The
NEVADA DUSTERS
The Story of a Major League Baseball Franchise
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Dusters @ Reds
June 18-20, 1962
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The Ben Naylor Story
When the time came for Conn Hudson to choose a skipper for the Nevada Dusters he had a very short list -- one that consisted of a single name: Ben Naylor, who had managed the Chicago White Sox during the first four years of Hudson's career there. "Nails" Naylor had spent 44 years in the majors, and was seriously considering retirement when he got the call from Hudson. "Being at the helm of a brand new franchise -- that was a challenge I couldn't turn down," admitted Naylor.
Born in Philadelphia in November 1896, Naylor was signed by Connie Mack's Athletics in 1918 and spent the next fourteen seasons with the club. Having worked as a pipefitter, Naylor had strong wrists and reputedly threw harder than any non-pitcher in the game. Mack valued him because he was able to play just about any position. "Naylor on the team is like having five or six players for the price of one," said Mack.
In 1932 Naylor was purchased by the Chicago White Sox and became player-manager two years later. He stopped playing in '39 but remained the White Sox skipper until 1946. During his reign, Chicago had five winning seasons and finished in third place three times. In 1951 he became manager of the Philadelphia Athletics, and later managed Baltimore, Cincinnati, Detroit and Cleveland. At the end of 1961 his record as a manager stood at 1406-1541. He hit 108 home runs and collected 1,071 RBIs with a .280 average in his playing career.
There were more successful managers who might have been available for the Nevada job, but Hudson knew Nails was his man. "There are none better when it comes to working with young players," said Hudson at the press conference in which he introduced Naylor to the press. "I know, because I played under him for a number of years. He learned how to manage from Connie Mack, and Mack was the best."
It was noted that "Nails" took the Nevada job in spite of protests from Nora Naylor, his wife of 37 years. A decade of heart ailments had slowed him down but it hadn't dimmed his passion for the game. "This will be my last hurrah," he told reporters. "I'd like to get to the top one year and I think this is the team that'll get me there."
Naylor was known as a player's manager. He was loyal to his players and defended them both on the field and off. But he expected a player's loyalty to the club in return. "If you have a problem you take it to Nails," said Jerry Adair. "If you take it to the press, if you air the dirty laundry in public, you'll get on the Skip's bad side, and that's not a good place to be."
 Nevada Dusters (40-29) @ Cincinnati Reds (29-37)
June 18-20, 1962
Crosley Field, Cincinnati, OH
DL: Lee Maye (RF), stretched knee ligament, five days. Dick Kelley (P-Tucson Stingers), severe shoulder bursitis, five days.
TRADES
DET offered Gates Brown (LF) for Johnny Blanchard (C). DECLINED.
BAL offered Dave Vineyard (P) for Jim Umbricht (RP). DECLINED.
SFG offered Jose Cardenal (OF) for Jim Umbricht (RP), Bubba Morton (RF) and Johnny Blanchard (C). SEE BELOW.
NEV negotiated a trade that sent Bobby Locke (P-AAA), Paul Doyle (P-A) and Glen Clark (1B-AA) to SFG for Jose Cardenal (OF-R) and Ron Herbel (P-AA).
MOVES
Ron Herbel (P) assigned to Salt Lake City Saints (AA). Jose Cardenal (OF) assigned to Tucson Stingers (A).
Cincinnati Reds Game 1 starting lineup:
Don Blasingame (2B), Marty Keough (LF), Vada Pinson (CF), Frank Robinson (RF), Leo Cardenas (SS), Gene Freese (3B), Hank Foiles (C), Rogelio Alvarez (1B0, Jim Maloney (SP)
 [June 18, Game 1]
Seeking that elusive seventh win, Dave McNally (6-0) faced Jim Maloney (7-5) in what promised to be a low-scoring pitchers' duel, and the game lived up to its billing, as McNally allowed two runs on five hits in his seven innings while Maloney gave up just one run in eight innings of work. The Reds scored first with a run in the 4th, and the Dusters tied it up in the top of the 5th. In the 6th Marty Keough drew a walk, stole second, and scored when first baseman Vic Power let a ball get by him in what should have been a routine putout of Frank Robinson. Later in the inning shortstop Tom Tresh booted another ball and the Reds loaded the bases, but McNally pitched out of the jam. Jim Maloney -- with help from closer Jim Brosnan in the 9th -- made sure the Dusters couldn't make up that one run deficit. Power got the only Nevada RBI while McNally suffered his first loss of the season.
