Roberto Clemente’s fifth career home run off Sandy Koufax is a game-tying, bases-empty blast of epic proportions

Roberto Clemente’s fifth career home run off Sandy Koufax is a game-tying, bases-empty blast of epic proportions

ByThis Day in Baseball

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.”

Ex-Giant backup 1B/OF Jim Marshall comes off the bench to deliver a particularly gratifying game-ending blow giving the Pirates an extra-inning, walk-off win over San Francisco. 2 for 14 in his previous pinch-hitting assignments for the Bucs, Marshall is sent up to face reliever Bobby Bolin in the bottom of the 11th with the bases filled, one out and the score tied, 6 – 6. Les Biederman of the Pittsburgh Press reports: “Marshall fouled the first pitch, swung and missed the second, but sent the third toss to deep left. Matty Alou, playing close to make a throw home in case of a short fly, took a few steps backward and then glumly watched the ball fall safely as the fans whooped it up.” Willie Mays’s tape-measure triple in the top of that frame is considerably longer than Marshall’s game-ending blow. Les Biederman again: “The wind changed suddenly in the 11th inning but at the right time for the Pirates. Mays hit a tremendous shot against the right-center wall for a 440-foot triple in the top of the 11th with two out but was stranded. At the time, the wind was blowing to left field. When Mays went to centerfield, he looked up and the wind had shifted to right field. If that happened when he was at bat, Mays’ drive would have cleared the wall.” Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente, collects a double and single and scores two, bringing his hitting streak to 18. Not content with that, he inaugurates another streak, gunning down Willie McCovey at home plate for the second consecutive game.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Ex-Giant backup 1B/OF Jim Marshall comes off the bench to deliver a particularly gratifying game-ending blow giving the Pirates an extra-inning, walk-off win over San Francisco. 2 for 14 in his previous pinch-hitting assignments for the Bucs, Marshall is sent up to face reliever Bobby Bolin in the bottom of the 11th with the bases filled, one out and the score tied, 6 – 6. Les Biederman of the Pittsburgh Press reports: “Marshall fouled the first pitch, swung and missed the second, but sent the third toss to deep left. Matty Alou, playing close to make a throw home in case of a short fly, took a few steps backward and then glumly watched the ball fall safely as the fans whooped it up.” Willie Mays’s tape-measure triple in the top of that frame is considerably longer than Marshall’s game-ending blow. Les Biederman again: “The wind changed suddenly in the 11th inning but at the right time for the Pirates. Mays hit a tremendous shot against the right-center wall for a 440-foot triple in the top of the 11th with two out but was stranded. At the time, the wind was blowing to left field. When Mays went to centerfield, he looked up and the wind had shifted to right field. If that happened when he was at bat, Mays’ drive would have cleared the wall.” Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente, collects a double and single and scores two, bringing his hitting streak to 18. Not content with that, he inaugurates another streak, gunning down Willie McCovey at home plate for the second consecutive game.

Roberto Clemente

Pirates win 10th Straight loss for the Mets Full Radio Broadcast

ByThis Day in Baseball

On July 7, 1963 the Pittsburgh Pirates win their 10th straight. The Pirates score 5 in the second and break open the game with 4 more in the 7th. The win delivered the 1oth straight loss to the Mets 11-5, Smokey Burgess and Bob Bailey homered in the second off Jay Hook.  The Pirates nicked…

Roberto Clemente

New York Mets vs Pittsburgh Full Radio Broadcast (Kiner, Murphy, Clemente)

ByThis Day in Baseball

July 6, 1963 At Polo Grounds, the Pittsburgh Pirates scored seven runs in the eighth inning and pushed the New York Mets to their ninth consecutive loss tonight, 11 to 3. Bill Virdon’s three-run homer was the deciding hit against Loser Al Jackson and Rookie Larry Bearnarth. Nine Pirates batted before the first out was…

Roberto Clemente’s laser to left center, midway through a 4 – 2 loss to Cincinnati, reaches the wall with such dispatch, and caroms back so quickly to centerfielder Vada Pinson, that Clemente, fleetest afoot of all the 1963 Pirates, is held to a 400-foot single. The same centerfield barrier then interrupts the flight of Clemente himself, in the midst of an attempt to thwart Johnny Edwards’ extra-base bid. Instead, Clemente runs into the fence, the ball is jarred loose, and Edwards has a leadoff triple which will lead to a crucial insurance run for Cincy.

