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ayaghmour2 · 01-24-2025, 02:15 PM

OCTOBER 10, 1962

Pioneers One Away from Greatness, Survive Mack Attack

If you told Sailors fans they piled seven runs off the best pitcher in the world, they'd be on the brink of celebration. I mean, if you can pound one of the best pitchers in the game, you'd be in pretty good shape against anyone else?

Well, the Sailors had to wait until game four to get their chance at Mack, as the first matchup saw the second best pitcher in FABL, Billy Hasson (20-9, 3.11, 185), taking on Sailors stopper Eddie Chapman (8-12, 23, 3.50, 66). A bold decision by the Sailors staff, Chapman made all 68 of his appearances out of the pen, and for the most part, they were pretty good. The only issue is starting games, especially in the postseason is much different, and Chapman was not ready for that. Just one of the first four batters were retired, loading the bases up for Steve Schultz (.302, 31, 117). Schultz took the first pitch for a strike, before ever-so-slightly placing a flyball 339 feet to left, just barely clearing the wall in left.

Going from a sac-fly to a grand slam is a huge change, as even after surviving an error later in the inning, down 4-0 in the first is a tough feat to come back from. Thankfully for the Sailors, Chapman righted the ship, putting up zeros for the next three innings. That would have been the perfect time to let him go, but he was back out in the fifth to face the top of the order. Singles to Bill Bather (.290, 14, 35, 6) and Dixie Hutchings (.271, 12, 54) got things going, and even with Bob Bell (.386, 46, 120, 6) up next, Walt Zecher stuck with his stopper.

It worked, Bell flew out, but when it was time for Jerry Smith (.304, 27, 100, 14), Chapman could not get the double play he needed. Instead, it was another homer, this one worth three, and the 7-0 lead ended Chapman's night. San Francisco went to another Eddie, Eddie Whitney (2-0, 1, 3.10, 11), and continuing with the theme of the night, he allowed a home run of his own. It came to his second batter, as likely Kellogg winner Danny Davis (.352, 26, 96) hit a solo homer to make it 8-0.

In the end, they just needed the first homer, as Billy Hasson was pitched exactly how you'd expect a 3-Time Allen winner to pitch like. His only blemish came in the 9th, when John Kingsbury (.350, 22, 113, 13) turned a leadoff double into a run, the only one they'd get. After 144 pitches, Hasson finished off the complete game, allowing just 7 hits, a run, and 2 walks with 7 strikeouts. In front of the home fans, he did exactly what was needed, and put the Pioneers in great position.

With Frenchy Mack (25-5, 2.06, 288) on the mound, Lou Ormsby must have been very confident in winning. With a triple crown winner taking on 3rd starter Hank Lacey (15-8, 4.10, 143), everything looked to favor the hosts, but once the first pitch was thrown, chaos ensued.

Carlos Jaramillo (.291, 8, 45, 27) started things off with a single, and he got to second on a steal, advancing to third on a bad throw. He was stuck there for an out, but quickly scored when Kingsbury getting the scoring kicked off with a homer. Heinie Spitler (.333, 4, 81, 27) continued things with a walk, and Ernie Carter's (.340, 12, 119, 10) single ended with Spitler at third and Carter thrown out at second. As bad as that was, it was worse for the Pioneers, as Spitler scored the next at bat, and center fielder Bill Bather strained his oblique making the throw, being forced to leave the game.

The Pioneers got one back in the bottom half, as Whitney winner Bob Bell cut the lead to two with a solo shot, but the Sailors attacked Mack again in the second. Opposing pitcher Hank Lacey started the second rally, a solo homer of his own, and before Mack could finish the second, three more runs crossed the board. This made it 7-1, and while Mack did finish the inning, bringing him out for the third seemed unlikely.

In fact, Mack was pinch-hit for, as after back-to-back one-out singles, Paul Watson (.247, 8, 68) scored them both with a triple, bringing up the pitcher spot with a chance for damage. The pinch hitter flew out, but Bather's replacement Ray O'Connor (.231, 2, 27, 4) kept the inning going with a walk, allowing Dixie Hutchings a chance to do damage. He succeeded, doubling home both runners and ending Hank Lacey's night. An error kept the inning going, but Davey Chamberlain (5-4, 4, 3.59, 27) managed to wiggle out of it with their now 7-5 lead in tact.

The lead didn't last long, as glove-first catcher Sam Ruggles (.267, 11, 77) tied the game up with a huge two-run homer. The 4th and 5th were the only scoreless innings, but in the 6th, another two-run homer gave St. Louis the lead. After two quick outs, Bell extended the inning with a walk, and Jerry Smith hit his second homer in as many games.

Again, the lead didn't last long, but before getting to that, we need to recognize the performance Mel Hill (2-1, 1, 5.72, 23) had. He wasn't the first reliever in, but despite not having a great season, the 24-year-old lefty did everything he could to keep his team in the game. Threading together four scoreless innings, he held a top offense to 2 hits and a walk, striking out 2 in a 71-pitch effort. Once he left, the Sailors got back to scoring, as after a quick out the bases were loaded with three singles. Postseason legend Edwin Hackberry (.289, 24, 95, 23) got them within one, and then postseason star John Kingsbury tied the game with an RBI single.

