The
NEVADA DUSTERS
The Story of a Major League Baseball Franchise
Dusters @ Mets
April 28-30, 1963
Standings (as of 5.1)
(including team batting average and ERA)
NEV 20-7 .741 -- .315 3.22
STL 17-10 .630 3.0 .279 3.59
CHC 19-12 .613 3.0 .266 3.67
PIT 16-12 .571 4.5 .255 2.97
SFG 15-12 .556 5.0 .276 3.50
LAD 14-15 .483 7.0 .229 3.25
CIN 13-15 .464 7.5 .246 3.77
HOU 10-16 .385 9.5 .208 2.95
PHI 10-18 .357 10.5 .229 4.38
NYM 5-22 .185 15.0 .221 4.38
NYY 18-7 .720 -- .278 2.95
WSA 16-9 .640 2.0 .223 3.15
BAL 15-10 .600 3.0 .275 3.35
DET 15-13 .536 4.5 .257 3.61
BOS 13-12 .520 5.0 .278 4.39
CHW 14-14 .500 5.5 .260 4.25
LAA 11-14 .440 7.0 .265 4.12
MIN 11-14 .440 7.0 .234 4.22
CLE 11-17 .393 8.5 .252 4.95
KCA 7-21 .250 12.5 .242 5.88


Nevada Dusters (17-7) @ New York Mets (5-19)
April 29-May 1, 1963
Polo Grounds (New York, NY)

DL: Ken Hubbs (2b), pulled groin, 1 day; Jim Bouton (sp), pulled groin, 2 days; Claude Raymond (rp), strained chest, 1 day; Wayne Granger (rp-Montana Wolves R), strained back, 4 days; Paul Blair (cf-Montana Wolves R), bruised ankle, 6 days.

New York Mets Game 1 starting lineup:
Dick Smith (1b), Charlie Neal (2b), Frank Thomas (lf), Duke Snider (rf), Jim Hickman (cf), Harry Chiti (c), Ted Schreiber (3b), Al Moran (ss), Al Jackson (sp)

Game 1, April 29
The Dusters traveled to New York's fabled Polo Grounds for their first road trip -- back-to-back series with New York Mets -- and got off on the right foot with a 10-1 drubbing of Casey Stengel's struggling crew. Starter Tony Cloninger got into trouble in the 4th, loading the bases after Ted Schreiber doubled in a run, but got the outs he needed to maintain Nevada's lead at 3-1. His mound opponent, Al Jackson, pitched well enough to keep the Mets in the game, allowing three runs on seven hits through the first six frames. But in the 8th, with the score 4-1, Tom Tresh cranked a three-run homer into the left field bleachers. Maury Wills opened the 9th with a double and scored on a Vic Power single before Billy Williams hit a two-run shot to left center to make it 10-1. Cloninger (6.2ip, 7h, 3bb, 1r, 1er, 3k, 2.41era) improved to 4-1. Wills went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, Power and Lee Maye were 3-for-5, Williams 2-for-4 and Tom Tresh 3-for-4. The Dusters tallied 15 hits in all. The only batter who didn't get one was Johnny Blanchard, who was 0-for-5. Mets right fielder Duke Snider finished 3-for-4.
Lineup: Wills, Power, Maye, Williams, Boyer, Tresh, Blanchard, Adair, Cloninger
Record: 18-7
Dusters 10, Mets 1

Game 2, April 30
The Dusters had Mets starter Roger Craig on the ropes in the 1st, scoring a pair of runs and looking for more with the bases loaded -- until Ken Hubbs struck out to end the inning. Billy Williams homered in the 3rd and a RBI single by Hubbs in the 4th made it 4-0. Nevada's Dave McNally retired the first ten New York batters in order and didn't get into trouble until the 4th, when a hit and a pair of walks loaded the bases, but Harry Chiti grounded out to leave all three baserunners stranded. Johnny Blanchard hit a two-run dinger in the 6th and Ben Naylor, seeing no point in wearing out his starter with a 6-0 lead, turned to his bullpen. Jim Roland gave up a pair of runs in the 6th, and when he walked two in the 7th Nails had seen enough, and summoned Barney Schultz. The Mets scored a run in the 9th but it was too little too late. Gordy Coleman started at first in place of Vic Power and went 1-for-5, while Tony Oliva spelled Lee Maye in right field and finished 2-for-3 with a walk. It was the eighth homer for both Williams and Blanchard. McNally (5.2ip, 1h, 3bb, 0r, 0er, 2k, 3.03era) improved to 4-1. The Dusters were now 2.5 games ahead of the Cardinals atop the NL.
Lineup: Wills, Coleman, Williams, Lopez, Oliva, Tresh, Blanchard, Hubbs, McNally
Record: 19-7
Dusters 6, Mets 3

Game 3, May 1
Though Jim Bouton was healthy enough to come off the DL, the decision was made to give Phil Niekro another start, as Bouton's return would mean either Niekro or Pete Richert would go to the bullpen. Claude Raymond was fully recovered, as well, and back in the setup role. Leading 2-0, the Dusters added four in the 3rd -- Jerry Adair hit a three-run homer -- and two more in the 4th -- Hector Lopez clubbed a two-run shot into the left field bleachers of the Polo Grounds. But after Hobie Landrith and Cleon Jones had hit roundtrippers in the home 4th to make it 8-5, Niekro walked the next two batters and Ben Naylor replaced him with Pete Richert, who promptly served up a three-run homer to Jim Hickman. The Mets added another run in the inning and took a 9-8 lead. The Dusters tied in the game in the top of the 6th but New York scored two more in their half of the inning to regain the lead; in the 7th a three-run Lee Maye dinger made it 12-11 Nevada. In the 8th the Dusters tacked on three more runs without a hit, thanks to three Mets miscues. New York managed one more run in the bottom of the 9th against Bill Dailey, and Nevada held on to win 15-12 in a game in which each club collected seventeen hits and three home runs and used six pitchers. Niekro gave up seven runs on six hits in 3.1 innings. Barney Schultz got the win and Bob Duliba was awarded a save. Maye went 3-for-6 with three RBI, Lopez (starting in left field in place of Billy Williams) 4-for-6 with three ribbies.
Lineup: Wills, Power, Maye, Lopez, Boyer, Tresh, Blanchard, Adair, Niekro
Record: 20-7
Dusters 15, Mets 12


Nevada Dusters financial update:
Average Attendance: 16,392 ... Revenue YTD: $11.0M ... Profit YTD $3.8M ... Cash: $27.8M ... Team Payroll: $35.1M

Series Stats:
2B: Power 1, Wills 1, Maye 2, Hubbs 1, Blanchard 1, Tresh 1
3B: none
HR: Tresh 1, Williams 2, Blanchard 1, Maye 1, Lopez 1, Adair 1
SB: Maye 1, Wills 1, Tresh 1
R: Wills 5, Power 3, Maye 4, Williams 3, Boyer 2, Tresh 2, Adair 3, Lopez 3, Oliva 1, Blanchard 4
RBI: Power 3, Maye 5, Williams 3, Boyer 1, Tresh 4, Blanchard 4, McNally 1, Wills 1, Lopez 3, Adair 4
IP: Cloninger 6.2, Schultz 7.0, McNally 5.2, Roland 0.2, Niekro 3.1, Richert 0.2, Raymond 1.0, Dailey 1.2, Duliba 0.1
K: Cloninger 3, Schultz 8, McNally 2, Niekro 2, Richert 1, Dailey 1
ER: Cloninger 1, Roland 2, Schultz 3, Niekro 7, Richert 2, Dailey 1
W: Cloninger 1, McNally 1, Schultz 1
L: none
SV:Schultz 1, Duliba 1

Around the Leagues:
PIT traded Howie Goss (cf) to CLE for Whitey Herzog (rf) and Jack Kubiszyn (3b).
BOS signed free agent Joe Hicks (rf).

FEATURED GAME
Nevada Dusters at New York Mets
May 1, 1963
TOP OF THE FIRST
Jay Hook takes the mound for the Mets.
Maury Wills singled down the third base line. <--1>
Maury Wills stole second. <-2->
Vic Power singled down the right field line, scoring a run. <--1>
Lee Maye popped up to the pitcher. <--1>
Hector Lopez grounded to first. <-2->
Clete Boyer lined out to the second baseman. <-2->
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the first, Nevada leads 1 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Phil Niekro takes the mound for the Dusters.
Dick Smith struck out. <--->
Charlie Neal grounded to third. <--->
Frank Thomas lined out to third. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the first, New York trails 1 to 0.

