Even the Braves

[petrel]

January 1965
Part I

It was a new year, and hopefully, a successful year for the Braves. As I walked down the streets of Commonwealth Avenue, which was near Boston University, I could tell that "Beatle hair" was in. Every "hip" young man wore his hair in bangs all the way down to his eyebrows. As for me, I wore a crew cut slicked back with hair oil, maintained once a week at the local barber.

Frankly, it wasn't Haight-Ashbury just yet. Little kids in first grade would wear crew cuts up into the beginning of the 1970s. People thought the Vietnam War was a good idea. The picture was still of the 1950s, but the picture was curling up around the edges in places.

I was 38 years old. My secretary, Phyllis, was 32 and we had more or less been lovers throught the 1950s, back in the days when sex was dirty, and therefore, fun. After twelve years of a boss/employee relationship, everyone at the office had already figured out that she was sleeping with me. Still, no one said anything because it just wasn't done (even though I'm sure there were a lot of nasty whispers). She was the secretary to the General Manager, and if the General Manager wanted to sleep with her, that was the prerogative of an executive. Back then, bosses got to sleep with their secretaries, if they wanted to.

One cold winter day, Phyllis said, "Listen Ron...I think it's time you marry me."

"Phyllis," I said, "we've been having fun for over ten years. I take you on all my trips. We go to the movies, we go to restaurants, I buy you nice things, we make love, we have all kinds of fun together. Why do you want to spoil that with marraige?"

"Because", she said, "I'm thirty-two years old. I'm the secretary of a man with one of the most insecure jobs in baseball, one who could be fired at any minute. If I want to start a family, I need to do it now. I'm almost off the market if I want a husband. My parents have been asking me and asking me when are you going to marry me -- !"

"--which is why I don't go over there, because they give me the stink-eye. And besides, I thought your parents wanted you to marry a Catholic."

"By now, they'll be happy if I'm married, period."

"But why me?"

"Ooooo!" She balled her fists. "Listen, Ron! I've not had a vacation in a long time and I'm going to take one. I'm taking one all the way to the end of January! And if you don't come up with a ring on this," she said, pointing to her ring finger, "by the end of the month, well...you can consider that my resignation. I'm through waiting, and I'm through talking, so if I don't see you again by the end of January, I don't want to see you again!"

And with that, abruptly, she left my house! She stomped right out in that "I'm really mad, buster" way that I've only seen two or three times. I knew she was deadly serious, and there was no way out of the ultimatum.

Marriage...or freedom? Which to choose?

(* * *)

While I was sorting out my personal life, I was also trying to prepare for the 1965 Amateur Draft. I didn't think much of the draftees; I thought it was an awful year for a draft. All the other teams knew that as well, and that was why the free agent market was so active in the off-season -- most of these guys will end up filling minor league rosters, and there are only a few jewels.

1965 Prospects

Catchers:

1. Gene Tennace: Probably the #1 or #2 pick of the draft. .514 OBP and he has behind-the-plate skills that are good enough to start games in the major leagues. Not so much power, though.
2. Joe Ferguson: Much more power than Tennace, but less OBP. Same plate skills. A mid-first rounder; the Braves would like to have him.
3. Ellie Rodrigues: The OBP of Ferguson and the SLG of Tennace. He'll go early to mid second-round.

First basemen:

1. Bob "Bull" Watson: Not that great a fielder, even at first base, but had a .456 and .438 AVG his sophomore and junior years of HS. Tailed down in senior year. Mid first-round.
2. Nate Colbert: Nothing to write home about until his senior year of high school, with a.377/.511/.764 line. Will go early third round.
3. Tom Robson: In the mold of Nate Colbert -- one of these guys who couldn't put it together until just recently. Late third round at best.

Second basemen:

No one of note: Dan Monzon is the best second baseman available, and he's at least a fourth-rounder.

Third basemen:

Also no one of note: Billy Grabarkewitz will go late fourth round at best.

Shortstop:

The draft is bereft of any good infielders. Jerry Terrel is the best pure shortstop out there, and he's a late fourth-rounder.

Outfielders:

1. Al Oliver, CF. He could play three positions right now. .496 BA and .856 SLG in his senior year of high school. #1 or #2 draft choice.
2. Reggie Jackson, RF. Incredible hitting power for a teenager, just needs a little more fielding instruction in the minor leagues. At least top five draft choice in the first round.
3. Bobby Bonds, RF. Good right fielder who has gotten consistently better every year. Early first round pick.
4. Bobby Murcer, RF. I don't think he has much of an upside, but he can hit and he can definitely field either CF or RF. Mid to late first rounder.
5. Willie Crawford, RF. Has great contact but not a lot of power. This left-hander is also probably a mid to late first rounder.
6. Joe Rudi, LF. A Bobby Bonds type, but hasn't faced as much competition as Bonds in high school. A late first-round pick.
7. Ken Henderson, LF: .421/.544/.763 line in his senior HS year, but definitely not an accomplished fielder, needs experience and instruction. Early second round pick.
8. Rick Bladt, CF: Excellent center fielder, might be the steal of the draft. Had a great senior year, but other HS years are subpar. A late bloomer? Mid second round.
9. Tom Paciorek, RF. Has some holes in his swing, not a great fielder, needs some work. Late third round.

Pitchers:

1. Jim Hunter, SP: Four good pitches, sub 2.00 ERA in three years of high school. Top five draft selection.
2. Larry Dierker, SP: Overwhelmed opponents in his last year of high school with an 0.95 ERA. Good pitch selection. Top five draft selection.
3. Ken Wright, RP: Has a great fastball, and a so-so change. Really just learning. Someone will take this relief pitcher in the early first round.
4. Paul Splittorff, SP: Good K/IP ratio, and my scouts tell me this left hander has a lot of upside. Early first rounder.
5. Rollie Fingers, RP: Tall kid with more K than IP, 1.08 ERA junior year, 1.82 ERA senior year. Mid first rounder.
6. Bill Lee, SP. At least five pitches, good K to IP ratio, but scouts call him a "loony lefty"; some questions about his mental makeup and desire. Mid first rounder.
7. Rickey Clarke, SP. Doesn't have a blazing fastball. but sub-2.00 ERAs last three years of high school. Mid first rounder.
8. Pedro Borbon, RP. Dominican kid, great fastball but they say you have to hit your way off the Dominican Republic. Definitely has the scouts' interest. Good tight fastball. Mid first rounder.
9. Jim Colborn, SP. Raw talent but not much results: ERAs have increased every year since his sophomore year. Good K to IP ratio, but really raw. Mid or late first rounder.
10. Ken Forsch, SP: Pitches verrrry slowlllly but gets results. Lack of a fastball will scare teams off. Late first round.
11. Rich Folkers, RP: Overwhelming fastball, but it's really his only good pitch. Make him a late first rounder.
12. Mike Hedlund, SP: A real project; good fastball and hard slider. Another late first rounder.

[petrel]

January 1965
Part II

On January 13th, we decided to secure the remaining pitcher we considered good enough to be a Brave. We signed a 1-year contract with Ralph Beard at $5.05 million through 1965. He will replace Bill Graham as our fourth starter.

As for everyone else -- we'll let them slide. Lou Berberet has talked with a couple of teams, none seriously. I think we have a good chance of re-signing him.

(* * *)

And now, the results of the 1965 Amateur Draft: each of the expansion teams will pick first.

First round:

1. Peaches: Gene Tenace, C
2. Astros: Larry Dierker, SP
3. Stars: Al Oliver, CF
4. Twins: Reggie Jackson, RF
5. Athletics: Jim Hunter, SP
6. Indians: Mike Hedlund, SP
7. Reds: Ken Wright, SP
8. Brewers: Bobby Bonds, RF
9. Blues: Paul Splitorff, SP
10. Cardinals: Bill Lee, SP
11. White Sox: Bob Watson, 1B
12. Orioles: Roric Harrison, SP: Surprise pick. Has a killer fastball, but needs a lot of teaching. Are the O's looking for another Joel Cataldo?
13. Pirates: Joe Ferguson, C
14. Dodgers: Rollie Fingers, RP
15. Cubs: Pedro Borbon, RP
16. Senators: Rickey Clarke, SP
17. Red Sox: Ray Jarvis, SP: A killer fastball; overlooked because he played against weaker competition in HS. The Sox are taking a chance on him.
18. Phillies: Ken Forsch, SP
19. Seals: Jim Colborn, SP
20. Braves: Joe Rudi, LF
21. Angels: Bobby Murcer, RF
22. Tigers: George Korince, RP: Another guy who "found it late" and posted an 0.87 ERA in relief his senior year.
23. Yankees: Willie Crawford, RF
24. Giants: Rich Folkers, RP

Boston Braves Picks:

First round: Joe Rudi, LF.

Second round: Rick Bladt, CF.

Third round: Tom Paciorek, LF.

Fourth round: Dave Robinson, LF: Can play a decent left field. Trouble with breaking pitches, he'll need some seasoning in Idaho.

Fifth round: Jim Magnuson, RP: The best player available at the time. He's working on a screwball to add to his fastball; if he can develop it, he'll be an effective pick.

(* * *)

True to form, Phyllis had not shown up at the office. Her work had to be farmed out to not one, not two, but three different secretaries. Every time I got a call from the GM of another club, it was the same thing. Bing Crosby. Barron Hilton. Calvin Griffith. Walter O'Malley.

All saying the same thing: "Where the h-ell is Phyllis? She didn't leave, did she?"

Chuck Sullivan said that he'd date her if I wouldn't. (He was 32, and don't think I wasn't a little worried that he just might do it.) Mike Singer tried to cheer me up by saying, "Marriage isn't so bad. Really -- it isn't!" I wasn't convinced.

Grey Bird said, "Pet, the first thing you should do is get down on your knees and thank every God in the book of mythology that you escaped! Women are just no damned good!" As he said this, I watched crumbs fall inside his shirt. He wasn't much of an advertisement for the bliss of the unconnected life.

As for those two weeks without Phyllis -- well, they were damned lonely. I missed Phyllis. I had to decided if I wanted a life without her or a life with her.

But the minute I posed the question, it was no contest. So I knew what I had to do.

