rufralf
Chris Sabo
Retired to beach town Mexico
Posts: 235
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Post by rufralf on Sept 20, 2013 17:44:49 GMT -5
I was the only player ever to pinch hit for Johnny Bench. Gene Mauch and Phillies hated me for a particular play I made in 1964. Famous for telling my manager to bench me or trade me. I wore alligator spiked shoes on the bench. Who am I?
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Post by psuhistory on Sept 22, 2013 12:41:20 GMT -5
Been thinking about this one: is the 1964 part related to the famous stealing home play? If so, it's actually easier than the easy one...
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rufralf
Chris Sabo
Retired to beach town Mexico
Posts: 235
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Post by rufralf on Sept 22, 2013 17:19:25 GMT -5
I was going to add a few more clues today, but I think you are on the right track. All you have to do is give me his name.
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Post by psuhistory on Sept 22, 2013 19:25:48 GMT -5
When I was eight or nine years old, my parents gave me a book on baseball history that included this picture. My daughter has the book on her shelves now, and I used a 1919 Series picture from it over in the HOF section. I don't know the score of the game or the name of the catcher, but I do know... ...that Chico Ruiz stole home, Frank Robinson was batting, and all Philliedom rued the day...
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rufralf
Chris Sabo
Retired to beach town Mexico
Posts: 235
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Post by rufralf on Sept 24, 2013 18:28:48 GMT -5
With 12 more games to go in the 1964 season, the Phillies enjoyed a 6 game and seemed like a lock to win the NL. They were scoreless in the 6th inning vs the Reds. Chico took off from 3rd and stole home. Nobody gave Chico the sign to steal, he simple just took off. Considering that Frank Robinson was at bat, the play was sort of stupid. Phillies manager Gene Mauch went nuts screaming and destroying the dugout asking who the heck Chico Ruiz was. The Reds won that game 1-0 and the Phillies never recovered. They went on to lose 10 of their last 12 and tied for second in the NL, one game behind the Cardinals. Catcher in your photo is Clay Dalrymple, who would get even with Reds fans in 1970 World Series. Batter is none other than Frank Robinson.
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Post by psuhistory on Sept 24, 2013 19:21:45 GMT -5
Good question, but I agree with Lark that MexicanRed would probably have gotten it right away. It took me two days to figure out that I knew part of it...
Reds used to have a great Havana connection: Perez of course, but Ruiz was part of it...
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rufralf
Chris Sabo
Retired to beach town Mexico
Posts: 235
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Post by rufralf on Sept 25, 2013 19:37:43 GMT -5
Another interesting fact about my question is that Ruiz pinch hit for Bench in the first game Bench played in. Bench was 0-3 so Ruiz batted for him in the 9th inning.
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Post by psuhistory on Sept 25, 2013 21:13:57 GMT -5
Another interesting fact about my question is that Ruiz pinch hit for Bench in the first game Bench played in. Bench was 0-3 so Ruiz batted for him in the 9th inning. Yeah, no clue on that one. It was a distraction. Obviously, no one would have pinch hit for Bench after 1969, so it had to be before then. I wasn't sure about the 1964 angle because Ruiz didn't seem to fit the rest of the question. These multipart questions are good ones, better chances of figuring them out...
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