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The New York Mets faced the St. Louis Cardinals at Bush Stadium for opening day on Wednesday,
April 11, 1962. This was the first ever season and regular
season game for the new expansion team, the New York Mets.
They were managed by Casey Stengel, who had led the Yankees to the AL Pennant just two
years earlier. The Cardinals were an average team and looking
to make it back to the postseason for the first time in 15 years.
They were managed by Johnny Keene, who had taken over the team mid-season in 1961.
This audio recording is from the brand new Mets radio broadcast team featuring announcers
Lindsay Nelson, Ralph Keiner, and Bob Murphy.
Bob Murphy, welcoming you to the first regular season game in the history of the New York
Mets. Brought to you by Reingold Expert Drive.
Tonight, the New York Mets meet the St. Louis Cardinals right here in St. Louis.
Lindsay Nelson, Ralph Keiner, and I are on hand to bring you every bit of the action.
Yes sir, the New York Mets are on the air in their first great season.
Right now, Casey Stengel, Johnny Keene, and the four on bars are getting together at home
plate for the last minute check. And right now would be a good time for you
to check up on your supply of fine gold Reingold. Reingold Expert Drive.
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And say right now would be a good time to light up a Viceroy.
Viceroy's not too strong, not too light. Viceroy's got the taste that's right. That's right.
Now it's just about game time, so settle back with a tall, cold glass of Reingold,
and we'll give you the starting lineup.
For the New York Mets,
manager Casey Stengel will have Richie Ashburn in center field leading off.
Felix Mantilla will be at shortstop batting second.
Charlie Neal at second base batting third.
Frank Thomas in right field batting clean up.
Gus Bell in right field batting fifth.
Gil Hodges playing first base batting sixth.
Don Zimmer will be at third base batting seventh.
Hobie Landroth behind the plate. Hobie will bat eighth.
Fitching and batting ninth, veteran right hander Roger Craig.
For the St. Louis Cardinals, they feel they have a team that will be a strong contender for the National League Finals.
Kirk Flood will be in center field leading off.
Julian Javier at second base batting second.
Bill White will be at first base batting third.
In right field batting clean up, Stan the Man Museo.
Ken Boyer will be at third base hitting fifth.
And even also in left field batting sixth.
Gene Oliver catching and batting seventh.
Julio Gotay, G-O-T-A-Y. Gotay will be at short batting eighth.
Fitching and batting ninth, Larry Jackson.
John Gorman at the Long Island with an umpire behind the plate.
Nick Bill Cakoski from North Wall Pole, New Hampshire will call the plays around first.
It's at all will be at second.
Hal Foreman will be at third.
The skies are mostly cloudy, the temperature in the high 40s.
The wind right now has subsided and is not really a factor in the ball game.
Well you know folks like the sign says, new team, new girl, same great beer.
Yes sir, New York has certainly taken to its brand new national league team, the Mets.
This Reingold 1962, well it was more popular than lovely Kathy Kirsch.
And that same great beer, Reingold, it's been New York's favorite for as long as I can remember.
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Enjoy a glass of refreshing Reingold along with the game.
You'll join millions who say, my beer is Reingold the dry beer.
Well we are about to be witnesses to history and the making right here in St. Louis as the New York Mets become a reality.
From the dreams and the planning boards, from the works that were required to put the ball club together,
from the long work in spring training, everything now bursts on the scene and becomes a reality.
And the national league now is back in New York after an absence of four years.
Managed by Casey Stinger, with George Weiss running the front office,
a veteran coaching staff of Sally Hemas, Cookie Lavagetto, Rogers Harsby, Red Ruffing and Red Brest,
and a starting team tonight that is truly a veteran ball club.
This incidentally, with the exception of Roger Craig, the exact person now that played the very first spring training game for the New York Mets
back on the 10th of March against the same St. Louis Cardinals.
And if you'll recall, Roger Craig actually was to pitch that day,
but injured a muscle in his back sliding a couple of days before and had to bypass that turn.
And the batting order is exactly the same except for one switch.
On that day back on March the 10th, Don Zimmer and Felix Bantia were in reverse positions in the New York Mets batting order.
That way, tonight's ball game could be very tricky and could be very hard.
So much rain has fallen in St. Louis over the last three days that the outfield is very, very slow.
The infield, of course, was covered throughout the rain and is in pretty good shape.
But the outfield is so soggy and so sponge-like that at the last moment,
manager Johnny Keene of the Cardinals decided to let his outfielders wear the low-cut, lightweight football shoes, just like the halfbacks wear.
Game time temperature here in St. Louis, we were a little bit off in our estimate.
They now say it is 55 degrees.
But in the outfield for the Cardinals, Monoso and Left, Blood and Center, and Musial and Right,
all three are wearing the low-cut, lightweight football shoes, just like the ones worn by the backs and the ins in pro football.
Naturally, when they come into the dugout to go on the attack, they'll be taking those off
and putting on their regular baseball spikes because the infield was covered and is in pretty good shape.
So setting up the Cardinal defense as right-hander Larry Jackson throws in the last of his one-up tosses.
Ken Boyer at third, Julio Gotage short, Julian Javier at second, and Bill White is at first.
In the outfield, Mini Monoso in left, the speedy Kirk Flood in center, and around and right,
one of the great names in the history of the game, Stan the Man Musial.
The batter for the Cardinals, Larry Jackson on the mound. He'll be caught by young Gene Oliver.
Now moving up to the leadoff in the ballgame for the New York Bucks will be the veteran Richie Ashburn.
Richie who enters this season needing only 55 bases to reach the 2,500-hit mark.
And in this game tonight, you have the two men who have more bases than any other players in the National League.
Stan Musial, number one, and Richie Ashburn, number two.
Richie, after 14 years, is still a lifetime 300-hitter with an average of 308 over the 14-year span.
And as you know, twice he won the National League batting title.
And now stepping out again, Larry Jackson, with nine curveball and right-handed overstable at start.
Jackson was hurt in spring training last year, got off to a very slow start.
He was three wins and eight losses in the middle of the year.
But then he came a strong with a great second half. He won 11 of 12 decisions,
and he wound up the year as the comeback guy of the Cardinal 9 staff.
And now he has been given the honor by Johnny Keene of pitching his third opening game.
Now Larry Jackson looks in to get his side from Gene Oliver.
Richie Ashburn, count dealing the bat around.
Jackson is into his wind-up, and the next time in business, the pitch is hit on the ground down to third a foul ball.
Back-handed by Kenny Boyer, and there's no play.
And now it's a reality. We're underway here in St. Louis with Richie Ashburn leading off.
Felix Mantilla, moving out on deck, will be followed back by Charlie Neal.
Third fielder Kurt Flood swung way over into left center, playing Ashburn to hit for the opposite field.
A drive in the air to left center. Kurt Flood is not settling. He's there now.
Next it's up to the out. Kurt Flood had the perfect defensive position on Richie Ashburn.
He was way over in left center, though he had to be handed back about 10 or 12 strides to take it for the out.
Well, away nobody on. That brings up Felix Mantilla.
This was a very good spring for Felix Mantilla.
He was in a batting slump in the early part of spring training, but when the Mets, on the 23rd of March,
started a road trip on the other side of Florida, he got hot. Swing and a strike one.
Right after the game tonight, the New York Mets will be flying to New York.
They're anxiously looking forward to the big reception tomorrow in New York with the parade down lower Broadway.
And the welcoming of City Hall and the opener against Wetzburg on Friday at the Polo Grounds.
Gene Oliver, crossed behind the plate. Now Jackson knobs and a court.
He's lined up a pitch on the way. Outside and low, he lays off of it. One ball, one strike.
He's done a beautiful job with the ballpark here on St. Louis, and it is in tip-top shape and very, very attractive.
Of course in right field, which is the real hitting target for the left-hand batters, the screen stretches from the foul pole out to right center.
Anything off the screen is in play. Swing and a miss on a slider. One ball, two strikes.
Down the left field line to the foul pole is 351 feet. In left center to the bleachers, 379.
To the gardens out behind the green daughters eye in center field, 425.
In right center where the screen drops off, 354. 310 down the right field line to the pole and the screen.
Outside and low, two balls, two strikes on Felix Mantilla.
Tonight's game has a particular nostalgic flavor for one of the, not only one, but two of the New York Met coaches.
Rogers Hornsby and Sally Hemas, who both manage the Spar Club.
Taking low, ball three, three and two.
Spar back is 1,925. The Raja directed the Cardinals to the National League Planet at a World Series Championship.
And of course, year before last, it was Sally who took over the Redbirds who were sagging and drove them to a third place finish.
Full count now, three and two on Mantilla. Jackson double pucks. In field and the outfield straight away.
Foul to foul, off to the left. No play and the count remains the same.
Twaye Lewis relying heavily this year on two comparative newcomers.
Both saw a stun service last year, but in the true sense of the word, this will be their first full year.
That would be Gina Oliver and the shortstop for Leo Gotai.
A ground ball hit down to third. Kenny Boyer takes it out of the third, straightens up, throws and pats and there are two away.
Now here's Charlie Neal coming up. Charlie batting third in the order. He looked great all through spring training.
Charlie in tip-top shape and he's hoping to bounce back to the form that he had two years ago when he was without question, considered the number one second base for the National League.
Here's the wind, a pitch by Jackson. A drive and he errs toward right center field. Musial is hurrying over there. He's in front of it and makes it to get to the outfield.
He's slow going in the outfield. He's downstuck to slip around a little bit, but he slowed up and had time to get there.
No runs, no hits, no errors, none left on. That's a good out in order in their half of the first inning.
The score in the middle of the first inning is the New York Mets nothing and the St. Louis Cardinals coming to bat.
Now the last half of the first inning here in St. Louis and the Cardinals will be coming up against Roger Craig.
That's a lifetime record against the Cardinals of eight wins and six losses.
Kurt Flood at the center fielder will be leading off against Roger Craig.
Last year was a good one for the speedy Flood. Right hand hitter. Kurt hit 322. He was out hit only by Ken Boyer on the Cardinal Ball Club.
Just 24 years old from Houston, Texas. The wind up and pitch to him. A strike on the outback corner. Roger Craig on the nine for the Mets.
Roger has been the number one pitcher in the eyes of Casey Stengel since the very first day of spring training.
Every outing during the spring bore that out. Now the wind up, pitch on the way. Just off the outside edge. One ball, one strike.
Last year against the Cardinals, Roger Craig won one and lost one. The game he lost by the way was to Larry Jackson.
Along toward the middle of the season when Jackson started his comeback. Pitching one and one. A fly ball in high on the air to center field.
Richie Ashburn, drift squeeze left. He's under it. Puts it away for the off.
Well away nobody on in the last half of the first inning and the hitter now will be Julian Javier at the second baseman.
The Cardinals think they have a real star, Julian Javier. Last year he hit 279 with the Cardinals.
Now setting up the Mets defensively, Don Zimmer at third, Felix Mantilla at short, Charlie Neal at second and Gil Hodge is at first.
Craig into his wind up, the pitch to Javier. The right hand battered grass to Bunt and misses strike one.
In the outfield for the Mets, Frank Thomas in left field, Richie Ashburn in center, around and right field Gus Bell.
Roger Craig on the mound and Hobie Landriff, veteran of 11 campaigns in the National League working behind the plate.
Hobie here came up for the Pittsburgh Pirate Organization. He starts his third season now with the St. Louis Cardinals.
He was traded by Pittsburgh to the Cardinals along with Ed Bauta or vinegar Ben Marzell and Dick Gray.
That trade took place in early 1960. The Cardinals are mighty satisfied with the trade.
The right hand battered grass to Bunt and misses strike two.
No score, last half of inning number one. One out of nobody on. Temperature 55 degrees.
Everybody really sweating it out all day long hoping that no rain would fall and it didn't.
If it rained any at all today it would have knocked this game out because this field just couldn't stand any water now.
Roger Wyens, here's his pitch. Look out, he has to hit the dirt to get out of the way and he made him wiggle.
One ball and two strikes.
A hard one got away from Roger and Julian Hobie had to get out of the way in a hurry.
Roger Craig tall rangey right hander with a world of determination and pitching know-how.
He was delighted to get a chance to pitch for the New York Mets.
He worked hard all winter prior to reporting to spring training and he is in perfect shape.
Nice through the hole.
Up with the ball, takes it back in.
Javier is out with a single drill through the hole in the left field.
So there is the initial base hit of the ball again.
Here is Bill White the first baseman.
Big Bill White, he hit 286 last year, a six footer from Rock Hill, Missouri.
Left hand batter and he was a particular nemesis for Roger Craig last season.
Here's the pitch by Roger, a little bit low, taken ball one.
Don Zimmer even with the bag but wired the line at third and Felix Fantier shaded towards second.
Ashburn a very deep center field and around toward right center.
Fell about two strides off the warning path and deep right.
Gil Hatch is holed against a speedy Julian Javier.
He can really fly.
Now through to first as Craig keeps an eye on him.
Throwing to first once again.
Roger Craig on the mound for the Mets.
Roger was born in Durham, North Carolina for the last three years.
