This is Retro Sports Radio. Visit RetroSeasons
.com for more sports history. On April 11, 1964,
the New York Mets faced the Baltimore Orioles
in an interleague exhibition game at Lawrence
Stadium in Portsmouth, Virginia. New York was
managed by Casey Stengel, who was trying to avoid
a third consecutive 100 -loss season for the
Mets. The O's were managed by Hank Bauer in his
first season with Baltimore after managing the
Kansas City Athletics in 1961 and 62. This audio
recording is from the radio broadcast featuring
announcers Bob Murphy, Lindsay Nelson, and Ralph
Kiner. From Portsmouth, Virginia, the New York
Mets are on the air. Today the New York Mets
meet the Baltimore Orioles in their final exhibition
game, brought to you by Rheingold Extra Dry and
Cool Cigarettes. Well, hi, everybody. This is
Bob Murphy with Lindsey Nelson and Ralph Kiner.
Our engineer, Poppy Durkin, all set to bring
you today's game between the New York Mets and
the Baltimore Orioles. You'll enjoy today's game
more if you have plenty of Rheingold Extra Dry
on hand. We hope you've got plenty on ice wherever
you're listening along the Rheingold Beach. Rheingold
is as good to your taste as it is to your thirst
because it's brewed extra dry. Smoother, crisper,
livelier. Rain gold after rain gold. Now we're
approaching game time here in Portsmouth. A good
time for you to light up a cool. Fans enjoy extra
coolness you can feel in your throat. Smoke cool
with a pure white filter. The weather today in
Portsmouth, absolutely beautiful for the final
exhibition game. Not a cloud in the sky, a brilliant
blue sky, a sunny day and the temperature in
the 60s. Right now, Casey Stengel and Hank Bauer
at home plate getting together with the umpires
to exchange the batting order slip. The lineups
and batting orders for today's game. The New
York Mets, the visiting team, will have Dick
Smith at first base. He will lead off. Rod Keneal
in center field hitting second. Ron Hunt flying
third base, batting third. Jim Hickman, the left
fielder, will be the cleanup hitter. Bob Taylor
behind the plate hitting number five. Joe Christopher
in right field hitting sixth. Sammy Samuel playing
second base and hitting seventh. Al Moran will
be at shortstop batting eighth and on the mound
hitting ninth, Tracy Stoller. In front of field
leading off for the birds will be fleet -footed
Jackie Brandt. Louie Aparicio, the shortstop,
hitting second. Big John Powell, the left fielder,
hitting third. Norm Siebern, the first baseman
to hit cleanup. John Orsino, behind the plate,
he will hit number five. Willie Kirkland in right
field hitting sixth. Brooks Robinson, the brilliant
Orioles' third baseman, hitting seventh. Jerry
Adair, the second baseman, batting eighth. And
on the mound, hard -throwing left -hander and
20 -game winner, Steve Barber. Barber pitching
and hitting ninth. The batteries then for today's
game. For the New York Mets, Tracy Stallard on
the mound and Bob Taylor behind the plate. For
the Baltimore Orioles, Steve Barber will handle
the pitching and John Orsino working behind the
plate. The umpires, Luther Muro of the American
League behind the plate, Ed Sudol of the National
League will be at first, and Paul Crawford of
the Stanley League will call the plays around
third. Following today's game, the New York Mets
will be flying to New York. Tomorrow, they will
be given a day off by Casey Stengel as they prep
for the opening of the National League season
against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday
night. And right now, ladies and gentlemen, here
in Portsmouth, which is just across the river
from Norfolk, Virginia, the Marine Corps Color
Guard is coming on the field, and the fans here
in Portsmouth are watching today's ballgame.
We'll be standing in a moment for the playing
of our national anthem and a moment of silence
in respect of the memory of the General of the
Army, Douglas McGrath, who went to his final
resting place this morning in nearby Norfolk,
Virginia. So we'll be waiting for a moment until
the Marine Corps color guard reaches the flagpole
for the ceremony. Over 300 ,000 people crowded
the streets for the procession. The burial of
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, who, as
everyone connected with sports realizes, was
such a tremendous friend of sports throughout
his entire life. Following the game, the Mets
will fly back to New York. They are estimated
to get back to Idlewild around 7 .30 this evening.
They will have tomorrow off. They open the National
League season on Tuesday night against the Phillies,
and the pitchers in the Tuesday night opener
will be Dennis Bennett for Philadelphia and Al
Jackson for the New York Mets, a battle of left
-handers. Bennett, an outstanding young left
-hander, missed the first half of last year due
to an automobile injury, but came back to pitch
very well the second half of the season. Al Jackson
has paced the Mets pitching staff in victories
over their first two years of existence and has
the honor of opening the season for the New York
Mets on Tuesday night. The Mets and Phillies
play again on Wednesday night. Next Thursday
will be an off day. And then next Friday, the
historic opening of beautiful new Shea Stadium,
which will seat 55 ,300 with 96 % of the seats
within the foul line and every seat an individual
seat. Weather permitting, it should be a tremendous
occasion when the Mets and the Pirates open the
new stadium next Friday afternoon in Flushing.
By the way, on Monday, the Jamaica Chamber of
Commerce will honor the New York Mets ball club
with a parade leading the Sadler's Motel at 10
.15 in the morning, parading through Flushing
and Jamaica, and then a luncheon in honor of
the New York Mets at the Whitman Hotel in Jamaica
on Monday noon. So a lot has been planned, and
everything is just about set now for the opening
of the National League season. We will have the
traditional early openers on Monday. Houston
will be opening in Cincinnati in the traditional
early opening for the National League in Cincinnati.
Right now, Steve Barber. has completed his pregame
warm -up tosses, and everyone now here at the
ballpark is waiting for the national anthem and
a tribute to General MacArthur. Here, ladies
and gentlemen, our national anthem. anthem and
the tribute paid to General of the Army Douglas
MacArthur, we approach game time here in Portsmouth,
Virginia with Steve Barber on the mound for the
Oilers. You know, back home in the most spectacular
new Shea Stadium, everything is mighty impressive.
Perhaps the most impressive piece of equipment
is that big Ryan Gould scoreboard. You're going
to really enjoy seeing it. You'll not only see
the score, of course, exactly where the game
stands, but a picture of the batter and where
he stands, his average. And on this scoreboard,
there's another reminder. It says... Rheingold
is as good to your taste as it is to your thirst.
And isn't that exactly what you want a beer to
be? The secret of Rheingold is a very special
way of brewing. Rheingold is brewed extra dry.
Smoother, crisper, livelier. We hope you've got
some Rheingold around right this minute, wherever
you are along the Rheingold Beach. If you do,
well, we don't have to tell you that Rheingold
is as good to your taste as it is to your thirst.
Rheingold after Rheingold. Now, hard -throwing
Steve Barber, a 20 -game winner with the Birds
a year ago, is all set to go, and leading off
in the ballgame against the South Ball will be
Dick Smith. Putting up the Orioles defensively,
Norm Seaburn is at first, Jerry Adair at second,
Louie Amparicio at short, and Brooks Robinson
at third. Now, Barber out of his windup, the
game's first delivery, a slow grounder right
back to the mound, taken by Barber. He throws
to first, one away. In the outfield for the Orioles,
John Powell is the left fielder, Jack Brand in
center, and around and right, Willie Kirkland.
Barber pitching, and Orsino behind the plate.
As the ballplayers say, when they have to go
up and hit against Steve Barber, he'll put bees
in your bat. He really throws hard, and he has
a great sinker. Outfield, the Tacoma Park left
-hander fires. Knee -high fastball for a call
strike. Well, you can tell that the Mets' home
opener in Shea Stadium is just around the corner.
No finer or higher bigger could you hope to detect
than a giant Mets banner up in the top of the
center field bleachers here in Portsmouth. Inside
and low, one ball and one strike. Yes, sir, it's
just about banner time again, and a group of
youngsters here in Portsmouth have a banner that
stretches, oh, I'd say a good 40 feet long, saying,
we love the Mets. On the coaching line for the
New York Mets, Wes Westrom at first base and
Don Hefner at third. Now, Keneal cocks the bat,
leans in and takes. It's outside, 2 -1. Casey
getting his ball club tomorrow off after the
long spring training grind. Probable workout
on Monday and then the opening game Tuesday night
with Jackson pitching against Dennis Bennett.
2 -1 delivery. Ground ball bounced on the right
side of the diamond. Jerry Adair is up with it,
throws on to Sebring, two down. Anytime Barber
has that good finger ball going, you can tell
right off the bat because what comes off the
bat are ground balls. Now two outs and nobody
on. Well, we're delighted to have our statistician
Matt Winnick in our broadcasting booth today.
Matt again this year will be with us, game in
and game out, home and away, night and day across
the land, chronicling the facts and figures of
the New York Mets. who has been shifted over
to third base, batting third in the order, stepping
in against Steve Barber. It's thrown outside
and high, one ball and no strike. Actually, when
the Braves first signed Ron Hunt to a pro contract,
they signed him with the idea of his being a
third baseman. And he played third that first
season. Ron, aggressive tight hitter, right -hand
batter who hit .272 last year. Line drive down
the right field line. A face hit for Ron Hunt.
It's going down into the corner. Being chased
by Willie Kirkland. Ron's on his way to second.
He'll go in standing up with a double down the
right field line. Barber throws hard. A very
difficult pitcher to pull. Ron Hunt's hand to
swing just right. It hit the outside fastball.
A hard line drive right down the right field
line for a double. Now here is Jim Hickman. While
the New York Mets will open the National League
season Tuesday night against the Phillies, the
Orioles will be opening their American League
season against the White Sox in Chicago. Big
banner out in the center of the field says, We
love the Mets. Swing and a miss on a sinker,
strike one. We love EA the Mets. Thank you for
having that banner. We hope we'll see you around
Jay Stadium all summer long. Banner Day last
year in the polo grounds was an amazing sight.
Now the pitch on the way by Barbara Lowe outside.
Orsino has to dig it out. No one can ever accuse
the Mets baseball fans of not being ingenious.
They came up with more slogans, more poems to
back their ball club. and probably helped the
heat industry more than anybody else. Now Hickman
was tied up, but it holds up, and the pitch is
taken out of the strike zone. Two balls and a
strike to Jim Hickman. Jim in left field, batting
cleanup. One of my favorites of the programs
last year among the banners was shortly after
Carmel joined the ball club, Casey then had Duke
Snyder and Duke Carmel. The banners simply said,
Casey, put up your Duke. Ron Hunt is on second
base, two men down. Now Barber off the stretch.
Down comes the left arm, foul ball. He tried
to hold up on the swing and fouled it away. So
the count is even at two balls and two strikes.
Next Friday at Shea Stadium, Guy Lombardo and
his Royal Canadians will provide the pregame
musical entertainment. When the time arrives
for the singing of the national anthem, that
magnificent Metropolitan Opera star Robert Merrill
will sing the anthem. Now Barber up in pitching
position deals two and two, a high fastball,
and the string is out three and two. Nine Hall
of Famers will be on hand for the opening of
Shea Stadium on Friday, including the four new
inductees. By the way, when the new members of
the Hall are inducted in late July this season,
the New York Mets will have the honor of playing
the annual third rematch to the Hall of Fame
against Washington that day. Swing and a miss,
he's struck him out. Hickman goes down swinging
on a high breaking ball. No runs, one hit, no
errors, and one left on. Now the score in the
middle of the first, the Mets nothing, and the
Birds are coming to bat. Last half of the first
inning here in Fort Smith on the mound for the
New York Mets, Tracy Stallard, Bob Taylor behind
the plate. Setting up New York defensively, Dick
Smith will be at first. Sammy Samuel playing
second, Al Moran at short, and playing at third,
Ron Hunt. In the outfield, Jim Hickman is the
left fielder. In center field for the New York
Mets, Rod Keneal and around and right, Joe Christopher.
On the coaching lines for the Orioles, Sherm
Lawler on the lines at first and on the lines
at third, Bill Hunter. Well, last year, both
Dick Wurtz and Sherm Lawler were still playing
Major League Baseball. Both retired at the end
of last year. Now only one player remains active
of the old St. Louis Browns. He'll be in action
against the New York Mets in the opener on Tuesday
night. Mr. Roy Seavers. Breaking ball on the
outside corner. Don Larson would have to go into
that category, beg your pardon. Larson still
working as a bullpen pitcher for Alvin Dark and
the San Francisco Giants. Here's the pitcher
on the way. He holds up on a slow breaking ball
that's outside. One ball and one strike. Brad
having a good spring, batting at 316. He's an
exciting ball player. He hits the ball through
an infield about as fast as anybody in the majors.