So, I called her out of the blue of the 21st and asked her to go out on a date with me. She reluctantly agreed, and we went to the dining room at the Ritz-Carlton where I gathered up my nerve and made my best contract proposal ever. A lifetime contract, good for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, in the majors or deep in the minors, leading off or hitting cleanup, starting the game or pitching mop-up, win or loss, All-Star or let go, with no reserve clause whatsoever.

For a minute there, I was afraid she would say "no". It looks like I finally made an honest woman out of Phyllis after all!!

Around the world:

Save for the Kennedy half-dollar, silver is removed from United States coins.
Winston Churchill dies at the age of 90, as the result of a stroke he suffered on January 15th.

[petrel]

February 1965


A five-alarm fire on Tremons Street in Boston.

At the beginning of February, talks between Lou Berberet and the Tigers were getting serious. I felt we had to move in or we'd lose him. Oddly enough, he said he was thinking about retiring soon, but was willing to sign a contract for $2.5 million dollars for the 1965 season.

That just left solving the problems in the middle infield. Hamlin, Kosko and Hamner were all unsigned, and I felt as if I could wait, but then Hamlin started speaking with the Washington Senators, so we swooped in and signed him for $2.95 million.

Meanwhile, the last of the big ticket free agents, Cal Hogue, signed a one-year deal with the Houston Astros.

(* * *)

Of course, the news I waited for was the news that "pitchers and catchers report today".

While none of the traditional Spring Training sites would be moving, there would be four brand-new sites. The Los Angeles Stars, which seemed to be modeling themselves after the Braves, opened up a new facility in our home of West Palm Beach, Florida. The Minnesota Twins built a new facility across town from the San Francisco Seals facility in Pompano Beach, FL. The new Astros teams would work out in Cocoa Beach, FL and the Atlanta Peaches, abandoning sense, would move its Spring Training to the Cactus League in Tuscon, Arizona, denying Georgia fans a chance to see their new, garishly-clad team without a lonnnnnng drive.

For the first time, new Manager Gil Hodges of the Boston Braves met his players at West Palm Beach, Florida. "I think we have a pretty good group this year," he said, "and I think some of these guys are that their peak. It's going to be an exciting year."

We learned that the Atlanta Peaches were on their way to expanding Ponce De Leon Park to a full 30,000 seats. The old park, formerly known as Spillman Field, was once the premiere Southern minor-league park, but it had fallen on hard times. The bleachers were being repainted and repaired in a rush job, but "quaint" was the best word to describe the park that would have to make do for the Peaches until the new Altanta-Fulton County Stadium could be built.

The center field distance at Ponce de Leon was a staggering 462 feet. The outfield fence was atop an embankment of dirt, which meant that if you want to chase a ball to the fence itself you would have to climb a hill. The unique part of the park was a magnolia tree, located in dead center field!! As part of a special agreement between Atlanta and the American League, the tree would be "in play" during the season. Most likely, no ball would ever be hit there, as only one player, Babe Ruth, ever hit a ball that landed in the magnolia tree.

(* * *)

Baseball's Executive Committee finally figured out how to handle the playoffs in the National and American Leagues. The East and West champions will meet in a five-game series to determine league superiority, with the team with the best record getting home field advantage for its troubles. Each league winner will then meet in the World Series.

Furthermore, we have been given word from the Commissioner's Office: this is not to be called a mere "playoff" as basketball or football would call it. The official name is the League Championship Series. Remember it, and woe betide you if you forget.

Around the world:

The United States begins the regular bombing of North Vietnamese towns and villages.
A new red and white maple leaf flag becomes the flag of Canada.



Malcolm X is assassinated by Black Muslims at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City.
Stan Laurel, of the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, dies.

(******************************************************************************* ****)

March 1965

The Sporting News came out with their predictions of how teams would do in 1965.

National League East:

1. Giants
2. Orioles
3. Dodgers
4. Phillies
5. Braves
6. Pirates

National League West:

1. Cubs
2. Cardinals
3. Stars
4. Brewers
5. Reds
6. Astros

American League East:

1. Yankees
2. Senators
3. Tigers
4. Indians
5. Red Sox
6. Athletics

American League West:

1. Seals
2. White Sox
3. Angels
4. Blues
5. Twins
6. Peaches

National League Championship Series: Giants over Cubs, 3 games to 0.
American League Championship Series: Yankees over Seals, 3 games to 1.

World Series: Giants over Yankees, 4 games to 3.

Fifth? I shared this information with my manager, Gil Hodges. He just chuckled. "I don't usually make promises," he said, "but I can tell you that this club is just too **** good to finish fifth in a six-team league, even if the Giants and Dodgers are in it." I don't know why they have us in fifth. I know they like the fact that Joel Cataldo set a strikeout record for the Orioles last year, that the Dodgers will always be highly ranked, and that Gene Mauch is doing a great job with the Orioles. But fifth? I don't think so. At least we're not poor old Casey Stengel, whose bucs have been predicted to finish dead last.

The new Stars are already pencilled in as "best expansion team", scheduled to finish in third place in the weakest division in baseball, the National League West. San Francisco has the best chance for a 1958 expansion team to win its first championsihp of any sort, as they are the odds-on favorites to win the American League West.

However, the Braves will be given a signal honor on April 1st. The Braves will open on the road against the Houston Astros in the building that is already being nicknamed the "Astrodome". President Lyndon Johnson will be in Houston to throw out the first pitch of the game, and a select few players, executive, and GMs (myself included!) will be meeting with the President in Houston before the game.

(* * *)

Chuck Dressen of the San Francisco Seals suffered a "coronary occlusion" before a game on March 7th. Doctors want him to take a couple of months off so coach Bob Swift will manage the Seals until Dressen gets back.

Jackie Robinson was signed as a member of the ABC baseball broadcast team -- this is the first time a Negro has ever been a baseball broadcaster on television.

The Cubs, however, are mourning the loss of Jack Quinlan. The popular Cubs radio announcer was killed in Arizona during Spring Training, dying in a car crash on his way back from a golf outing.

(* * *)

So how was Spring Training? Gil Hodges didn't think much of our rookie crop. "A lot of these guys ain't worth a dime," he said. However, Rick Bladt, our second round draft pick, played so well that we promoted him to A-league Shelby instead of to the Rookie League in Boise.

Our pitchers, however, are slow in getting out of the gate. Hank Aguirre started out awful, pitching an 8.44 ERA in 16 IP. Don Drysdale wasn't looking great either, hurling up a 4.85 ERA. "Give 'em time," was what Hodges said. Hodges also said Eduardo Camacho looked good on the mound and might be an early AAA callup.

(* * *)

Meanwhile, while we were playing baseball, the world was going straight to ****.

Negro leaders of the Civil Rights movement attempted a peaceful march to Mongomery, Alabama three times this month.

The marchers -- about 500 of them -- started in Selma, Alabama. They got a grand total of six blocks before being stopped at the Edmund Pettus Bridge by Alabama policemen, some mounted on horseback. The Alabama police used tear gas, billy clubs, gas, whips, everything in their arsenal to break up the march before it even got started. One girl was almost beaten to death and seventeen marchers were sent to the hospital.


Amelia Robinson after the assault.

However, the marchers tried again. This time, they were stopped by a sympathetic district court judge, who wanted the march stopped until he could hold a hearing on the legality of the march. Therefore, the marchers held a "ceremonial march", making it back to the Edmund Pettis Bridge before turning around of their own free will.

After his march, James Reeb, a Unitarian minister, was attacked and beaten by local whites near a Selma cafe. He died of his injuries.


James Reeb.

The judge ruled that the march was legal, and again, the marchers marched. This time, they made it from Selma to Montgomery. Several music stars performed at a concert and in all, 25,000 people took place during this final march.

But whether or not these marches have changed the mind of the Southern community -- no one knows. Is Atlanta ready for baseball? If such violence can take place in Alabama, I sometimes wonder if the South can ever change.

Around the world:

The first American combat troops in South Vietnam arrive.

[petrel]

Early April 1965

For the Boston Braves, the 1965 baseball season would start at the Harris County Domed Stadium in Houston.


The "Astrodome" is open for business!

What a place! A four story tall scoreboard...with cartoons! Air-conditioned perfectly at 70 degrees! This is truly, as they are calling it, "the Eighth Wonder of the World!" Oh, if only the Braves could have a stadium this grand!

And if you think the outside is great looking, you should see the inside of it. We were all invited to Judge Roy Hofheinz's private suite, which should better be called an apartment. It is one of the most lush things...well, ever. Judge Fuchs, the old owner of the Braves, would have shed tears of envy if he had seen this spread.


The President also has a suite here. This is the Judge's suite.

The place, it suffices to say, was sold out and every dignitary in Texas was there to see the game. Or rather, every dignitary outside of Texas. President Lyndon Baines Johnson himself would throw out the first ball!

I got the chance to chat with President Johnson for a couple minutes. He's a tall man, a good three inches taller than I am, and I'm at least six feet tall. He was right up close and personal, pumping my hand and grasping by upper arm with his free hand. "How are you, Pet?" he asked. (Apparently, he knew my nickname and went right to work.)

I was overwhelmed. "I'm glad to be here, Mr. President. This is a fascinating stadium."

He briefly chatted about the 1956 and 1957 Braves World Championship teams with me. Apparently, the man knew his baseball, or at least, he wasn't unfamiliar with it. I found out much later that when he was a Senator, he used to attend Senators games at Griffith Stadium.

"How do you think the Astros will do this year?"

"They invested in their minor leagues," I said, "so they're building from the ground up. Good way to build a club."

He nodded, and then the Secret Service agent attending to the President moved him on to the next executive. He might have been a demanding old cuss, but to me, he was actually quite friendly. It was a pleasant moment. A pity my fiancee, Phyllis, wasn't given an invitation by baseball to meet the President, who would spend the game in Judge Hofheinz's private box.



April 1st-3rd, 1965
Boston Braves (0-0) at Houston Astros (0-0)

Projected starters:
April 1: Hank Aguirre (0-0) vs. Cal Hogue (0-0)
April 2: Don Drysdale (0-0) vs. Jim O'Toole (0-0)
April 3: Steve Ridzik (0-0) vs Bo Belinsky (0-0)

April 1: In a game that just falls short of selling out -- an ominous sign -- the Braves score 17 hits in a seesaw battle. Braves 10, Astros 6.

