The
NEVADA DUSTERS
The Story of a Major League Baseball Franchise
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Dusters @ Mets
May 3-5, 1963
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Dusters Fast Out of the Gate
Al Childress, Las Vegas Sun
What a difference a year can make. Last season the brand-new Nevada Dusters struggled in the first few months. Everyone knows what happened then -- one of the great stretch runs in recent memory, and a World Championship.
This year the Dusters exploded out of the gate. They ended April with a record of 20-7, firmly ensconced atop the National League. They lost Cy Young Award winner Bob Shaw, the ace of their starting rotation. They gained All-Star, Gold Glove base-stealer extraordinaire Maury Wills. Apart from that, this is the same club that wore the maroon and gray last season. The difference is that this year's version of the Nevada Dusters is playing with a lot of confidence. They know they can win. And, as Yogi Berra once said, ninety percent of this game is half mental.
It helps, too, that the Dusters are knocking the cover off the baseball, with 41 homers recorded in the month of April. Five of the top ten spots on the NL home run leaderboard belong to Nevada players -- Billy Williams (8), Johnny Blanchard (8), Tom Tresh (7), Vic Power (6), Clete Boyer (6). In addition, Lee Maye and Hector Lopez have each hit four roundtrippers. If they keep this up, the '63 Dusters will rank right up there with the Bronx Bombers of thirty years ago in terms of home run production.
They're hitting for average, too. Five of the regulars have batting averages over .300 -- Wills .395, Power .362, Maye .398, Williams .326 and Boyer .316. And then there's the pitching. Tony Cloninger is 4-1 with a 2.41 ERA. Dave McNally is also 4-1, with a 3.03 ERA. Joe Horlen is off to a fairly slow start -- 1-0, 4.50. Newcomer Jim Bouton doesn't have a win yet, and was on the DL for two weeks, but he's pitching quite well. And the bullpen is, by and large, getting the job done. Bill Dailey is 4-0 with three saves and a 1.93 ERA. Lefty Jim Brewer is 0-2 with a 1.85 ERA. Barney Schultz (1-0, 2.35, 2 saves) and Claude Raymond (3-0, 2.18, 2 saves) are as dependable as they come.
But let's keep this in perspective. The Dusters have played the Cardinals and Cubs -- # 2 and # 3 in the NL standings right now -- and are 3-3 and 2-1 against those other clubs, respectively. Their other April opponents were second division clubs. May might prove a little tougher -- the San Francisco Giants twice, the Pirates and Cardinals and Cubs once. Then again, they've got three series with Casey Stengel's Amazin' Mets, who are currently residing in the NL basement with a miserable 5-22 record.
So how much stock should we put in this strong start? Who knows? I've learned not to make predictions where baseball -- and the Nevada Dusters -- are concerned. All we can do is sit back and enjoy the ride for as long as it lasts. Hopefully that will be until October.
 The Polo Grounds with the famous Chesterfield sign on the scoreboard
(which was a VERY long way from home plate; center field was 483 ft.
in 1963, extended from 475 the previous year).
Nevada Dusters (17-7) @ New York Mets (5-19)
May 3-5, 1963
Polo Grounds (New York, NY)
MOVES: Jim Bouton (rhp) returns to starting rotation from DL; Jim Roland (lhp) sent down to AAA Bakersfield; Phil Niekro (rhp) moved from rotation to bullpen (long relief).
DL: Paul Blair (cf-Montana R), bruised ankle, 5 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), Jim Archer (sp)
Game 1, May 3
In order to have Dave McNally and Jim Bouton pitch the first two games of the upcoming series with the Cardinals, Ben Naylor gave Pete Richert the start today, and Richert didn't allow a hit until the 4th, when he allowed two and the first Mets run scored. The Dusters had posted a pair of runs in the 1st (including a solo homer by Vic Power), and New York tied the game at 2-all in the 7th. In the 8th Billy Williams (3-for-5) doubled and scored on a Clete Boyer two-bagger, and Jerry Adair knocked in Boyer to make it 4-2 Nevada. Bill Dailey pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th for his fourth save, while Claude Raymond got the win and improved his record to 4-0. Richert allowed two runs on three hits in 6.1 innings, while Mets starter Jim Archer, after a rocky start, pitched effectively, holding the Dusters to five hits in seven frames. It was the fifth win a row for Nevada, and they remained three full games ahead of the field atop the NL.
Lineup: Wills, Power, Maye, Williams, Boyer, Tresh, Carreon, Adair, Richert
Record: 21-7
Dusters 4, Mets 2
Game 2, May 4
Johnny Blanchard demonstrated again why he was one of the best backstops in the business when he threw out Dick Smith trying to steal third in the Mets 1st, and then blocked the plate and tagged out Jim Hickman trying to stretch a triple into an inside-the-park home run. Mets starter Bill Singer gave the Dusters problems through the first seven frames, allowing just one run -- a Billy Williams homer -- on three hits, and the Mets had a 2-1 lead going into the 8th. But Vic Power singled and Williams hit his second long ball of the day at the expense of reliever Grover Powell, who proceeded to load the bases and set the stage for Tony Oliva's RBI single to give Nevada a 4-2 edge that Claude Raymond protected in the final two innings. Joe Horlen (7.0ip, 6h, 1bb, 2r, 1er, 3k, 3.86era) got his second win and Williams (3-for-5 with two runs and three RBI), continued to terrorize the Mets pitching staff.
