The
NEVADA DUSTERS
The Story of a Major League Baseball Franchise
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Dusters @ Giants
May 16-18, 1963
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Interview with Conn Hudson
Al Childress, Las Vegas Sun
Q: The Dusters have gotten off to a very fast start this season. Cy Machlie of Sports Illustrated wrote a couple of days ago that Nevada might very well steamroll the rest of the National League on the way to another Fall Classic. He said that, right now, the Dusters look unbeatable. To what do you ........ the club's amazing start?
A: Well, first, "unbeatable" is not a term I would use in baseball. But the guys are playing very well. The hitting has been sensational. The rotation is rock-solid, and so is the bullpen. But the key, I think, is that the players are very relaxed, very confident. Last year there was a lot of pressure. A lot of tension in the clubhouse, too, as a consequence.
Q: Trying to go back to the World Series -- that's a lot of pressure, isn't it?
A: That's the thing. The guys aren't just about winning another World Series. They just want to play to the best of their abilities. They don't think they have anything left to prove.
Q: Your assessment of Maury Wills...?
A: He's everything we'd hoped for, and more. It seems as though if he gets on base, which he often does, he's likely to score a run. In my opinion there isn't a better leadoff man in baseball right now.
Q: It seems as though everyone is hitting home runs right now. Fifty-seven dingers and we're not even two months into the season. How do you explain that?
A: They're all just seeing the ball really well.
Q: The bullpen has been coming through for you in a big way. Bill Dailey has a 1.46 ERA. Claude Raymond's is 1.93. Brewer, 2.18. Schultz, 2.19. Last year the bullpen was the big question mark, wasn't it?
A: Yes, it was, for much of the year. But [pitching coach] Ray Narleski and the guys worked very hard in the offseason, and that hard work is paying off. As you know, the bullpen is so important. If we're ahead going into the late innings, we can usually win the game. And if we're behind, we often have a chance to rally for the win.
Q: That seems to be happening a lot. The Dusters have had quite a few dramatic, come-from-behind wins.
A: Because, with our pitching, we're usually still in the game in the 8th or 9th inning.
Q: The pundits say you probably won't be able to keep this team intact for more than a couple more seasons, due to financial constraints. That your current payroll is about as high as this market will bear. Which then presents a problem when players like Billy Williams and Joe Horlen and Dave McNally and Tony Cloninger come to the end of their contracts. Would you like to comment on that?
A: Billy's contract expires this season. But I can't deny that there will be constraints in the seasons to come. A lot depends on how Las Vegas responds to the club this year and next. The attendance numbers this year over last year are promising. We'll just have to see.
Q: There's a rumor floating around that if this city doesn't support the club adequately that you would move. Perhaps to Brooklyn.
A: I think Brooklyn deserves a major league team. But I have every intention of keeping the Dusters in Nevada.
 True's 1963 Baseball Yearbook
Nevada Dusters (28-8) @ San Francisco Giants (19-17)
May 16-18, 1963
Candlestick Park (San Francisco, CA)
DL: none
San Francisco Giants Game 1 starting lineup:
Luis Aparicio (ss), Manny Mota (lf), Roger Maris (rf), Orlando Cepeda (1b), Tony Gonzalez (cf), Ed Bailey (c), Jim Davenport (3b), Chuck Hiller (2b), Gaylord Perry (sp)
Game 1, May 16
The first game of the season between the Dusters and the Giants featured spitballer Gaylord Perry against knuckleballer Phil Niekro, and the Giants touched Niekro for four runs by the end of the 3rd. But the Dusters struck back in the 4th as a Billy Williams solo homer was followed by a two-run dinger off the bat of Tom Tresh. A wild pitch by Niekro made it 5-3 Giants in the 6th. In the 8th Perry was gone, and Nevada scored three runs on three hits against reliever Frank Linzy, two on the second home run of the night for Billy Williams. Reliever Jim Brewer worked the 8th and 9th for the Dusters, allowing just one hit, that by Tony Gonzalez to lead off the 8th, but Gonzalez was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double. Pete Richert, who pitched the 7th, got the win, Brewer his second save; Williams took the club lead in homers away from Boyer with his twelfth downtowner of the season. San Fran's shortstop, Luis Aparicio, finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a pair of base thefts.