The Braves made two errors in the game, one in the outfield and one at first. The outfielders all claimed that the clear panes of glass in the roof would sometimes shine down light that virtually blinded any outfielder looking up. "It's impossible to field out there!" Near the end of March, some teams were taking to wearing batting helmets in the outfield for fear of not seeing a ball and having it slam into an outfielder's head.

The ball also travelled in weird, unpredictable ways when hit. I could swear that the artificial current caused balls to travel further. I am not liking these new domed stadiums, not at all.

The Peaches beat the Tigers 6-1 in their inaugural game at Ponce De Leon Park before a sold-out crowd of 30,000 sitting in wooden bleachers. Johnny Blanchard of the Peaches hit two home runs (but didn't hit the tree in center field).

With Carl Duser on the mound, the Los Angeles Stars opened up their stint at Chavez Ravine with a 3-0 shutout of Casey Stengel's Pirates.The Twins, however, committed two errors in the top of the 10th and lost their home opener to the Athletics, 4-2. They, like the Astros, came short of a sellout opener.

April 2: Chuck Hiller's double in the bottom of the 10th is the first ever win for the Astros. Astros 5, Braves 3 (10). Joe Christopher strains his ankle and will be out for at least a week. Manny Mota will replace Christopher in the outfield.
April 3: Joe Torre's single in the top of the 11th wins it for the Braves. Braves 3, Astros 2 (11).

(* * *)

The Braves will open at home against the Cincinnati Reds, now in the West Division.

April 4th-6th, 1965
Cincinnati Reds (1-2) at Boston Braves (2-1)

Projected starters:
April 4: Jim Maloney (0-0) vs. Howie Koplitz (0-0)
April 5: Waylon Mayner (0-1, 7.20 ERA) vs. Ralph Beard (0-0)
April 6: Ken McBride (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (0-0, 7.20 ERA)

April 4: The Braves coast to a home win as Floyd Robinson hits a triple and a home run. Braves 14, Reds 3.
Fred Newman hits a one-hitter as the Giants shut out the Brewers 8-0
April 5: Floyd Robinson hits his second home run of the year. Braves 10, Reds 2.
April 6: Bernie Allen hits two home runs en route to a Braves sweep. Braves 8, Reds 1.

(* * *)

The Braves take two days off before going to Cincinnati to play the Res. We'll play them two straight times, finishing nine of the twelve games scheduled against Cincinnati in April.

The new divisions are making the game very interesting. The Dodgers have won seven straight to take the lead in the NL East, which looks like the toughest division in baseball. The Braves are 1/2 game back. In the NL West, the four established teams are stumbling, leaving the Stars in first place and the Astros right behind them!!

Detroit and Washington lead the AL East, but the Yankees can't be counted out. And in the confusing AL West, the Blues, White Sox and Seals are all early contenders.

(* * *)

We now play the Reds again, this time at their home opener.

April 9th-11th, 1965
Boston Braves (5-1) at Cincinnati Reds (1-5)

Projected starters:
April 9: Steve Ridzik (0-0, 2.57 ERA) vs. Ken McBride (0-0, 4.50 ERA)
April 10: Howie Koplitz (1-0, 2.57 ERA) vs. Imbert Silva (0-0)
April 11: Ralph Beard (0-0) vs. Paul Toth (1-1, 7.71 ERA)

April 9: Don Mincher hits his 4th home run as Don Carpenter gets his first save. Braves 5, Reds 2.
April 10: Both clubs get nine hits, but the Braves make theirs count. Braves 8, Reds 1.
April 11: Hank Aguirre holds the Reds to three hits in 8 innings. Braves 5, Reds 1.

(* * *)

We take a day off.

Despite winning seven straight games, the Dodgers and Phillies win eight straight, and the Giants win five straight -- good enough for the Giants to take the NL East lead by 1/2 game over the Braves, Dodgers and Phillies.

The NL East is whipping the NL West, and the Stars are on top with a 7-2 lead in the East. In the AL East, the Tigers and Yankees have both won six straight, but the Tigers hold a 1 1/2 game lead. The Seals have won seven straight and lead by 2 1/2 in the AL West.

(* * *)

April 13th-15th, 1965
Boston Braves (8-1) at Cincinnati Reds (1-8)

Projected starters:
April 13: Don Drysdale (1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Waylon Mayner (0-2, 10.80 ERA)
April 14: Steve Ridzik (1-0, 2.40 ERA) vs. Ken McBride (0-1, 5.73 ERA)
April 15: Howie Koplitz (2-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. Imbert Silva (0-0)

April 13: Three Reds pitchers combine for the win. Reds 6, Braves 2.
April 14: Steve Ridzik pitches a three-hit shutout. Braves 13, Reds 0.
April 15: This time, four Reds pitchers combine to get the win. Reds 6, Braves 3.

Around the world:

The Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1965 kills between 256 to 271 people over six midwestern states of the USA.
The murderers of the Cutter family, whose crimes were written about in the Truman Capote book In Cold Blood, are hanged at the Kansas State Penitentiary.

In baseball:

Don Gile (Seals) is probably out for the season with a broken wrist.
Jacke Davis (Seals) is out four weeks with an inflamed rotator cuff.
Billy Hunter (Indians) is out two months with a ruptured cervical disk.
Joe Caffie (Pirates) is out two months with a torn knee ligament.
Pete Daley (Angels) is out three months with a hip injury.
Billy Williams (Blues) is out five weeks with a broken finger.
Gary Blaylock (Cardinals) is out four months with a broken fibula.
Stan Palys (Cubs) is out four weeks with a torn hamstring.
Norm Siebern (Orioles) is out five weeks with an inflamed rotator cuff.

[petrel]

Late April 1965



The Braves take their very first trip to California to play the Los Angeles Stars.

We get a first look at Chavez Ravine, The House That O'Malley Built. It is a beautiful and clean place according to Gil Hodges. Say what you want to about O'Malley, he knows a good stadium when he sees one.

April 16th-18th, 1965
Boston Braves (9-3) at Los Angeles Stars (7-5)

Projected starters:
April 16: Hank Aguirre (2-0, 3.15 ERA) vs. Bob Conley (1-1, 0.60 ERA)
April 17: Don Drysdale (1-1, 3.43 ERA) vs. Keith Paden (0-0, 1.13 ERA)
April 18: Steve Ridzik (2-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Dennis Musgraves (0-0, 9.00 ERA, 4 IP)

April 16: Tony Curry hits his first career home run in the bottom of the 9th to give the Stars the win. Stars 4, Braves 3.
April 17: Don Drysdale hits a home run as the Braves score all of their runs in the first four innings and hold back the Stars. Braves 9, Stars 7.
April 18: Jason Dews homers with two out in the bottom of the 9th, but Don Carpenter holds on for the save. Braves 3, Stars 2.
Dodgers part-time broadcaster Lindsay Nelson broadcasts part of the Dodgers/Astros game from a gondola hanging 200 feet above second base at the Astrodome. The Dodgers win, 3-0.

(* * *)

The Braves take the plane back to Chicago, losing a couple of hours as they play the Cubs.

April 19th-21st, 1965
Boston Braves (11-4) at Chicago Cubs (6-9)

Projected starters:
April 19: Howie Koplitz (2-1, 4.12 ERA) vs. Mukisa Sato (1-2, 3.32 ERA)
April 20: Ralph Beard (0-0) vs. Al Downing (0-1, 7.71 ERA)
April 21: Hank Aguirre (2-0, 3.46 ERA) vs. Eric Durant (0-0)

April 19: Mukisa Sato holds the Braves to three hits in eight innings. Cubs 5, Braves 0.

Trades:
to Angels: Harvey Kuenn (SS), Bob Hartman (SP), Ed Sukla (SP)
to Braves: Dennis Menke (SS)

Menke has great potential as a shortstop, and we get rid of Harvey Kuenn's massive $5.75 million contract.

April 20: The Braves tie it in the top of the 9th with three runs, but Dean Stone comes in and gives up two walks and two singles, including the game-winning single by Al Kaline. Cubs 6, Braves 5.
Howie Koplitz will sit out for three weeks with injured knee ligaments. Ralph Beard will take his place in the rotation, and Ray Herbert gets the call-up from AAA.
April 21: The Cubs get 16 hits and sweep the Braves at home. Cubs 7, Braves 1.

(* * *)

In Houston, the outer Astrodome ceiling is going to be painted. Major league baseball has decided that when the sun shines down at the right angle, outfielders just can't see the ball coming when they look up at the domed ceiling and someone might get hurt.

The Peaches are swept at Yankee Stadium, 17-0, 4-1, and 3-1 to lose 16 straight games. Meanwhile, the sweep knocks us to fourth place in the tough NL East, 5 games behind the 17-3 Giants.

April 22nd-24th, 1965
Milwaukee Brewers (5-16) at Boston Braves (11-7)

Projected starters:
April 22: Karl Spooner (1-3, 5.32 ERA) vs. Steve Ridzik (3-0, 1.41 ERA)
April 23: Ray Semproch (0-1, 21.60 ERA, 3 1/3 IP) vs. Ralph Beard (0-0)
April 24: Dexter Magor (1-3, 5.08 ERA) vs. Ray Herbert (0-0)

April 22: The Braves only score 5 hits, but the Brewers are held to three. Joe Torre hits two home runs. Braves 4, Brewers 2.

The Reds beat the Orioles 3-2 in Cincinnati, but it took 19 innings to do it. Meanwhile, the Peaches lost to the visiting Senators 17-5 for their 17th straight loss in front of a sold-out crowd of 30,000. The modern consecutive loss record is 20 straight losses.

Trades:
to Seals: Larry Bearnarth (SP)
to Braves: Ron Campbell (2B) and $1 million

We need good middle infielders, and Campbell is blooming, hit .378 in AA for the Seals -- and face it, we have a surplus of great pitchers, but good middle infielders are hard to come by.

to Yankees: Wayne Schurr (RP)
to Astros: Earl Averill (C), Dick Baney (RP), Larry Foss (SP), Jack Crease (RP)

The Astros pick up the rest of Larry Foss $13.2 million contract. Foss hasn't pitched since 1962 and Averill hasn't played since 1963.

April 23: Ralph Beard holds the Brewers to four hits in eight innings. Braves 5, Brewers 0.
Wes Covington hits a triple in the bottom of the 13th, leading the Peaches to a 7-6 victory over the Senators and ending the Peaches losing streak.
April 24: Harvey Branch, filling in for an injured Hank Aguirre, holds the Brewers to six hits in eight innings. Braves 7, Brewers 0.

