The
NEVADA DUSTERS
The Story of a Major League Baseball Franchise
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Learning Curve
A San Francisco sportswriter caused a stir when he reported that Nevada Dusters owner and general manager Conn Hudson admitted that his team could not win the National League pennant this year. Hudson's response was that the writer had evidently misunderstood him. "I said we might not win it all this year, but whether we did or not I was immensely proud of our players and coaches." The Nevada players rallied behind Hudson. "This kind of c*** is exactly why I don't talk to you guys," Clete Boyer told reporters, only half-jokingly. Ben Naylor had a good chuckle when asked his opinion of the matter. "Conn is a straight talker," said Nails. "That was his problem when he was playing in this league. I guess he's forgotten that a lot of reporters are more worried about selling copies than telling the truth. He may have been a little behind the curve, but I bet he has learned his lesson now. When asked by another local reporter following the first game of the series how he thought the Dusters would end up in '62, Hudson smiled ruefully and replied, "I'm pretty sure we'll be .500 or better."'
 Willie Mays greets his fans at Candlestick
Nevada Dusters (75-48) @ San Francisco Giants (76-50)
August 28-30, 1962
Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA
DL: Roger Repoz (CF-Montana Wolves), broken ankle, 70 days.
MOVES: Bill Dailey off the DL, Jim Roland (RP) sent down to AAA Bakersfield. Jerry Adair (2B) off the DL, Bubba Morton (OF) sent down to AAA Bakersfield.
San Francisco Giants Game 1 starting lineup:
Elio Chacon (2B), Harvey Kuenn (LF), Willie Mays (CF), Willie McCovey (1B), Felipe Alou (RF), Ed Bailey (C), Jim Davenport (3B), Jose Pagan (SS), Juan Marichal (SP)
 [August 27, Game 1]
The Dusters ran into trouble in the series opener -- trouble by the name of Juan Marichal (18-3), who faced Nevada ace Bob Shaw (17-2). Shaw gave up a run in the 3rd when he walked Elio Chacon to open the frame; Chacon later scored on a Willie Mays single. In the Giants 5th Shaw walked Harvey Kuenn, who scored on a Mays double, and then Mays himself scored when Felipe Alou hit one up the middle. That was all the scoring San Francisco could manage, but it was more than enough because Marichal pitched a complete game shutout in which he allowed just four Duster hits, only one of them an extra-base hit, while walking a pair and striking out six. Nevada's best scoring opportunity came in the 3rd when Jerry Adair singled, stole second, and then stole third with just one out. Marichal retired the next two batters. In the 9th Lee Maye hit a one-out double and Hector Lopez drew a two-out walk, but Clete Boyer grounded out to end the game with San Francisco on top 3-0.
Lineup: Power, Maye, Williams, Lopez, Boyer, Blanchard, Adair, Shaive, Shaw
Record: 75-49
Giants 3, Dusters 0
[August 28, Game 2]
Game 2 featured another good pitching matchup, Nevada's Tony Cloninger (9-7) and San Francisco's Gaylord Perry (14-7). Cloninger had been coming on strong since the All-Star break, and he turned in another solid performance this time, allowing three runs on five hits through seven. He got off to a rocky start in the 1st, though, walking three consecutive Giants and allowing a run. A two-run dinger by Willie Mays in the 3rd made it 3-0 San Francisco. But Cloninger retired the next eleven batters in order; not until the 7th did the Giants collect another hit. By then the Dusters had jumped out in front. In the Nevada 5th Vic Power doubled and scored on a Billy Williams single before Hector Lopez powered a long ball over the right field fence for two runs, tying the game. The same combination went to work in the 7th, with Power contributing a solo homer and Williams hitting a double and scoring when Lopez singled to center, making it 5-3 Nevada. Claude Raymond held the Giants in check in the 8th and 9th, earning his 12th save, while Cloninger was awarded the win. Power and Lopez both went 3-for-5 on the day, while Williams was 2-for-3.
