The
NEVADA DUSTERS
The Story of a Major League Baseball Franchise
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Dusters @ Cardinals
June 12-14, 1962
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It's How They Play the Game
Jackie Robinson broke the major league color barrier when he joined the Dodgers in 1947, but in the early Sixties there were still a number of ballclubs that resisted -- or, at least, severely limited -- the use of black ballplayers. The Dusters, it was quickly noted, had six non-whites on its 25-man roster -- Lee Maye (OF), Billy Williams (OF), Vic Power (IF), Mack Jones (OF), Hector Lopez (OF) and Lou Johnson (OF). When asked by the press to comment on the criticism the club was receiving from certain quarters because of this, Manager Ben Naylor replied, "How well they play the game is all that matters -- and they play pretty damn well." Conn Hudson declined to take the standard "color-blind" line. "I give black players careful consideration precisely because they're black," he said. "In my opinion, black players have to try harder and play better to make it in the big leagues. Which means, chances are they're the kind of players you want on your team."
The outspoken Vic Power complimented the Dusters organization and his fellow players for how it, and they, handled the race question. He noted that he and his fellow black athletes had been welcomed with open arms by Las Vegas. Gene Baker, the club's first-base coach, was the first black coach in the major leagues. "I don't think a person's color matters here," he told reporters, "and that's as it should be." He added wrily that Hudson had been smart to open up for business in Vegas. "If he'd picked Birmingham [Alabama], he'd probably be catching hell for signing us all."
 Headlines, 1961
Nevada Dusters (37-29) @ St. Louis Cardinals (29-37)
June 12-14, 1962
Sportsmans Park, St. Louis, MO
DL: Lee Maye (RF), stretched knee ligament, eleven days. Tom Tresh (SS/CF), twisted ankle, three days. Mack Jones (CF), bruised hand, four days. Marcelino Lopez (P-Montana Wolves), finger blister, five days.
TRADES
none
St. Louis Cardinals Game 1 starting lineup
Julian Javier (2B), Carl Sawatski (C), Bill White (1B), Stan Musial (LF), Curt Flood (CF), Mike Shannon (3B), Bob Burda (RF), Dal Maxvill (SS), Bob Buhl (SP)
 [June 12, Game 1]
Having won their last three series, the Dusters hoped to prolong the trend as they traveled to St. Louis to take on the Redbirds, a team they'd beaten two games-to-one to open the month of June. But their injury woes continued as Mack Jones bruised his hand and was put on the DL for four days. With outfielder Lee Maye and Tom Tresh (SS/CF) already on the DL, this forced Ben Naylor to put the versatile Johnny Blanchard in center and start Doug Camilla as backstop for the series. The Dusters took a commanding 6-0 lead in the 1st inning as, with the bases loaded, Clete Boyer singled to center field for two RBIs, Jerry Adair and Johnny Schaive added RBI singles of their own, and Vic Power hit a two-run single to right. Cardinal starter Bob Buhl, who issued three walks in the frame, was gone after one. St. Louis got two of the runs back in the bottom of the 1st, and then Nevada's Bob Shaw (9-2) and John Anderson pitched scoreless ball until the 9th, when the Dusters added another run for good measure for a final score of 7-2. Shaw got the win and Power went 2-for-3 with two walks, a run, and the two ribbies.
Lineup: Power, Lopez, Williams, Boyer, Blanchard, Adair, Schaive, Camilli, Shaw
Record: 38-29
Dusters 7, Cardinals 2
[June 13, Game 2]
The second game of the series featured a battle between two southpaws -- Nevada's Steve Barber and Curt Simmons for the Cardinals. Johnny Blanchard opened the scoring with a solo blast in the Duster 4th. Barber himself hit an RBI single to give Nevada a 2-0 edge, then held St. Louis scoreless until the 6th. A single by Charlie James, a Bill White double and a wild pitch cut the Duster lead in half before a Curt Flood single into right field tied the game. A two-run homer by Billy Williams in the top of the 7th put Nevada on top again, but not for long -- in the bottom of the inning an error by Williams allowed a Redbird run to score, and a Charlie James two-bagger scored another. In the 8th the Dusters took the lead a third time as Gordy Coleman cranked a three-run dinger to dead center. Pete Richert took the hill and in spite of another Nevada error in the Cardinals 8th, held St. Louis scoreless in the last two innings to preserve the 7-4 victory for his second save -- and Barber's long-awaited second win of the season. The win put the Dusters ten games above .500 for the first time in their short history. The bad news was that Richert suffered a stretched hamstring and would be unavailable for two days.