Lineup: Maye, Power, Williams, Lopez, Boyer, Blanchard, Tresh, Adair, Horlen
Record: 22-7
Dusters 4, Mets 2
Game 3, May 5
The Mets avoided being swept for the second series in a row thanks to lefty Jerry Koosman, who allowed the Dusters just one run on seven hits in his complete game victory. Nevada starter Tony Cloninger struggled in the early going; he pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, but the Mets loaded them up again in the 2nd and came away with a 3-0 lead. Cloninger settled down after that, striking out five in his five innings of work, but walking six in the process. The Mets added two runs on two hits in the 7th with Jim Brewer on the mound. Billy Williams tripled in the Nevada 9th and Tom Tresh, facing his third RBI opportunity with a man ninety feet away, delivered this time with a single that erased the Nevada goose egg from the scoreboard. Cloninger (4-2) suffered the loss. Having taken five of six at the Polo Grounds, the Dusters packed their bags and headed home to face the Cardinals and these Mets again.
Lineup: Wills, Power, Maye, Williams, Lopez, Tresh, Carreon, Hubbs, Cloninger
Record: 22-8
Mets 5, Dusters 1
Nevada Dusters financial update:
Average Attendance: 16,392 ... Revenue YTD: $11.7M ... Profit YTD $3.7M ... Cash: $27.7M ... Team Payroll: $35.4M
Series Stats:
2B: Power 1, Boyer 1, Williams 2
3B: Williams 1
HR: Power 1, Williams 2
SB: Williams 1, Tresh 1
R: Power 2, Williams 5, Boyer 1, Lopez 1
RBI: Power 1, Boyer 1, Tresh 2, Adair 1, Williams 3, Oliva 1
IP: Richert 6.1, Raymond 2.2, Dailey 2.0, Horlen 7.0, Cloninger 5.0, Duliba 1.0, Brewer 2.0
K: Richert 3, Raymond 3, Horlen 3, Cloninger 5, Brewer 3
ER: Richert 2, Horlen 1, Cloninger 3, Brewer 2
W: Raymond 1, Horlen 1
L: Cloninger 1
SV: Dailey 1, Raymond 1
Around the Leagues:
NYM release Larry Foss (p) and Jim Archer (p)
CIN releases Carl Willey (p)
NYM sign free agent Jim Marshall (1b).
 What Really Happened...
5.3--Pitcher Buster Narum homers in his first at-bat as an Oriole. A few days later he is optioned to Rochester, to return to the majors in '64 with Washington. This makes Narum the first pitcher with more homers than wins in a season.
5.4--Bob Shaw of the Braves sets a new record for balks when he is called for five in a game.
Nevada Dusters at New York Mets
May 4, 1963
TOP OF THE FIRST
Bill Singer takes the mound for the Mets.
Lee Maye reached first on a fielding error by the shortstop. <--1>
Vic Power flied out to center. <--1>
Billy Williams lined out to first. <--1>
Hector Lopez walked. <-21>
Clete Boyer grounded to short. <-21>
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the first, the game is tied at 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Joe Horlen takes the mound for the Dusters.
Dick Smith singled in the right field gap. <--1>
Joe Christopher grounded to the third baseman. <-2->
Dick Smith was caught stealing third. <--->
Jim Hickman tripled to right. <3-->
Jim Hickman went for an extra base and was thrown out at home. <--->
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the first, the game is tied at 0.
TOP OF THE SECOND
Johnny Blanchard grounded to short. <--->
Tom Tresh popped up to second. <--->
Jerry Adair grounded to short. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the second, the game is tied at 0.
BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Duke Snider grounded to first. <--->
Charlie Neal singled to left field. <--1>
Harry Chiti grounded to third. <-2->
Bobby Pfeil popped up to short. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the second, the game is tied at 0.
TOP OF THE THIRD
Joe Horlen struck out. <--->
Lee Maye flied out to left. <--->
Vic Power grounded to the pitcher. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the third, the game is tied at 0.
BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Al Moran grounded to short. <--->
Bill Singer grounded to third. <--->
Dick Smith flied out to right. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the third, the game is tied at 0.
TOP OF THE FOURTH
Billy Williams doubled down the right field line. <-2->
Hector Lopez popped up to second. <-2->
Clete Boyer flied out to center. <-2->
Billy Williams stole third. <3-->
Johnny Blanchard popped up behind home plate. <3-->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, the game is tied at 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Joe Christopher struck out. <--->
Jim Hickman doubled down the third base line. <-2->
Duke Snider doubled to left, scoring a run. <-2->
Charlie Neal grounded to short. <3-->
Harry Chiti grounded to second. <3-->
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, New York leads 1 to 0.