He's made his home in Long Beach, California.
He started out 12 years ago at Newport News.
Craig now a seven year veteran with a lifetime record of 49 wins and 38 losses.
Now Roger makes the one second stop.
Time is called by Bill White and he steps out of the batter's box.
In 59 when the Dodgers won the pennant, time and again it was Roger Craig who strolled in to pitch the big game.
In the big pressure game of them all when the Cubs had to be beaten, Roger took to the mound and was in command all the way.
And now he takes on the responsibility of the big opening game here in St. Louis.
Next pitch, round ball and through the hole in the right field for a face hit.
Oh yeah, on track, he's flying on to third.
And the Cardinals have a run by first and third.
And a counter hit by Bill White just beyond the reach of Gil Hodges who tried to make a backhand playoff.
Stan Musial is up to his.
Now Don Zemmler comes over from third to talk for a moment to Roger Craig.
Stan Musial who virtually owns the National League Record Book.
Glitters on first and third, one on.
Charlie Neal and Felix Mantilla setting up hoping for a shot at a double play.
Inside and low it's ball one. Low breaking ball thrown by Craig.
Musial after 20 years has a lifetime average of glittering 333.
The outfield deep and a run toward right.
No score, last half of the first Cardinals threatening.
Off the outside edge, Musial takes it.
And it's two balls and no strikes, understand the math.
Manager Johnny Keene running his ball club off the lines of third with Harry Walker coaching at first.
Now throw to first by Craig, not in time. Bill White easily getting back.
Craig up in pitching position delivers, grounded foul on the first baseland no play.
Now Obie Landriff moves out toward the mound to get together with Roger Craig.
Last year Stan played 123 games at 288.
But he hit 15 home runs and he knocked 70 runs in.
During his brilliant 20 year career Musial has hit 444 home runs.
Now Craig up in pitching position, a two run delivery.
Outside ball three and now it's three and one on Musial.
Roger Craig, six foot four is right hander trying to pitch out of a jam here in the last half of the first inning.
Now throw to first, not in time. Bill White hurrying back.
Obierre the lead runner on third, Bill White on first.
Now the pitch thrown, the runner goes toward second.
A fly ball hit the short left field, Thomas coming hard, coming hard.
In the score comes Obierre and the Cardinals go in front one to nothing.
Stan Musial, a Texas League base hit the short left field.
A fly that landed in between Felix Fantilla and Frank Thomas.
Obierre comes in to score at the Cardinals lead one to nothing.
Coming up next in the New York left bullpen, Bob Warhead, a right hander, starts getting ready.
Three hits in a row now for the Cardinals.
Now the batter is Ken Boyer. He's led the Cardinal offense for the last four years.
Bok and a Bok is called on Roger Craig.
Roger turned to throw to first but Gil Hock has a shot over there covering.
He realized he couldn't throw, he held up and it's a Bok.
Moving White to third and Musial to second.
Roger perhaps a little bit upset by the anxiety of the opening ball game
and of the three hits in a row by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Now Gil Hock just comes over from first to talk to Roger Craig.
Now the Redbirds have winners on second and third, one out, they have one run in.
Lost to the first inning, Boyer the hitter.
Now he'll be crossed behind the plate, signs for the pitch.
Ashburn strides a bit toward left center against Ken Boyer, right hand hitter with a lot of power.
Craig swings into his windup, here's the pitch on the way.
Outside and low it's ball one.
One ball, one strike to Ken Boyer.
Last year Ken hit.329, led the Cardinals in hitting.
Here's the pitch on the way, outside and low, ball two.
Miniman also the on deck batter and then Gene Oliver.
The Redbirds feel they have a strong bet in every position in their betting with it this year.
Well they feel that Gene Oliver the catcher and Julio Gota at the shortstop both will hit well.
Pitching to a 0, strike called on the outside corner to Boyer, two balls and a strike.
Roger Craig normally a very fast worker on the mound taking plenty of time as he tries to pitch out of a tough jam
the last half of the first inning.
Craig winds and pitches, a ground ball slowly hits the third, done their half but one play.
He finds the first in time for the outter to let his end.
Bill White crossing the plate on the slow bounder.
So actually the last two hitters, Musial and Boyer, both great hitters, have been taken off stride by Roger Craig
but Musial both went in for a hit to left field and Boyer caught the slow roller that was hit so slow
the Dimmons only play with the first base.
And now Minimanoso is up.
Minimanoso.
Federal and American League star for Cleveland and the White Sox who came to the Cardinals in the swamp for Joe Cunningham.
Right hand hitter waiting and the pitch is a strike on the inside corner.
Many after a dozen campaigns in the American League a left hand 300 hitter.
He's an exciting ball player to watch.
Like the Mets Don Zimmer he's a scrapper all the way.
He always gives you that big head first slide in trying to get that extra base.
Many really crowds the plate and he's frequently plunked by pitches but he's willing to take that.
Now the pitch on the way.
Inside and low one ball one strike.
Two runs are in and the Cardinals lead 2-0.
They were in the last half of the first inning.
Langold extra dry your radio host from St. Louis.
We certainly hope you're enjoying it.
Now the 1-1 pitch he tried to hold up on the swing and Tom Groenling says he did check up in time.
Two balls and a strike.
Stan Musial on second to our 2-0 way last half of the first inning.
Now Craig with a long look in, kicks the leg delivers a hot foul behind the plate.
Landry flips the last of the side.
He's already waiting and he grabs it for the op and retires the side.
So actually Craig the last three hitters he faced Musial, Boyer and Monoso did an outstanding job.
But the St. Louis Cardinals scored two runs.
There were three hits.
No errors.
One man left on.
At the end of one the score the St. Louis Cardinals 2 and the New York Mets nothing.
Hank Thomas will be leading off against Larry Jackson in the top half of the second.
The Mets hoping to dig in and go to work and get the two runs back.
Last ball inside and high. It's ball one.
Johnny Keene and his pitching coach Harry Paulette.
Both feel that Larry Jackson can have a great year and be the bell-caller of the pitching staff.
Jackson a 30-year-old right-hander lines and pitches a ground smash to short.
Three-year-old go-tie is up with it. Takes to white in time for the op.
He almost made his throw too wide but white with a long stretch went out to get it.
Won't away nobody on. That'll bring up Gus Bell.
The Chicago Cubs and Houston Colts are underway in their game in Houston.
Then Hobby pitching for the Cubs and Hal Winoshek for the Houston Colts 45s.
The Cubs did not score in the first.
Breaking ball outside to Gus Bell ball one.
Otherwise in the National League tonight Cincinnati had Los Angeles and Milwaukee had San Francisco.
A day game between the Phillies and Pittsburgh was postponed lane.
The only day game played was in the American League where the Red Sox defeated Cleveland 4-0 on a four-hit shutout by Bill Manbuket.
A smash at heart, a base hit up the middle for Gus Bell.
And the New York Mets have their first hit of the campaign and it was a Cleveland by Gus Bell up the middle.
Now while we're waiting for Gil Hodge to step in, let's step out for station identification.
This is WGY Schenectady.
Bob Murphy with Lindsey Nelson and Ralph Keiner.
The New York Mets are hitting against Larry Jackson on the top of the second.
Gus Bell has just drilled a single to center field.
And now the hitter is 38-year-old Gil Hodges.
Here's the pitch by Jackson.
A blazer that's in there for a tall strike.
Gil starting the year with just eight home runs behind Ralph Keiner for the number 10 spot in the all-time home run derby.
Breaking ball over, strike on the outside corner.
He was spreading a needle with Allen.
Gil is 16-year veteran with a lifetime average of 274.
Gil has a good chance to join the 2000 hit club this year.
One away, one on, the two strike pitch by Jackson and he pops the ball up on the left side of the infield.
Kenny Boyer in toward the mat is waiting under it.
Boyer takes it for the out.
Now there are two away, a runner on first, Gus Bell, and coming onto hit will be Don Zimmer.
Cardinals 2, New York Mets nothing.
We're in the top half of the second.
Detroit and Washington postponed rain in Washington.
They are underway in Kansas City.
The Minnesota Twins nothing.
Kansas City A's nothing at the end of one.
That's Camilo Pascual against Wyatt.
Now Jackson eyes the runner, then pitches.
Swing and a miss on a curve, strike one.
Zip lip, the New York Bet hitters throughout spring training.
Don got off to a great start for the Chicago Cubs last year.
He hit extremely well the first half of the year.
And he had a number of timely home runs.
Jackson's pitch, a ground smash over the mound over second and base at the center field.
Bill O'Mara on second will hold up there as Kirk Flood flips the ball back in.
And the much down on singles by Gus Bell and Don Zimmer have two men on.
Now coming on to hitter will be Hobie Landry.
Hobie had the honor of being the first player selected by the New York Mets in the expansion draft of last October 10th.
Hobie originally from Decatur, Illinois, is a 12-year veteran.
Hobie a left-hand hitter and the Cardinal outfield shades just a little bit around toward right.
Alihemas on the coaching lines at third and Cookie Longa General on the lines at first.
The Mets trailing two to nothing now have the tying runs posted with two men down.
Third ball in Larry Jackson, takes the one-second stop, kicks the leg, delivers.
He starts him off with a fastball, but it's outside.
One ball and no strikes.
The Cardinals after this game will have an off day tomorrow and then they'll be in Chicago on Friday.
The Mets will be coming home to open a four-game weekend series against Pittsburgh.
Opening day Friday, a day game Saturday, and a big doubleheader with Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Pitching a high fly ball not too deep out the short center field.
Everybody running for it and it's Hobie here at the second base, but he grabs it,
holds on to it as Kirk Blood barrels into him coming up from behind.
But Hobie here holds on to it and the side is retired.
A pop fly to short center field.
Blood at the last moment tried to sidestep and get out of the way,
but he crashed into Hobie here, not too hard.
Nobody hurt him. The play on the side is out.
No runs, two hits. No errors and two left on.
And now at the end of an inning and a half, the score, the Cardinals two and the Mets nothing.
Now Gene Oliver leads off in the last half of the second facing Roger Craig.
He's fouled on the third baseland, no play.
Next pitch on the way, breaking ball over a beauty by Craig.
Just drag Cat on, strapping Gene Oliver.
Oliver last year at 40 home runs, 36 in the Coast League and four with the Cardinals,
and they think he's going to become a real good hitter.
Outside and low, Hobie digging it out of the dirt, one ball and two strikes.
Gene Oliver is from Moline, Illinois.
He has the size, 46'2, weighs 215 pounds.
27 years old.
Next pitch to him, swing, and he's stuck him out.
And Craig with the big motion and a change up really fooled Oliver on that one.
So Roger hangs up his first strike out of the game, one out and nobody out.
One away and nobody out, and the batter now is Julio Gotay with the shortstop.
Last year Julio Gotay played at San Juan and then later at Charles Hill in a franchise move,
and he had a good year in AAA, he had 307.
He was in ten games with the Cardinals.
Outside and low, it's ball one.
They have turned over the shortstop job to Gotay and as the old saying goes in baseball,
the one opponent you must be strong down the middle, and so Gotay,
along with Gene Oliver behind the plate, assume much of the responsibility
of whether or not the Cardinals will be a very successful ball club this year.
Craig winding the pitch to Gotay, outside and low, ball two to an O.
Cardinals two, a much nothing, we're in the last half of the second.
Now Craig cranks up, ground ball hit down to third, Zimba racing in,
he's up with it, throws to first in time and Gotay is out.
Slow grounder and Zimba had to race in for it.
Two up and two set aside by Craig and that brings up Larry Jackson.
That shandy has been added to the active roster of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Two outs to nobody out, here's Jackson.
Tonight for Larry Jackson marks the third time he has been honored
by pitching the opening game for the Cardinals.
Out, out, well hit, left field back to Thomas, he may have room,
he's down the barrier and makes the catch.
Right up against the wall, deep left field, Blank Thomas pulls it in.
That ball was well hit by Larry Jackson.
He almost put that one into the seat in the bleachers in left center.
No runs, no hits, no errors, none left on.
At the end of two innings to score, the St. Louis Cardinals 2
and the New York Mets nothing.
Now we're all set to go here on the third inning.
The Mets coming up hoping to get a couple of runs back
and all set to step in and paint the word picture for you.
And best of luck Ralph as we swing into the big new season, Ralph Kiner.
Thank you Bob Murphy and all set to go here for the Mets,
Roger Craig against Larry Jackson, both from the right hand side.
Two-nothing game, St. Louis, first pitch to Roger, swing and a miss, strike one.
Cardinals picked up two runs in the first inning.
Top of the third right now, Roger Craig the batter.
Jackson back with a fastball called strike two.
So Larry Jackson on top of Roger Craig, no balls and two strikes.
It'll be Roger Craig, Richie Ashburn and Felix Mantia here in the top of the third inning.
Jackson back, catches the outside corner, got him looking, strike three.
So Jackson picks up his first strike out of the ball game.
Roger Craig going down and the batter stepping in is Richie Ashburn.
Richie flied out to center field in his first time a bat in this National League season.
Last year he hit.257 for the Chicago Cubs, has a lifetime batting average of.308.
