The
NEVADA DUSTERS
The Story of a Major League Baseball Franchise
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Mets @ Dusters
April 28-30
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What Really Happened in 1962
April 10 -- The Houston Colt .45's begin play in Colt Stadium and outfielder Roman Mejias hits not one but two three-run homers in a 11-2 win over the Cubs.
April 10 -- The Los Angeles Dodgers lose the first game ever played at the $22 million Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine, with over 52,000 fans on hand.
April 10 -- Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle hit Openign Day homers at Yankee stadium as New York defeats Baltimore 7-6.
April 12 -- Pete Richert of the Dodgers fans six in his ML debut, tying a record set by Karl Spooner in 1954.
April 13 -- Only 12,447 fans turn out to watch the New York Mets play their first game in the renovated Polo Grounds. The Mets lose to the Pirates, 4-3.
April 13 -- Stan Musial scores his 1,889th run, a new NL record.
April 17 -- The Cubs use five pitchers in the 8th inning -- tying a NL record -- of a game they lose to Pittsburgh.
April 19 -- The Pirates win their ninth straight since Opening Day, a new franchise record.
April 22 -- The Pirates win their tenth straight game, tying a major league record for a season start. The Mets, on the other hand, tie an NL record by losing their ninth straight since Opening Day.
April 23 -- The Mets get their first victory, beating the Pirates 9-1.
April 24 -- Sandy Koufax fans 18 batters in nine innings, tying a modern-day record, as the Dodgers defeat the Cubs 10-2.
April 24 -- Commissioner Ford Frick fines Mets manager Casey Stengel for appearing in a beer ad.
April 25 -- The Cleveland Indians trade Harry Chiti (C) to the Mets for a player to be named later. In June the Mets will send Chiti back to the Indians.
April 28 -- The Mets hit five home runs in an 8-6 win over Philadelphia at the Polo Grounds.
April 29 -- The Minnesota Twins have six solo home runs -- tying a major league record -- in a win over the Cleveland Indians.
April 29 -- Frank Thomas of the Mets is hit by a pitch twice in the same inning, tying a record set in 1959 by Willard Schmidt of the Reds. Thomas and Schmidt are the only two players this has ever happened to.
 Roger Maris on the cover of
Street & Smith's 1962 Baseball Yearbook
New York Mets @ Nevada Dusters
April 28-30, 1962
Horizon Field, Las Vegas, NV
DL: Hector Lopez (OF), strained ankle, seven days. Dave Eilers (P-Salt Lake City Saints), sprained neck, thirteen days.
TRADE OFFERS
BAL offers Charlie Lau (C) for Hector Lopez (OF). DECLINED.
DET offers Charlie Maxwell (LF) for Johnny Blanchard (C). DECLINED.
New York Mets Game 1 starting lineup
Richie Ashburn (CF), John DeMerit (RF), Gil Hodges (1B), Frank Thomas (LF), Felix Mantilla (SS), Don Zimmer (2B), Harry Chiti (C), Bobb Pfeil (3B), Al Jackson (P)
 [April 28, Game 1]
The Dusters finished out the month with three at home against the New York Mets (11-13), and in Game 1 hit three long balls while the visitors struggled against starter Dave McNally, who pitched a shutout. With Hector Lopez out a week with a strained ankle, Lee Maye started in right field. In the 1st Billy Williams reached on a boot by Mets second baseman Don Zimmer; next up, Tom Tresh belted a two-run homer to left-center. Johnny Blanchard hit a solo shot in the 2nd, and Vic Power hit one out of the park in the 5th. McNally faced a bases-loaded jam in the New York 7th but struck out Ed Bouchee to end the threat, and with a 4-0 advantage, Ben Naylor called on Claude Raymond to take the mound in the 9th, hoping Frenchy could shave his ERA down a little. Raymond retired the side in order. McNally -- who went 2-for-3 at the plate -- improved his record to 4-0 while mound opponent Al Jackson suffered his third loss of the season.
Lineup: Power, Maye, Williams, Tresh, Adair, Boyer, Schaive, Blanchard, McNally
Record: 16-12
Dusters 4, Mets 0
[April 29, Game 2]
At 1-4, southpaw Steve Barber felt he was running out of chances to prove he belonged in the Dusters starting rotation, and hoped to do just that in Game 2. But the Mets scored three runs in the 1st, getting three singles off Barber, who also issued a pair of walks in the frame. "I was about to yank him," admitted Ben Naylor later. But Nails didn't yank him -- and Barber went on to pitch competently through six, giving his team a chance to catch up. The problem was that without Hector Lopez (injured) and Billy Williams (day off) in the lineup, the Dusters couldn't do much against Jay Hook (2-1). They got a run in the 5th: Barber reached on a throwing error by second baseman Don Zimmer and scored on a single by Lee Maye, who, going 4-for-5 on the day, was the only Nevada hitter who had much success against Hook. The Mets picked up a run in the 9th against closer Claude Raymond, and in the bottom of the inning the Dusters hit three consecutive singles to score a run and put two men on with only one out. But Clete Boyer flied out and Ken Hubbs lined out, and the Mets had won. Afterwards, Conn Hudson acknowledged that some adjustments would have to be made with the club's pitching, but he didn't elaborate.