Lineup: Power, Maye, Williams, Lopez, Boyer, Blanchard, Adair, Schaive, Cloninger
Record: 76-49
Dusters 5, Giants 3
[August 29, Game 3]
"Joe [Horlen] is going to have to pitch the game of his life." So went Ben Naylor's assessment of the key to a Dusters victory as Nevada faced lefty Billy Pierce in the rubber game of the series. And Horlen (13-6) did just that, with a final tally of no runs allowed on three hits through seven innings of work. Pierce (12-2), on the other hand, did not seem to have his best stuff. He served up a solo homer to Jerry Adair in the 2nd. In the 4th Adair drove in Hector Lopez, who had opened the inning with a two-bagger. Billy Williams added his own solo home run -- # 27 on the season -- in the 6th, and an RBI double in the 8th to make it 4-0. Meanwhile the Giants struggled. They put two on in the 4th but the threat was erased by a double play. In the 8th they had two men on again, and another twin killing ended the rally. In the home 9th Nevada closer Bill Dailey issued a one-out walk to Harvey Kuenn, and Willie Mays reached on a throwing error by second baseman Ken Hubbs. Dailey walked Willie McCovey to load the bases. A run scored when Felipe Alou grounded to second, and Dailey fanned Ed Bailey for the final out to preserve the 4-1 Duster victory. Going 2-for-3 with a pair of ribbies, Williams improved his average to .324 and Horlen earned his 14th win of the campaign.
Lineup: Power, Lopez, Williams, Boyer, Adair, Hubbs, Tresh, Carreon, Horlen
Record: 77-49
Dusters 4, Giants 1
Nevada Dusters financial update:
Average Attendance: 13,855 ..... Revenue: $34.1M ..... Profit: $11.9M ..... Cash: $15.6M ..... Team Payroll: $21.2M
Series stats:
2Bs: Maye, Power, Williams (2), Lopez
3Bs: none
HRs: Power, Lopez, Williams, Adair
SBs: Adair (2)
Runs: Power (3), Williams (3), Lopez (2), Adair
RBIs: Power, Williams (3), Lopez (3), Adair (2)
Around the leagues:
CHC--Ernie Banks (SS), hand stress fracture, two weeks.
NYM--Bobby Del Greco (CF), shoulder separation, three weeks.
BAL--Andy Etchebarren, broken forearm, eight weeks.
CIN--Hank Foiles (C), pulled groin, two weeks.
NYM signed free agent Joe McClain (P) for $1,100,000/1 yr.
Nevada Dusters at San Francisco Giants
August 29, 1962
TOP OF THE FIRST
Gaylord Perry takes the mound for the Giants.
Vic Power singled down the first base line. <--1>
Lee Maye popped up behind home plate. <--1>
The Dusters put on the hit and run.
Billy Williams grounded to short. <-2->
Hector Lopez grounded to second. <-2->
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
Tony Cloninger takes the mound for the Dusters.
Elio Chacon singled to left field. <--1>
The Giants put on the hit and run.
Elio Chacon stole second. <-2->
Harvey Kuenn walked. <-21>
Willie Mays walked. <321>
Willie McCovey walked, scoring a run. <321>
Felipe Alou popped up behind home plate. <321>
Ed Bailey grounded to the third baseman for a double play (5-4-3). <32->
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the first, San Francisco leads 1 to 0.
TOP OF THE SECOND
Clete Boyer singled to center field. <--1>
Johnny Blanchard popped up to the shortstop. <--1>
Jerry Adair singled through the left side. <-21>
Johnny Schaive singled through the left side. <321>
Tony Cloninger grounded to third for a double play (5-2-3). <-21>
0 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the second, Nevada trails 1 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Jim Davenport popped up to first. <--->
Jose Pagan singled into the right field corner. <--1>
Jose Pagan went for an extra base and reached second. <-2->
Gaylord Perry grounded to short. <-2->
Elio Chacon lined out to right field. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the second, San Francisco leads 1 to 0.
TOP OF THE THIRD
Vic Power flied out to right. <--->
Lee Maye flied out to right. <--->
Billy Williams was intentionally walked. <--1>
Hector Lopez singled up the middle. <-21>
Clete Boyer grounded to second. <-21>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the third, Nevada trails 1 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Harvey Kuenn singled through the right side. <--1>
Willie Mays homered to left-center for two RBIs. <--->
Willie McCovey lined out to second. <--->
Felipe Alou grounded to short. <--->
Ed Bailey walked. <--1>
Jim Davenport walked. <-21>
Jose Pagan grounded to first. <-21>
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the third, San Francisco leads 3 to 0.
TOP OF THE FOURTH
Johnny Blanchard grounded to short. <--->
Jerry Adair grounded to second. <--->
Johnny Schaive popped up to the shortstop. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, Nevada trails 3 to 0.
BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Gaylord Perry grounded to first. <--->
Elio Chacon struck out. <--->
Harvey Kuenn lined out to right. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, San Francisco leads 3 to 0.
TOP OF THE FIFTH
Tony Cloninger lined out to second. <--->
Vic Power doubled in the left field gap. <-2->
Lee Maye grounded to first. <-2->
Billy Williams singled down the left field line, scoring a run. <--1>
Hector Lopez homered over the right field fence for two RBIs. <--->
Clete Boyer grounded to third. <--->
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, the game is tied at 3.
BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Willie Mays grounded to the second baseman. <--->
Willie McCovey flied out to left. <--->
Felipe Alou struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, the game is tied at 3.
TOP OF THE SIXTH
Johnny Blanchard grounded to the third baseman. <--->
Jerry Adair flied out to center. <--->
Johnny Schaive grounded to second. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, the game is tied at 3.
BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Ed Bailey popped up to the second baseman. <--->
Jim Davenport struck out. <--->
Jose Pagan grounded to short. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, the game is tied at 3.
TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Tony Cloninger grounded to short. <--->
Vic Power homered over the left field fence. <--->
Bobby Locke came in to pitch for the Giants. <--->
Lee Maye struck out. <--->
Billy Williams singled in the right field gap. <--1>
Billy Williams went for an extra base and reached second. <-2->
Hector Lopez singled to center, scoring a run. <--1>
Clete Boyer struck out. <--1>
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, Nevada leads 5 to 3.
BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Orlando Cepeda pinch hit for Bobby Locke. <--->
Tom Tresh came in to play Right Field. <--->
Orlando Cepeda grounded to second. <--->
Elio Chacon singled to left field. <--1>
The Giants put on the hit and run.
Elio Chacon was caught stealing second. <--->
Harvey Kuenn lined out to first. <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, San Francisco trails 5 to 3.
TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Billy O'Dell came in to pitch for the Giants. <--->
Johnny Blanchard grounded to the third baseman. <--->
Jerry Adair walked. <--1>
Johnny Schaive flied out to right. <--1>
Mack Jones pinch hit for Tony Cloninger. <--1>
Mack Jones struck out. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, Nevada leads 5 to 3.
BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Claude Raymond came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Willie Mays flied out to right. <--->
Willie McCovey struck out. <--->
Felipe Alou walked. <--1>
Ed Bailey lined out to the second baseman. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, San Francisco trails 5 to 3.
TOP OF THE NINTH
Vic Power struck out. <--->
Lee Maye singled through the left side. <--1>
Tom Tresh struck out. <--1>
Hector Lopez grounded to short. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the ninth, Nevada leads 5 to 3.
BOTTOM OF THE NINTH
Jim Davenport lined out to second. <--->
Jose Pagan grounded to second. <--->
Matty Alou pinch hit for Billy O'Dell. <--->
Matty Alou grounded to second. <--->
DUSTERS WIN: 5-3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Dusters (NEV) 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 5 12 0
Giants (SFG) 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 5 0
NEVADA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
V. Power (1B) 5 3 0 2 1 1 1 0 .298
L. Maye (CF) 5 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .284
B. Williams (RF) 3 2 1 2 0 1 0 0 .322
T. Tresh (RF) 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .219
H. Lopez (LF) 5 3 0 1 1 3 0 0 .326
C. Boyer (3B) 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .267
J. Blanchard (C) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234
J. Adair (2B) 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .281
J. Schaive (SS) 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238
T. Cloninger (P) 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .102
M. Jones (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .216
C. Raymond (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500
TOTALS 38 12 2 5 2 5 5 0
2B: V. Power (22), B. Williams (31)
HR: V. Power (14), H. Lopez (21)
NEVADA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
T. Cloninger 7.0 5 5 1 3 3 3 115 3.82
C. Raymond 2.0 0 1 0 0 0 1 22 4.35
TOTALS 9.0 5 6 1 3 3 4 137
SAN FRANCISCO ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
E. Chacon (2B) 4 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .174
H. Kuenn (LF) 3 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .266
W. Mays (CF) 3 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 .302
W. McCovey (1B) 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 .297
F. Alou (RF) 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 .308
E. Bailey (C) 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .224
J. Davenport (3B) 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 .259
J. Pagan (SS) 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
G. Perry (P) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .114
B. Locke (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
O. Cepeda (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
B. O'Dell (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M. Alou (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
TOTALS 30 5 6 3 1 3 4 1
2B: J. Pagan (9)
HR: W. Mays (26)
SAN FRANCISCO ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
G. Perry 6.1 9 1 2 4 4 0 78 2.05
B. Locke 0.2 2 0 0 1 1 2 17 3.86
B. O'Dell 2.0 1 1 0 0 0 3 30 2.73
TOTALS 9.0 12 2 2 5 5 5 125
WP: T. Cloninger (10-7)
LP: G. Perry (14-8)
SV: C. Raymond (12)
Attendance: 42,553
Time: 2:35
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