Foul ball off to the right, no play. Well, this
is some kind of a day, I want to tell you, that
you couldn't ask for a better one. We'd like
to have it for the opener next Friday. We understand
the weather in the New York area is just as good.
A swing and a miss, he's struck him out. Tracy
Stallard strikes out Jackie Brandt, one away.
One of the most impressive things about Stallard
this spring has been the psychological development,
the mental improvement, so to speak, and the
confidence that Stallard has gained. He has suddenly
become more or less an elder statesman on the
ball club, assured of a starting position, and
it has given him a tremendous shot in the arm,
a great deal more confidence, and you can see
the way he pitches, he's pitching with more confidence.
Fastball inside, one ball and no strike. Little
Louie Aparicio, speedy right -hand hitter, wins.
Strike on the outside corner, one ball and one
strike. For the last eight years, Little Louie
has led the American League in stolen bases.
For the birds, he pilfered 40 a year ago. Ron
Hunt plays him in close at third, even with the
bag wide at the line. Shortening up the stride
on the left side of the diamond is Al Morano.
Line drives, stays fifth. Yep, down the left
field line by Aparicio. Little Louie around first.
He'll hold there as Hickman takes the ball back
in. He's throwing that one. Hard line drive beyond
the reach of Hunt and on into left field. That
brings up Johnny Boog Powell. Powell has a six
home runs this spring. As they say, he is big
enough to go bear hunting with a buggy whip.
He checked into spring camp weighing 251 pounds,
but Hank Bauer has him melted down to about 234
now. Now the stretch by Tracy, and he steps up.
This fellow is just big and strong. Reminds you
a great deal when he hits of Johnny Myers. Inside
and low, one ball and no strike. Last year, at
the age of 22, he led the Orioles in the power
department, home runs, and runs batted in. One
out and one on, no score, last half of inning
number one. Game being sent to you with the best
wishes of Ryan Gold Extra Drive. We hope you'll
enjoy it. Now Tracy Ives, the runner, throws
to first, not in time. Little Louie had to slide
back. Anytime Aparicio's on, a pitcher really
has to go to work. He has to throw over to first
base four, five, maybe six times if he's going
to keep him close. Throw to first, and he gets
back. The main thing, you have to mix it up.
You can't throw over there the same way every
time. Sometimes a slow stretch, then you throw
over, sometimes you wheel and throw. Way inside,
and he goes behind on the count, two balls but
no strikes. Norm Seaborn is the on -deck hitter,
and then John Orsino. The Orioles in the spring
have won 15, lost 11. 2 -0 delivery. An off -speed
pitch that is fouled off to Pat Hamlin. The Cavs
2 -1. For the Orioles, they'll be opening Memorial
Stadium in Baltimore after their opener in Chicago.
They come back home to have a weekend series
against the New York Yankees. Let's have the
odds feel deep for Powell. This is quite a hitter's
ballpark. If you can't hit him out of this park,
you can't hit him out of any park. A throw to
first. Close, but he's back. Down the right field
line for the left -hand hitters is only 315 feet,
and the ballpark really carries. The ball really
carries in this park. Down the left field line,
330. Flider on the inside corner of Goodwin -Bastala,
two balls and two strikes. 365 feet to the center
field bleachers, and it's not too difficult on
a good day to hit them up in those bleachers.
Last year when the Mets played here in Portsmouth,
Eddie Crane, who already put the frosting on
the cake of an outstanding spring and nailed
down an opening day job by hitting free home
runs. Two off Robin Roberts and one off Stu Miller.
The 2 -2 delivery with the runner going is fouled
off the end of the bat and no play. Hank Bauer,
who of course played for Casey when Casey had
the Yankees, the new Oriole manager. And he has
as his coaches, Sean Waller. Billy Hunter, Gene
Woodling, and his pitching coach is Harry the
Cat for team. The Cat has been in Baltimore through
the reigns of Paul Richards, Billy Hitchcock,
and now Hank Bauer. Swing and a miss, he struck
him out. Bauer strikes out foul. He got him with
a high hard one. Now two outs and one on, Norm
Seaborn coming on to hit. Norm hitting .276 for
the spring. He came to the Orioles. In the swap
with Kansas City for Jim Gentile. Well, a lot
of interest in today's ball game here in Fort
Smith. The public address system now asking if
the fans would mind moving a little bit closer
together so that those who are still outside
trying to get in can get in to see the game.
Breaking ball over at the knees. A call strike
on Norm Seaver. Well, in one respect, we'll be
driving back home following today's game. Our
timing was a little bit off. They are building
probably the world's largest, longest tunnel
and bridge and causeway going across the Chesapeake
Bay. A span of over 17 miles is going to open
next Wednesday. We had thought we would be able
to drive through going home tonight, but we'd
have to hang around until Wednesday, and I don't
want to miss that opener in Philadelphia. One
and one to count on Norm's fever, but it's going
to be one of the real engineering miracles of
the times when it is completed and opened on
Wednesday. Throw to first, not on time. We were
always fascinated in spring training with that
trip across the Sunshine Skyway across Tampa
Bay. It was a little over 12 miles. This one
will be over 17 miles. Hopped up off the first
and foul ground. Bob Taylor is under it waiting,
and the Hawk puts it away. The side is out. Strong
pitching by Tracy Schaller. No runs, one hit,
no errors, and one left on at the end of one
inning. The score, the Mets nothing and the Orioles
nothing. Well, if you're out for a leisurely
drive today or you have some extra time on your
hands, we suggest if you haven't done so that
you take a drive and go by Chase Stadium. The
ticket office is open. It also will be open for
your convenience tomorrow to get your tickets
for the big opening day game next Friday afternoon.
Everything is just about in readiness. The stadium
looks absolutely beautiful. The steel boxes,
the loges, the mezzanine, the upper deck. The
box seats are painted a little deeper shade than
the reserved, and the reserved a little deeper
than the unreserved. Burley and I are feeling
the stadium the most modern sports plan in America,
and you'll be a part of it. Only 55 ,300 people
in this land of ours will be on hand for that
very first game ever to be played in the stadium.
Nine members of the Hall of Fame will be there,
including the living ex -members of the Giants
and Dodgers, plus the four new inductees, Luke
Appling, Heine Mnuch, Red Faber, and Burley Grant.
Robert Merrill sings the National Anthem. Guy
Lombardo, musical entertainer before the game.
Music for the National Anthem by the Department
of Sanitation Band. All in all, one tremendous
day. Next Friday at the Mets and the Pirates
in Shea Stadium. Now with Barber on the mound,
Hawk Taylor is up for the Mets as the game moves
into the second inning. We're counting the youngsters
up in the top of the center field bleachers that
have that long banner. Pass ball over for a call
strike. There are seven of them. They have a
banner and they stretch it out. It goes maybe
30 or 40 feet and we love the Mets. And a minute
ago they had that familiar cry of the last two
years, let's go Mets. Barber with a one -strike
count, winds and pitches. Ground ball hit down
to third, fielded by Brooks Robinson. He strides
and throws, and they have him by a few running
strides. One away, nobody on. On the hit now,
the right fielder, Joe Christopher. Throughout
spring training, with the exception of George
Altman and Ron Hunt, Casey has been platooning
elsewhere on his ball club and... This may be
fairly close to the opening night lineup in Philadelphia
since Gene Mock has already announced that he
will open the National League season against
the Mets with the left -hander Dennis Bennett.
Here's the pitcher on the way. It's over at the
knees for a called strike. It will be touch and
go as to whether or not George Altman will be
ready for the opening game on Tuesday night.
Trainer Gus Mott is hopeful and feels that, since
it is only a bruise despite the fact that it's
quite sore today, but he still may be able to
open on Tuesday. One ball and one strike. George
did not come to the ballpark today. He was advised
by Gus to remain back at the hotel and take heat
treatments and rest as much as possible. Carl
Willey and Frank Thomas are both back in New
York. Now Barbarana is lined up. The pitch, swing,
and a miss on a fastball thrown in tight. One
ball and two strikes. Now Jack Fisher is starting
to warm up easily in the bullpen. Casey wants
to give Stallard, Fisher, and Bernard all some
work. Final tune -up work in this ballgame today.
Outside and high. For Hank Bauer, his pitching
plans are quite different because he is not planning
to use Barber until the opener at home in Baltimore
against the Yankees next Friday. And since Barber
will not be pitching then until next Friday,
he may have him go as far as seven innings. Fisher
and Stallard figure to work games two and three
for the Mets. Line drive, base hit through the
hole going to right field. That's base hit number
two. Both have been to right field by right -hand
hitters, and it brings up Sammy Thornwell. Game
being held up just for a moment by Umpire Lou
DeMuro, who noticed that they need a doctor in
the right field bleacher. So someone obviously
in need of attention in the right field bleachers,
and the game is being held up. Very alert work
on the part of Umpire Lou DeMuro, who detected
that there was a disturbance over in the right
field bleachers, and in a small ballpark such
as this, he was able to tell that someone was
in need of attention, and so they have asked
for the doctor. Good crowd on a perfect day for
a ball game. Every seat taken in the grandstand.
The bleachers comparatively empty, but now we
see a lot of the fans are headed toward the bleachers,
unable to get a seat. Ground ball hit down to
first, knocked down by Seaburn. He makes the
unassisted play getting found well, and Christopher
moves on to second. Now there are two away here
on the top of the second. Al Moran comes up.
Al Moran batting right -handed. Al has done quite
a bit of experimenting during the spring, trying
to improve his hitting. Bill Dickey worked with
him quite a bit, trying more than anything to
get him to hit down on the ball. Al Barber up
in pitching position. Delivers outside and high.
One of the great hitters in the history of the
game, Paul Wainer. Big boys have always said
that the... Top half of the ball belongs to the
hitter. The bottom half of the ball belongs to
the pitcher. If you hit under, you're going to
pop up. If you hit down on it, you might come
up with a base hit. Now Barber makes the stop,
then delivers to Moran. Over on the outside corner
of the knees for a strike. One ball and one strike.
Joe Christopher on second, two men down, top
of the second, no score. Foul tipped. Pops out
of the middle of John Orsino, no damage done.
One ball and two strikes. Mets with two night
games in Philadelphia, Tuesday night and Wednesday
night, Thursday the off day and the big opener
on Friday. Monday will be a big day for the New
York Mets. As we mentioned earlier, they will
be honored with a parade starting at 10 .15 from
the Travelers Motel, winding through Fletching
and Jamaica, and winding up with a luncheon in
the Whitman Hotel in Jamaica. Foul. Hit down
the right field line. Out of play. Hard -throwing
young right -hander that means so much to the
Baltimore Orioles, Chuck Estrada made the catch
on that one over the bullpen. Talking to Jack
Fisher about Estrada, they were very close friends
when Jack was with the Orioles, and he says that
Estrada says he no longer, and for the first
time in over a year, does not feel pain when
he throws. He's been throwing hard. The one -two
pitch, outside and high. Did you notice where
the St. Louis Cardinals are leaving Ray Weinspern
with their Jacksonville Fire Club in order that
they can keep him out of the cold weather and
not run the risk of him re -injuring that arm
in the first couple of weeks of the season? Also
give him a chance to strengthen his arm in the
sunshine before coming up to join St. Louis.
The 2 -2 delivery. Swing, and a Murphy struck
him out with a sinker down around the ankle.
Brad retired, no runs, one hit, no errors, and
one left. At the end of an inning and a half,
the score in Portsmouth... The New York Mets,
nothing, and the Baltimore Orioles, nothing.
And let's hear how a baseball fan makes up for
an error in his choice of a cigarette. Oh, I
don't believe it. Not another error. Boy, I sure
made an error. Huh? Trying this new menthol cigarette.
What do you mean? It just doesn't make it. Well,
here's one that does. Try it cool. Cool? Okay.
This is more like it. Your cigarette's not tasting
cool enough till you come up to cool. With rich
tobacco's pure white filter, extra coolness too.
