1962: Angels drop Tribe in 4

8/1-8/2 - Dodger Stadium
GAME 1 - Angels 4, Indians 3
Buck Rodgers doubled home George Thomas...Felix Torres tripled home Rodgers...and finally Dean Chance executed a perfect squeeze play to bring Torres home to give the Angels a 3-0 lead off of Indian starter Dick Donovan in the bottom of the 2nd.  The Tribe chipped away by scoring solo runs in the 5th and the 6th to make it a 3-2 game entering the 9th.  Dan Osinski came on in the top of the 9th to close it out for Chance, who pitched a great game.  Willie Kirland was the first batter Osinski faced and greeted him with a double off the left center wall.  Jerry Kindall struck out looking and Bubba Phillips grounded weakly to short and it looked like Osinski was going to work his way out of it.  Pinch hitter Walt Bond would be down to his last  strike when Osinski grooved a fastball that wound up one hopping over the wall for a grounds rule double and a tie game.  Bond, who seemed so healthy at the time would tragically pass away 5 years later after losing his battle to leukemia.  It was nice to see him have his moment in the sun here.  Unfortunately for the Tribe, Bond's clutch double was not the game winner.  The Angels would get that game winner the following inning when reliever Gary "Ding Dong" Bell self imploded.  After walking Earl Averill, Bell uncorked two consecutive wild pitches before yielding a 1 out RBI single by Billy Moran.  The undeserved win goes to Osinski as Chance wound up with a no decision.

GAME 2 - Indians 3, Angels 2
Playboy Bo Belinsky went 7 innings and gave up just 2 hits.  Belinsky ran out of gas or ran out on a night on the town, one can only speculate...Either way Tom Morgan came on to close it out and had a great 8th inning.  The 9th inning would not be so kind as Bubba Phillips crushed a 3 run homer to give the Tribe a 3-2 lead.  Frank Funk would pitch a clean 9th inning to notch the win an tie the series.

 

8/4-8/5 - Municipal Stadium
GAME 3 - Angels 2, Indians 1
Leon Wagner led off the top of the second with a long homer to right center.  Five batters later Angel starter Don Lee lined a single to right to score George Thomas, who doubled after Wagner's homer.  Lee was on his "A" game posted goose eggs in all but one of the 7 innings he toiled.  The lone blemish on his record for the day was a 2 out solo shot by Willie Kirkland in the bottom of the 5th.  The top of the 8th saw Art Fowler replace Lee.  After watching the pen melt down the 2 previous days the Angels went to Fowler in hopes that he could be the closer they so desperately needed.  Fowler responded with a perfect 8th inning and a shaky 9th, which he thankfully was able to survive.  With Johnny Romano on 1st with a lead off single Kirkland hit a shot that died on the warning track safely in Earl Averill's Rawlings glove.  In most ballpark's that shot would have been in the 1st row of the bleachers, but not the cavernous "Mistake by the Lake".  Fowler followed that by jamming Jerry Kindall to get a slow roller to short for an easy force to end it.

GAME 4 - Angels 4, Indians 1
Jim "Mudcat" Grant had the unenviable task of protecting a 1 run lead for 6 innings.  His opponent Ken McBride would have begged to be in Grant's shoes as he was on the short side of the ledger thanks to an unearned run scored in the bottom of the 4th thanks to a passed ball that was charged to Buck Rodgers.  In most cases 1 run leads are like Herman's Hermits singles, they just do not stand the test of time.  This one run lead was no different.  The Halos scored 2 runs in the 7th with consecutive RBI singles by Albie Pearson and Billy Moran.  In the 9th they added 2 more runs on a two out triple by Steve Bilko, which cleared out all the remaining fans in the "Mistake".  McBride, who was pinch hit for by rookie Jim Fregosi (who singled), got the much deserved win thanks to the 2 runs scored during that inning.  Art Fowler for the second day in a row closed out the game and looks to be the Angels preferred choice to close.

