AB, 1 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SBLast Game: May 27, 1969vs. CLE 1 AB, 0 H,…

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The disappointing Pirates continue to flounder, splitting a pair with the last-place Astros, dropping the opener thanks in large part to outsize slugging by the “Toy Cannon”, Jimmy Wynn. Four of Houston’s eight runs ride home on Wynn’s two homers, the last of which is a three-run, tape-measure coup-de-grâce which puts Houston up by 8 before Pittsburgh even shows a pulse. The culminating “Cannon Shot” passes over the batting cage to the left of the 457-foot mark on the way out, putting it in the company of historic shots by Rogers Hornsby, Josh Gibson, Ralph Kiner, Dick Stuart and Roberto Clemente. As it turns out, the Pirates do eventually compete and what looked like icing will prove to be Houston’s margin of victory as they hold on and outlast Pittsburgh, 8 – 5.

The disappointing Pirates continue to flounder, splitting a pair with the last-place Astros, dropping the opener thanks in large part to outsize slugging by the “Toy Cannon”, Jimmy Wynn. Four of Houston’s eight runs ride home on Wynn’s two homers, the last of which is a three-run, tape-measure coup-de-grâce which puts Houston up by 8 before Pittsburgh even shows a pulse. The culminating “Cannon Shot” passes over the batting cage to the left of the 457-foot mark on the way out, putting it in the company of historic shots by Rogers Hornsby, Josh Gibson, Ralph Kiner, Dick Stuart and Roberto Clemente. As it turns out, the Pirates do eventually compete and what looked like icing will prove to be Houston’s margin of victory as they hold on and outlast Pittsburgh, 8 – 5.

1965 – The Reds edge the Phillies, 10 – 9, despite the slugging of Phils first sacker Dick Stuart. Stuart clouts a grand slam, the 9th of his career, in the 1st inning, then hits a 2-run homer in the 7th.

1965 – The Reds edge the Phillies, 10 – 9, despite the slugging of Phils first sacker Dick Stuart. Stuart clouts a grand slam, the 9th of his career, in the 1st inning, then hits a 2-run homer in the 7th.

Dick Stuart homers in the first inning in the Phillies’ 5-1 win over New York at Shea Stadium. ‘Dr. Strangeglove’, who played in Boston for the last two seasons, becomes the first player to have gone deep in each of the 19 major league ballparks now in use. (Ed. note – Nineteen ballparks because both Los Angeles teams, the Angels and Dodgers, share the ballpark in Chavez Ravine. – LP)

Dick Stuart homers in the first inning in the Phillies’ 5-1 win over New York at Shea Stadium. ‘Dr. Strangeglove’, who played in Boston for the last two seasons, becomes the first player to have gone deep in each of the 19 major league ballparks now in use. (Ed. note – Nineteen ballparks because both Los Angeles teams, the Angels and Dodgers, share the ballpark in Chavez Ravine. – LP)

Bob Veale sets a Pittsburgh Pirate record striking out 16
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Bob Veale sets a Pittsburgh Pirate record striking out 16

On June 1, 1965, Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Bob Veale sets a franchise record by striking out 16 Philadelphia Phillies. The hard-throwing Veale wins the game, 4-0, making it 12 consecutive victories for the Bucs. Dick Allen and Dick Stuart both are fanned 3 times.  Bill Mazeroski goes 2-3 and Willie Stargell goes 1-4 with an…

Cleveland batters suffer an American League-record 27 strikeouts in a doubleheader (24 innings) split against the Red Sox. The 44 strikeouts for both teams are also an AL record, with Dick Stuart chipping in with 6.

Cleveland batters suffer an American League-record 27 strikeouts in a doubleheader (24 innings) split against the Red Sox. The 44 strikeouts for both teams are also an AL record, with Dick Stuart chipping in with 6.

At Fenway Park, Dick Stuart’s towering fly ball becomes an adventure for Indians’ outfielder Vic Davalillo when it strikes the ladder attached to the wall above the scoreboard. After ricocheting off the fence, the ball bounces off the head of the center fielder, and before he can retrieve it, the slow-footed Red Sox first baseman crosses the plate for a very improbable inside-the-park home run in Boston’s 8-3 loss to Cleveland.

At Fenway Park, Dick Stuart’s towering fly ball becomes an adventure for Indians’ outfielder Vic Davalillo when it strikes the ladder attached to the wall above the scoreboard. After ricocheting off the fence, the ball bounces off the head of the center fielder, and before he can retrieve it, the slow-footed Red Sox first baseman crosses the plate for a very improbable inside-the-park home run in Boston’s 8-3 loss to Cleveland.

At Fenway Park, Dick Stuart’s towering fly ball becomes an adventure for Indians’ outfielder Vic Davalillo when it strikes the ladder attached to the wall above the scoreboard. After ricocheting off the fence, the ball bounces off the head of the center fielder, and before he can retrieve it, the slow-footed Red Sox first baseman crosses the plate for a very improbable inside-the-park home run in Boston’s 8-3 loss to Cleveland.

At Fenway Park, Dick Stuart’s towering fly ball becomes an adventure for Indians’ outfielder Vic Davalillo when it strikes the ladder attached to the wall above the scoreboard. After ricocheting off the fence, the ball bounces off the head of the center fielder, and before he can retrieve it, the slow-footed Red Sox first baseman crosses the plate for a very improbable inside-the-park home run in Boston’s 8-3 loss to Cleveland.