Trailing 2 - 1 in the home 9th, the Chicago White Sox mounted a 2-run rally to defeat Sonny Siebert and the Cleveland Indians 3 to 2. Wayne Causey led off the last of the 9th with a pinch single. Ed Stroud pinch ran and promptly stole 2nd. Smoky Burgess pinch hit and drew a walk. Al Weis pinch ran for Burgess, and after a Ron Hansen strike out, Ken Berry reached on a Siebert error to load the bases. With one out, Don Buford stroked a clutch 2-run single scoring Ed Stroud with the tieing run and Al Weis with the game winner.
Joe Horlen and Sonny Siebert were locked in a pitchers' duel until the Indians scored two in the sixth to take a 2-1 lead. Bob Locker relieved in the eighth following Hoyt Wilhelm and picked up the late inning win. The Chisox stole 3 more bases (Don Buford, Ed Stroud and Ken Berry).
Ed Stroud was a back-up outfielder and pinch runner when the Sox traded him to the Senators for back up outfielder Jim King who had more power. I was disappointed as he was so exciting to see on the bases. Several years later, he was traded back to the Sox for Tommy McCraw. In 1965, Smokey Burgess became a favorite for me due to his cool name, awesome girth, and clutch performance.
ReplyDeleteIf the White Sox could only turn back the clock...trading up and comers like Ed Stroud, Don Buford, and Tommie Agee would never have happened. It seems the '60's Sox brass were enamored with the aging veterans. From 1960 through late 1967 management gave up so much talent (especially speed): Johnny Callison, Earl Battey, Don Buford, Tommie Agee, Ed Stroud, Al Weis....who am I leaving out? Thankfully and eventually, World Series rings were placed on the fingers of players like: Buford, Battey, Agee, Weis, & JC Martin.
Delete