Feel extra coolness in your throat as cool comes
through for you. You'll be smoking cool, cool
all the time when you come up to cool. For the
most refreshing coolness you can get. In any
cigarette, smoke cool with the pure white filter.
Last half of the second, John Orsino comes up
against Tracy Stallard. After coming to the Orioles
in the deal with San Francisco, last year Orsino
knocked in 56 runs and batted 272. He did a good
job for them. John Arfino, right -hand hitter
out of Teaneck, New Jersey. Tracy Stallard on
the mound for the New York Mets. Last half of
the second, no scores. Tracy winds. The pitch
breaks too far outside. One ball and no strike.
The Orioles and Giants made a big deal during
the winter before last season. Breaking ball,
and he lays off. Two balls and no strikes. Sue
Miller and Mike McCormick, along with John Orsino,
came to the birds for Billy Heft, Jack Fisher,
now with the Mets, and Jim Coker. All three of
those players, Billy Heft, Jack Fisher, and Jim
Coker, have now gone to other ball clubs. Inside.
Ball 30, it's 3 -0. Coker has just gone in a
deal involving the Los Angeles Dodgers. I'll
check that involving the Philadelphia Bills,
thank you, partner. Pitchers outside in Stallard,
Watson, or Fino are in four pitches. Now the
right fielder, Willie Kirkland, hitting for the
first time. Willie during the spring, hitting
.227. Now Tracy off the stretch. Delivers, bounce,
foul. He barely got a piece of it. One strike
count on Willie Kirkland. Outside and high. I
remember he was playing tricks on me. Ralph was
freaking me out on the trade. Gary Kolb and Jim
Coker leaving the Cardinals for Bob Euchre and
the Braves. Off -speed delivery that's over for
a called strike. Good pitch by Stallard. One
ball and two strikes. The deal involving the
Dodgers was the Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers.
Larry Sherry going to Detroit for Lou Johnson.
I trace the up and pitching position, the 1 -2
delivery. I drive and the air sinking rapidly
in short center field at the base hit, played
on the hop by Rod Caneo. And now the birds have
runners on first and second, nobody out. Right
here we pause for station identification. This
is the New York Mets baseball network. WGY and
WGF fans connect today. The beautiful... And
New York, 10 -5. Bob Murphy with Ralph Kiner
and Lindsey Nelson from Fort Smith, Virginia.
Now Brooks Robinson is up with runners on first
and second, nobody out. The Mets here will be
defensing against the possibility of a bunt.
Jerry Adaris, the on -deck batter, and then Steve
Barber. Now Tracy off the stretch. Delivers.
Just inside. One ball and no strike. Brooks has
not hit for a high average during the spring
games, but he has been hitting with power. He's
hit four home runs, and he leads the Orioles
in RBIs for the spring. Runners on first and
second, nobody out. Pitch to Robinson. Full swing
and a foul ball back into the screen. One ball
and one strike. Hank Bauer has Robinson swinging
away with a dare of the number eight hitter on
deck to be followed by the pitcher, Steve Barber.
Tracy slowing himself down a little bit, trying
to pitch out of a jam here in the second. The
birds have the table set, two on and nobody out.
Here's the pitch underway. Inside and high, two
balls and a strike. Baltimore a year ago got
off to a flying start. They were really winging.
But they fell victims to a June swoon. They had
a stress during June when the roof really fell
in on them and knocked them right out of the
front of race. 2 -1 on Brooks Robinson. The lead
runner on second is John Orsino. Willie Kirkland
is on first. Now the pitch thrown. Line drive
hit hard down the left field line at phase fifth.
Hickman racing over to the line to play at around
third heading in. The score is John Orsino and
the birds lead 1 -0 on the run scoring single
to left by Brooks Robinson. Willie Kirkland goes
from first to third. Jerry Adair, the second
baseman. Two years ago, Jerry had a real good
year. Last season, he fell off at the plate.
He was tampered several times during the season
with minor hurts that had him in and out of the
lineup. Mets set up, hoping for a shot at the
double play. A line drive to right field, a base
hit by Adair. Kirkland comes in to score. Robinson
will hold his second. and the Mets nothing on
the single to right by Jerry Adair. Now Steve
Barber comes up. With Barber hitting, runners
on first and second, nobody out. Now the Mets
will be defending against the Bucs. Barber batting
left -handed. First four men up have reached
safely against Ballard here in the last half
of the second. Fisher still cranking up down
in the bullpen. He's around to Brunt. Brunt,
fair ball. Stallard coming off the mound. The
play goes to third. Out at third. They get Robinson.
Close play at third, but Stallard threw just
in time to Ron Hunt. To fourth, Brooks Robinson.
Now runners on first and second, one man down.
Top of the batting order for the center fielder,
Jackie Brandt. Pratt was struck out in the first
inning by Stallard. Baltimore 2, New York nothing,
last half of the second. Tracy walked the first
man up, John Orsino. Willie Kirkland singled
a center with a sinker off the end of the bat.
Now the pitcher on the way. Leiter on the outside
corner of strike. Last year, Jackie hit .248
as the bird's center fielder. Ground ball left
to shortstop. Moran to Fomwell. There's one on
the first. Double play on the side is out. Baltimore,
two runs on three hits, no errors, and one left
in the last of the second. Now at the end of
two innings, the score of the Orioles 2 and the
New York Mets, nothing. Well, for those of you
who are making your ticket plans now, not only
for opening day, but all the home games of the
New York Mets and beautiful new Shea Stadium,
we'd like to remind you that again of this year
for your convenience in Midtown Manhattan, ticket
outlets are located at Grand Central Station
near the foot of the 42nd Street Vanderbilt ramp,
along out in the waiting room of Penn Station.
The ticket office will be open today and tomorrow
for your convenience at Shea Stadium. And also
this year, a brand new ticket outlet for those
who live near the Nassau -Support County line.
The ticket outlet is located in Macy's in the
Walt Whitman Shopping Center in Huntington. Remember,
too, you may order your tickets by mail. Simply
address your correspondence to Ticket Manager.
The New York Mets, Shea Stadium, Flushing, New
York. We'll be waiting for you on Friday for
the opener of the beautiful stadium. Right here
we go along to the third inning with Steve Barber
pitching for the Orioles against the New York
Mets. And all set now to follow the action for
you, Ralph Kainer. Thank you, Bob. And once again,
hello, everybody. Steve Barber going for the
Orioles has worked through two innings. He has
given up no runs, allowed two hits, struck out
two, and walked none. Steve will pitch against
here in the top of the third. The pitcher, Tracy
Stallard. who is scheduled up, but we'll have
a pinch hitter for him, and then Dick Smith and
Rod Knievel, assigned to be Larry Elliott, pinch
hitting for Tracy Stollard. That'll mean that
Jack Fisher, who has been warming up, will come
in the ballgame to pitch in the bottom half of
the third. Stollard going out, giving up two
runs and four hits, striking out two and walking
one. First pitch to Larry Elliott, a left -hand
batter, is taken low, ball one. Larry started
the season as more or less a player on the Buffalo
roster. He has more or less earned himself a
job in the regular roster in center field. Next
pitch back to the plate, a fastball in the outside
corner. Got one ball, one strike. Larry has been
used in center field against right -hand pitching
throughout the latter part of spring training.
He makes his home in San Diego, California. And
now Steve Barber into the windup and back again,
and he moves Elliott away from the plate and
on down to the ground with a fastball inside.
So they count two balls, one strike. Barber wearing
number 13 in his uniform, one of the few pitchers
in baseball to do so, and that is the number
of losses he had last year. And his pitch came
back, and it was hit slowly on a check swing
down the third. Robinson picks it up, flips quickly
to first base for the out. One man out here in
the top of the third. Score is 2 -0 in favor
of the Baltimore Orioles, and the batter will
be Dick Smith. Dick's the leadoff batter for
the Mets. Up for the second time. His first time
up, he bounced back to the mound on the very
first pitch of the ballgame. Smith, the right
-hand batter, playing at first base. And now
the left -hander to work against Smith with a
breaking pitch, a fast slider that's in on the
inside corner, strike one. Barber is scheduled
to go against the New York Yankees when they
open the season against the Baltimore Oil in
New York. Next pitch back is a fastball moving
outside. One ball, one strike. That game will
be in Baltimore. Orioles open the season against
the White Sox in Chicago. Now the 1 -1 pitch.
Foul down the right field line. No chance for
a play. It goes as a long strike. Mets, of course,
open their season against the Philadelphia Phillies
the 14th on Tuesday night. They play on Wednesday
night also. Open at home on Friday afternoon
at Chase Idiom. All of us very interested to
hear how the stadium is coming along as quite
a few of the people came down from New York for
this game, and the reports are great. It's back
as low. Two balls, two strikes. Flying field
condition, supposedly in perfect shape, and that's
understandable as the Mets have the top groundskeeper
in baseball. Johnny McCarthy doing a good job
there again. Barber comes back and bounces the
pitch in the dirt. It bounces over the shoulder
of the catcher Johnny Orsino. And the count fills
to three and two. Conference at the mound by
Steve Barber and Johnny Orsino. Orsino, if you
remember, had something happen to him last year
that should happen to every hitter. He had five
consecutive home runs in spring training. It
didn't come all in one game, but he still had
five in a row. That's something that's rather
unusual, to say the least. This spring, he hasn't
been quite that fortunate. Now 3 -2, it's Barber
back again, and he misses outside ball four.
So Steve walks his first man here in the top
of the third. Orioles lead 2 -0, one out. That'll
bring up Rod Kinneal, who bounced to second base
his first time up. Rod playing in center field,
batting from the right -hand side. Rod has been
used in the outfield also at second and third
base this spring. He's been filling the same
role he filled last year as utility ball player.
And his first pitch is hit off the handle and
foul into the stands along the right field side.
Strike one. Norm Sebring coming over to talk
to Steve Barber at the mound now. Norm has sort
of followed Hank Bauer, the manager of the Baltimore
Orioles, around. He went from the Yankees' whip
bar to Kansas City on a trade. And when Bauer
moved from Kansas City to the Orioles as a coach
and then later on became manager, he got Seaburn
right over with him. One strike down to Rod Keneal.
The score, 2 -0 Orioles lead with one out in
the top of the third. Runner at first base and
the pitch is swung on. A slider, a hard swing
by Rod Keneal. He didn't get it. Strike two.
Barber has a very, very good slider and a very
good fastball. The fastball sinks and moves away
from a right -hand batter. The slider, of course,
moving right into the hand. He likes to work
the slider inside. The fastball outside, the
right -hander. Now two strikes. He comes in again
with the slider, down low around the knees, and
Keneal strikes out. That is the third strikeout
for Steve Barber. He now has two out here in
the third. And it brings up Ron Hunt, who doubled
down the right field line his first time up.
Ron and Joe Christopher with the two hits in
the ballgame by the Mets. Ron has been playing
at third base in the last few ballgames, and
he's been doing better there all the time. He
played there his first year in ball and has played
there before. And he has shown a very good arm
throwing from third, and he also has shown a
very good like for the position. He's been very
impressive at the plate this spring. First pitch
to him is high, a fastball. One ball, no strike.
One thing about Ron, at third base, he might
live a little longer. At second base, he gets
hit quite often on double plays because he just
likes to stay in there. Now the 1 -0 delivery
with the runner going is taken inside. The throw
down to second, not in time, and a stolen base
for Dick Smith, and he stole it all away. It
wasn't even close. Mitch was inside. Osino had
to move to his left, and by the time he came
out throwing, it was no contest. So the Mets
now have their second runner at second base with
two out here in the top of the third, and the
count on Ron Hunt is 2 -0. big man Smith can
fly down the line. Hunt stepping out of the batter's
box. Time called by home plate umpire Lou DeNiro.
Now time is in. Barber back to work in the pitch.
Bounce foul. Flatter in tight. Bounce down in
the dirt. Count now two balls and one strike.
Final game of the spring for the Mets. Their
28th of the spring training season. It's been
a good spring. The Mets were not rained out once.
In fact, they never did have a bad day. Two balls,
one strike. The pitch by Barber back to Hunt.
Haken high and outside. Ball three. So Ron has
the count in his favor. Three balls and one strike
with Jim Hickman on deck. Hasn't been a good
spring for the Mets as far as injuries. They've
had three players receive broken bones, Al Jackson,
Juju Coleman, and Carl Willey. Then they've had
injuries to Altman, Hickman, Thomas, and Powell.
