On August 5, 1969, Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates becomes the first player to hit a home run completely out of Dodger Stadium. Stargell’s titanic blast off Alan Foster came on a 1-2 count, it travels over 512-feet, 7th-inning, bases-empty blast breaks a 3 – 3 tie. The homerun was Stargell’s 18th of the season. There was no flirting with any part of the playing field, and no bouncing off the top of any bleachers. This ball cleared every part of the stadium, and then part of the parking lot.
”I wasn’t thinking of a home run,” Stargell said. “I was just trying to keep from over-swinging. Distance doesn’t excite me that much/’ the 28-year-old batting star admitted. ”I am thrill just to hit home runs.”
It wasn’t the first time the hefty slugger sent a baseball out of a stadium. He did It three times In Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field, the most recent clearing a five-foot wall in right-center field.
The 2,500th career hit of Roberto Clemente and a two-run homer from Bill Mazeroski figure prominently in Pittsburgh’s seven-run 9th inning. Taking a no-decision in what will prove to be his final Major League appearance is Dodger starter Don Drysdale, pitching with a torn rotator cuff, which, despite assurances that it is “something I’m going to have to learn to pitch with,” will lead to his retirement within less than a week. Steve Blass, 11-7, who gave seven hits, got the victory despite a three-run homer by Andy Kosco
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