The
NEVADA DUSTERS
The Story of a Major League Baseball Franchise
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Cardinals @ Dusters
May 21-23. 1962
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The Standings (as of May 18, 1962)
(including team batting average and ERA)
 NATIONAL LEAGUE
PIT 29-14 .281 3.15
SFG 24-15 .255 2.57
NEV 25-20 .280 3.81
CIN 23-19 .247 3.19
LAD 22-20 .242 3.74
CHC 19-21 .240 4.07
STL 19-26 .239 3.87
HOU 17-25 .237 4.06
NYM 17-25 .244 4.63
PHI 16-26 .239 3.89
 AMERICAN LEAGUE
NYY 25-17 .272 3.62
MIN 24-18 .257 4.03
BAL 23-19 .238 2.90
DET 22-20 .264 3.56
CLE 21-21 .241 3.27
BOS 21-22 .256 3.61
KCA 21-22 .235 3.15
CHW 20-22 .243 3.70
WSA 18-24 .240 3.95
LAA 16-26 .236 4.06
Scheduling the Starters
The Dusters had two days off before facing the Cardinals again at Horizon Field -- then another day off followed by a third consecutive series with the Redbirds. St. Louis skipper Johnny Keane complained about the bizarre scheduling. The Cards flew home during the two off days but returned to spend a full week in Las Vegas. For his part, Ben Naylor was pleased with the schedule, as it allowed him to cycle through the starting rotation twice without having to utilize Pete Richert. He explained to Al Childress of the Las Vegas Sun that it wasn't Richert who worried him as much as the bullpen. Pitching coach Ray Narleski believed Richert could probably only go five innings, which meant heavy reliance on the admittedly suspect bullpen when Richert started. Childress pointed out that the Dusters had the second-best team batting average (.280) in the majors behind Pittsburgh (.281), and speculated that Nevada might even be challenging the Bucs for first place in the NL if the pitching had been more dependable. Nails conceded that the hitting had carried the pitching staff at times, but he reminded Childress that starter Dave McNally was 6-0 with a 1.64 ERA and Joe Horlen was 6-3, 2.25. He also pointed out that the Duster team ERA was on the decline; it had climbed to over 4.00 in late April, but was down now to 3.81 -- and he expected it to continue to improve.
 St. Louis Cardinals @ Nevada Dusters
May 21-23, 1962
Horizon Field, Las Vegas, NV
DL: Claude Raymond (RP), mild elbow inflammation, three days. Donn Clendenon (1B-Bakersfield Bullets), Charley horse, two days. Larry Maxie (P-Tucson Stingers), dislocated shoulder, six days.
TRADES:
none
St. Louis Cardinals Game 1 starting lineup:
Julian Javier (2B), Charlie James (RF), Ken Boyer (3B), Stan Musial (LF), Curt Flood (CF), Fred Whitfield (1B), Carl Sawatski (C), Julio Gotay (SS), Ernie Broglio (SP)
 [May 21, Game 1]
Two singles, an error by Jerry Adair and a stolen base by Card right fielder Charlie James added up to a two-run 1st for the Redbirds as the second series opened, but after that it was all Nevada Dusters, who got sixteen hits off Bob Buhl and a platoon of St. Louis relievers. Cardinal starter Bob Buhl walked a pair and catcher Jimmie Schaffer allowed a passed ball while the Dusters hit four singles and took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the 1st. In the 3rd the Cards committed an error and the Dusters scored two more runs. In the 5th three singles and yet another St. Louis miscue added another two. And in the 6th Johnny Blanchard and Jerry Adair hit solo homers to make it 10-2 Nevada. The Dusters turned double plays in several key situations, starter Bob Shaw (8.0ip, 6h, 1bb, 2r, 2er, 7k) pitched well, and Mack Jones, making the most of a rare start at center field to rest Tom Tresh, went 3-for-5 with a run scored and two RBIs. Hector Lopez and Adair also went 3-for-5. Despite this third win in a row, the Dusters found themselves falling to fourth place in the NL as red-hot Cincinnati catapulted into third place riding a six-game win streak. There was bad news for the Cardinals, too -- third baseman Ken Boyer broke his ankle during the game and was expected to be out for two months.
