The
NEVADA DUSTERS
The Story of a Major League Baseball Franchise
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According to the Experts
"Like a well-trained thoroughbred, the Nevada Dusters have come on strong down the stretch and have taken the lead with no signs of faltering. They are dominating every team they've met for the past month, winning nine of their last ten games and their last thirteen series. How has this happened? Their starting rotation has become one of the best in baseball. Shaw is 19-3, Horlen 15-7, Cloninger 13-7, McNally 10-7. Their batters hit for power and percentage both. Power is hitting .300 with a .346 OBP, Maye is .294 and .329, Williams .320 and .393, Lopez .323 and .384, Adair .289 and .334 -- and so on down the line. They have three of the NL's top ten home runs hitters in Blanchard (33), Williams (28) and Lopez (22), while Boyer has 17 and Power 14. The bullpen has solidified. And they have resources; the thoroughbred didn't even break stride when setup man Claude Raymond went down for two weeks with an injury. Their eight remaining series are against the three teams that occupy the league's cellar. So can anything stop the Nevada Dusters from running away with the National League pennant? Only the Pirates have a chance of catching them, and right now Pittsburgh is stumbling."
-- Cy Machlie, Sports Illustrated
When the season began I predicted that Conn Hudson's Dusters would be lucky to finish at .500. Indeed, Nevada struggled in the early going. By the All-Star break the club had started putting it together and were fourteen games over the break-even mark. By the end of July they were sixteen games over but still playing in the shadow of the Pirates and the Giants, which were better teams according to just about everybody, including yours truly. Then Hudson traded starter Steve Barber -- a rash move, in my opinion, because that left the Dusters with just four legitimate starting pitchers. (Barber has gone 6-1 since being traded to the Phillies, but there's no guarantee he would have done likewise had he remained with Nevada.) Yet it was at that point that the Nevada Dusters began to make their move. They didn't lose a single series in the month of August. They stood toe-to-toe with the Pirates and Giants and proved they were the better team. And now, suddenly, they're poised to do what no other club in modern times has done in its first season -- win the pennant. As for me, I'm poised to eat crow....
-- Joe Wendell, Sporting News
 Tom Tresh and Ken Hubbs appeared on the first
page of an October issue of Sporting News
Nevada Dusters (87-51) @ New York Mets (53-85)
September 14-16, 1962
Polo Grounds, New York, NY
DL: Claude Raymond (RP), sprained neck, 15 days. Roger Repoz (CF-Montana Wolves), broken ankle, 53 days.
New York Mets Game 1 starting lineup:
John DeMerit (RF), Charlie Neal (2B), Ed Bouchee (1B), Frank Thomas (LF), Jim Hickman (CF), Felix Mantilla (SS), Bobby Pfeil (3B), Hobie Landrith (C), Jerry Koosman (SP)
 [September 14, Game 1]
With four more weeks to go in the regular season, Ben Naylor was as mindful about the health of his players as he was about holding onto the lead in the NL, and for that reason decided to make as many substitutions as possible in the series with the Mets. Game 1 saw Lou Johnson starting in left field and batting cleanup in place of Hector Lopez. Ken Hubbs was at second instead of Johnny Schaive. And Cam Carreon was starter Tony Cloninger's battery mate. Johnson and Carreon both went 2-for-4 as the Dusters rolled to their eighth consecutive win thanks to Cloninger's superb pitching -- one run on three hits in 6.2 innings -- and three costly errors by the Mets in the 5-1 Nevada victory. "I feel bad for Casey," said Nails after the game, referring to Mets skipper Casey Stengel. "I know he hates miscues, if anything, worse than I do, and they pretty much gave this game away." Cloninger improved his record to 13-7 and Barney Schultz pitched an effective 2.1 innings in relief. Jerry Koosman took the loss. With both Pittsburgh and San Francisco losing, the Duster solidified their hold on the # 1 spot in the NL, and were now 2.5 games ahead of the Pirates and 5.5 ahead of the Giants.
