Thanks donaldorc, I enjoy walking down memory lane, especially when it comes to the Summer of '64 and the 1964 Phillies. I will see if I can find my manuscripts of the book, would be fun to read it myself. Here is an example of how I wrote it...again from the perspective of a still innocent young boy who incredibly had discovered his love for a team in the exact same year that team had come to life! Nothing...and I truly mean nothing, had prepared me for what was to transpire in late September of that season.
I devote an entire chapter to 3 pivotal games against the eventual champion St. Louis Cardinals, a team that was almost never a threat for the title until the final week of the season. Nonetheless, these 3 games were a microcosm of the battles between the two teams, 13 of the 18 of which were won by the Cards.
In an early season game in Philadelphia, Ray Culp had a brilliant 1 hitter with two outs in the 7th inning, leading 2-0. The Phils had blown several opportunities to lengthen the lead earlier but this still seemed a likely win. Then with two outs in the 7th, two scratch infield singles are followed by a Julian Javier home run and the Cards held on to win 3-2. Phils dominated the game but lost.
Long time Phillie phans may remember the next one. Cards came to Philadelphia in late July and trailed the Phils by 10 games on a Saturday Game of the Week, featuring Dizzy Dean and PeeWee Reese. Cards lead 10-2 entering the bottom of the 9th when the Phils staged a miraculous rally, and suddenly the score was 10-8 with Phils on first and third and still NO outs. I was watching the game and thought the Phils would somehow pull it out.
John Herrnstein hit probably the longest ball he ever it, but unfortunately it went to center field at Connie Mack Stadium, a blast of probably 430 feet. Center fielder Curt Flood made an incredible catch and then doubled up rookie Alex Johnson, playing in his first major league game, at second base. The scored but the rally was over and the Cards held on 10-9 despite a Phillie 7 run ninth.
The final one was perhaps the most painful. Cards came to Philadelphia in early September and were a hot team, now trailing the Phils by 6 games. Frank Thomas had broken his hand the day before but Phils still looked like a lock for the pennant. In game 1, behind Jim Bunning, Phils lead 5-3 entering the 9th and Cards tied it off of reliever Jack Baldschun with 2 outs in the 9th and won in 11, 10-5. Lou Brock got 5 hits that night.
The next afternoon, Chris Short pitched brilliantly, Johnny Callison hit a key home run and Phils won handily 5-1. Incredibly the two teams had played 20 innings of baseball, Phils had lead or been tied in 19 of them and yet the two teams split the series. Cards later said this fortuitous event saved their season, instead of being 8 games out with about 22 to play, they were still 6 out.
I spend an entire chapter detailing these 3 games, all played in Philadelphia, all games the Phils could have/should have won and yet all three ended up Cardinal victories.
Considering the final standings, all were crucial, and in many respects, a microcosm of a wonderful but in the ending frustrating and painful climax.