Lineup: Power, Lopez, Williams, Boyer, Adair, Schaive, Blanchard, Jones, Shaw
Record: 26-20
Dusters 10, Cardinals 2
[May 22, Game 2]
It was immediately obvious that Nevada starter Tony Cloninger (2-4) was struggling, as he walked the first batter he faced and served up singles to the next three. But the first batter was picked off first and a double play ended the inning without damage done. In the 3rd, though, Curt Flood and Stan Musial hit back-to-back homers to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. In the 4th the Redbirds loaded the bases and another timely twin killing limited them to just one run. By this time Naylor had pulled Cloninger and substituted Jim "The Sheriff" Constable, who sailed through until the 7th, when a walk and three more singles tacked on two more St. Louis runs and put the Dusters in a 5-0 hole. In the home 7th the Dusters finally got to Redbird starter Curt Simmons; Johnny Blanchard's three-run shot into the right field bleachers accounted for three of the four Nevada runs scored. The Cards came right back in the 8th as right fielder Hector Lopez misplayed a Stan Musial line drive, allowing two runs to score. Trailing 7-4, the Dusters closed the gap again in the bottom of the 8th as Lopez made amends with a two-run homer. But they could do nothing against closer Lindy McDaniel in the 9th. The Cardinals collected fifteen hits in a game that clearly demonstrated the weaknesses of the Nevada pitching staff.
Lineup: Power, Lopez, Williams, Tresh, Adair, Boyer, Schaive, Blanchard, Cloninger
Record: 26-21
Cardinals 7, Dusters 6
[May 23, Game 3]
The Dusters got nine hits off Cardinal starter Larry Jackson and reliever Ed Bauta, and all of them were singles. They made them count, though, and scored four runs in the first five innings while starter Joe Horlen and several double plays held the Redbirds scoreless. In the 6th, though, Horlen walked Charlie James, Curt Flood singled, and Stan Musial's single scored James while Flood scored on a sac fly by first baseman Fred Whitfield. The Duster lead had been cut in half. In the 9th Bill Dailey, who had replaced Claude Raymond as Nevada's closer, walked Mike Shannon, who reached second on a wild pitch before scoring on a hit down the third base line by Minnie Minoso. Julian Javier's sac bunt moved Minoso into scoring position, but Dailey got the last out he needed, a Charlie James grounder, to preserve Nevada's 4-3 lead and earn his second save. Horlen improved to 7-3. Billy Williams was 3-for-4 on the day, improving his average to .367, best in the NL.
Lineup: Power, Maye, Williams, Blanchard, Jones, Adair, Boyer, Schaive, Horlen
Record: 27-21
Dusters 4, Cardinals 3
 Joe Horlen (NEV)
Nevada Dusters financial update:
Revenue: $11.5M ..... Profit: $2.8M ..... Cash: $7.4M ..... Team Payroll: $21.1M
Series stats:
2Bs: Williams, Maye
3Bs: none
HRs: Blanchard (2), Adair, Lopez
SBs: none
Runs: Lopez (2), Williams (2), Boyer (3), Adair (2), Schaive, Blanchard (4), Jones, Shaw, Power, Coleman, Maye (2)
RBIs: Power, Lopez (2), Adair (3), Blanchard (6), Jones (3), Coleman, Schaive, Horlen
Around the leagues:
LAA releases Chuck Tanner (RF).
LAA releases Steve Bilko (1B).
BAL--Earl Robinson (RF), ruptured knee ligaments, three weeks.
LAA--Steve Bilko (1B), wrist stress fracture, five weeks.
CIN--Danny Breeden (C), hand stress fracture, two weeks.
MIN--Jay Ward (2B), finger stress fracture, two weeks.
DET--Charlie Maxwell (LF), torn rotator cuff, thirteen months.
DET--Hank Aguirre (P), chipped knee cap, three weeks.
