Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Now THAT'S pitching!


On July 2, 1963, the Giants beat the Braves in the bottom of the 16th inning on a home run by Willie Mays. How many pitchers do you suppose each team used during that game?

ONE EACH!

Juan Marichal pitched all 16 innings, while the 42-year-old Warren Spahn pitched 15.1 innings.


Last night during the Willie Mays interview on the MLB Network, Marichal recalled that game, and how Giants' manager Al Dark told Marichal in the dugout that he was thinking of making a pitching change soon.

The 25-year-old Marichal told Dark "See that guy on the mound? He's 42 years old. There's no way I'm coming out of this game before he does!"

As the game dragged into the 16th inning, Marichal told Mays "I'm tired, help me out, Willie." Mays responded with a home run in the bottom of the 16th.


2/15 update:
I wondered, "After all that pitching, were they ineffective in their next outing?" Ha! They both pitched again 5 days later:

Marichal - Lost 5-0 to Bob Gibson, who pitched a complete game. Marichal's line: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 K, 0 BB.

Spahn - Beat the Astros 4-0. His line: 9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 4 K, 1 BB
.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

ALERT: Willie Mays on TV tonight


Willie Mays will be interviewed by Bob Costas on the MLB network TONIGHT at 8 pm, 11 pm, and 2 am eastern time.


Update:

What a great interview this was. 2 hours of Willie Mays in the studio, and with an audience along the walls (which I don't remember seeing during other interviews).

Besides clips of Willie from 1951 to 1973, there were taped comments from Buck O'Neill, Joe Torre, and Juan Marichal (also briefly from Don Zimmer, Willie McCovey, Bob Gibson, and Joe Black).

Don't miss the funny stories involving Bob Gibson, Gaylord Perry, Ken Boyer, Joe Torre, Mickey Mantle, and Donna Reed (yes, Donna Reed)!


Two very touching moments (both in the last 15 minutes):

1. Willie showing emotion while reminiscing about the late Bobby Bonds (during a discussion of Barry Bonds)

2. Bob Costas' closing comments to Mays.


Don't miss this show!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Who can't get enough of the Washington Senators?


These guys, that's who! Here are the players who were members of both the "old" Washington Senators (which became the Minnesota Twins in 1961) and the "new" Washington Senators (the 1961 expansion franchise which became the Texas Rangers in 1972):



Hal Woodeshick was one of only 2 players who stayed put in Washington while the rest of the team went off to Minnesota. Pedro Ramos, Zoilo Versalles, and Camilo Pascual began their careers in Washington, and returned at the tail end of their careers.