S-O-M 1961

NL: STL 12-14-0 CHC 7-17-2 WP-Simmons LP-Buhl Bill White: 5-5, HR, double, 5 RBI. White: 7-8 through 2 games. CIN 8-13-0 MIL 4-9-1 WP-Ellis LP-Blasingame Harper, Robinson 3 hits each. SFG 5-9-2 PIT 2-6-1 WP-Sanford LP-McBean SV-Henry Giants score 4 in the 9th, including triples by Jesus Alou, Ed Bailey. HR TRACKER: Bill White (STL), Denis Menke, Hank Aaron (2nd), Lee Maye (MIL),   Jerry Lynch (PIT) Dis-honorable mention: Pirates team batting average in 2 games,.164. AL: CWS 5-9-0 BAL 1-7-1 WP-Peters LP-Barber Romano, Fl. Robinson home runs for Chisox. DET 13-15-0 KCA 2-7-1 WP-Aguirre LP-Segui Kaline 2-5, 4 RBI. CLE 7-10-0 LAA 2-6-1 WP-Terry LP-Newman Terry CG 6-hitter, 2-run homer. HR TRACKER: Johnny Romano, Floyd Robinson (CWS), Norm Cash, Don Demeter, Al Kaline (DET), Ralph Terry (CLE), Jose Cardenal (LAA). Repeating once again, Bill White is Really, Really GOOD. 

So far in the 1965 update, 3 pitchers have taken their fellow pitchers deep for home runs. 8 years later, the American League would have something to say about that. Here is your trio of pitchers/sluggers: Larry Jackson (CHC), Jim Kaat (MIN), Ralph Terry (CLE).   

With the exception of California, Cleveland, Baltimore and the White Sox, who all started their seasons on the 13th, here are the batting numbers for Opening Day, 4/12/65: AL: Boston 11/41 (.268) Minnesota 9/34 (.265) New York 9/36 (.250) Kansas City 9/38 (.237) Detroit 6/35 (.171) Washington 5/35 (.143) NL: Houston 13/36 (.361) Milwaukee 13/37 (.351) New York 10/34 (.294) Philadelphia 10/36 (.278) San Francisco 10/39 (.256) Chicago 6/29 (.207) Los Angeles 7/34 (.206) Cincinnati 7/35 (.200) Pittsburgh 5/34 (.147) St. Louis 5/34 (.147) Of course, it's early, plenty of opportunity for the weak teams to come out swinging and for the strong teams to turn their numbers into the type that make them pennant contenders. More to come as the season progresses.   P.S. as of 4/13: Chicago 9/34 (.265) Baltimore 7/32 (.219)

  Opening Day 1965 is in the books, let's check out what was written: AL: MIN 8-9-1 NYY 6-9-2 WP-Worthington LP-Bouton Harmon Killebrew go-ahead 2-run double in 7th. Jim Kaat 3-run homer, triple. BOS 8-11-1 WSH 2-5-3 (10 INNINGS) WP-Monbouquette LP-Ortega Bosox send 11, score 6 in the 10th. DET 6-6-2 KCA 4-9-3 WP-Lolich LP-Talbot SV-Sherry Tigers score 5 in 7th, 2 on PH double by Gates Brown. HR TRACKER: Mickey Mantle, Elston Howard (NYY), Jim Kaat, Jimmie Hall (MIN), Willie Kirkland (WSH), Al Kaline (DET) Billy Bryan (KCA) Dis-honorable mention: Elston Howard seeking his 5th hit against Minnesota flied out to left to end the game won by the Twins. Senators implode in the 10th, Red Sox score 6 to secure win. NL: SFG 5-10-2 PIT 1-5-1 WP-Marichal (11 K's) LP-Veale (11 K's) Mays, McCovey homer to back up Marichal's pitching gem. NYM 6-10-1 LAD 2-7-0 WP-A. Jackson LP-Drysdale Charley Smith 2 HR/4 RBI. CHC 5-6-2 STL 0-5-0 WP-L. Jackson LP-Gibson L. Jackson 3-run homer. MIL 5...

1965 Season Braves vs. Reds MIL 5-13-3 CIN 4-7-0 WP-Cloninger (1-0)   LP-O'Toole (0-1) SV-O'Dell (1) HR-Mack Jones (1) Joe Torre (1) Deron Johnson (1) Hank Aaron (1) Pete Rose (1) Aaron 4-4, 2 doubles, solo homer Meanwhile, in Houston... HOU 6-14-0 PHI 5-10-1 WP-Coombs (1-0) LP-Roebuck (0-1) Astros rally for 5 runs in 9th because some idiot manager forgot about Dick Stuart at 1st. That's all I have to say about that. 

  NL: STL 8-11-0 SFG 3-9-4 WP-Wise LP-McDowell Torre 3-5, HR, 3 RBI. AL: BOS 2-7-0 CLE 1-9-1 WP-Lee LP-Tidrow Doug Griffin go-ahead sac fly in 9th. DET 14-19-2 KCR 3-7-0 WP-Coleman LP-Drago Aurelio Rodriguez 2-3, HR, 5 RBI. OAK 4-11-2 TEX 3-6-1 (10) WP-Holtzman LP-Stanhouse SV-Fingers Gene Tenace go-ahead bases-loaded walk in the top of 10th. CWS 10-13-2 CAL 8-13-1 WP-Stone LP-Sells SV-Acosta Henderson 3-5, double, 5 RBI. HR TRACKER: Joe Torre, Jose Cruz (STL) George Hendrick (CLE), Willie Horton, Aurelio  Rodriguez, Norm Cash (DET), Alex Johnson (TEX), Lee Stanton (CAL). Dis-honorable mention: Chris Speier (SFG) 3 errors against Cards.