STL--Ken Boyer (3B), broken ankle, two months.
KCA--Jerry Walker (P), sprained back, two weeks.
PHI--Chris Short (P), spiked achilles tendon, three weeks.
CLE--Hal Jones (1B), severe shoulder separation, two months.
CLE--Sam McDowell (P), torn elbow ligament, two months.
LAD signed free agent Earl Averill (C) for $4,700,000/1 yr.
KCA signed free agent Danny McDevitt (P) for $790,000/1 yr.
CIN signed free agent Chuck Tanner (RF) for $430,000/1 yr.
NYM--Richie Ashburn (CF) gets his 2,500th hit.
St. Louis Cardinals at Nevada Dusters
May 21, 1962
TOP OF THE FIRST
Bob Shaw takes the mound for the Dusters.
Julian Javier bunts for a base hit in front of first. <--1>
Charlie James singled to center, advancing the runner to third. <3-1>
Charlie James stole second. <32->
Ken Boyer grounded to short, scoring a run. <-2->
Stan Musial struck out. <-2->
Curt Flood singled down the right field line, scoring a run. <--1>
Fred Whitfield reached first on a throwing error by the shortstop. <-21>
Julio Gotay flied out to right field. <-21>
2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the first, St. Louis leads 2 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Bob Buhl takes the mound for the Cardinals.
Vic Power walked. <--1>
Hector Lopez singled through the left side. <-21>
Billy Williams grounded to short, forcing the runner at third. <-21>
Clete Boyer singled to center field. <321>
Jerry Adair singled into the left field corner for two RBIs. <3-1>
Johnny Schaive grounded to second, forcing the runner at second. <3-1>
Jimmie Schaffer allowed a passed ball - a run scored. <-2->
Johnny Blanchard walked. <-21>
Mack Jones singled through the left side, scoring a run. <-21>
Bob Shaw struck out. <-21>
4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the first, Nevada leads 4 to 2.
TOP OF THE SECOND
Jimmie Schaffer singled to left. <--1>
Bob Buhl grounded to third, forcing the runner at second. <--1>
Julian Javier grounded to third for a double play (5-4-3). <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the second, St. Louis trails 4 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Vic Power lined out to second. <--->
Hector Lopez struck out. <--->
Billy Williams singled through the left side. <--1>
Billy Williams was caught stealing second. <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the second, Nevada leads 4 to 2.
TOP OF THE THIRD
Charlie James flied out to center. <--->
Ken Boyer grounded to short. <--->
Stan Musial struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the third, St. Louis trails 4 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Clete Boyer walked. <--1>
Jerry Adair grounded to first base. <-2->
Johnny Schaive lined out to left field. <-2->
Johnny Blanchard reached second on a throwing error by the pitcher - a run scored. <-2->
Mack Jones singled to center field, scoring a run. <--1>
John Anderson came in to pitch for the Cardinals. <--1>
Bob Shaw popped up to second. <--1>
2 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the third, Nevada leads 6 to 2.
TOP OF THE FOURTH
Curt Flood struck out. <--->
Fred Whitfield dribbled weakly to the catcher. <--->
Julio Gotay struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, St. Louis trails 6 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Vic Power singled down the right field line. <--1>
Hector Lopez singled up the middle. <-21>
Billy Williams popped up foul down the first base line. <-21>
Clete Boyer singled to left. <321>
Jerry Adair lined out to left. <321>
Johnny Schaive flied out to left field. <321>
0 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 3 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, Nevada leads 6 to 2.
TOP OF THE FIFTH
Jimmie Schaffer flied out to right field. <--->
John Anderson popped up to third. <--->
Julian Javier reached first on a throwing error by the second baseman. <--1>
Julian Javier was picked off first. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, St. Louis trails 6 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Johnny Blanchard lined out to left. <--->
Mack Jones reached first on a fielding error by the shortstop. <--1>
Bob Shaw singled up the middle. <-21>
Vic Power singled to right, scoring a run. <3-1>
Hector Lopez singled up the middle, scoring a run. <-21>
Billy Williams grounded to short, forcing the runner at second. <3-1>
Clete Boyer lined out to center field. <3-1>
2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, Nevada leads 8 to 2.