(* * *)

The Braves invite Casey Stengel's last-place Pirates to Braves Field. For Casey, it will be a sort of homecoming -- he was a manager of the Boston Braves a lonnnnnng time ago.

April 25th-27th, 1965
Pittsburgh Pirates (6-15) at Boston Braves (14-7)

Projected starters:
April 25: Edmund Richardson (2-2, 3.19 ERA) vs. Don Drysdale (2-2, 4.88 ERA)
April 26: Jim Waugh (0-3, 3.86 ERA) vs. Steve Ridzik (4-0, 1.58 ERA)
April 27: Mickey McDermott (1-4, 5.40 ERA) vs. Ralph Beard (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

April 25: Three Pirates pitchers hold the Braves to three hits. Pirates 4, Braves 1.
April 26: A seven-run sixth inning propels the Braves to victory. Braves 8, Pirates 7.
April 27: The Braves only get five hits, but they make them count. Braves 4, Pirates 3.

(* * *)

Up next -- a visit from the Los Angeles Stars. The Stars are 10-11 -- and tied for first in the NL West with the Cardinals! Four teams in the "NL Worst" are separated by one-half game.

April 28th-30th, 1965
Los Angeles Stars (10-11) at Boston Braves (16-87)

Projected starters:
April 28: Carl Duser (2-0, 1.13 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (2-0, 3.94 ERA)
April 29: Corky Valentine (1-4, 4.71 ERA) vs. Don Drysdale (2-3, 4.58 ERA)
April 30: Bill Harris (2-1, 3.55 ERA) vs. Steve Ridzik (4-0, 1.80 ERA)

April 28: Don Mincher's home run in the bottom of the 8th gives the Braves the win. Braves 5, Stars 4.
April 29: The Stars match their three hits with three errors. Don Mincher hits two home runs. Braves 6, Stars 1.
April 30: Steve Ridzik and Dean Stone combine to sweep the Stars. Braves 4, Stars 0.

(******)

Around the world:

The New York World's Fair reopens.
A rebellion takes place in the Dominican Republic against the right-wing military junta. President Lyndon Johnson sends Marines "for the stated purpose of protecting U.S. citizens and preventing an alleged Communist takeover of the country".

In baseball:

Frank Robinson (Giants) hits his 1000th RBI.

Harmon Killebrew (Yankees) is out four weeks with a broken finger.
Roy Dietzel (Twins) is out for the season with a broken wrist.
Bill Virdon (Orioles) is out for four months with a hip injury.
Johnny O'Brien (Pirates) is out for four weeks with a stretched knee ligament.
Xavier Matt (Peaches) is out for four weeks with a broken collar bone.
Wes Covington (Peaches) is out for two months with a broken tibia.
Dick Ellsworth (Seals) is out for five months with a broken neck vertebra.
Pancho Herrera (Athletics) is out for four weeks with a stretched knee ligament.

[petrel]

Early May 1965

The Braves get their first real test of the year -- three games at home against the Phillies, in second place in the NL East.

May 1st-3rd, 1965
Philadelphia Phillies (20-4) at Boston Braves (19-8)

Projected starters:
May 1: Phil Niekro (0-0) vs. Ralph Beard (2-0, 1.20 ERA)
May 2: Chris Short (0-0) vs. Ray Herbert (0-0)
May 3: Bill Monbouquette (4-1, 2.04 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (2-0, 4.38 ERA)

May 1: Four Braves hit home runs as Ralph Beard gets his third win. Braves 7, Phillies 2.
May 2: Hank Aguirre gives up 10 hits in just four innings. Phillies 7, Braves 2.
May 3: Bill Monbouquette throws 130 pitches, but gets the win. Phillies 5, Braves 1.

(* * *)

It was a disappointing series. I'm looking at the stats of Claude Osteen of the Giants, who just pitched a 4-0 shutout of the Cardinals. He's 8-0 with a 0.54 ERA. Good Lord.

May 4th-6th, 1965
Boston Braves (20-10) at St. Louis Cardinals (11-16)

Projected starters:
May 4: Steve Ridzik (5-0, 1.53 ERA) vs. Bob Anderson (0-3, 3.48 ERA)
May 5: Ralph Beard (3-0, 1.64 ERA) vs. Ed Connolly (0-0)
May 6: Ray Herbert (0-0) vs. Tom Hughes (4-3, 3.51 ERA)

May 4: Pumpsie Green hits his first home run of 1965 and Steve Ridzik goes to 6-0. Braves 9, Cardinals 3.
May 5: Two RBI singles in the top of the ninth break open a 6-6 tie. Braves 8, Cardinals 6.
May 6: Three runs in the top of the ninth contribute to a Braves sweep. Braves 5, Cardinals 1.

(* * *)

We win three straight but make no ground against the Giants, who have won five straight to lead the NL East. Dave Nicholson goes out 8 days with a twisted ankle, and we move Tommy Davis to left field and Jimmy Wynn to Nicholson's #2 spot in the batting order.

The Astros have won four straight to take a surprising four-game lead over the Stars in the NL West. In the AL West, the Angels have won seven straight and are now just 1/2 game behind the Seals.

Up next: a home series with the visiting Chicago Cubs.

May 7th-9th, 1965
Chicago Cubs (13-20) at Boston Braves (23-10)

Projected starters:
May 7: Jim Perry (3-1, 2.55 ERA) vs. Don Drysdale (3-4, 4.47 ERA)
May 8: Tobias Watson (3-4, 4.50 ERA) vs. Steve Ridzik (6-0, 1.80 ERA)
May 9: Mukisa Sato (2-5, 4.11 ERA) vs. Ralph Beard (3-0, 2.48 ERA)

May 7: Once again, the Braves' late inning heroics save the game, with Joe Christopher's second home run of the night in the eighth inning adding two runs to the Braves tally. Braves 6, Cubs 4.
May 8: Rudy Regalato gets a hit in the top of the ninth, but makes the second out when he is caught stealing second by Joe Torre. Cubs 4, Braves 3.
The Los Angeles Angels beat the visiting Tigers 10-1 to take the lead in the AL West by 1/2 game over the Seals.
May 9: Tom Watson holds the Braves to two hits in eight innings pitched, and the Braves win streak ends. Cubs 2, Braves 0.

In AA baseball, the Elmira Pioneers (Orioles) beat the Springfield Giants (Giants) 2-1 in twenty-seven innings, in front of a crowd of 386 in a 6 hour, 24 minute game. The game was scoreless for its first 25 innings, then both teams scored a run in the 26th, then Elmira scored the final run in the 27th.

It is the longest game in professional baseball history.

(* * *)

We go 2-1 and actually lose ground in the NL East. New York also goes 2-1, so we remain 4 games behind the Giants. But the Dodgers win 8 straight games and spring ahead of us, now just 3 games behind New York.

If we were in the NL West, we'd be leading that division by 11 games. Instead, we're in fourth place in basebal's toughest division, and set to greet to the second-place Phillies.

May 10th-12th, 1965
Philadelphia Phillies (26-7) at Boston Braves (25-11)

Projected starters:
May 10: Tom Cheney (3-1, 2.14 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (3-1, 4.69 ERA)
May 11: Billy O'Dell (4-0, 3.22 ERA) vs. Don Drysdale (3-4, 4.63 ERA)
May 12: Charlie Rudman (0-0) vs. Steve Ridzik (7-0, 2.00 ERA)

May 10: The Braves trade single runs through both halves of the 8th inning and the ninth inning. Ron Blackburn comes to pitch for the Phillies in the bottom of the ninth, and Joe Torre hits his second pitch over the left field fence. Braves 3, Phillies 2.
May 11: Down 4-0, the Braves score three runs in the bottom of the 9th and have men on first and third with Don Mincher up at bat. The Phillies call in Ron Perransoki to the mound, who gets Mincher to ground out to second. Phillies 4, Braves 3. Gates Brown, hitting .400, had five hits for the Phillies.
May 12: Joe Gibbon comes in to pitch for the Phillies in a 2-2 tie at the bottom of the 0th and gives up a single and two walks. Joe Torre would strike out, but Dennis Menke would sac fly to senter and Bernie Allen would tag up with the winning run. Braves 3, Phillies 2.

(* * *)

Off next to the Houston, to play the Astros who lead the NL West by 4 1/2 games.

May 13th-15th, 1965
Boston Braves (27-12) at Houston Astros (20-16)

Projected starters:
May 13: Ralph Beard (3-1, 2.31 ERA) vs. Larry Foss (1-1, 2.42 ERA)
May 14: Ray Herbert (0-0) vs. Bill MacDonald (4-1, 0.98 ERA)
May 15: Hank Aguirre (3-1, 4.02 ERA) vs. Larry Dierker (0-1, 6.00 ERA)

May 13: The Braves get a six-run 6th inning and beat the Astros indoors. Braves 9, Astros 5.

Gil Hodges calls me up after the game. He says, "the outfield looks horrible". Apparently, painting the glass panes of the dome is killing the grass inside it, because there is no sunlight.

May 14: The Braves pick up another 9th-inning run and Don Carpenter holds on for the save. Braves 4, Astros 3.

Steve Ridzik goes out three days with a strained forearm, but Dean Stone, the setup-man, breaks his left leg Stone had been hit by a line-drive single by Don Wert, but managed to get the strikeout to end the 8th.

Doctors say Stone will be out for at least two months. We move Ron Herbel to set-up duty and Bob Sadowski, for whom everyone but his mother has been offering eight-player trades, will fill in the gap in the bullpen.

May 15: Jim Hannan of the Astros throws a couple of wild pitches in the top of the ninth and gives up a home run to Joe Torre. Braves 5, Astros 3.

(* * *)

Around the world:

The first draft card burnings take place at the University of California at Berkeley.
West Germany and Israel establish diplomatic relations.

In baseball:

Frank Bolling (Tigers) gets his 1000th run.
Webbo Clarke (Senators) gets his 200th save.

Jim Maloney (Reds) is out three months with a broken tibia.
Josh Pool (Brewers) is out for two months with a torn elbow ligament.
Geoff Thomas (Peaches) is out for the season with a broken back vertebra.



