Wednesday – April 15th

Jim Bunning (0-0) making his much-anticipated first start in a Phillies uniform versus Tracy Stallard (0-0) for the Mets.

Tracy Stallard forever remains the answer to the trivia question: Who gave up Roger Maris’ 61st home run? (See header photo above. Maris starting to round the bases after hitting #61. Stallard on the mound.)

Ironically, it was the only hit Stallard ever surrendered to Maris in seven lifetime at-bats.

Play Ball

√ Jim Bunning and Tracy Stallard put up zeroes through the first 2½ innings. Then the Phillies came to bat in the bottom of the third.

• Bobby Wine led off with a single.
• After Stallard struck out Jim Bunning for the first out, he got Tony Taylor to hit a slow roller to short. Al Moran threw Taylor out at first for the second out. Wine advancing to second.
• Richie Allen singled Wine home to make it 1-0.

No more scoring until the top of the fifth when:

• Amado Samuel led off with a single.
• Al Moran hit a sharp line drive back to the mound. Bunning gloved it and turned it into a double play.
• With the pitcher coming to the plate, it looked like Bunning was out of the inning. But Stallard doubled.
• Bunning walked Ed Kranepool to put runners on first and second.
• Tim Harkness singled to tie the game at 1-1.

The score remained tied going into the bottom of the eighth:

• Bobby Wine led off with a double.
• Jim Bunning tried to sacrifice, but failed for the first out.
• Tony Taylor flew out for the second out.
• Richie Allen hit a ground ball to first that should’ve ended the inning. But Kranepool booted it for an error. Wine advancing to third.
• Tony Gonzalez hit a three-run homer (#1) to put the Phillies ahead 4-1.

Tony Gonzalez – A native of Cuba, he was acquired in a trade-deadline deal in 1960 with the Cincinnati Reds. He and outfielder Lee Walls came to the Phillies in exchange for outfielders Harry Anderson and Wally Post, plus left-handed pitcher Fred Hopke, who never made it to the majors.

Gonzalez was a better-than-average fielder with an average but accurate arm. A left-handed batter, he was a slashing hitter. He had a good year in 1963. Batting .272 with 36 doubles, 12 triples, and four home runs.

Gene Mauch made two defensive changes in the top of the ninth:

• Ruben Amaro replaced Roy Sievers at first.
• Danny Cater replaced Wes Covington in left.

Bunning (1-0) struck out the side to pick up his first win in a Phillies uniform. Tracy Stallard (0-1) took the loss.

Around the League

The Giants beat the Braves 10-8 to tie pthem atop the standings with the Phillies. Both at 2-0.