TOP OF THE SECOND
Tom Tresh struck out. <--->
Johnny Blanchard doubled into the left field corner. <-2->
Jerry Adair singled to left, scoring a run. <--1>
Phil Niekro singled to center. <-21>
Maury Wills flied out to right field. <-21>
Vic Power grounded to first. <-21>
1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the second, Nevada leads 2 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Duke Snider lined out to center. <--->
Jim Hickman walked. <--1>
Hobie Landrith grounded to first base. <-2->
Ted Schreiber walked. <-21>
Al Moran grounded to first base. <-21>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the second, New York trails 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE THIRD
Lee Maye popped up to short. <--->
Hector Lopez singled through the left side. <--1>
Clete Boyer walked. <-21>
Tom Tresh flied out to left. <-21>
Johnny Blanchard singled back through the middle, scoring a run. <-21>
Jerry Adair homered around the foul pole in left for three RBIs. <--->
Phil Niekro lined out to center. <--->
4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the third, Nevada leads 6 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Joe Christopher pinch hit for Jay Hook. <--->
Joe Christopher singled into right field. <--1>
Dick Smith grounded to second, forcing the runner at second. <--1>
Charlie Neal flied out to left. <--1>
Frank Thomas grounded to short. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the third, New York trails 6 to 0.

TOP OF THE FOURTH
Sherman Jones came in to pitch for the Mets. <--->
Maury Wills popped up to the second baseman. <--->
Vic Power flied out to center. <--->
Lee Maye hit an infield single to third. <--1>
Hector Lopez homered over the left field fence for two RBIs. <--->
Clete Boyer flied out to center. <--->
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, Nevada leads 8 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Duke Snider doubled down the left field line. <-2->
Jim Hickman singled to left. <3-1>
Hobie Landrith homered to deep right-center for three RBIs. <--->
Ted Schreiber struck out. <--->
Al Moran singled down the third base line. <--1>
Cleon Jones pinch hit for Sherman Jones. <--1>
Al Moran stole second. <-2->
Cleon Jones homered over the right field fence for two RBIs. <--->
Dick Smith walked. <--1>
Charlie Neal walked. <-21>
Pete Richert came in to pitch for the Dusters. <-21>
Frank Thomas singled to right, scoring a run. <3-1>
Duke Snider flied out to left. <3-1>
Jim Hickman homered into the left field bleachers for three RBIs. <--->
Hobie Landrith struck out. <--->
9 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, New York leads 9 to 8.

TOP OF THE FIFTH
Craig Anderson came in to pitch for the Mets. <--->
Tom Tresh doubled down the third base line. <-2->
Johnny Blanchard flied out to center. <-2->
Tom Tresh stole third. <3-->
The Mets brought the infield in.
Jerry Adair lined out to short. <3-->
Billy Williams pinch hit for Pete Richert. <3-->
Billy Williams walked. <3-1>
Maury Wills grounded to the third baseman. <3-1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, Nevada trails 9 to 8.

BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Barney Schultz came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Ted Schreiber struck out. <--->
Al Moran flied out to left field. <--->
Craig Anderson grounded to third. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, New York leads 9 to 8.

TOP OF THE SIXTH
Vic Power reached first on a throwing error by the second baseman. <--1>
Lee Maye singled up the middle. <-21>
Hector Lopez singled to right, scoring a run. <3-1>
Clete Boyer walked. <321>
Tom Tresh popped up to second. <321>
Johnny Blanchard grounded to the second baseman for a double play (4-4-1). <32->
1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, the game is tied at 9.

BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Dick Smith struck out. <--->
Charlie Neal singled through the hole. <--1>
Charlie Neal went for an extra base and reached second. <-2->
Frank Thomas doubled in the left field gap, scoring a run. <-2->
Duke Snider struck out. <-2->
Jim Hickman singled to right, scoring a run. <--1>
Hobie Landrith struck out. <--1>
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, New York leads 11 to 9.

TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Rod Kanehl came in to play First Base. <--->
Jerry Adair flied out to center. <--->
Tony Oliva pinch hit for Barney Schultz. <--->
Grover Powell came in to pitch for the Mets. <--->
Tony Oliva singled through the left side. <--1>
Tony Oliva went for an extra base and was thrown out at second. <--->
Maury Wills walked. <--1>
Vic Power singled down the first base line, advancing the runner to third. <3-1>
Lee Maye homered over the left field fence for three RBIs. <--->
Hector Lopez dribbled weakly to the catcher. <--->
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, Nevada leads 12 to 11.

BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Claude Raymond came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Ted Schreiber grounded to third. <--->
Al Moran singled to right. <--1>
Grover Powell laid down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. <-2->
Rod Kanehl grounded to short. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, New York trails 12 to 11.

TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Stu Miller came in to pitch for the Mets. <--->
Clete Boyer struck out. <--->
Tom Tresh reached second on a fielding error by the right fielder. <-2->
Johnny Blanchard reached first on a fielding error by the first baseman. <3-1>
Jerry Adair walked. <321>
Gordy Coleman pinch hit for Claude Raymond. <321>
Gordy Coleman reached second on a fielding error by the center fielder - two runs scored. <32->
Maury Wills grounded to third, scoring a run. <-2->
Vic Power popped up to short. <-2->
3 runs, 0 hits, 3 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, Nevada leads 15 to 11.

