TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

August 18th, 1967 During the Red Sox “Impossible dream” season, tragedy strikes when Tony Conigliaro is beaned by the Angels’ Jack Hamilton. Hit just below his left eye, Conigliaro would miss the rest of the season and all of ‘68. The injury effectively ended the career of a player who by the time he was 22 had become the youngest in American League history and second-youngest player in major-league history to hit 100 career homers.

More on that day . . . .

Hamilton, who had been traded to the Angels from the Mets in June for Nick Willhite, brought an 8-2 record into the game. Since joining the Angels, he was 6-2 with a 2.34 ERA. He registered two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, but there was a delay between the two outs. George Scott was out trying to stretch a single into a double and before Reggie Smith stepped in, the game was delayed as a fan of questionable intellect threw a smoke bomb onto the field. The grounds crew removed the device from the field, and Smith flied out to center field.

Next, Conigliaro stepped in against Hamilton, his stance close to the plate. Hamilton’s first pitch was an inside fastball that raced toward the plate to make a sound that would never leave the consciousness of a chorus of onlookers ranging from players, coaches, and managers to umpires, to media, to spectators. Author David Cataneo recounts what happened:

“Tony knew he was going to be hit, the way a motorist knows he is about to crash. He jerked his head back. His batting helmet, like almost everyone else in the big leagues at the time, he wore one without an earflap – flipped off. He heard the ball hiss as it cut through the air and felt it wallop squarely at ninety miles per hour into his left eye and cheekbone just below his temple.”

Conigliaro, barely conscious, was carried off the field by his teammates as the stunned crowd looked on in silence.

Conigliaro’s injuries were serious. He suffered a cracked cheekbone and a severe nasal hemorrhage. Some observers predicted he would be out for three to four weeks.4 A somewhat cautionary statement was made by Boston’s team physician, Dr. Thomas Tierney: “He’ll be kept under close observation for 48 to 72 hours. He’ll be out at least three or four weeks. We’ll know better after the observation period.” Tony C. would miss the rest of 1967 and the entire 1968 season before returning in 1969. That season he slugged 20 homers in 141 games and in 1970 he had career highs with 36 homers and 116 RBIs. After that season he was traded to the Angels in a six-player deal. He did poorly with the Angels in 1971, was released after the season, and decided to retire at the age of 26. He tried a comeback with the Red Sox four years later, but after playing in 21 games and not performing well, he retired again, appearing in his last game on June 12, 1975.

Hamilton, the first of four Angels pitchers, absorbed the loss, bringing his record to 8-3. Although only 28, he would be out of baseball two years later. After the Conigliaro beaning, he went 6-9 with an ERA of 4.93 in 123 innings. Over the course of his career, Hamilton had not been bashful about pitching inside, and had shown a wild streak. In his rookie season, 1962, he led the National League in walks (107) and wild pitches (22). Over the course of his career, he hit 13 batters – none after August 18, 1967. Of the beaning he said, “Gosh, I hope he’s all right. He’s a fine ballplayer. The ball took off a little and he appeared to freeze. Nobody in the league crowds the plate more than he does.”

Read a full article on Tony C

Todays Podcast

August 18, 1902, the first unassisted triple play ever in a professional game is executed by first baseman Hal O’Hagan of the Rochester Bronchos (Eastern League) against Jersey City.

August 18th,1906, Wee Willie Keeler strikes out for only the second time this season, falling both times to White Sox pitcher Ed Walsh’s illegal spitball.

August 18, 1934, future Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente is born in Carolina, Puerto Rico. In 1955, Clemente will arrive in the major leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and will hit .317 with 240 home runs over an 18-year career. In 1973, Clemente will gain posthumous election to the Hall of Fame.

August 18, 1960 — At County Stadium Facing just 27 batters, Lew Burdette pitches a 1 – 0 no-hitter against the Phillies. Tony Gonzalez, the only Phil to reach base, is hit by a Burdette pitch in the 5th inning but erased when Lee Walls hits into a double play. The Milwaukee pitcher also scores the only run of the game when he leads off the bottom of the 8th with a double and scores on Bill Bruton’s double. The Phillies unlucky starter is Gene Conley.

August 18, 1972 — After playing in 414 games and accumulating over 1500 career at-bats, Larry Bowa hits his first major league home run, an inside-the-park round-tripper at Veterans Stadium. It will take another two years before the 26 year-old shortstop, who will go deep only 15 times in his 16-year career, will put a ball over the fence for a homer.

August 18, 1975, the Hall of Fame welcomes five new members. Earl Averill, Bucky Harris, Billy Herman, Judy Johnson, and Ralph Kiner are honored at Induction Ceremonies in Cooperstown. Kiner gained election to the Hall in his final year of eligibility.

August 18, 1983, In the continuation of the “Pine Tar Game”, Hal McRae strikes out for the last Kansas City Royals out and Dan Quisenberry retires the New York Yankees in order in the bottom of the 9th to preserve the Royals’ 5 – 4 victory. The conclusion takes just 12 minutes (and 16 pitches) and, as the only game scheduled at Yankee Stadium, is witnessed by a crowd of 1,245. An odd feature of the game is lefty Don Mattingly playing 2B and pitcher Ron Guidry in CF.

July 24, 1983 Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees
August 18th 1989, in a 9-2 Toronto win, Baltimore shortstop Cal Ripken plays in his 1,208th consecutive game passing Steve Garvey for the 3rd longest streak in major league history.

September 28, 1982: Cal Ripken Baltimore Orioles Interview
August 18th, 1995, after 39 years at the mike, Yankees announcer and Hal of Famer, Phil Rizzuto retires as team broadcaster. The “Scooter’s” retirement was prompted by a dispute with WPIX-TV who refused to allow him to miss a game to attend the funeral of teammate Mickey Mantle. The voice of the Yankees would eventually return for the 1996 season.

August 18, 2002 — In a pregame ceremony, Tommy Agee is inducted posthumously into the Mets Hall of Fame. The Mets’ center fielder (1968-72) is best remembered for his two great catches in Game 3 of the 1969 World Series.

 ANSWER TO TODAY’S TRIVIA

TRIVIA ANSWER: BILLY CONIGLIARO 

- Ans. He won a ring for his minimal action, 48 games, with the 1973 A’s. Conigliaro was the Red Sox’ choice in MLB’s debut draft in 1965.   He was in the first round, the 5^th overall.

- #1 In 1970, the BOS OF team showed Tony C. w/36, Reggie Smith w/22 & Billy w/18 HR. The WS-winning Orioles were the only other AL team that could match that outfield power that year.

- #2 Billy’s debut was in the 12^th . He made it to 3^rd base & would have been the winning run had his teammate not hit into a double play.

Thank you Horsehide Trivia

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