SOM: Cardinals at Colt .45s, 4/24/62

[Frobie]

I don’t know if anyone will be interested, but since there’s no big Astros news to talk about tonight, it’s an off day, and nobody seems to be using this forum for much anyhoo, I thought I would regale you good folks with a game from my 1962 Strat-O-Matic season.  I enjoyed it when Jose Cruz III posted a (real) game that he had scored in the 80s a couple of months back.  I probably should have contacted a mod to clear this, but if it's not kosher just tell me to... well, I'm sure you'll think of something.  But don't worry; this is a one-time thing.

Basically, I am playing the Colts’ and the Indians’ schedules and the computer is managing the rest of the teams.  I’ve been playing SOM since I was old enough to add the dice together, and I’ve found that it’s a wonderful way to learn about baseball history.  1962 is the third season from the sixties I’ve done, 1967 and 1968 being the others (though I only managed the Tribe when I did 1967).

So, it’s Tuesday, April 24, 1962 and the Colts are off to a surprising 7-3 start in the first 10 games in Houston MLB history.  Interestingly, in those 10 games they have only outscored their opponents 37-36.  The squad leads the league in fewest runs allowed and ERA (2.80).  They are dead last in runs scored.

Tonight’s lineups:

Cardinals (6-3)
Curt Flood, cf   .419/4/13
Julian Javier, 2b   .368/0/5
Bill White, 1b   .317/2/11
Stan Musial, lf   .306/2/6
Ken Boyer, 3b   .256/1/7
Charlie James, rf   .276/1/5
Gene Oliver, c   .364/2/5
Julio Gotay, ss   .240/0/1
Larry Jackson, p   1-0, 5.65

Colt .45s (7-3)
Bob Lillis, ss   .114/0/1
Al Spangler, lf   .407/0/0
Roman Mejias, rf   .400/4/9
Norm Larker, 1b   .350/3/9
Carl Warwick, cf   .375/2/6
Bob Aspromonte, 3b   .194/0/2
Hal Smith, c   .323/2/7
Billy Goodman, 2b   .000/0/0
Ken Johnson, p   1-0, 0.63

One editorial note:  the way I do rosters and transactions is not 100% historical.  For example, Carl Warwick was not actually acquired until May 7th yet he appears in the starting lineup above.  I won't go into details about why I do things this this way, but just thought I would mention it before hand. 

I’ll be reporting this “live” as I play so we'll see how it goes.

Batter up!

[Frobie]

Top 1st:

Flood pokes a base hit through the left side, tries to steal 2nd on the first pitch and is gunned down by Hal Smith.

Javier fouls out to catcher

White doubles to RF gap, man on 2nd w/ 2 outs

Musial grounds to third

0 runs, 2 hits, 1 left. 

[Frobie]

Bottom 1st:

Lillis flies to short right.  Not much production from the leadoff spot so far in 1962.

Spangler lines to first

Mejias lines to second

3 up, 3 down.  No score after 1.

[Frobie]

Top 2nd:

Boyer flies to medium-deep left

James singles up the middle

Oliver flies to deep center, James holds at first, 2 down

Gotay grounds to short

0 runs, 1 hit, 1 left

Ken Johnson has pitched really well so far--1 ER in 16 1/3 innings.  This is his third start of the year.  Most of you probably know him because of the no hitter he threw in a losing effort in 1964.



Bottom 2nd:

Larker leads off with a base hit to right

Warwick pops to first.  Should have tried to bunt Larker over, oh well.  Man on 1st, one out.

Aspromonte GIDP, 6-4-3.

0 runs, 1 hit, 0 left. 

No score after 2.

[Frobie]

Top 3rd

Pitcher Larry Jackson bloops a single to left that LF Al Spangler could not get to.  Spangler is a poor defender with a lousy arm, but he can hit so he's out there trying to will people to not hit the ball that way. 

Top of the order, Flood hits a grounder to short.  Jackson is forced at second, but Flood beats the relay to first.  Flood on 1st, 1 out. 

Javier singles to center, Flood is held at 2nd by 3b coach/occasional player (and eventual HOFer) Red Schoendienst.  Men on 1st and 2nd, 1 out.

Bill White grounds to Aspromonte who steps on third for the force.  Still men on 1st and 2nd, 2 out.

Musial flies to center.  He's way past his prime but still dangerous.  Whew.