Twice has led the National League in batting with.338 in 1955 and.350 in 1958.
Left handed batter, outfield shifting over to the left side.
Ken Boyer right on top of third base and just about a step in.
Gotai deep in the hole at the shortstop position.
First pitch to Richie, taken at the knees, a curveball, strike one.
Minimanoso left field, way over towards the left field side near the foul line.
Kurt Flutton center field over in left center field.
One strike pitch to Richie is called, strike two.
Is Jackson working quickly here, picks up two quick strikes.
Larry Jackson last year won 14 mile, losing 11 ball games, got off to a very slow start,
then won 11 out of his next 12 starts.
Has a lifetime record of 85 wins and 75 losses.
30 years old, he's the number one right hander.
Now the two strike pitch to Ashburn.
He goes through the hole in the left field, a base hit, and Richie gets his first base hit of the 1962 season.
Puts a runner at first base and brings up Felix Mantia.
Well Richie had to thread the needle, he had about 15 feet to hit that one between the third baseman and the shortstop,
and he did, he hit it sharply on the ground in the left field.
So it's hit number three, picked up by the New York Mets.
And coming down now Felix Mantia who ground it out to the third baseman.
Last year he hit.215 for Milwaukee, has a utility ball player.
Has a lifetime average of.231.
Now out on the mound, Jackson talking with the shortstop, Gautier, and the second baseman, Javier.
And they're evidently going over who will cover if a double play situation comes up as far as the pitcher's concerned.
Normally the second baseman or the shortstop, either one designated before the ball game,
will give a sign to the other ball player as to who will cover on each pitch.
They shift around, depending actually on the speed of the pitch, the fastball or the curve.
Ashburn with a good sized lead at first base, draws a throw, but he gets back in time.
Mantia right-hander deep in the box. Jackson looking, throws home. It's high for ball one.
On deck, Charlie Neal.
Coaching the third base, Salahimas giving the sign to the batter as Felix Mantia looks down to see what's going on.
Score two-nothing in favor of the St. Louis Cardinals, top of the third.
Jackson checking Ashburn at first. There's a ball fouled away. Strike one. One ball, one strike.
The field condition here at Bush Stadium is not good.
Yesterday's opener postponed because of rain, and it was actually mainly due to the field condition being so wet that the game could not be played.
That's the first opener that's been postponed in St. Louis in 25 years.
One-one count on Mantia.
Jackson checking Ashburn at first. Comes to the plate, curve ball, it's high. Ball two. Two balls, one strike.
Made explained in his seventh major league season. Now Gortak comes on in to talk to Jackson once more.
This is the 87th National League opener. First game was played way back in 1876 when Boston beat Philadelphia 6-5.
Couple of scores on the big board in left center field. Houston two, the curve's nothing. That's at the end of two.
Minnesota nothing, Kansas City nothing at the end of two. Right here it's two-nothing Cardinals, top of the third.
Now set the goal, a check in the swing, it's up high, ball three. So Jackson now behind three balls and one strike.
Ashburn at first base, one man out.
No wind at all at this point. Earlier in the ball game it was blowing in slightly from left field.
In fact, it held up a real strong bit by Larry Jackson for a home run off of Roger Craig.
Both teams with three hits.
Ashburn checking the coach at first, Cookie Lavageto, looking for the steal. He goes, the pitch is swung on foul, down in the dirt off of the foot of the catcher, Gene Oliver.
And time is called. That'll send Ashburn back as the count goes full. Three balls and two strikes.
Now the trainer coming out to take a look at the right foot of the catcher. Jackson there talking it over with him.
And now Bill White coming in to see what's going on.
Cardinals jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning after Kurt Fudd had flied out to center field.
Javier single to left. Bill White then moved him down to second base with a single.
Then he scored on a group single by Sam Musial.
And then Bill White who had gone over to third base on a box scored on an infield out by Ken Boyer.
The only two runs of the ball game.
Now 3-2 pitch to Felix Mantia. Ashburn goes. The pitch is swung on foul back in the screen.
Another kind of hold at three balls and two strikes with one out.
Fine crowd on end. It was estimated that they would draw approximately 20,000 people for the opening night.
And in spite of the fact that the temperature has to be pretty close to 50 degrees, we have about that many out here.
Bleachers in left field and in right field, practically full.
Now the 3-2 set up. Mantia the batter.
Ashburn being held. Now goes. The pitch is hit on the ground and fouls.
So once again the count will stay at three balls and two strikes.
Well Ashburn who had trouble all spring with his legs now getting a good workout running on the 3-2 pitch.
For the ball game he said his leg, actually both legs, have come along very nicely.
He's in good shape to start the season.
Metz had very little injury trouble during spring training.
3-2. Mantia the batter. Ashburn does not go. The pitch is high and Mantia gets first base free.
So Jackson gives up his first walk of the ball game and that moves Ashburn 90 feet down to second base.
Puts Mantia on first. He's a potential time running the batter is Charlie Neal.
Neal fought out to right field, actually a semi-aligned drive. He is 0-1 as a lifetime average of 265.
Last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers hit 235.
Richie Ashburn at second base. At first base Mantia. At the plate Charlie Neal.
In field playing straight away, outfield straight away. The on deck batter Frank Thomas.
One man down to score 2-0 St. Louis Cardinals. Jackson checking Ashburn at second comes inside with a slider.
Ball one. Neal moving away, falls down on the ground. It wasn't too close. One ball, those strikes.
Charlie Neal had a fine spring for the Metz.
And manager Casey Stengel says you got to figure this man in the first division as a second baseman.
He can play on any team. Next pitch foul away, strike one. One ball, one strike.
Charlie Neal can play shortstop. Although the Metz have not used him there at any time.
Ashburn looking down at Salihaemus at third base. Four sign. Mantia at first base has a short lead.
Bill White playing behind him. One man out. Jackson checking Ashburn. Now comes with a 1-1 pitch.
It's up high. Ball two. Two balls, one strike. One out.
Jackson is 30 years old, 6 foot 2. Weighs 190 pounds.
The 2-1 pitch to Neal is inside. Ball three. So now Jackson a pitch away from loading him up.
Three balls and one strike.
Jackson last year got off to a very slow start when he had his jaw broken.
With a piece of a flying bat from the bat of Duke Snider.
At the halfway mark he had won three games while losing eight.
Then he came on to win 11 of his next 12 and ended up with a season of 14-11.
Now the 3-1 pitch to Charlie Neal. On the ground throwing to the right field.
Ashburn running third. Will come on in. Mantia is going over to third base.
The throw was not cut off by Gotay. But Charlie Neal holds it first.
The Metz have scored their first run of the 1962 season and their first run in their history in the National League play.
It's a 2-1 game. Runners at first and third base and the batter is Frank Thomas.
Charlie Neal with a base hit to the hole in the right field.
Picks up his first run battered into the 1962 season. The game is 2-1 in favor of the Cardinals and Frank Thomas steps in.
Frank was out on the ground at the shortstop in his first try.
Last year hit 281 for the Milwaukee Braves and the Chicago Cubs.
He had 27 home runs and 73 runs battered in and he has a lifetime average of 268.
Charlie Neal at first base. At third base Phoenix Mantia.
The first pitch to Thomas is swung on a missed strike one.
Good curveball by Larry Jackson on the outside corner.
2-1 Cardinals. Top of the third inning.
Thomas the cleanup batter playing in left field. Stands right on top of the plate.
You can't get any closer.
Jackson looks in for the sign and backs off the mound. Asks for another.
Gene Oliver the catcher gives it to him. He said Neal with a short lead at first base.
One out and the pitch to Thomas is hit out from center field. Deep to center field.
Fart is there. Neal has tagged up at first base.
The runner third tagged up has come on in and that ties it up a 2-2.
So Frank Thomas on a sacrifice fly to deep center field. Ties the game up at two apiece.
As Mantia scores from third base and on the throw in to second base.
Charlie Neal went back into first.
That brings up Gus Bell. Gus got the first base hit for the Mets in the second inning.
A single to center field.
Gus about a 2-55. A throw to first base. Neal dives back in. Got back in safely.
Jackson with a good move to first base.
Gus the left handed batter. And the first base to him a fastball. It's outside. Ball one.
Two runs are in. The game all tied up at 2-2. Top of the third inning.
Gus playing his 13th major league season.
Outfield slightly to right. Again that quick throw to first base.
Gus and Neal goes back in on his hands and knees this time. The play is not quite that close but Neal is taking no chances.
Time called as Gus steps out of the batter's box. The on deck batter is Gil Hodges.
Larry Jackson the right hander now checking Neal at first.
Still looking. Out comes to the plate. It's up to right field. High in the air.
Gil back on the warning track. Has room. And he makes the catch.
And so now with the score all tied. The New York Mets score their first two runs of the 1962 season.
In the inning for the Mets. Two runs. On two base. No errors. One man left and a score.
At the end two and one half innings of play. The New York Mets 2. The St. Louis Cardinals 2.
Coming up now jazz. Smooth, swab and sweet. Why don't you listen.
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Well now while we have a quick second we pause for station identification.
This is WGYS connected.
All set to go. The bottom half of the third and the first pitch for the leadoff men for the Cardinals.
Kirk Flood is outside ball one. On the mound for the New York Mets. Roger Craig to score the game 2-2. Bottom half of the third inning.
For the right hander. Lines won by Zimmer in the left field. The base hit. Coming in now Thomas picks it up, holds him there and Flood has his first base hit of the 1962 season.
Hit number four off Roger Craig. The hits are all even.
Flood had previously played out the center field as the leadoff batter for the Cardinals. He is now one for two and the batter is stepping on Julian Javier.
Javier with a base hit. The left field. And this first time up he's going to run.
First one of the ball game. The right handed batter hit 279 last year to lead all second basemen in the National League in batting.
Roger Craig the right hander. Flood can fly at first base. He's got a good lead. 2-2 game. First pitch is Trite. Attempted a bunt down the third base line. Foul back in the lander's glove. Strike one.
Javier a very fast man. Zimmer at third base playing very shallow. Outfield straight away. And both Charlie and the other man, Deer, short at their respective positions of second base and shortstop.
Flood at first base very speedy. The batter Javier very speedy.
Roger Craig into the stretch checking the runner at first base. And to the plate. There goes Flood. A pitch out. The throw to second base is on the wrong side and Flood gets in.
No third quad with a stolen base. As the throw had to be a perfect throw to get him. The throw was on the wrong side of the bag. No play made. And they count one ball one strike.
That puts the potential go ahead run at second base with no one out in the bottom half of the third.
Right now into the stretch and to the plate. A smash in the left field on the ground. Here comes Flood around third base. Thomas Hopp does not throw.
That's what stops there with no one out and the throw goes into second base. So now the Cardinals with a score tied 2-2 have runners at first and third base with no one out in the batters. Bill White.
White picked up a single in his only damn it bat in the game. He has won for one.
Left handed batter now Zimmer is talking to Roger Craig in the mouth.
Hit number five picked up by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Bill White who hit 286 last year. 20 home runs, 90 runs batted in. He has a lifetime average of 281.
Big strong left handed batter acquired from the San Francisco Giants. Runners at first and third. The infield back.
First pitch is down to third. Lander keeps it in front of him. Ball one. Curve ball that was too long.
Now time is called as Tom Gorman walks out in front of him on plate. He wants the ball looked at. It is looked at by second base umpire Ed Soudal.
2-2 game. Cardinals now in the bottom half of the third but runners at first and third base. No one out. Bill White the batter.
The on deck batter is damn usual. Now Craig set to the plate. Swung on a foul chip down to third strike one. One ball one strike.
Roger Craig 6 foot 4 making his debut for the New York Mets. Last year was 5 and 6 for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He appeared in 40 games.
Now the pitch to Bill White. Too low. Ball two. Craig missing with a slider down below the knees. Two balls one strike.
Zimmer playing back at third base. They're going for the double play. They'll give up the run.
Throw to first base. Haar just puts the tag on but Javier is back easily.
Now Craig calls time. He wants a new ball. And Tom Gorman gives it to him. And Craig says I want another one. He changes again.
Richard can get a new ball at any time in a ball game. A batter can only request that a ball be put in play.
Minnesota has gone out in front of Kansas City in the top of the fourth 2-0.
Right here it's 2-2. Craig Arnuman set to go. At the end of three Houston to Chicago nothing.
Into the stretch and the pitch to Bill White. Line to right field. That's what Cardinal got it.
Here comes Bell to go across the diamond. It's cut off by Manquias out of the air. Goes into third base and White ends up in first.
He drives in his first run. The score now the same to this Cardinal's three. The New York Mets two.
Well there was no doubt about that base hit. It was a line shot to right field. Now warming up in the bullpen. Craig Morehead for the New York Mets.
Hit number six for the Cardinals. And the batter is Dan Muirjoy.
Dan drove in the first run of the game when he dropped a single in front of Frank Thomas in left field.
And this fellow holds the highest lifetime batting average of any active player in Major League Ball. 333.
Last year he hit 288 for the Cardinals. And he has a total of 444 home runs in his Major League career.
