I'LL BET YOU DON'T KNOW THIS

I'LL BET YOU DON'T KNOW THIS by Leo Haggerty PFWA

September 04, 20242 min read

I'LL BET YOU DON'T KNOW THIS. I'm going to have to give credit where credit is due today.  This one comes from my John F. Kennedy High School gridiron teammate and the 1971 season QB1 for the Gryphons Garry Reed. I admit right now that I had no clue what this answer was so here goes. Did you know who was the only player in MLB history who hit a walk-off-inside-park grand slam home run? No it's not some obscure utility player who will forever live in Big League lore for this one and only accomplishment.  In reality, it's none other than Hall of Fame Pittsburgh OF Roberto Clemente and here's the scenario as it unfolded on July 25 in 1956. The Pirates were trailing the visiting Cubs 8-5 heading into the 9th inning at spacious Forbes Field in western Pennsylvania. The Bucs loaded the bases against Chicago reliever Jim Brosnan. #21 launched the first pitch to deep left field that caromed off the cage surrounding the light tower that was in play and just to the right of the scoreboard. The baseball rolled along the cinder warning track toward centerfield.  The three Pirates on base scored easily but manager Bobby Bragan, who was coaching third base, tried to hold up the Puerto Rican star who motored right through that stop sign and just beat the relay throw to the plate by future Hall of Famer Ernie Banks. It was one of the 10 ITPHR over his 18 year career that occurred all with the Black & Gold and I didn't know that either.  That number could have been higher if Clemente did not perish when a plane he had chartered to take emergency relief goods for the survivors of a massive earthquake in Nicaragua crashed shortly after takeoff from the San Juan airport on December 31 of 1972. Thanks, Garry, for providing this and, if any of my readers and listeners have a little known fact that I can use, send it on.  As you can see, it may get published. Book it Dano!

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