On May 31, 1968, the shutout streak of Don Drysdale appears to end when he hits Dick Dietz with a bases-loaded pitch in the ninth inning. But umpire Harry Wendelstedt rules that Dietz made no effort to avoid the pitch, thus prolonging the at-bat. Drysdale then retires Dietz on a fly ball and and the…
Ron Santo establishes a National League record when he appears in his 364th consecutive game at third base. The Cubs infielder’s streak, which started on April 19, 1964, will end at 390 contests after he is struck in the face by a Jack Fisher pitch that fractures his cheek.
1965 – The Astros score six times in the eighth inning to stun Milwaukee, 7-2. Four walks, a throwing error and a “hit” that fell out of Rico Carty’s glove doom the Braves. Bob Bruce is the winning pitcher.
Interested in exploring FRANCHISING? We will help you through your journey visit us @ www.franchisingconnection.com On May 31, 1965, manager Chuck Dressen returns to the Detroit Tigers after suffering a heart attack in spring training. Dressen will finish out the season, but will suffer a career-ending heart attack in 1967. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@
At Shea Stadium, the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants play the longest doubleheader in major league history – 9 hours, 52 minutes – with the help of a 23-inning game in the nightcap that is won by the visiting Giants, 8 – 6, on run-scoring hits by Del Crandall and Felipe Alou against Galen Cisco. The game takes 7:23 to play. In the opener, Juan Marichal pitches a complete game and Orlando Cepeda goes 3 for 4 with two runs and one RBI for a Giants 5 – 3 victory.
Roberto Clemente’s fifth career home run off Sandy Koufax is a game-tying, bases-empty blast of epic proportions; following immediately upon the heels of a collective Piratesmeltdown transforming a three-run lead into a one-run deficit, “Koufax was bombed for one of the longest home runs in Forbes Field annals,” writes Dodgers beat writer Frank Finch. “Señor Clemente touched off a moon shot that struck high on a light tower in center field, some 450 feet from the plate. Had it missed the tower, it certainly would have sailed at least 500 feet. It was No. 5 for the ex-Dodger chattel, and tied the score at 4 – 4.”
1962 – Weldon Appelt proposes to Harris County Commissioners a stadium plan using arches that he says could be built faster and cheaper than the proposed domed stadium. Elsewhere, the Colts stun the Cubs with five runs in the ninth for a 10-6 shocker. Carl Warwick’s two-run single precedes a three-run shot from Jim Pendleton in the uprising.
On May 31, 1961, Carroll Hardy of the Boston Red Sox becomes the only player to pinch-hit for both Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski. Subbing for Yaz in the eighth inning, Hardy lays down a bunt single during a 7-6 loss to the New York Yankees.
A bunt single by Dick Groat and a pair of tape measure two-baggers from Roberto Clemente and Dick Stuart provide all the support Pittsburgh starter Joe Gibbon needs in his complete game victory over the Milwaukee Braves. The Bucs batter the Braves, 9 – 1, and 9 doubles to none. Future Hall of Famer Hank Aaron keeps the Braves from being shut out with a home run, which carries, according to Pirate beat writer Les Biederman, “over the left-field fence on a low line as though shot out of a rifle.” Biederman adds that Pittsburgh’s opening-round moon shots target a couple of familiar Forbes Field landmarks: Clemente’s two-bagger is hit to the warning track at the 436-foot sign, while Stuart’s two-run double goes to the light tower in right center.
Interested in exploring FRANCHISING? We will help you through your journey visit us @ www.franchisingconnection.com On May 31, 1958, future Hall of Famers Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews and outfielder Wes Covington hit back-to-back-to-back home runs against Ron Kline of the Pittsburgh Pirates, powering the Milwaukee Braves to an 8-3 win. Aaron, Mathews and Covington…
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