July 30, 1964 - The Giants were on the field and first place in the National League was on the line when Philadelphia’s John Briggs (pictured) came to bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning tonight, but the rookie hardly noticed the pressure that engulfed Connie Mack Stadium.
“I just felt like I did when I was playing against the Mets,” said the 20-year-old outfielder, who started his first big-league game against the league doormats six weeks ago.
Briggs, who went in as a pinch runner for Wes Covington in the eighth, didn’t start this game — but he put the finishing touch on the 4-3 Phillies victory.
With veteran southpaw Billy Pierce pitching, the lefthanded Briggs took a ball and a strike before swinging.
“It was a slider inside,” said Briggs. “I knew I hit it pretty good.”
The ball whistled toward right field. Jesus Alou started in for the line drive then realized — too late — that the ball was taking off. It cleared his head and caromed off the wall, a few feet above ground level.
“I hit down on the [blankety-blank],” Briggs told coach Peanuts Lowrey. “I guess line drives do pay off.”
Lowrey, Briggs explained, “always tells me to choke up and hit line drives in batting practice. I always get the fever and try to hit ‘em over the fence, but he keeps saying, ‘Hit line drives — line drives.’ I’m glad I hit one tonight.
“Before I went up, my roomie [Ruben Amaro] told me, ‘I can’t tell you anything. You’re a good hitter.’ I told him, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll get ‘em in.’”
Until Briggs lived up to his promise, there was plenty to worry about in the latest Phillie-Giant cliffhanger. On the home bench, fears mounted in the top of the ninth when Willie McCovey, whose late-inning heroics had pulled out last night’s game, boomed a tremendous game-tying homer over the rightfield wall.
“I didn’t even look,” said Ray Culp, who threw the pitch. “Some guys hit the ball on the button, and it might not make it. He’s different.”
An inning later, the Giants appeared headed for their fifth come-from-behind victory of the year in Philadelphia when they scored against Art Mahaffey. Harvey Kuenn scored the run after reaching first on an infield hit — a slow bouncer that Allen fumbled.
Richie’s late-inning fielding problems didn’t upset Phillies manager Gene Mauch.
“I hope he’s not any more worried about his fielding than I am,” is the way Mauch put it.
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