Ray Jablonski, a third baseman for the Cardinals, Phillies, Orioles, Seals, Dodgers, Orioles again and Seals again, retired at age 38 after a severe concussion. Jablonski's doctors recommended that he retire. He was an All-Star for the Seals in the 1959 All-Star Game.

Gordon Jones retired at age 34 after 11 seasons with the Cardinals as a relief pitcher (1954-1963). He was an All-Star for the Cardinals in 1960 and 1961.

(* * *)

[moneyp]

What an outstanding read this has been. You've set the bar too high for the rest of us, Petrel. The Al Lawson stuff was great, very entertaining to read up on the genuine article. Keep it up!

[petrel]

Late May 1965

The Braves will be getting some days off in late May, but will play three games at home against the Cardinals first. Both Howie Koplitz and Dave Nicholson come off the disabled list.

May 16th-182th, 1965
St. Louis Cardinals (12-27) at Boston Braves (30-12)

Projected starters:
May 16: Bob Anderson (0-6, 5.28 ERA) vs. Howie Koplitz (2-2, 4.78 ERA)
May 17: Denny Lemaster (0-1, 5.40 ERA) vs. Ralph Beard (3-1, 3.00 ERA)
May 18: Ed Connolly (0-0) vs. Hank Aguirre (3-1, 3.92 ERA)

May 16: Koplitz pitches 8 solid innings coming back. Joe Torre and Dave Nicholson hit home runs. Braves 7, Cardinals 1.
May 17: Five of the Cardinals six runs were home runs. Cardinals 6, Braves 3.
May 18: The Cardinals shoot themselves, getting only 3 hits and committing 4 errors. Braves 5, Cardinals 0.

Trades:
to Pirates: Charlie Beamon (RP), Adrian Garrett (C), Luis Trujillo (SP)
to Blues: Don Eaddy (3b), Rex Johnston (LF)

The winners? The Pirates, who get a good relief pitcher in Charlie Beamon.

(* * *)

As the Braves take a couple of days off, baseball was shocked by the death of young Chicago White Sox reliever Dick Wantz, dead at the age of 25.

Wantz had been suffering painful headaches since at least Spring Training, but had somehow fought through them, it being his first year as a big-league pitcher. After his last game on May 15th at the Yankees, where he pitched 1 2/3 innings and gave up four hits and three earned runs, he visited a doctor for some relief.

The cause was apparently not hard to diagnose: a large, most certainly malignant brain tumor. Wantz was rushed into surgery, but he would die in a hospital room shortly afterwards.

Coincidentally, Wantz's number was #25. The White Sox will wear the number on a memorial patch for the rest of the season.

(* * *)

May 21st-23rd, 1965
Boston Braves (32-13) at Philadelphia Phillies (30-12)

Projected starters:
May 21: Howie Koplitz (3-2, 3.93 ERA) vs. Bil Monbouquette (6-1, 2.03 ERA)
May 22: Hank Aguirre (3-2, 4.16 ERA) vs. Pete Craig (4-2, 3.31 ERA)
May 23: Don Drysdale (3-5, 4.35 ERA) vs. Tom Cheney (3-2, 2.50 ERA)

May 21: Don Mincher's home run is the only run scored by the Braves. Phillies 3, Braves 1.
May 22: Three Boston pitchers combine for a shuout win. Braves 2, Phillies 0.
May 23: The Braves explode for 14 hits against a tough Phillies club. Braves 10, Phillies 4.

(* * *)

The Braves take one day off before phighting the Phillies again.

May 25th-27th, 1965
Boston Braves (34-14) at Philadelphia Phillies (31-14)

Projected starters:
May 25: Ralph Beard (3-1, 3.00 ERA) vs. Steve Blass (5-0, 1.96 ERA)
May 26: Howie Koplitz (3-3, 3.79 ERA) vs. Pete Craig (4-3, 3.33 ERA)
May 27: Hank Aguirre (4-2, 3.88 ERA) vs. Tom Cheney (3-3, 2.90 ERA)

May 25: Ralph Beard gets some help from his teammates, including four runs in the final three innings. Braves 9, Phillies 6. The win propels Boston to second place, 5 games behind the Giants.
May 26: Bill Monbouquette pitches six strong innings to get his eight win. Phillies 7, Braves 1.
May 27: The Braves score five runs in the top of the ninth with the help of three Phillies errors -- two by outfielders -- but Dick Smith flies out to end what could have been an amazing rally. Phillies 8, Braves 7.

Trades:
to Seals: Pete Mikkelsen (RP)
to Cardinals: Herb Hippauf (RP), Bryon Brown (LF), Dave Bevill (RP)

Mikkelsen comes to the West Coast, hoping for a change in the air struggling for much of 1965. The Seals had to give up three average players to get him.

(* * *)

The Braves stay in second place was short -- all of one day. The Giants, Yankees, and Angels are fairly secure in their division. Only in the NL Worst, or West, is there a race of any kind, with the Cubs finally taking the "lead" at 27-27 as the Astros lose five out of six.

Chuck Dressen of the San Francisco Seals has finally recovered from his heart attack to take over managing the club. The Seals were 28-26 in his absence, good for third place.

Next up: we treat the Brooklyn Dodgers at home. The Dodgers are 1 1/2 games ahead of us, and in second place.

May 31st-June 2nd, 1965
Brooklyn Dodgers (38-16) at Boston Braves (35-16)

Projected starters:
May 31: Earl Wilson (6-3, 2.45 ERA) vs. Steve Ridzik (9-0, 2.04 ERA)
June 1: Randy Towers (2-1, 3.97 ERA) vs. Ralph Beard (4-1, 3.27 ERA)
June 2: Shayne Hanlon (8-1, 1.91 ERA) vs. Howie Koplitz (3-4, 4.73 ERA)

May 31: Steve Ridzik looks for his 10th win, but gives up 9 hits in 3 1/3 innings. Dodgers 10, Braves 5.

Trades:
to Tigers: Jim Waugh (SP), Billy Harrell (SS), Paul Smith (1b)
to Pirates: Alan Hyte (SP)

Hyte is a 30 year old pitcher who just couldn't break into the Detroit lineup. Casey thinks he's good enough for the Pirates, who give up starter Jim Waugh and two marginal players for him.

June 1: Brooklyn scores all nine runs in the last three innings. Dodgers 9, Braves 4.
June 2: Both sides go through nine pitchers altogether in a heavy-hitting game. Dodgers 11, Braves 8.

(* * *)

Around the World:

The first "teach-in" takes place place at the University of California at Berkeley, California.
The first Australian combat troops arrive in South Vietnam.

In baseball:

Bob Skinner (Yankees) scored his 1000th run.
Cass Michaels (Orioles) scored his 1000th run.
Joe Adcock (Orioles) scores his 1500th RBI.

Dick Ricketts (Reds) is out for four months with a broken hip.
Hal Trotsky (Reds) is out for six weeks with a broken foot.
Rinty Monahan (Athletics) is out for five weeks with ruptured knee ligaments.
Carl Boles (Athletics) is out two months with a severe shoulder separation.
Stan Jok (Orioles) is out for two months with a broken elbow.
Woodie Held (Orioles) is out for two months with a torn elbow ligament.
Dick Radatz (White Sox) is out for four months with a broken neck vertebra.
Joey Amalfitano (Giants) is out for three months with a broken elbow.
Tom Yewcic (Orioles) is out for the season with a torn ankle ligament.

Eddie "The Walking Man" Yost retired after a 20 year career with the Senators, Braves, and Giants. He got his nickname "the walking man" with his philosophy that a walk was just as good as a hit and went to four All-Star games, three as a member of the Braves. He won three Gold Gloves as a third baseman and was a player on the 1956 and 1957 Braves World Championship teams. (He was also on the 1964 roster with the Giants, winning his third World Series ring.) The nickname is an apt one, as his 1,623 lifetime walks are good for 6th place on a list surrounded by Hall of Famers.


One of my favorite Braves players, The Walking Man.

Del Ennis retired at age 39. His 19 years included stints with the Phillies, Cardinals, Giants, Cubs and Red Sox. He was a seven-time All-Star in left field, and won two Gold Gloves as an outfielder. His 391 home runs are good for 13th on baseball's All-Time home run list. Ennis had a particularly adverse relationship with the fans of his first club, the Philadelphia Phillies, who relentlessly booed him -- undoubtedly because he was born in Philadelphia, and therefore, they expected unrealistic numbers from him.

Benjamin Walpin retires at age 32. He pitched four years with the Giants, 1961-1964, and never won a championship. He finished with an amazing 22-8 lifetime record, bolstered by a 16-4 record in 1963. But shoulder bursitis brought a premature end to Walpin's career.

[petrel]

Early June 1965

The Braves have dropped five straight, including a sweep by the Dodgers. We're better than any team in the NL West, and yet we're looking up at a bunch of superteams in the NL East.

Therefore: we play western teams for two weeks before taking off to Giants Stadium to play the Giants. Hopefully, we can pad our record a bit.

Howie Koplitz, with a 3-5 record and 5.73 ERA, is the winner of the losing pitcher sweepstakes and is sent to our "AAA" system, which doesn't exist. Ray Herbert gets a reprieve from some independent club in Ohio acting as a AAA landing pad.

June 3rd-5th, 1965
Boston Braves (35-19) at Milwaukee Brewers (16-38)

Projected starters:
June 3: Hank Aguirre (4-3, 4.56 ERA) vs. Rich Beck (3-3, 4.55 ERA)
June 4: Harvey Branch (1-0, 0.98 ERA) vs. Karl Spooner (1-4, 4.91 ERA)
June 5: Steve Ridzik (9-1, 2.74 ERA) vs. Dexter Magor (4-6, 4.48 ERA)

June 3: Dave Nicholson hits two home runs in a close win. Braves 8, Brewers 6.
June 4: Don Mincher hits three home runs as Steve Ridzik joins the 10-win club. Braves 11, Brewers 5.
The Cubs score 5 runs in the top of the 18th inning in Baltimore and walk away after six hours of play with a 7-2 win.
June 5: Don Mincher adds another home run to lead the majors with 22. Braves 5, Brewers 3.

(* * *)

The Astros take a break from their indoor barn to travel to Boston and play the Braves. The Astros are 28-32, four games off the pace of the NL West "leaders", the Chicago Cubs.

