The
NEVADA DUSTERS
The Story of a Major League Baseball Franchise
Phillies @ Dusters
April 7-9, 1963
Naylor Signs Up for '63 Campaign
Al Childress, Las Vegas Sun

The Nevada Dusters held a press conference Tuesday to announce the return of Ben Naylor for a second season as the ballclub's skipper.

Naylor, who spent 44 years in the majors as a player and manager signed a one-year contract to helm the Dusters through their first-ever season last year. At that time, owner/general manager Conn Hudson, who had once played for "Nails," wanted a multi-year commitment that Naylor was unwilling to make due to health concerns.

Again this year Hudson failed to get Naylor to sign for more than one year -- even though Naylor made it clear to reporters that his health is fine. "I had a complete physical in January," he told reporters, "and then Nora and I spent two weeks in the Bahamas -- which is the best medicine ever invented."

When asked if he had considered going out on top by retiring after the Dusters won the World Series last October, Naylor laughed.

"Darn right I did. The closest I've ever gotten to the World Series as a manager was a third place finish with the White Sox, so last year was really something special. I told Conn it couldn't get any better. He said it could if we won two in a row."

Naylor went on to say Hudson had told him that in many ways the Dusters' second season would be much tougher than the first.

"Last year nobody expected much of us, being a brand new ballclub," said Naylor. "Now the expectations are very high. If anything, the challenges are greater. He's right. And he knows there's nothing I like better than a good challenge."

Asked about the acquisition of shortstop Maury Wills, last season's NL MVP, Naylor said it would be a big help to the Dusters as they sought to win back-to-back world championships. "A player like Maury doesn't come along every day, and we're lucky to have him."

As for the loss of pitching ace Bob Shaw, Naylor said he hoped Shaw had another great season, while reminding those present that the Dusters played in a "small market" and would not always be able to keep every "You're not going to see $100 million team payrolls here, so you have to accept it and move on."

Naylor added that he had confidence in the '63 rotation of Joe Horlen, Dave McNally, Tony Cloninger, Pete Richert, and rookie Jim Bouton.

When asked if it was true that he had wept in the clubhouse after the Game 7 victory in the World Series, Naylor acknowledged that he had. "There's not supposed to be any crying in baseball," he said, "but those were tears of pride and gratitude. Pride in the players -- this is the best team I've ever been been associated with. They just never gave up. And gratitude to God for giving me the opportunity to be associated with them. "

Stan Musial checks out Duke Snider's new Mets gear.
The Mets purchased Snider from the Dodgers in April 1963.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (0-3) @ NEVADA DUSTERS (3-0)
April 7-9, 1963
Horizon Field (Las Vegas, NV)

DL: Joe Horlen (sp), sore rotator cuff, 8 days; Wayne Granger (rp-Montana Wolves R), fractured eye bone, 17 days.

Philadelphia Phillies Game 1 starting lineup:
Bob Allison (rf), Billy Klaus (3b), Jackie Brandt (cf), Dick Allen (1b), Leon Wagner (lf), Clay Dalrymple (c), Bobby Wine (ss), Billy Consolo (2b), Chris Short (sp)

Game 1, April 7
Because Billy Williams was struggling -- hitting just .167 in the first series -- Ben Naylor opted to substitute Lou Johnson for Williams against southpaw Dennis Bennett. Jim Bouton made his major league debut as Nevada's starting pitcher. The Phillies scored first when Dick Allen doubled to lead off the 2nd and scored on a throwing error by Nevada third baseman Clete Boyer. Vic Power's RBI single in the 5th tied it up. The Dusters had a man on third in the 6th, but Ken Hubbs was picked off first to end the inning. In the 7th the Phillies had the bases loaded on reliever Claude Raymond but pinch hitter Jerry Lynch popped up for the final out of the frame. Raymond served up a solo homer to Jackie Brandt in the 8th but in the bottom of the 9th Cam Carreon walked, Maury Wills bunted for a base hit, Power got his second RBI single of the day and Boyer doubled in the winning run. Bouton acquitted himself well, allowing one run on two hits through five. Raymond got the win, Johnson went 2-for-4, and Power 3-for-5 with two ribbies.
Lineup: Wills, Power, Boyer, Maye, Tresh, Blanchard, Johnson, Hubbs, Bouton
Record: 4-0

