Apr. 26, 1964 - Norm Siebern’s seventh-inning homer and an incredible defensive play by Brooks Robinson were the only glad tidings for Baltimore as the Orioles expired, 4-1, before the combined four-hit pitching of New York’s Jim Bouton (pictured) and Steven Hamilton at Yankee Stadium yesterday.
The Yanks decisively took the measure of the Birds in the opener of a two-game weekend series with a nine-hit offensive featuring a homer and a pair of singles by Tom Tresh, who drove in three of the four Yankee runs off Milt Pappas.
With a Stadium crowd of 13,659 cash customers and 6,737 additional ladies and kids’ day guests looking on, the Bombers struck for three early runs then stood off Baltimore’s belated ninth-inning threat.
When Bouton, who fanned five, issued his lone walk of the day to Luis Aparicio at the outset of the final frame, Yankee manager Yogi Berra summoned Hamilton from the bullpen.
The 6-7 New York southpaw gave up a single to Siebern but then claimed Joe Gaines on a called third strike, struck out John Orsino, and persuaded Sam Bowens to pop to second baseman Bobby Richardson.
In addition to Tresh’s three hits, Roger Maris contributed a bunt single and a run-scoring double, and Richardson injected a two-bagger.
Richardson was robbed of a second hit when Brooks Robinson astounded the spectators and a nationwide television audience with the game’s defensive spectacular.
Leaping to his left from third base, Robinson knocked down Richardson’s hot grounder, went after the loose ball on his hands and knees, and from a sitting position nipped the flying Yankee at first by a half-stride with a one-bounce peg to Siebern.
After the game, pitcher-coach Whitey Ford went by Bouton’s locker and said: “For gosh sakes, Jim, get yourself a chin strap for your cap. It looks bush for a guy to be working on no-hitters in the major leagues and see his cap flying off on every other pitch.”
“I’ll tell you a little secret,” Whitey laughingly told reporters. “That’s the tip-off on his curveball, but it comes a little late to do the hitter any good.”
“That’s right,” grinned Bouton. “It does happen more on my curve. I can’t figure out why that cap is always flying off. I got one that fits real tight this year. I can warm up for 20 minutes, and it’ll never come off, but as soon as I get in the game, it starts jumping right off my head. I must put a little more effort into it out there.”
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