Oct 12: No Angels

OCTOBER 12, 1986 | ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – The California Angels were one strike from their first World Series on this date in 1986 when they suffered a heartbreaking loss. It was a spectacular series that had tragic consequences beyond baseball. On this day, there were no Angels in the outfield.

It was game 5 of the best-of-five American League Championship Series (ALCS). California had a three games to one lead over the Boston Red Sox. The game was filled with drama.

The Angels were up 5-2 in the ninth. It was the Red Sox’ last at bat. Designated hitter Don Baylor hit a two-run homer on a two-strike pitch with one out. The Red Sox were within a run.

After the second out Angel’s reliever Gary Lucas hit catcher Rich Gedman. Angel’s manager Gene Mauch brought in Donnie Moore to pitch to the Red Sox’ Dave Henderson. Moore had bounced around the major leagues for several years, but appeared to have found a home with the Angels. Moore had two strikes on Henderson. The Angels were one strike from their first World Series.

Henderson hit a two-run homer to give the Red Sox the lead.

As dramatic as that was, it wasn’t the end. The Angels tied the game in the last of the 9th. Neither team scored in the 10th. The Red Sox scored the go-ahead run in 11th on a sacrifice fly by Dave Henderson. The Angels were held in check in the bottom of the 11th to end the game. The Red Sox were still down three games to two, but were heading back to Boston where they won the final two games.


Sadly, Donnie Moore’s life spiraled down after that. He was booed regularly by Angels’ fans who couldn’t forget that one fateful pitch. Moore was tough on himself too. It’s unlikely that failing to retire the Red Sox on that October day in 1986 was his only demon, but he fell into deep depression after being released in 1988. There were no Angels in the outfield for Donnie Moore on that day. He committed suicide in 1989 at the age of 35.

Rest in peace, Donnie Moore.

Contributing Sources: 
Game 5 of ALCS
1986 playoffs
 
Another view of what happened to Donnie Moore

OCT 9: Dean & Daffy dazzle

OCTOBER 9, 1934 | DETROIT, MICHIGAN – On this date in 1934 the St. Louis Cardinals finished off the Detroit Tigers to win the World Series, thanks in no small part to the Dean brothers. Either Dizzy Dean or Paul Dean started five of the seven games for the “Gas House Gang.” Dizzy won 2, both complete games, and lost 1 with an ERA of 1.73. His younger brother Paul, often called Daffy, won his two starts, both complete games, with an ERA of 1.00.

They produced at the plate too. Dizzy hit .250 for the Series with 3 runs scored and an RBI. Paul only had one hit in six at bats but he drove in 2 runs.

The series had other noteworthy fireworks. Dizzy Dean was put in as a pinch runner in game 4. He went into second standing up on a double play ball. The relay to first by shortstop Billy Rogell hit him in the forehead. Dean had to be carried off in a stretcher. The next morning at least one newspaper is said to have printed the headline, “X-rays of Dean’s head show nothing.” He must have been OK because he started two more games in the Series.

In game seven Cardinal left fielder Joe Medwick and Tiger third baseman Marv Owen had a little dust-up after Medwick slid hard into third in the 6th inning. The flare-up was settled quickly, but Detroit fans did not greet Medwick hospitably when he returned to left in the bottom of the inning. Everything fans could throw was aimed at Medwick.

It got so bad Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis, who was at the game, ordered Medwick off the field for his own safety. The Cardinals had a comfortable 9-0 lead at the time and eventually won 11-0.

Contributing sources:
October 9, 1934 box score 
More on Dizzy Dean

Oct 2: Bucky a 4-letter word

OCTOBER 2, 1978 | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS Boston Red Sox killer Bucky Dent became a wanted man in New England on this date in 1978. The New York Yankees were down by 2 runs in a dramatic one-game playoff when Dent came to the plate against Mike Torrez, but not when he got back to the dugout.

It was a classic baseball rivalry, and the ultimate do-or-die situation in baseball, in a classic venue – Fenway Park. It had been an exciting American League East race. The Yankees made a remarkable comeback from 14 games behind to move 3 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox with two weeks left in the season. Then the Red Sox won eight straight to end the season and tie the Yankees for first in the division, hence a one-game playoff.

In the top of the seventh, the Red Sox were ahead, 2-0. (Can you say “curse?”) The Yankees’ Chris Chambliss singled off of Mike Torrez. Roy White singled. Two on, two out.

Shortstop Bucky Dent, a .243 hitter, stepped up to the plate.

The count went to 1-1. Dent realized his bat was cracked, so he got a fresh piece of wood and returned to the batter’s box. The Savannah, Georgia native who hit 40 home runs in his 12-year career, hit the next pitch over the Green Monster, a three-run home run. The Yankees took the lead.

Torrez peppered his analysis of Dent’s homer with a few mild expletives: “I was so damn shocked. I thought maybe it was going to be off the wall. Damn, I did not think it was going to go out.” The Yanks extended their lead to 5-2. The Red Sox tried, valiantly as always, to come back. They almost did, but lost the game, 5-4. The Yankees went to the World Series in ‘78, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 4 games to 2.

Contributing sources;
October 2, 1978 box score
Sports Illustrated Greatest Teams, by Tim Crothers, 1998

Aug 21: First to 300 saves

AUGUST 21, 1982 | SEATTLE, WASHINGTONMilwaukee Brewers reliever Rollie Fingers made it exciting, but managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and become the first major leaguer to reach 300 career saves on this date in 1982. The term “Closer” still wasn’t widely used at the time. In fact Fingers, like many ace relievers, entered the game in the 8th trying to salvage a shutout being thrown by Brewer starter Doc Medich agains the Seattle Mariners. This was when the Brewers were in the American League.

The only runs given up by Brewer pitching were given up by Fingers, but he managed to keep Seattle from getting any closer, and the Brewers won 3-2. It was Fingers 28th save of the year, a year, by the way, in which Milwaukee ended up in the World Series, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven.

Mariano Rivera is the career saves leader with 652, all with the New York Yankees. Fingers is 14th on the all-time list with 341 saves.

Contributing Sources:
August 21, 1982 box score/play-by-play
The Closer
Career saves

Aug 17: Beaning kills player

AUGUST 17, 1920 | NEW YORK, NEW YORK – On this date in 1920 Cleveland Indians shortstop Ray Chapman died in a New York hospital after being beaned in a game the night before. He is the only player in major league baseball history to die because of action on the field.

Ray Chapman was having a fine career with the Cleveland Indians – the only team he ever played for. He was their regular shortstop. He had a .278 batting average through nine seasons. He was known to be a good base stealer.

Chapman came to bat in the top of the 5th in the Polo Grounds in New York on August 16, 1920. Carl Mays was pitching for the Yankees. Mays was described as having an underhand delivery. Both Mays and Chapman were right-handed so a typical curve would have broken away from Chapman. Instead one of Mays pitches must have tailed inside striking Chapman in the head.

Mays was known to throw a spitball, which was a legal pitch at the time. A report in the San Antonio Evening News of August 17, 1920 said, “The crack of the ball hitting his head could be heard all over the Polo Grounds.” Chapman was rushed to St. Lawrence Hospital in New York. Doctors decided to operate at around midnight, but were unable to save him. He died early in the morning of August 17, 1920.

The Indians were in first place at the time of Chapman’s death and went on to win the American League pennant and the World Series.

Contributing sources:
The San Antonio Evening News, August 17, 1920
Retrosheet August 16, 1920