Posted on 07/20/2019 10:44:45 AM PDT by DFG
On July 20, 1969, most Americans were consumed by the event of a lifetime: the Apollo 11 lunar landing. The Giants were no different.
Giants groundskeeper Matty Schwab found space in his work area underneath the right-field grandstand at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park to plug in a black-and-white television set. Schwab’s hidden headquarters was close to the double doors adjacent to the Giants’ bullpen. So, thanks to Schwab, Giants relievers could sneak peeks at history during the early innings of San Francisco’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Right-hander Bob Bolin was among the Giants with divided attention. As he recently recalled, he was watching televised images of the lunar module when he heard the Candlestick audience of 32,560 erupt with a sudden ovation. “I was thinking the crowd was clapping because of the moon landing. I opened the door, and Gaylord [Perry] had hit a home run,” said Bolin, punctuating his reminiscence with laughter.
This requires some explanation amid the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s exploits.
Giants right-hander Gaylord Perry, a future Hall of Famer (inducted in 1991), homered off Dodgers left-hander Claude Osteen in the third inning of San Francisco’s 7-3 victory the same day the Apollo 11 mission achieved glory. That the two happened nearly simultaneously drew Bolin back to something he had heard years prior.
(Excerpt) Read more at mlb.com ...
One of the great spit-ballers of the modern era.
“During his tenure as Giants manager from 1961-64, Alvin Dark declared that a man would land on the moon before Perry, with his flawed swing, could hit a home run.”
Perry hit his first mlb home run on July 20, 1969 after Armstrong walked on the moon.
Perry hit 5 more home runs in his career.
Career MLB hitting stats : 6 home runs, 17 doubles, 141 hits, 47 RBI’s, 22 walks, 369 strike outs, .131 batting average, 1076 official at bats.
My brother tells the story that he was living in the LA area that summer. He and a friend had ordered a home delivery pizza. As it was being delivered, Neil Armstrong was about to take his first step onto the moon’s surface. My brother invited the delivery guy to watch the historic moment. The guy passed, saying “I have deliveries to make!”
My brother tells the story that he was living in the LA area that summer. He and a friend had ordered a home delivery pizza. As it was being delivered, Neil Armstrong was about to take his first step onto the moon’s surface. My brother invited the delivery guy to watch the historic moment. The guy passed, saying “I have deliveries to make!”
They never figured it out did they?
Read a story years ago where Gaylord’s daughter in elementary school was being teased about her father throwing the spitball. She replied, “It’s not a spitter, it’s a hard slider.”
Armstrong walked on the moon.
Well, after they LANDED on the moon, but before Armstrong actually WALKED on the moon. (At least, from what I read in the article).
Still a great funny story!
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