Tag: Orioles

Oct 16: It’s the shoes

OCTOBER 16, 1969 – NEW YORK, NEW YORK • A good reason to shine your shoes; it could help you win a World Series, as it did on this date in 1969.

It was game 5 between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets. The Mets, in only in their 8th year of existence, led the heavily favored Orioles three games to one, but were behind by three runs in this game. Mets left fielder Cleon Jones was at bat. He claimed he was hit in the foot by a pitch and headed toward first base. The home plate umpire didn’t share Jones’ opinion.

There was a discussion involving Mets manager Gil Hodges. Somebody decided, ‘Let’s take a look at the ball.’ If it hit Jones’ foot there should be a smudge of shoe polish on the ball. There was. Jones was awarded first base.

Later that inning Jones scored on Donn Clendenon‘s third home run of the Series. Al Weis‘s home run an inning later tied the game. Ron Swoboda‘s double and two Baltimore errors in the 8th give New York a 5-3 win and the Series.

Contributing sources:
Mets
1969 World Series box score/stats/play-by-play

March 26:Louie’s career ends

WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA, MARCH 26, 1974. All good things must come to an end, and on this date in 1974 it was the 18-year Hall of Fame career of shortstop Luis Aparicio. “Little Louie” – 5’9″, 160 lb. – was given his walking papers by Boston Red Sox manager Darrell Johnson right after they beat the Montreal Expos in an exhibition game. Aparicio was still in uniform.

Aparicio would be 40 in a few weeks and be able to spend his birthday at home in Maracaibo, Venezuela for the first time in 21 years.

Being let go was a disappointment, but Aparicio took it in stride, “The first thing I thought about when I walked out of the office was about my five kids.” Aparicio would be 40 in a few weeks and be able to spend his birthday at home in Maracaibo, Venezuela for the first time in 21 years.

Aparicio had been with the Boston Red Sox for three years, but played most of his career for the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles. He was an 11-time all-star with 9 Gold Gloves and a prototype lead-off man with 506 career stolen bases.

Aparicio was on two World Series teams. He put the “go” in the 1959 “go-go” White Sox, which lost the Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He got some revenge playing for the Orioles in 1966 when they swept the Dodgers in 4 straight. But on this date in 1974, Aparicio’s HOF career ended.

Contributing sources:
United Press International (UPI), by Milton Richman, March 27, 1974
More on Aparicio