Sept. 16, 1964 - Roger Maris’s 1,000th hit was a homer today, and it decided the 9-4 victory over the Angels at Yankee Stadium, although it doesn't show in the final score. It happened in the sixth inning with one on and broke a 3-3 tie. The additional runs came in an unearned bundle at the finish.
After Roger’s rap but the Bombers ahead, Jim Bouton continued his shaky effort on the mound, and Steve Hamilton was no help in relief. So Pedro Ramos came on to pitch 2⅔ hitless innings and save another game. Pedro has been good in all five appearances in pinstripes and has given up only six hits and two runs in 12 innings since the Yanks grabbed him like a lifesaver from the Indians 10 days ago.
“If I had him all season, I’d be seven or eight games ahead,” manager Yogi Berra said afterward. “He’s what I’ve needed — a guy who comes in from the bullpen and throws the fastball over the plate and gets them out.”
Bouton got credit for his 16th win but wasn’t proud of it. Jim was handed a 3-0 lead when the Yanks raked lefty George Brunet in the fourth. But the Bulldog lost his grip, and three L.A. runs, two on a pinch homer by Tom Satriano, tied it in the fifth.
After Maris put him ahead, 5-3, the Bulldog was hooked in the seventh as the Halos came close to getting it tied up again.
Bill Rigney, L.A manager, was not around for Maris’ poke into the right stands. He had been ejected by plate umpire Joe Paparella for disputing a fourth ball decision on the previous batter, Bobby Richardson.
The pitch by righty reliever Aubrey Gatewood was over the plate, but Paparella judged it to be low. Rigney knows he can’t argue a ball-strike call without being ejected automatically. So, as Richardson trotted to first base, Bill came out and talked to Paparella.
“I’m not disputing the call,” the manager told the umpire. “I just don’t want you to get on my pitcher. He gets excited easily, and I don’t want him upset.
(This was true. Gatewood and Paparella clashed again in the seventh, and coach Salty Parker, the acting manager, rushed from the bench to push the pitcher away from the umpire as they charged toward one another. A guy with a name like Aubrey figures to be ready to defend himself.)
Paparella answered Rigney: “I say you are arguing the ball decision, and you are out of the game.”
Rigney went to the dugout but refused to leave, and Frank Umont, first base umpire, held up the game until he did. After throwing one ball to Maris, Gatewood grooved one, and Roger rapped a high fly into the short porch in right. It was his 236th home run of the 1,000 hits.
By beating Angels, the Yankees made their record 85-59, for a percentage of .590. The White Sox, who also won today, are 88-61 for .591. The Orioles, who lost to the Twins, now have the same record as the White Sox. Thus, one percentage point separates the first three teams in the American League.
Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s
Comments