How You Spell Relief

 

TRIVIA WINNER: The winner of this week's trivia contest is Tim Fealy of Punta Gorda, FL,     who correctly answered the question correctly that Jim Spencer, Dick Stuart and Bob Chance were the three Angels 1B men from 1969. The Prize: Starbucks Gift Card.

TRIVIA CONTEST:  By answering the TRIVIA QUESTION CORRECTLY you are automatically entered into a weekly drawing for a Starbucks Gift Card.  YOU MUST ENTER VIA THE EMAIL AT THE END OF THIS COLUMN. Please put your mailing address in with the answer so if you win we can send you the gift card in the mail.

NEW TRIVIA QUESTION: In his very last game, in his very last at bat Stan Musial got a hit. He was replaced in the game by who?

It has always amazed me in today's world a "relief" pitcher is usually a guy who can go one inning and throw 10 pitches averaging 95-miles an hour. Throw backs to the 1960's (and beyond) scoff at that. Take the fourth game of the 1962 season in Chicago as the Cubs squared off against the Cardinals. The Cubs, who would employ a rotating set of managers this season, were winless so far. The Cardinals had not lost. (YouTube interview with Lindy McDaniel follows below).

The key to this game was a pair of relievers. Lindy McDaniel of St. Louis and Bob Anderson of the Cubs. In fact, two different Anderson's would play a role in this game on April 13, 1962. It started with Ray Washburn facing Don Ellsworth. Ellsworth pitched into the ninth for the Cubs.Washburn was gone in the seventh.

Home runs were hit by Bill White and Lou Brock with key veterans Stan Musial, Billy Williams, Ken Boyer and Curt Flood doing damage with the bat. McDaniel took over in the eighth while Anderson was brought on in the 10th. They were both marvelous.

Each gave up a run in the 14th. However, the Cardinals broke through on Anderson in the 15th. Flood singled and moved to second on a Sac bunt by Julian Javier. One out later Boyer was intentionally walked to bring up Don Landrum. Landrum singled to bring home Flood and Anderson was gone. Morrie Stevens came in and White promptly doubled home two runs. The Cards led 8-5.

John Anderson relieved McDaniel for the final inning and got the Save to close it out. McDaniel's line looked like this all in relief; 7 Innings pitched, 1 Earned Run, 3 Hits, 4 BB, 5 K and a Win. Anderson in a losing cause went 5.2 Innings giving up 4 Earned Runs and while striking out 6 took the loss. Now that is giving relief.

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I've written more than a dozen books including at least two sports books. You can find these at my Amazon page or at my own website www.bobbrillbooks.com. Please take a look at the sports books, the western novel series or the "Tattoo Murder," which is a crime book set in Ventura, CA.

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