1962: Dodgers sweep Phightin’s in high scoring series

8/1-8/2 - Dodger Stadium
GAME 1 - Dodgers 10, Phillies 7
After having his first really successful season Sandy Koufax embarked on 1962 looking to take the next step in his natural ascension to greatness.  This game would not be a positive step for the hard throwing Brooklyn native.  Koufax did garner the win, but the 6 runs that he gave up in 5 innings worth of work would be nothing to write home about.  His opposing number Jack Hamilton wouldn't even last 5 innings as he gave up 8 (6 earned).  This would be a day for the lumber and not the arms.  With the game tied a 3 after just 2 innings LA exploded for 5 runs in the bottom of the 3rd.  Philly answered back with 2 in the 4th and 1 in the 5th before the relief pitching settled things down.  Dallas Green went 3 1/3 and gave up 2, while Stan Williams gave up only 1 in 4 innings.  Williams' performance on most days would get him the game ball, but when the offense posts 10 runs on 16 hits you have to give it to one of the regulars.  Maury Wills, who went 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base takes top billing today.  Tommy Davis also had a 3 for 5 day, but he electric Wills got the nod.  Interestingly the lone homer hit today was by Philly's banjo hitting shortstop Bobby Wine.

GAME 2 - Dodgers 7, Phillies 2
The Phightin's carried a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the 4th when the Dodgers got their mojo going.  Consecutive RBI singles by Ron Fairly and Larry Burright were followed by a long sac fly by Don Drysdale.  "Big D" settled down after giving up solo runs in the first to frames to shut the Phils out the rest of the way.  Once Drysdale found his goove he was unbeatable as evidenced by the 11 k's that he posted.  Philly slugger Johnny Callison was a 3 time victim of Drysdale.  Philly starter Art Mahaffey went the distance and gave up 7.  He remained in the game to rest the pen and take one for the team.  John Roseboro was the only Dodger regular without a hit.

8/4 - Connie Mack Stadium
GAME 3 - Dodgers 9, Phillies 6
Dennis Bennett was locked and loaded as he was protecting a 2-1 lead when all heck broke lose in the top of the 8th.  LA unleashed an offensive barrage that blew the doors right off the Philly barn.  12 batters in all went to the plate and 8 runners crossed it as Bennett lost everything in one foul inning.  Wills, as usual, started it all off with a single and a stolen base, which rattled Bennett enough to walk Junior Gilliam.  Tommy Davis singled home Wills and things just took off from there.  Wills wasn't done just yet.  His second at bat of the inning was a 2 run double.  Gilliam finished the scoring off with an RBI single to score Wills.  Johnny Podres, who started the game for LA, left after 6 2/3 innings on the short side down 2-1.  Ron Perranoski, who threw just 5 pitches got the final out of the inning and also set himself up nicely to gain the win after LA's offensive 8th.  Ed Roebuck pitched a clean bottom of the 8th, but faltered in the 9th and served up 4 runs to the Phills who were not about to go down without a fight.  Larry Sherry came on in relief to get the final 3 outs and gain the save and clinch the Dodgers sweep.

1962: Pirates take 3 of 4 from Braves

8/1-8/2 - Forbes Field
GAME 1 - Pirates 4, Braves 1
The ancient warrior, Warren Spahn, put forth one of those "New Millenium" Quality Starts by going 6 and giving up 3.  Unfortunately in Spahn's era a quality start culminated in a handshake with the catcher.  That award would go to Bob Friend, who went the distance scattering 7 hits and giving up just 1 run way back in the top of the 2nd when Del Crandall singled home Gus Bell.  The Bucs would answer right back with 2 of their own in the bottom of the inning when Friend got into the action with a 2 out / 2 run single after Spahn gave Don Hoak an intentional pass.  Al Skinner would double home Roberto Clemente in the 3rd to make it 3-1 and in the 7th they added an insurance run on a Dick Groat ground out.

