Red Sox skipper Dick Williams, with one year left on his contract, is fired by the team as the result of a culmination of a number of things, including a lack of communications with the players, according to General Manager Dick O’Connell. During his rookie season as a manager, Williams led Boston to their Impossible Dream American League pennant in 1967.

Red Sox skipper Dick Williams, with one year left on his contract, is fired by the team as the result of a culmination of a number of things, including a lack of communications with the players, according to General Manager Dick O’Connell. During his rookie season as a manager, Williams led Boston to their Impossible Dream American League pennant in 1967.

Umpires Al Salerno and Bill Valentine are fired by American League President Joe Cronin. The men in blue claim the dismissals are due to their efforts organizing a union.

Umpires Al Salerno and Bill Valentine are fired by American League President Joe Cronin. The men in blue claim the dismissals are due to their efforts organizing a union.

One day after seeing their team mathematically eliminated, Candlestick Park’s patrons show up in “record” numbers, the smallest crowd to see a game since the team moved to San Francisco in 1958. The story of today’s 8 – 4 Giants win over Cincinnati, the latest installment in the two teams’ ongoing battle for second-best, will itself be second best (at least as judged by tomorrow’s sports page editors) as compared to the following unfortunate incident. UPI reports: “A gathering of only 2,361, the smallest in San Francisco’s major league history, was on hand and witnessed the rare sight of Willie Mays engaged in a shouting match with two spectators. Mays, in fact, had to be restrained from charging into the stands to confront the two hecklers, both Air Force sergeants dressed in civilian clothes. ‘Nice catch, Willie,’ they jeered from the front row after Mays made a spectacular catch in the 4th. ‘For a $100,000 bum you’re finally earning your money'”. “Mays was approaching the dugout in the middle of the 4th when he went after the two men,” adds AP. “He was intercepted by Bobby Bonds and manager Herman Franks and the sergeants were ejected from the park.”

One day after seeing their team mathematically eliminated, Candlestick Park’s patrons show up in “record” numbers, the smallest crowd to see a game since the team moved to San Francisco in 1958. The story of today’s 8 – 4 Giants win over Cincinnati, the latest installment in the two teams’ ongoing battle for second-best, will itself be second best (at least as judged by tomorrow’s sports page editors) as compared to the following unfortunate incident. UPI reports: “A gathering of only 2,361, the smallest in San Francisco’s major league history, was on hand and witnessed the rare sight of Willie Mays engaged in a shouting match with two spectators. Mays, in fact, had to be restrained from charging into the stands to confront the two hecklers, both Air Force sergeants dressed in civilian clothes. ‘Nice catch, Willie,’ they jeered from the front row after Mays made a spectacular catch in the 4th. ‘For a $100,000 bum you’re finally earning your money'”. “Mays was approaching the dugout in the middle of the 4th when he went after the two men,” adds AP. “He was intercepted by Bobby Bonds and manager Herman Franks and the sergeants were ejected from the park.”

Norm Cash drives in five runs and John Hiller goes the distance, enabling Detroit to take the American League lead with a 9 – 1 win over the Yankees.

Norm Cash drives in five runs and John Hiller goes the distance, enabling Detroit to take the American League lead with a 9 – 1 win over the Yankees.

|

1966 – Sonny Jackson goes 5-for-5 and Chuck Harrison belts a grand slam as the Astros break nemesis Chris Short and the Phillies, 6-4. Mike Cuellar tosses his sixth straight complete game.

1966 – Sonny Jackson goes 5-for-5 and Chuck Harrison belts a grand slam as the Astros break nemesis Chris Short and the Phillies, 6-4. Mike Cuellar tosses his sixth straight complete game.

Willie McCovey hits a 500-foot home run, judged the longest ever at Candlestick Park
|

Willie McCovey hits a 500-foot home run, judged the longest ever at Candlestick Park

1966 – The Mets (5) and Giants (3) tie a major-league record by using eight pinch hitters in the 9th inning as the Mets win, 5 – 4. Willie McCovey hits a 500-foot home run, judged the longest ever at Candlestick Park.

Bob Gibson notches his 20th victory of the season when he goes the distance to beat Chicago at Wrigley Field, 3-1. The Cardinal right-hander will become the first pitcher in more than forty years to have consecutive 20-win seasons for a second-division team.

Bob Gibson notches his 20th victory of the season when he goes the distance to beat Chicago at Wrigley Field, 3-1. The Cardinal right-hander will become the first pitcher in more than forty years to have consecutive 20-win seasons for a second-division team.