Dusters 3, Phillies 2
Game 2, April 8
With Joe Horlen out a week with a sore rotator cuff, the decision was made to call up Phil Niekro from AAA Bakersfield while Horlen was on the DL. But today was Pete Richert's start. The Dusters scored first when Billy Williams hit his first homer of the year in the bottom of the 1st, a solo shot off the scoreboard in center. Dick Allen answered with a two-run blast in the 4th but in the 5th the Dusters regained the lead as Lee Maye's solo homer was followed by an RBI single by Johnny Schaive, who got the nod at second base because neither Jerry Adair nor Ken Hubbs had yet to get a hit. In the top of the 9th the Phillies loaded the bases with reliever Jim Brewer on the mound and Bob Skinner delivered with a pinch-hit single that scored two and made it 4-3 Phillies. Jack Baldschun retired the side in the Nevada half of the 9th and the Phillies had their first win of the year. Brewer took the loss while Richert allowed a pair of runs on two hits in seven innings. Lee Maye finished 2-for-4 as did Johnny Blanchard.
Lineup: Wills, Power, Williams, Boyer, Maye, Tresh, Blanchard, Schaive, Richert
Record: 4-1

Phillies 4, Dusters 3
Game 3, April 9
23-year-old rookie Phil Niekro got his first major league start in the rubber game and pitched 7.2 scoreless innings, striking out seven in the process and allowing just four hits. Philly starter Art Mahaffey also pitched well, giving up just one run on seven hits in his seven innings of work. That run came in the 3rd when Vic Power doubled, stole third, and scored on a Billy Williams two-bagger. One run was enough, as Barney Schultz and Bill Dailey closed out the game without permitting a Philadelphia hit. Niekro got the win, Dailey his second save. "Phil throws a very effective knuckleball and a devastating fastball," Conn Hudson told reporters. "Our only concern was his control. But he had plenty of that today, and pitched a superb game." Maury Wills, demoted from the lead-off spot, was 2-for-2 with a walk in the # 7 spot. But Lee Maye was the big story, as he continued to sizzle at the plate, going 2-for-4 and enjoying a .500 batting average with three homers on the year.
Lineup: Power, Maye, Williams, Lopez, Boyer, Blanchard, Wills, Schaive, Niekro
Record: 5-1
Dusters 1, Phillies 0

Nevada Dusters financial update:
Average Attendance: 15,300 ... Revenue YTD: $2.4M ... Profit YTD $816K ... Cash: $24.8M ... Team Payroll: $35.4M

Series Stats:
2B: Boyer 1, Tresh 1, Williams 2, Power 1, Maye 1
3B: none
HR: Williams 1, Maye 1
SB: Johnson 1, Power 1
R: Wills 1, Williams 2, Carreon 1, Maye 1, Tresh 1, Power 1
RBI: Power 2, Boyer, Williams 2, Maye 1, Schaive 1
IP: Bouton 5.0, Brewer 3.0, Schultz 1.2, Raymond 2.0, Richert 7.0, Niekro 7.2, Dailey 0.2
K: Bouton 2, Richert 5, Brewer 1, Niekro 7
ER: Bouton 1, Raymond 1, Richert 2, Brewer 2
W: Raymond 1, Niekro 1
L: Brewer 1
SV: Dailey 1

Around the Leagues:
SFG -- Luis Aparicio stole his 300th base.
BOS signed Bobby Malkmus (2b), WSA signed Ken Mackenzie (rp), NYY signed Jim Constable (rp).
BOS--Eddie Bressoud (ss), ruptured knee ligaments, three weeks.


What Really Happened...
April 8 -- President John F. Kennedy is in attendance as the Washington Senators, in their home opener, lose to the Baltimore Orioles, 3-1.
April 9 -- The Detroit Tigers pay a $25,000 waiver price to the Chicago White Sox for young hurler Denny McLain.
April 9 -- Ralph Terry pitches a complete game victory for the New York Yankees, who defeat Kansas City 8-2. Yankee first baseman Joe Pepitone hits two homers and a double.

FEATURED GAME
Philadelphia Phillies at Nevada Dusters
April 9, 1963

TOP OF THE FIRST
Phil Niekro takes the mound for the Dusters.
Tony Taylor struck out. <--->
Leon Wagner struck out. <--->
Jackie Brandt grounded to third. <--->
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
Art Mahaffey takes the mound for the Phillies.
Vic Power grounded to second. <--->
Lee Maye singled to right. <--1>
Billy Williams grounded to first. <-2->
Hector Lopez grounded to short. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the first, the game is tied at 0.

TOP OF THE SECOND
Dick Allen popped up to short. <--->
Bob Allison lined out to center. <--->
Clay Dalrymple grounded to the second baseman. <--->
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
Clete Boyer flied out to right. <--->
Johnny Blanchard walked. <--1>
Maury Wills singled to center field. <-21>
Johnny Schaive grounded to short for a double play (6-4-3). <-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
Billy Klaus struck out. <--->
Bobby Wine flied out to center. <--->
Art Mahaffey 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
Phil Niekro struck out. <--->
Vic Power doubled in the left field gap. <-2->
Vic Power stole third. <3-->
Lee Maye lined out to short. <3-->
Billy Williams doubled down the third base line, scoring a run. <-2->
Hector Lopez grounded to third. <-2->
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the third, Nevada leads 1 to 0.