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Bill Dailey came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Charlie Neal grounded to second. <--->
Frank Thomas singled to center. <--1>
Duke Snider popped up to short. <--1>
Jim Hickman singled back through the middle. <-21>
Hobie Landrith struck out. <-21>
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, New York trails 15 to 11.

TOP OF THE NINTH
Jerry Koosman came in to pitch for the Mets. <--->
Lee Maye grounded to third. <--->
Hector Lopez singled down the left field line. <--1>
Clete Boyer lined out to left field. <--1>
Tom Tresh popped up to short. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the ninth, Nevada leads 15 to 11.

BOTTOM OF THE NINTH
Ted Schreiber popped up foul down the first base line. <--->
Al Moran grounded to first. <--->
Harry Chiti pinch hit for Jerry Koosman. <--->
Harry Chiti singled into right field. <--1>
Rod Kanehl singled through the right side. <-21>
Harry Chiti went for an extra base and reached third. <3-1>
Charlie Neal singled to left-center, scoring a run. <3-1>
Bob Duliba came in to pitch for the Dusters. <3-1>
Frank Thomas grounded to short. <3-1>

DUSTERS WIN: 15-12

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Dusters (NEV) 1 1 4 2 0 1 3 3 0 15 17 0
Mets (NYM) 0 0 0 9 0 2 0 0 1 12 17 4

NEVADA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
M. Wills (SS) 5 1 1 2 0 1 0 1 .395
V. Power (1B) 6 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 .362
L. Maye (RF) 6 3 0 2 1 3 0 0 .398
H. Lopez (LF) 6 4 0 2 1 3 0 0 .388
C. Boyer (3B) 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 .316
T. Tresh (CF) 6 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 .253
J. Blanchard (C) 5 2 0 3 0 1 0 0 .213
J. Adair (2B) 4 2 1 2 1 4 0 0 .235
P. Niekro (P) 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .417
P. Richert (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
B. Williams (PH) 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .326
B. Schultz (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T. Oliva (PH) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .625
C. Raymond (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G. Coleman (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .346
B. Dailey (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B. Duliba (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 46 17 5 15 3 13 2 2

2B: J. Blanchard (1), T. Tresh (5)
HR: L. Maye (4), H. Lopez (4), J. Adair (2)

NEVADA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
P. Niekro 3.1 6 4 2 7 7 2 76 4.81
P. Richert 0.2 2 0 1 2 2 1 13 5.54
B. Schultz 2.0 3 0 0 2 2 4 23 2.35
C. Raymond 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 16 2.18
B. Dailey 1.2 5 0 0 1 1 1 30 1.93
B. Duliba 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 5.40
TOTALS 9.0 17 4 3 12 12 8 161

NEW YORK ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
D. Smith (1B) 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 .159
R. Kanehl (1B) 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
C. Neal (2B) 5 2 1 2 0 1 0 0 .260
F. Thomas (LF) 6 3 0 2 0 2 0 0 .274
D. Snider (RF) 5 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 .262
J. Hickman (CF) 4 4 1 2 1 4 0 0 .279
H. Landrith (C) 5 1 0 1 1 3 3 0 .169
T. Schreiber (3B) 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 .186
A. Moran (SS) 5 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .133
J. Hook (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143
J. Christopher (PH) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219
S. Jones (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C. Jones (PH) 1 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 .308
C. Anderson (P) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G. Powell (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
S. Miller (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J. Koosman (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
H. Chiti (PH) 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .265
TOTALS 43 17 4 12 3 12 8 1

2B: C. Neal (2), F. Thomas (9), D. Snider (5)
HR: H. Landrith (2), J. Hickman (2), C. Jones (1)

NEW YORK ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
J. Hook 3.0 8 1 1 6 6 1 53 7.94
S. Jones 1.0 2 0 1 2 2 0 17 4.50
C. Anderson 2.1 3 2 0 1 0 0 42 6.33
G. Powell 0.2 3 1 1 3 3 0 16 2.79
S. Miller 1.0 0 1 0 3 0 1 26 5.59
J. Koosman 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 13 2.60
TOTALS 9.0 17 5 3 15 11 2 167

WP: B. Schultz (1-0)
LP: G. Powell (0-2)
SV: B. Duliba (1)

Temperature: 66F
Wind: 3 MPH (right to left)
Attendance: 56,000
Time: 3:41