1964 June 21 | BARRY BOWE

Sunday – June 21 – First Game

It was Father’s Day and Jim Bunning was taking the mound in what would become an historic game.

He had a no-decision against the Cubs four days earlier – and then came back a day later to save the next game against the Cubs.

So, in effect, he was starting on two-days’ rest.

Back to the Action – The Phillies got started in the top of the first:

Johnny Briggs walked and moved to second on John Herrnstein’s sacrifice bunt.
After Johnny Callison struck out, Richie Allen singled to score Briggs.

After Bunning retired the Mets 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first, the Phils scored again in the second:

Tony Taylor walked and moved to second on a sacrifice by Cookie Rojas.
Gus Triandos doubled to make it 2-0 Phillies.

More 1-2-3 innings for Bunning in the second, third, fourth and fifth. So far he’d breezed through 15 consecutive batters without a hit, walk, or base-runner.

The Phillies added to the lead in the top of the sixth:

Johnny Callison led off with a home run (#9) to make it 3-0.
After Richie Allen struck out, Wes Covington walked – and Gene Mauch sent Bobby Wine in to run for Covington.
Tony Taylor singled Wine to second.
After Rojas flew out, Gus Triandos doubled to make it 4-0.
With Triandos on second and two outs, Bunning doubled to score Triandos and make it 6-0.

With Bunning pitching a perfect game through five innings, Gene Mauch made two defensive changes:

Bobby Wine stayed in the game at shortstop.
Cookie Rojas moved from short to left to replace John Herrnstein.

Bunning needed 12 more outs.

In the bottom of the sixth:

Charley Smith flew out to center.
Amado Samuel popped out to short.
Rod Kanehl grounded out to short.

In the bottom of the seventh:

Jim Hickman struck out swinging.
Ron Hunt grounded out to third.
Ed Kranepool struck out swinging.

In the bottom of the eighth:

Joe Christopher struck out swinging.
Jesse Gonder grounded out.
Hawk Taylor was caught looking.

At this point – with just three outs remaining between Jim Bunning and history – most of the 32,026 Mets faithful in attendance found themselves caught up in the moment. From here on out, they started cheering every strike Bunning threw and every out the Mets made.

In the bottom of the ninth:

Charley Smith popped a ball down the left-field line. Bobby Wine drifted into foul territory and coasted under it for the first out. Just two more to go.
Bunning struck out pinch-hitter George Altman for the second out. Just one out left.
Bunning got pinch-hitter John Stephenson with a feeble swing at strike three to end the perfect game – and the crowd erupted to pay tribute to Bunning’s accomplishment.

That was 27 up and 27 down – the first perfect game in the National League since 1880.

Jim Bunning (7-2) got the historic win and Tracy Stallard (4-9) took the loss.

Sunday – June 21 – Second Game

The Phillies jumped on “Yankee Killer” Frank Lary for three runs in the top of the first in the nightcap:

Johnny Briggs hit the first home run of his short career.
Two outs later, Richie Allen walked.
Wes Covington singled and Allen went to third.
Tony Taylor singled to score Allen and make it 2-0.
With runners on first and second and two outs, Cookie Rojas singled to score Covington and make it 3-0.

From there, the Phillies kept adding to the lead and would up with an 8-2 win that swept the doubleheader and gave them four wins in the five-game series.

Believing he had a safe lead, Gene Mauch made three changes to give Johnny Callison and Richie Allen brief rests:

Roy Sievers pinch-hit for Callison and stayed in the game to play first base.
John Herrnstein moved from first to right to replace Callison.
Ruben Amaro replaced Richie Allen at third.

And when with Rick Wise walked pinch-hitter Chris Cannizzaro to start the bottom of the seventh – and with the score still 7-2 Phillies – Mauch replaced Rick Wise with Johnny Klippstein – and Klippstein retired the Mets in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to seal the victory.

Between them, Rick Wise and Johnny Klippstein gave up just three hits combined in wrapping up the sweep of the Father’s Day doubleheader – which means the Mets managed just three hits over the 18 innings.

Rick Wise (1-0) picked up the win and Johnny Klippstein the save (#1).

Frank Lary (0-2) took the loss.

The sweep of the doubleheader gave the Phillies nine wins in their first 11 games with the hapless Mets.

Around the League – Even though the Giants beat the Cardinals 7-3, the sweep of the doubleheader against the Mets allowed the Phillies to pick up ½ game on the Giants to lead by two games.

In addition to being the official Eagles Outsider for BlameMyFather.com – Barry Bowe is also the author of: