The
NEVADA DUSTERS
The Story of a Major League Baseball Franchise
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Mets @ Dusters
July 18-20, 1962
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Time to Deal?
With the trade deadline (July 31) fast approaching, Conn Hudson took a long hard look at current Nevada players whose contracts were expiring, the present and future needs of the ballclub, and the possibilities of trades. 1962 was the "walk" year for eight Dusters -- Jerry Adair (2B), Steve Barber (SP), Johnny Blanchard (C), Clete Boyer (3B), Jim Constable (RP), Vic Power (1B), Bob Shaw (SP) and Jim Umbricht (RP).
Earning $330,000 in '62, Adair was seeking a 3 year/$3,100,000 contract. He was happy as part of the Dusters organization, and Hudson anticipated signing him. Johnny Blanchard (C) was earning $2,950,000 in 1962 and was seeking a 4 year/$3,700,000 contract. Like Adair, he wanted to remain with the Dusters, an organization he believed had a commitment to winning, and Hudson saw no reason to part with the team's leading slugger and one of its most popular players. Third baseman Clete Boyer was making $3,700,000 and wanted a 4 year/ $4,700,000 deal. Hudson thought that number a little high, but felt he needed Boyer to stay at least another year, if not two.Vic Power, earning $3,000,000 in '62, wanted a two-year deal worth $3,400,000/year. Rumor had it that Power, in his tenth season, would not object to be traded, and Hudson had to decide whether to keep Power or Gordy Coleman at first base. Right fielder Lee Maye was seeking $2,300,000 for two years and Hudson had no qualms about that.
As for the hurlers on the list, Steve Barber, earning $330,000 this year, wanted a 2 year/$6,400,000 contract. Barber had made no bones about his dislike for Nevada and his desire to be traded, and Hudson wondered if he could successfully negotiate with the left-hander. Bob Shaw ($1,100,000 in 1962), on the other hand, wanted to remain with the Dusters. The only problem with Shaw from Hudson's perspective was the size of the contract he sought -- $6,200,000 for three years. Both Constable and Umbricht wanted modest contracts -- 2 years/$400,000 -- so it was more a question of whether Hudson wanted them to stay rather than affordability.
Based on the midseason scouting report on his desk, Hudson felt the team's immediate needs included a major league backup catcher -- he felt they could find someone who would be an improvement on Doug Camilli -- a centerfielder and another middle infielder at either the AAA or major league level.
 A 1962 issue of Baseball Monthly
New York Mets (40-50) @ Nevada Dusters (51-39)
July 18-20, 1962
Horizon Field, Las Vegas, NV
DL: Joe Horlen (P), foot stress fracture, twelve days.
TRADES
none
New York Mets Game 1 starting lineup:
John DeMerit (RF), Bobby Del Greco (CF), Gil Hodges (1B), Frank Thomas (LF), Felix Mantilla (SS), Don Zimmer (2B), Harry Chiti (C), Danny O'Connell (3B), Al Jackson (SP)
 [July 18, Game 1]
The Dusters returned home to play the Mets for the first time since the end of April. Casey Stengel came to Horizon Field without the services of center fielder Richie Ashburn, starter Jay Hook, both on the DL. Steve Barber (3-7) took the hill for Nevada and did not allow a hit until the 4th, when singles by Bobby Del Greco and Gil Hodges set the table for Felix Mantilla, whose hit to center field scored two runs. A single by Johnny Schaive and back-to-back doubles by Vic Power and Lee Maye tied the game in the Nevada 6th and in the 8th four hits, including the eighteenth home run of the year for Hector Lopez, added four more runs to the Duster total. Barber (8.0ip, 6h, 4bb, 2r, 2er, 6k) improved to 4-7 while his mound opponent, Al Jackson fell to 4-11 on the year. Lee Maye and Hector Lopez were both 2-for-4 with three RBIs, but perhaps the best news from Ben Naylor's perspective was the 3-for-4 mark posted by Billy Williams, who had been in a hitting slump on the recent road trip. The win kept the Dusters a game ahead of the Dodgers (who had won eight of their last ten games).
Lineup: Power, Maye, Williams, Lopez, Blanchard, Boyer, Adair, Schaive, Barber
Record: 52-39
Dusters 6, Mets 2
[July 19, Game 2]
With Joe Horlen on the DL for two weeks, the Dusters opted to go with a four-man rotation rather than bringing Pete Richert out of the bullpen. Tony Cloninger (3-6) started for Nevada in the second game against Roger Craig (8-5). Ken Hubbs got the nod at second base to rest Jerry Adair. A walk issued by Cloninger and an error on the part of shortstop Tom Tresh in the Mets 1st set the stage for Felix Mantilla's three-run homer. Vic Power's solo shot in the bottom of the 1st made it 3-1, but in the 5th New York's John DeMerit hit one over the center field fence for two runs and in the 8th, with Bob Duliba on the mound for Nevada, Casey Stengel's crew added four more to make it 9-2. Both teams got seven hits, but the Dusters committed three errors and the Mets none. Cloninger allowed five runs in six innings, but only two of them were earned. Vic Power was 2-for-4 and accounted for both Nevada runs. "One of the most embarrassing losses of the year," admitted Conn Hudson.