Lineup: Power, Maye, Williams, Johnson, Adair, Boyer, Hubbs, Carreon, Cloninger
Record: 88-51
Dusters 5, Mets 1
[September 15, Game 2]
Johnny Schaive subbed at shortstop for Jerry Adair in Game 2, in which Pete Richert (6-4) faced lefty Al Jackson (5-14). The first three New York batters Richert faced hit a double, a triple and a single to score a pair of runs, but after that the Nevada starter settled down, allowing just one more hit in the next three innings. After four innings, however, Richert came up limping, and team doctors diagnosed an ankle stress fracture that would put him on the DL for nearly three weeks. This grim news was tempered somewhat by the thirteen runs the Dusters manufactured against Jackson and company. Leading 3-2 in the 7th, the Dusters loaded the bases for Vic Power, who hit an RBI single, and Billy Williams, whose 29th homer of the year was a grand slam that sent Jackson packing. Power's RBI double and Lee Maye's three-run homer in the 8th made it 12-2, and Clete Boyer tacked on a solo home run in the 9th. That made four long balls for Nevada in the game, since Johnny Blanchard collected his 34th dinger of '62 in the early going. The hapless Mets committed two more errors, but in a blowout of this magnitude the miscues hardly seemed to matter. Power was 3-for-6 on the day with a pair of runs and two RBIs, while reliever Barney Schultz (3-1) got the win. With only four starters left, Conn Hudson made a midnight call to the agent representing free agent hurler Early Wynn. In the end, however, Hudson decided not to pursue the legendary 42-year-old. Instead, the Dusters signed free agent reliever Ken Mackenzie, who had been released some weeks earlier by the New York Mets.
Lineup: Power, Maye, Williams, Lopez, Blanchard, Boyer, Schaive, Hubbs, Richert
Record: 89-51
Dusters 13, Mets 2
[September 16, Game 3]
Going for their tenth straight win behind the pitching of starter Joe Horlen (15-7), the Dusters scored a pair of runs in the first frame only to find themselves locked in a 2-2 tie when Charlie Neal tripled and scored on an Ed Bouchee double and Bouchee scored when Jim Hickman singled to left in the home half of the 1st. A solo homer by Hector Lopez in the 3rd put Nevada ahead again, and though the Dusters had two men on base in the 5th and again in the 7th they failed to add to their total. Frank Thomas hit a one-out single in the 9th against Nevada closer Bill Dailey, and then scored to tie the game when, with two outs, Harry Chiti hit a looping single into shallow center field. Next up was Bobby Pfiel, whose double sent Chiti to the pay station, and the Mets had a 4-3 win. It was Dailey's third blown save in nineteen opportunities, and he took the loss. Horlen allowed two runs on five hits in eight innings of work; Lee Maye went 3-for-4 and so did Gordy Coleman, who started at first in place of Vic Power.
Lineup: Coleman, Maye, Williams, Lopez, Adair, Blanchard, Schaive, Tresh, Horlen
Record: 89-52
Mets 4, Dusters 3
NL: (1) Nevada 89-52, (2) Pittsburgh 85-54, (3) San Francisco 83-59
AL: (1) Minnesota 85-56, (2) New York 85-57, (3) Baltimore 83-61
Nevada Dusters financial update:
Average Attendance: 13,964 ..... Revenue: $38.4M ..... Profit: $13.0M ..... Cash: $16.6M ..... Team Payroll: $21.2M
Series stats:
2Bs: Power (2), Carreon, Lopez
3Bs: none
HRs: Blanchard, Boyer, Williams, Maye, Lopez
SBs: Coleman
Runs: Power (4), Hubbs, Carreon, Cloninger, Maye (4), Williams, Blanchard, Boyer (2), Schaive, Hubbs, Schulte, Jones, Coleman, Lopez
RBIs: Power (3), Maye (5), Johnson, Carreon, Williams (4), Lopez (3), Blanchard, Boyer, Adair
Around the leagues:
LAD--Stan Williams (P), severe shoulder separation, seven weeks.
