The Bucs return to first place as Bob Friend defeats the Cardinals, 4 – 2, in St. Louis. As UPI tells it: “Bob Skinner’s home run in the 8th inning broke a 2-all tie and Roberto Clemente iced it with a tremendous blast into the bleachers for the Pirates’ final run in the 9th.” Pittsburgh will remain atop the National League for the rest of the season. Clemente’s long home run – actually off the scoreboard behind Busch Stadium’s left-centerfield bleachers, according to The Sporting News’s Les Biederman – breaks a 73-game home run drought, dating back to a similarly prodigious shot launched at Candlestick Park on May 6.

The Bucs return to first place as Bob Friend defeats the Cardinals, 4 – 2, in St. Louis. As UPI tells it: “Bob Skinner’s home run in the 8th inning broke a 2-all tie and Roberto Clemente iced it with a tremendous blast into the bleachers for the Pirates’ final run in the 9th.” Pittsburgh will remain atop the National League for the rest of the season. Clemente’s long home run – actually off the scoreboard behind Busch Stadium’s left-centerfield bleachers, according to The Sporting News’s Les Biederman – breaks a 73-game home run drought, dating back to a similarly prodigious shot launched at Candlestick Park on May 6.

Against Detroit, Yankee first baseman Moose Skowron reaching for a wide throw, collides with Tiger runner Coot Veal. Skowron’s arm is broken in two places and he is out for the rest of the season. Marv Throneberry will fill in at 1B. The Yanks win, 9 – 8, when Yogi Berra hits a home run in the 9th with Mickey Mantle on. Prior to the Yogi home run, Bobby Richardson and Fritz Brickell hit their first major league homers for New York. Berra’s home run erases five Yankee errors, three by 3B Hector Lopez.

Against Detroit, Yankee first baseman Moose Skowron reaching for a wide throw, collides with Tiger runner Coot Veal. Skowron’s arm is broken in two places and he is out for the rest of the season. Marv Throneberry will fill in at 1B. The Yanks win, 9 – 8, when Yogi Berra hits a home run in the 9th with Mickey Mantle on. Prior to the Yogi home run, Bobby Richardson and Fritz Brickell hit their first major league homers for New York. Berra’s home run erases five Yankee errors, three by 3B Hector Lopez.

Boston Red Sox Star Ted Williams stares down White Sox pitcher Dick Donovan in the third inning during a game at Comiskey Park on July 25, 1958. Sherm Lollar is behind the plate and the home plate umpire is Bill Summers. Donovan will record a rare strikeout of the “Splendid Splinter” as the White Sox will be victorious by a 4-0 score.

White Sox Top Red Sox 4-0

Boston Red Sox Star Ted Williams stares down White Sox pitcher Dick Donovan in the third inning during a game at Comiskey Park on July 25, 1958. Sherm Lollar is behind the plate and the home plate umpire is Bill Summers. Donovan will record a rare strikeout of the “Splendid Splinter” as the White Sox…

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.'”

Roberto Clemente hits a walk-off inside-the-park grand slam
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Roberto Clemente hits a walk-off inside-the-park grand slam

Pittsburgh’s right fielder Roberto Clemente hits Cubs reliever Jim Brosnan’s first pitch off the cage surrounding the base of Forbes Field’s left field light tower, just to the right of the scoreboard, then circles the bases just in time to become the first big league player in the post-Deadball Era to hit a walk-off, inside-the-park grand slam, turning a three-run 9th-inning deficit into a dramatic win. It is Clemente’s first career grand slam. Jack Hernon of the Post Gazette writes: “Brosnan made one pitch, high and inside. Clemente drove it against the light standard in left field. Jim King had backed up to make the catch but it was over his head. The ball bounced off the slanted side of the fencing and rolled along the cinder path to center field. Here came Hank Foiles, Bill Virdon and then Dick Cole, heading home and making it easily. Then came Clemente into third. Bobby Bragan had his hands upstretched to hold up his outfielder. The relay was coming in from Solly Drake. But around third came Clemente and down the home path. He made it just in front of the relay from Ernie Banks. He slid, missed the plate, then reached back to rest his hand on the rubber with the ninth run in a 9 – 8 victory as the crowd of 12,431 went goofy with excitement.”

Joe DiMaggio inducted into the Hall of Fame along with Dazzy Vance, Ray Schalk, Ted Lyons, Homerun Baker and Gabby Hartnett

Joe DiMaggio inducted into the Hall of Fame along with Dazzy Vance, Ray Schalk, Ted Lyons, Homerun Baker and Gabby Hartnett

On July 25, 1955, the largest contingent of living Hall of Famers to date congregate in Cooperstown for the Induction Ceremony. The new members include: third baseman Home Run Baker, center fielder Joe DiMaggio, catcher Gabby Hartnett, pitcher Ted Lyons, catcher Ray Schalk, and pitcher Dazzy Vance. A record crowd attends the ceremony, many coming…

Montreal Royals rookie outfielder Roberto Clemente hits his first North American home run “Hollywood style”

Montreal Royals rookie outfielder Roberto Clemente hits his first North American home run “Hollywood style”

Montreal Royals rookie outfielder Roberto Clemente hits his first North American home run “Hollywood style” (as per Montreal sportswriter Lloyd McGowan, who also highlights the prodigious nature of this blast, launched “over the left field fence,” a feat “[f]ew players have achieved […] at Delorimier Stadium”). The 10th-inning, walk-off bomb off Havana reliever Bubba Harris guarantees Montreal at least a split of today’s twin bill; it also represents a distinct turning point in Clemente’s frustrating, increasingly bench-warming tenure with Brooklyn’s International League affiliate. It comes on Clemente’s first at-bat after having entered the game as a defensive replacement, and his first plate appearance in more than two weeks; in fact, prior to today’s action, Clemente had not played at all in 14 of the last 15 games, his sole appearance coming as a pinch-runner. From this point forward, he will be back in the starting lineup but strictly on a platoon basis: he will start every remaining game against southpaw starters and none against righties, raising his average from .207 at the start of today’s action to .257 by season’s end. In today’s nightcap, Clemente makes his first start since July 7th, helping Montreal secure a sweep with an RBI double.