June 6th-8th, 1965
Houston Astros (28-32) at Boston Braves (38-19)

Projected starters:
June 6: Cal Hogue (4-1, 2.19 ERA) vs. Don Drysdale (3-5, 4.35 ERA)
June 7: Larry Foss (3-4, 3.36 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (4-3, 3.90 ERA)
June 8: Bill MacDonald (4-4, 2.07 ERA) vs. Harvey Branch (1-0, 0.98 ERA)

June 6: Don Drysdale and Bill Graham combine for a shutout win. Braves 5, Astros 0.
June 7: Rookie Tug McGraw gives up five earned runs in just 2/3 innings pitched. Braves 10, Astros 2.
Claude Osteen, 14-0 for the Giants this year, loses his first game of 1965 at Philadelphia to the Phillies 9-5.
June 8: Three Braves pitches combine for a shutout as the visiting Astros are swept. Braves 10, Astros 0.

(* * *)

On June 9th, in the wee hours of the morning, baseball heard the shocking news that Ryne Duren, formerly of the Browns/Blues and Angels, committed suicide by jumping off a bridge in California.


Ryne Duren, 1929-1965

Duren was 57-71 with a 4.95 lifetime ERA. He was the first All-Star ever for the Kansas City Blues, and was known for his infamous Coke bottle glasses. Batters would be intimidated when he'd throw a warmup pitch right into the backstop, and many a batter wondered if he'd be the next Ray Chapman.

However, when Duren was unsigned as a free agent in 1964, he played in the independent leagues for a while, and turned more and more to alcohol to clear his woes. He didn't even finish out his season with his club, retiring in June. Police would later say at his autopsy that Duren was legally intoxicated when he died. He did not leave a suicide note.

Other of Duren's teammates stated that Duren had a problem with the bottle. I hope that Duren's death has shaken up a few of these guys who might be tempted to tie one on when things get bad.

(* * *)

We travel out to Los Angeles to play the Stars, and then back home to pay the Brewers. Our players lose three hours of time going to L. A.; it plays havoc with sleep schedules.

June 9th-11th, 1965
Boston Braves (41-19) at Los Angeles Stars (24-36)

Projected starters:
June 9: Ralph Beard (5-2, 3.32 ERA) vs. Bob Conley (4-5, 2.45 ERA)
June 10: Don Drysdale (4-5, 3.91 ERA) vs. Keith Paden (0-1, 5.91 ERA)
June 11: Hank Aguirre (5-3, 4.71 ERA) vs. Carl Duser (5-5, 3.71 ERA)

June 9: The Stars come back with four runs in the bottom of the 8th, and win with a Jack Lind single in the bottom of the 10th. Stars 5, Braves 4 (10).
June 10: Dave Nicholson's three run homer in the top of the ninth puts the Braves up for good. Braves 5, Stars 3.
June 11: Hank Aguirre shuts out the Stars in front of a sellout crowd in Los Angeles. Braves 6, Stars 0.


(* * *)

Not a bad result after a long trip. We're still 8 1/2 behind the Giants, tied for third with the Phillies.

The Brewers, losers of 11 straight, come to see us in Boston.

June 12th-14th, 1965
Milwaukee Brewers (16-47) at Boston Braves (43-20)

Projected starters:
June 12: Ray Semproch (0-3, 5.49 ERA) vs. Steve Ridzik (11-1, 2.57 ERA)
June 13: Karl Spooner (1-6, 5.40 ERA) vs. Ralph Beard (5-2, 2.88 ERA)
June 14: Dexter Magor (4-8, 4.76 ERA) vs. Don Drysdale (5-5, 3.86 ERA)

June 12: Steve Ridzik gets his 12th win of the year. Braves 5, Brewers 1.
June 13: Ralph Beard gets an inning of help from Don Carpenter in a shutout of Milwaukee. Braves 2, Brewers 0.
June 14: Don Mincher has a three home run game including a three-run home run in an eight-run eighth inning. Braves 13, Brewers 4.

(* * *)

The wins against NL West teams have brought us to within 6 1/2 games of the Giants, in third place in the NL East. We travel to New York and play the Giants for three games, in the hopes of winning two of three and closing the gap.

June 15th-17th, 1965
Boston Braves (46-20) at New York Giants (54-15)

Projected starters:
June 15: Hank Aguirre (6-3, 4.26 ERA) vs. Claude Osteen (15-1, 1.04 ERA)
June 16: Harvey Branch (1-0, 0.98 ERA) vs. Bill Kirk (12-5, 3.35 ERA)
June 17: Steve Ridzik (12-1, 2.47 ERA) vs. John Fitzgerald (8-4, 2.65 ERA)

June 15: Don Carpenter comes to pitch in the bottom of the 9th with a two run lead, but gives up three runs, including the game winning single by Donn Clendenon. Giants 7, Braves 6. Dave Nicholson goes out three days with a hip stress fracture and will be replaced by Joe Cunningham in right field.
June 16: Bill Kirk holds the Braves to just three hits before a sellout crowd. Giants 3, Braves 1.
The White Sox win their second of three games at home against the Los Angeles Angels to move into a tie for first in the AL West.
June 17: The Braves get 13 hits -- but the Giants get four home runs and make them count. Giants 11, Braves 2.
The Angels beat the White Sox 7-3, avoiding the sweep and hanging on to first place in the AL West.

(* * *)

Around the world:

In Vietnam, about 1500 Viet Cong launch a mortar attack on a special forces camp in Dong Xoai. Even though the Viet Cong are driven back, the battle is considered a tactical victory for the North Vietnamese.
An anti-war protest at The Pentagon becomes a "teach-in", with demonstrators passing out 50,000 leaflets in and around the building.

In baseball:

Kevin Trevenot (Dodgers) scores his 200th save.
Joel Cataldo (Orioles) pitches his 2000th strikeout.
Roberto Clemente (Yankees) scores his 2000th hit.

Tom Yewcic (Orioles) is out for the season with a torn ankle ligament.
Joey Amalfitano (Giants) is out for ten weeks with a broken elbow.
Mark Baer (Athletics) is out for six weeks with a broken forearm.
Dal Maxvill (Stars) is out for two months with a torn knee ligament.
Ted Abernathy (Phillies) is out for five weeks with a wrist stress fracture.

[petrel]

Late June-Early July 1965
Part I

After the ignominious sweep by the Giants, the Dodgers come to visit. We are 0-6 in our last six games against New York teams. The Braves need to find some success, somewhere if we have any hope to contend.

Oddly enough, the focus in baseball is on the Milwaukee Brewers, losers of 17 straight and threatening the NL record of most consecutive losses: 19, held by the 1906 Braves (then the Beaneaters) and the 1914 Cincinnati Reds. I won't mind if the Brewers break that record; they can have it.


June 18th-20th, 1965
Brooklyn Dodgers (50-22) at Boston Braves (46-23)

Projected starters:
June 18: Dee Geer (7-5, 3.59 ERA) vs. Don Drysdale (6-5, 3.91 ERA)
June 19: Earl Wilson (8-5, 3.13 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (6-3, 4.28 ERA)
June 20: Randy Towers (2-1, 3.97 ERA) vs. Jason Dejban (0-0)

June 18: Earl Bailey and Foster Castleman hit home runs against the Braves. Dodgers 4, Braves 2.
Milwaukee loses 7-5 to the Phillies at home before a crowd of 5,652. They are one short of tying the NL record for consecutive losses.
June 19: Vada Pinson homers in the top of the 9th, but Hank Aguirre pitches a complete eight-strikeout game. Braves 5, Dodgers 1.
Sammy White and Roger Maris hit home runs and Rich Beck pitches a complete game as the Phillies fall to the Brewers 4-0. The Brewers escape the NL record for most consecutive losses (modern era)!
June 20: Harvey Branch gets his second career win as Earl Wilson gives up six earned runs in 1 2/3 innings. Braves 6, Dodgers 1.

(* * *)

The big news on June 20th was the expulsion of Milwaukee beat reporter Lou Chapman from the Milwaukee Brewers dressing room. His press credentials had been revoked by the Milwaukee organization for "stories of a negative nature" which supposedly "disquieted" the playersr.

Translation: Chapman told the truth, over and over, about what an awful team the Brewers are, and the Brewers punished him for it.

Members of the Milwaukee members of the Baseball Writers Association of America threatened to stop writing about Brewers games in protest. Milwaukee rescinded their ban, and "Gumby" was back on the job. All the ban did was make Brewers management look foolish and give Chapman more credibility.

Chapman is supposedly a great writer, but Braves players have bumped into him before. One time, according to Fred Haney, he was supposedly hiding behind a water cooler in the Milwaukee visiting dugout, trying to get a scoop by listening in on a conversation between two players. He's one of those fellows for whom a pen is a loaded weapon, and you don't want to be in range of it.

(* * *)

The Stars come to Boston to twinkle in the eyes of Massachusetts for three games. We're hoping for a dark, cloudy night.

Joe Torre suffers a groin pull during practice. Doctors say he'll be out for two weeks. Lou Berberet takes his place.

June 21st-23rd, 1965
Los Angeles Stars (26-43) at Boston Braves (48-24)

Projected starters:
June 21: Carl Duser (5-5, 3.39 ERA) vs. Ralph Beard (6-3, 3.50 ERA)
June 22: Corky Valentine (4-10, 5.63 ERA) vs. Don Drysdale (6-6, 3.91 ERA)
June 23: Bill Harris (5-8, 4.39 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (7-3, 4.01 ERA)

June 21: Tied 5-5 after nine innings, the Stars score two runs in the top of the 10th, including off a homer by Alex Jenks. Dave Nicholson homers in the bottom of the 10th, but the Braves don't come back. Stars 7, Braves 6 (10).
June 22: Dave Nicholson has two home runs including a 3-RBI blast in the bottom of the 8th. Braves 10, Stars 5.
Juen 23: Dave Nicholson hits another home run, but the Braves can't cross the plate. Stars 6, Braves 2.

(* * *)

The Braves travel to Milwaukee to face the Brewers and that dogged, diligent reporter known as Lou Chapman.