Lineup: Power, Lopez, Williams, Boyer, Blanchard, Adair, Tresh, Camilli, McNally
Record: 40-30
Reds 2, Dusters 1
[June 19, Game 2]
The Dusters got off to a fast start in the second game of the series, as Hector Lopez cranked his thirteenth homer of the season into left field bleachers in the 1st and a Tom Tresh double coupled with a Cincy error added two more in the 2nd. Nevada starter Bob Shaw (9-2) pitched eight innings and allowed nine hits but only one run, that a Frank Robinson solo blast in the 6th to make it 3-1 Dusters. In the Nevada 9th Reds starter Jim O'Toole walked the first two batters he faced before serving up a home run ball to Jerry Adair that put the Dusters out in front 6-1. Facing reliever Johnny Klippstein one inning later, Lopez hit his fourteenth long ball for three more runs and it looked like a blowout. But the Reds weren't quite done. Jim Brewer took the hill for Nevada in the bottom of the 8th and Joe Gaines hit a one-out single, Don Blasingame drew a walk, and Marty Keough reached on a fielding error by shortstop Tom Tresh. With the bases loaded, Vada Pinson jacked a grand slam into the right field seats. Next up was Frank Robinson, who added insult to injury with a solo dinger. Brewer managed to get the last two outs and the Dusters won 9-6. Shaw got his tenth win. Lopez, 2-for-4 with three runs and four RBIs, trailing only Johnny Blanchard (15) for the most home runs on the Nevada club. The game also featured two stolen bases for the Dusters (Tresh and Billy Williams) -- a team not known for speed on the basepaths.
Lineup: Power, Lopez, Williams, Adair, Blanchard, Boyer, Tresh, Jones, Shaw
Record: 41-31
Dusters 9, Reds 6
[June 20, Game 3]
The Dusters had plenty of incentive in Game 3 -- a win would put them in a tie with Cincinnati for third place in the NL. They scored a pair of runs in the first as Reds starter Bob Purkey (9-3) walked Gordy Coleman and Hector Lopez, Billy Williams and Clete Boyer singled. Cincinnati got a run in the bottom of the 1st and took the lead in the 2nd with three hits off Steve Barber (2-6) and a throwing error by shortstop Johnny Schaive. Billy Williams stretched a double into a triple to start the Nevada 3rd, scoring on Clete Boyer's knock up the middle, and then Johnny Blanchard launched his sixteenth homer of the season to deep left-center for two, putting the Dusters up 5-4. That was all the offense Nevada could muster, but it was enough as Barber, Bob Duliba and Bill Dailey combined to hold the Reds scoreless from that point on. Barber (5.0ip, 6h, 1bb, 4r, 3er, 5k) earned his third win of the year and Dailey got his fifth save. Both teams collected eight hits, but the difference in the game was that the Nevada tally included a double (Mack Jones), a triple (Williams) and a home run (Blanchard), while all the Cincy hits were singles save for a Frank Robinson two-bagger.
Lineup: Coleman, Lopez, Williams, Boyer, Blanchard, Adair, Schaive, Jones, Barber
Record: 42-31
Dusters 5, Reds 4
 Frank Robinson (CIN)
Nevada Dusters financial update:
Average Attendance: 13,251 ..... Revenue: $17.5M ..... Profit: $4.4M ..... Cash: $9.1M ..... Team Payroll: $20.8M
Series stats:
2Bs: Boyer, Tresh, Jones
3Bs: Williams
HRs: Lopez (2), Adair, Blanchard
SBs: Williams, Tresh
Runs: Tresh (2), Power, Lopez (4), Williams (2), Adair, Boyer (2), Morton, Coleman, Blanchard
RBIs: Power, Lopez (4), Adair (3), Tresh (1), Williams, Boyer (2), Blanchard (2)
Around the leagues:
CHC--Bob Raudman (LF) hit for the cycle, June 17.