Next pitch is low and inside ball four, and Barber
walks his second man. Dick Smith on at second
base as a result of a walk in a stolen base,
and now Ron Hunt at first. Bob Murphy just informed
me one other player the Mets had had a broken
bone, and that's right. Craig Anderson had his
hand broken. So they've had four players that
came up with broken bones this spring. That's
way over par. Runners now at first and second
with two out and Jim Hickman in. Jim struck out
swinging his first time up, and he hits the first
pitch right back to the mound. A comebacker on
one hop to throw to first base, and that does
it. For the Mets, no runs. There were no hits.
No errors. Two walks, two men left on base. And
the score at the end of two and a half innings.
The Orioles two to match nothing. Well, it's
almost over as far as spring training is concerned,
and it's been quite a spring, as we mentioned
before. And spring training has become quite
a tradition. In fact, it goes all the way back
to 1884 when the Boston Nationals limbered up
with a few games in New Orleans. And to a fan,
why, beer is a baseball tradition, too. Yes,
sir? There's no better way to enjoy a ball game
than with a cool, refreshing glass of beer. And
there's no better beer to have than Rheingold
Extra Dry. Rheingold is as good to your taste
as it is to your thirst because it's brewed extra
dry. Brewed very specially with a smooth, crisp
liveliness that, well, it just can't be matched.
That's why when you enjoy the ball game with
a refreshing Rheingold Extra Dry, you're sharing
a great tradition with the millions along the
Rheingold B2K. Rheingold is as good to your taste
as it is to your thirst. Rheingold after Rheingold.
New pitcher in the ballgame for the Mets, Jack
Fisher, now replacing Tracy Stallard. Stallard
worked the first two innings in his tune -up
for the Major League opener. Not necessarily
the first game of the season. It's scheduled
to be Al Jackson to be the first pitcher against
the Phillies, but this will be the last chance
Tracy will have to work until he starts in the
official 1964 season. He went two hands, gave
up two runs, allowed four hits, struck out two
and walked one. Now Jack Fisher, right -hander,
formerly with the Baltimore Orioles. Jack has
had a good spring, and he'll be working to Louie
Aparicio, John Powell, and Norm Seaborn here
in the third. And Fisher's first pitch, a slider
outside ball one. Louie had a base hit to left
field his first time up, hitting a slider on
the line to left. Fisher, right -hander, back
to Aparicio, and there's one popped up in foul
territory on the first base side. Mitch is running
down after it, and he can't get through it. He
was fighting the front all the way and had trouble
finding the ball in spite of the fact that he
had his glasses down. Pretty tough chance for
first baseman Dick Smith. No error on the play.
And Aparicio now with a count of one ball and
one strike. Fisher acquired from San Francisco.
Basically a breaking ball pitcher. He likes to
work the spot. Not exceptionally fast. Uses a
slider quite often. Also throws the slip pitch.
Now he sets and the 1 -1 pitch is the slip pitch.
It's low on the dirt. Two balls, one strike.
The Orioles with two runs in the second inning.
A walk to John Orsino. A single by Willie Kirkland,
a single by Brooks Robinson to drive and a run,
and a single by Jerry Adair to drive and a run,
leading the ball game 2 -0. Fisher back again,
and a check on the swing in time by Aparicio,
and the count goes to three balls and one strike.
Lurie checking with Billy Hunter, the third base
coach, as to whether or not he'll be hitting
the wave. Coaching at first base, Sherm Lawler.
Now 3 -1. The pitch is swung on. A slider and
miss. Full count now as Louie Aparicio leads
off here in the third. Pitcher into the windup
and here's the pitch. And a check swing foul
ball. Ball going over the top of the roof and
out of play. Aparicio tried to hold off that
ball. It was out of the strike zone. Couldn't
keep the bat off the ball and he gets... They
count to remain at 3 -2. Louie last year led
the American League in total bases with 40. That's
at him with Maury Wills for the Major League
League. Now again at 3 -2. And the pitch is bounced
in the hole, dug out by Ron Hunt. He goes across
with a good throw. Out number one. That'll bring
up... John Boog Powell, big, strong left fielder.
And this part's got to be built to order for
him. It's 315 down the right field line, 365
in center field. He looks like a very menacing
batter in the batter's box with that big size.
He weighs about 230. Struck out swinging his
first time up. Tracy Stallard got him on a fastball,
and he takes the fastball high, ball one. Tracy
had two strikeouts in the first inning, hitting
Jackie Brandt and John Powell. But now Jack Fisher
has replaced him, and there's a ball hit softly
down the short right off the handle. Picked up
by Al Moran, and the throw to first base to Dick
Smith brings about out number two. Powell is
jammed with a flyer right on the fifth. So with
two down, Norm Seaborn will give it a try. Norm
fouled out his first time. Up he is 0 for 1,
left -hand batting first baseman. Don't forget
to visit Langlois' little old New York at the
World's Fair opening April 22nd. Enjoy this authentic
corner of New York City as it was back in 1904.
First pitch to the first baseman is fouled down
in the dirt. Strike one. Jack Fisher with a slider
in tight, right on the hands of the left -hand
batter. Now Fisher into the lineup and back again.
And he misses low with a slip pitch. Change of
pace. One ball, one strike. Well, Casey did it
again last night. He was on, and he was really
on. Now the 1 -1 pitch. A swing and a change
of pace. A good slip pitch. Strike two. Casey
said no speeches now as he went to a banquet
that was staged by the Portsmouth Ball Club here.
Then he got up and talked for about 29 minutes,
and he had everybody in the aisle. The 1 -2 pitch
to Seaburn has taken high ball, too. He was really
putting it on for his former teammate and very
close friend, Al Lopez, who was there, the manager
of the Chicago White Sox, also Tony Cuccinella,
who coaches for the White Sox, and also a player
who had played for him. And he was funny. Now
2 -2. The pitchers had fouled on the line. That
holds with two balls and two strikes with two
outs in the bottom half of the third. The Orioles
lead 2 -0. Time. call for a moment as Seaburn
backed out of the batter's box. Now time is in,
and Fisher comes back to the plate. And it gets
him looking on the inside corner with a slider.
First strikeout for Jack Fisher, and that retires
the side. No runs, no hits. No errors. No one
left on base, and the score at the end of three,
the Orioles two, the Mets nothing. Well, I don't
want to tell you this, but I guess I should.
It's only four more days left to... April 15th,
and you know what that means. That's income tax
return time. One of ours showed, while he came
across a news story that really might amuse you,
talking about it before, but you might not have
heard it. It seems that there was a sheep rancher
who recently listed his nine -year -old monkey
as a tax deduction. And this monkey herds sheep
and actually drives a tractor. Since a rancher
provides free room and board for the monkey,
the government allowed a tax deduction. but it
didn't happen here in the United States. It happened
in Australia, so I don't think you can get away
with it. Don't be jealous, though, because there's
plenty of benefits right here along the Rheingold
Beach, like the new tax cuts, the Mets, the World's
Fair, and the best of beers. That's Rheingold
Extra Dry. Rheingold is as good to your taste
as it is to your thirst because it's brewed extra
dry, smooth and crisp, and completely quenching.
Yes, it's the wide world, and you won't find
a better beer. Rheingold is as good to your taste
as it is to your thirst. Rheingold after Rheingold.
You got your tax on made out, Mr. Murphy? I didn't
have any problem making it out, Ralph. The problem
was getting the money to pay him with. It sort
of does create some sort of a problem every now
and then, doesn't it? I haven't even finished
mine. I'm going to spend all day Monday on it.
Now we're all set to go here in the top of the
fourth. As Steve Barber continues to work on
the mound, the first pitch is a strike call.
Bob Taylor the batter and Taylor taking as a
curveball broke over at the knee. Bob bounced
the third his first time up. He'll be followed
by Joe Christopher and Sammy Samwell. Score 2
-0 Baltimore. And the next pitch back is hit
to deep right field. Moving back. Waiting now
is the right fielder, Willie Kirkman, and he
makes the catch. And while we wait for the next
batter to come to that, we'll pause for station
identification. This is the New York Mets Baseball
Network. You're listening to WGY and WGFM, your
New York Mets stations connected. along with
Bob Murphy and Lindsey Nelson from Portsmouth,
Virginia. The Mets playing their last game of
the season, the spring training season. And now
with one man out here in the fourth as the Mets
trail 2 -0, the batter will be Joe Christopher.
Joe has one of the two hits off Steve Barber.
He's single to right field, a right -hand batter.
There's one in the center field, a ball hanging
up in the air, coming strong as brand. He can't
get to it. It bounces off his glove. Christopher
holds his first base, and the throw comes in,
gets away from the second baseman. But no error
on the play as Christopher saves it first. A
looping line drive into center field, and Jackie
Brandt tried to shoestring it, and the ball hit
right in front of his glove and bounced off the
top of it, but held close enough so Brandt could
make the play back in. A base hit for Joe Christopher,
his second in the ballgame, the third by the
Mets off Steve Barber, and it will bring up Sammy
Samwell. Sammy hit a hard ground ball down the
first and was retired in a good play by Norm
Siebern his first time up. Right -hand batter
playing at second base, and the first pitch is
taken outside, a fastball. One ball, no strike.
Larry Bernice warming up in the bullpen for the
Mets. Casey, on the bench today, said there's
a good chance that Bernice might become a starting
pitcher. And the next pitch set is thrown to
Zamora's foul out of play. One ball, one strike.
He said it was some reservation, though, because
he said, now what happens if he starts in the
ballgame and I need somebody to come in to relieve
him that I got nobody to go to? That means that
he likes Bernard as his number one relief pitcher,
too. 2 -0 game, Baltimore. Here's the pitch to
Sam Wallace. Bounce back through the mound. Backhanded
by Adair. He goes over to the bag. Then throws
the first base and... The play at first base
is in time. Also, Adair did step on at second
base, so it's a double play. We hesitated on
the play at second base because it didn't appear
as though Adair got to the bag. The umpire gave
a late call, and then the throw to first base
was not in time, and Samwell is now safe at first.
So they get the fourth play and a good play by
Adair at second base as he backhanded that ball
right near the bag in back of it, and the throw
to first base was not in time. Two men out, the
batter now is Al Moran. Say, now's a good time
to light up a cool Thriller King. Get the most
refreshing coolness in cigarette smoking today.
First pitch to Moran is low for Paul Watson.
Next pitch back is Luke in the center field.
Brad is moving to his left, and he makes the
catch to retire to side. In the inning for the
Mets, no runs. They had one hit. Oils made no
errors. One man was left on base. The score at
the end of three and a half. The Mets trail by
a two -nothing score. The Oils out in front.
Let's listen while a baseball fan learns about
a cigarette that makes a hit every time. Another
pop -up. We haven't had a hit all day. Here.
Let this cigarette know it was me. What's the
matter? Oh, lost their taste lately. Well, here,
Joe. Have a cool. Cool? I think you'll like them.
See what I mean? Yeah. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Your cigarette's not tasting good. For the most
refreshing coolness you can get in any cigarette,
smoke cool with the Pure White Filter. It's the
bottom half of the fourth with the Orioles in
front 2 -0 as they come to bat against Jack Fisher.
Fisher is in the game in the third, and he fits
perfect ball to his first three batters. He'll
now work to John Orsino, Willie Kirkland, and
then Brooks Robinson. Orsino, the catcher in
the ballgame, walks his first time up and scored
the first run. He's a right -hand batter. And
the first pitch to Orsino is looped into right
center field off of the handle, a broken bat.
It drops in for a base hit, and Sam Wild couldn't
get back to it. The Orsino with a broken bat
base hit. The first hit given up by Fisher, and
the Orioles now have a runner at first base with
no one out. The Orioles scored their two runs.
They had four men up without an out against Tracy
Schaller. Tracy worked the first two innings,
gave up the two runs. Now the batter is Willie
Kirkland, left -hand batting right fielder. He
singled the center field his first time up. And
the first pitch is lined down the line. It is
a foul ball. Ball fouled by about a foot. Right
over the top of the first baseman's head and
curving into foul territory. That ball was well
hit. Orioles now have a total of five base hits
off the combined pitching of Tracy Saladin and
Jack Fisher. Willie Kirkland back. In the batter's
box. He started his career with the Giants. And
now the next pitch is a fastball. It's high.