Lineup: Power, Lopez, Williams, Adair, Boyer, Blanchard, Schaive, Camilli, Barber
Record: 39-29
Dusters 7, Cardinals 4
[June 14, Game 3]
Having won the first two games of the series, Ben Naylor took the opportunity to start some of his bench players -- Ken Hubbs spelled Jerry Adair at second base and Bubba Morton started in left in place of Billy Williams. Gordy Coleman started at first instead of Vic Power. Hubbs and Morton both went 1-for-3 while Coleman finished 2-for-5 with a pair of ribbies as Joe Horlen (8-4) pitched a complete game, allowing one run on seven hits for his ninth win of the season. Cardinals starter Larry Jackson (4-7) allowed seven hits -- but the Dusters made them count.They scored a run in the 1st and four more in the 5th thanks to a two-run double by Coleman and a two-run single by Hector Lopez. The Redbirds scored a run in the 7th and the Dusters got it right back in the top of the 8th. Horlen's pitching and solid defense prevented the Cardinals from mounting a serious threat until the bottom of the 8th, when they juiced the bases with only one out. But Horlen induced a pop up from Carl Warwick and Bill White flied out to end the inning. Stan Musial was held to 0-for-4 on the day; Lopez went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs to improve his average to .339. The second sweep in Dusters history put them only a half-game behind the third-place San Francisco Giants (39-27).
Lineup: Coleman, Lopez, Boyer, Blanchard, Schaive, Hubbs, Morton, Camilli, Horlen
Record: 40-29
Dusters 6, Cardinals 1
 Sportsmans Park
Opened April 23, 1902
Home of the St. Louis Cardinals 1920-1966
Cost: $500,000
Capacity: 30,500 (1962)
Last Game: May 8, 1966
Dimensions: 351 ft (left), 379 ft. (left-center), 422 ft. (center), 354 ft. (right-center), 309.5 ft. (right)
Nevada Dusters financial update:
Average Attendance: 13,251 ..... Revenue: $17.2M ..... Profit: $4.7M ..... Cash: $9.3M ..... Team Payroll: $20.8M
Series stats:
2Bs: Power, Boyer, Schaive, Coleman, Morton
3Bs: none
HRs: Blanchard, Williams, Coleman
SBs: Power, Schaive, Coleman
Runs: Power (2), Lopez, Williams (2), Boyer (2), Adair, Schaive (4), Blanchard, Camilli (2), Coleman (3), Hubbs, Morton
RBIs: Power (3), Boyer (2), Adair, Schaive, Williams (3), Blanchard (2), Barber, Coleman (5), Lopez (2)
Around the leagues:
BOS--Earl Wilson (P), stretched ankle ligament, two weeks.
KCA--Joe Azcue (C), broken forearm, two months.
KCA--Bobby Del Greco (CF), sprained neck, two weeks.
CHC--Byron Browne (LF), strained knee, two weeks.
CIN--Art Shamsky (RF), chipped knee cap, three weeks.
STL--Kyle Whiteway (CF), ruptured cervical disc, two months.
HOU released Hal Smith (C).
WSA signed Adam Burns (P) for $18,000/1 yr.
Nevada Dusters at St. Louis Cardinals
June 13, 1962
TOP OF THE FIRST
Curt Simmons takes the mound for the Cardinals.
Vic Power struck out. <--->
Hector Lopez singled to right. <--1>
Billy Williams grounded to third, forcing the runner at second. <--1>
Jerry Adair flied out to right field. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the first, the game is tied at 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Steve Barber takes the mound for the Dusters.
Julian Javier struck out. <--->
Charlie James flied out to left. <--->
Bill White grounded to first. <--->
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
Clete Boyer singled to left field. <--1>
Johnny Blanchard lined out to right. <--1>
Johnny Schaive grounded to the second baseman, forcing the runner at second. <--1>
Doug Camilli flied out to center. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the second, the game is tied at 0.
BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Stan Musial grounded to short. <--->
Curt Flood walked. <--1>
The Cardinals put on the hit and run.
Curt Flood was caught stealing second. <--->
Mike Shannon 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
Steve Barber struck out. <--->
Vic Power walked. <--1>
Hector Lopez popped up to short. <--1>
Vic Power stole second. <-2->
Billy Williams was intentionally walked. <-21>
Jerry Adair struck out. <-21>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the third, the game is tied at 0.
BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Julio Gotay walked. <--1>
Jimmie Schaffer struck out. <--1>
Curt Simmons bunts for a base hit to first. <-21>
Julian Javier flied out to center. <-21>
Charlie James grounded to third. <-21>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the third, the game is tied at 0.
TOP OF THE FOURTH
Clete Boyer grounded to the third baseman. <--->
Johnny Blanchard homered into the left field bleachers. <--->
Johnny Schaive singled to left field. <--1>
Johnny Schaive stole second. <-2->
Doug Camilli grounded to second. <3-->
Steve Barber singled up the middle, scoring a run. <--1>
Vic Power grounded to second. <--1>
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, Nevada leads 2 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Bill White popped up to second. <--->
Stan Musial lined out to third. <--->
Curt Flood singled in the left field gap. <--1>
Mike Shannon singled up the middle. <-21>
Julio Gotay flied out to center field. <-21>
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, St. Louis trails 2 to 0.
