You may have noticed that I've added the "This Date in History" gadget to my sidebar. I hope you find it interesting, and worth the trouble to check in with it every day.
An addendum to today's: May 26 marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most famous walk-off wins of all-time, though it's not remembered for that.
On this date in 1959, Pirates pitcher Harvey Haddix took a perfect game into the 13th inning against the Milwaukee Braves.
He lost the perfecto bid on an error, than lost the game on what was thought to be a Joe Adcock game-ending home run. However, Hank Aaron, on base at the time, thought the ball had bounced off the wall (no instant-replay then), and ran astray. Adcock passed Aaron on the basepaths and was thus called out. The home run became a single (somewhat akin to the "Grand Slam Single."), and Haddix lost, 1-0.
Two future Mets played in this game...Joe Christopher made his MLB debut that day as a reserve outfielder. Felix Mantilla was the batter who reached on an error, ending Haddix's perfection.
As the good folks at the Ultimate Mets Database point out, Haddix turned out all right for his troubles. He was the winning pitcher the next year in Game 7 of the World Series, which ended on Bill Mazeroski's walk-off home run.
True Metdix know...Harvey Haddix was the Mets pitching coach in 1966 and 1967, a two-year period in which the Mets suffered 20 walk-off losses.
An addendum to today's: May 26 marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most famous walk-off wins of all-time, though it's not remembered for that.
On this date in 1959, Pirates pitcher Harvey Haddix took a perfect game into the 13th inning against the Milwaukee Braves.
He lost the perfecto bid on an error, than lost the game on what was thought to be a Joe Adcock game-ending home run. However, Hank Aaron, on base at the time, thought the ball had bounced off the wall (no instant-replay then), and ran astray. Adcock passed Aaron on the basepaths and was thus called out. The home run became a single (somewhat akin to the "Grand Slam Single."), and Haddix lost, 1-0.
Two future Mets played in this game...Joe Christopher made his MLB debut that day as a reserve outfielder. Felix Mantilla was the batter who reached on an error, ending Haddix's perfection.
As the good folks at the Ultimate Mets Database point out, Haddix turned out all right for his troubles. He was the winning pitcher the next year in Game 7 of the World Series, which ended on Bill Mazeroski's walk-off home run.
True Metdix know...Harvey Haddix was the Mets pitching coach in 1966 and 1967, a two-year period in which the Mets suffered 20 walk-off losses.
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