One ball, one strike. For the Mets, they have
Dick Smith at first base, Sammy Samwell at second,
Al Moran at short, and Ron Hunt at third base.
This could be their starting infield on opening
night, Tuesday night against Philadelphia. Next
pitch back by Fisher, a changeup. It's outside
ball two. In the outfield, it's Jim Hickman in
left field, Rod Camille in center field, and
Joe Christopher in right. George Altman was not
even brought up to the ballpark. He has an injured
muscle in his shoulder, and he has remained back
at the hotel to get heat treatment in order to
get him ready for opening day. Pitch back is
his foul. Ball going out of play. Count now,
one ball, two strikes. As we mentioned earlier,
the Mets have had a real tough spring in the
casualty department. Altman has an injured shoulder.
Hickman was out for a while with a sprained ankle.
Thomas is out at the moment with a bad arm, and
Grover Powell was sent to the minors because
of an arm, and they want him to throw as much
as he can, and they hope to get him back. Now
Fisher sets and is picked back to Kirkland. Bounce
back to the mound. A chance for two. The throw
to the shortstop at second base is in time. The
throw to first base is in the dirt. It's backhanded
and dug up by Smith. So the Mets have turned
in their second double play. And that one, the
quick one, 1 -6 -3 is destroyed. And now with
two out, the batter will be Brooks Robinson.
Brooks singled the left fielder his first time
up and drove in the first run of the ballgame.
The Orioles lead 2 -0 with two out here in the
bottom half of the fourth. And the first pitch
to the right -hand batter is inside. A fastball.
Robinson takes the pitch inside by about four
inches. At 1 -0, the right -hander comes back
with a changeup inside. Ball two. Two balls,
no strike. Hawk Taylor, the catcher for the Mets.
With a slight argument on that last call by Lou
DeMiro. American League umpire. Now it's Fisher
at 2 -0. And he misses for ball three. Three
balls, no strikes. Beyond egg batter is Jerry
Adair. 3 -0 pitch. A called strike, a fastball
in the outside corner. Fisher back again, this
time at 3 -1. And the pitch is fouled away, strike
two. Fisher with a fastball actually had the
ball by Brooks Robinson. So after falling behind
3 -0, the cat now is full of three balls and
two strikes. Baltimore two, the Mets nothing.
Two out, bottom half, the fourth. And the pitch,
it off the hands into center field. Moving in
is the center fielder, Rod Caneel. And he makes
the catch every time at the side. No runs, one
hit, the hit erased by the double play. No errors
and no one left on base. And the score at the
end of four, the Orioles two, the Mets nothing.
On opening day next Friday when the New York
Mets meet the Pittsburgh Pirates, nine members
of the Hall of Fame will be on hand. The four
new members of the Baseball Hall of Fame will
be inducted in late July at Cooperstown, Red
Faber and Burley Grimes, O 'Reason Payne, the
great White Sox shortstop Luke Appling, and one
of the great hitters of our time, Heine Mnuch.
Also to be there at Shea Stadium on Friday will
be the old Flash, Frankie Frisch, Zach Wheat
and Max Carey, King Carl Hubble, and Bill Terry.
400 hitters, a real oddity in the history of
baseball, and of course one of the great ones,
Hall of Famer Bill Terry. So we'll all be looking
forward to seeing all nine of them on opening
day next Friday at Chase Stadium. Now Jack Fisher
is due to lead off in the fifth inning, but Jack
has worked his two innings since. Johnny Stevenson
is coming out to hit for him. This is the final
exhibition ballgame in case he wants to give
the pitchers that will be going early in the
National League finish line for the Mets a final
tune -up. So here is young Johnny Stevenson who's
had less than one full year of baseball on his
way north with the New York Mets. Pitch is over
for a call strike. He's quite a handyman. He's
a catcher by trade. But when he got hurt last
year when he broke a finger, then he went to
the outfielder. He developed into quite a defensive
outfielder, and now the Mets are working him
out at third base. The left -hand hitter swings,
and Mets are strength, too. Casey and the coaches
have really liked what they have seen of young
John Stevenson. Last year, his first year in
baseball, and actually only a half year, he was
at Auburn where he hit .261. A foul ball, it
wafted back upstairs and out of play. But actually,
Johnny Stephenson, I should say, beg your pardon,
was hitting .342 when he suffered the broken
finger behind the bat. In order to help the ball
club, as soon as he could with his hand on his
flinter, he went to the outfield. He attended
William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Stevenson, 5 '11", weighs 180, bats out of an
open stance, looks it over, and the fastball
by Barber is low, one ball and two strikes. Last
winter, he worked as an assistant basketball
coach at William Carey College. Pitched by Barber,
outside and low in the count, even, two balls
and two strikes. So John Stevenson, starting
his second, or rather actually his first full
year in pro ball, his second year, is on his
way north with the Mets. A ground ball lands
on the right side of the diamond, fielded by
Jerry Adair. Adair across to Norm Seaburn, one
away in the fifth inning. One away and nobody
on top of the fifth. Now the leadoff hitter,
Dick Smith. Dick has drowned it out, drawn a
walk, and stolen a base. Dick right -hand hitter
with fine running speed has been used throughout
the spring against the left -handers. Originally
an outfielder, now being plated first. Round
ball bounced to short. Up with his Louis Aparicio.
He strides and throws two men down. Barber has
that good sinking fastball working for him, and
the Mets are hitting the ball on the ground.
He turns that sinker over, and it sinks so much
that when you see it from up in the stands, it
looks more like a curveball than a fastball.
Rod can heal the hitter. Rod has drowned it out
and struck out. Rod is 0 for 2. Inside at the
knees. One ball and no strike. Larry Bernard
warming up down on the sidelines. Larry comes
in to pitch. The last of the first inning. Swing
and a miss. Farber took something off on that
one. One ball and one strike. With Carl Willey
sidelined with a fractured jaw, it puts Casey
in quite a dilemma as to whether to leave Larry
Banas in the bullpen or make a starter out of
him. Larry is the number one release pitcher
in how important they are. Pass ball over for
a call strike. Still, you have to have four solid
starters. Mets are hoping that Grover Powell's
arm will respond and that he can join the ball
club before too long. Casey does not want to
have to open the season with only one left -hander.
Low and outside. Count even now at 2 -2. The
only other left -hander on the staff has now
been sent to Buffalo. Actually, for a further
assignment, he'll be working out with the Buffalo
Club, a waiting assignment, and that's young
Ron Locke. Locke is the designated player by
the New York Mets. Now Barber with a 2 -2 delivery.
Low inside, down around the shoot top, 3 -2.
Johnny Stevenson, a first -year player, but he's
coming north with the ball club. Now the pitch
underway. Ground ball hit down to first baseline.
Foul, no play. And so, too, is hard -throwing
young right -hander Jerry Hensley. Although Jerry
didn't get in a ball game as a pitcher last year,
nonetheless, he was on the roster of the Kingston
Barclays and the Pirates system. Three and two
on hot rod, two outs, and nobody on top of the
fifth inning. Barber the flamethrower from Tacoma
Park winds and pitches. Lofted foul off to the
right. No play. Count remains 3 -2. Steve Barber,
one of the few pitchers in the history of this
game to make the jump from Class D to the Major
League. From a losing season in Class D, he jumped
all the way to the American League and made his
first year a winning year. He won 10 and lost
7. Now Barber over the head. Down comes the arm.
And it's popped up towards short right field.
Maybe tough to reach Kirkland going for it. So
is Seaburn. And it's Seaburn who makes the catch
and foul round to retire the side. Good play
by Norm Seaburn. He had to take that one over
his shoulder. Side retired. No runs, no hits,
no errors, and none left on. Throw has come halfway
at the end of four and a half to score here in
Portsmouth. The Baltimore Orioles, too, and the
New York Mets, nothing. Last of the fifth inning,
Larry Benares now moves out for his two -inning
spin. Jack Fisher, in two innings, allowed no
runs, gave up one hit, walked none, struck out
one. Jerry Adair, or Casper the Friendly Ghost,
as his teammates call him, will be leading off
in the last half of the fifth inning. It'll be
Jerry Adair, Steve Barber, and then the top of
the batting order for Jack Brandt. Well, it's
a tremendous day here in the Norfolk -Portsmouth
area. You couldn't ask for a more beautiful day
for this time of the year. And the baseball fans
of the area certainly are turning out in wonderful
numbers for today's exhibition game. The ballpark
is jammed. The only vacant seats are out in the
center field bleachers. The grandstand proper
itself is a complete sellout. One ball and no
strikes on Jerry Adair. Now, but not into his
windup. Here's the pitch. Final tip. One ball,
one strike. Larry has a real good sinker, which
makes him a fine relief pitcher. This year, he
has added to his repertoire a slider that he
now has confidence in, and it's become a very
important pitch to him. So picking up the extra
pitch should help him even that much more. Good
slider on the outside corner, one ball and two
strikes. Larry, a very intelligent young man,
and he takes coaching extremely well. The one
-two delivery reached for and fouled back of
stairs and out of play. Last year, starting his
first full year in pro ball, he made the Mets,
came north, and was with them all year long.
The early part of spring training, Roger Craig,
a real veteran with one of the great pickoff
moves in baseball, worked with Larry Banas showing
him how to hold a runner and how to try to pick
a runner off, and Banas picked it up in a hurry.
Line drive hits the right. This will be a base
hit. Racing toward the line, Joe Christopher,
and Adair takes the turn and holds with a single
to right field. He hit a curve ball. Hit the
ball right where it was pitched and into right
field. Now Barber coming up in the infield now
will be looking for the bunt. The birds two and
the Mets nothing, bottom half of the fifth inning.
Now Ron Hunt comes in close at third. Dick Smith
holding against the runner Jerry Adair. Adair
runs very well. He was a real backcourt star
during his college days. for Henry Iver, the
man who will be coaching the Olympic basketball
squad for America. Butting down the first baseline,
Smith up with it, throws to second. He's out
at a close play at second base. Fast fielding
by Dick Smith and a strong throw to Al Moran
covering, and Adair has taken off the line. Now
Russ Snyder is coming after it for Jackie Brant.
Russ Snyder had a good year for the Orioles last
season. A real speedster and one of the outstanding
runners in the game today. Well, now take over
the last half of the ball game in center field
for Jackie Brant. Snyder, a left -hand hitter.
Pitch is over at the knees for a call strike.
His first year out in baseball in the Yankee
farm system, playing in McAllister, Oklahoma.
He hit something like 432. That's a bunch of
hitting. Now the pitcher on the way, just off
the outside corner. He likes to bunt down the
third baseline. He tries to pin it close to the
line. Probably four out of six times you'll bump
the ball foul, but the two times it goes safe,
there's nothing you can do. It's a base hit.
Fly ball into the air to short left field. Coming
in is Jim Hickman. Now Jim slows up and he puts
it away for the out. You're a McAllister when
he hit 432. It was no fluke. He went to bat 556
times. He had 240 base hits. Last year, we were
talking about that bunting. Last year, he beat
out 16 bunts for base hits. By trying to catch
a puff of smoke. Now, Louie Aparicio is the hitter.
Two outs and one on. Barber is the base runner.
Birds two, Mets nothing. Bottom half of inning
number five. Larry Bernard pitching for the New
York Mets. The blonde right -hander comes over
the top of the fastball inside and high, one
ball and no strike. Barbara and Larry Benares,
during the winter, bought a new home out in Huntington.
And during the off -season, Larry worked as a
substitute school teacher in the Huntington system.
Next pitcher on the way goes through a curve
that bends too far away. Two balls and no strikes
on little Louie. Aparicio, right -hand hitter,
standing well back from the plate. Rod Caneel
striding toward left center against him. Slider
over for a strike, 2 -1. While the New York Mets
will have tomorrow up and be spending the off
day in New York, the Orioles have an exhibition
game, their final exhibition game, against the
Philadelphia Phillies in Philadelphia. A let
-up hit on the ground down a third baseline foul.
Change -up fouled off, 2 -2 to Aparicio. Tuesday
night, opening night for the New York Mets in
Philadelphia. The left -handers going, Dennis
Bennett and Al Jackson. Dennis Bennett's younger
brother was down at Clearwater in camp this year
with the Philadelphia Phillies. They feel he
has a chance to develop and perhaps make the
Major League. Low outside, 3 -2. One of the most
promising youngsters in the entire Philly camp
was a pitcher by the name of Dwight Sutherland.