ByThis Day in Baseball

On June 13 1963, Roberto Clemente’s laser to left center, midway through a 4 – 2 loss to Cincinnati, reaches the wall with such dispatch, and caroms back so quickly to centerfielder Vada Pinson, that Clemente, fleetest afoot of all the 1963 Pirates, is held to a 400-foot single. The same centerfield barrier then interrupts the flight of…

Radio Broadcast New York Mets vs Pittsburgh Pirates April 26 1963

Radio Broadcast New York Mets vs Pittsburgh Pirates April 26 1963

ByThis Day in Baseball

    Friday, April 26, 1963 Attendance: 10,531 Venue: Forbes Field Game Duration: 2:56 Night Game, on grass Top 5 Plays – b1 0-1 0 1– RR PIT Ted Savage Al Jackson Home Run (Deep LF); Schofield Scores b6 3-2 2 1– R PIT Harvey Haddix Al Jackson Double to LF; Bailey Scores t6 2-3…

Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente trade grand slams in a wild battle between the Braves and Pirates

Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente trade grand slams in a wild battle between the Braves and Pirates

ByThis Day in Baseball

1962 – Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente trade grand slams in a wild battle between the Braves and Pirates, but it is Clemente’s that ignites a seven-run rally in the 8th for a 9 – 8 Pirate victory.

1962 – Roberto Clemente’s home run almost reaches Forbes Field’s right-field roof, providing Pittsburgh with an early 3-run lead over Houston which starter Vern Law will not relinquish. As Les Biederman of the Pittsburgh Press recounts: “Roberto Clemente almost made history Saturday, missing by a foot or so of being the first right-handed batter to hit a ball to the right field roof. Clemente’s homer in the first inning landed against the facing of the right field roof, a tremendous blast as it was.” Bobby Bragan, formerly Pittsburgh’s manager but now working for Houston, provides his own account: “The ball was within a foot or so of landing on top of the roof and perhaps two or three feet in fair territory. It probably was the longest ball ever hit to that field by a right-handed batter.”

ByThis Day in Baseball

1962 – Roberto Clemente’s home run almost reaches Forbes Field’s right-field roof, providing Pittsburgh with an early 3-run lead over Houston which starter Vern Law will not relinquish. As Les Biederman of the Pittsburgh Press recounts: “Roberto Clemente almost made history Saturday, missing by a foot or so of being the first right-handed batter to hit a ball to the right field roof. Clemente’s homer in the first inning landed against the facing of the right field roof, a tremendous blast as it was.” Bobby Bragan, formerly Pittsburgh’s manager but now working for Houston, provides his own account: “The ball was within a foot or so of landing on top of the roof and perhaps two or three feet in fair territory. It probably was the longest ball ever hit to that field by a right-handed batter.”

Granted, Roberto Clemente and Howie Goss — the latter, a career minor leaguer cum Pirate reserve outfielder — are not likely to be linked terribly often in the years, decades and centuries to come. On this day, however, it is the benching of the former — having arrived late for today’s twin bill vs. Los Angeles — by an irate Danny Murtaugh (the first major flareup in what will remain a largely unreported but nearly decade-long rift between the two) that affords the latter, in his 10th year of professional baseball, his first big league start. Making the most of his “15 minutes”, Goss goes 3 for 5, his 7th-inning, two-run homer erasing a one-run deficit and sparking Pittsburgh’s 6 – 1 win. In the nightcap, Dick Stuart’s 400-foot solo blast provides all the support needed by rookie Al McBean, who notches his first career complete game and shutout, completing the sweep and propelling Pittsburgh past the first-place Cardinals.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Granted, Roberto Clemente and Howie Goss — the latter, a career minor leaguer cum Pirate reserve outfielder — are not likely to be linked terribly often in the years, decades and centuries to come. On this day, however, it is the benching of the former — having arrived late for today’s twin bill vs. Los Angeles — by an irate Danny Murtaugh (the first major flareup in what will remain a largely unreported but nearly decade-long rift between the two) that affords the latter, in his 10th year of professional baseball, his first big league start. Making the most of his “15 minutes”, Goss goes 3 for 5, his 7th-inning, two-run homer erasing a one-run deficit and sparking Pittsburgh’s 6 – 1 win. In the nightcap, Dick Stuart’s 400-foot solo blast provides all the support needed by rookie Al McBean, who notches his first career complete game and shutout, completing the sweep and propelling Pittsburgh past the first-place Cardinals.