Lineup: Power, Maye, Williams, Lopez, Blanchard, Boyer, Hubbs, Tresh, Cloninger
Record: 52-40
Mets 9, Dusters 2
[July 20, Game 3]
Ben Naylor felt it was very important for his team to win the rubber game of the series, thus avoiding losing three series in a row, which wasn't a good way to start the second half. The good news was that Bob Shaw (14-2) was starting. The bad news was that the Mets jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Shaw gave up three singles and hit a batter in the top of the 1st. In the home 1st Lee Maye singled and Billy Williams homered to left to tie the game, but New York made it 3-2 on Gus Bell's 3rd inning RBI double. The Dusters had plenty of baserunners, but couldn't get them home until the 7th, when Vic Power walked, went to third on a Williams single, and scored when Hector Lopez grounded to second. That tied it again, and in the home 8th Bubba Morton's triple drove in the go-ahead run. Shaw was shaky in his four innings, allowing three runs on five hits, but the bullpen combination of Raymond, Richert and Dailey got the job done, holding the Mets to just three more hits in the last five frames. Richert (4-3) got the win and Dailey recorded his 9th save. The Dusters remained in third place in the NL, two games ahead of the Dodgers, but five games behind the Giants, who had won their last four.
Lineup: Power, Maye, Williams, Lopez, Boyer, Adair, Schaive, Camilli, Shaw
Record: 53-40
Dusters 4, Mets 3
 Gil Hodges (NYM)
Nevada Dusters financial update:
Average Attendance: 13,324 ..... Revenue: $23.0M ..... Profit: $6.2M ..... Cash: $10.9M ..... Team Payroll: $20.5M
Series stats:
2Bs: Power (2), Jones (2), Maye, Tresh
3Bs: Morton
HRs: Lopez, Power, Williams
SBs: none
Runs: Power (3), Maye (2), Williams (2), Lopez, Schaive, Jones (2), Tresh
RBIs: Maye (3), Lopez (4), Morton, Power (2), Williams (2)
Around the leagues:
CHC--Ernie Banks (SS), stretched knee ligament, two weeks.
LAA--Jim Fregosi (SS), ruptured knee ligaments, five weeks.
CLE--Woodie Held (SS), broken hip, three months.
CLE--Bob Lipski (C), sprained ankle, two weeks.
PIT--Bill Fischer (P), finger stress fracture, two weeks.
DET released Bill Bruton (CF).
DET released Charlie Maxwell (LF).
LAD released Early Wynn (P).
PIT traded Don Hoak (3B), Don Leppert (C), Bill Virdon (CF) and George Spriggs (RF) to KCA for Dan Osinski (P), Granny Hamner (SS) and Bill Fischer (P).
New York Mets at Nevada Dusters
July 18, 1962
TOP OF THE FIRST
Steve Barber takes the mound for the Dusters.
John DeMerit struck out. <--->
Bobby Del Greco lined out to right field. <--->
Gil Hodges flied out to right. <--->
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
Al Jackson takes the mound for the Mets.
Vic Power flied out to right. <--->
Lee Maye struck out. <--->
Billy Williams singled down the left field line. <--1>
Billy Williams was caught stealing second. <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the first, the game is tied at 0.
TOP OF THE SECOND
Frank Thomas grounded to second. <--->
Felix Mantilla grounded to short. <--->
Don Zimmer grounded to the second baseman. <--->
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
Hector Lopez popped up to second. <--->
Johnny Blanchard grounded to the second baseman. <--->
Clete Boyer flied out to left field. <--->
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
Harry Chiti walked. <--1>
Harry Chiti was caught stealing second. <--->
Danny O'Connell grounded to short. <--->
Al Jackson struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the third, the game is tied at 0.
BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Jerry Adair struck out. <--->
Johnny Schaive struck out. <--->
Steve Barber struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the third, the game is tied at 0.