The reason was about two weeks ago, Gene Mock
was very seriously considering keeping him with
the big ball club in order that he could be protected
from the first -year player draft. Now the pitcher
on the way, just off the outside corner, ball
four. But the Phillies decided that since they
are a pennant contender, they could ill afford
to have too many players sitting around in the
dugout. So they tried to get waivers on him,
and Dwight Sutherland was claimed by the New
York Mets. Runners on first and second, Barber
moving over to second on the walk by Benarth.
The hitter now is Boog Powell. Out of stretch,
picked by Benarth. Gets away from Hawk Taylor,
no advance. He recovers in a hurry. Inside and
low, one ball and no strike. Last half of any
number five 2 -0 ball game. Right after the game,
the New York Mets will be packing up and flying
to New York. Next pitch on the way, breaking
ball down low 2 -0. It's been a long spring training
for a number of people with the ball club. Several
of the players you'll remember came down to the
early camp. So they left after the first week
of February. They've been gone about 67 days.
People who are so important to the ball club
like Herb Norman, the equipment manager and the
trainer, just watch. A long drive, it beats the
right field, but it's still being gone. A three
-run homer for Goodfell. Home run this spring
for John Boog Powell, the massive young left
fielder of the Baltimore Orioles. He pulled that
one and easily hit it over the right field fence.
Five to nothing, birds in front. That brings
up the spectacle's Norm Siebert. One swing of
the bat by Boog Powell and three runs can end.
Pitch is over for a call strike. Baltimore, five
runs on seven hits. Now Banas with a full windup.
In comes the pitch. Breaking the ball inside
and low. One ball and one strike. A two -out,
three -run homer. Next pitch on the way. That's
over for a called strike. Steve Barber, the Oriole
pitcher in today's game, is without a doubt one
of the toughest pitchers in all of the major
leagues to hit a home run. He rarely gives up
many home runs in the course of a year. Strangely
enough, if he gives up about 10 a year, it seems
like Detroit gets about 8 out of the 10. 1 -2
delivery, it's fast foul. Well, they say every
pitcher has a voodoo club, a club he can just
do nothing with. and every hitter has circumstances
he has trouble with. Detroit's been a voodoo
club for the Mets this year. Four broken bones,
four different injuries for the Mets this year,
and three against Detroit, three of the four.
The 1 -2 delivery, hip foul high in the air,
deep down the left field line, out of play. 2
-2 Coleman, Craig Anderson. Carl Willey all hurt
against Detroit. But now for the 1 -2 delivery,
it's over, strength recall. Siebernitz called
looking. Three runs, there were two hits. No
errors, none left on. Now five innings complete.
Baltimore, five runs, seven hits. They've had
two left. For the New York Mets, no runs, three
hits. They've had five left on. And on Friday,
when the Mets open the beautiful new Shea Stadium,
which seats 55 ,300, they'll be opening a seven
-game homestand. Seven consecutive day games,
the weekend series of Pittsburgh, the big opener
Friday, the ladies' day game Saturday, and a
Sunday afternoon game on the 19th of April. Then
the Philadelphia Phillies come to New York and
the Shea Stadium for a two -game series, both
day games on Monday and Tuesday, the 20th and
21st. After the Phillies leave town, Bob Kennedy
and the Chicago Cubs come in. It'll be the first
time we've seen them since they trained in Arizona.
The Cubs will be in on Wednesday and Thursday,
April 22nd and April 23rd. Tickets are on sale
for the seven -game homestand at all the 81 home
games of the New York Mets. At the ticket office
at Shea Stadium, also Midtown Manhattan at Grand
Central Station near the 42nd Vanderbilt Ramp,
along on in the waiting room of the Penn Station,
and in... Suffolk County at Macy's and the Walt
Whitman Shopping Center in Huntington. Now for
the Orioles, Sam Bowens is going to right field,
and Dick Brown takes over behind the plate. Russ
Snyder goes to center field. So those are the
three changes for the Orioles. For those of you
scoring along with us, Russ Snyder is in center
field, Sam Bowens replaces Willie Kirkland in
right field, and Dick Brown takes over behind
the plate. Replacing John Orsino. Ron Hunt leading
off against Barber in the sixth inning. Birds
now with a 5 -0 lead after a three -run homer
by John Powell. Ron doubled to right and has
drawn a walk so far. Outside and high, one ball
and no strike. Nobody warming up as yet. Hank
Bauer planning to go at least seven innings with
Steve Barber. Now Galen Sisco starts to warm
up for the New York Mets. Foul pop -up behind
the plate. Back comes Dick Brown. He hopes he
has a play. Up against the screen. It's out of
his reach. And just barely out of his reach.
No workout tomorrow for the Mets. Casey giving
the ball club the day off after some 65 days
of a spring training grind. It'll give them a
chance to get unpacked and send their laundry
out. Fabby Durkin, our engineer, is heading north,
but he's got this thing all beat because he sent
his laundry out the day before we left. Of course,
his laundry's still in Florida. Now the pitcher
on the way, a ground ball banged towards short.
Backhand play by Aparicio, the long peg not in
time, and Hunt beats it out for a base hit. Throw
around is two for two and a walk and three -fifths
to the plate. Right here, we pause for station
identification. This is the New York Mets baseball
network. WGY -WGFN is connected. Weather time
is eight minutes past seven, and the temperature
is 49 degrees. Bob Murphy with Lindsey Nelson
and Ralph Kanner. We're in the sixth inning here
in Fort Smith. Baltimore 5 and New York nothing.
Ron Hunt has just led off here in the sixth inning
with a base hit to deep short. That is the fourth
hit given up by Steve Barber. Ground ball slowly
hit towards second. Adair charges in, flips the
ball to second one. On to first, not in time,
but what a flashy fielding play. Jerry Adair
with a backhand flip got rid of the ball lightning
fast to Aparicio. Louie came racing across the
bank and flew on to Seaburn, but not in time
to get Jim Hickman. Quite a play by Jerry Adair
and Louie Aparicio. Now one out and one on, the
batter is Bob Taylor. The Hawks have grounded
out and fly to right, nothing for two. When he
came out of high school, Milwaukee gave him one
of the biggest bonuses ever offered to a youngster.
He received over $100 ,000 to sign. He is a hard
-working, very determined young athlete. The
1 -1 delivery bounced foul back towards the screen,
no play. Marcus had his share of bad breaks and
now figures that everything is straightening
out for him. Last year in the spring, he broke
his collarbone. Two years prior to that, he was
on the service. And in the last three years,
has played less than 60 ballgames. So he played
this winter in Latin America and played every
day and had a real good year. The 1 -1 pitch
by Barber, taken under the knees, two balls and
a strike. 2 -1 the count, the pitch thrown by
Barber. Hit off the end of the bat, a foul ball.
Steve Barber's story has not been unlike that
of Bob Taylor. Barber also had a couple of stretches
in the service. As a matter of fact, he pitched
on weekends on leave from the Army the year before
last. When he came out of the service, he had
mononucleosis that weakened him and sent him
to the sidelines and put him on the disabled
list. And then bounced back to become a 20 -game
winner last year. Pitching 2 -2. Foul ball, no
play. Barber has always defied baseball superstition
by wearing number 13. Nothing spectacularly new
over the years, the number of ballplayers in
the big leagues have worn 13. How many hotels
have you ever been in that had a 13th floor?
2 -2 delivery. Foul ball back, no play. Count
even now, two and two on Bob Taylor. One out
and one on in the top of the sixth inning. Now,
Bobber slowing himself up a little bit. Galen
Frisco warming up for the New York Mets. Last
exhibition ball game for New York in case he
wants all the pitchers that will be working in
that first week to get a little bit of tune -up.
Now the pitcher on the way. A smash back through
the box. The base hit for Bob Taylor. Jim Hickman
turning his second. He'll hold there as Snyder
plays the ball back in. So this is the first
time that Barber has given up more than one hit
in any inning. Mets now have runners on first
and second, one out, and Joe Christopher coming
up. Two for two. Must now have a total of five
hits off Barber. Ron Hunt and Joe Christopher
have picked up four of the five. Now the Orioles
with the infield at double play depth straight
away and the outfield just about straight away.
And the enthusiasm from the top of the wagers
now starts with a cry, let's go Mets. Here's
the pitcher on the way. Sends it right in for
a call strike one. For the Orioles, in all probability,
at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Milt Pappas will
pitch their opener, followed by Rob and Robert.
Then the Orioles come back to Baltimore for the
home opener, where they'll have Steve Barber
going against the Yankees. Al Barber in the prep
position delivers to Christopher and his pals
back toward the press box, no play. Mentioning
the press box, you can well imagine how happy
the baseball writers following the message throughout
spring training will be to get back home. They
have been gone for over two months. Gus Mott
and his assistant, Joe Deere, Herb Norman, the
home equipment manager, and Nick Trauman, who
will handle the visiting clubhouse, they've all
been in spring training since the first day.
Swing and a miss. Barber strikes out Joe Christopher.
Two men down now in the sixth inning, and Sammy
Samwell comes up. That is the fourth strikeout
by Steve Barber. Brown -Well has drowned it out
to first, reached on a fourth play, nothing for
two. Sammy, a right -hand hitter. Now Barber
with two outs and two on. Fires a swing and a
miss on a letter -half fastball, strike one.
Anytime Barber is around the plate, he's a tough
pitcher to hit. Actually, while winning 20 last
year, he gave up more hits per inning since than
any previous year, and he says he's bound and
determined this year not to give up as many hits
as he did last year. It was the first year he'd
ever given up very many hits. Final ball hit
back toward the crowd and out of play. So it
was a very successful year for him. Here's the
pitcher on the way by Barbara. A slow roller
hits his shortstop. Aparicio digs it out of the
dirt. Throws to Adair in time to get the fourth
play to erase the side. Tried to retire to the
sixth. A miss threatened but failed to get a
run home. No runs, two hits, no errors, two left.
Now at the end of five and a half, the score,
the Baltimore Orioles five and the New York Mets
nothing. And here's music to think of Ryan Gold
in any language by. In any language, it's easy
to understand why Rheingold is as good to your
taste as it is to your thirst. Extra dry brewing
makes the difference. Makes each Rheingold so
smooth, so crisp, so satisfying. Rheingold after
Rheingold. It's as good to your taste as it is
to your thirst. of the sixth inning, right fielder
Sam Bowens will lead off for the Orioles. A check
that is going to be catcher Dick Brown, followed
by Sam Bowens. Brown took over for John Orsino.
Orsino drew a walk and singled a right center
in two times left. Dick Brown leading off for
the Orioles, last of the sixth inning, Larry
Bernard on the mound. Tracy Stallard worked the
first two, Jack Fisher then worked two, and now
Bernard starts his second inning. Galen Frisco
is getting warm, and he'll take over for a couple.
Foul tip, strike one. Well, tomorrow the Mets
are back in New York enjoying an off day. Monday
they will be attended to parade by the Jamaica
Chamber of Commerce. Our next broadcast will
be on Tuesday night, the National League opener
from Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. Brown
standing straight up. Now Cox is about high behind
his ear. Looks at a sneaky fastball over for
a call strike, but I heard he sneaked that one
in on him. Now a two -strike count on Dick Brown.
Well, Dick's old high school buddy who broke
in so sensationally and then suffered a tragic
accident is now a baseball broadcaster. Off the
outside corner, Herb's score this year will be
helping on the broadcast of the Cleveland game.
During the high school days, the battery was
score pitching and Brown catching. One ball and
two strikes to Dick Brown. Now Larry Menard is
over the head. The pitch fouled off. He went
for an inside delivery. Folded foul back over
toward the... Mets dugout. Perfect day, a marvelous
crowd. Final exhibition game for New York. Mets
flying back home after the game today. Pitching
one and two. Ground ball hit right back to the
mound. Taken by Benares. He flips the first one
down. One away and nobody on. Up to hit now will
be the right fielder, Sam Bowen. Last year at
Rochester, Sam Bowen's at 285 with 70 RBIs. He
has good size. He packs about 195 pounds on a
6 '2 inch frame. Right hand hitter with an overly
closed set. Foul ball off the bat handle, slithering
on the ground straight back. Outfield, a fan
to round toward left, figuring Bowens as a full
hitter with good power. The infield, a way around
to the left. Apatow tries to pitch away from
him. That's outside. One ball and one strike.