St. Louis couldn't score in the bottom of the eighth, San Francisco couldn't in the top, so the only thing to prevent the game going into extras would be a walk-off in the 9th. To force extras, the Sailors turned things over to Zane Kelley (14-7, 4.49, 114), who had the tough feat of dealing with the 3-4-5. He got Bob Bell to ground out, Jerry Smith too, so Steve Schultz was the last hope. Working the count to 3-2, he extended the inning with a single, and then he got to third on Danny Davis' 0-2 single. This brought up catcher Sam Ruggles, one of the many heroes of the game, and after working the count to 3-1, he snuck a hard groundball between third and short, sending the home fans in a frenzy, as they are a game away from greatness.

All that's left now is one more win, as 23-year-old Steve Madden (16-10, 3.40, 143) will pitch on short-rest to take on 23-year-old Sailors ace Charlie Lawson (16-10, 4.02, 169). Both won their first career playoff start, as Madden won game two and Lawson won the opener. With the rest advantage, the Sailors should be in good shape, but they lost all momentum after blowing a huge early lead. Rumor has it that after their tough loss, Edwin Hackberry led a team meeting, inspiring his squad to leave it on the field like he does each and every game.

The Week That Was
Current events from 10/09/1962

Many at the United Nations seem agreed on is that a meeting between President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev, likely to be held at the UN in New York, is highly probable.
United States pressure on Fidel Castro's Cuba is beginning to get results - producing alarm, anger and cries of "help" from Havana. That is the prevailing judgement in the United Nations as diplomats try to sift propaganda from fact following an abusive speech from the Cuban diplomat.
Early this morning the Cuban Armed Forces Ministry accused a United States jet fighter of firing nine rockets into Cuban territory. The Castro government has repeatedly charged the US violated its air space but this was the first time a plane was accused of firing.
Secretary of Defense McNamara returned from meeting in Hawaii with top Army officials in Viet Nam. The Defense Department says the reports from Gen. Harkins, commander of all American forces in South Viet Nam, "are by far the most optimistic made yet." However, McNamara and other Pentagon civilian officials are said to be more cautious in their estimation of the progress of the guerrilla war in South Viet Nam.
Delayed again. Hopes of adjourning Congress this week were dealt a heavy blow when the House rebuffed a Senate attempt to originate an appropriations bill with the biggest stumbling block being a $5 billion supply bill for the Agriculture Department.
In California, failed 1960 Presidential candidate Richard Nixon predicted he would be elected Governor of California when they go to the polls on November 6.