Dan at bat in the first pitch to Stan is outside. A fastball. Ball one. Javier at third base. At first base Bill White.
Craig's control has not been too sharp tonight. Pitch back to Stan. Line to right field. Bell is going over near the wall. Cuts it off near the corner. A runner's in. Here comes White to third base. He's going to fly and throw. A throw by Neal. Two landers at the same time. A tag and he is out.
On the play Stan Muirjoy moves on down to second base. If you're scoring it went from the right fielder at Cuts Bell to Charlie Neal to the catcher lander. 9-4 to 2. A runner's in. And the score of the ball game is now 4-3 St. Louis Cardinals.
And Stan Muirjoy picks up his second hit of the ball game and his second run batted in.
It took a perfect throw by Charlie Neal in the second base cutoff position to Neal. Bill White trying to score from first base. And it was perfect. Landers got the ball just as White arrived. The tag was unnecessary because the throw was in perfect position.
And out of batter is Ken Boyer.
Boyer drove in a run when he grounded out to Zimmer. Takes down low ball one. He is all for one.
And it's Stan Muirjoy with the double on the base hit. Pitch to Boyer is outside ball two. So Roger Craig now is Stan Muirjoy at second base. Has a 2-0 count on Ken Boyer right handed batter.
Boyer last year 3-29. He had 24 home runs. 95 runs batted in. He has a lifetime batting average of 2-99.
Craig throws a foul tip. Strike one. Two balls, one strike. One out.
And the St. Louis Cardinals bottom half of the third inning.
Boyer still throwing in the bullpen for the New York Mets. As Roger Craig looks in for the sign of the 2-1 pitch.
Muirjoy with a short lead at second base. The ball is on the ground at the shortstop side. Zimmer cuts it off for playing play. The throw to Hodges in time.
Don Zimmer cutting across in front of the shortstop man. Tia made a one handed glove catch with a hard ground ball. Turned through in time to get Boyer free first for out number two.
And the play stand Muirjoy held at second base and the batter stepping in is Mini Monoso.
Monoso fouled out in the first inning. Right handed batter who hit 2-84 at the Chicago White Sox last year. He has a lifetime average of 3-04.
Muirjoy at second base with two outs. Craig throws. It's outside ball one. Slider missing off the outside corner.
No strikes.
Craig looking for the sign from Hobie Landriff. Throw to low. Ball two. Slider down below the knees. Two balls and no strikes.
Roger Craig wearing 38 in the mound for the New York Mets. At first base is Gil Hodges. Charlie Neal at second. What a fine play he just pulled off to get wide at home on a relay throw.
Felix Mantia at shortstop. Don Zimmer at third. Frank Thomas in left field. Ricky Ashburn in center field. Gus Beller right field.
And Hobie Landriff giving the 2-0 sign to Roger Craig.
Monoso lines one to right field. Bell coming on. Can't get to it. Takes it on the first bounce. Here comes a throw to Hall. Muirjoy is throwing the score.
And now they have Monoso on the run down. It's over to Charlie Neal. Back to the pitcher. And now Zimmer makes the play and they say that possibly there's an argument on the play but it is not ruled obstruction at all.
And if you're scoring on the play another run has come into the ball game. It's 5-2 in favor of the Mets as Monoso gets a single to drive in his first run. And the scoring on the run down play from the right fielder Gus Bell to the first baseman
Gil Hodges to the second baseman Charlie Neal and back to Don Zimmer at first base. So it goes 9-3 to 4-5. And in the inning for the St. Louis Cardinals they pick up three runs on five base hits and the score at the end of three complete innings of play.
The St. Louis Cardinals 5-2 the New York Mets 2. Well in this first ball game of the 1962 season we've seen plenty of action already. And the New York Mets have scored their first two runs ever.
The first base hit picked up by a Met in a ball game and their history was by Gus Bell in the second inning.
There's the official announcement that the run scored by Sam Mugell was his 1,859th run scored in his major league career and it ties the all-time national league record held by Melod.
Well that's going to be one of probably many records, national league all-time records that Sam Mugell will set this year. He has a chance to set the all-time record in hits. That's held by Honest Wagner.
The all-time record in advance was also held by Honest Wagner. The all-time record of runs batted in held by Melod. The all-time record of games played held by Wagner.
The all-time record of major league base hits, long hits held by Babe Ruth. The all-time record of total bases held by Gus. Sam Mugell just tying one of the all-time records. Now we're at the top of the fourth.
And the first batter Gil Hodges takes outside from Larry Jackson. Larry Jackson working in the top of the fourth inning to score the ball game 5-2 in favor of the St. Louis Cardinals as they have gone out in front in the third with three big runs.
Gil popped up to the third baseman. He is all for one. Right hander back and there's a drive deep to left field. This one could go all the way but also it's backed by the ball. He can't get to it a home run.
Gil Hodges was a home run for the New York Mets. Their first one that's 362 for Gil Hodges, the first run of this ball game. And the score of the game is now 5-3.
That was a deep drive to left field against the wind that went in about 14 rows in the area about 358 feet away from home plate and now Don Zimmer steps in 5-3 in favor of the St. Louis Cardinals.
And the second has a single, a one time up. Takes high, ball one. Right handed batter against Larry Jackson.
A home run by Gil Hodges has just placed him ahead of Joe DiMaggio on the all time home run list. A swing and a foul, strike one. One ball, one strike. Don Zimmer.
Still throwing in the bullfans for the New York Mets. Now Larry Jackson but his one-one fits to the right handed batters. Zimmer, hard ground ball down to Javier at second base. He moves to his right, comes up, throws in time. Out number one.
Coming out the batter is Hobie Landrieuft. Left handed batter for the New York Mets. He bats in the eighth position. He popped up to the second baseman in his first try in 1962.
There's a drive to right field down the right field line but going foul. Landrieuft picking on a slow curve ball, lined it down the right field line but just a little bit too far in the foul territory. Strike one.
The field dimensions here at Bush Stadium, 310 feet down the right field line. In right center, 354 feet but running from the 310 mark to the 354 mark, a high screen so a home run has to travel about 30 feet in the air above the ground level.
Jackson back outside, ball one. One ball, one strike. In straightaway center field, it's 422 feet. In left center field, 379 feet and down the left field line, 351. This is a left handed hitters ballpark.
Jackson in the lined up and back to Landrieuft with a one one pitch. A let up that's fouled away, strike two. One ball, two strikes.
One two pitch to Landrieuft outside, ball two. Fastball just missing off the corner. Two balls, two strikes. One out. Five to three, St. Louis Cardinals bottom, make that the top of the fourth inning.
Jackson back and a fly ball out the left field. Coming on slowly, Monoso, he's there. Pounds his glove once and makes the catch. Monoso makes his first put out in the national leg and we have a pinch hitter coming up for the New York Mets.
Boucher now coming in to back forward to New York Mets. Ed Boucher, and that means that Roger Craig will go out of the ball game and warming up in the bullpen for the Mets. Craig Morehead.
Bob Morehead, number 22, will come in the game in place of Roger Craig. Boucher takes it inside, ball one. Boucher left handed batter.
Jackson back and it's on the knees, strike one. One ball, one strike to Ed Boucher.
You've been out to score the ball game five to three in favor of the Cardinals. And the one-one pitch to Boucher way inside. It gets by Oliver going back for the screen ball two. Two balls, one strike.
Boucher last year with the Chicago Cubs came up with a Philadelphia Phillies. Now Jackson looking for the sign from Gene Oliver, has it. And the two-one pitch is high outside, ball three.
So Boucher, the first pitch that are used by the Mets in their history, three balls, one strike.
Jackson says, give me another sign on the three-one count. Still looking. Now sets into the windup. Back to the plate, high outside, ball four. So Boucher picks up a walk. That's Jackson's second walk in the ball game.
And that puts the runner at first base and brings up Richie Ashburn. Richie one for two. He's single in the left field and scored a run in the third inning and he flied out to center field.
He represents the potential tying run. On deck batter, Felix Mantia. Bill White in first base, holding Boucher on. And the Cardinals shifting around towards the left on Ashburn.
Jackson's first pitch is strike, a strike called. Ashburn decoying the butt, moved on down the line as Oda Bunny. Paul Boucher in quickly from third base. No balls and one strike.
Jackson checking the runner at first. Back to the plate. It's a slider that's over strike two. No balls and two strikes. Richie Ashburn in the batter.
Defensively for the St. Louis Cardinals, Oliver behind home plate, first base Bill White. He has now moved behind Boucher.
At second base, Javier, shortstop, Goethe, third base, Ken Boyer. But also Flau'at Amu'jul in the outfield left to right.
The two strike pitch lined onto White at first base on the first half. He makes a fine play, goes over, taps the back himself and every tie is a side.
That ball was well hit. And in the inning for the New York Mets, they pick up one run on their first home run.
Gil Hodges, 362nd. One base hit. No errors, no one left in the score at the end.
Three and one half innings are played at St. Louis Cardinals five and New York Mets three.
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While we're moving to the bottom half of the fourth inning with the score of the ball game five to three in favor of the St. Louis Cardinals as they come to bat,
and now in the ball game for the Mets, Bob Moorehead, big tall right-hander, and he's taking his warm up pitches.
Bob Moorehead, the right-hander now completing the tosses. He'll be working to Gene Oliver here in the bottom half of the fourth.
Last year, Moorehead was at Jersey City. He had a five and six record. He appeared in 21 games.
And he had a fine Irwin average of 3.33. Comes from Pennsylvania. He's 6'1, 170 pounds.
Then his first pitch to Oliver, just too low, ball one. Roger Craig started the ball game for the Mets.
He worked the first three innings giving up the five runs on seven hits. He chucked out one, he walked none.
So Moorehead will work to Oliver, Goja, and Jackson here in the bottom of the fourth inning.
There's a base hit. The line caught by Mantia and it almost tears him away as he catches the ball off the jumping high in the air.
Fine play by Phoenix Mantia on a shot by the catcher Gene Oliver.
So Moorehead picks up his first out and the batter's stepping in. Julio Gortay.
He's our right-handed batter. Score of the game is five to three, St. Louis.
Bob, just outside, ball one with a fastball. Moorehead throws a good, sinking fastball.
Has a long sweeping motion with his delivery.
He was very effective all spring. Now looking in for the sign.
He's outside, ball two. Gortay grounded out to the third baseman Zimmer in his only try.
And this fellow holds the key to the St. Louis Cardinals' penitentiary.
Young shortstop, but they are depending on a pawn to really hold them together in the infield.
Two-ball pitch on the ground off the end of the bat, down to the second baseman Neal.
He comes in, feels it by the grass, throws over to Hodges in time, and Gortay is down.
So Moorehead now two up and two down, and the batter coming on, Larry Jackson.
Jackson flied out deep to left field in his first try,
moving Thomas right back to the warning track about 350 feet from home plate.
Now time is called as Landrup and Diaz, Zimmer, and Neal all talk it over with Bob Moorehead on demand.
Larry Jackson, the right-handed batter, stepping in the batter's box.
Score of the game, five to three St. Louis, bottom half of the fourth inning.
Minnesota now has gone out in front of Kansas City, three to nothing, top of the fifth inning.
Moorehead catches with a curveball, strike one to Jackson.
No balls, one strike.
Jackson, the right-handed batter, slider outside, ball one, one ball, one strike.
Cardinals score two in the first.
The Vets tied it up with two in the top of the third, and the Cardinals went out in front in the bottom of the third with three.
And Gil Hodges made it five to three with his first home run of the 62 season, number 362 in his career.
One-one pitch in the air to shallow center field, coming on his atch for it, and he's signaling.
He's there and makes the catch.
And that does it in the fourth for the St. Louis Cardinals, three up and three down.
The score at the end of the fourth, the St. Louis Cardinals five, the New York Mets three.
And now as we move to the fifth inning of the ball game, here is Bob Murphy.
And out here is the summary over the first four innings.
First, the line score for the Cardinals, five runs on eight hits.
They've had only one man left on.
For the New York Mets, three runs on five hits.
The Mets have had four left on.
Roger Craig in three innings, gave up five runs, eight hits, walked, nut, and struck.
And I want to mark the first time since the beginning of spring training that Craig has been hit hard.
Larry Jackson in four innings has given up three runs on five base hits.
For the New York Mets, Charlie Neal, Frank Thomas, and Gil Hodges have driven home the runs.
And for the St. Louis Cardinals, Stan Musial has driven two runs in.
Kenny Boyer won, Bill White won, and Manny Monoso won.
Tonight after the game, the New York Mets will be flying back to New York via their chartered airliner.
They are all very excited about the big welcome and the big reception in the form of the parade down lower Broadway
and the welcoming from Mayor Wagner at City Hall tomorrow about noon.
After that, the New York Mets will go out to the Polo Grounds to familiarize themselves with the Polo Grounds
and the workout to get all set for the home opener Friday against Pittsburgh.
Remember now, tickets are on sale at Grand Central Station, 42nd and Vanderbilt,
the Long Island Waiting Room of the Penn Station and the Polo Grounds.
Ticket reservations may be made at all Howard Closed stores.