Lineup: Wills, Power, Maye, Williams, Boyer, Tresh, Blanchard, Adair, Niekro
Record: 29-8
Dusters 6, Giants 5
Game 2, May 17
The Dusters were hoping to stretch their win streak to eight games, and things looked promising as, with a 2-0 lead in the 4th, Cam Carreon drove a two-run homer -- his first round-tripper of the season -- to left. The Giants managed a run on three hits in their half of the 4th but the Dusters got it right back in the 5th to make it 5-1. Joe Horlen pitched seven strong innings, allowing eight hits but just the one run while striking out five. But with Jim Brewer on the mound in the bottom of the 9th the Giants rallied for four runs -- an Ed Bailey solo home run, a two-run double by Jimmie Hall, and an RBI single by Roger Maris -- to send the game into extra innings. The score remained tied until the 12th, when Lee Maye reached on an error by left fielder Harvey Kuenn and then scored on a two-bagger by Hector Lopez. San Francisco put two on in the bottom of the 12th but Bill Dailey succeeded in getting the last out and earning his fifth win in the process. Lopez was 3-for-5, Clete Boyer 3-for-6, while Carreon scored twice and drove in three.
Lineup: Wills, Power, Maye, Williams, Lopez, Boyer, Adair, Carreon, Horlen
Record: 30-8
Dusters 6, Giants 5
Game 3, May 18
The Dusters rode a fine pitching performance by Tony Cloninger -- one run on four hits in 7.2 innings of work -- to another series sweep and their ninth win in a row. It wasn't easy, though, because Cloninger's mound opponent, Mike McCormick, pitched very well, too, allowing two runs on just five hits in eight innings of work. San Francisco led 1-0 until the top of the 7th, when back-to-back Giant errors put two men on for pinch hitter Tony Oliva, who singled in the tying run. Then Cloninger laid down a perfect bunt for a successful squeeze play that scored Jerry Adair from third. Reliever Claude Raymond slammed the door on the Giants for his fourth save, while Cloninger improved to 6-2. "They're unstoppable now," said Giants skipper Alvin Dark. "But it's a long season. We'll see if they can keep it up for four more months."
When asked what, if anything, worried him about the club's progress thus far, Ben Naylor said, "Just one thing. The guys can't get overconfident."
Lineup: Wills, Power, Maye, Williams, Lopez, Boyer, Adair, Carreon, Cloninger
Record: 31-8
Dusters 2, Giants 1
Nevada Dusters financial update:
Average Attendance: 16,518 ... Revenue YTD: $15.1M ... Profit YTD $4.7M ... Cash: $28.7M ... Team Payroll: $35.4M
Series Stats:
2B: Maye 2, Williams, Lopez 2
3B: none
HR: Tresh 1, Williams 2, Carreon 1
SB: Wills 2, Power 2
R: Power 3, Maye 1, Williams 2, Boyer 3, Tresh 1, Wills 1, Lopez 1, Carreon 1, Adair 1
RBI: Maye 1, Williams 4, Tresh 2, Power 1, Lopez 1, Carreon 3, Oliva 1, Cloninger 1
IP: Niekro 6.0, Richert 1.0, Brewer 3.2, Horlen 7.0, Raymond 2.2, Dailey 2.0, Cloninger 7.2
K: Niekro 3, Richert 1, Brewer 3, Horlen 5, Raymond 2, Dailey 1, Cloninger 5
ER: Niekro 5, Horlen 1, Brewer 4, Cloninger 1
W: Richert 1, Dailey 1, Cloninger 1
L: none
SV: Brewer 1, Raymond 1
Around the Leagues:
NYM sign Mike Krsnich (lf), SFG signs Sherm Lollar (c), BOS signs Dick Gernert (1b).
CHC release El Tappe (c) and Sammy White (c).