Lineup: Coleman, Maye, Tresh, Adair, Boyer, Schaive, Taylor, Blanchard, Barber
Record: 16-13
Mets 4, Dusters 1
[April 30, Game 3]
Ben Naylor hoped the Dusters would do well at the plate against Mets starter Larry Foss (1-1, 5.87 in '61), but he was wrong. Foss pitched a superb complete game in which he allowed one run on six hits. It was an entirely different story for Bob Shaw, five runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings of work. Nevada scored its only run to break a scoreless tie in the 3rd. After that it was all New York. Ed Bouchee's solo homer in the 4th tied the game. A four-run 5th included a triple by Don Zimmer. Jim Constable came in from the bullpen and held the line until the 8th, when the Mets added two more runs on four hits, including a double by right fielder John DeMerit. Foss walked two batters and Lee Maye singled to load the bases for the Dusters in the 8th, giving the fans at Horizon Field a glimmer of hope that was quickly dashed as Billy Williams grounded into a double play that ended the frame. The only bright spot for the Dusters was Maye's 2-for-4 day at the plate, and the club finished its first month of play two games above .500, in fourth place in the NL, 4.5 games back of the leader, the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Lineup: Power, Maye, Williams, Tresh, Adair, Boyer, Schaive, Blanchard, Shaw
Record: 16-14
Mets 7, Dusters 1
 Jay Hook (NYM)
Nevada Dusters financial update:
Revenue: $7.5M ..... Profit: $2.1M ..... Cash: $6.7M ..... Team Payroll: $20.8M
Series stats:
2Bs: Williams, Maye, Power
3Bs: none
HRs: Blanchard, Power, Tresh
SBs: none
Runs: Power, Williams, Tresh, Blanchard (2), Maye, Barber
RBIs: Power, Tresh (2), Blanchard, Maye (2), Adair
Around the leagues:
HOU releases Al Spangler (LF).
HOU releases Dean Stone (P).
LAA releases Earl Averill (C).
CHC--Don Cardwell (P), fractured eye bone, three weeks.
WSA--Danny O'Connell (3B), sprained finger, two weeks.
HOU--John Hoffman (C), sprained lower back, three weeks.
LAA signed free agent Al Spangler (LF) at $480,000/1 yr.
LAA signed free agent Brent Cure (P) at $18,000/1 yr.
New York Mets at Nevada Dusters
April 29, 1962
TOP OF THE FIRST
Steve Barber takes the mound for the Dusters.
Richie Ashburn singled down the first base line. <--1>
John DeMerit singled to center, advancing the runner to third. <3-1>
Gil Hodges flied out to center. <3-1>
Richie Ashburn tagged up and reached home, scoring a run. <--1>
Frank Thomas flied out to left. <--1>
John DeMerit stole second. <-2->
Charlie Neal walked. <-21>
Don Zimmer walked. <321>
Harry Chiti singled to center for two RBIs. <3-1>
Bobby Pfeil struck out. <3-1>
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the first, New York leads 3 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Jay Hook takes the mound for the Mets.
Gordy Coleman grounded to second. <--->
Lee Maye popped up to short. <--->
Tom Tresh singled to right. <--1>
Jerry Adair lined out to left field. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the first, Nevada trails 3 to 0.
TOP OF THE SECOND
Jay Hook singled to left field. <--1>
Richie Ashburn grounded to the second baseman. <-2->
John DeMerit walked. <-21>
Gil Hodges grounded to short, forcing the runner at second. <3-1>
Frank Thomas struck out. <3-1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the second, New York leads 3 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Clete Boyer struck out. <--->
Johnny Schaive popped up back to the pitcher. <--->
Hawk Taylor grounded to second. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the second, Nevada trails 3 to 0.
TOP OF THE THIRD
Charlie Neal grounded to first. <--->
Don Zimmer reached first on a fielding error by the center fielder. <--1>
Harry Chiti grounded to second for a double play (4-6-3). <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the third, New York leads 3 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Johnny Blanchard flied out to right. <--->
Steve Barber singled to left field. <--1>
Gordy Coleman popped up to second. <--1>
Lee Maye singled down the first base line, advancing the runner to third. <3-1>
Tom Tresh popped up to second. <3-1>
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the third, Nevada trails 3 to 0.
TOP OF THE FOURTH
Bobby Pfeil grounded to second. <--->
Jay Hook struck out. <--->
Richie Ashburn grounded to the shortstop. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, New York leads 3 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Jerry Adair lined out to left. <--->
Clete Boyer struck out. <--->
Johnny Schaive walked. <--1>
Hawk Taylor grounded to second. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, Nevada trails 3 to 0.