In the fifth inning, it's Felix Mantilla leading off against Larry Jackson.
He starts him off with a curve, but it bends outside and low. One ball and no strikes.
Felix has grounded out, third to first. His last time up, he drew a walk and later scored on a long outfield fly by Frank Thomas.
Now Jackson cranks up, down comes the pitch. A strike on the outside corner. One ball, one strike.
One thing that has looked good already for the New York Mets has been the fact that the three men
being counted on by Casey Stengel to provide a long ball, Frank Thomas, Gus Bell, and Gil Hodge,
is all three have hit a long one.
Inside and low to Mantilla, he lays off of it, two balls and a strike.
Thomas hit a ball very deep to center field. That was a sacrifice fly, scoring Mantilla.
Gil Hodge is, as you would expect Gil to do, a great old pro, building a home run in his first game as a New York Met.
And Gus Bell hit one deep to right field that Musial backed up today.
Pitching two and one. Call strike on the outside corner. He picked off the outside edge with that good slider.
The count is even now at two and two. Charlie Neal on deck and then Frank Thomas.
The Mets two runs behind as they hit on the top of the fifth inning.
Nobody on, nobody out. Top half of the fifth. Larry Jackson pitching two and two.
A drive in the air to center field coming in is Kurt Flood and he makes the catch for the out.
Hit line drive straight away by Mantilla.
Charlie Neal, six year veteran.
Flax and foul off to the right up over the roof and out of play on the count of strike one.
Charlie came to the New York Mets in a deal involving Lee Walz.
He paid $125,000 per Lee Walz in the expansion draft and traded him on to the Dodgers to get the valuable Charlie Neal.
Neal's lifetime batting average after six years is 265.
Inside and high. One ball, one strike.
Rookie right hander Ray Washburn may get the starting call from Johnny Keene to pitch the second game for the Redbirds
The Chicago Cubs open the home season in Chicago.
One-one delivery. A high fly ball. It's deep to left field. Back to the nose.
Back to the wall. It is going to his down on a home run.
Charlie Neal is around third and on the way home with a home run in the left field.
Now it's five to four. The Mets trailing by just one run.
Charlie Neal really tied into that one.
For Charlie Neal, he now has two for three as not two runs in.
The ball ending about a third of the way up in the left field bleacher.
Frank Thomas takes a strike on the outside corner.
The ball went over the green barrier at the 358 foot mark and left.
Three years ago in 1959 when the Dodgers won the pennant, Charlie had 19 home runs and knocked 83 runs in.
Jackson Winding, here's his pitch. Swing at a foul. Hips strike two to Frank Thomas.
Now Johnny Keene has sent the sign to the Redbird bullpen and Ernie Burleo is starting to loosen up.
Ernie Burleo, a 20-game winner a year before last, is loosening up down the bullpen for the Redbirds.
It's a five to four ball game. The Mets one behind.
Outside and low. One ball, two strikes on Frank Thomas.
Frank Oper one has grounded out short to first.
In the third inning, he knocks a run in with a long fly to deep center field.
Larry Jackson working ahead of the batter.
A ground ball raked down to third. Ken Boyer charging in, boosts the ball and Thomas is on.
It'll be an error charge to third baseman Ken Boyer and Frank Thomas gets a life.
And now the Mets have the tying run on and Gus Bell coming up.
Gus became the first New York Mets to get a base hit when he singled a center field in the second inning.
And he puts Dan Muzeal right up against a barrier in right field in the third inning to take in his long drive.
The left hand hitters have always loved a short porch and right here in St. Louis.
The porch is covered by a screen and anything off the screen is in play.
Down comes the pitch. An overhand fastball in the outside corner of Carl Strang.
Two home runs by the New York Mets by Gil Hadgison and by Charlie Neal.
Bill White holding against the baserunner Frank Thomas.
One away. The pitch a little bit low. One ball, one strike to Gus Bell.
Now Gus checking with Sally Hemas. Sally on the lines at third. Cookie Lavagento coaching at first.
Larry Jackson looking into Gene Oliver to get his fan. He outfield deep and around toward right.
Here's the pitch on the way. An off speed delivery taken outside and low. Two balls and one strike.
Gus Bell, a 12-year veteran. Gus after 12 years of the National League has a lifetime average of 284.
He's hit an even 200 homers.
Next pitch to him, a high fly ball into left center field.
Manny Mendoza moves over. Manny's under it and he makes the catch for the out. There are two away.
Two down now on the top half of the fifth inning and coming up will be Gil Hontu.
Gil hit a home run. The ball traveling high up into the left field. He's just his last time up.
And for Gil it will be 362nd of his career.
The all-time home run derby.
Babe Ruth, Jimmy Fox, Ted Williams, Mel Atts, Lou Gehrig, Stan Musial, Duke Snyder, Mickey Mantle,
Eddie Matthews, Ralph Kanner, and then Gil Hodges.
Outside and low at ball one.
Ernie Burley, oh, heating up in the booth end for the Redbirds. The Mets not drilling by just a run
and they have Thomas representing that tying run on first. There are two men away.
Larry Jackson makes the one-second stop. Now the pitch.
Hits foul off the big end of the bat. One ball, one strike on Gil Hodges.
Tom Summer waiting in the on-drag circle hoping that Gil can save him a turn at bat here on the top of the fifth inning.
Now Frank Thomas edging away from first.
Burley Ogotai over in the hole and short against Hodges.
Foul back into the mesh. No play on the count one and two on Gil.
Gil just very recently celebrated his 38th birthday.
Certainly one of the class gentlemen in the history of the game.
Now Dean Oliver, a crash behind the plate, sets up the target.
The one-two delivery. Foul tipped.
Ball cannot be handled by Dean Oliver and Hodges stays in the hole with a count of one ball, two strikes.
Manager Johnny Keene pulling all the stops as Ernie Burley, oh, getting ready in the bullpen.
Cardinal five of the Mets four top of the fifth inning.
Jackson working very deliberately. Now he's up in pitching position.
A round comes to the right arm, swing and a mercy struck him out.
Second strike out for Larry Jackson as he gets Gil Hodges.
One run, one hit, one error and one left on.
So he's come halfway and at the end of four and a half innings the short out to Cardinal five and the New York Mets four.
And now here's a turn. Now before Kurt Flood steps in to hitting the last of the fifth, we step out for station identification.
At the eight-tenth spot on your radio dial, this is WGY Sky today.
Bob Murphy with Lindsey Nelson and Ralph Keiner.
It's the last half of inning number five now with center fielder Kurt Flood.
Cardinal Lidoff, batter facing, blonde right-hander Bob Moorhead.
Blazing fastball that Nick DeBatt-Hannell just ticked it right into Opie's club, strike one.
Ball was out of the strike zone, but as Kurt Flood was falling away from the plate at Nick DeBatt-Hannell.
Billy and Javier is on deck and then Bill White, the top trio in the Redbird batting order, home half of the fifth inning.
Wind up by Moorhead, down comes his pitch and it's fouled off the fifth back of stairs and out of play.
Hey, real good grab up here in the Skyview seats by one of the outfielders.
Bob Moorhead who pitched to Jersey City the last two years, he was a real sleeper in spring training for the New York Mets.
He pitched himself right onto the ball club.
And the other pitchers, particularly the veterans, are very high on this hard-throwing young right-hander's chances.
The two-strike pitch, round ball hit toward short, it may go through the hole, it does for a base fifth.
Mantilla tried to break and go over in the hole for the backhand play, but it was beyond his reach.
And Flood is on with his second hit of the game.
That is the ninth hit of the game for St. Louis.
And it brings up Hilly and Javier.
Javier, the speedy second baseman, has two for two going.
He's singled the left field in the first, later scored, has singled in the third inning, and later scored.
Now Javier, after reaching the batter's box, turns and goes back to get the rosin bag.
This is one of those rather chilly nights and a good night to work with a big-handled bat
because when you're working with those slender bat-handles, it can be a little bit painful.
Don Zimmer moving in close at third. It's a five-to-four game. The Redbirds lead by one.
Flood, a fast man, leads it off first. Here's the pitch.
Ground ball tapped down the first baseline, and it is a fair ball.
Hodges up and it steps on the bag.
This is going to bring on an argument.
Bill White charging up in the on-deck circle challenges Tom Gorman about it.
Both on-fairs, Tom Gorman and Bill Joukowsky, waiting until the last moment to see when
Gill handled the ball before making the call.
Flood goes on over to second base.
One man away, and the hitter now is Bill White.
That ball was hit right down the line, not hit very hard.
Gill came up to play it. He was about two steps short on from first base.
Going back to make the inassisted play there on Javier.
Bill White, two-for-two in the game.
The third flood now in scoring position.
White has single to right both times up, driven one run in.
Pitch to him by Moorehead is on-sign, ball one.
Bob Moorehead pitched winter baseball, and he reported the spring training in top shape.
Oftentimes a pitcher will not work too many innings in the winter circuits,
but Moorehead was a busy pitcher down there.
The outfield deep and around toward right against Bill White, who has good power.
The kick of the leg, down comes the arm.
A high infield pop-up out toward second base.
Mantilla right behind second, takes it for the out.
Now there are two away on the last half of inning number five, and here comes Stan the Man.
Stan wasting no time to continue to write his name into the National League record books.
He doubled in the third inning and later scored on the base hit by Manny Monoso, and when he did,
it marked 1,859 runs scored by Stan the Man to tie the all-time National League record held by Mel I.
Musial two for two in the game with two runs batted in. Ball one outside and low.
We'll give you a complete rundown of the scores of the other games at the end of the inning.
Now Bob Moorehead, the 24-year-old right-hander from LaMallion, Pennsylvania, gets his sign from Hobie Landry.
Kirk Flood leading off second two men down, the Pitch to Musial.
Outside and low, ball two, two and oh.
They have run into rain down in Houston, and that game is being held up.
They played three innings before the rains came, so that is not an official ball game as yet.
Bob Moorehead behind on the count to Stan Musial two and oh.
Cardinals lead five to four, last half of the fifth inning.
Ball three, Musial laying off of it and now it's three and oh.
Kenny Boyer on deck and then Manny Monoso.
Roger Craig worked the first three innings. Roger gave up five runs, eight hits.
Bob Moorehead has now hurled one and two-thirds innings, allowing no runs, one hit.
Now Moorehead with three-oh delivery. Ball four, it's inside Musial once.
He's first down a breaking ball on three and oh, and now that brings up the right-hander, Ken Boyer.
Boyer was robbed of a hit on a fine fielding effort by Don Comber in the third inning, so Boyer is 0 for 2 in the game.
Led the Cardinals attack last year, hitting 329.
And now young Bob Moorehead will be working hard to get the Cardinals out and keep the Mets close in this game, a trail by one.
Two home runs in the game, both hit by the Mets by Charlie Neal and by Gil Hodges.
Bob Moorehead taking his time, now looks back to check the lead runner, Kurt Flood.
Flood leading off second, Musial off first. Gil Hodges back at fielding depth on the outfield around toward left.
Here's the pitch by Moorehead, way outside a breaking ball. One ball and no strikes on Ken Boyer.
Frank Thomas in left field is deep against Boyer, pulled a bit over toward the line.
Pitch by Moorehead, inside and low, and he gets behind on Boyer, 2 and 0.
Now Casey Stengel comes up toward the top of the dugout to give things a serious glance.
Now Bob Moorehead is up in the pitching position. Two runners take a lead, down comes the pitch way outside.
Hope he had to go off, he's right for that one.
And suddenly the plane has started to move around on Bob Moorehead and he goes behind 3 and 0 on Boyer.
He walked Musial on four pitches.
He has a tough hitter coming up in Minimanoso.
Pitching 3 and 0. Strength 1 call, 3 and 1.
Now Kenny Boyer turns his head to check with his manager, Johnny Kean, who runs his ball club off the coaching lines at third.
Let's keep a close eye on the runners now and see if Johnny Kean puts the play off.
Flood leading off second, Stan Musial leading off first, two men down.
Redbirds 5 and the Mets 4 here in the last half of the fifth inning.
Now Moorehead is in agreement with Hobe Landry. The runners take a lead.
Here's the pitch on the way. A line drive, it's deep toward right field, it's hit toward the 3, it's bouncing off the 3.
Flood is coming in to score. Musial will be held up at third by Johnny Kean.
And it's a double for Kenny Boyer to the opposite field.
Ken Boyer hitting a 3-1 pitch, a line drive against the screen in right field. Ball was hit over toward the line. Bell had no chance whatsoever.
Musial goes around to third and now it is 6-4. The Cardinals out in front.
Runners on second and third, two men down, Minimanoso up.
And here is a mighty big spot in this ball game for the New York Mets.
Minimanoso single to right his last time up.
Moorehead out of his windup, down comes the pitch. Too high is ball one.
Kenny has one for two, has knocked one run in.
He's single to right, scoring Musial in the third inning, but when he swept too far around,
the ball was cut off by Gil Hodges and they got him in the ensuing run down with Don Zimmer coming all the way from third over to first.
He gets the throw from Charlie Neal and tag Aminoso as he was trying to get back into first.