McCovey Aces Cards: SFG 4-9-0 STL 3-7-0 WP-Bryant LP-Cleveland SV-Willoughby McCovey go-ahead 3-run homer in 8th. Big Phillie Machine: PHI 9-13-1 CIN 1-7-1 WP-Carlton LP-Gullett. Luzinski, Robinson 4 hits each, 2 HR for Robinson. ATL 7-9-1 MYM 4-8-1 WP-Morton LP-Koosman SV-Frisella   Davey Johnson, Morton Brave homers. CHC 8-14-1 SDG 3-11-1 WP-Hooton LP-Corkins. Hundley homer, Hiser 3-run triple. LAD 6-11-0 PIT 5-13-0 WP-Osteen LP-Blass SV-Richert Bill Russell 4 singles, 2 RBI. HR Tracker: Willie McCovey (SFG) Greg Luzinski, Bill Robinson (2) (PHI) Davey Johnson, Carl Morton (P) (ATL) Randy Hundley (CHC) Fernando Gonzalez, Rennie Stennett (PIT). 9 Homers. Dis-honorable Mention: Jerry Koosman managed 7 walks in 7 innings for the Mets, while Steve Blass added another dud in his 1973 campaign, allowing 6 runs on 7 hits and 4 walks in 2/2-3 innings for the Pirates against the Dodgers.

  Duffy's luck o' the Irish: CLE 6-9-3 CAL 5-10-2 WP-Hilgendorf LP-May Frank Duffy lead-off go-ahead homer in the 8th. KCR 9-15-1 DET 3-8-1 WP-Busby LP-J. Perry Steve Busby 8 K's. Epic collapse o' the night I: OAK 6-6-1 BAL 4-7-3 WP-Hunter LP-McNally A's rally from 4-0 deficit, Reggie Jackson game-tying HR in 9th, Sal Bando go-ahead 2-run homer. Burroughs a-blazing: MIL 9-10-2 TEX 7-13-2 WP-Colborn LP-Bosman SV-Linzy George Scott 3-run homer in 7th for Brewers. Jeff Burroughs, 2 homers, 5 RBI, popped to short to end game.  Epic collapse o' the night II: MIN 8-14-4 NYY 7-10-0 WP-Sanders LP-Lyle Twins rally from 7-0 deficit after 3 innings, Jerry Terrell caps rally with walk-off single in 10th. HR TRACKER: Buddy Bell, Frank Duffy (CLE), Lee Stanton (CAL). Fred Patek, John Mayberry, Ed Kirkpatrick (KCR). Terry Crowley (BAL). Gene Tenace, Reggie Jackson, Sal Bando (OAK). Jeff Burroughs (2), Toby Harrah (TEX). Don Money, George Scott, Darrell Porter (MIL). Roy White ...

Montreal 5-8-0 Houston 1-5-0 WP-Renko LP-Forsch SV-Stoneman Renko CG, 2-4 2-run double. Cincinnati 6-7-0 Philadelphia 0-7-0 WP-Billingham LP-Ruthven Billingham CG, 8 strikeouts. New York 3-12-0 Atlanta 0-7-0 WP-Matlack LP-Reed Jim Gosger 2-run single. San Diego 7-15-2 Chicago 6-8-1 (10 innings) WP-Troedson LP-Locker Hilton walk-off single. Pittsburgh 7-9-0 Los Angeles 0-7-4 WP-Briles LP-Messersmith San Francisco 4-10-0 St. Louis 3-8-0 (11 innings) WP-McDowell LP-Gibson Howarth walk-off single in 11th. HR Tracker: Geronimo (CIN) Santo (CHC) Fanzone (CHC, 2) Colbert (SDG) Gaston (SDG) Stargell (PIT) Hebner (PIT) Oliver (PIT) McCovey (SFG) Busse (STL)   Dis-honorable mention: Cardinals ground into 4 double plays against Giants, Cub bullpen spoils Carmen Fanzone's 2 HR/4RBI game, Dodgers get caught stealing/lose run at home in 1st inning, make 4 errors against Pirates. Carmen Who?

Kansas City 7-12-0 Detroit 2-8-0 WP-Splittorf LP-Fryman Hal McRae 4 RBI. California 4-8-1 Cleveland 3-10-1 WP-Sells LP-Perry Angels 4 runs in 9th.   Texas 5-10-0 Milwaukee 4-12-1 WP-Broberg LP-Slaton SV-Foucault Burroughs 3 RBI. Minnesota 4-8-1 New York 3-12-2 WP-Woodson LP-Stottlemyre SV-Campbell Boston 9-16-2 Chicago 4-13-3 WP-Pattin LP-Fisher Red Sox 5 runs in 7th. HR Tracker: Hal McRae (KCR) Charlie Spikes (CLE) Jeff Burroughs (TEX) Tony Oliva (MIN) Jorge Orta (CWS) Dick Allen (CWS) Dis-honorable mention: Jorge Orta 3 errors for White Sox, Matty Alou, Gene Michael both thrown out at home in Yankee loss to Twins