CHC--Glen Hobbie (P), ankle stress fracture, two weeks.
CHC--Bob Anderson (P), torn rotator cuff, thirteen months.
DET--Reno Bertoia (3B), sprained lower back, two weeks.
KCA--Jim Archer (P), finger stress fracture, two weeks.
CHC--Morrie Steevens (P), foot stress fracture, two weeks.
HOU--Turk Farrell (P), inflamed rotator cuff, four weeks.
KCA released Bobby Del Greco (CF).
KCA released Jim Archer (P).
PHI released Bob Ferrarese (P).
BOS signed free agent Jim Archer (P) for $3,650,000/1 yr.
MIN signed free agent Hal Smith (C) for $2,250,000/1 yr.
Nevada Dusters at Cincinnati Reds
June 20, 1962
TOP OF THE FIRST
Bob Purkey takes the mound for the Reds.
Gordy Coleman walked. <--1>
Hector Lopez singled through the right side. <-21>
Billy Williams singled to left, scoring a run. <3-1>
Clete Boyer singled to left, scoring a run. <-21>
Johnny Blanchard grounded to third for a double play (5-4-3). <3-->
Jerry Adair grounded to the shortstop. <3-->
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the first, Nevada leads 2 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Steve Barber takes the mound for the Dusters.
Don Blasingame dribbled weakly to the catcher. <--->
Marty Keough singled to left. <--1>
Vada Pinson grounded to second. <-2->
Frank Robinson doubled in the left field gap, scoring a run. <-2->
Leo Cardenas struck out. <-2->
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the first, Cincinnati trails 2 to 1.
TOP OF THE SECOND
Johnny Schaive grounded to second. <--->
Mack Jones doubled over the third baseman. <-2->
Steve Barber struck out. <-2->
Gordy Coleman grounded to short. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the second, Nevada leads 2 to 1.
BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Gene Freese singled down the first base line. <--1>
Hank Foiles reached second on a throwing error by the shortstop. <32->
Rogelio Alvarez singled in the right field gap for two RBIs. <--1>
Bob Purkey laid down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. <-2->
Don Blasingame singled to center, scoring a run. <--1>
Marty Keough popped up foul down the third base line. <--1>
Vada Pinson walked. <-21>
Frank Robinson grounded to first. <-21>
3 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the second, Cincinnati leads 4 to 2.
TOP OF THE THIRD
Hector Lopez lined out to second. <--->
Billy Williams doubled in the right field gap. <-2->
Billy Williams went for an extra base and reached third. <3-->
Clete Boyer singled back through the middle, scoring a run. <--1>
Johnny Blanchard homered to deep left-center for two RBIs. <--->
Jerry Adair grounded to first base. <--->
Johnny Schaive walked. <--1>
Mack Jones flied out to left. <--1>
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the third, Nevada leads 5 to 4.
BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Leo Cardenas struck out. <--->
Gene Freese grounded to third. <--->
Hank Foiles grounded to second. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the third, Cincinnati trails 5 to 4.
TOP OF THE FOURTH
Johnny Klippstein came in to pitch for the Reds. <--->
Steve Barber grounded to third. <--->
Gordy Coleman grounded to first. <--->
Hector Lopez struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, Nevada leads 5 to 4.
BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Rogelio Alvarez lined out to right. <--->
Johnny Klippstein struck out. <--->
Don Blasingame struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, Cincinnati trails 5 to 4.
TOP OF THE FIFTH
Billy Williams lined out to center. <--->
Clete Boyer grounded to short. <--->
Johnny Blanchard walked. <--1>
Jerry Adair grounded to second. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, Nevada leads 5 to 4.
BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Marty Keough grounded to third. <--->
Vada Pinson singled to center. <--1>
Frank Robinson struck out. <--1>
Leo Cardenas grounded to second. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, Cincinnati trails 5 to 4.
