You never know what you’ll see at the ballpark – and that was never more true for BBRT than at Metropolitan Stadium on April 25, 1970. Try to imagine one play that produces a strikeout, a three-base error, an assist and putout for an outfielder and an assist for the shortstop – and takes place with only four players on the field and the ball never leaving the infield. Let me share the story.
My dad and I were among the just over 11, 000 fans who turned out to watch the Minnesota Twins – off to an 8-4 start and scoring runs in bunches. The Twins line-up featured power hitters like Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva, as well as the steady bats of Cesar Tovar, Leo Cardenas and Rich Reese.
One of the main attractions that day, however, was Garabrant (Brant) Reyerson Alyea III – a 6’ 5”, 29-year-old power hitter picked up by the Twins in an off-season trade with the Washington Senators. The Twins sent pitchers Joe Grzenda and Charley Walters to Washington in the deal. Before joining the Twins, Alyea was best known for hitting a pinch-hit home run on the first major league pitch he ever saw (1965). In parts of three major league seasons since, he had shown some power, rapping 19 homers in 165 games. In his first 11 games as a Twin, however, Alyea was one of the America League’s hottest hitters – batting .421 (15 for 35) with four home runs and 20 RBI. Alyea was to play a part in the play of the day, but not with his bat.
On the mound for the Twins that day was lefty Jim Kaat. The opposing hurler was former Minneapolis Miller Earl Wilson, known as much for his bat as his arm. In an 11-season career, Wilson would win 121 games (including a stellar 22-11 in 1967) and also hit 35 homers (hitting 5 or more in five seasons) – including a .240 average, with 7 homers and 22 RBI in 45 games in 1967. Wilson would also have a role in the strangest play I ever witnessed – but with his legs, rather than his arm or his bat.
It all came about with two out in the top of the seventh inning and the Twins leading 2-1. Wilson, who had a double and a strikeout in the game, became Kaat’s fifth strikeout victim, seemingly ending the inning (soon to prove an invalid assumption). The home plate umpire, however, did not signal an out, judging that Twins’ catcher Paul Ratliff had trapped the ball, and Wilson needed to be tagged out. The Twins didn’t notice the lack of a final emphatic “out” signal and Ratliff rolled the ball to the edge of the mound while the home team trotted of the field. Wilson, signaled by the Tiger third base coach, lingered at the plate. Those of us in the stands assumed he was waiting for someone to bring him his glove (another invalid assumption.)
With all the Twins except Alyea (notoriously slow moving) in the dugout, Wilson bolted for first – setting off confusion in the dugout and the stands. By the time the Twins – Alyea probably first – realized what was happening, Wilson was rounding third base and heading for home. Alyea got to the infield and the ball as Ratcliff and Twins’ shortstop Leo Cardenas headed to home plate. Alyea threw to Cardenas. Wilson held up, heading back to third base and pulling a hamstring in the process (he would have to leave the game). Cardenas then threw to Alyea, who put the tag on the hobbled Wilson.
On my scorecard it ultimately (after we sorted out what had happened) looked like this: K-E2-7-6-7 – wouldn’t that have been great in one of those now popular scorecard BINGO games. It all added up to a strikeout for Kaat (and as a hitter Wilson); a three-base error for Ratliff; an assist for Cardenas; and a putout and an assist for Alyea – and the ball was never more then 80-feet from home plate.
After the game, Detroit catcher Bill Freehan urged Alyea to move a bit quicker between innings, “If Alyea has been hustling, Earl might have made it. Tell him to start coming in and off the field a little quicker.”
BBRT’s ballgame rule: Never get there late, never leave early – cause you never know what you’re gonna’ see.