TOP OF THE FIFTH
Tom Tresh singled up the middle. <--1>
Tom Tresh stole second. <-2->
Jerry Adair struck out. <-2->
Joe Horlen grounded to third. <-2->
Lee Maye was hit by a pitch. <-21>
Vic Power flied out to right. <-21>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, Nevada trails 1 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Bobby Pfeil grounded to second. <--->
Al Moran grounded to second. <--->
Bill Singer grounded to second. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, New York leads 1 to 0.
TOP OF THE SIXTH
Billy Williams homered over the right field fence. <--->
Hector Lopez struck out. <--->
Clete Boyer struck out. <--->
Johnny Blanchard popped up to the third baseman in foul ground. <--->
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, the game is tied at 1.
BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Dick Smith popped up to short. <--->
Joe Christopher struck out. <--->
Jim Hickman popped up to short. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, the game is tied at 1.
TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Tom Tresh walked. <--1>
Jerry Adair popped up to the pitcher. <--1>
Joe Horlen struck out. <--1>
Lee Maye struck out. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, the game is tied at 1.
BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Duke Snider walked. <--1>
Charlie Neal bunts for a base hit back to the pitcher. <-21>
Harry Chiti popped up to the third baseman. <-21>
Bobby Pfeil reached first on a fielding error by the pitcher. <321>
Frank Thomas pinch hit for Al Moran. <321>
Frank Thomas grounded to second, scoring a run. <3-1>
Cleon Jones pinch hit for Bill Singer. <3-1>
Cleon Jones struck out. <3-1>
1 run, 0 hits, 1 error, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, New York leads 2 to 1.
TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Grover Powell came in to pitch for the Mets. <--->
Rod Kanehl came in to play First Base. <--->
Vic Power singled up the middle. <--1>
Billy Williams homered to left-center for two RBIs. <--->
Hector Lopez singled to right. <--1>
Clete Boyer walked. <-21>
Johnny Blanchard struck out. <-21>
Tom Tresh singled up the middle. <321>
Tony Oliva pinch hit for Jerry Adair. <321>
Tony Oliva singled through the hole, scoring a run. <321>
Gordy Coleman pinch hit for Joe Horlen. <321>
Gordy Coleman grounded to the shortstop for a double play (6-4-3). <32->
3 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, Nevada leads 4 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Claude Raymond came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Ken Hubbs came in to play Second Base. <--->
Rod Kanehl flied out to center. <--->
Joe Christopher struck out. <--->
Jim Hickman grounded to the shortstop. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, New York trails 4 to 2.
TOP OF THE NINTH
Stu Miller came in to pitch for the Mets. <--->
Lee Maye grounded to third. <--->
Vic Power popped up to second. <--->
Billy Williams popped up to short. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the ninth, Nevada leads 4 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE NINTH
Duke Snider singled up the middle. <--1>
Charlie Neal laid down a sacrifice bunt to third. <-2->
Harry Chiti struck out. <-2->
Bobby Pfeil grounded to third. <-2->
DUSTERS WIN: 4-2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Dusters (NEV) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 4 8 1
Mets (NYM) 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 7 1
NEVADA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
L. Maye (CF) 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .369
V. Power (1B) 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .357
B. Williams (RF) 5 3 0 2 2 3 0 1 .353
H. Lopez (LF) 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 .385
C. Boyer (3B) 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 .314
J. Blanchard (C) 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .202
T. Tresh (SS) 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 .264
J. Adair (2B) 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .230
T. Oliva (PH) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .600
K. Hubbs (2B) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
J. Horlen (P) 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .200
G. Coleman (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
C. Raymond (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 35 8 3 4 2 4 7 2
2B: B. Williams (6)
HR: B. Williams 2 (10)
NEVADA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
J. Horlen 7.0 6 1 0 2 1 3 99 3.86
C. Raymond 2.0 1 0 0 0 0 2 29 1.93
TOTALS 9.0 7 1 0 2 1 5 128
NEW YORK ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
D. Smith (1B) 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .168
R. Kanehl (1B) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219
J. Christopher (LF) 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 .189
J. Hickman (CF) 4 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .293
D. Snider (RF) 3 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 .267
C. Neal (2B) 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
H. Chiti (C) 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .232
B. Pfeil (3B) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
A. Moran (SS) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .135
F. Thomas (SS) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .260
B. Singer (P) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
C. Jones (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .267
G. Powell (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
S. Miller (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 32 7 1 2 0 2 5 0
2B: J. Hickman (3), D. Snider (6)
3B: J. Hickman (1)
NEW YORK ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
B. Singer 7.0 3 2 1 1 1 6 105 2.14
G. Powell 1.0 5 1 1 3 3 1 26 4.43
S. Miller 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 5.06
TOTALS 9.0 8 3 2 4 4 7 143
WP: J. Horlen (2-0)
LP: G. Powell (0-4)
SV: C. Raymond (3)
Temperature: 69F
Wind: 6 MPH (left to right)
Attendance: 56,000
Time: 2:50
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