Friday, April 17th

The Ford Motor Company unveiled the Mustang at the New York World’s Fair.

Ford took orders for 22,000 cars that day alone – and would sell a record-setting 418,812 Mustangs by the end of the year.

During their off-day, the Phillies traveled to Chicago to begin a three-game series with the Cubs in Wrigley Field.

Art Mahaffey (0-0) versus Dick Ellsworth (0-0) in the series opener.

Wrigley Field

When built in 1914, Wrigley Field was known as Weegham Field. Chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr. acquired control of the Cubs in 1921 and called it Cubs Park – which it remained until 1926 when the name was changed to Wrigley Field.

In addition to the Cubs, Wrigley Field served as the home of the Chicago Bears from 1921-1970.

Considered a classic ballpark, to this day it features ivy-covered outfield walls and a hand-turned scoreboard. And it wasn’t until August of 1988 that lights were installed for night games.

During the 1920s, Al Capone was a regular at Cubs games. In the header photo, Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett signing an autograph for Capone.

Chicago Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett signs autograph for Al Capone… for 1929 (Sun-Times Library files) copy neg

With the wind gusting at 24 miles-per-hour, eight balls flew out of Wrigley as the Phillies made it three straight wins with a 10-8 victory over the Cubs.

Art Mahaffey (#1), Richie Allen (#1), and Roy Sievers (#2) connected for the Phils. Ron Santo (#1), Lou Brock (#1), Billy Williams (#2 and #3), and Billy Cowan (#1) went yard for the Cubs.

Neither Mahaffey nor Ellsworth – who went 22-10 in 1963 – made it thru the fifth inning.

Play Ball

Seemingly in control thru the first four innings, Dick Ellsworth suddenly lost it in the top of the fifth. Trailing 3-1, the Phillies exploded for six runs:

• Seemingly in control through the first four innings, Dick Ellsworth suddenly lost it in the top of the fifth:
• Gus Triandos and Bobby Wine hit back-to-back singles.
• Art Mahaffey helped his own cause by launching a three-run homer (#1) to put the Phillies ahead 4-3 – Mahaffey’s third career homer.
• Two outs later, Richie Allen and Roy Sievers went back-to-back to put the Phillies on top 6-3. It was Allen’s first home run in the majors. For Sievers, it was his second of the season.
• Cubs’ manager Bob Kennedy replaced Ellsworth with Glen Hobbie (0-0). A former starter who won 16 games in both 1959 and 1960, he was going to be used as a reliever this season.
• But Hobbie ran into misfortune when Tony Gonzalez hit a ground ball to shortstop Andre Rodgers that should’ve been the third out – but Rodgers booted it for his second error of the game.
• Danny Cater and Gus Triandos then hit back-to-back singles to bump the Phillies lead to 7-3. It was Cater’s first big-league hit and the first RBI of the season for Triandos.

Johnny Klippstein (2-0) got the win in relief – his second in the first three games – and Jack Baldschun picked up his first save. Dick Ellsworth (0-1) took the loss.

Around the League – The win bumped the Phillies undefeated record to 3-0 and kept them in sole possession of first place.

The Giants topped the Cardinals 5-4 in 10 innings to improve their record to 3-1 and remain one-half game behind the Phils. Former Philadelphia A’s Bobby Shantz (0-1) took the loss for the Cards.

Barry Bowe is also the author of Born to Be Wild and 21 Years.

21 Years follows the footsteps of Blacklist, Sons of Anarchy, Narcos, House of Cards, and Breaking Bad. If you like those shows, good chance you’ll like 21 Years. “Where’s Beth?” Available in all digital formats – $2.99 at Kindle – $1.77 at Smashwords.