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Homers by Leon Wagner, Pete Runnels and Rocky Colavito power the American League past the National League, 9 – 4, in the second All-Star Game of 1962.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Homers by Leon Wagner, Pete Runnels and Rocky Colavito power the American League past the National League, 9 – 4, in the second All-Star Game of 1962.

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6/9/1961 – The Los Angeles Angels were playing a doubleheader at Fenway Park. The Angels lineup for game two had Ken Hamlin batting first and Gene Leek eighth. However, Leek started the game by grounding out and the Red Sox did not comment. The next batter should have been the ninth-place hitter, pitcher Ryne Duren. However, Lee Thomas came to the plate and singled to left. At this point the Sox again did not comment. Leon Wagner, properly following Thomas, singled to right driving advancing Thomas to third. At this point, Boston could not protest the batter since Wagner was the correct one. Thomas scored on a ground out by the next batter, Ken Hunt. In the second inning, sixth place hitter Ken Aspromonte led off with a single and the seventh batter, Steve Bilko, was called out on strikes. Leek should have hit now but Hamlin strode to the plate and beat out an infield hit. The Red Sox now point the improper batter to the umpires and Leek, the proper batter, is called out. The Angels follow the correct lineup for the rest of the game and go on to beat the Red Sox, 5-1.

ByThis Day in Baseball

6/9/1961 – The Los Angeles Angels were playing a doubleheader at Fenway Park. The Angels lineup for game two had Ken Hamlin batting first and Gene Leek eighth. However, Leek started the game by grounding out and the Red Sox did not comment. The next batter should have been the ninth-place hitter, pitcher Ryne Duren. However, Lee Thomas came to the plate and singled to left. At this point the Sox again did not comment. Leon Wagner, properly following Thomas, singled to right driving advancing Thomas to third. At this point, Boston could not protest the batter since Wagner was the correct one. Thomas scored on a ground out by the next batter, Ken Hunt. In the second inning, sixth place hitter Ken Aspromonte led off with a single and the seventh batter, Steve Bilko, was called out on strikes. Leek should have hit now but Hamlin strode to the plate and beat out an infield hit. The Red Sox now point the improper batter to the umpires and Leek, the proper batter, is called out. The Angels follow the correct lineup for the rest of the game and go on to beat the Red Sox, 5-1.

With 42,269 fans in attendance, the San Francisco Giants edge the St. Louis Cardinals, 3 – 1, in the first game played at Candlestick Park. Giants pitcher Sam Jones throws a three-hitter, and Cardinals outfielder Leon Wagner hits the first home run in the $15-million stadium. In the 3rd inning, the umpires protest that the foul poles are several inches in fair territory, rather than on the foul lines; the Giants will make the correction after the season.

ByTom

With 42,269 fans in attendance, the San Francisco Giants edge the St. Louis Cardinals, 3 – 1, in the first game played at Candlestick Park. Giants pitcher Sam Jones throws a three-hitter, and Cardinals outfielder Leon Wagner hits the first home run in the $15-million stadium. In the 3rd inning, the umpires protest that the foul poles are several inches in fair territory, rather than on the foul lines; the Giants will make the correction after the season.

Roberto Clemente’s guns down Willie Mays

Roberto Clemente’s guns down Willie Mays

ByThis Day in Baseball

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 Cubs’ Tony Taylor hits a ball inside the third base line that falls into the rain gutter in fair territory at Wrigley Field. San Francisco rookie OF Leon Wagner chases the ball, but is fooled by Cubs relief pitchers staring intently under the bench. Wagner does not look for the ball in the gutter 40 to 50 feet further down. Taylor reaches home on the hit.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Cubs’ Tony Taylor hits a ball inside the third base line that falls into the rain gutter in fair territory at Wrigley Field. San Francisco rookie OF Leon Wagner chases the ball, but is fooled by Cubs relief pitchers staring intently under the bench. Wagner does not look for the ball in the gutter 40 to 50 feet further down. Taylor reaches home on the hit.

Leon Wagner Stats & Facts

Leon Wagner Stats & Facts

ByThis Day in Baseball

    Leon Wagner Position: Leftfielder Bats: Left  •  Throws: Right 6-1, 195lb (185cm, 88kg) Born: May 13, 1934 in Chattanooga, TN Died: January 3, 2004  in Los Angeles, CA Buried: Cremated School: Tuskegee University (Tuskegee, AL) Debut: June 22, 1958 (11,553rd in major league history) vs. PHI 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB Last Game: October 2, 1969 vs. SDP 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB Full Name: Leon…