On January 22, 1969, the Houston Astros trade Rusty Staub to the Montreal Expos for Donn Clendenon and Jesus Alou. But Clendenon refuses to report to Houston, because of a personality conflict with the team’s newly-hired skipper, Harry Walker, who had managed him in Pittsburgh. He eventually announces his retirement. The Astros petition Commissioner Bowie Kuhn…
Looking back on his career some 30 years later, Willie Mays will recall being gunned down going from first to third exactly once: “Roberto Clemente threw me out on a bang-bang play at third. I should have remembered what a tremendous arm he had.” If Willie’s memory is correct, this was the play, as witnessed by James K. McGee of the San Francisco Chronicle: “Willie Mays, leading off the 7th, lined a single into left for the Giants’ first hit. When Willie McCovey, the next hitter, bounced a single over Donn Clendenon’s outstretched glove into right field, it appeared the dam had been broken and runs would flow. Then came the key play of the game. Mays rounded second base and slowed down to draw a throw from right fielder Roberto Clemente. Mays, either overestimating his own speed or underestimating the power and accuracy of Clemente’s arm, was thrown out trying to reach third. Maury Wills tagged him as he slid by.”
Roberto’s Revenge: Old Testament Style – Donn Clendenon and Roberto Clemente combine to give Don Drysdale a taste of his own medicine (perhaps taking Orlando Cepeda’s adage – “the trick with Drysdale is to hit him before he hits you” – a tad literally). Dodger beat writer Frank Finch reports: “Before Drysdale retired, he took a physical pounding from the Pirates. Clemente’s third hit almost tore Don’s right hand off, and later in the same inning Donn Clendenon’s drive drilled Drysdale on the shins so hard that it bounced to first base, where Wes Parker made an easy put-out.”
“The Greatest Throw Ever Made At Forbes Field!” And Roberto Clemente didn’t make it! After throwing out his onetime pupil Roberto at the plate last night, tonight Willie burns Willie… Mays vs. Stargell, that is. Giants’ beat writer Bob Stevens reports: “The Bucs scored two in their first at-bats on an error by Tito Fuentes, the rookie shortstop’s first as a major leaguer, a single by Bill Virdon, a double play ball second baseman Hal Lanier fumbled and a double to the centerfield wall by Donn Clendenon. It was here that Mays amazed again. He scooped up the ball at the base of the 406-foot sign, whirled and fired. It came in on one bounce, directly in front of catcher Tom Haller, who put it on the astonished Willie Stargell. It was described by old-timers as the greatest throw ever made in ancient Forbes Field, but it was a costly one. Mays hurt himself on the heroic effort.” Willie leaves the game in the sixth with a pulled groin and his immediate future in doubt. However, Mays will pinch-hit tomorrow and, in two days, will start both ends of the twin bill which concludes the five-game series with Pittsburgh.
In his first major league start, Grover Powell blanks the Phillies in the Mets’ 4-0 victory at Connie Mack Stadium. The shutout will be the only big league win for the 21 year-old right-hander, who after pitching four more scoreless innings in his next appearance will appear to lose his effectiveness when he is struck in the face by a line drive hit by Pittsburgh first baseman Donn Clendenon.
On July 7, 1963 the Pittsburgh Pirates win their 10th straight. The Pirates score 5 in the second and break open the game with 4 more in the 7th. The win delivered the 1oth straight loss to the Mets 11-5, Smokey Burgess and Bob Bailey homered in the second off Jay Hook. The Pirates nicked…
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