Foul to cut back at Barrett and out of play. One ball, one strike on Minimanoso.
The Cardinals now have six runs on 10 hits, the New York Mets four runs on six base hits. But here is a key spot here.
Cardinals lead by two and they'd like to lead by four. They have two in scoring position.
Moorehead cranks up, down comes the pitch. Inside, taken across the runners by Minimanoso, two balls and a strike.
Now Hobey will go out and have a talk with Bob Moorehead.
Minimanoso, a real baseball warrior, right hand batter hitting out of that crotch.
He hangs out over the inside corner of that plate.
Bob Moorehead winds, down comes the pitch. Strike, a good fastball on the outside edge.
And now the count is even at two and two on Minimanoso.
Stan Musial leading off third, Ken Boyer off second.
Two men down as Moorehead checks in with Hobey Landry. The infield and the outfield straight away.
Pitching two and two. Ball three, it's up high and the spring is now three and two.
Gene Oliver is waiting on deck.
Full count three and two on Minimanoso. The wind up by Moorehead, here's the pitch. He's stuck in out swinging.
Beauty of a breaking ball thrown by Bob Moorehead and in a real clutch spot, he fans a tough hitter in Minimanoso.
For the Cardinals in their half of the fifth inning, they score one run on two hits. No errors and two were left on.
At the end of five, the score in St. Louis is the Redbirds' six and the New York Mets four on Taylor, the losing pitcher.
Dan Zimmer leading off, taps a slow grinder down to third. Boyer up with it. The long throw to White is in time and Zimmer's out.
One away on the top of the sixth inning and that brings up Hobey Landry.
Rounding out the American League schedule, Detroit and Washington reigned out in the nation's capital.
After five and a half innings, Camilo Pasquale has Kansas City shut out with the Minnesota Twins leading the A's three to nothing.
Hobey 0 for 2 in the game, has flied to center and flied to left. His last time up he had a hard line drive into the seats but it was fouled by about 15 yards.
Strike one call, Larry Jackson wheeling it right in there.
Went out nobody on top of the sixth inning, Mets drilling by two.
Right hander Larry Jackson, winds and pitches and it's popped up off the fifth back toward the backstop.
Hoping for a play is Gene Oliver but it's going to be out of his reach.
Gene Oliver giving that one a chase all the way to the backstop but it was out of his reach.
Now Casey Stengel has sent the sign to the bullpen and Herb Mofford will start loosening up.
Herb Mofford who last year was a 15 game winner with the Rochester Red Wings and the International League is cranking up in the mid-bullpen under the supervision of Red Ruffing.
Bob Moorhead is scheduled up next.
A ground ball passed the bat going to his right, Javier, he's up with it, throws the white in time and there are two down.
Moorhead almost up the middle but Javier was playing, hoping to hit the ball up the middle so he went gliding to his right to handle the grounder and throw him out.
Now there are two away, nobody on, Bob Moorhead is scheduled up and Moorhead will come up the bat.
Bob Moorhead stepping in for his first time at bat.
Bob now has pitched two innings, allowed one run, given up two hits.
Pitched by Larry Jackson, he's outside and low, ball one.
Well the Mets will not be in St. Louis again for almost three months.
The next time they play here, very late July about the 27th, call strike on the outside corner.
Of course with the expansion in the National League you now visit the other cities only three times.
And it becomes increasingly important to try and get the games in in the threatening weather.
The 1-1 pitch and he pops the ball up out towards second base.
Who's going to get it?
Coming in is Goatie and Javier and Javier makes the catch on the edge of the infield grass in front of second.
Larry Jackson puts together his strongest inning of the entire ball game as he gets the tail end of the batting order in order.
No runs, no hits, no errors, then left on.
At the end of five and a half innings to score, the St. Louis Cardinals 6 and the New York Mets 4.
Last half of the sixth inning, the Redbirds will have the tail end of their batting order coming up against Bob Moorhead
with Gene Oliver, Julio Goatie, and Larry Jackson.
Right after the game the Mets fly back to New York and they're all certainly looking forward to the big welcome in New York.
Parade down lower Broadway and the reception at City Hall.
Festivities highlighting about noon.
Gene Oliver 0 for 2 in the game, right hand hitter.
Line drive, hits deep down the left field line running for it is Frank Thomas.
He won't be able to get it.
It's in for a base and he grabs it on a hop.
The throw coming in, relay towards second, not in time. A double for Gene Oliver.
Cardinals wearing their hitting shoes in this game tonight.
Gene Oliver getting his first hit, a double down the left field line.
That brings up the shortstop, Julio Goatie.
He's 0 for 2 in the game. Thrown out by Don Zimmer and thrown out by Charlie Neal.
That is the third hit given up in relief by Bob Moorhead.
Last half of the sixth. Cardinals 6, Mets 4.
Out of stretch by Moorhead, they look for the button.
A full swing and a foul ball, wafted back upstairs and out of play.
Gil Hodges and Don Zimmer both anticipating a possible sacrifice button.
Larry Jackson on deck. Jackson has been up twice and both times hit fly balls, one extremely deep.
He made a strong bid for a home run back in the second. Thomas caught the ball up against the barrier.
Now Bob Moorhead makes the one second stop, kicks the leg, delivers.
Ground ball hits the second base. Neal has it to Charlie's leg.
Around third and holding up with Gene Oliver as Charlie Neal cocks that arm to make a throw.
Johnny Keene, coaching on the lines of third, held him up.
It'll be an error charge to Charlie Neal.
Charlie just about had that one in his glove and it slithered off, went through his legs and rolled into short right field.
They showed a lot of respect for Charlie Neal's arm on that one, remembering the great throw he made earlier in the ballgame.
The nail, Bill White at home plate.
And so now the situation becomes serious for the New York Mets.
Runners on first and third, nobody out.
The infield getting together with Bob Moorhead to go over the possibilities.
Luleo Gotay reaching safely on the air.
Oliver had broken from second across toward third and Charlie was perhaps stinking her glass to see if he had any possibility for a play on him.
Now the Mets defensively will have to be alive for anything as Jackson steps in.
Runners on first and third, nobody out.
Zimmer even with the bag at third. Here's the stretch.
And the pitch on the way, full swing and a missed strike one.
Jackson over two, flying to deep left field, flying to center.
Right hand hitter.
Charlie Neal and Felix Mantilla set up a double play-dip.
Hodges holds against the runner.
Gotay and Zim is even with the bag, wide of the line at third.
The outfielders playing toward the alleys.
Here's the pitch on the way.
Foul, back upstairs and out of play.
That time both Gil Hodges and Don Zimmer felt that the squeeze play might be on and they broke for home.
Now Moorhead working with a two-strike count on Larry Jackson.
Center fielder, Kurt Flood on Decker and Julian Javier.
Crowd reaction in the background, that foul ball lodged itself just beyond the reach of one of the fans.
He was really trying to make his arm stretch out to get it.
Moorhead ready, delivers, and it's a fly ball.
It's a short center field. It may go in for a base hit.
Here comes Baggford.
What a spin for a Texas League hit.
The play of Blanger Fox to third, not in time.
And on to second on the throw goes Larry Jackson.
Ashburn tried for go-tie and went from first to third.
On the attempt to get go-tie at third, Jackson takes second on the throw to third.
And now the Cardinals have a three-run lead, seven to four.
Runners on second and third, nobody out.
Give Larry Jackson a base hit, a Texas Ligger into shallow right center field.
And now the sign goes down for Herb Mofer to start warming up again.
So Larry Jackson gets a run batted in.
And the hitter is Kirk Flood.
Flood has two for three in the game, both singles in the third and again in the fifth.
Has scored twice.
And now the Mets are bringing the infield up tight.
The runners on second and third, nobody out.
Go-tie on third, Jackson leading off second.
Bob Moorhead into his lineup.
Now the pitch.
And it's fouled.
Off to the right it will be out of play.
Every player in the Cardinal batting order has hit safely with the exception of Julio Goatay.
Moorhead winding the pitch on the way, just a little bit low.
One ball, one strike.
Kirk Flood, who hit.322 last year, facing Bob Moorhead with the infield drawn in tight.
A defensive move that always places the hitter at an advantage for something you have to do in this spot.
Pitching one and one.
And the ball is hit high in the air to right side field and it's deep.
Back to Gus Bell.
He's getting there.
Gus takes the catch and deep right center.
Goatay tags and comes in to score.
And Jackson goes from second over to third after the grab.
That was a long one to right center field, run down by Gus Bell.
Goatay coming in.
Give Kirk Flood a run batted in.
Six of the Cardinals now have knocked a run in.
Two runs are in here in the last half of the sixth inning and the Cardinals now have a four-run lead.
They are out in front eight to four.
Only one away, Jackson on third so the infield remains in close as Julio and Javier steps in to hit.
Javier of the second baseman, right-hand batter, has two for three in the game.
Has scored twice.
Moorhead winds and pitches.
And there's strike one called.
Baylor with eight and that's four last half of the sixth inning.
Now Bob Moorhead as he's signed from Hobie Landriff.
The wind up and pitch, a pitch out, nothing was on.
Hobie Landriff thought he'd sent something going in the form of a squeeze and he had Moorhead pitch out.
One ball and one strike.
Now Javier is out of the batter's box, getting together on the signs with his manager, Johnny Keene, who's on the lines at third.
Larry Jackson, the runner on third, one down.
Moorhead with the full wind up, down comes the pitch.
Again they pitch out and it was the base running perhaps of Larry Jackson that caused the message to feel that the squeeze might be on.
He came breaking down that line and slammed on the brakes.
Two balls and a strike now on Javier.
Enfield in, two balls and a strike on Javier.
Javier deep in the box, spins from the waist.
Foul ball coming back toward our broadcast booth and out of play.
They got us two and two.
Now Javier asks for time and gets out of the batter's box.
That's trying to pin Jackson on third as Moorhead cranks up.
The 2-2 pitch, a drive here hard and the left field for a base hit.
That brings Jackson into score and Javier is out his third into the game.
And now it's 9-4 in favor of the Redbirds.
And before Bill White comes up to hit, let's pause for station identification.
At the 8-10 spot on your radio dial, this is WG Wise Connect today.
Bob Murphy with Lindsay Nelson and Ralph Kiner from St. Louis where the Red Hot Redbirds have widened their lead now to 9-4.
It's been a real team effort for the Cardinals. Seven of their nine players now have knocked in a run.
Musial and Boyer each have driven in two.
Three runs are in here in the last half of the sixth inning. It's now 9-4 and the hitter is Bill White.
White has two for three in the game and he's driven home a run.
Strong left-hand hitter waiting.
There goes the runner swinging about the pick by Hobie. The fly, the ball hits him in the back.
Javier is out his way to third.
Javier goes on to third with a low throw, stuck him in the back and Jaron down in the left field.
So it'll be a stolen base for Javier and an error charge to Hobie Landry.
Stolen base by Javier. An error charge to Hobie on the low throw that hits the runner and went out in the left field
enabling him to scramble to his feet and go on to third.
Run away, a runner on third. The batter is Bill White.
Morehead winds and pitches.
A high fly hit down the left field line. It's twisting toward foul ground.
Ampard is done her and it's beyond the reach of Dab and it lands in foul ground and out of play.
Down the left field line, Don Landrum, very fine defensive outfielder.
It is warming up his arm so we may see him in action defensively.
The Cardinals breaking through for three runs here in the sixth inning.
They have a runner on third with one down and they now lead nine to four.
Dan Musial on deck and then Ken Boyer.
Let's have the left side of the infield up and the right side of the infield back against Bill White.
Inside and high. One ball, two strikes.
Bob Morehead got off impressively when he came into the game.
He got them out of order in the fourth inning.
Gave up one run in the fifth inning and has given up three here in the sixth.
Now the one-two pitch. Two high and it's two and two on Bill White.
In the opener at the Polo Grounds on Friday, either Al Jackson or Sherman Road Black Jones
will be pitching for the New York Mets against Pittsburgh.
The Pirates were rained out of their game today with the Phillies.
They won yesterday on a shutout by Bob Brent.
A high fly ball hit down the right field line.
Jeff Bell moving toward the line is getting under it.
Javier Tags up. To catch his face, here comes Javier. Here comes the throw.
Sacrified fly for Bill White.
That gives White his second RBA. It's a four-run inning now for the Redbirds.
And they lead the New York Mets by a score of 10-4 in the last of the sixth inning.
Now Stan Musial is the seventh man up of the inning.
Stan comes up with two down and the base is clear.
Stan has a perfect night going with two for two and a walk.
Right in there on a breaking ball. Strike one call.
Musial has single to left, driving in a run.
Double to right, driving in a run and drawn a one.
Inside, driving him back from the plate. One ball, one strike.
They have not resumed as yet in the ball game down at Houston.
Houston led two to nothing at the end of three when it started to rain.
More heads pitch to Musial. A line drive hit hard toward the right field corner.
Bell is after it. Can't make the catch. It breaks off his glove after he dives for it.
Musial has only played a second to throw. The slide.
Out of second base.
Gus Bell to Felix Mandilla.
Gus throwing to the deep right field corner and Musial is out.