01-24-2025, 02:15 PM	#1064
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,071	October 10th, 1962 OCTOBER 10, 1962 Pioneers One Away from Greatness, Survive Mack Attack If you told Sailors fans they piled seven runs off the best pitcher in the world, they'd be on the brink of celebration. I mean, if you can pound one of the best pitchers in the game, you'd be in pretty good shape against anyone else? Well, the Sailors had to wait until game four to get their chance at Mack, as the first matchup saw the second best pitcher in FABL, Billy Hasson (20-9, 3.11, 185), taking on Sailors stopper Eddie Chapman (8-12, 23, 3.50, 66). A bold decision by the Sailors staff, Chapman made all 68 of his appearances out of the pen, and for the most part, they were pretty good. The only issue is starting games, especially in the postseason is much different, and Chapman was not ready for that. Just one of the first four batters were retired, loading the bases up for Steve Schultz (.302, 31, 117). Schultz took the first pitch for a strike, before ever-so-slightly placing a flyball 339 feet to left, just barely clearing the wall in left. Going from a sac-fly to a grand slam is a huge change, as even after surviving an error later in the inning, down 4-0 in the first is a tough feat to come back from. Thankfully for the Sailors, Chapman righted the ship, putting up zeros for the next three innings. That would have been the perfect time to let him go, but he was back out in the fifth to face the top of the order. Singles to Bill Bather (.290, 14, 35, 6) and Dixie Hutchings (.271, 12, 54) got things going, and even with Bob Bell (.386, 46, 120, 6) up next, Walt Zecher stuck with his stopper. It worked, Bell flew out, but when it was time for Jerry Smith (.304, 27, 100, 14), Chapman could not get the double play he needed. Instead, it was another homer, this one worth three, and the 7-0 lead ended Chapman's night. San Francisco went to another Eddie, Eddie Whitney (2-0, 1, 3.10, 11), and continuing with the theme of the night, he allowed a home run of his own. It came to his second batter, as likely Kellogg winner Danny Davis (.352, 26, 96) hit a solo homer to make it 8-0. In the end, they just needed the first homer, as Billy Hasson was pitched exactly how you'd expect a 3-Time Allen winner to pitch like. His only blemish came in the 9th, when John Kingsbury (.350, 22, 113, 13) turned a leadoff double into a run, the only one they'd get. After 144 pitches, Hasson finished off the complete game, allowing just 7 hits, a run, and 2 walks with 7 strikeouts. In front of the home fans, he did exactly what was needed, and put the Pioneers in great position. With Frenchy Mack (25-5, 2.06, 288) on the mound, Lou Ormsby must have been very confident in winning. With a triple crown winner taking on 3rd starter Hank Lacey (15-8, 4.10, 143), everything looked to favor the hosts, but once the first pitch was thrown, chaos ensued. Carlos Jaramillo (.291, 8, 45, 27) started things off with a single, and he got to second on a steal, advancing to third on a bad throw. He was stuck there for an out, but quickly scored when Kingsbury getting the scoring kicked off with a homer. Heinie Spitler (.333, 4, 81, 27) continued things with a walk, and Ernie Carter's (.340, 12, 119, 10) single ended with Spitler at third and Carter thrown out at second. As bad as that was, it was worse for the Pioneers, as Spitler scored the next at bat, and center fielder Bill Bather strained his oblique making the throw, being forced to leave the game. The Pioneers got one back in the bottom half, as Whitney winner Bob Bell cut the lead to two with a solo shot, but the Sailors attacked Mack again in the second. Opposing pitcher Hank Lacey started the second rally, a solo homer of his own, and before Mack could finish the second, three more runs crossed the board. This made it 7-1, and while Mack did finish the inning, bringing him out for the third seemed unlikely. In fact, Mack was pinch-hit for, as after back-to-back one-out singles, Paul Watson (.247, 8, 68) scored them both with a triple, bringing up the pitcher spot with a chance for damage. The pinch hitter flew out, but Bather's replacement Ray O'Connor (.231, 2, 27, 4) kept the inning going with a walk, allowing Dixie Hutchings a chance to do damage. He succeeded, doubling home both runners and ending Hank Lacey's night. An error kept the inning going, but Davey Chamberlain (5-4, 4, 3.59, 27) managed to wiggle out of it with their now 7-5 lead in tact. The lead didn't last long, as glove-first catcher Sam Ruggles (.267, 11, 77) tied the game up with a huge two-run homer. The 4th and 5th were the only scoreless innings, but in the 6th, another two-run homer gave St. Louis the lead. After two quick outs, Bell extended the inning with a walk, and Jerry Smith hit his second homer in as many games. Again, the lead didn't last long, but before getting to that, we need to recognize the performance Mel Hill (2-1, 1, 5.72, 23) had. He wasn't the first reliever in, but despite not having a great season, the 24-year-old lefty did everything he could to keep his team in the game. Threading together four scoreless innings, he held a top offense to 2 hits and a walk, striking out 2 in a 71-pitch effort. Once he left, the Sailors got back to scoring, as after a quick out the bases were loaded with three singles. Postseason legend Edwin Hackberry (.289, 24, 95, 23) got them within one, and then postseason star John Kingsbury tied the game with an RBI single. St. Louis couldn't score in the bottom of the eighth, San Francisco couldn't in the top, so the only thing to prevent the game going into extras would be a walk-off in the 9th. To force extras, the Sailors turned things over to Zane Kelley (14-7, 4.49, 114), who had the tough feat of dealing with the 3-4-5. He got Bob Bell to ground out, Jerry Smith too, so Steve Schultz was the last hope. Working the count to 3-2, he extended the inning with a single, and then he got to third on Danny Davis' 0-2 single. This brought up catcher Sam Ruggles, one of the many heroes of the game, and after working the count to 3-1, he snuck a hard groundball between third and short, sending the home fans in a frenzy, as they are a game away from greatness. All that's left now is one more win, as 23-year-old Steve Madden (16-10, 3.40, 143) will pitch on short-rest to take on 23-year-old Sailors ace Charlie Lawson (16-10, 4.02, 169). Both won their first career playoff start, as Madden won game two and Lawson won the opener. With the rest advantage, the Sailors should be in good shape, but they lost all momentum after blowing a huge early lead. Rumor has it that after their tough loss, Edwin Hackberry led a team meeting, inspiring his squad to leave it on the field like he does each and every game. The Week That Was Current events from 10/09/1962 Many at the United Nations seem agreed on is that a meeting between President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev, likely to be held at the UN in New York, is highly probable. United States pressure on Fidel Castro's Cuba is beginning to get results - producing alarm, anger and cries of "help" from Havana. That is the prevailing judgement in the United Nations as diplomats try to sift propaganda from fact following an abusive speech from the Cuban diplomat. Early this morning the Cuban Armed Forces Ministry accused a United States jet fighter of firing nine rockets into Cuban territory. The Castro government has repeatedly charged the US violated its air space but this was the first time a plane was accused of firing. Secretary of Defense McNamara returned from meeting in Hawaii with top Army officials in Viet Nam. The Defense Department says the reports from Gen. Harkins, commander of all American forces in South Viet Nam, "are by far the most optimistic made yet." However, McNamara and other Pentagon civilian officials are said to be more cautious in their estimation of the progress of the guerrilla war in South Viet Nam. Delayed again. Hopes of adjourning Congress this week were dealt a heavy blow when the House rebuffed a Senate attempt to originate an appropriations bill with the biggest stumbling block being a $5 billion supply bill for the Agriculture Department. In California, failed 1960 Presidential candidate Richard Nixon predicted he would be elected Governor of California when they go to the polls on November 6.