June 24th-26th, 1965
Boston Braves (49-26) at Milwaukee Brewers (17-58)

Projected starters:
June 24: Harvey Branch (2-0, 0.99 ERA) vs. Rich Beck (4-4, 4.55 ERA)
June 25: Ralph Beard (6-3, 3.78 ERA) vs. Karl Spooner (1-7, 4.93 ERA)
June 26: Don Drysdale (7-6, 3.88 ERA) vs. Dexter Magor (4-11, 4.53 ERA)

June 24: Joe Christopher gets a pair of homers, but the Braves fall short again. Brewers 5, Braves 4.
June 25: Ralph Beard picks up his 7th win, despite zero strikeouts. Braves 5, Brewers 2.
June 26: Don Drysdale and Bill Graham manage to give up 5 runs in the bottom of the ninth, but still win. Braves 8, Brewers 6.

(* * *)

Seeing as how Dennis Menke has started to underperform, we make a trade for the second best AA minor league hitter.

Trades:
to Indians: Dennis Menke (SS) and $2 million
to Braves: Joe Morgan (2b)

Hopefully, Morgan can perform better for Boston than his .278 OBP indicates in Cleveland. He'll get a chance to warm up against a weak team, the Pirates.

June 27th-29th, 1965
Pittsburgh Pirates (26-49) at Boston Braves (51-27)

Projected starters:
June 27: Simon Scherr (3-5, 5.21 ERA) vs. Hank Aguirre (7-4, 3.85 ERA)
June 28: Jorge Orta (2-2, 4.58 ERA) vs. Steve Ridzik (12-2, 2.55 ERA)
June 29: Alan Hyte (0-2, 9.39 ERA) vs. Ralph Beard (7-3, 3.68 ERA)

June 27: The Pirates give up 15 runs on just 11 hits. Braves 15, Pirates 3.
Unfortunately, Bernie Allen goes out for two weeks with a pulled groin. Ken Hamlin will take his place and Eddie Kasko will get a retrieve from AAA.

(* * *)

With expansion to 24 teams, the argument is that pitching is weaker. But batting is weaker as well, and Todd Cotter of the White Sox took advantage of that, pitching a perfect game, the ninth such game in the history of major league baseball.

Cotter pitched a complete game against the Atlanta Peaches, winning 2-0 at Ponce De Leon Park, in front of a crowd of 23,266. He allowed none of the Peaches on base. The 1963 American League Strikeout Leader threw eight strikeouts, but it took him 124 pitches to get his perfect game. Total game time was 2 hours and 38 minutes.

We have two years in a row with perfect games pitched -- the last perfect game was in 1964 and pitched by Dee Geer of the Dodgers against another weak team, the Brewers. However, none of this takes away from Cotter's amazing accomplishment.

(* * *)

June 28: New second baseman Joe Morgan gets a triple as Steve Ridzik gets his 13th win. Braves 4, Pirates 2.
June 29: Don Carpenter gives up a home run to Reno Betoia, but holds off the Pirates. Braves 5, Pirates 3.

(* * *)

Once again, we go to Giants Stadium in New York to take on the Giants. We're 7 games out of first place, but we've worked our way up to third place.

June 30th-July 2nd, 1965
Boston Braves (54-27) at New York Giants (61-20)

Projected starters:
June 30: Don Drysdale (8-6, 3.98 ERA) vs. Fred Newman (11-4, 2.50 ERA)
July 1: Hank Aguirre (8-4, 3.82 ERA) vs. Greg Liokumovich (2-0, 0.64 ERA)
July 2: Steve Ridzik (13-2, 2.55 ERA) vs. Claude Osteen (16-2, 1.88 ERA)

June 30: The Braves fall one game short of winning 20 games in June. Giants 6, Braves 1.

Trades:
to Tigers: Martin Tidy (SP), Martin Cheeks (2B), Gus Triandos (C)
to Twins: Brooks Robinson (3B), Purnal Goldy (RF), Jack Smith (RP), Lou Skizas (LF), Roy Wright (SP)

A trade notable for the headline: Twins Trade Tidy to Tigers. Say that three times fast!

July 1: The Giants hit four home runs and wallop the Braves. Giants 10, Braves 1.

Trades:
to Yankees: Jeff James (SP), Milt Graff (2B)
to Pirates: Ryan Crowley (RP)

Crowley is a marginally-talented 28-year old. He might find his way in the Pirates rotation.

July 2: Steve Ridzik holds the Giants to four hits. Braves 6, Giants 0.

Trades:
to Twins: Costen Shockley (1B), Lance Verrill (3B), Jay Johnstone (CF), Bernie Smith (RF)
to Dodgers: Chad Chamberlain (C)

That was a big win for the Twins. Shockley and Johnstone have the potential to start in the majors someday.

[petrel]

Late June-Early July 1965
Part II

We finish the first half of the season playing three games against the Cardinals, in third place in the NL West.


July 3rd-5th, 1965
Boston Braves (55-29) at New York Giants (34-47)

Projected starters:
July 3: Harvey Branch (3-1, 1.32 ERA) vs. Tom Hughes (11-6, 2.88 ERA)
July 4: Don Drysdale (8-7, 4.00 ERA) vs. Larry Jackson (2-11, 5.64 ERA)
July 5: Hank Aguirre (8-5, 4.12 ERA) vs. Ray Washburn (7-8, 3.81 ERA)

July 3: The Cardinals are walloped with 17 hits. Braves 11, Cardinals 3.

(* * *)

Baseball was stunned by news from the camp of the New York Yankees of all places. A fight in Minnesota before a Yankees/Twins game has led to one well-known Yankee player being traded.

Frank Thomas was indefinitely suspended from the club after his role in a fight with lead-off man Don Buford during batting practice. Witnesses say that Thomas had been "riding" Buford for at least a week, sort of picking on him. Finally, Buford's patience snapped and he left the batting cage, and the two began to fight. During the fight, Thomas picked up a baseball bat -- Buford was "unarmed" despite leaving the batting cage -- and swung at Buford with it, hitting him on the shoulder. Buford was not hurt.


Was there a racial element to the fight?

Thomas was suspended "indefinitely" by New York Yankees and didn't appear in that night's game. (The Yankees lost to the Twins, 5-4.) Instead, Thomas and his $8 million was shopped around by the Yankees. Finally, they found a taker.

Trades:
to Giants: Frank Thomas (CF)
to Yankees: Bill Robinson (LF), Clarence Jones (RF)

Robinson is a huge prospect -- a #1 draft pick in 1961 -- and Jones has put up some good minor league numbers. As Thomas is 35 years old, I'll give the Yankees the win on the deal.

However, some of my sources tell me that the taunting of Buford was racially motivated. As a result, I didn't want to sign Thomas. As it turned out, the Yanks asked for too much and went with the rival Giants.

July 4: The Cardinals outhit the Braves, but the Braves spoil the planned fireworks at Busch Stadium. Braves 6, Cardinals 2.
July 5: The Braves sweep the Cardinals, winning their fourth straight before the All-Star Game. Braves 10, Cardinals 1.

(* * *)

There are three days off before the All-Star Break, and the Angels and Senators made a massive trade:

Trades:
to Senators: Vern Geishert (RP), Billy Grabarkewitz (3B), Alan Koch (SP), Larry Foster (RP), Von McDaniel (SP), Johnny Roseboro (C)
to Stars: Sam Beiersdorfer(RF), Clete Boyer (3B)

The Stars trade a lot of marginal players to get players who might be a bit closer to actually making the majors one day.

(* * *)

In baseball:

Johnny Temple (Yankees) gets his 2000th hit.

Ryan Ulmer (Orioles) is out for seven weeks with a severe shoulder separation.
Norm Sherry (Dodgers) is out for four weeks with a broken foot.
Johnny Weekly (Athletics) is out for the season with a torn ankle ligament.
Todd Cotter (White Sox) is out for four weeks with a shoulder separation.

Ralph Kiner retires at the age of 42.



Kiner, a left fielder for the Pirates, Cubs, Senators and Yankees, had a career in baseball that lasted almost 20 years. He finished with a .272/.398/.551 line, finished 5th on the All-Time Walks list (with 1700) and 9th on the All-Time RBI list (with 1709). He was an eight-time All-Star and won four World Championship rings (all with the Yankees) as well as a Gold Glove in 1956 for his outfield work.

But the record Kiner will be best remembered for is his 608 home runs, good for second on the All-Time list, 72 home runs ahead of his nearest competitor, Ted Williams. Oddly enough, Kiner only hit 27 home runs for the Yankees since 1960, and was primary a pinch-hitter or a substitute. Most baseball men were of the opinion that the reason the Yanks kept Kiner on the bench for so long was to keep him from seriously challenging The Babe's record.

He said, "The hitters of home runs drive Cadillacs; the hitters of singles drive jalopies." The Yankees honored Kiner with a Cadillac as his retirement was announced. Casey Stengel, who managed Kiner for years, said, "Ralph also said, 'You hit home runs with your a-ss!' They should have least given him a donkey, too!"

Johnny Logan retired after fifteen years with the Braves, White Sox, Cubs, White Sox again, and Angels. A shortstop who hit .279 with 1668 hits, he attended five All-Star Games and won Gold Gloves in 1953 and 1954. He was on the 1953 White Sox but was not named to their World Championship roster -- but finally got his ring as a member of the 1955 Chicago Cubs.

Mike Fournieles retired at age 33 after 11 seasons with the Senators, White Sox, Senators again, Cubs, and Astros. Fournieles, a reliever, finished with a 24-18 record and a 3.87 lifetime ERA and 608 2/3 innings pitched. He won a World Championship ring as a member of the 1953 White Sox.

[petrel]

1965 All-Star Game
Part I

The 1965 All-Star Game was played in Minneapolis, Minnesota at Metropolitan Stadium.


Metropolitan Stadium, home of the Minnesota Twins.

Baseball heads out "West" once more with the visit to Metropolitan Stadium. This is the fourth straight year the All-Star Game has been hosted at an American League facility. Who was the last National League team to host the All-Star Game? Why the Boston Braves were, in 1965!

Minneapolis isn't the kind of city you think of as a western city. I would need a map to determine if it was west of the Mississippi. The only reason the game is being held in Minneapolis is because of a special arrangement between Ford Frick and Calvin Griffith as part of the World Baseball Association settlement. Frankly, I think the game should be held in Houston, or Los Angeles next year.