GAME 2 - Pirates 5, Braves 0
The Bucs jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead thanks to a 2 run shot by Roberto Clemente off  of Bob Shaw, who just couldn't settle down.  Pittsburgh followed Clemente's homer up with 3 consecutive singles with the 3rd (by Smoky Burgess) scoring Al Skinner.  Fans at home could turn off their TV sets at this point since Buc starter Earl Francis was in the zone.  Francis finally ran out of gas with 2 outs in the 8th and relief specialist Elroy Face closed out the shared shutout.

8/4-8/5 - County Stadium
GAME 3 - Braves 5, Pirates 4 (10 inn)
Milwaukee was at the brink of elimination down 4-3 and heading to the bottom of the 9th.  Al McBean had thrown a very nice game and gave way to Face, who looked to close out the game and the series in the 9th.  A one out triple to an unlikely candidate, Joe Adcock, threatened the lead.  A clean single to center by Frank Bolling tied it up one batter later.  All glove / No bat shortstop Roy McMillan stunned the hometown crown with a lead off homer in the bottom of the 10th to win it.  Cecil Butler, who gave up 1 run in 3 innings of work, earned the win.

GAME 4 - Pirates 3, Braves 1
Game one winner Bob Friend and 1957 World Series MVP Lew Burdette hooked up in a scoreless classic until the top of the 6th when the Bucs came up with two consecutive 2 out singles to score 2 runs.  The great Roberto Clemente singled home Dick Groat, then took second on an errant throw to the plate.  That cost the Braves, because Al Skinner lined a bullet to right to score Clemente.  A solo shot by Joe Adcock to lead off the 7th would cut Pittsburgh's lead to 2-1.  The Bucs would go back up by 2 in the 8th when Clemente once again came up with a clutch two out single to score Groat, who had doubled just like he did in the 6th.  Al Skinner hit one to the base of the wall that Aaron made a leaping catch on, otherwise the Braves would have been down by 4.  Friend made quick work of the Braves in the 8th and 9th innings to close out the game with a very economical 99 pitches.  The Bucs take the series 3 games to 1.

1962: Giants eliminate Cubbies in 4

Ed Bailey	Andre Rodgers	Willie Mays	Billy Pierce

8/1-8/2 - Candlestick Park
GAME 1 - Giants 8, Cubs 4
Lou Brock remained hot in this tournament with a 2 for 5 day, which raised his average to .667, but that would not be enough to carry the day for Chicago.  Don Cardwell spotted the Jints a 3 run lead that was going to be hard to overcome.  The Cubs tied the game with 2 runs in the top of the 7th only to see the Jints explode for 4 in the bottom half of the frame.  Don "Mr. Perfect" Larsen got the win in relief of Jack Sanford, even though he was responsible for giving up the 2 runs that allowed the game to become tied.  Ed Bailey's 2 run shot in the 7th put the game out of reach..  Felipe Alou and Orlando Cepeda also homered.

GAME 2 - Cubs 7, Giants 5
Bob Buhl did not have his best stuff, but he found himself fortunate that Bill O'Dell had nothing.  Buhl gave up 5 run in the first 6 innings of work, but found enough guts and guile to shut the Jints out the rest of the way.  Down by 2 the Cubs posted 4 runs in the 8th to swing a 2 run deficit into a 2 run advantage.  A two run triple by Andre Rodgers scored Ron Santo and George Altman.  Santo knocked in the first run of the inning with an RBI single to score Billy Williams.  Dick Bertell singled home Rodgers with 2 out for an insurance run.

8/4-8/5 - Wrigley Field
GAME 3 - Giants 6, Cubs 2
Dick Ellsworth was no match for the high octane Giant offense as evidenced by the 5 runs he gave up in 5 innings of work.  Willie Mays went 3 for 4 with 5 RBI's on 2 homers off of Elswowth.  Orlando Cepeda chipped in with a solo shot off of reliever Barney Schultz in the 8th.  Juan Marichal went the distance allowing only 2 runs (1 earned) to put the Giants up 2-1 in the series.

