Fit To Be Tied
Anyone out there remember what happened to the Yankees on August 23, 1968 during the second game of a double-header?
Lindy McDaniel retired 21 straight Tiger batters‚ six on strikeouts – coming into the game in the 9th inning. Yet, the Yankees could not score during that time, or during the next 4 innings to follow, and the game ended in a 3-3 tie. (The Tigers under-rated John Hiller came into the game in the 8th inning and went 9 scoreless innings – which probably had a lot to do with the Yanks not getting the job done.)
Bill Robinson had chances to win the game for the Yankees in the 9th and the 11th, albeit with two outs, and failed. Ditto Dick Howser in the 13th and 15th.
The game was called after 19 innings, at 1:07 am EST (on August 24th) due to a curfew rule.
For what it’s worth, at least the Yankees won the first game of the twin-bill, 2-1, in a great game pitched by Stan Bahnsen.
Hey, for those old-time Yankees fans out there, if you were at this game, or just remember it well, tell us all about in the comments section below.
That was some weekend and some club. I was just a kid,1968 was only my third season following the Yankees, and all I knew of the Yankees was losing. But that weekend. The biggest thrill came on Sunday when a broken down outfielder in the twilight of his career began warming up in the bullpen. The outfielder, Rocky Colavito, had to warm up as the starter (I forget who started) didn’t have it, and the Yankees were running short on pitching because of the extra inning game and a rash of doubleheaders.
Colavito pitched three and two thirds scoreless innings as the Yankees rallied and went ahead in the game. Dooly Wolmack the ace of the bullpen in 67 came in and almost gave the lead away but lucky Lindy got the final outs of the game. The winning pitcher Rocky Colavito. I remember Jerry Coleman commenting on what a surprise it will be when number 29 (Colavito’s number with the Yankees) gets posted on scoreboards throughout the major leagues. I turned the TV to the Met game on channel 9, to hear the shocked Met announcer (Lindsey Nelson)reading the score. The second game (which was not televised) featured Colavito starting in the outfield (I believe in right), he actually hit a homer in a Yankee win. What a doubleheader for Colavito. The next day he was Marv Albert’s guest on the Yankee pregame show on WHN, Colavito commented that he hoped pitching might be a way to extend his career with expansion coming the following season (Seattle,, KC, San Diego and Montreal).
Great stuff Joseph M
The Yankees won the first game of the twin-bill 2-1 in a great game pitched by Stan Bahnsen.
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Bahnsen allowed only one run—a solo blast off the bat of Tigers pitcher Earl wilson. The Yanks’ runs came via a two run shot from (drum roll, please) Tom Tresh—HIS LAST HOMERUN AT YANKEE STADIUM. That’s how baseball was back in ’68. Sort of like fast pitch softball, quick paced and low scoring. When a batter was down in the count 0 and 2 the next pitch was almost always a letter high fastball (it was a strike back then) and if you reached base with 2 outs and no other runners on you were expected to try stealing second no matter how slow footed you were.
Great game. I kinda miss it.