TOP OF THE SIXTH
Charlie James struck out. <--->
Ken Boyer lined out to short. <--->
Stan Musial popped up to second. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, St. Louis trails 8 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Ray Washburn came in to pitch for the Cardinals. <--->
Jerry Adair homered into the right field bleachers. <--->
Johnny Schaive lined out to left. <--->
Johnny Blanchard homered into the center field bleachers. <--->
Mack Jones struck out. <--->
Bob Shaw struck out. <--->
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, Nevada leads 10 to 2.
TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Curt Flood struck out. <--->
Fred Whitfield singled down the first base line. <--1>
Julio Gotay struck out. <--1>
Jimmie Schaffer walked. <-21>
Wally Post pinch hit for Ray Washburn. <-21>
Wally Post flied out to left. <-21>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, St. Louis trails 10 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Dave Sisler came in to pitch for the Cardinals. <--->
Vic Power grounded to short. <--->
Hector Lopez grounded to third. <--->
Billy Williams walked. <--1>
Clete Boyer popped up to short. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, Nevada leads 10 to 2.
TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Julian Javier popped up foul down the first base line. <--->
Charlie James singled through the left side. <--1>
Ken Boyer grounded to second for a double play (4-6-3). <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, St. Louis trails 10 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Jerry Adair singled down the third base line. <--1>
Johnny Schaive grounded to second, forcing the runner at second. <--1>
Johnny Blanchard struck out. <--1>
Mack Jones singled down the third base line. <-21>
Gordy Coleman pinch hit for Bob Shaw. <-21>
Gordy Coleman grounded to short. <-21>
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, Nevada leads 10 to 2.
TOP OF THE NINTH
Jim Brewer came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Stan Musial struck out. <--->
Curt Flood singled through the left side. <--1>
Fred Whitfield singled up the middle. <-21>
Julio Gotay grounded to third for a double play (5-4-3). <-2->
DUSTERS WIN: 10-2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Cardinals (STL) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 2
Dusters (NEV) 4 0 2 0 2 2 0 0 x 10 16 2
ST. LOUIS ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
J. Javier (2B) 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .256
C. James (RF) 4 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .231
K. Boyer (3B) 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .298
S. Musial (LF) 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 .311
C. Flood (CF) 4 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 .243
F. Whitfield (1B) 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
J. Gotay (SS) 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .200
J. Schaffer (C) 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .200
B. Buhl (P) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083
J. Anderson (P) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R. Washburn (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
W. Post (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
D. Sisler (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 33 8 1 2 0 2 8 1
ST. LOUIS ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
B. Buhl 2.2 6 3 0 6 5 2 56 4.85
J. Anderson 2.1 6 0 0 2 1 0 43 3.15
R. Washburn 1.0 2 0 2 2 2 2 16 4.32
D. Sisler 2.0 2 1 0 0 0 1 27 2.88
TOTALS 8.0 16 4 2 10 8 5 142
NEVADA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
V. Power (1B) 4 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 .351
H. Lopez (RF) 5 3 0 1 0 1 1 0 .324
B. Williams (LF) 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .360
C. Boyer (3B) 4 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .286
J. Adair (SS) 5 3 0 1 1 3 0 0 .290
J. Schaive (2B) 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 .275
J. Blanchard (C) 4 1 1 2 1 2 1 0 .305
M. Jones (CF) 5 3 0 1 0 2 1 0 .273
B. Shaw (P) 4 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 .059
G. Coleman (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .352
J. Brewer (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 41 16 4 10 2 9 5 0
HR: J. Blanchard (9), J. Adair (4)
NEVADA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
B. Shaw 8.0 6 1 0 2 2 7 99 4.25
J. Brewer 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 1 12 3.98
TOTALS 9.0 8 1 0 2 2 8 111
WP: B. Shaw (4-2)
LP: B. Buhl (3-7)
Attendance: 12,961
Time: 2:31
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