GAME 4 - Giants 2, Cubs 1
Billy Pierce and Cal Koonce had the fans on the edge of their seats all game.  "Mr. Cub", Ernie Banks started off the scoring with a solo shot with 2 outs in the first.  At the time nobody could have expected that Banks' homer would be Chicago's only run of the game.  Pierce was just that good.  Pierce tied the game up with a RBI single that scored Chuck Hiller in the 3rd.  It remained knotted at 1 until the top of the 8th when Tom Haller hit a solo shot off of Koonce to put the Jints up 2-1, which is how the game would end.

1962: Twins eliminate O’s in 4

Charlie Lau	Lenny Green	Rich Rollins	Vic Power

8/1-8/2 - Metropolitan Stadium
GAME 1 - Orioles 9, Twins 4
Veteran Robin Roberts used all of his guile to survive those huge bats in the Twin lineup.  3 runs over 7 innings allowed the future HOF'er to leave with a 6-3 lead.  A 3 run outburst by the O's in the 8th put it out of reach.  Charlie Lau had a huge 3 for 4 day and immediately made plans to teach others how to hit.  Brooks Robinson went 3 for 5 and knocked in 2 runs like Lau.  Lenny Green went 4 for 5 for the Twins in a losing effort.

GAME 2 - Twins 13, Orioles 1
Jim Kaat allowed just 2 hits in this complete game effort that was close until the Twins scored 9 unanswered runs in the bottom of the 8th.  Lenny Green continued his hot hitting by going 2 for 3 with 2 RBI's and a homer.  Chuck Estrada took took the loss for the O's.

8/4-8/5 - Memorial Stadium
GAME 3 - Twins 4, Orioles 2
A 1-1 pitcher's duel between Camilo Pascual and Steve Barber turned in favor of the Twins in the top of the 7th.  Rich Rollins doubled home Bob Allison and Zoilo Versalles drove in Rollins with a neatly timed sac fly.  Both teams exchanged solo runs in the 8th and neither scored in the 9th as the Twins took a 2-1 series lead.

GAME 4 - Twins 5, Orioles 4
Milt Pappas struggled through 6 innings of work.  After serving up a 3 run lead to the Twins he got bailed out by his offense that scored 4 runs in the 6th off of Bonikowski.  Dick Hall was brought on to protect the O's 1 run lead, but he faltered in the 7th.  After pinch hitter Tony Oliva led off with a doubled Vic Power hit a 2 run shot 2 batters later to take back the lead for the Twins.  Frank Sullivan did a brilliant job in relief allowing just 1 hit in 2 1/3 innings of work.  Dick Stigman and Ray Moore got the final 2 outs to clinch the series.

Red Sox Upset Yankees In Wild Series!!!

Yankees Leading, Had Red Sox Down To Final Strike, Yet Lose!

The 1962 Boston Red Sox pulled off an improbable series victory, upending the powerhouse Yankees in five games.

Game one saw starters Bill Monbouquette of Boston and Ralph Terry of New York dominate. The game was scoreless after 8 innings, with neither team having any significant scoring opportunity.

All the scoring occurred in the ninth, when the Red Sox loaded the bases, and got a sacrifice fly off the bat of Frank Malzone, and an out later, a three run homer by Lou Clinton.

That homer was key, as the Yankees came back with 2 in the last half, on a Mantle single and home run by Moose Skowron.

The Yankees shook off that tough opening loss however, and took the next two games putting themselves in line to finish off the Sox. Game 2 was a wild affair in which the Red Sox out-hit the Bombers by an incredible 17-7 margin, yet lost by four runs. The Yankees got a hit most every time they had a runner on, leaving only one runner stranded all game. Elston Howard hit a grand slam and drove in 6 runs on the day. Whitey Ford was erratic, but got credit for the win in an 11-7 final.

