The
NEVADA DUSTERS
The Story of a Major League Baseball Franchise
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Dusters @ Pirates
May 13-15, 1962
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Shaking Up the Pitching Staff
Although the Nevada Dusters organization had made numerous deals before the season started which resulted in the exchange of most of the players on the 1961 roster of the defunct Milwaukee Braves franchise, the end-of-April trade Conn Hudson inked that sent outfielder Hawk Taylor to the Houston Colt '45's in exchange for reliever Jim Umbricht was commonly referred to as the club's "first" trade. (Perhaps because Taylor was the first player to wear a Dusters uniform and subsequently be traded.) Taylor had been one of the holdovers from the Braves roster, and despite Hudson's recent comments to the contrary in an interview conducted by Las Vegas Sun sports reporter Al Childress, Hawk was deemed expendable in the urgent quest for pitching help, being the third left fielder in the Duster 25-man roster behind Billy Williams and Mack Jones. For his part, Taylor was pleased with the trade, and hopeful that he would see more playing time with the Houston expansion club. The experts questioned the acquisition of Umbricht, who had pitched just 3.1 innings for Pittsburgh in 1961 (2.70 ERA) and 2.1 for Houston thus far in 1962 with an ERA of 11.57. "Our scouts believe Jim is on the verge of putting it all together," said Hudson. "He's had a couple of bad outings this year. It's a gamble, but we think he'll become a big positive in the bullpen this season."
The Dusters made another move -- sending starter Steve Barber (1-5) down to AAA Bakersfield and calling up 22-year-old southpaw Pete Richert. In three starts for the Bullets, Richert was 1-1 and had also pitched in relief, accumulating a 2.64 ERA in 30.2 innings of work. "In a perfect world Pete would have a season or two at Bakersfield to show us what he's got," said Ben Naylor. "But we're living in a 17-16 world, not a perfect one." The big question about Richert was his endurance -- Naylor could not exactly depend on his shaky bullpen for four or five innings if Richert tired at or before the midway point. Still, the consensus was that chances had to be taken. Barber was disappointed in himself rather than the club. "They gave me plenty of opportunities," he said. "I told him I expect him to play a big role in the future of this franchise," said Hudson. "He needs to work on a few things, and I expect he'll be back sooner rather than later." Barber conceded that he needed to improve his control and consistency, and he couldn't do that at the expense of the others on the Dusters roster.
 FOR  Nevada Dusters @ Pittsburgh Pirates
May 13-15, 1962
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
DL: Larry Maxie (P-Tucson Stingers), dislocated shoulder, fourteen days.
Pittsburgh Pirates Game 1 starting lineup:
Bob Skinner (LF), Bill Virdon (CF), Roberto Clemente (RF), Dick Stuart (1B), Joe Torre (C), Don Hoak (3B), Bill Mazeroski (2B), Vern Law (P)
 [May 13, Game 1]
The Dusters returned to Forbes Field with the daunting task of battling the Pittsburgh Pirates who, at 28-11, were four games up onSan Francisco atop the NL. Joe Horlen (4-3) and Vern Law (4-4) engaged in a pitching duel that resulted in a scoreless game through four innings. But in the 5th Joe Torre singled, went to third on a Dick Groat hit, and scored on a Don Hoak fly ball. The way Law was pitching, Ben Naylor had to wonder if that one run would be enough to give the Bucs the win. In the Duster 7th, though, Law walked Clete Boyer, Johnny Schaive singled, and Johnny Blanchard's run-scoring double tied the game. Then Law walked Horlen to load the bases and a fielding error by right fielder Roberto Clemente allowed two more runs to score. Still the Dusters weren't done -- a two-run single up the middle by Hector Lopez concluded Vern Law's day. The Pirates juiced the bases in the 8th but Horlen got the two outs he needed to keep them in check. In the bottom of the 9th Clemente opened with a single but was erased by a double play and the Dusters had won, 5-1. Horlen allowed one run on four hits through eight innings and Hector Lopez went 2-for-5 with a pair of ribbies.
Lineup: Power, Lopez, Williams, Tresh, Adair, Boyer, Schaive, Blanchard, Horlen
Record: 22-18
Dusters 5, Pirates 1
[May 14, Game 2]
With ace Dave McNally starting the second game, Nevada fans hoped they could take two in a row from the vaunted Pirates, but Bob Skinner's triple and Dick Stuart's four-bagger gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead in the 1st. The Dusters had a big 5th, as Johnny Schaive turned a single into double, McNally walked, and Vic Power singled in Schaive. Then Hector Lopez hit an RBI single, Billy Williams walked, and Tom Tresh contributed a two-run single to right, and Nevada was up 4-2. Bill Virdon's two-run blast in the home 5th tied the game, but in the 6th Clete Boyer singled and scored on a double by pinch-hitter Gordy Coleman. Could the Duster bullpen hold on to a one-run lead? Bill Dailey and Bob Duliba pitched three scoreless innings and then it was Claude Raymond's turn, but Frenchy gave up a pair of doubles and right fielder Lopez committed and error and the Pirates scored twice to win the game 6-5. Raymond took the loss, so McNally's remained unbeaten for the year. Boyer and Schaive went 2-for-4 on the day, Power and Lopez at the top of the lineup were 2-for-5, so the hitting was still there, but questions swirled in the Las Vegas press about Claude Raymond's qualifications to be the closer. To complicate matters, Cincinnati released reliever Dave Sisler; Conn Hudson and Ben Naylor and the team's coaches talked late into the night about whether to pick up Sisler (2-8, 4.18era, 11sv in 1961). The following day the Detroit released two-time All-Star hurler Sam Jones. In the end, Hudson decided to pass on both pitchers and stick with what he had.