TOP OF THE FOURTH
Tony Taylor singled to left. <--1>
Leon Wagner singled down the third base line. <-21>
Jackie Brandt grounded to the second baseman for a double play (4-6-1). <3-->
Dick Allen popped up to second. <3-->
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, Philadelphia trails 1 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Clete Boyer grounded to second. <--->
Johnny Blanchard grounded to second. <--->
Maury Wills walked. <--1>
Johnny Schaive popped up to short. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, Nevada leads 1 to 0.

TOP OF THE FIFTH
Bob Allison grounded to short. <--->
Clay Dalrymple struck out. <--->
Billy Klaus struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, Philadelphia trails 1 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Phil Niekro grounded to the second baseman. <--->
Vic Power grounded to third. <--->
Lee Maye doubled over the center fielder. <-2->
Billy Williams grounded to second. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, Nevada leads 1 to 0.

TOP OF THE SIXTH
Bobby Wine lined out to the second baseman. <--->
Art Mahaffey popped up to short. <--->
Tony Taylor grounded to the shortstop. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, Philadelphia trails 1 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Hector Lopez struck out. <--->
Clete Boyer grounded to the third baseman. <--->
Johnny Blanchard flied out to left field. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, Nevada leads 1 to 0.

TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Tom Tresh came in to play Center Field. <--->
Leon Wagner lined out to center. <--->
Jackie Brandt grounded to the second baseman. <--->
Dick Allen singled to left. <--1>
Bob Allison grounded to second. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, Philadelphia trails 1 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Maury Wills singled to center field. <--1>
Johnny Schaive laid down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. <-2->
Phil Niekro singled back through the middle. <3-1>
Vic Power grounded to second for a double play (4-6-3). <3-->
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, Nevada leads 1 to 0.

TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Clay Dalrymple struck out. <--->
Billy Klaus struck out. <--->
Joe Adcock pinch hit for Bobby Wine. <--->
Joe Adcock doubled in the right field gap. <-2->
Wally Post pinch hit for Art Mahaffey. <-2->
Barney Schultz came in to pitch for the Dusters. <-2->
Wally Post flied out to center. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, Philadelphia trails 1 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
John Boozer came in to pitch for the Phillies. <--->
Billy Consolo came in to play Shortstop. <--->
Lee Maye grounded to second. <--->
Billy Williams lined out to second. <--->
Tom Tresh grounded to short. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, Nevada leads 1 to 0.

TOP OF THE NINTH
Tony Taylor grounded to third. <--->
Bill Dailey came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Leon Wagner grounded to second. <--->
Jackie Brandt popped up to the shortstop. <--->

DUSTERS WIN: 1-0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Phillies (PHI) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Dusters (NEV) 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 x 1 7 0

PHILADELPHIA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
T. Taylor (2B) 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .333
L. Wagner (LF) 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250
J. Brandt (CF) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .120
D. Allen (1B) 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
B. Allison (RF) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091
C. Dalrymple (C) 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .071
B. Klaus (3B) 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 .050
B. Wine (SS) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .063
J. Adcock (PH) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
B. Consolo (SS) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A. Mahaffey (P) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
W. Post (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
J. Boozer (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 30 4 0 0 0 0 7 0

2B: J. Adcock (1)

PHILADELPHIA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
A. Mahaffey 7.0 7 2 0 1 1 2 93 8.64
J. Boozer 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 1.80
TOTALS 8.0 7 2 0 1 1 2 107

NEVADA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
V. Power (1B) 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 .423
L. Maye (RF) 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500
B. Williams (LF) 4 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .238
H. Lopez (CF) 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .167
T. Tresh (CF) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
C. Boyer (3B) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
J. Blanchard (C) 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .385
M. Wills (SS) 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 .261
J. Schaive (2B) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
P. Niekro (P) 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .333
B. Schultz (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B. Dailey (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 28 7 2 1 0 1 2 1

2B: V. Power (2), B. Williams (2), L. Maye (2)

NEVADA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
P. Niekro 7.2 4 0 0 0 0 7 100 0.00
B. Schultz 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1.93
B. Dailey 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0.00
TOTALS 9.0 4 0 0 0 0 7 113

WP: P. Niekro (1-0)
LP: A. Mahaffey (0-2)
SV: B. Dailey (2)

Temperature: 42F
Wind: 2 MPH (in from right)
Attendance: 14,064
Time: 2:06