Game three saw Bill Stafford cool down the Boston bats and then some, tossing a one-hot shutout. The Yankees scored only three themselves, despite 11 hits. One of the runs scored on an error, as the men from the Bronx left 8 runners stranded, a foreshadowing of their undoing later in the series.

With their backs to the wall, the Red Sox sent tall, lanky Don Schwall to the hill in game four, while the Pinstripers countered with young Jim Bouton. Neither starter was involved in the decision as the clubs battled each other all game long, with Boston staving off elimination by earning a 6-4 victory. Carl Yastrzemski had three hits for the Red Sox, and Clete Boyer broke out of an 0 for 10 series with two home runs over the Green Monster. In a bit of an unusual twist for these two clubs, four triples were hit in the game.

With everything on the line in game five, the series shifted back to the Stadium and the two game one starters were sent back to the hill. And just like in game one, the Monbouquette and Terry were dominant. The Yankees actually had several chances at taking control of this one, but two Boston double plays kept them off the board and the game was scoreless through six.

Elston Howard opened the bottom of the seventh with a home run giving the Yankees a late lead. They then loaded the bases on a single by Roger Maris, and after a strikeout of Bill Skowron, a double by Tom Tresh. Clete Boyer was then intentionally passed bring Terry up with the bases loaded and only one out. It was a golden opportunity to break the game wide open.

Manager Bike Mike decided to stick with Ralph Terry, who had been so dominant in both games, and let him bat despite the chance to possibly put the game away right here. It was quite possibly the move that cost the series as Terry hit into the third Yankee double play of the game, ending the threat.

But the Bombers had the lead and needed only six outs to win it, with a hot pitcher on the mound. Terry gave up a lead off single to Chuck Schilling in the 8^th, then two ground outs got him to third. But he bore down and got Gary Gieger on a fly to Mantle in shallow center to maintain the slim 1-0 lead.

The Yankees did not do anything in the eighth, and Terry started the ninth by walking  Pete Runnels. But a fly out off the bat of Yastrzemski and a strike out of Clinton brought it down to one man to get, shortstop Eddie Bressoud. Terry had Bressoud down to a 2-2 count, when he left a fast ball out over the plate two much and Bressoud shocked the home crowd with a double in the gap between Mantle and Maris, Runnels coming all the way around to score the tying run. Marshall Bridges was summoned to relieve a tired Terry, and promptly gave up a ringing single to center to Frank Malzone which scored Bressoud with the lead run.

Just like that, the Red Sox, down to their last breath, had climbed all the way back and secured control of their destiny. Bridges struck out Schilling to end the nightmare.

The Yankees put two on in the ninth with two out, but pinch hitter Johnny Blanchard grounded out ended the series.

Manager Bike Mike was hounded by reporters following the game about his decision to let Terry hit in the seventh. The New York dailies roasted him for the move, with rumors flying that his future as a Yankee manager was in doubt.

--submitted by Bike Mike--

Cubbies sweep 1st year Colt 45’s in 2 straight.

7/28 - Colt Stadium
GAME 1 - Cubs 4, Colt 45's 1
Bob Buhl turned back the hands of time and looked just like a young stallion pitching for the Braves in County Stadium during those great pennant years of the late 50's.  Buhl would go 8 solid innings allowing just 1 unearned run in the bottom of the 1st.  Don Elston would come on board for a perfect 9th inning to get credit for an unofficial stat called a save.  The real story however was the young man playing centerfield, who has been trying so hard to live up to all of the billing he's been getting.  That man is the speedy Lou Brock.  Brock would go 4 for 5 on the day, hit a double and steal a base.  The promise and raw talent that he shows is unbelievable, but can he make it in Chi-town ?