0R, 2H, 2LOB. 

Still no score.




Bottom 3rd:

Hal Smith flies to center, 1 out

Billy Goodman grounds to third where Ken Boyer makes a nice play.  2 out.

Pitcher Ken Johnson strikes out on 3 pitches.  Not a good hitting pitcher.

3 up, 3 down.

No score after 3

[Frobie]

Top 4th

Boyer rips a solid single to left.

James pops to short, 1 out.

Oliver strikes out, #14 on the year for Johnson, 2 out, Boyer still at 1st.

Gotay strikes out. 

0R, 1H, 1 LOB



Bottom 4th:

Top of the order

Lillis with a leadoff double to left-center. 

Spangler rolls one into the hole on the right side, Javier tracks it down and throws him out, runner moves to 3rd with 1 down.  Nice situational hitting.  (OK, just good luck.)

Mejias up... he's at .390 and has provided some good pop so far.  Infield is in.

Way to jinx him.  Mejias fouls out to catcher, man still on 3rd, 2 outs.

Jackson hits Larker with a pitch.  Men on the corners, 2 down for Warwick.

Warwick flies to deep right.  Nuts.

0R, 1H, 2LOB.  Colts outhit 6-2 so far but still no score.

[Frobie]

Top 5th, no score:

Larry Jackson strikes out, 1 down.

Curt Flood triples to deep left-center.  That's his 2nd triple of the year.  Man on 3rd, 1 out, infield is in for Javier (who is an excellent bunter, BTW...)

Javier is swinging, hits one to Aspromonte who throws the ball away!  Scored a hit + an error, Flood scores, Javier to second.  1-0 Cards, still 1 out.

Bill White doubles to right-center, Javier scores.  2-0 Cards, still 1 out.

Musial sends one to deeeeeep CF (Colt Stadium is 420' to dead center), Warwick runs it down, White tags and goes to third.  Man on 3b, 2 outs.

Boyer grounds to third.

2R, 3H, 1E, 1LOB.

Halfway home, 2-0 Cardinals

[Frobie]

Bottom 5th, 2-0 StL

Aspromonte sends one straight up, Oliver makes the catch in front of home plate, 1 out

Hal Smith singles to left.  Man on 1st, 1 down.

Goodman strikes out, 2 down.  Joey Amalfitano is the usual starter at 2b but he's getting the day off.  Man on 1st, 2 down.

Now... Johnson is at 94 pitches after 5 innings and is the tying run in the bottom of the 5th.  PH?   Naaaaahhhhh, it's 1962.

And he pops out to third.

0R, 1H, 1 LOB

2-9-0 for the Cards
0-3-1 for the Colts

[Frobie]

Top 6th, 2-0 Cards:

Leadoff single for RF Charlie James. 

Gene Oliver strikes out, man on 1st, 1 down.

Gotay lines to third, man still on 1st, now 2 down and the pitcher's up next

Jackson lines a base hit to right... and Mejias overruns the ball!  James scores, Jackson makes it all the way to third, Cardinals lead 3-0.  Colts are playing like, well, an expansion team.

Jackson on 3rd, still 2 out, back to the top of the order with Curt Flood.

Flood singles to left, Jackson scores, 4-0 Cardinals.  Johnson is at 122 pitches... and here comes Harry Craft with the hook.  It'll be lefty Dean Stone making his second appearance of the season.  No record, 2 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, but only 1 run allowed his last time out.

Line on Johnson:  5 2/3 IP, 12 H, 4 R, 2 earned, still responsible for the man on 1st, 0 BB, 4 K.

Okay, Stone is ready...

Flood dancing off first, Stone steps off.  Now he's ready, Javier in... he pops out to short

2R, 3H, 1E, 1LOB

4-0 Cards

[Frobie]

Bottom 6th, 4-0 StL:

Top of the order. 

Bob Lillis leads off with a single, he's 2-for-3.

Spangler lines a hit to center, Lillis to second.  2 on, none out for Mejias.

Mejias hits a comebacker to the mound, Spangler forced at second, Mejias beats the relay at first.  Men on the corners, 1 out.

Larker with a base hit to right, Lillis scores, Mejias being waved to third... he's safe!  (Whew!)  Larker takes second on the throw.  He's now 2-2 today with an RBI and a HBP.

4-1 Cards, runners on 2nd and 3rd, still 1 out.

