TRIVIA WINNER: Ron Fairly played in just 14 games in 1960 and Charles Van Horne of Estero, FL had the correct answer. The Prize: Starbucks Gift Card.
My apologies to previous winners, I've been delayed in sending out the gift cards but will get to it this week...thank you.
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:How many errors did Ron Hanson and Jerry Adair account for during the 1961 season?
Sometimes it seems a team just win for losing. That's what happened on Sunday May 14, 1961 when the Baltimore Orioles dropped a double header to Cleveland. Losing the second game was difficult because of the way Game One ended.
It was a marvelous pitching duel between the Indians Jim Perry and the O's Billy Hoeft. Hoeft was masterful going nine innings and allowing eight hits and four walks. He only struck out two but the performance was grand. The Indians loaded the bases with two out in the first but Johnny Romano flied out to end the inning. Several times he'd pitch out of a jam with two runners on.
On the other side of the coin, Jim Perry was holding his own. He went eight shutout innings giving nine hits a walk and a strikeout. He never came close to being in trouble.
When the relievers took over it was more of the same. The Indians Frank Funk went seven shutout innings giving up four hits. Hoyt Wilhem went two scoreless for the O's and then Jack Fisher came on. Fisher went 3 2/3 before the game ended. If it wasn't for Jerry Adair the two teams might still be playing.
In the bottom of the 15th, Fisher walked Romano but struck out Woodie Held. Bubba Phillips singled Romano to second. Bob Hale pinch-hit for Funk and hit a ground ball to Ron Hanson who was playing second base. He flipped to Adair for the force at second but Adair (who was playing shortstop) misfired on the throw and Romano came around to score the winning run. The only run.
The unearned run handed Fisher the loss and Funk the win. It was one of those rare occassions where the only run scored was an unearned run and cost the O's 1-0 in 15 innings. It was Adair's second error of the game. Adair was typically a second baseman and Hanson was the natural shortstop but at least for this game the roles were switched.
TRIVIA CONTEST;