7/29 - Wrigley Field
GAME 2 - Cubs 8, Colt 45's 6
The series moved to the "friendly confines" of Wrigley Field and with that the offensive fireworks were displayed.  Houston starter Bob Bruce spotted the Cubbies 4 runs in the bottom of the first.  In most ball parks that would be enough, but not here and not with the wind blowing out and not with the Cub staff throwing balloons.  Cal Koonce gave most of it back by the 6th when Houston erupted for 3 runs to make it 5-4.  The first year Colt 45 team had been impressive all year.  In fact they finished ahead of the established Cubbies in the NL standings, which ate at the Northsiders craw to say the least.  Catcher Hal Smith would homer to lead off that 6th and the rest would be your garden variety small ball.  Houston was missing slugger Roman Mejias who tore cartilage in his left knee in the opener.  The Cubbies would answer back when pinch hitter George Will homered off of Bruce to start the bottom of the 7th.  The 8th would see the Cubbies break it open when Dick Bertell singled home George Altman while pinch hitting for Bob Anderson, who relieved Koonce.  Lou Brock, who was a homer short of the cycle, struck again with an RBI single to score Andre Rodgers.  Close the door this game was  done...well kind of.  Don Elston came on to close it out in the 9th and after walking Carl Warwick he served up a two run shot to Hal Smith for his 2nd of the game.  That cut the lead to 8-6 and everyone in the house began to talk about curses and gloom and doom.  Norm Larker was up left and he sent Altman all the way back to the ivy in right center before his shot ran out of gas.  A collective sigh of relief could be heard all along Addison.  Johnny Weekly would walk on 4 pitches to once again give Cub fans more reason to bite their finger nails and chain smoke.  Up stepped Billy Goodman, who had 3 consecutive singles heading into this at bat.  Elston jammed him, but Goodman who handles a bat like a magician handles a wand lined one into shallow left.  1961 ROY Bill Goodman, known more for his lumber than his leather, came out of nowhere to make a smooth diving catch to save the day for the Cubbies.  Hands down Lou Brock was the star of the series going 8 for 10 with three doubles and a triple.

Bosox sweep A’s in 2

7/28 - Fenway Park
GAME 1 - Red Sox 9, A's 4
A monstah' 5 run 4th inning chased KC starter Ed Rakow from the hill after he gave up 8 runs and never recorded an out in the 5th.  Bill Monbouquette gave up 4 runs, but 3 weren't his fault.  Second year man Carl Yastrzemski, I think we'll call him Yaz for short hit 2 homers and had 3 RBI's.  First baseman Pete Runnels went 3 for 5 and had 3 RBI's himself.  Manny Jimenez went 3 for 4 and had 3 RBI's thanks to a 3 run homer to supply most of the A's offense.

 

 

7/29 - Municipal Stadium
GAME 2 - Red Sox 9, A's 7 (10 inn)
Boston took this game so lightly they started September call up Wilbur Wood.  A one hour rain delay in the third inning made short work of young Wood.  That same delay and lack of talent made short work of KC's Bill Fischer who gave up 6 runs on 7 hits in 4 miserable innings of work.  Down 6-3 in the 6th the A's rallied to tie it.  Norm Siebern doubled home Bobby Del Greco for the first run of the inning.  George Alusik walked with the bases loaded to force home Gino Cimoli for run #2, then Haywood Sullivan singled home Siebern to tie it.  Boston scored a solo run in the 7th on a Frank Malzone sac fly to take the lead, so Dick Radatz came on board to close it down.  He was greeted immediately by a Jerry Lumpe solo shot to tie it.  Neither team would score in regulation, so the game headed to extra innings.  Young Diego Segui started the inning for the A's, but couldn't get an out before allowing the Sahx to score 2 runs.  A Chuck "no I'm not Curt" Schilling double was the damage-do-er.  Gary Geiger chipped in with a sac fly for insurance.  Hal Kolstad pitched two scoreless innings to get the win as the Bosox swept the A's in 2 straight.