TOP OF THE FOURTH
John DeMerit grounded to first. <--->
Bobby Del Greco singled down the first base line. <--1>
Gil Hodges singled to center, advancing the runner to third. <3-1>
Frank Thomas struck out. <3-1>
Gil Hodges stole second. <32->
Felix Mantilla singled to center field for two RBIs. <--1>
Don Zimmer walked. <-21>
Harry Chiti struck out. <-21>
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, New York leads 2 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Vic Power singled up the middle. <--1>
Lee Maye grounded to second for a double play (4-6-3). <--->
Billy Williams singled to left. <--1>
Billy Williams went for an extra base and was thrown out at second. <--->
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, Nevada trails 2 to 0.
TOP OF THE FIFTH
Danny O'Connell walked. <--1>
Al Jackson grounded to third, forcing the runner at second. <--1>
John DeMerit flied out to left. <--1>
Bobby Del Greco singled to right field, advancing the runner to third. <3-1>
Gil Hodges struck out. <3-1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, New York leads 2 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Hector Lopez singled to left. <--1>
Johnny Blanchard popped up to second. <--1>
Clete Boyer singled over the third baseman. <-21>
Jerry Adair grounded to third for a double play (5-4-3). <-2->
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, Nevada trails 2 to 0.
TOP OF THE SIXTH
Frank Thomas grounded to short. <--->
Felix Mantilla singled to center field. <--1>
Don Zimmer grounded to the pitcher, forcing the runner at second. <--1>
Harry Chiti grounded to the shortstop. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, New York leads 2 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Johnny Schaive singled to right. <--1>
Steve Barber popped up to the pitcher. <--1>
Vic Power doubled down the first base line. <32->
Lee Maye doubled down the left field line for two RBIs. <-2->
Billy Williams grounded to first. <3-->
Hector Lopez struck out. <3-->
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
Danny O'Connell grounded to second. <--->
Al Jackson grounded to the second baseman. <--->
John DeMerit walked. <--1>
Bobby Del Greco grounded to second. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, the game is tied at 2.
BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Johnny Blanchard grounded to short. <--->
Clete Boyer popped up to short. <--->
Jerry Adair struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, the game is tied at 2.
TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Gil Hodges grounded to third. <--->
Frank Thomas struck out. <--->
Felix Mantilla singled to left. <--1>
Don Zimmer grounded to the shortstop. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, the game is tied at 2.
BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Johnny Schaive grounded to first base. <--->
Mack Jones pinch hit for Steve Barber. <--->
Mack Jones singled to right. <--1>
Mack Jones went for an extra base and reached second. <-2->
Vic Power dribbled weakly to the catcher. <3-->
Lee Maye singled to left, scoring a run. <--1>
Billy Williams singled to center, advancing the runner to third. <3-1>
Hector Lopez homered over the center field fence for three RBIs. <--->
Clem Labine came in to pitch for the Mets. <--->
Johnny Blanchard flied out to right. <--->
4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, Nevada leads 6 to 2.
TOP OF THE NINTH
Bill Dailey came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Harry Chiti walked. <--1>
Danny O'Connell grounded to third, forcing the runner at second. <--1>
Clem Labine laid down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. <-2->
John DeMerit struck out. <-2->
DUSTERS WIN: 6-2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Mets (NYM) 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 0
Dusters (NEV) 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 4 x 6 12 0
NEW YORK ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
J. DeMerit (RF) 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 .264
B. Del Greco (CF) 4 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .225
G. Hodges (1B) 4 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 .254
F. Thomas (LF) 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .305
F. Mantilla (SS) 4 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 .230
D. Zimmer (2B) 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .268
H. Chiti (C) 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 .222
D. O'Connell (3B) 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .235
A. Jackson (P) 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .054
C. Labine (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 31 6 5 2 0 2 7 1
NEW YORK ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
A. Jackson 7.2 12 0 1 6 6 6 89 4.50
C. Labine 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4.40
TOTALS 8.0 12 0 1 6 6 6 92
NEVADA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
V. Power (1B) 4 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .306
L. Maye (CF) 4 2 0 1 0 3 1 0 .305
B. Williams (RF) 4 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .320
H. Lopez (LF) 4 2 0 1 1 3 1 0 .331
J. Blanchard (C) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .232
C. Boyer (3B) 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
J. Adair (2B) 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .271
J. Schaive (SS) 3 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 .254
S. Barber (P) 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .133
M. Jones (PH) 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .223
B. Dailey (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 32 12 0 6 1 6 6 0
2B: V. Power (13), M. Jones (10), L. Maye (10)
HR: H. Lopez (18)
NEVADA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
S. Barber 8.0 6 4 0 2 2 6 124 4.63
B. Dailey 1.0 0 1 0 0 0 1 17 2.57
TOTALS 9.0 6 5 0 2 2 7 141
WP: S. Barber (4-7)
LP: A. Jackson (4-11)
Attendance: 11,455
Time: 2:21
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