A great throw by Gus Bell from the right field corner and Musial is out trying for a double.
The fake coming in to Felix Mandilla.
Throw in the sixth inning. The Cardinals score four runs.
Four hits. Two errors. And nobody left on.
At the end of the sixth, the score now, the Cardinals nine and the Mets four.
So we'll be going along to the seventh inning and stepping in now to carry us along to the seventh inning.
And the remainder of the way, it's always a real pleasure to introduce Lindsey Nelson.
Thank you very much Bob Murphy. The Cardinals that time hopping on young ball foreheads for a big inning.
Getting four here to stretch their lead on opening night in St. Louis.
And New York Mets will be coming out here in the top half of the seventh inning with Richie Ashbrim, Felix Mandilla, and Charlie Neal coming up.
In case you've joined us along the way, Larry Jackson started for the St. Louis Cardinals and he has come all the way.
Only one of those four runs was earned in that inning as the Mets committed two errors.
And Don Landrum has gone into right field now in place of Stan Musial.
Don Landrum relieving Stan the man. Forty-one year old Stan Musial being relieved by Don Landrum as we go to seventh inning.
So in case you're keeping a scorecard, insert Landrum in the cleanup slot in place of Musial in your Cardinal batting order.
And now Richie Ashbrim is up to lead off for the New York Mets.
Here's the pitch. He tries to bun it and fouls it off for strike one.
Richie Ashbrim trying to get out anyway, trying to use his speed, trying to dump the ball down to third baseline.
That brought Ken Boyer and Addy Gallup from his position at third.
However, it went foul and Richie Ashbrim comes back.
Ashbrim is one for three. He flied to center, single a left and got it out to first base.
He's scored one run this evening also.
Again, Larry Jackson into the windup. Pitch goes outside for ball. It's one and one now.
Landrum in right field. Don Landrum in right field.
Larry Jackson looking to get the sign from rookie catcher Gene Oliver.
Here's the one-one pitch and it's in there for a call of strike two.
Bob Gibson and Ernie Brolio throwing in the bullpen now for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Bob Gibson and Ernie Brolio are both right-handers.
Ashbrim has fouled out.
Gene Oliver, the rookie catcher, came back about as far as he could go,
hitting into the barrier on one end of the ball.
So there's one away on Felix Mantia. Right-hand batter's coming up.
He has been up twice officially without a hit. He drew one walk here and scored one run.
One man out, nobody on. That's Jackson. Wines and fires.
That's a drive down the left field on a base hit. Could be for extra bases.
Mantia turns first, hits for second.
The ball relays at any stroke. There's the third base going in.
Standing in second is Mantia with a double down the left field line.
That is the first hit of this season of 1962 for shortstop Felix Mantia on behalf of the New York Mets.
They have a runner at second. One man out and Charlie Neal coming up.
Neal flat to right, single to drive in a run and hit a home run.
Two for three. Has driven in two runs. Had one sparkling play in the field.
Charlie Neal to right-hand batter.
Hitch goes outside for a ball.
One ball and no strikes to count to Neal.
Mantia leads off the bag at second.
They play Neal pretty much straight away as far as the outfield is concerned.
Here's a drive going straight away into center field, hopping in for a base hit.
Great foot up for the ball. Holding it third is Felix Mantia.
The throw is cut off up the mound by first baseman Phil White.
The cutoff man coming across to take blood's throw.
And Mantia held it third by cutting it off, of course.
It prevented Charlie Neal from bashing on the throw.
So Neal has his third base hit of the night, a single to center.
Mantia has moved to third. The Mets have runners at first and third one man out.
Mike Thomas is coming up.
The score is ten to four. The Cardinals leading here in the top half of the seventh inning.
In St. Louis, Missouri, opening night.
Mantia leads at third.
Charlie Neal's still on the bag at first, waiting until Larry Jackson has the time.
Now Neal takes his lead. The stretch position at the mound and the pitch.
Brown ball going to Jackson. He plays the second for one.
The relay to three. Double play.
The tie to three players.
Mike Thomas in double play.
It goes one to four to three if you're scoring it.
Julianne Javier was playing over behind the bag on goal hit of Mike Thomas.
Took the relay and right on across for the double play.
So in the top half of the seventh inning, the New York Mets get no runs on two hits, no errors, and one man left.
So at the end of sixth and one half innings of play, the score is St. Louis Cardinals 10-4.
Well, it's the seventh inning stretch again. A lot of the folks here are getting up and stretch.
I wonder what the fans back in New York are doing, Ralph.
Well, that's easy, Lindsey. Out there a good many of them are stretching out for glasses of Reingold Extra Drive.
Ah, sure enough. And comes the seventh inning or any inning, more fans stretch out for Reingold than for any other beer.
Oh, that's sure enough. And Reingold, you know, is New York's favorite beer.
Yes, sir. It's very easy to see why. In fact, dry tells you why.
Yes, extra dry tells you why Reingold is beer as beerers should say.
Crisp and bright, clean, clear through. Reingold is rude of the choice.
It's ingredient, rude to long, slow, costly away.
That's what makes Reingold Extra Drive such a wonderful beer.
Wonderful because it's so much more refreshing. More refreshing because it's extra dry. Right, Ralph?
Right, Lindsey? So folks, why not enjoy a fine cold glass of Reingold along with our time enduring?
Join the millions who say, my beer is Reingold, the dry beer.
Now the New York Huts have got Herb Moffitt on in relief for Bob Moyad.
Herb Moffitt, a right-hander and veteran Major League performer, is in now.
On the mound, firing in the warm-up tosses to Hobie Langdon.
So Bob Moyad went a total of three innings in which he gave a five run.
On six hits, he struck out one and he walked one.
Now Herb Moffitt is in.
And we'll be facing Ken Boyer, the third baseman.
Boyer, grounded on third to first, grounded on third to first,
and here's that double to right field driving a run in the fifth inning. That's big flow.
Hobbit's first pitch is on the way and it's in there for a cost strike.
Hobbit's at side armor and left the wheel out there and pitch out of the uniform.
And we're facing big Ken Boyer.
There's a wind-up and a pitch.
Directly at Neal and he's out. Charlie Neal taking the line drive off the bat of Ken Boyer.
And it's one away and that will bring up Mini Minoso.
Herb Moffitt.
Herb Moffitt initially came to the Major League with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1955.
Later he was with the Detroit Tigers in 1958.
Here's Big Minoso joining the strike line.
And Moffitt was with the Boston Red Sox in 1959.
Last year he was with Rochester where he won 15 games for our 13.
Herb Moffitt, not pitching.
Here's Big Minoso on a high-mounted ground ball to the shortstop.
He throws to Hodgson time and he's out.
Minoso hitting a pounding ball into the hole but shortstop Mancia went to his right, came up with it,
fired on to get a little Hodgson time to the outside.
So they're two men away and that brings up Gene Oliver.
Ricky Ketchum made a side catch and a fly off ball all back against the barrier a moment ago.
And he gets the hand as he comes up.
He's struck out.
And short and double and scored one run.
Moffitt is looking in to get the sign from Ketchum Holylander.
That time's away outside football.
Moffitt is 31 years old.
Wines and fires, side-armed again and a general strike.
It's 1-1.
We're in the bottom half of the seventh inning here in St. Louis.
Opening night of the 1962 season.
Ten teams in the National League.
Here's a 1-1 pitch.
He checks it and takes it outside for ball two. It's 2-1.
And he's early on. Bob Gibson still throwing in the bullpen.
Four of the St. Louis Cardinals as they lead by a score of 10-4 over the New York Mets here.
That pitch goes outside for the ball. It's 3-1.
And the preseason polls, there were a great many experts who picked the St. Louis Cardinals to win the National League.
And in the consensus of all the polls, the Cubs will pick as a very definite contender for the National League Cardinals.
3-1 pitch and has the ball going deep to left.
Penetree going, going, actually.
Got away from Lander at the moment and he ran it down to Snow and Mad.
Louis will get down and know which way to go.
So he's set in and actually the pitch came in behind him as Holylander managed to knock it down.
It's 4-1. The official play-to-tendent here tonight, 16,147.
16,147 on opening night in St. Louis, Missouri.
I believe it's true that it's now off on a play.
One ball and one strike.
Here tonight, Madison Casey Stengel has gone with the pitching that showed up best during the training season in Florida.
Roger Craig with his most understandable starter there and Bob Morhead and Herb Crawford with his most impressive release pitchers during the month or six weeks of training.
Yes, it's drive-out into the glove of Gil Hitches.
It's first to deep down.
Zulio Dutai lining up to Hitches.
It's free and so the St. Louis Cardinals are out in the bottom half of the seventh inning with no runs on one.
Here's Snow and Mad left.
And at the end of seven-four running to play in St. Louis, Missouri.
The score is the St. Louis Cardinals 10-1, the New York Mets 4.
As we go to the top half of the eighth inning, the New York Mets send up Gus Bell as Larry Jackson winds and fires.
The pitch goes half of all one.
So it's been up three times in the second inning.
He's single to right, to right center actually.
They become the first Mets to get a base hit in national league competition.
And the 30 fly to right, we fly to left and the 50.
One to three.
That's your down low football.
Two and on the count now to Gus Bell.
It's all a curse.
Big left hand hitter.
Watch his inside.
Now if he takes his single, that's not enough to get 30.
But here's the opener in New York on Friday.
He says it will be Sherman Jones possibly if his eye has recovered sufficiently.
In Portsmouth, Virginia on Sunday he sent a burning eye.
He did get in it but it's all right.
The end of a match landed in his eye and he's been in class for a couple of days.
But was working out tonight before there was a ball game and said he was about 95% recovered.
So it may very well be Sherman Jones, it's not Al Jackson.
It's a ball four and Gus Bell goes down to first base.
So the New York Mets have a base runner.
That is the second walk given up this evening by Larry Jackson.
He's coming to the plate, Gil Hacke.
He'll hit a home run.
The first New York Mets to hit a home run.
Later in the next inning, Charlene Hill became the second Mets to home run.
That was a 360 second career home run.
Gil Hacke has moved him ahead of Joe DiMaggio in the career home run total.
Only two right hand headers.
History Major League Baseball has hit more home runs than Gil Hacke.
One of them Jimmy Fox, the other Ralph Kiner.
That bitch is outside football.
Ralph Kiner is not likely to be improving on his total since he is with us in the broadcasting booth.
And will be here all season long to bring you the games of the New York Mets.
Gus Bell leads it first.
Larry Jackson checks in.
Here's the pitch.
It's a called strike taken by Gil Hacke.
He looks down to Charlie Hammett, the coach is serious now.
Tuckie Lavagetto is coaching this first.
Tuckie's name of course is pronounced variously around the Major League by ballplayers.
We call him Lavagetto, Lavagetta, all sorts of things.
So we went to him at Miller Huggins Field.
The first day of spring training and said, how do you pronounce your name?
He said Lavagetto.
Now here is the swing and a foul ball on the first base.
Leibnill White's giving it a run and it's going into the stands and not a play.
One ball and two strikes to count.
If Gil Hacke is at the plate.
Gil was 38 years old about a week ago.
He's in his 15th season with the Brooklyn and Lafayette Dodgers.
This is his first game in National League competition in any uniform other than that of the Dodgers.
Here's the ground ball.
It's going foul.
Charlie Hammett fielded the ball at.
The third, the guard holds it one ball and two strikes to Gil Hacke.
That's the play for the New York Mets with Gustav LeBae's on the first.
And nobody out.
Larry Jackson is starting pitching for the Cardinals.
It's still in there.
There's the one-two pitching.
There's the ground ball going to shortstop.
Go down.
He's out to Leilani first.
Double play.
Gil Hacke is hitting a double play.
He's going to strike the second to play.
Julio Gostarva, Julio Anjali and the middle white.
And will bring up God's center.
Well, Zane Lewis-Circle got out of the seventh inning with a double play.
And now the Elites get still on a double play.
A second double play of the night.
And there's the second base combination that caused some concern at the start of the season.
It's just in there for Carl Zeich.
The Cardinals hold up a lot second base.
If shortstop Julio Gostarva holds up.
And if Gene Oliver can have a job defensively behind the plate.
Leilani Lewis-Circle is very definite who will be in the running.
He's swinging a foul ball after that.
God's center and it's strike two there.
Wilmer is single in the second inning.
He's got a second to first and a fourth shot.
And that's George DePurce in the sixth inning.
Top half of the eighth.
He's going to get out.
Here's the swing and the drive going to left.
And no-one's coming in.
He's there and he takes it.
He's got a wide drive.
So a no-one's going left.
And the New York Mets are at the top half of the eighth inning with no runs on, no hits, no errors.
And nobody left.
And at the end of the seventh and one-half inning to play.
The score is the St. Louis Cardinals 10 and the New York Mets four.
Here at St. Louis we'll be going to the bottom half of the eighth inning.
And the St. Louis Cardinals will be setting up picture Larry Jackson,
Green Blood and Julian Harvey here.
Before we get up to last, let's allow our stations to identify themselves.
We pause now for station identification.
At the eighth-down spot on your radio dial, this is WGY.