As for the stadium itself, it was built in 1955 but has the feel of a thirty-year old stadium -- and not in a good way -- the stadium was expanded to try to lasso a major league baseball team to move to Minneapolis. As a result, much of the seating was temporary seating, and it's still temporary seating, ten years later! Some of the fans are sitting on wooden benches like the fans in Atlanta. I get to watch the game from a special box reserved for National League owners, and thank goodness I didn't have to watch it from the uncomfortable stands.

Game day temperature was 69 degrees -- not the kind of temp you expect in the middle of July. Twins fans says that it can get very cold out here in the fall, and the gusts of wind blowing through the stadium can help assist a ball out of the park, although the wind here isn't as bad as it is at Seals Stadium.

If you want to leave the game, well, traffic gets mighty clogged at the end of the park. I suppose Metropolitan Stadium has some good old Minnesota charm, but it's just a badly designed ballpark. This year, Minnesota is averaging about 29,000 a game, so I suppose there are those in Minnesota who are really starved for baseball. The Twins are mired in fifth place in the American League West.

(* * *)

And now, it's time to introduce the 1965 All-Stars!

National League

C: *Earl Battey, Giants (6 consecutive)
1B: Don Mincher, Braves (1st All-Star Game -- and voting champion!)
2B: Jim Gilliam, Dodgers (10)
3B: Ken Boyer, Giants (7 consecutive)
SS: *Dal Maxvill, Stars (1)
OF: Gary Geiger, Phillies (5 - 4th consecutive)
OF: Gates Brown, Phillies (1)
OF: Joe Christopher, Braves (3)

Bob Johnson, Giants (5 - 3 consecutive)
Howie Goss, Reds (1)
Willie Kirkland, Brewers (1)
Norm Cash, Pirates (3)
Joe Torre, Braves (1)
Carl Yastrzemski, Giants (5 consecutive)

Jim Coutant, Orioles (2)
Jim Perry, Cubs (3)
Bill MacDonald, Astros (1)
Tom Hughes, Cardinals (1)
Claude Osteen, Giants (5)
Steve Ridzik, Braves (3)
Fred Newman, Giants (1)
Kevin Trevenot, Dodgers (1)
John Boozer, Phillies (2 consecutive)
Julio Navarro, Dodgers (2)
Jack Kralick, Giants (1)

Manager: Sam Mele, Giants

The Giants topped the list of All-Stars, sending seven players to Minneapolis. The Braves followed with four players, followed by the Dodgers and Phillies with three. Everyone else sent one player.

Which means that all of the teams of the National League West only sent one player each. Earl Battey and Dal Maxvill will not play due to injuries. Joe Torre of the Braves will start behind the plate and Bob Johnson of the Giants will play shortstop.

Jim Gilliam appears in the All-Star Game his 10th time, and each time, he's appeared as a Dodger. Eleven players on the National League make their All-Star debut, including three of the starters.

American League

C: Gene Oliver, Yankees (3 consecutive)
1B: Moe Morhardt, White Sox (1)
2B: Frank Bolling, Tigers (8 consecutive)
3B: Ed Charles, Red Sox (1)
SS: Roy McMillan, Seals (9 - 7 consecutive)
OF: Bob Skinner, Yankees (6)
OF: Mickey Mantle, Red Sox (12)
OF: Bob Bowman, Senators (4)

Roberto Clemente, Yankees (6 - 5 consecutive)
Ernie Bowman, Peaches (2)
Hank Aaron, Angels (9 consecutive)
Gair Allie, Twins (1)
Allan Henry, Athletics (1)
Clay Dalrymple, Seals (2 consecutive)

Whammy Douglas, Yankees (1)
*Brian O'Kelley, Indians (1)
Sandy Koufax, Blues (1)
Jim Proctor, Yankees (4)
Kelly Osborne, Senators (2 consecutive)
Bill Stafford, Tigers (1)
Vern Handrahan, Red Sox (1)
Bob Heffner, Red Sox (1)
Dennis Aust, Angels (1)
Gary Bell, Indians (3)
Ed Rakow, Yankees (1)

Manager: Merrill May, Angels

Once again, most of the All-Stars are from New York Teams, with the Yankees leading with six All-Stars and the Red Sox following along by sending four All-Stars.

For Mickey Mantle, this is his 12th All-Star appearance, tying him with Mel Ott. Only Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams have appeared in more All-Star games -- 13 each -- and one more appearance by The Mick will add to his list of legendary feats.

Sandy Koufax finally gets recognition as an All-Star. Koufax just passed Grover Alexander to make it to 9th place on the All-Time Strikeouts Pitched list with 2,220, but has never been named to the All-Star Game, often overlooked playing for the dismal Blues. Koufax, finally, gets his due.

With Casey Stengel managing the Pirates, and with long-time Detroit manager Jimmy Dykes retired at the end of last year, Merrill May of the Angels gets the nod as American League manager. May is the only manager the Angels have ever had.

[petrel]

1965 All-Star Game
Part II

However, before any All-Star Game, the fans are regaled the night before with the Home Run Derby. This year's contestants came from all sorts of offenses -- oddly enough, Hank Aaron was missing. Aaron hasn't even touched forty home runs since 1962.

The participants:

Frank Bolling, Tigers
Bob Bowman, Senators
Ken Boyer, Giants
Gates Brown, Phillies
Joe Christopher, Braves
Mickey Mantle, Red Sox
Don Mincher, Braves
Gene Oliver, Yankees
Bob Skinner, Yankees
Carl Yastrzemski, Giants

The first round was an odd round. The wind began to pick up and blow out toward the outfield, and fly balls became home runs if the wind blew the right way. Mickey Mantle led with 10 home runs in the first round, and Bob Skinner followed with eight. There were four players in the middle of the pack, but Bob Bowman and Joe Christopher made the cut with 7 home runs, each.

Oddly enough, Don Mincher of the Braves, leading the major leagues with 33 home runs at the break, only had two home runs in the first round, dead last. It must have been the pressure.

But in the second round, the wind began to blow in the other direction, away from the outfield. It became very hard to hit a home run, and the four players managed only six home runs between them. Bob Skinner and Bob Bowman had two home runs, and Mickey Mantle and Joe Christopher were unlucky, hitting one home run each.

The final round was between Bob Skinner of the Yankees and Bob Bowman of the Senators. Skinner made it no contest, hitting four home runs to Bowman's sole round-tripper.

WINNER OF THE HOME RUN DERBY: Bob Skinner, Yankees

(* * *)

As for the All-Star Game itself: it was sort of an anti-climax. For the third straight year, it would be a blowout game.

Whammy Douglas of the Yankees would start for the Americans and Jim Coutant of the Orioles would start for the Nationals. Both pitchers would pitch a perfect first inning.

Douglas would follow up with a perfect top of the second, but Coutant would be less fortunate. He would give up a walk to Bob Skinner and a single to Gene Oliver to start the bottom of the second. One out later, with Bob Skinner at third and Frank Bolling at first, Ed Charles would fly out to shallow center field and Skinner would race home, as Skinner would barely evade the tag from Joe Torre on Gary Geiger's throw from center to the cheers of the Minneapolis crowd and the amazement of the Nationals. Sam Mele would come out to jaw with the umpires, but nothing would come of it. Americans 1, Nationals 0. Roy McMillan of the Seals would then double to right, and score another run for the home team. Americans 2, Nationals 0.

The score wouldn't stay that way. Kelly Osborne, 11-3 for the Senators this year, came in to pitch the top of the 3rd. He gave up a walk to Gates Brown, allowed Ken Boyer to single, and Carl Yastrzemski, pinch hitting for Jim Coutant, walked.

Jim Gilliam then walked, scoring the first Nationals run. Americans 2, Nationals 1. Joe Torre would pop up to first for the first out.

Gary Geiger, however, hit Kelly Osbourne's first pitch over the wall in right field, scoring a GRAND SLAM! and putting the visitors up by three runs. Nationals 5, Americans 2. Bob Johnson would strike out and Joe Christopher would fly out to left, but the Americans were down at "home".

Claude Osteen of the Giants came in in the bottom of the third and only gave up a single, with Bob Bowman grounding into a 3-6-1 double play to end the third. Sandy Koufax, in his first All-Star Game appearance, would strike out two and give up a walk in the top of the 4th.

Jim Perry kept the Nationals from scoring in the bottom of the fourth, with only Gene Oliver reaching first on a throwing error by Bob Johnson at short.

But the Nationals would have another big inning. In the top of the fifth, with Koufax still on the mound, got Jim Gilliam to fly out to left to start the inning, but got into trouble. He gave up a single to Joe Torre and a triple to Gary Geiger, Geiger's fifth RBI of the game. Nationals 6, Americans 2. Bob Johnson would then hit a single and bring Geiger home. Joe Christopher would follow with a single, and after Don Mincher flied out to center, Gates Brown would hit another triple for the Nationals and bring both runners home. Nationals 9, Americans 2. Jim Proctor would have to replace Koufax and get the final out.

The Nationals added to their lead in the top of the 6th, with Whammy Douglas back on the mound (by special agreement of the National League -- this is an exhibition game, after all). Willie Kirkland, he of the Milwaukee Brewers with the .211 average, led off the 6th with a single. With two out and two men on, Bob Johnson would walk and Joe Christopher of the Braves would double, driving in two more runs. Don Mincher would then hit a 2-RBI single, and the Nationals had scored four more runs. Nationals 13, Americans 2.

From there on in, the game was a snoozer, with many of the 40,000 leaving early to beat the horrible Minneapolis traffic near Metropolitan Stadium. Julio Navarro of the Giants would pitch the final three innings for the Nationals, and give up a meaningless solo home run to Gene Oliver in the bottom of the ninth, along with a Frank Bolling single before Ed Charles flew out to end the game.

FINAL SCORE: Nationals 13, Americans 3

(* * *)

For the Nationals, it was the end of a four-game losing streak. They won their first game since winning 5-4 at Fenway Park in 1960.

Gary Geiger of the Phillies would go 2 for 5 with a triple, a home run, two runs and five RBIs. He would be named the game's Most Valuable Player.

[Gravybill]

Well, it took me over a month, but I read every page of your dynasty. It is really a work of art and very well written. Keep up the good work!

[petrel]

Gravybill,

Thank you for reading! I know I have to fix some of the beginning pages...I'm just happy you were able to work your way through it!

--Pet