Dec. 4, 1964 - Bo Belinsky (right), the lefthander who pitched a no-hitter on May 5, 1962, went steady with Mamie Van Doren (left), and slugged a sportswriter during a brief, explosive big league career, was traded to the Phillies today.
“Wow!” exclaimed the 27-year-old headline-maker, emphasizing that he considered the deal “great — wonderful.”
The Phillies, who obtained Belinsky from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for first baseman Costen Shockley and southpaw Rudy May, obviously thought it was a good move, too.
“We’re delighted,” said John Quinn, the Phillies’ general manager, by phone from Houston. “We feel a fellow like Belinsky has a chance to win 15 games for us. We feel the same as we did when we made the Bunning deal.”
Jim Bunning, acquired a year ago in an interleague trade, won 19 games for the ’64 Phillies and became the ace of the staff.
Belinsky was the third American Leaguer plucked by the Phils during the Houston baseball meetings. In earlier swaps, the club got long-ball-hitting first baseman Dick Stuart from the Boston Red Sox and veteran righthanded pitcher Ray Herbert from the Chicago White Sox.
“Belinsky and Dick Stuart were two of the fellows we were hoping we could get when we came down here,” Quinn said.
But nobody was happier than Belinsky — unless it was the Angels.
“I sure got the best of it,” bubbled Bo. “Frankly, I had expected to be traded to Kansas City.”
Belinsky’s bad-boy reputation, capped by his suspension last August after he allegedly knocked out Braven Dyer, a Los Angeles sportswriter, didn’t seem to concern Quinn or Phillies’ manager Gene Mauch. They both were more inclined to put stock in Bo’s on-field record (9-8, 2.87 ERA) for the Angels last season.
“Problem? Why should there be a problem? All I care about it his background as a pitcher, and everyone tells me he can throw hard,” said Mauch when questioned about Belinsky’s history as a problem child.
“We didn’t trade for his troubles. We traded for his pitching,” concluded Gene.
“Just tell Mr. Mauch he has a starting pitcher,” said Belinsky, who has never had modesty listed among his faults.
“I don’t think I’m as bad a guy as people think,” he continued. “I may stay up late, but I’m not a boozer. I’m not going to try to disgrace Philadelphia. I’d like to get a little help from the press.
“Let’s face it. The Angels were never very helpful. They left me to the wolves. I think the Angels actually started to believe what they were reading in the papers.”
Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s
Comments