Let's go back today.
This is Lindsay Nelson with Ralph Kahneman and Bob Murphy in St. Louis, Missouri.
As the New York Mets are meeting the St. Louis Cardinals in an opening night game
with the Mets representing the city of New York back in the National League once again.
And to lead off the St. Louis Cardinals are going to stand up their starting pitch.
The Jews under all the way, Larry Jackson.
And now Slim Levine is coming to pitch for the New York Mets.
Slim Levine, right-hander, Major League veteran, is in to pitch for the New York Mets.
Facing opposing pitcher Larry Jackson.
It goes outside for a ball.
Levine, of course, has had a great many good years with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers.
It's a nice ball, too.
And he went to Detroit and in the 2020 season of 1960,
he was a big, big palace, but Levine, he was a very valuable asset to them.
He was with the Palace again last year.
That pitch goes outside. It is 3-0 now to Larry Jackson.
Byron has a thinker and a true ball.
It's most effective when he gets it down low.
He takes it most of the time. It's a called strike one. It's 3-1.
Three balls in one strike with nobody out and nobody on.
Levine lands and fires and it's a called strike two. 3-2 now.
3-2 pitch and it's a fly ball going out to left center.
Ashbren is coming on. He is called. He's under. He's waiting.
And Ashbren has it for the out.
Larry Jackson has flied to center.
Moffert pitched only one inning in relief for the New York Mets.
Gave up no runs on one here to double the team out of it.
Now leadoff man Kurt Sveta is at the plate.
He's 2-3 in the sacrifice fly. 7-1 run.
Right hand feature. It's a called strike one.
The thing for which Graham Levine is most often remembered is the 10-0 shutout he pitched against the New York Giants
in the playoff at the end of the 1951 season between the Dodgers and the Giants.
He's inside for a ball to flood. And the 10-0 shutout that Levine threw set up the third game in which Bobby Thompson
hit his famed home run at the polo guard to win the tournament in 1951 for Leo DeRosier's New York Giants.
Curve ball inside. It's 2-1.
Two for three on the sacrifice fly. One run better down up there.
One run out and nobody on base for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Then Levine is a putt. New York net pitcher of the evening.
Now full count to Kurt Sveta.
As J'Kasey Stengel said, he wanted to keep Levine and come on him to give him one good inning in relief.
And Levine tried to flag it. It's an error on Felix Manfear. An error choice against Felix Manfear that bounded off his chest. Levine almost flagged it.
Shemin Jones and Al Jackson loosening up in the bullpen.
More of a New York net.
It's a foul ball.
Now it's Johnny Kane of the St. Louis Cardinals and now J'Kasey Stengel of the New York Mets have been loosening up pitchers here this evening. Working them for future appearances.
They're definitely loosening up, getting a little work out with a thought for the future. Now actually, Johnny Kane is going to go a little further with his runner.
He's letting the pitchers down low and solid base.
More trick play.
Actually, Hovlander never did get the throw out. And it's blurred. A speech there with a way in winging and Landers in his haste trying to throw it off his head.
He's going as a stolen base.
Leading a second night trick play. Dancing around out there a little. There's a crew ball coming in low and taken for a ball by Julian Javier. It's two and one.
Kurt Simmons in his Florida. Now throwing in the bullpen for the St. Louis Cardinals. Kurt Simmons, counting on him as it started to work.
And there's Benico Benizel here before last. Working on the bullpen. Two balls, one strike. Counting on Julian Javier with Kurt Flirt leading off the bag at second. Here's the pitch. Change up. Taking inside for ball three. It's three and one.
Will Levine went three and two to Jackson. Got him on a flyer to start it. Went three and two to Flirt. He was saved by an error by shortstop man Theo. Now he's got three and one. He's really on Javier.
Ball in there for a tall strike two. Javier has joined it for his first. Now it's back down. Takes the big end to the bat. Looks around and there's a crowd reaction.
But the count is off to three and two. Cardinals are leading the New York Mets by a score of ten to four here in St. Louis. Joining the Mets was Roger Craig. In case you've joined us along the way, he's been three and he's given five runs on eight hits. Struck out one and walked that.
Craig is a pitcher of record as far as the New York Mets are concerned. Barry Jackson of course, who has been the only pitcher for the Cardinals, is their pitcher of record.
And it's Johnny Kean running the club. Harry Walker coaching it first for the St. Louis Cardinals. Levine is looking in to get the time. Right now Javier is back down to the batter's box again. Now it's full. They're really on Javier. And now, it's just your homie Lamba to try and hatch them out. Have a word with Clem Levine.
Right now it's into the stretch. Javier is setting his pitch and there's a ground ball going to third. It could be trouble.
It's a hit. It's a hit. Well, early on Javier moving Bled to third on the play. The slow roll was down the third base line and the only play that third base was John Semihed with the tips of bare handed. He gave it the attempt but couldn't hang on the ball to roll away from it. Bled came on to third running on the play and so now the Cardinals have run it to first and third. And Bill White is coming up.
And it's a hit number four for second baseman Hillyon Holley. He is four for five for the night. Here's Bill White up. He's two for three and a touch of five fly. Bill White is driven in two runs and scored one. Left hand batter. Careful. Misses outside. Ball wide.
Right now leading by a score of ten to four and threatening here in the bottom half of the eighth inning. One man out.
Going up first. Not in time. Javier getting back safe. Plenty of speed on the bases for the Cardinals. Good detect at the end of the five. He's at least a couple of two nothing. And the check flings foul ball out of play off the end of the bat out of Bill White.
In Los Angeles at brand new Dodger Stadium. At the end of the inning and a half there is no score. There's nothing. There's nothing. There's nothing. Most of all he is doing is just getting ready and Sandy Kopek is pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Going up first. Not in time. The Cubs setting up a try of go go go. They like to see a lot on the bases. One ball one strike to Bill White. One man out.
Going outside. It's ball two. Not a fake. Not a fake shot. But a clear ball pitching outside. And Glenn Levine wants another baseball and gets it.
Houston Cubs 45-2 and the Chicago Cubs heading into the fifth inning of the playoff. Glenn Hubby going for Chicago and Hal Winstead going for the Houston Cubs 45.
Go go go and White keeps up out of the batter's box. They didn't see any of them. They mean Hubby here. They just heard it. They want to see him go with the double steal.
Go ahead and call it. That's your homie Lando. Two balls and one strike to count. White who is talking things over with a by Tom Gorman right now.
The end of the try of go go go. It's set up here in St. Louis. It's two-one for it. And the broken back down ball to second. He has a command fee of a one. He's not in that dollar one.
It's going to bloodthrust in the plate. And it catches a double play. No relay throw. Left hand by the bill White. A broken bat down ball and broken in half as a matter of fact.
Good point crossing the plate with the 11th St. Louis run of the evening. And Don Landrum is coming up now. You'll recall that Landrum replaced Dan Huckey on the end of the semifinal.
He's running in the clean up. He's a left hand batter. As he opened it's going to be over the St. Louis guys.
It's a good catch in there for a called strike. It's going on now. One run in this inning for the Cubs.
It's Landrum's first time up in the ballgame. It goes outside. One and one. Speaking of Landrum opening in center field for the Cardinals last year the New York Mets have a man on the back who opened in center field for the Cardinals. White.
Bobby G. Smith.
It's a short of first not in time. He's back safely. John Thomas playing even though he's back at third against the speed of left hand batter Don Landrum.
It's outside. It's a good one on Landrum. Before he retires in the game this evening Dan Muzeo added three base hits to his great total.
He was 3-3 on a walk and scored one run. It's six and four ball out of play. Sealed in by Harry Walter down first and the coaching staff there. It's just as good to Landrum.
The run that Dan Muzeo scored tied him for the National League record. The run scored the record nine out of Joplin with a late no hot.
Dan Muzeo started the 1962 season his 21st year with the Cardinals tonight holding 35 National League records with a chance to add about seven more.
It's a 2-2 count for Don Landrum. White leads it first. Here's the 2-2 pitch and it's a ground ball to the right side. Sealed in by Gil Hadges. Waves LeBron away. Makes the play unassisted to retire the side. So Don Landrum has gone it out.
He's got one run on one hit, one error and one net left. And at the end of eight full innings of play in St. Louis, Missouri, the St. Louis Cardinals 11 and the New York Mets 4.
There's a fling to the far ball off the bat of Homie Landrum in Deseret's field and Trent Flood is there and makes the catch for the out. One away. So Landrum has flied to center. He's in the top half of the ninth inning. And Jim Marshall is going to be the pet shudder here. Jim Marshall batting for Clem LeBine.
Marshall is a left-hand hitter. Came to the majors with the Baltimore O'Rios, then the Chicago Cubs, then the San Francisco Giants. One was an expansion draft selection of the New York Mets authorized of the San Francisco Giants. Jim Marshall.
So with one man on, Marshall is the pet shudder.
As Larry Jackson lines the buzz, he's come all the way and he's in there for a cold strike.
Here's a good fling to the far ball off the bat of Marshall. So it's a two-strike shot out here.
Larry Jackson taking a moment to resize the new baseball.
Now looking in to get the side. Two strikes to catch to Jim Marshall. Here's the pitch. It misses outside for ball one.
One ball, two strikes. With one man out and nobody on base to mess batting in the top half of the ninth inning of their first game ever in national league competition. Marshall takes the ball. High. Two-two.
Larry Jackson started. He's come all the way for St. Louis. He struck out two and walked two. He is allowed eight hits. Here's the ball ball on the ground, down the right field line and out of play.
In case you have joined us along the way, the St. Louis Cardinals got off and winging with two runs in the bottom half of the first inning off Roger Craig. And what in fact there was a balk. Opening night jitters on behalf of the New York Mets. Moved a couple of runners up in the scoring position. Dan Usiel drove in the first run. Ken Boyer drove in the second.
The New York Mets came on in the top half of the third inning to tie up the ball game as they got two runs on two hits. But then the Cardinals came right back in the bottom half of the third to add three runs and go out in front and have lead since.
They got one in the fifth and four more in the sixth. One in the eighth. Three-two pitch to Marshall. Full foul on the ground and out of play down into the New York bullpen.
They have done two New York home runs this evening. Gil Hodge has had one and Charlie Neal has one.
In the top half of the ninth. Here comes a three-two pitch.
Mrs. Dotsad and Marshall has walked. So the New York Mets have a race runner here in the top half of the ninth. That is the third walk given up this evening by Larry Jackson. And we'll bring up Richie Ashbrink. Richie is one for four. Flied to center, single, grounded out to first and fouled out to the catcher.
Conference at the Mauer has managed Johnny Keene. He's gone out to talk things over with Larry Jackson. Jackson is just starting for the Trinity College free on the area. Johnny Keene turns and runs off the mound.
Right now Jackson is looking M-0-G and Oliver to get the sign as Richie Ashbrink chokes up on the bat. It's an if-or-call strike one. Jim Marshall is the runner at first. Ken Boyer in on the grass at third.
Doesn't feel like a great clutch. Shaded over toward left on left-hand batter Richie Ashbrink. That's the way they play him and Gotay is right in the hole. That's a call strike. Richie Ashbrink trying to duck underneath but Tom Gorman, the young guy behind the plate, says strike two.
The base hit that Richie Ashbrink had in the third inning was a ground ball punched right between Ken Boyer and Julio Gotay. And there was practically no room to punch one because Gotay was as far over in the hole as he could get anyway where he is right now.
Here's the drive going into center field. Big flood moving over, makes the catch. Marshall halfway on the ball ball to turn to return to make it first, no it's bad.
At least Richie Ashbrink had current flood moving because this one was the straightaway center and he was shaded over the left center and had to hustle over there to pull it down.
Two went out and Felix Mantia up there now. Mantia is one for three tonight and with a double he also drew a walk and scored one run.
Don't forget the New York Mets. Immediately after this ball game we'll fly out of New York and tomorrow at about noon time they will be welcomed to the city of New York in a ticker tape parade and they will open up at the Polo grounds on Friday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Parrots.
Here's a fly ball down the right field line. It is foul and it is carrying on over and going out of play. Right fielder Don Landrum gave it the long run but to no avail.
When the New York Mets had to cut down to the 28 player limit to make the trip here to St. Louis they optioned Joe Christopher out to Syracuse.
A three-four hour recall added Rod Canille to the Mets roster. He was on the Syracuse roster. They hope to have Christopher back before long.
At pitch go to five. One and two now to Felix Mantia. Manager Johnny Kean was telling us just before the ball game that the Cardinals had put red chain links on the active player list.
He said he didn't have to cut it. He only hit 27 as it was. Here's a ground ball going down the third base by Ken Boyer up with it. He'll have a fast throw. He's on it.
First base the ball game is over. And Mantia's on it out third to first. Ken Boyer hustling over and flying it on across to Bill White.
And the New York Mets have gone down to the top half of the ninth inning with no runs on, no hits, no errors and one man left.
And that is the end of the ball game. We'll be back in a moment with final tells in the summer. But right now the final score of the ball game, the St. Louis Cardinals 11, the New York Mets four.
And now a word for pipe smokers.