1 -1 delivery. Changeup inside and low. Two balls
and a strike. Ron Hunt flying at third, protecting
the line against Sam Bowens. Final tip, into
the glove of Hawk Taylor, and the count is even
now, two balls and two strikes. Fans remember
that Guy Lombardo provides the musical entertainment
preceding the opening game on Friday at Shea
Stadium. The national anthem will be sung by
that great Metropolitan Opera star, Robert Merrill.
The 2 -2 delivery. Outside and high, it's ball
three. Full count now, three and two. So the
string is out, three and two on Sam Bowens. One
out and nobody on. Now the pitch underway. An
inside delivery, full foul. Down past the television
camera and out of play. Our next broadcast will
be on Tuesday night out of Philadelphia. Game
will be both broadcast and televised back to
New York. 3 -2. Fouled again. Soap and Art having
quite a duo here with Sam Bowen. Larry came on
to pitch in the fifth inning with two outs and
two uns. John Powell hit a home run over the
right field fence to drive in three. 3 -2 delivery.
And he pops it up on the right side towards shallow
right field, trailing out of Samwell. He's there,
and he makes the catch two men down. Now two
outs and nobody on, Brooks Robinson coming on
to hit. Brooks single to left, driving in the
first run of the afternoon, and then fly to center,
one hit and two times up. Brooks has led the
Orioles in RBIs during the spring game. He covers
third base like a vacuum cleaner. Little bit
of high, one ball and no strike. and the Mets
nothing. We're in the last half of the sixth
inning. Now Bernard out of his windup delivers
a little bit high with it. Two balls and no strike.
2 -0 delivery. This was over and Robbie was taking
all away. The pitch is a strike on the outside
corner. Two balls and one strike. Inside, Brooks
had to jump back and the count goes to 3 -1.
Two outs and nobody on here in the last of the
sixth inning. Baltimore five runs on seven hits.
New York no runs on five hits. Barber has kept
the hits scattered in only one inning as he's
given up more than one hit. Ground ball hammered
towards short. Fielded by Al Moran. He hurries
to peg across, and Smith on the side is out.
No runs, no hits, no errors, and none left on.
Now six innings complete, and Fort Smith, Virginia,
the score. The Baltimore Orioles 5 and the New
York Mets. We're going now to the top half of
the seventh inning, and shortstop Al Moran is
up to lead off for the New York Mets, facing
Steve Barber, who started and he's come all the
way. The Orioles leading by a score of 5 -0 in
this, the last exhibition game for the Mets.
The Orioles have one more. They go to Philadelphia
tomorrow. A left -hander with the pitch and it's
low for ball one. They've seen the first Mets
banner of the season here in Portsmouth, Virginia,
so the season has indeed begun. By the pitch
and it's in there for a called strike. 1 -1.
The banner saying, we love the Mets, has been
sung across the top of the center field bleachers.
And a group there from Connecticut, Yonkers,
and Brooklyn. Here's a pitch swung on. It's a
ground ball to second base. Gilead there over.
Underhand's on to first in time. And Al Moran
has grounded out second to first. There's one
away. Larry Benares is due up at Chris Cannizzaro.
It's going to bet for Larry Benares. Chris. Camisero.
The North has completed his two -inning stint,
during which he gave up three runs on two hits.
Struck out one and walked none. Jalen Sisco will
be the next pitcher. for the New York Mets next
inning. He has just now completed his warm -ups
and is walking on in toward the dugout area.
Canizaro is a catcher by trade, a right -hand
batter, left -hander. Steve Barber fish -mitches
everybody, including Dick Brown, and bangs up
against the screen behind the plate. So it is
ball one to Canizaro. The Mets right now are
carrying four catchers. They figure to platoon
Jesse Gonder and Hawk Taylor. Now they have Canazaro
and John Stevenson. Stevenson can be used in
the outfield or at theory base. Has been the
worst out both places. Played part of one exhibition
game in left field. Bring the ground ball to
short. Taken by Aparicio and the throw on the
first in time and he's out. Two men down. And
that will bring up Dick Smith, the first baseman.
Let's have three first basemen. Ed Crane Poole,
Tim Harkness, Dick Smith. Last year, here at
this ballpark, Frank D. Lawrence Stadium in Portsmouth,
Crane fool hit three home runs. Of course, he
did not get into the lineup today, hasn't been
in, because of the fact that he is a left -hand
batter, and Casey Singer wanted to keep his right
hand hitting first baseman, Dick Smith, in the
lineup. Fronted foul. Smith trying to use his
speed as he found Brooks Robinson playing a deep
third base. but just tipped it off, and it's
a strike. Dick Hall is now loosening up in the
bullpen for the Orioles. Barber again with the
pitch, and it is swing on and miss. Two strikeouts.
Steve Barber's schedule to go seven innings,
and we're in the top half of the seventh here
now, with the Orioles leading by a score of 5
-0. Previously this spring, the Mets and the
Orioles played a two -game set in Miami, both
night games and split the two games. Swing and
a miss, and Barber finishes up with a strikeout.
As he got Smith, he set the side down in order
in the top of the seventh with no runs, no hits,
no errors, none left. And the score at the end
of six and one half innings is the Orioles five
and the Mets nothing. It'll be Jerry Adair coming
up now to lead off for the Orioles in the bottom
half of the seventh inning. And Lou Jackson is
swinging a bat in the on -deck circle, preparatory
to batting for Steve Farber, due up second in
this inning. Galen Sisko is the pitcher in the
ballgame for the Mets, and Jerry Hensley has
gone down to the bullpen now. Right -hand batter,
Jerry Adair, two for two this afternoon. In and
waiting is Sisko, winds and fires, and the pitch
is swung. It's a ground ball toward the hole,
backhanded off the glove of Moran, all out in
the left field for a base hit. Retrieved by Hickman
and fired back in. It is three straight base
hits for Jerry Adair as he opens up the bottom
of the seventh with a single at left. Now Lou
Jackson is batting for Steve Farber. Last year
at Toronto, Jackson hit 315, including 31 home
runs. We're getting a pinch runner now. Now Savarin
is running for Jerry Adair at first base. Savarin
an infielder by trade. There is nobody out. The
Orioles lead 5 -0. Bottom half of the seventh.
Jalen Sisko up and set now. Savarin leads it
first. And if it's Lou Jackson, if it's deep
to the right field corner, it's going to carry
four and out. Stays in, and it is a home run
for Lou Jackson. Way out of the ballpark and
beyond. Over the fence and on the rooftop of
a house beyond. Casey Stengel talks about ballplay
that hit him over buildings, and that's what
Lou Jackson did. A two -run homer. Savarene scores
ahead of Lou Jackson as he swung on the first
pitch that he got from Galen Fisco and gave it
the long ride. Second home run for the Orioles.
Boots on a three -run homer earlier, and the
Orioles are out in front by a score of seven
to nothing. Still nobody out, and Russ Snyder
is the batter. Left -hand batter. And the pitch
is high for a ball. Anytime Snyder is up there,
you have to protect against the possibility of
the butt. For that reason, Ron Hunt is on the
edge of the grass at third. Disco again winds
and fires, and the pitch is low for a ball. 2
-0 to the Orioles' center fielder. Young Jerry
Hensley continues to warm up in the net bullpen.
Disco with the pitch. And it's low for a ball.
So it has run out 3 -0 now to Snyder. 3 -0 pitch,
and it's in there for a call strike. He was taking
all the way, and it's 3 -1. Now the 3 -1 delivery.
Hit on the ground. And it is taken by Samuel.
He plays to Fisco, and he got him in time. A
six -minute made a run at the ball in step and
went on over in front of Samuel. Made the backhand
step, didn't come up with it. Samuel did, and
Fisco got over the cover in time. So if you're
scoring, the play goes 4 -1. One away, and that
brings up Lou Aparicio. He is one for two in
a walk, and he has scored one run. Let's go.
Wines and fires. And it's outside for a ball.
One man out, nobody on base. Orioles 7, the Mets
nothing. Right after this game, the Mets will
be flying into New York. Here's a pitch in there
for a call strike. It's 1 -1. The Mets are expected
to arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport
approximately three and a half hours after the
conclusion of this game. The 1 -1 pitch, and
it's low for a ball. Luis Separicio. Drew Powell
is waiting around on deck. Disco looks for the
sign. And the pitch is high and away. Try to
slip pitch. It's Aparicio at play. We'll be on
the air Tuesday night at 8 p .m. New York time
from Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. Pitch
is in there. He's starting to go held up. Call
strike. This ballpark is the home of the Tidewater
Tides of the Carolina League. They have a working
agreement with the Chicago White Sox, who played
here yesterday against the Reds. And here's a
drive down the right field line. A Tommy Hawk
swinging a fair ball. It'll go for extra bases
as it is being run down in the right field corner
by Joe Christopher. And Aparicio's on his way
to third. As the throw comes in, he holds up
with a triple right down the right field line.
He Tommy Hawks it and kept it in fair territory
so that... The ball scams in, off in the foul
down back of the right field corner, and Christopher
had to run it down while the speedy Luis Aparicio
pulled up his period with a triple. And that's
going to bring up Boog Powell, who is one for
three, but the one was a big one, a home run
over the right field fence. We're in the bottom
of the seventh. You're in Portsmouth, Virginia.
This coach pitch is whipped into center field
for a base hit. That's George Aparicio. Can he
lift with the ball? Plays it back in. Boog Powell
is on it first with a single to right and a run
batted in. It is the Orioles' eighth and the
Mets' nothing. And right now, we pause for station
identification. This is the New York Mets Baseball
Network. This is Lindsey Nelson with Ralph Kiner
and Bob Murphy at Frank D. Lawrence Stadium in
Fort Smith, Virginia. The final exhibition game
of this spring for the New York Mets against
the Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles are leading
by a score of 8 -0. Norm Seaborn is coming up
with a runner at first and one man out. Seaborn
is nothing for three. Pitch is inside for a ball.
Sebring came into this afternoon's game with
an average of 276 for the spring, but it's a
little deceptive because he has had only one
extra base hit all spring. One double. Throw
over and not in time. Powell takes a short lead.
Pitches in there for a call strike to Sebring.
Sebring obtained. From the Kansas City A's in
exchange for first baseman Jim Gentile, Steven
played with the Yankees as a teammate of Hank
Bauer, his first manager, and then, of course,
Bauer managed him in Kansas City. This goes,
checks and deals, swung out and missed. The Orioles
have three runs in this inning. Cisco's pitch,
a little tight. Popped out of the glove of Hawk
Taylor, he retrieved and returned it. Leading
hitter for the Orioles during their exhibition
season in Florida was utility infielder Bob Johnson,
who hit .370, followed closely by catcher Dick
Brown, who hit .362. 2 -2 pitch. Hit on the ground
toward second. Samwell over to Moran. He can't
find the handle and steps on the bag himself.
Apparently he got a finger cut in the webbing
of his own glove. And they got the force at second,
but no other play. So there is no error charge.
But it looked like an easy double play ball.
Samwell started to scoop and somehow got mixed
up and the ball dropped out of the glove. And
he's looking at the index finger of his right
hand. Looks as though he got it caught in the
webbing. And he finally picked up the ball and
steps on the bag at second himself. So, Steven
is on, two men out, and Dick Brown is coming
up. He's been up one time, down to .60 to first.
But a .362 batting average for the stay in Florida
of the Orioles. Right -hand batter. Here's a
swing and a miss for a strike. The Orioles 8
and the Mets nothing. You're in the bottom half
of the seventh inning. Galen Fisker steps off
the rubber. And as he does, Dick Brown steps
out of the batter's box. Again, we're set. The
seaman leaves it first. Pitch to Brown is high
for a ball. Galen Fisker, one -time captain and
linebacker of Ohio State football team. Cisco
checked. And the pitch is outside for a ball.
Galen Cisco and Frank Howard were baseball teammates
at Ohio State. And as undergraduates, they took
a trip to Japan under the sponsorship of the
State Department. Pitch is low, blocked by Taylor.
Rolls a two -peat out in front of the plate.
There is no advance by Steven at first base.
Two men out. Gun, Cisco, check and deal. Pitch
is swung on and pulled foul. On the ground, back
of Therese. Continuing on down the left field
line in foul territory. Billy Hunter coaching
there at third. Sherm Lawler is coaching at first.