TOP OF THE FIFTH
John DeMerit popped up to second. <--->
Gil Hodges grounded to short. <--->
Frank Thomas struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, New York leads 3 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Johnny Blanchard struck out. <--->
Steve Barber reached first on a fielding error by the second baseman. <--1>
Gordy Coleman walked. <-21>
Lee Maye singled to center, scoring a run. <-21>
Tom Tresh popped up foul down the first base line. <-21>
Jerry Adair walked. <321>
Clete Boyer grounded to the shortstop. <321>
1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, and 3 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, Nevada trails 3 to 1.
TOP OF THE SIXTH
Charlie Neal singled to right. <--1>
Don Zimmer grounded to the shortstop for a double play (6-4-3). <--->
Harry Chiti grounded to first base. <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, New York leads 3 to 1.
BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Johnny Schaive walked. <--1>
Hawk Taylor grounded to short, forcing the runner at second. <--1>
Johnny Blanchard singled down the third base line. <-21>
Billy Williams pinch hit for Steve Barber. <-21>
Billy Williams lined out to short. <-21>
Gordy Coleman popped up to short. <-21>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, Nevada trails 3 to 1.
TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Jim Brewer came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Bobby Pfeil struck out. <--->
Jay Hook popped up to second. <--->
Richie Ashburn lined out to center field. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, New York leads 3 to 1.
BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Felix Mantilla came in to play Third Base. <--->
Lee Maye doubled down the left field line. <-2->
Tom Tresh lined out to right. <-2->
Jerry Adair walked. <-21>
Clete Boyer struck out. <-21>
Vic Power pinch hit for Johnny Schaive. <-21>
Vic Power grounded to second. <-21>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, Nevada trails 3 to 1.
TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Ken Hubbs came in to play Second Base. <--->
John DeMerit grounded to the pitcher. <--->
Gil Hodges struck out. <--->
Frank Thomas grounded to second. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, New York leads 3 to 1.
BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Hawk Taylor grounded to second. <--->
Johnny Blanchard grounded to first base. <--->
Mack Jones pinch hit for Jim Brewer. <--->
Mack Jones struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, Nevada trails 3 to 1.
TOP OF THE NINTH
Claude Raymond came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Charlie Neal singled through the left side. <--1>
Charlie Neal went for an extra base and reached second. <-2->
Charlie Neal was picked off second. <--->
Don Zimmer singled to right field. <--1>
Don Zimmer went for an extra base and reached second. <-2->
Harry Chiti singled through the left side, scoring a run. <--1>
Felix Mantilla popped up to the second baseman. <--1>
Gus Bell pinch hit for Jay Hook. <--1>
Gus Bell grounded to first. <--1>
1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the ninth, New York leads 4 to 1.
BOTTOM OF THE NINTH
Stu Miller came in to pitch for the Mets. <--->
Gordy Coleman grounded to second. <--->
Lee Maye singled to right. <--1>
Tom Tresh singled to right, advancing the runner to third. <3-1>
Jerry Adair singled through the left side, scoring a run. <-21>
Clete Boyer flied out to center. <-21>
Ken Hubbs lined out to left field. <-21>
METS WIN: 4-2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Mets (NYM) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 8 1
Dusters (NEV) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 9 1
NEW YORK ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
R. Ashburn (CF) 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .255
J. DeMerit (RF) 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 .253
G. Hodges (1B) 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 .269
F. Thomas (LF) 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .333
C. Neal (SS) 3 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .306
D. Zimmer (2B) 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .333
H. Chiti (C) 4 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 .213
B. Pfeil (3B) 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .208
F. Mantilla (3B) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
J. Hook (P) 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .176
G. Bell (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
S. Miller (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 32 8 3 4 0 4 6 1
2B: D. Zimmer (7), C. Neal (1)
NEW YORK ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
J. Hook 8.0 6 5 0 1 0 5 120 2.82
S. Miller 1.0 3 0 0 1 1 0 17 4.50
TOTALS 9.0 9 5 0 2 1 5 137
NEVADA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
G. Coleman (1B) 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .383
L. Maye (RF) 5 4 0 1 0 1 0 0 .274
T. Tresh (CF) 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J. Adair (SS) 3 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 .290
C. Boyer (3B) 5 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 .333
J. Schaive (2B) 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .313
V. Power (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
K. Hubbs (2B) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .197
H. Taylor (LF) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .158
J. Blanchard (C) 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .288
S. Barber (P) 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .188
B. Williams (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .374
J. Brewer (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M. Jones (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .118
C. Raymond (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 37 9 5 2 0 2 5 0
2B: L. Maye (5)
NEVADA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
S. Barber 6.0 5 3 0 3 3 4 109 4.97
J. Brewer 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 2 24 2.45
C. Raymond 1.0 3 0 0 1 1 0 17 9.72
TOTALS 9.0 8 3 0 4 4 6 150
WP: J. Hook (3-1)
LP: S. Barber (1-5)
SV: S. Miller (4)
Attendance: 13,363
Time: 3:07
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