The
NEVADA DUSTERS
The Story of a Major League Baseball Franchise
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Viva Nevada Dusters
Al Childress, Las Vegas Sun
While Conn Hudson has been presiding over the amazing winning streak of the Nevada Dusters -- eighteen games and counting -- his amor, Ann-Margret has been busy shooting her new film in and around Las Vegas. The tabloids are full of speculation about a budding romance between the actress and her co-star, Elvis Presley. Just the other day there were published reports that the two had been wed. In fact, they were shooting a scene in a Vegas wedding chapel, but then the tabloids never let a little thing like the truth get in the way of good copy. Fortunately, perhaps, for Hudson, the Dusters have played the majority of their games in May at Horizon Field, but to his credit, the club's owner/general manager has not missed a single road trip, even though it means parting company with Ann-Margret. When asked about the rumors regarding Elvis and his girlfriend, Hudson just laughed. "Who could blame her?" he replied. "He can sing and dance a lot better than I can."
At least the man has his priorities straight. I'm sure his relationship with Ann-Margret is important to him. But nothing trumps the Nevada Dusters, who have opened up a commanding lead in the National League, ten games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals. They have not lost a game since May 5, and have swept the Cardinals, the Mets, the Giants, the Pirates, the Mets again, and the Cubs in succession, establishing their dominance over the league in the process. Five of the regulars enjoy batting averages over .300 -- six if you count Cam Carreon, who starts as catcher when the Dusters face southpaws. And they have hit 77 home runs as a team, thus far. Pitchers Tony Cloninger and Dave McNally lead the senior circuit with seven wins each.
Of course, the win streak will end sooner or later. But the owners and managers of the other NL clubs must be wondering if they have a realistic chance of preventing the Nevada Dusters from bringing home another pennant.
Nevada Dusters (40-8) @ San Francisco Giants (25-23)
Candlestick Park (San Francisco)
May 28-30, 1963
DL: none
San Francisco Giants Game 1 starting lineup:
Luis Aparicio (ss), Tony Gonzalez (cf), Roger Maris (rf), Orlando Cepeda (1b), Harvey Kuenn (lf), Ed Bailey (c), Jim Davenport (3b), Chuck Hiller (2b), Gaylord Perry (sp)
Game 1, May 28
The Giants took an early lead when Tony Gonzalez doubled in Luis Aparicio and then scored on an Ed Bailey single in the 2nd, but in the 4th a solo homer by Billy Williams cut the San Francisco lead in half. The Dusters finally figured out Gaylord Perry in the 6th, scoring five runs on five hits, including an RBI triple by Williams and a two-run double by Johnny Blanchard to make it 6-3. A throwing error by third baseman Clete Boyer allowed a Giants run to score in the 7th, and Gonzalez clubbed a solo homer off Claude Raymond in the 8th to make it a one-run game. In the 9th Jim Davenport singled, moved to second on a sac bunt, and stole third to put the tying run ninety feet away, but when Don Buddin hit a grounder to third Boyer scooped it up and threw Davenport out at home. Jose Pagan grounded to third for the final out. Starter Tony Cloninger allowed three runs on eight hits through five and got the win, improving to 7-2, while Raymond recorded his sixth save.
Lineup: Wills, Power, Maye, Williams, Tresh, Boyer, Blanchard, Adair, Cloninger
Record: 41-8
Dusters 6, Giants 5
Game 2, May 29
Leading 1-0, the Giants tacked on three runs against Dave McNally in the 4th to take a commanding lead, and it looked for a time as though the Nevada win streak was in jeopardy as Billy Pierce kept the Duster batters mystified -- until the 6th when, with two on, Ben Naylor pinch hit Gordy Coleman for second baseman Ken Hubbs. Coleman responded with a two-run double and then scored on a Cam Carreon two-bagger. Maury Wills singled in Carreon and the game was tied at 4-all. Lee Maye opened the 7th with a double, scored on a Billy Williams triple, and then Tom Tresh hit a three-bagger to score Williams and Clete Boyer drove in Tresh. Claude Raymond put the 7-4 lead on the line by walking the bases loaded with two out in the San Francisco 9th, but Chuck Hiller lined out to Maury Wills and the Dusters had extended their win streak to twenty games. Carreon, 2-for-3 on the day, continued to swing a hot bat, while Wills, Tresh and Clete Boyer all finished 2-for-5.
Lineup: Wills, Power, Maye, Williams, Tresh, Boyer, Hubbs, Carreon, McNally
Record: 42-8
Dusters 7, Giants 4
Game 3, May 30
The Dusters gave starter Jim Bouton a 1st inning 2-0 lead, trimmed by Orlando Cepeda who opened the San Francisco 2nd with a solo homer. Billy Williams cranked his 16th long ball of the season to right-center in the 4th but Cepeda answered with his second solo shot in the bottom of the inning to make it 3-2. Nevada kept tacking on runs and led 6-2 going into the bottom of the 8th. With two on and two out, Cepeda hit a three-run homer off Claude Raymond, and Harvey Kuenn followed with his own roundtripper and suddenly the game was tied at 6-all. In the home 10th, with Jim Brewer on the mound, Roger Maris singled and Cepeda hit his fourth home run of the night, this one for the 8-6 San Francisco victory. Cepeda had seven RBIs and the Nevada win streak had finally been broken. It was the first loss for the Dusters since May 5, and they closed the month with an eleven-game lead over the Cardinals (31-20).
