Jim Maloney Lost Despite 10 plus no hit innings in Same Calendar 1965
Somehow I recall it being “a day after” Tuesday, when I first heard, that despite pitching 10 and one third innings of no hit baseball, the excellent, hard throwing Cincinnati Reds’ pitcher, Jim Maloney, had lost the game (1-0) to the New York Mets, 56 years ago (Monday night June 14, 1965 at (as Lindsey Nelson intoned) “Crosley Field in Cincinnati–I guess in some ways Lindsey and other greats are “still living on the air in/from Cincinnati) , in same calendar 1965.
There is so much to this tilt, not the least of which is a fond reminder of why baseball WAS so great and despite all its leaders have done in diminishing its greatness, perhaps and clearly, in at least some aspects, still is.
Let’s go negative, a largely futile, veritable “Ethiopia spears against Mussolini’s bombing.” (In the end, I believe Selig, Manfred and all the bottom line whores will have to answer).
Yes, the negative derived from the game involves a Reds’ third year second baseman, who pointed out by Bob Murphy, runs to first base after drawing a walk, named Pete Rose is still and likely always will be denied entry to a so cheapened, (but again baseball oh baseball–how I once loved thee)–Baseball Hall of Fame.
Pete goes out, R-Fielder “F. Robi” (Frank Robinson) comes in, catches the ball for an out.
When Pete joined the Cincinnati team in 1963, a year Reverend Dr. King gathered “a start” to a better situation at the (need I say Abraham, I hope not, but fear I do) Lincoln Memorial, for people so long denied basic rights in this hypocritical, money is all, but still hope for it, me and potential, he was shunned by many players, who resented his bidding for the fine player, but no Pete Rose, Don Blasingame’s second base job.
Leaving out the end, when Frank, who I truly loved as a player and was at least cordial, the couple of times I met him, was against Pete, how great it was that Pete, Frank and Vada Pinson “hung out” a bit, transcending racial barriers, that despite what you see in commercials, are still quite prevalent, these 58 years later.
OK baseball. Maloney is facing Frank Lary. Neither pitcher allows a run for 8 innings. In an ultimate Lary/Larry (tip of the hat to another Larry and all of Jesse and Arlene’s wonderful family) 11 inning shutout win, it is Larry Bearnarth, who relieves Frank Lary.
Meanwhile Maloney, which rhymes with Toney (see Hippo Vaughn vs Fred Toney, in baseball’s only no-hitter by each team’s pitcher, also almost by definition, not decided in 9 innings. Imagine, if Manfred was involved and put a runner on second to start an inning!!), hurled 10 and a third, no hit innings, eventually tying Warren Spahn (at 44 years old Spahn was the next night’s Mets’ pitcher), N.L. (Tom Cheney still holds the major league record with 21, continuing the link to civil rights, but perhaps doing so in annoying and certainly highly tangential fashion, James Chaney was a civil rights worker slain), record 18 strikeouts in an extra inning game, set on the same date, 13 years earlier.
I can go on with the coincidences and facts culled from this game. Perhaps I will some day.
Earlier, the great civil rights leader, M.L. King was cited, now another, one John Lewis.
Another with that name, going by Johnny, made at least one night history, as it was Johnny Lewis, cited as being in a slump, as was the team with 10 straight losses, (the current Mets have lost 7 of 8 and last week went from 3 and a half ahead to two and a half out and in third place, in their “one eighth” division), whose 1 out home run handed Maloney, an eventual crushing defeat.
More on this game and time with perspective and yes opinions (you know what they say about opinions and a specific part of the body, however, I add that I feel as a caring person, entitlement to at least some portion of the moral “higher ground.”)
Cue Stevie Wonder and maybe we can, each of us/U.S./ (I have to get off at the exit, citing it and see the General Grant Memorial), SEE a bit better.
Johnny Lewis, born 82 years ago on this date and one year before John Lewis, is pictured above.
When I chose to “post” regarding the Mets/Reds June 14, 1965 game, I had no idea today is the anniversary of Lewis’ birth.
A bit disturbing, the all powerful, in this case, I believe Yahoo, lists a same name department store before the great civil rights activist, John Lewis.
This despite a current book, which I will “link” (is that the term?) below.
Andy B Sports 