TOP OF THE FIFTH
Hector Lopez lined out to center. <--->
Billy Williams grounded to short. <--->
Jerry Adair singled into the right field corner. <--1>
Clete Boyer grounded to third. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, Nevada leads 2 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Jimmie Schaffer popped up to the catcher in foul ground. <--->
Curt Simmons flied out to center. <--->
Julian Javier grounded to second. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, St. Louis trails 2 to 0.
TOP OF THE SIXTH
Johnny Blanchard grounded to the third baseman. <--->
Johnny Schaive popped up to second. <--->
Doug Camilli struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, Nevada leads 2 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Charlie James singled to left. <--1>
Bill White doubled down the left field line. <32->
Steve Barber threw a wild pitch - a run scored. <3-->
The Dusters brought the infield in.
Stan Musial struck out. <3-->
The Dusters brought the infield in.
Curt Flood singled to right field, scoring a run. <--1>
Mike Shannon grounded to short, forcing the runner at second. <--1>
Julio Gotay grounded to short. <--1>
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, the game is tied at 2.
TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Steve Barber popped up to short. <--->
Vic Power doubled in the left field gap. <-2->
Hector Lopez grounded to short. <3-->
Billy Williams homered around the foul pole in left for two RBIs. <--->
Ed Bauta came in to pitch for the Cardinals. <--->
Jerry Adair popped up to first base. <--->
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, Nevada leads 4 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Jimmie Schaffer walked. <--1>
Ed Bauta laid down a sacrifice bunt to third. <-2->
Julian Javier reached second on a fielding error by the left fielder - a run scored. <-2->
Charlie James doubled down the first base line, scoring a run. <-2->
Bill White popped up to first. <-2->
Stan Musial flied out to center. <-2->
2 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, the game is tied at 4.
TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Clete Boyer walked. <--1>
Johnny Blanchard popped up back to the pitcher. <--1>
Johnny Schaive popped up foul down the first base line. <--1>
Doug Camilli walked. <-21>
Gordy Coleman pinch hit for Steve Barber. <-21>
Gordy Coleman homered into the center field bleachers for three RBIs. <--->
Vic Power singled up the middle. <--1>
Hector Lopez struck out. <--1>
3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, Nevada leads 7 to 4.
BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Pete Richert came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Curt Flood flied out to center field. <--->
Mike Shannon popped up to second. <--->
Julio Gotay reached first on a fielding error by the second baseman. <--1>
Jimmie Schaffer doubled to left-center. <32->
Julio Gotay went for an extra base and was thrown out at home. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, St. Louis trails 7 to 4.
TOP OF THE NINTH
Lindy McDaniel came in to pitch for the Cardinals. <--->
Billy Williams singled up the middle. <--1>
Jerry Adair grounded to the pitcher for a double play (1-4-3). <--->
Clete Boyer flied out to left. <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the ninth, Nevada leads 7 to 4.
BOTTOM OF THE NINTH
Minnie Minoso pinch hit for Lindy McDaniel. <--->
Minnie Minoso grounded to short. <--->
Julian Javier grounded to the second baseman. <--->
Charlie James flied out to center. <--->
DUSTERS WIN: 7-4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Dusters (NEV) 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 3 0 7 11 2
Cardinals (STL) 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 4 8 0
NEVADA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
V. Power (1B) 4 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 .312
H. Lopez (LF) 5 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .333
B. Williams (RF) 4 2 1 1 1 2 0 0 .335
J. Adair (2B) 5 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .291
C. Boyer (3B) 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .284
J. Blanchard (CF) 4 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 .242
J. Schaive (SS) 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 .269
D. Camilli (C) 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 .152
S. Barber (P) 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .182
G. Coleman (PH) 1 1 0 1 1 3 0 0 .327
P. Richert (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 37 11 4 7 3 7 5 2
2B: V. Power (11)
HR: J. Blanchard (15), B. Williams (13), G. Coleman (5)
NEVADA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
S. Barber 7.0 7 3 0 4 4 4 106 5.15
P. Richert 2.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 18 2.81
TOTALS 9.0 8 3 0 4 4 4 124
ST. LOUIS ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
J. Javier (2B) 5 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 .259
C. James (RF) 5 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 .246
B. White (1B) 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .235
S. Musial (LF) 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 .300
C. Flood (CF) 3 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 .295
M. Shannon (3B) 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .256
J. Gotay (SS) 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .226
J. Schaffer (C) 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 .263
C. Simmons (P) 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
E. Bauta (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
L. McDaniel (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M. Minoso (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
TOTALS 34 8 3 4 0 3 4 0
2B: B. White (6), C. James (8), J. Schaffer (3)
ST. LOUIS ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
C. Simmons 6.2 8 2 2 4 4 4 95 5.72
E. Bauta 1.1 2 2 1 3 3 1 31 5.18
L. McDaniel 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 0.92
TOTALS 9.0 11 4 3 7 7 5 134
WP: S. Barber (2-6)
LP: E. Bauta (1-7)
SV: P. Richert (2)
Attendance: 30,500
Time: 2:33
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