 What Really Happened...
5.14--The profusion of balk calls this season prompts a National League directive that umpires do not have to enforce the one-second stop from the stretch.
5.17--Don Nottebart pitches the first no-hitter in the history of the Houston franchise.
5.17--Minnesota's Bob Allison hits three consecutive homers as the Twins beat the Indians 11-4.
Nevada Dusters at San Francisco Giants
May 16, 1963
TOP OF THE FIRST
Gaylord Perry takes the mound for the Giants.
Maury Wills grounded to short. <--->
Vic Power flied out to right. <--->
Lee Maye struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the first, the game is tied at 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Phil Niekro takes the mound for the Dusters.
Luis Aparicio walked. <--1>
Manny Mota struck out. <--1>
Luis Aparicio stole second. <-2->
Roger Maris doubled in the right field gap, scoring a run. <-2->
Orlando Cepeda popped up to second. <-2->
Tony Gonzalez singled to center, scoring a run. <--1>
Ed Bailey popped up to the second baseman. <--1>
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the first, San Francisco leads 2 to 0.
TOP OF THE SECOND
Billy Williams flied out to center. <--->
Clete Boyer popped up to the second baseman. <--->
Tom Tresh singled through the left side. <--1>
Tom Tresh went for an extra base and was thrown out at second. <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the second, Nevada trails 2 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Jim Davenport flied out to right. <--->
Chuck Hiller grounded back to the pitcher. <--->
Gaylord Perry popped up to the second baseman. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the second, San Francisco leads 2 to 0.
TOP OF THE THIRD
Johnny Blanchard singled through the left side. <--1>
Jerry Adair struck out. <--1>
Phil Niekro popped up to short. <--1>
Maury Wills struck out. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the third, Nevada trails 2 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Luis Aparicio grounded to the shortstop. <--->
Manny Mota singled up the middle. <--1>
Roger Maris walked. <-21>
Orlando Cepeda singled to left, scoring a run. <-21>
Roger Maris went for an extra base and reached third. <3-1>
Tony Gonzalez flied out to right. <3-1>
Roger Maris tagged up and reached home, scoring a run. <--1>
Ed Bailey struck out. <--1>
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the third, San Francisco leads 4 to 0.
TOP OF THE FOURTH
Vic Power grounded to short. <--->
Lee Maye popped up to second. <--->
Billy Williams homered around the foul pole in right. <--->
Clete Boyer singled to center field. <--1>
Tom Tresh homered over the left field fence for two RBIs. <--->
Johnny Blanchard popped up to short. <--->
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, Nevada trails 4 to 3.
BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Jim Davenport singled down the left field line. <--1>
Chuck Hiller walked. <-21>
Gaylord Perry grounded to first base. <32->
Luis Aparicio lined out to the second baseman. <32->
Manny Mota popped up behind home plate. <32->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, San Francisco leads 4 to 3.
TOP OF THE FIFTH
Jerry Adair grounded to third. <--->
Phil Niekro struck out. <--->
Maury Wills struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, Nevada trails 4 to 3.
BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Roger Maris popped up to short. <--->
Orlando Cepeda grounded to short. <--->
Tony Gonzalez struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, San Francisco leads 4 to 3.
TOP OF THE SIXTH
Vic Power walked. <--1>
Lee Maye flied out to right. <--1>
Billy Williams flied out to left. <--1>
Vic Power stole second. <-2->
Clete Boyer flied out to left. <-2->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, Nevada trails 4 to 3.
BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Ed Bailey doubled to left. <-2->
Jim Davenport grounded to second. <3-->
Chuck Hiller lined out to left field. <3-->
Matty Alou pinch hit for Gaylord Perry. <3-->
Phil Niekro threw a wild pitch - a run scored. <--->
Matty Alou popped up to second. <--->
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, San Francisco leads 5 to 3.
TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Frank Linzy came in to pitch for the Giants. <--->
Jose Pagan came in to play First Base. <--->
Jimmie Hall came in to play Left Field. <--->
Tom Tresh popped up to second. <--->
Johnny Blanchard grounded to second. <--->
Jerry Adair grounded to second. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, Nevada trails 5 to 3.
BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Luis Aparicio singled through the left side. <--1>
Pete Richert came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--1>
Jimmie Hall popped up to the catcher in foul ground. <--1>
Roger Maris popped up to the catcher. <--1>
Luis Aparicio stole second. <-2->
Jose Pagan struck out. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, San Francisco leads 5 to 3.
TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Tony Oliva pinch hit for Pete Richert. <--->
Tony Oliva grounded to short. <--->
Maury Wills singled up the middle. <--1>
Vic Power grounded to first, forcing the runner at second. <--1>
Lee Maye doubled down the right field line, scoring a run. <-2->
Billy Williams homered around the foul pole in left for two RBIs. <--->
Clete Boyer walked. <--1>
John Pregenzer came in to pitch for the Giants. <--1>
Tom Tresh grounded to first. <--1>
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, Nevada leads 6 to 5.
BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Jim Brewer came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Tony Gonzalez singled back through the middle. <--1>
Tony Gonzalez went for an extra base and was thrown out at second. <--->
Ed Bailey grounded to third. <--->
Jim Davenport struck out. <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, San Francisco trails 6 to 5.
TOP OF THE NINTH
Johnny Blanchard singled to right. <--1>
Jerry Adair flied out to right. <--1>
Jim Brewer laid down a sacrifice bunt to third. <-2->
Maury Wills grounded to the second baseman. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the ninth, Nevada leads 6 to 5.
BOTTOM OF THE NINTH
Chuck Hiller popped up to short. <--->
Tom Haller pinch hit for John Pregenzer. <--->
Tom Haller flied out to center. <--->
Luis Aparicio singled back through the middle. <--1>
Jimmie Hall popped up to short. <--1>
DUSTERS WIN: 6-5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Dusters (NEV) 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 0 6 9 0
Giants (SFG) 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 9 0
NEVADA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
M. Wills (SS) 5 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 .342
V. Power (1B) 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 .351
L. Maye (RF) 4 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 .365
B. Williams (LF) 4 2 0 2 2 3 0 0 .350
C. Boyer (3B) 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .323
T. Tresh (CF) 4 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 .278
J. Blanchard (C) 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202
J. Adair (2B) 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .228
P. Niekro (P) 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .412
P. Richert (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
T. Oliva (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
J. Brewer (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
TOTALS 34 9 2 6 3 6 5 1
2B: L. Maye (8)
HR: T. Tresh (10), B. Williams 2 (12)
NEVADA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
P. Niekro 6.0 7 3 0 5 5 3 89 4.44
P. Richert 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 11 4.43
J. Brewer 2.0 2 0 0 0 0 1 29 2.06
TOTALS 9.0 9 3 0 5 5 5 129
SAN FRANCISCO ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
L. Aparicio (SS) 4 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 .311
M. Mota (LF) 3 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 .226
J. Hall (LF) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217
R. Maris (RF) 3 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 .276
O. Cepeda (1B) 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .328
J. Pagan (1B) 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .500
T. Gonzalez (CF) 3 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 .263
E. Bailey (C) 4 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 .200
J. Davenport (3B) 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .189
C. Hiller (2B) 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .279
G. Perry (P) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182
M. Alou (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .281
F. Linzy (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J. Pregenzer (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T. Haller (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
TOTALS 34 9 3 5 0 5 5 2
2B: E. Bailey (5), R. Maris (11)
SAN FRANCISCO ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
G. Perry 6.0 5 1 2 3 3 5 70 2.47
F. Linzy 1.2 3 1 1 3 3 0 24 5.21
J. Pregenzer 1.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 15 2.10
TOTALS 9.0 9 2 3 6 6 5 109
WP: P. Richert (2-0)
LP: F. Linzy (0-3)
SV: J. Brewer (2)
Temperature: 57F
Wind: 6 MPH (in from center)
Attendance: 42,553
Time: 2:43
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