Thanks Robbe! And thanks for the correction--trying to lay out all the details from "the nuttiest game in baseball history" right made me feel a little like I was there. Lots of blinking at the scoreboard.
I had to look up what time sunrise was that day in Atlanta--6:32 a.m. I imagine fireworks hit a little different when you've been awake for 20 hours or so!
Terry Forster - as Letterman put it - a fat tub of goo. Pretty good relief pitcher but I always remember him as the best hitting pitcher around at the time. He hit .397 in 86 PA w/a career OBP of .413 and a career OPS+ of 146! Too bad he couldn't hit for power. 0 HRs.
0-for-1 that night, while Rick Camp hits a home run. But Forster was the only one--in either bullpen--with a novelty song. Although we're talking about the mid-80s Mets here so maybe that's an assertion I should fact-check...
Also, reminds me of how criminal it is that Dale Murphy is not in the HOF. He may not have been a part of this game, but in the 70s, Dale Murphy was one of a few others that teams did not want to face.
For the record, I am not a Braves honk. St. Louis Cardinals.
Thanks John! It does not require one to be a honk to feel that Dale Murphy should be in the Hall of Fame. Over the last few years I've perceived the momentum building, so hopefully he'll get more chances with the Veterans Committee. I'm not a Mets honk, but I'd like Keith Hernandez to get some more attention, too.
Omg, what a story! Seeing that photo of Atlanta Fulton County Stadium brings back memories of many events, including seeing Led Zeppelin there. A big stage and scaffolding holding enormous amps constructed on the field. “Clear the Field” for Robert Plant!
I was discussing the other day how NL pitchers had a lot more on their plates before the DH was adopted. Not only did they pitch more than 5 or six innings, but they were in the batting order, as well. Maddox, Glavine, and Smoltz were pretty good at bat. Rick Camp, not so much, although he performed a ‘miracle’ that night. Is this game still the longest game in MLB history? I remember Game 3 of the 2025 WS was loooong because I watched it rooting for J’s.
Your writing is stellar, Paul. I think how many of us learn to write: creative writing in middle school, fiction and nonfiction writing in high school English class, a research paper/thesis and the terse prose of journalism (never burying the lede!) in college, having a good command of grammar. You take all of this and add the precise detail, creative descriptions, and excitement about one of my favorite subjects: baseball! Not to sound too cute, but you hit it out of the park with this week’s post!
Thanks as always, Meg, I really appreciate knowing that folks like you enjoy my writing, and you taking the time to say so here.
Pitchers had a lot more to do, and managers, too, at least in the NL. it takes no small amount of strategy to string things together for 18 functional innings. The rules have been changed several ways to keep games from ending up like this, but we have the memories.
The record for latest game was broken on July 3, 1993, when a doubleheader between the Phillies and the Padres dragged on until 4:40 a.m. Incredible. And apparently part of the problem there was they started late because the game the night before went until 1 am. Flagging that as a future installment in this genre!
Fantastic retelling of an incredible game. (Heads up: you wrote that HoJo hit a home run to make it 8-8 in the 13th, he made it 10-8).
Thanks Robbe! And thanks for the correction--trying to lay out all the details from "the nuttiest game in baseball history" right made me feel a little like I was there. Lots of blinking at the scoreboard.
Such an insane amount of detail!
I love these stories. I was aware of this game, but not all the nuttiness around it. And fireworks at 4:01 am? Amazing!
I had to look up what time sunrise was that day in Atlanta--6:32 a.m. I imagine fireworks hit a little different when you've been awake for 20 hours or so!
The kids were promised fireworks, and unlike the adults, they probably slept through most of the night. It had to be done!
Terry Forster - as Letterman put it - a fat tub of goo. Pretty good relief pitcher but I always remember him as the best hitting pitcher around at the time. He hit .397 in 86 PA w/a career OBP of .413 and a career OPS+ of 146! Too bad he couldn't hit for power. 0 HRs.
0-for-1 that night, while Rick Camp hits a home run. But Forster was the only one--in either bullpen--with a novelty song. Although we're talking about the mid-80s Mets here so maybe that's an assertion I should fact-check...
A great story.
Also, reminds me of how criminal it is that Dale Murphy is not in the HOF. He may not have been a part of this game, but in the 70s, Dale Murphy was one of a few others that teams did not want to face.
For the record, I am not a Braves honk. St. Louis Cardinals.
Thanks John! It does not require one to be a honk to feel that Dale Murphy should be in the Hall of Fame. Over the last few years I've perceived the momentum building, so hopefully he'll get more chances with the Veterans Committee. I'm not a Mets honk, but I'd like Keith Hernandez to get some more attention, too.
Nice telling of a crazy baseball story, Paul. My favorite soundbite was “bag of yarn” - solid folksy description.
Thanks Bill. "Solid folksy" is a compliment around here for sure.
Omg, what a story! Seeing that photo of Atlanta Fulton County Stadium brings back memories of many events, including seeing Led Zeppelin there. A big stage and scaffolding holding enormous amps constructed on the field. “Clear the Field” for Robert Plant!
I was discussing the other day how NL pitchers had a lot more on their plates before the DH was adopted. Not only did they pitch more than 5 or six innings, but they were in the batting order, as well. Maddox, Glavine, and Smoltz were pretty good at bat. Rick Camp, not so much, although he performed a ‘miracle’ that night. Is this game still the longest game in MLB history? I remember Game 3 of the 2025 WS was loooong because I watched it rooting for J’s.
Your writing is stellar, Paul. I think how many of us learn to write: creative writing in middle school, fiction and nonfiction writing in high school English class, a research paper/thesis and the terse prose of journalism (never burying the lede!) in college, having a good command of grammar. You take all of this and add the precise detail, creative descriptions, and excitement about one of my favorite subjects: baseball! Not to sound too cute, but you hit it out of the park with this week’s post!
Thanks as always, Meg, I really appreciate knowing that folks like you enjoy my writing, and you taking the time to say so here.
Pitchers had a lot more to do, and managers, too, at least in the NL. it takes no small amount of strategy to string things together for 18 functional innings. The rules have been changed several ways to keep games from ending up like this, but we have the memories.
The record for latest game was broken on July 3, 1993, when a doubleheader between the Phillies and the Padres dragged on until 4:40 a.m. Incredible. And apparently part of the problem there was they started late because the game the night before went until 1 am. Flagging that as a future installment in this genre!