BOS--Carl Yastrzemski (LF), shoulder separation, five weeks.
NYM--Al Jackson (P), severe elbow tendonitis, two weeks.
Nevada Dusters at New York Mets
September 15, 1962
TOP OF THE FIRST
Al Jackson takes the mound for the Mets.
Vic Power grounded to second. <--->
Lee Maye lined out to left. <--->
Billy Williams grounded to first. <--->
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
Pete Richert takes the mound for the Dusters.
John DeMerit doubled in the left field gap. <-2->
Charlie Neal tripled in the left field gap, scoring a run. <3-->
Ed Bouchee singled to right, scoring a run. <--1>
Frank Thomas grounded to short for a double play (6-4-3). <--->
Jim Hickman grounded to first. <--->
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the first, New York leads 2 to 0.
TOP OF THE SECOND
Hector Lopez popped up to short. <--->
Johnny Blanchard homered into the right field seats. <--->
Clete Boyer grounded back to the pitcher. <--->
Johnny Schaive flied out to center. <--->
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the second, Nevada trails 2 to 1.
BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Felix Mantilla grounded to second. <--->
Harry Chiti grounded to the shortstop. <--->
Bobby Pfeil lined out to right. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the second, New York leads 2 to 1.
TOP OF THE THIRD
Ken Hubbs singled to center field. <--1>
Pete Richert popped up behind home plate. <--1>
Vic Power singled to center, advancing the runner to third. <3-1>
Lee Maye grounded to second, scoring a run. <-2->
Billy Williams popped up foul down the first base line. <-2->
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the third, the game is tied at 2.
BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Al Jackson grounded to the third baseman. <--->
John DeMerit popped up to second. <--->
Charlie Neal walked. <--1>
Ed Bouchee struck out. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the third, the game is tied at 2.
TOP OF THE FOURTH
Hector Lopez lined out to left. <--->
Johnny Blanchard singled to right. <--1>
Clete Boyer grounded to the third baseman for a double play (5-4-3). <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, the game is tied at 2.
BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Frank Thomas singled to right. <--1>
Pete Richert threw a wild pitch. <-2->
Jim Hickman struck out. <-2->
Felix Mantilla popped up in front of home plate. <-2->
Harry Chiti struck out. <-2->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, the game is tied at 2.
TOP OF THE FIFTH
Johnny Schaive grounded to the pitcher. <--->
Ken Hubbs grounded to the second baseman. <--->
Tony Oliva pinch hit for Pete Richert. <--->
Tony Oliva grounded to second. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, the game is tied at 2.
BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Barney Schultz came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Bobby Pfeil grounded to short. <--->
Al Jackson bunts for a base hit to third. <--1>
John DeMerit grounded to first, forcing the runner at second. <--1>
Charlie Neal struck out. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, the game is tied at 2.
TOP OF THE SIXTH
Vic Power grounded to first. <--->
Lee Maye walked. <--1>
Billy Williams reached second on a throwing error by the first baseman. <32->
Hector Lopez singled up the middle, scoring a run. <3-1>
Johnny Blanchard lined out to the second baseman. <3-1>
Clete Boyer popped up behind home plate. <3-1>
1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, Nevada leads 3 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Ed Bouchee flied out to left. <--->
Frank Thomas grounded to first. <--->
Jim Hickman flied out to center field. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, New York trails 3 to 2.
TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Johnny Schaive singled down the third base line. <--1>
Ken Hubbs walked. <-21>
Barney Schultz bunts for a base hit down the first base line. <321>
Vic Power singled up the middle, scoring a run. <321>
Lee Maye grounded to first, forcing the runner at home. <321>
Billy Williams homered over the left field fence for a grand slam. <--->
Ray Daviault came in to pitch for the Mets. <--->
Hector Lopez grounded to second. <--->
Johnny Blanchard grounded back to the pitcher. <--->
5 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, Nevada leads 8 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Felix Mantilla grounded to first base. <--->
Harry Chiti grounded to short. <--->
Bobby Pfeil singled down the third base line. <--1>
Gus Bell pinch hit for Ray Daviault. <--1>
Jim Roland came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--1>
Gus Bell singled to left field. <-21>
John DeMerit was hit by a pitch. <321>
Charlie Neal flied out to center. <321>
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 3 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, New York trails 8 to 2.
TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Dick Selma came in to pitch for the Mets. <--->
Clete Boyer reached second on a fielding error by the center fielder. <-2->
Johnny Schaive grounded to the second baseman. <3-->
Ken Hubbs struck out. <3-->
Mack Jones pinch hit for Jim Roland. <3-->
Mack Jones was hit by a pitch. <3-1>
Vic Power doubled down the right field line, scoring a run. <32->
Lee Maye homered over the left field fence for three RBIs. <--->
Billy Williams walked. <--1>
Hector Lopez hit an infield single to third. <-21>
Don Rowe came in to pitch for the Mets. <-21>
Johnny Blanchard dribbled weakly in front of home plate. <-21>
4 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, Nevada leads 12 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Jim Brewer came in to pitch for the Dusters. <--->
Ed Bouchee grounded to short. <--->
Frank Thomas grounded to second. <--->
Jim Hickman grounded to the third baseman. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, New York trails 12 to 2.
TOP OF THE NINTH
Clete Boyer homered into the left field bleachers. <--->
Johnny Schaive grounded to the third baseman. <--->
Ken Hubbs grounded to the third baseman. <--->
Jim Brewer walked. <--1>
Vic Power flied out to center. <--1>
1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the ninth, Nevada leads 13 to 2.
BOTTOM OF THE NINTH
Felix Mantilla flied out to left. <--->
Harry Chiti grounded to the third baseman. <--->
Bobby Pfeil grounded to short. <--->
DUSTERS WIN: 13-2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Dusters (NEV) 0 1 1 0 0 1 5 4 1 13 13 0
Mets (NYM) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 2
NEVADA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
V. Power (1B) 6 3 0 2 0 2 0 0 .302
L. Maye (CF) 4 1 1 3 1 4 0 0 .293
B. Williams (RF) 4 1 1 1 1 4 0 0 .320
H. Lopez (LF) 5 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .324
J. Blanchard (C) 5 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 .237
C. Boyer (3B) 5 1 0 2 1 1 0 0 .278
J. Schaive (SS) 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .242
K. Hubbs (2B) 4 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 .219
P. Richert (P) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
T. Oliva (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
B. Schultz (P) 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333
J. Roland (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M. Jones (PH) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 .215
J. Brewer (P) 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 41 13 4 13 4 13 1 0
2B: V. Power (28)
HR: J. Blanchard (34), C. Boyer (18), B. Williams (29), L. Maye (9)
NEVADA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
P. Richert 4.0 4 1 0 2 2 3 72 2.51
B. Schultz 2.2 2 0 0 0 0 1 29 2.92
J. Roland 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 5.56
J. Brewer 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 5.31
TOTALS 9.0 7 1 0 2 2 4 139
NEW YORK ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
J. DeMerit (RF) 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .260
C. Neal (2B) 3 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 .256
E. Bouchee (1B) 4 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .268
F. Thomas (LF) 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
J. Hickman (CF) 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .186
F. Mantilla (SS) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
H. Chiti (C) 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .216
B. Pfeil (3B) 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .191
A. Jackson (P) 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .065
R. Daviault (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
G. Bell (PH) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229
D. Selma (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D. Rowe (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
TOTALS 33 7 1 2 0 2 4 0
2B: J. DeMerit (28)
3B: C. Neal (4)
NEW YORK ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
A. Jackson 6.1 9 2 2 8 7 0 77 4.48
R. Daviault 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 2.45
D. Selma 0.2 3 1 1 4 0 1 31 0.00
D. Rowe 1.1 1 1 1 1 1 0 25 6.75
TOTALS 9.0 13 4 4 13 8 1 139
WP: B. Schultz (3-1)
LP: A. Jackson (5-15)
Attendance: 56,000
Time: 2:55
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