Sidewalk Surfing

“The Little Old Lady from Pasadena” by Jan and Dean topped the Billboard charts on June 27, 1964.

Surfing music was popularized by California groups like Jan and Dean, the Beach Boys, and the Ventures – to name just three. And surfing was so popular that a new trend developed – skate boards – as the surfers hauled their passion ashore and onto the streets.

The new pastime was called “sidewalk surfing.”

Bennett versus Simmons

At Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Dennis Bennett (9-4) was going to the mound for the Phillies to face former Whiz Kid Curt Simmons (7-6) and the Cardinals.

Simmons beat the Phillies 4-2 on May 12th. He split his last two decisions ─ beating the Colt 45s while losing to the Giants. He had four complete games and one shutout thus far.

Dennis Bennett was coming back on short rest after relieving against the Cubs three days earlier. This was his 16th start, one of which was a loss to the Cardinals on May 4th when he gave up five runs on five hits in only two innings.

In the top of the first, Cookie Rojas doubled with one out. When Johnny Callison followed with a single, Rojas moved to third and bluffed running toward the plate. The bluff drew a throw and Callison moved to second.

Simmons walked Richie Allen intentionally to load the bases.

Danny Cater foiled the Cards strategy by doubling. Rojas and Callison scored to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. Allen stopped at third to put runners on second and third with still just one out.

Roy Sievers delivered a two-run single to stake Dennis Bennett to a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first, Dick Groat singled with two outs. Then Ken Boyer walked to put runners on first and second. And Bill White cleared the bases with a double to right to cut the Phillies lead in half at 4-2. But the inning wasn’t over.

Chris James doubled and Bill White scored to make it 4-3. And Julian Javier singled to drive Chris James home to tie the score 4-4.

In the top of the second, Gene Mauch sent Wes Covington up to pinch-hit for Dennis Bennett.

In the bottom of the second, Rick Wise (1-0) took the mound for the Phils. This was the ninth outing for Wise ─ three as a starter and six in relief. He won his last two starts, both over the Mets.

The game moved into the bottom of the fourth with the score remaining 4-4.

In the bottom of the fourth, Tim McCarver singled with one out. When Curt Simmons bunted, Richie Allen booted the ball and both runners were safe.

Curt Flood hit a grounder to short. Bobby Wine fielded the ball and flipped to second, but Tony Taylor dropped the ball for an error that loaded the bases with one out.

Lou Brock stroked a two-run single to put the Cardinals on top 6-4.

Simmons retired the Phillies in the top of the fifth.

In the bottom of the fifth, Ken Boyer hit a ground ball to first that Roy Sievers couldn’t handle for the fourth error of the game committed by the Phillies.

Bill White singled and Boyer moved to third. After Bob Skinner pinch-hit for Chris James and popped out to short, Julian Javier dribbled a ball toward third. Richie Allen handled it, but his only play was first base. The runners moved up to second and third with two outs.

Rick Wise walked Tim McCarver intentionally to load the bases so that he could face Curt Simmons.

But Simmons foiled the strategy by smacking a two-run single to center to make it 8-4 Cardinals.

In the top of the seventh, Ruben Amaro pinch-hit for Wise and Dallas Green (2-1) replaced Wise in the bottom of the seventh.

Green pitched a strong seventh.

Simmons retired the Phillies in the top of the eighth.

Dallas Green ran into trouble in the bottom of the eighth.

Curt Flood singled and moved to second on a bunt by Lou Brock. Dick Groat followed with a double to make it 9-4 Cardinals.

In the top of the ninth, Bobby Wine singled with one out – his third hit of the game, lifting his average over .200 for the first time in a week.

But that was it for the Phillies.

Curt Simmons (8-6) retired Tony Gonzalez and Tony Taylor to pick up the complete-game victory. Rick Wise (1-1) was tagged with the first loss of his career.

Giants Beat Dodgers

Juan Marichal (10-3) limited the Dodgers to five hits as he picked up his tenth win of the season – a 9-1 complete-game victory.

Orlando Cepeda hit a three-run homer – his 12th – and Tom Haller hit a pair of two-run homers – his fifth and sixth – to lead the Giants 11-hit attack.

Joe Moeller (4-7) took the loss.

The net result was that the Giants (43-27 for .614) moved into a virtual tie with the Phillies (41-25 for .621) for first place.

(Excerpted from 1964 – The Year the Phillies Blew the Pennant by Barry Bowe.)