Lineup: Power, Lopez, Williams, Tresh, Adair, Boyer, Schaive, Blanchard, McNally
Record: 22-19
Pirates 6, Dusters 5
[May 15, Game 3]
In the rubber game of the series Bob Shaw (2-2) and Pittsburgh starter Vinegar Bend Mizell (4-0) pitched scoreless ball through the first four frames, but the 5th turned out to be another one of those big innings the Dusters seemed to be having of late. Johnny Schaive opened with a walk and Johnny Blanchard hit a two-run dinger to right-center; then Lou Johnson (starting in left for Billy Williams) hit his way on and Vic Power hit his own two-run homer, this one to left. Roberto Clemente's solo homer in the Pirates 6th made it 4-1, and Pittsburgh picked up another run in the 7th. Clete Boyer opened the Nevada 9th with a walk, Schaive singled, and Blanchard's double scored Boyer to make it 5-2. Ben Naylor called on Claude Raymond, who had let yesterday's game slip away in the waning moments, to take the hill in the Pittsburgh 9th, and Raymond repaid this confidence by earning his eighth win. Shaw allowed two runs on six hits while striking out five in his eight innings, and improved his record to 3-2. Power was 2-for-4 with a pair of ribbies, Blanchard 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and the Dusters had done what few had thought possible -- they'd beaten the Pirates two games to one at Forbes Field.
Lineup: Power, Lopez, Tresh, Adair, Boyer, Schaive, Blanchard, Johnson, Shaw
Record: 23-19
Dusters 5, Pirates 2
 Johnny Schaive (NEV)
Nevada Dusters financial update:
Revenue: $9.4M ..... Profit: $1.8M ..... Cash: $6.4M ..... Team Payroll: $21.1M
Series stats:
2Bs: Blanchard (2), Boyer, Schaive (2), Williams (2), Coleman, Lopez
3Bs: none
HRs: Blanchard, Power
SBs: Maye
Runs: Power (3), Boyer (3), Horlen, Lopez, Schaive (2), McNally, Blanchard, Johnson
RBIs: Lopez (3), Blanchard (4), Power (3), Tresh (2), Coleman
Around the leagues:
CIN released Dave Sisler (P).
DET released Sam Jones (P).
CHC--Dick Ellsworth (P), broken ankle, three months.
CHW--Cam Carreon (C), finger stress fracture, two weeks.
CHC--Norm Gigon (2B), chipped knee cap, three weeks.
HOU-Dave Adlesh (C), ankle stress fracture, three weeks.
NYM--Ed Kranepool (1B), dislocated hip, six weeks.
PHI--Sam Parilla (LF), torn knee ligament, two months.
STL signed free agent Wally Post (LF) for $5,300,000/1 yr.
STL signed free agent Dave Sisler (P) for $1,500,000/1 yr.
DET signed Marty Walker (3B) for $18,000/1 yr.
Nevada Dusters at Pittsburgh Pirates
May 15, 1962
TOP OF THE FIRST
Vinegar Bend Mizell takes the mound for the Pirates.
Vic Power flied out to center. <--->
Hector Lopez flied out to right. <--->
Tom Tresh 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
Bob Shaw takes the mound for the Dusters.
Bob Skinner lined out to short. <--->
Bill Virdon doubled into the left field corner. <-2->
Roberto Clemente flied out to right. <-2->
Dick Stuart 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
Jerry Adair flied out to center. <--->
Clete Boyer popped up behind home plate. <--->
Johnny Schaive grounded to third. <--->
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
Joe Torre struck out. <--->
Dick Groat popped up to the catcher in foul ground. <--->
Don Hoak struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the second, the game is tied at 0.
TOP OF THE THIRD
Johnny Blanchard lined out to short. <--->
Lou Johnson reached second on a fielding error by the right fielder. <-2->
Bob Shaw flied out to left. <-2->
Vic Power hit an infield single to the pitcher. <3-1>
Hector Lopez flied out to center. <3-1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the third, the game is tied at 0.
BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Bill Mazeroski singled down the third base line. <--1>
Vinegar Bend Mizell laid down a sacrifice bunt to first base. <-2->
Bob Skinner popped up behind home plate. <-2->
Bill Virdon grounded to short. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the third, the game is tied at 0.
TOP OF THE FOURTH
Tom Tresh grounded to second. <--->
Jerry Adair struck out. <--->
Clete Boyer lined out to left field. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, the game is tied at 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Roberto Clemente grounded to second. <--->
Dick Stuart struck out. <--->
Joe Torre singled to center field. <--1>
Dick Groat walked. <-21>
Don Hoak flied out to left. <-21>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, the game is tied at 0.