Warwick pops to 1st, 2 out.

Aspromonte flies to center.

1R, 3H, 2 LOB.

4-1 St. Louis after 6.

[Frobie]

Top 7th, 4-1 Cardinals:

Lefty Dean Stone to face the lefty firstbaseman Bill White, who's 2-3 with 2 doubles and an RBI. 

White grounds to Aspromonte, 1 out.  Lefty-hitting Stan Musial next.

Musial strikes out, 2 down.  Real-life career totals for Musial:  1599 BB, 696 K.  That's 86 BB and 37 K per 162 games.  Wow.

Ken Boyer with a single to center, he's 2-4, man on 1st with 2 outs for James.  Boyer looks like he may run...

Boyer stays put, James flies to center.

0R, 1H, 1LOB.

Stretch time, St. Louis leads 4-1.


The trivia question is an easy one:  What NY Yankee slugger holds the record for grand slam home runs?  (presumably for his career)




Bottom 7th, 4-1 Cards:

Hal Smith bloops one towards right... and James can't get there.  Leadoff single.

Billy Goodman flies to right, man on 1st, 1 out.

PH for the pitcher Stone will be lefty Pidge Browne.  (Pidge?)  He's 0-3 for the season, all as a pinch hitter.

Browne pops to third, 2 outs, man still on 1st, back to the top of the order.

Bob Lillis singles, he's 3-4, Smith holds at 2nd.  1st and 2nd, 2 outs.

Spangler singles to right, Smith, who runs like Tony Eusebio carrying two Bob Watsons on his back, is held at 3rd.  Bases juiced, 2 outs for Roman Mejias.

Mejias rips a single to right.   Smith scores!  Lilliis scores!!  Spangler to third.  4-3 Cards, men on the corners, 2 outs for Larker.

Larker flies to center, side retired.

2R, 4H, 2LOB. 

4-3 St. Louis after 7.

[Frobie]

Top 8th, 4-3 Cards:

The trivia answer was Lou Gehrig with 23.

Colts make a double-switch:  Pidge Browne stays in the 9 slot and will play 1B, RHP Jim Umbricht will come in and bat in Larker's #4 slot.

Bottom third of the order coming up. 

Oliver flies to right, one down.

Gotay singles to right, he's 1-4.

Quick throw to first, Gotay is back safely.

Jackson, at 115 pitches, will bat for himself.  I love 60s baseball.  He lays down a great bunt and beats it out.  Fudge.  Men on 1st and 2nd, still one out.

Top of the order, Curt Flood:  3-4 with a triple, a run scored and an RBI

Flood pops to 2nd, 2 outs, 2 on.

Javier up, he's 2-4, 1R, 1 RBI:  pops out to second.

0R, 2H, 2LOB.

Still 4-3 Cardinals.




Bottom 8th:

Warwick strikes out, 1 down.

Aspromonte pops to 1b, 2 outs.

Hal Smith next, he's 2-3.  Smith grounds to short.

3 up, 3 down. 

4-3 St. Louis after 8.

[Frobie]

Before we go to the 9th, let's check some other scores from the NL:

Milwaukee beat Philly 5-1.  Hank Aaron hit his 3rd home run of the year.

San Francisco over the Pirates 9-4.  Willie Mays hit #4.

The Dodgers edged the Cubs 7-6.  Maury Wills stole bases 6, 7, and 8 of the season and scored twice.

And the Mets trounced the Reds 13-7 for only their 3rd win; they're 3-8.  Marvelous Marv Throneberry had 2 hits and 4 RBIs.  Frank Robinson had 5 RBIs for the Reds in a losing effort.

[Frobie]

Top 9th, 4-3 St. Louis

Umbricht remains in to face White, Musial, and Boyer.

White doubles to center to lead it off.

Musial grounds to 1st, White to third with one out.

Infield comes in.

Boyer singles up the middle--through the drawn-in infield!  D'oh!  Three hits on the night for Boyer.  5-3 St.L, that's the first run surrendered by Umbricht in 6 innings of work this year.  Man on 1st, still 1 out.

Charlie James strikes out, 2 down, man still at 1st.

Oliver draws a walk.  2 on, 2 out for Gotay. 

Gotay retired on a slow roller to 2B.

1R, 2H, 1BB (first of the game for either side!), 1LOB.

5-3 Cardinals, going to the bottom of the 9th.