Lineup: Wills, Power, Maye, Williams, Tresh, Boyer, Carreon, Hubbs, Bouton
Record: 42-9
Giants 8, Dusters 6
Nevada Dusters financial update:
Average Attendance: 17,605 ... Revenue YTD: $20.7M ... Profit YTD $7.1M ... Cash: $31.1M ... Team Payroll: $35.4M
Series Stats:
2B:
3B:
HR:
SB:
R:
RBI:
IP:
K:
ER:
W:
L:
SV:
Around the Leagues:
Orlando Cepeda (SFG) hit four home runs in one game (May 30 -- see above).
LAD released Dick Tracewski (ss); BOS released Gil Hodges (1b), Hal Naragon (c), and Johnny Klippstein (p); KCA released Harry Bright (1b) and Gordie Windhorn (rf).
SFG signed Jim Brosnan (rp).
BOS--Pete Smith (p), wrist stress fracture, five weeks.
CIN-- Cliff Cook, (3b), shoulder separation, four weeks.
Nevada Dusters at San Francisco Giants
May 29, 1963
TOP OF THE FIRST
Billy Pierce takes the mound for the Giants.
Maury Wills reached first on a fielding error by the shortstop. <--1>
The Dusters put on the hit and run.
Maury Wills was picked off first. <--->
Vic Power grounded to second. <--->
Lee Maye walked. <--1>
Billy Williams struck out. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the first, the game is tied at 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Dave McNally takes the mound for the Dusters.
Luis Aparicio lined out to center field. <--->
Tony Gonzalez grounded to the shortstop. <--->
Roger Maris struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the first, the game is tied at 0.
TOP OF THE SECOND
Tom Tresh singled to right. <--1>
Clete Boyer popped up to short. <--1>
Ken Hubbs grounded to the second baseman for a double play (4-6-3). <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the second, the game is tied at 0.
BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Orlando Cepeda flied out to right. <--->
Harvey Kuenn reached second on a fielding error by the center fielder. <-2->
Ed Bailey singled in the left field gap, scoring a run. <--1>
The Giants put on the hit and run.
Jim Davenport lined out to center. <--1>
Chuck Hiller was hit by a pitch. <-21>
Billy Pierce grounded to second. <-21>
1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the second, San Francisco leads 1 to 0.
TOP OF THE THIRD
Cam Carreon walked. <--1>
Dave McNally popped up foul down the third base line. <--1>
Maury Wills struck out. <--1>
Vic Power walked. <-21>
Lee Maye grounded to second. <-21>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the third, Nevada trails 1 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Luis Aparicio grounded to short. <--->
Tony Gonzalez flied out to left. <--->
Roger Maris walked. <--1>
Orlando Cepeda grounded to the pitcher. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the third, San Francisco leads 1 to 0.
TOP OF THE FOURTH
Billy Williams struck out. <--->
Tom Tresh grounded to short. <--->
Clete Boyer singled into the right field corner. <--1>
Ken Hubbs grounded to short. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, Nevada trails 1 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Harvey Kuenn singled to right. <--1>
Ed Bailey singled into right field, advancing the runner to third. <3-1>
Jim Davenport singled to center, scoring a run. <-21>
Chuck Hiller walked. <321>
Billy Pierce struck out. <321>
Luis Aparicio popped up to the second baseman. <321>
Tony Gonzalez singled to center for two RBIs. <3-1>
Roger Maris lined out to right. <3-1>
3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, San Francisco leads 4 to 0.
TOP OF THE FIFTH
Cam Carreon doubled down the left field line. <-2->
Tony Oliva pinch hit for Dave McNally. <-2->
Tony Oliva grounded to the shortstop. The runner was tagged out at third. <--1>
Maury Wills flied out to center field. <--1>
Vic Power flied out to right. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, Nevada trails 4 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Barney Schultz came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Orlando Cepeda struck out. <--->
Harvey Kuenn grounded to third. <--->
Ed Bailey walked. <--1>
Jim Davenport flied out to right. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, San Francisco leads 4 to 0.
TOP OF THE SIXTH
Lee Maye grounded to short. <--->
Billy Williams walked. <--1>
Tom Tresh flied out to center. <--1>
Clete Boyer singled to center. <-21>
Gordy Coleman pinch hit for Ken Hubbs. <-21>
Gordy Coleman doubled down the third base line for two RBIs. <-2->
Cam Carreon doubled down the third base line, scoring a run. <-2->
Hector Lopez pinch hit for Barney Schultz. <-2->
Hector Lopez walked. <-21>
Maury Wills singled to right field, scoring a run. <3-1>
John Pregenzer came in to pitch for the Giants. <3-1>
Vic Power flied out to center. <3-1>
4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, the game is tied at 4.
BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Jim Brewer came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Jerry Adair came in to play Second Base. <--->
Chuck Hiller struck out. <--->
John Pregenzer lined out to right. <--->
Luis Aparicio singled up the middle. <--1>
Luis Aparicio stole second. <-2->
Tony Gonzalez grounded to first. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, the game is tied at 4.
TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Lee Maye doubled down the right field line. <-2->
Billy Williams tripled in the left field gap, scoring a run. <3-->
Tom Tresh tripled down the left field line, scoring a run. <3-->
Clete Boyer grounded to the third baseman, scoring a run. <--->
Jerry Adair struck out. <--->
Cam Carreon popped up to short. <--->
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, Nevada leads 7 to 4.
BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Roger Maris lined out to third. <--->
Orlando Cepeda struck out. <--->
Harvey Kuenn singled through the right side. <--1>
Ed Bailey singled to center, advancing the runner to third. <3-1>
Jim Davenport flied out to center. <3-1>
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, San Francisco trails 7 to 4.
TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Frank Linzy came in to pitch for the Giants. <--->
Lou Johnson pinch hit for Jim Brewer. <--->
Lou Johnson singled into right field. <--1>
Maury Wills doubled down the right field line. <32->
Vic Power struck out. <32->
Lee Maye popped up to second. <32->
Billy Williams grounded to short. <32->
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, Nevada leads 7 to 4.
BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Claude Raymond came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Chuck Hiller lined out to left. <--->
Matty Alou pinch hit for Frank Linzy. <--->
Matty Alou popped up to short. <--->
Luis Aparicio flied out to right. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, San Francisco trails 7 to 4.
TOP OF THE NINTH
Bobby Bolin came in to pitch for the Giants. <--->
Tom Tresh flied out to left. <--->
Clete Boyer grounded to the pitcher. <--->
Jerry Adair popped up to second. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the ninth, Nevada leads 7 to 4.
BOTTOM OF THE NINTH
Tony Gonzalez popped up to the shortstop. <--->
Roger Maris walked. <--1>
Orlando Cepeda flied out to left. <--1>
Harvey Kuenn walked. <-21>
Ed Bailey walked. <321>
Tom Haller pinch hit for Jim Davenport. <321>
Tom Haller lined out to the shortstop. <321>
DUSTERS WIN: 7-4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Dusters (NEV) 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 0 0 7 12 1
Giants (SFG) 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 8 1
NEVADA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
M. Wills (SS) 5 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .345
V. Power (1B) 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 .325
L. Maye (RF) 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .352
B. Williams (LF) 4 1 1 2 0 1 2 0 .341
T. Tresh (CF) 5 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 .298
C. Boyer (3B) 5 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 .315
K. Hubbs (2B) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
G. Coleman (PH) 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 .310
J. Adair (2B) 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .203
C. Carreon (C) 3 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 .329
D. McNally (P) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .087
T. Oliva (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .432
B. Schultz (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
H. Lopez (PH) 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .359
J. Brewer (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
L. Johnson (PH) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500
C. Raymond (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 38 12 5 7 0 7 5 0
2B: M. Wills (9), L. Maye (11), C. Carreon 2 (5), G. Coleman (2)
3B: T. Tresh (1), B. Williams (5)
NEVADA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
D. McNally 4.0 5 2 0 4 3 2 69 2.72
B. Schultz 1.0 0 1 0 0 0 1 18 2.89
J. Brewer 2.0 3 0 0 0 0 2 35 2.37
C. Raymond 2.0 0 3 0 0 0 0 32 1.85
TOTALS 9.0 8 6 0 4 3 5 154
SAN FRANCISCO ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
L. Aparicio (SS) 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .282
T. Gonzalez (CF) 5 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 .280
R. Maris (RF) 3 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 .274
O. Cepeda (1B) 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .291
H. Kuenn (LF) 4 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .313
E. Bailey (C) 3 3 2 1 0 1 0 0 .240
J. Davenport (3B) 4 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .209
T. Haller (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
C. Hiller (2B) 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 .282
B. Pierce (P) 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .208
J. Pregenzer (P) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
F. Linzy (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M. Alou (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
B. Bolin (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 36 8 6 4 0 4 5 1
SAN FRANCISCO ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
B. Pierce 5.2 7 5 0 4 4 3 95 4.66
J. Pregenzer 1.1 3 0 0 3 3 1 22 3.18
F. Linzy 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 1 22 3.69
B. Bolin 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 3.00
TOTALS 9.0 12 5 0 7 7 5 150
WP: J. Brewer (4-2)
LP: J. Pregenzer (1-4)
SV: C. Raymond (7)
Temperature: 54F
Wind: 7 MPH (left to right)
Attendance: 42,553
Time: 2:55
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