TOP OF THE SIXTH
Johnny Schaive struck out. <--->
Mack Jones flied out to center. <--->
Vic Power pinch hit for Steve Barber. <--->
Vic Power popped up to second. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, Nevada leads 5 to 4.
BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Bob Duliba came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Gene Freese grounded to first. <--->
Hank Foiles struck out. <--->
Rogelio Alvarez singled to right. <--1>
Pete Rose pinch hit for Johnny Klippstein. <--1>
Pete Rose grounded to second. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, Cincinnati trails 5 to 4.
TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Moe Drabowsky came in to pitch for the Reds. <--->
Gordy Coleman flied out to center. <--->
Hector Lopez grounded to short. <--->
Billy Williams struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, Nevada leads 5 to 4.
BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Tom Tresh came in to play First Base. <--->
Don Blasingame flied out to center. <--->
Marty Keough walked. <--1>
Vada Pinson struck out. <--1>
Frank Robinson struck out. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, Cincinnati trails 5 to 4.
TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Clete Boyer grounded to the second baseman. <--->
Johnny Blanchard grounded to the second baseman. <--->
Jerry Adair reached first on a fielding error by the catcher. <--1>
Johnny Schaive singled in the left field gap, advancing the runner to third. <3-1>
Mack Jones popped up behind home plate. <3-1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, Nevada leads 5 to 4.
BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Leo Cardenas singled to left field. <--1>
Gene Freese laid down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. <-2->
Hank Foiles lined out to center field. <-2->
Leo Cardenas was doubled off second. <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, Cincinnati trails 5 to 4.
TOP OF THE NINTH
Bubba Morton pinch hit for Bob Duliba. <--->
Bubba Morton grounded to third. <--->
Tom Tresh popped up foul down the third base line. <--->
Hector Lopez popped up to second. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the ninth, Nevada leads 5 to 4.
BOTTOM OF THE NINTH
Bill Dailey came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Rogelio Alvarez flied out to right. <--->
Joe Gaines pinch hit for Moe Drabowsky. <--->
Joe Gaines flied out to right. <--->
Don Blasingame grounded to the second baseman. <--->
DUSTERS WIN: 5-4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Dusters (NEV) 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 8 1
Reds (CIN) 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 8 1
NEVADA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
G. Coleman (1B) 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 .321
T. Tresh (1B) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
H. Lopez (RF) 5 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 .338
B. Williams (LF) 4 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 .338
C. Boyer (3B) 4 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 .284
J. Blanchard (C) 3 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 .241
J. Adair (2B) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
J. Schaive (SS) 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 .270
M. Jones (CF) 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212
S. Barber (P) 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .167
V. Power (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309
B. Duliba (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
B. Morton (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
B. Dailey (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 35 8 3 5 1 5 4 0
2B: M. Jones (7)
3B: B. Williams (4)
HR: J. Blanchard (16)
NEVADA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
S. Barber 5.0 6 1 0 4 3 5 92 5.17
B. Duliba 3.0 2 1 0 0 0 3 47 4.45
B. Dailey 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 2.59
TOTALS 9.0 8 2 0 4 3 8 148
CINCINNATI ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
D. Blasingame (2B) 5 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .264
M. Keough (LF) 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .299
V. Pinson (CF) 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 .296
F. Robinson (RF) 4 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 .277
L. Cardenas (SS) 4 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 .233
G. Freese (3B) 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .258
H. Foiles (C) 4 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 .255
R. Alvarez (1B) 4 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 .209
B. Purkey (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .194
J. Klippstein (P) 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
P. Rose (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216
M. Drabowsky (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
J. Gaines (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .375
TOTALS 33 8 2 4 0 4 8 0
2B: F. Robinson (11)
CINCINNATI ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
B. Purkey 3.0 7 2 1 5 5 1 58 2.18
J. Klippstein 3.0 0 1 0 0 0 2 36 4.11
M. Drabowsky 3.0 1 0 0 0 0 1 41 1.54
TOTALS 9.0 8 3 1 5 5 4 135
WP: S. Barber (3-6)
LP: B. Purkey (9-4)
SV: B. Dailey (5)
Attendance: 23,786
Time: 2:53
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