TOP OF THE FIFTH
Johnny Schaive walked. <--1>
Johnny Blanchard homered to deep right-center for two RBIs. <--->
Lou Johnson singled through the left side. <--1>
Bob Shaw laid down a sacrifice bunt to third. <-2->
Vic Power homered over the left field fence for two RBIs. <--->
Hector Lopez grounded to short. <--->
Tom Tresh struck out. <--->
4 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, Nevada leads 4 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Bill Mazeroski struck out. <--->
Smoky Burgess pinch hit for Vinegar Bend Mizell. <--->
Smoky Burgess grounded to first base. <--->
Bob Skinner reached first on a fielding error by the catcher. <--1>
Bill Virdon lined out to the second baseman. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, Pittsburgh trails 4 to 0.
TOP OF THE SIXTH
Al McBean came in to pitch for the Pirates. <--->
Jerry Adair flied out to right field. <--->
Clete Boyer grounded to first base. <--->
Johnny Schaive popped up to the shortstop. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, Nevada leads 4 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Roberto Clemente homered over the center field fence. <--->
Dick Stuart struck out. <--->
Joe Torre flied out to right. <--->
Dick Groat grounded to the pitcher. <--->
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, Pittsburgh trails 4 to 1.
TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Johnny Blanchard flied out to right field. <--->
Lou Johnson struck out. <--->
Bob Shaw struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, Nevada leads 4 to 1.
BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Billy Williams came in to play Left Field. <--->
Don Hoak doubled over the left fielder. <-2->
Bill Mazeroski grounded to short. <-2->
Willie Stargell pinch hit for Al McBean. <-2->
Willie Stargell singled in the left field gap, scoring a run. <--1>
Bob Skinner grounded to third, forcing the runner at second. <--1>
Bill Virdon popped up to second. <--1>
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, Pittsburgh trails 4 to 2.
TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Roy Face came in to pitch for the Pirates. <--->
Vic Power lined out to right. <--->
Hector Lopez doubled down the third base line. <-2->
Tom Tresh dribbled weakly to the catcher. <3-->
Jerry Adair flied out to center. <3-->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, Nevada leads 4 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Roberto Clemente popped up to second. <--->
Dick Stuart flied out to right. <--->
Joe Torre flied out to left. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, Pittsburgh trails 4 to 2.
TOP OF THE NINTH
Clete Boyer walked. <--1>
Johnny Schaive singled back through the middle. <-21>
Johnny Blanchard doubled to right-center, scoring a run. <32->
Billy Williams grounded to third. <32->
The Pirates brought the infield in.
Gordy Coleman pinch hit for Bob Shaw. <32->
Gordy Coleman lined out to the second baseman. <32->
Johnny Blanchard was doubled off second. <3-->
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the ninth, Nevada leads 5 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE NINTH
Claude Raymond came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Dick Groat popped up to short. <--->
Don Hoak popped up to second. <--->
Bill Mazeroski singled through the hole. <--1>
Johnny Logan pinch hit for Roy Face. <--1>
Johnny Logan popped up to second. <--1>
DUSTERS WIN: 5-2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Dusters (NEV) 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 5 7 1
Pirates (PIT) 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 7 1
NEVADA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
V. Power (1B) 4 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 .341
H. Lopez (RF) 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
T. Tresh (CF) 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .262
J. Adair (SS) 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .279
C. Boyer (3B) 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 .294
J. Schaive (2B) 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .290
J. Blanchard (C) 4 2 0 1 1 3 0 0 .280
L. Johnson (LF) 3 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 .333
B. Williams (LF) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .343
B. Shaw (P) 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
G. Coleman (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .354
C. Raymond (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 33 7 2 5 2 5 4 0
2B: J. Blanchard (8), H. Lopez (8)
HR: J. Blanchard (5), V. Power (4)
NEVADA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
B. Shaw 8.0 6 1 1 2 2 5 110 4.60
C. Raymond 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 15 6.75
TOTALS 9.0 7 1 1 2 2 5 125
PITTSBURGH ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
B. Skinner (LF) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
B. Virdon (CF) 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .315
R. Clemente (RF) 4 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 .345
D. Stuart (1B) 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .239
J. Torre (C) 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .296
D. Groat (SS) 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .331
D. Hoak (3B) 4 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 .366
B. Mazeroski (2B) 4 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .200
V. Mizell (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
S. Burgess (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .409
A. McBean (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
W. Stargell (PH) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .205
R. Face (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J. Logan (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
TOTALS 34 7 1 2 1 2 5 0
2B: D. Hoak (12), B. Virdon (10)
HR: R. Clemente (3)
PITTSBURGH ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
V. Mizell 5.0 4 1 2 4 4 2 80 2.53
A. McBean 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 2 20 3.93
R. Face 2.0 3 1 0 1 1 0 32 3.18
TOTALS 9.0 7 2 2 5 5 4 132
WP: B. Shaw (3-2)
LP: V. Mizell (4-1)
SV: C. Raymond (8)
Attendance: 33,478
Time: 2:51
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