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Tom Seaver strikes out 14 batters in eight innings en route to the Mets’ 5-2 win over L.A. at Shea Stadium. The victory, fueled by Ed Kranepool’s two home runs, improves the second-place team’s record to 24-23, the latest they have been above .500 in franchise history.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Tom Seaver strikes out 14 batters in eight innings en route to the Mets’ 5-2 win over L.A. at Shea Stadium. The victory, fueled by Ed Kranepool’s two home runs, improves the second-place team’s record to 24-23, the latest they have been above .500 in franchise history.

Rick Monday. Kansas City’s 21-year-old rookie standout, was struck in the face by a pitch in the first inning

Rick Monday. Kansas City’s 21-year-old rookie standout, was struck in the face by a pitch in the first inning

ByTom

June 3, 1967, Rick Monday. Kansas City’s 21-year-old rookie standout, was struck in the face by a pitch in the first inning by Gary Peters of the White Sox and was carried off the field bleeding from inside the mouth. X-rays revealed no fractures, and he is expected to be ready to return to action…

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Harmon Killebrew 503 foot homerun the longest home run ever hit in Metropolitan Stadium

ByThis Day in Baseball

Harmon Killebrew launches the longest home run ever hit in Metropolitan Stadium, a 503-foot shot which travels deep in the second deck of the left-center field bleachers. The stadium chair the ball hit by the Twins’ outfielder is mounted high on a wall overlooking the flume ride at Nickelodeon Universe in the Mall of America, the former site of the Met, in the precise spot the ball landed in the upper deck in deep left-center field.

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1963 – Pitching against the Dodgers usually gets Dick Farrell fired up, never forgiving them for making him available in the expansion draft. He tosses a no-hitter for the first seven innings and finishes with a 2-1, two-hit triumph. Rusty Staub belts the first homer of his big league career off Don Drysdale in the fourth 

ByTom

1963 – Pitching against the Dodgers usually gets Dick Farrell fired up, never forgiving them for making him available in the expansion draft. He tosses a no-hitter for the first seven innings and finishes with a 2-1, two-hit triumph. Rusty Staub belts the first homer of his big league career off Don Drysdale in the fourth 

1962 – Houston gets their first doubleheader sweep when they bounce the Pirates, 10-6 and 10-3, at Forbes Field. Tied at six in the opener, catcher Hal Smith uses pitcher Bobby Tiefenauer’s glove to tag out Roberto Clemente at the plate. Smith then singles to start a four-run rally that puts the game away. The Colts tally seven runs in the first inning of the nightcap to complete the sweep.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1962 – Houston gets their first doubleheader sweep when they bounce the Pirates, 10-6 and 10-3, at Forbes Field. Tied at six in the opener, catcher Hal Smith uses pitcher Bobby Tiefenauer’s glove to tag out Roberto Clemente at the plate. Smith then singles to start a four-run rally that puts the game away. The Colts tally seven runs in the first inning of the nightcap to complete the sweep.

1961 – Roberto Clemente hits a 1st-inning home run and has a 4th-inning outfield assist, in Pittsburgh’s 5 – 2 win over Philly. In UPI’s account, Clemente’s name and nationality undergo unnerving transformations: “Alberto, whose 1st inning homer was his seventh of the year, was banished in the 8th inning in a spectacular arm-waving argument with first base umpire Ed Sudol. The fiery Cuban insisted he beat out a grounder to short but was overruled. Before leaving the field, Clemente tossed a cap high above the Pirate dugout.”

ByBaseball

1961 – Roberto Clemente hits a 1st-inning home run and has a 4th-inning outfield assist, in Pittsburgh’s 5 – 2 win over Philly. In UPI’s account, Clemente’s name and nationality undergo unnerving transformations: “Alberto, whose 1st inning homer was his seventh of the year, was banished in the 8th inning in a spectacular arm-waving argument with first base umpire Ed Sudol. The fiery Cuban insisted he beat out a grounder to short but was overruled. Before leaving the field, Clemente tossed a cap high above the Pirate dugout.”

Los Angeles voters, in the largest turnout for a non-presidential election (62.3%), pass “Proposition B,” supporting the previously agreed-upon contract between the Dodgers and the city. The result of the referendum, which removes a significant hurdle for Walter O’Malley to build a modern stadium in the Chavez Ravine area, is approved with the final margin of victory of 25,785 votes.

ByBaseball

Los Angeles voters, in the largest turnout for a non-presidential election (62.3%), pass “Proposition B,” supporting the previously agreed-upon contract between the Dodgers and the city. The result of the referendum, which removes a significant hurdle for Walter O’Malley to build a modern stadium in the Chavez Ravine area, is approved with the final margin of victory of 25,785 votes.

Forbes Field’s vast centerfield expanse provides the setting for one of Willie Mays’ greatest catches

Forbes Field’s vast centerfield expanse provides the setting for one of Willie Mays’ greatest catches

ByThis Day in Baseball

Forbes Field’s vast centerfield expanse provides the setting for one of Willie Mays’ greatest catches, coming at the expense of his young friend, admirer, protégé and rival, Roberto Clemente. Clemente hits a ball that seems headed towards a light tower in left center. The New York Times’s Roscoe McGowen recounts what happens next: “In the 1st inning, with two Pirates on base and one out, Roberto Clemente whacked a terrific drive toward the screen surrounding the light tower in left center field, more than 440 feet from home plate. Willie astonished the players, as well as the fans, by leaping high against the screen and making a glove-twisting catch. Most observers thought the ball had bounced off the screen.” Clemente then almost compounds his misfortune the following inning: “Clemente got into the catching act in the Giants’ 2nd inning. Going almost to the wall for Daryl Spencer’s long drive, Roberto saw the ball bounce out of his glove as he was making one of his ‘basket catches.’ But he snared the ball before it could drop to the ground.”

In the second game of a doubleheader at Busch Stadium, future Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn records the lone 5-hit game of his career in a 9-3 win by the 1956 Phillies over the 1956 Cardinals. “Whitey” had two doubles and three singles, and scored three runs to key the Fightin’ Phils victory.

In the second game of a doubleheader at Busch Stadium, future Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn records the lone 5-hit game of his career in a 9-3 win by the 1956 Phillies over the 1956 Cardinals. “Whitey” had two doubles and three singles, and scored three runs to key the Fightin’ Phils victory.

ByThis Day in Baseball

In the second game of a doubleheader at Busch Stadium, future Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn records the lone 5-hit game of his career in a 9-3 win by the 1956 Phillies over the 1956 Cardinals. “Whitey” had two doubles and three singles, and scored three runs to key the Fightin’ Phils victory.