Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial All-Star Baseball Classicformer New York Yankees great Joe DiMaggio manages the East, and ex-Dodger Roy Campanella directs the fortunes of the West

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial All-Star Baseball Classicformer New York Yankees great Joe DiMaggio manages the East, and ex-Dodger Roy Campanella directs the fortunes of the West

1970 – In this first (and last?) “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial All-Star Baseball Classic”, solo home runs by Ron Fairly of Montreal and Ron Santo of the Chicago Cubs, plus a three-run 8th-inning brings the East a 5 – 1 victory over the West. A crowd of 31,694 watches the charity game in Dodger Stadium. Proceeds go to the late Dr. King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference and a memorial center planned for Atlanta. For this initial charity game, former New York Yankees great Joe DiMaggio manages the East, and ex-Dodger Roy Campanella, confined to a wheelchair since a 1958 auto accident, directs the fortunes of the West. Jim “Mudcat” Grant of Oakland sings the National Anthem in the pre-game program, and then becomes the victim of a four-hit uprising in the 8th inning that insures the outcome. Al Kaline of Detroit beats out an infield hit to open the frame and moves to second as Tommie Agee drives Hank Aaron to the left field wall. Kaline races home on Lou Brock’s double to left. Brock scores on Roberto Clemente’s double and Clemente comes home on Ken McMullen’s single.

Expos Execute Rare Triple Play – First in franchise history

Expos Execute Rare Triple Play – First in franchise history

On June 25, 1969 At Parc Jarry, The Montreal Expos pulled off the second triple play of the major league season and first in their history Wednesday night in the second inning of their second game with the St. Louis Cardinals. Jim (Mud Cat) Grant singled to open the inning and Curt Flood walked. Vada…

Montreal Expos defeat the New York Mets, 11 – 10 in their inaugural game

Montreal Expos defeat the New York Mets, 11 – 10 in their inaugural game

Four expansion teams make their debuts. The Kansas City Royals, Seattle Pilots, Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres all win their inaugural games. At Shea Stadium, the Expos defeat the New York Mets, 11 – 10, to keep the Mets winless for openers. Pitcher Dan McGinn hits the Expos’ first home run as the key hit, a three-run home run by Coco Laboy, is given up by Canadian-born Mets relieverRon Taylor.

Minnesota Twins trade former MVP shortstop Zoilo Versalles and pitcher Mudcat Grant

Minnesota Twins trade former MVP shortstop Zoilo Versalles and pitcher Mudcat Grant

On November 28, 1967, the Minnesota Twins trade former MVP shortstop Zoilo Versalles and pitcher Mudcat Grant to the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitchers Ron Perranoski and Bob Miller and catcher John Roseboro. Just 3 years removed from winning the 1965 AL MVP, Versalles will hit .196 in his only season with the Dodgers in…

Mudcat Grant does it all himself, hitting a three-run home run and pitching a 5 – 1 win at Minnesota to knot the World Series with the Dodgers after six games.

Mudcat Grant does it all himself, hitting a three-run home run and pitching a 5 – 1 win at Minnesota to knot the World Series with the Dodgers after six games.

1965 – Mudcat Grant does it all himself, hitting a three-run home run and pitching a 5 – 1 win at Minnesota to knot the World Series with the Dodgers after six games.

Sandy Koufax declines to pitch the first game of the World Series against the Twins because the scheduled game occurs Yom Kippur, Dodgers lose 8-2

Sandy Koufax declines to pitch the first game of the World Series against the Twins because the scheduled game occurs Yom Kippur, Dodgers lose 8-2

Sandy Koufax declines to pitch the first game of the World Series against the Twins because the scheduled game occurs Yom Kippur, the most sacred of the Jewish holidays. As the Dodger southpaw attends shul and fasts on the Day of Atonement, Don Drysdale gives up seven runs in three innings in the team’s 8-2 loss at Minnesota’s Metropolitan Stadium.

Mudcat Grant throws a one-hitter to beat the Senators at D.C. Stadium, 5-0, becoming the first black player in the American League to win twenty games. Don Blasingame’s third-inning double spoils the 30 year-old right-hander’s bid for a no-hitter.

Mudcat Grant throws a one-hitter to beat the Senators at D.C. Stadium, 5-0, becoming the first black player in the American League to win twenty games. Don Blasingame’s third-inning double spoils the 30 year-old right-hander’s bid for a no-hitter.

Giants rule the day as Mays and Marichal combine to help NL win All Star Game 6-5

Giants rule the day as Mays and Marichal combine to help NL win All Star Game 6-5

On July 13, 1965, Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants hits a home run, draws two walks, and scores a pair of runs, leading the National League to a 6-5 win in the All-Star Game. Juan Marichal, Mays’ teammate with the Giants, earns MVP honors by pitching three shutout innings. Traditionally, the managers of…