As Gene Woodling was given the day off. Throughout
the season, he will be stationed at first for
the Orioles. Now the pitch to Brown. swung on
and fouled off right off the protector of umpire
Lou DeMuro. So Big Brown is still alive. Disco
looks under Taylor. And the pitch swung on and
fouled off off the screen this time. Mets arrived
last night. Having worked out yesterday, then
they left, actually, the Tampa airport about
4 p .m., arrived here around 7. Here's a pitch
from on top of the foul, coming back now to play.
Taylor starts to give it a run and gives up.
This one comes on back. When the Mets arrived
at their hotel, their motor hotel, the Chicago
White Sox still were there. And before either
team left, the Baltimore Orioles came in. So
there was one point last night, and we had three
major league teams in one lobby in Norfolk. Let's
go check Sebring. And the pitch is high. Ball
four. Big Brown goes to first with the base on
ball. Sebring moves to second. Sam Bowens is
coming up. And up one time and he popped out
to second base. Point to the right -hand batter.
Close stance. Swing and a foul ball top down
to third base coach Billy Hunter. He'll just...
Fires it right on back out to Galen Sisco. Owen's
moving around, exercising a leg as though he
chopped that one right off his ankle. And just
outside the batter's box. Now he's coming in.
He pitches right in for a call strike. That was
a slip pitch. This coach said he's had this pitch
for a couple of years, but it's just now that
it's begun to look like one. Inside football.
Here's a one -two pitch, and it's inside. Two
-two. Leave first and second. There's a pitch
deep to left field, way back toward the corner.
And it is a fair ball going over the fence for
a homer on for Bowen as it went around the foul
pole. It is being questioned by Moran, but umpire
Paul Crawford down the line says it went around
the foul pole, 330 feet away, and it is a three
-run homer for Sam Bowen, and the Orioles lead
by a score of 11 -0. The third Oriole home run
of this ballgame. One by Bruce Powell, one by
Lou Jackson, one by Sam Bowen. Nobody on base
and Brooks Robinson up now with two men out.
Probably one for three today. Started in one
run. Pitch is in there for a tall strike. Stacey
Stengel out in front of the Mets dugout. Rating
up and down. And the pitch is high for a ball.
in the home run. Swing and a ground ball deep
to third. One -handed by Rana. Throws on to first.
In time and he got him. The side is retired.
The Orioles got six runs on five hits. No errors
and none left. And the score is the end of seven.
Full innings of play is the Orioles 11 and the
Mets nothing. Opening day at Shea Stadium in
New York, less than a week away now. It'll be
next Friday afternoon, April 17th, the New York
Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates. So if you have
not already obtained your ticket for opening
day, be sure and do so. And keep in mind that
the ticket office will be open tomorrow at Shea
Stadium. It is open on Sunday. Of course, the
ticket office at Shea Stadium will be open until
5 o 'clock this afternoon. Opening day, Friday
afternoon, April 17th. Now Dick Hall has come
in to pitch for the Orioles. come out swinging
the bat. You'll recall last year, Ed Cranfield
hit three home runs here. As I remember it, and
this is only a recollection that I would not
bet much on, I think he hit the first two off
Robin Roberts and the last one off Sue Miller.
Ed Cranfield is being announced now. The official
attendance figures have been announced, 5 ,350.
5 ,350 paid here this afternoon. And the pitch
is low for a ball. Bob Johnson is now playing
first base for the Orioles. And the pitch is
low to Cranepool. That's the plate. 2 -0. And
Bob Savarin is playing second base. He came out
as a pinch runner, stayed in. And the pitch is
outside for Ball. Down 3 -0 now to Ed Cranepool.
We're in the top half of the eighth inning, and
the pitch is fired in. Payne pulls just a 3 -0
pitch for a called strike one. Jen Hall's pitch,
and it's swung on and fouled off to the left
side and out of play, and the count is now full
at 3 -2. Steve Barber with seven innings, which
he allowed no runs on five, hit the strikeout
four, and walked two. And the picture's low ball
for Cranefool, has drawn a walk. Goes down to
first base, and Ron Hunt is coming up. Hunt's
two for two in a walk today, right -hand batter.
Hot batting number three today in the Met batting
order. Craneville leads it first, and the pitch
is in there for a called strike. Jim Hickman
is waiting on deck. The Orioles 11 and the Mets
nothing here in Portsmouth, Virginia. Pitches
in for a called strike to Jim Hickman. Dick Hall
again, into the motion. There is a check swing,
but it's in there for a strike. Two strike counts.
Bob Taylor moves out to the on -deck circle.
Here's a swing and a miss, and Hall chalks up
a strikeout. His first as he gets Jim Hickman.
For the Mets, no runs, no hits, no errors, none
loves. And to score at the end of seven and a
half innings is the Orioles 11 and the Mets nothing.
Have you made any plans yet? For after the game,
I mean. If you haven't thought, then give some
thought to all the great things there are to
see and to do and to enjoy wherever you are along
the Rheingold Beach. For this is the place where
it's easy to find the best fun, the best food,
and the best beer. Rheingold Extra Dry. Take
one taste and you'll know Rheingold is as good
to your taste as it is to your taste. Rheingold
is brewed by people who love beer for people
who love beer. With a crisp liveliness no other
beer can match. So tonight, have a big time.
Have a good time. Have a Rheingold and have another.
Rheingold is as good to your taste as it is to
your thirst. Rheingold after Rheingold. Jerry
Hensley is now in the ballgame as the pitcher
for the New York Mets, and Ed Cranes, who stays
in the game, in center field. He batted for Rod
Kinneal, and he is staying in the game. Jerry
Hensley is the young fellow who did not pitch
an inning of baseball last year. As the property
of the Pittsburgh Pirates, he and his twin brother
and battery mate were at Kingsport. However,
he was on the roster but simply worked out before
games and did not appear in a single game. Red
Murph, a Met scout, had seen him in high school,
saw him warm up before a ball game there, and
Hensley was drafted by the New York Mets. Bob
Savareen is up now to lead off for the Orioles.
And the first pitch is low for Ball. His track
and trade is a blazing fastball. Lou Jackson
is now on deck for the Orioles. Came out as a
pinch hitter and saved in the game. This pitch
is in for a called strike. Hensley getting a
sign from Hawk Taylor who's been behind the plate
all day. Here's the pitch in there. Went to the
breaking ball for a called strike. One and two
now to Savarin. Left hand at it. Ed Bowida is
warming up now in the bullpen for the Mets. Ed
Bowida. This pitch is fired high for a ball.
Sisko worked only one inning, which he allowed
six runs on five hits. Struck out none and walked
one. Hensley with the pitch, and it's low. A
full count of three and two to Bob Savarene.
Hensley looks for the sign, and here's the payoff
pitch. Swung on, and there's strike three. So
young Jerry Hensley chalks up a strikeout, and
this is Lou Jackson coming up. That is for Barb
and Staten again. Pinch hit, home run. His only
previous appearance. the pitch is low for ball
one to Lou Jackson. The Orioles, 11, and the
Mets, nothing. The Orioles, 11, and the Mets,
nothing. In the bottom half of the eighth inning,
Richmond, Virginia. The Orioles are the home
team. Entry six swung on and foul back into the
glove of Hawk Taylor. 1 -1 count. Now the pitch
is high off the top of the glove of Taylor and
continuing on back. It's 2 -1. Today, of course,
without the services of George Altman, who was
left back at the hotel where he could undergo
further treatment for the shoulder injury he
sustained on the final day in Florida. And I
guess March 1st, there is a good possibility
he may be able to play on Tuesday night, although
it is not a certainty. Mike Thomas is in New
York, where he was sent several days ago for
treatment of tendinitis. There's a swing and
a miss. All the way around for Lou Jackson's
2 -2 count. Tomorrow will be an off day for the
New York Mets in which they will visit themselves
with uniform fitting. Carl Willey, of course,
is in New York. He went directly yesterday. Flying
up from St. Pete with his jaw wired. With a swing
and a foul ball. Back and out of play. Count
holds at 2 -2. No man out. Nobody on base. On
Monday, the Mets will participate in a 10 .15
a .m. Flushing, Jamaica parade, followed by a
luncheon. Then they'll work out on the Hofstra
field. Swing and a foul ball off and out of play.
Work continues, of course, on the field at Shea
Stadium to get it in shape for opening day. Friday,
April 17th, the Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
2 -2 pitch to Lou Jackson. Breaking ball swung
on, fouled off, got just enough of it to stay
alive. There's Hock Taylor couldn't hold on,
and the count continues at 2 -2. The Mets will
go to Philadelphia Tuesday morning. Two, two
pitches in there for a cold strike three. Suck
him out. Sir Jerry Hensley has placed too many.
Suck them both out. You know, people who like
beer best like Rheingold best of all, and I'm
one of them. Hope you are, too, because Rheingold
is as good to your taste as it is to your spirit.
Dress night has been up twice without a hit after
having replaced Jackie Brandt, who started at
center field. It is hit in the air to center
field, and Ed Greenville is coming on for his
first chance of the day, and he makes the catch.
But Jerry Hensley gets the start out in order
in the bottom of the eighth with no runs, no
hits, no errors, none left, and the score at
the end of eighth is the Orioles 11 and the Mets
nothing. Well, the year of the Mets' move into
Shea Stadium is upon us. Everything written about
this development becomes a collector's item.
A special dedication program has been prepared
for the Mets and will be on sale at Shea Stadium
when the season opens Friday. You can also order
copies of that program by mail. This book contains
pictures and a history of the New York National
League teams, Apollo Grounds, Ebbets Field, Shea
Stadium, and J .C. Stengel. The program will
be available at the stadium only during the first
homestand, so to get your copy in advance. and
$1 to dedication program Shea Stadium, Flushing,
New York. We're going now to the top half of
the ninth inning with Dick Hall on the mound
for the Orioles. Bob Taylor due up for the Mets.
Duke Snyder has a bat at the corner of the bedrock.
Taylor is there also. And Taylor is coming on
up to bat. And Snyder is following him out to
the on -deck circle. So apparently it's going
to be Taylor batting and then Snyder batting
statistically due up next. Mark Taylor is one
for three this afternoon. You'll recall that
last year, Duke's matter joined the Mets right
here at this stadium. After he was purchased
from the Dodgers, he flew in here and got here
just about game time last year. They call at
the pitch in the top of the ninth, and it's outside
for a ball. A sturdy group of New Yorkers out
in center field with the cry of, let's go Mets.
Here's the pitch. Low for a ball. Oh, looks to
dig Brown first time. And the pitch is swung
on. It's due to left if it stays there, but it's
curving on over and disappearing a foul ball.
Bob Taylor. One and one out of Taylor. Snyder
still there in the on -deck circle. This pitch
is thrown out and popped up and the short center
field. Bavarin is out there and Snyder is there
and Russ Snyder makes the catch. So there's one
away, and now here's Duke Snyder batting for
Joe Christopher, and Snyder's getting a hand.
Jesse Gundy is now around the back rack of the
New York Mets. There's one away and nobody on
here in the top half of the ninth. There's a
swing and a miss. Two strikeouts for Duke Snyder.
He's taken by Hall, and he plays on over to first
in time to Johnson. Snyder goes out 50 to first,
and now Jesse Gonder is coming up to bat for
Sonny Tomwell. Gandhi's a left -hand batter facing
right -hand pitcher Dick Hall, who is the second
Oriole pitcher of the day. Pitcher's outside
for a ball. Steve Barber pitched the first seven
innings and is the pitcher of record. Tim Harkness
has moved out to the on -deck circle now with
the hope that Gandhi can keep it alive long enough
for him to get a chance. This is a note of Gandhi.
A swing and a miss. One and two is the count.
Not a gander. The Orioles 11 and the Mets nothing.
One -two delivery. Set up outside. Two -two.
We'll be on the air Tuesday night from County
Night Stadium in Philadelphia at 8 p .m. There
is a swing and a miss and Gander has struck out
and this ball game is over. Hall getting two
strikeouts during his tenure as the Mets are
out in the top of the ninth with no runs, no
hits, no errors, none left. And the Orioles have
won it by a score of 11 to nothing. We'll be
back in a moment with a final summary and totals.
Right now the final score of the game is the
Orioles 11 and the Mets nothing. And now here's
news about a cigarette that really scores with
baseball fans.