Phightin’s sweep Amazin’s in 2

7/28 - Connie Mack Stadium
GAME 1 - Phillies 6, Mets 3
Art Mahaffey looked at this Mets lineup and must have thought to himself, "10 years ago it would have been a pennant contender".  Well Mr. Mahaffey some of them were on pennant winners and contenders, but most wouldn't even be in the majors if it weren't for expansion.  You see these Mets were not only bad, they turned out to be the worst team in the history of major league baseball.  The only thing that stopped them from losing 142 games were two rainouts.  For all their poor play the lovable Metsies captivated the heart and soul of National League starved baseball fans in New York.  Those fans who were abandoned by the beloved Brooklyn Dodgers and the well respected New York Giants had nothing to root for for 4 years.  The Mets were so popular, they even outdrew the World Champion Yankees at the box office, even though they played in the dilapidated Polo Grounds.  To start this game #1 Roger Craig was given the honors.  Craig, who was a big Brooklyn Dodger hero in the pennant drives of 1955 and 1956 was obviously a fan favorite for the Mets.  Heading into the 7th inning he had himself a 2-1 lead.  A man who won 10 and lost 24 during the regular  season usually doesn't have 2-1 leads and it showed.  As quick as you can say "Jack Robinson" that 2-1 lead turned into a 6-2 deficit.  A huge 5 run outburst by the Phils in the bottom of the 7th derailed Craig's Cinderella story, and to think it all happened with a man on and 2 out.  Roy Sievers singled to put runners on the corners and Ruben Amaro was given an intentional pass, to face the pitcher.  Well the pitcher, Mahaffey, was called back to the dugout and Frank Torre was given the pinch hit honors.  All Craig needed to do was get Torre and get out of the 7th with out any damage.  He would get neither result.  Torre singled up the middle to score Don Demeter and Sievers to make it 3-2 Phillies.  Up next was lead off man left fielder Ted Savage, who hit just 7 homers during the regular season.  All it took was one pitch to make that number 8.  Credit the 257 foot left field porch with the homer, but it was a homer just the same, a 3 run homer.  Stick a fork in the Metsies, because they were done.  As if anyone was shocked.

7/29 - Polo Grounds
GAME 2 - Phillies 12, Mets 3

The Polo Grounds was the perfect site for the Mets season to end.  This crumbling and bumbling ballclub had the perfect ball park to play in, as within 2 years it would crumble to the ground by the same wrecking ball that befell it's cousin Ebbets Field.  As the song says, "Meet the Mets, meet the Mets, step right up and beat (er..great) the Mets.  Bring your kiddies, bring your wife...guaranteed to have the time of their lives".  Obviously the song writer has a warped vision of what a "time of your life" is, unless it's watching your team get a 12-3 shellacking by a sub par opponent.  If that's what one call's the "time of your life" then these fans, 50,000+ strong, partied hearty.  Alvin Jackson started for the Amazin's and was charitably relieved of his duties after just 2 innings.  I say charitably, because only 1 of the 5 runs charged to Jackson was earned.  You see these Metsies don't just lack hitting and pitching, they also field as if they are wearing that gold painted glove that Rawlings gives out every  fall.  "Hot" Rod Kanehl, the poster boy for the "new breed" booted 2 balls of his own as he turned the second base position into his own little private shop of horrors.  The rest of the Met fielders have the range of a 17th century musket, while the offense fires just about as often.  Yes these Mets are dreadful, but the fans can't get enough of them.  Casey Stengel said it best, "Their Amazin', Amazin', Amazin'.  The fans did get on bright moment to revel in.  Brooklyn's most beloved player, Gil Hodges, barely on one leg hit a 2 run homer in the top of the 9th for the fans who love him dearly.  So what if this wasn't game 2 of the '55 series, it was 1955 in their hearts and minds.