[Frobie]

Bottom 9th, 5-3 St. Louis

Jackson is going to try to finish it.  He's thrown 125 pitches.

Catcher and Ball Four supporting cast member Merritt Ranew will hit for the secondbaseman Goodman.

Ranew flies to center.  Browne will be next.

Browne pops to second, Colts down to their final out.

Bob Lillis, 3-for-4 with a double and 2 runs scored:  he singles to left.  Tying run comes to the plate in the person of Al Spangler, who's 2-for-4.

Spangler hits a shot up the middle--knocked down by Javier--throws to first--out!  Nice play.

Game over.

5-17-0 for St. Louis
3-11-2 for Houston

The 17 hits by St. Louis is the most given up by the Colt .45s staff so far.

[Frobie]

Code: [Select]

BOXSCORE: 1962 St. Louis Cardinals At 1962 Houston Colt .45s        4/24/1962

  Cardinals          AB  R  H RBI AVG     Colt .45s          AB  R  H RBI AVG
  C.Flood CF          5  1  3  1 .438     B.Lillis SS         5  2  4  0 .184 
  J.Javier 2B         5  1  2  1 .372     A.Spangler LF       5  0  2  0 .406 
  B.White 1B          5  1  3  1 .348     R.Mejias RF         4  0  1  2 .386 
  S.Musial LF         5  0  0  0 .268     N.Larker 1B         3  0  2  1 .372 
  K.Boyer 3B          5  0  3  1 .295     J.Umbricht P        0  0  0  0 ---- 
  C.James RF          5  1  2  0 .294     C.Warwick CF        4  0  0  0 .333 
  G.Oliver C          4  0  0  0 .324     B.Aspromonte 3B     4  0  0  0 .175 
  J.Gotay SS          5  0  1  0 .233     H.Smith C           4  1  2  0 .343 
  L.Jackson P         4  1  3  0 .556     B.Goodman 2B        3  0  0  0 .000 
                                        B-M.Ranew PH          1  0  0  0 .111 
                                          K.Johnson P         2  0  0  0 .000 
                                          D.Stone P           0  0  0  0 ---- 
                                        A-P.Browne PH,1B      2  0  0  0 .000 
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---     
         Totals      43  5 17  4                 Totals      37  3 11  3

A-Pinch Hit For Stone In 7th Inning
B-Pinch Hit For Goodman In 9th Inning

Cardinals....... 0 0 0  0 2 2  0 0 1  -  5 17  0
Colt .45s....... 0 0 0  0 0 1  2 0 0  -  3 11  2

Cardinals (7-3)          IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
L.Jackson WIN(2-0)        9      11   3   3   0   3   0 135   4.63
Totals                    9      11   3   3   0   3   0

Colt .45s (7-4)          IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA
K.Johnson LOSS(1-1)       5 2/3  12   4   2   0   4   0 122   1.35
D.Stone                   1 1/3   1   0   0   0   1   0  13   2.70
J.Umbricht                2       4   1   1   1   1   0  38   1.35
Totals                    9      17   5   3   1   6   0

ATTENDANCE- 21,199 DATE- Tuesday, April 24th 1962 TIME- Night
T- 2:52
LEFT ON BASE- Cardinals:12  Colt .45s: 8
DOUBLE PLAYS- Cardinals: 1  Colt .45s: 0
ERRORS- R.Mejias, B.Aspromonte
DOUBLES- B.White-3(5th), B.Lillis(2nd)
TRIPLES- C.Flood(2nd)
CAUGHT STEALING- C.Flood
WALKS- G.Oliver
HIT BY PITCH- N.Larker
STRIKE OUTS- S.Musial, C.James, G.Oliver-2, J.Gotay, L.Jackson, C.Warwick,
             B.Goodman, K.Johnson
GIDP- B.Aspromonte
Thanks for indulging me!

[Ty in Tampa]

That was fun, Frobie. Thanks.

[Jose Cruz III]

That was cool. Thanks.

[JimR]

outstanding. thanks

[juliogotay]

outstanding. thanks

Lots of fun. I remember those names like it as yesterday. I should, I played SS for the Redbirds.

Keep us posted as to how the pennant race shakes out.

[Frobie]

I'm glad some folks enjoyed this.  I had a fun time typing it up.  Perhaps I'll do another game someday, though not for a good while.