Spring Exhibition Slugfest
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Nine days ago, I wrote about how the the Oakland A’s demolished the San Francisco Giants by a 23-5 score in the most lopsided spring training game that I can recall.
However, 41 years ago on this date, March 16, 1967, the Boston Red Sox scored 10 runs in the 9th inning to come back from a 5 run deficit to beat the hapless New York Mets by a 23-18 score in one of the all-time wildest spring exhibition games on record.
Boston outhits the Mets 23 to 17 and Jim Lonborg is the eventual winner over Jack Hamilton.
Lonborg went on to post the best season of his career in 1967, a 22-9 mark to lead Boston to the AL pennant. However Boston, still afflicted with the “curse of the Bambino”, fell in the World Series to Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals in 7 games. Lonborg went on to have some fine years with the Phillies in 1974, 1976 and 1977 in the same rotation with Lefty Steve Carlton.
Hamilton, however, was a mediocre at best, journeyman pitcher who began his career with the Phillies in 1962. There is some debate as to whether Hamilton was actually tagged with the loss. The above Baseball Library caption indicates that Hamilton apparently was the losing pitcher, while Baseball Almanac indicates that Hamilton was 2-0 with the Mets before going to the then-California Angels where he compiled a 9-6 mark; a combined 11-6 for the season.
While Boston went to the 1967 World Series, the lowly Mets finished dead last in the NL, 40 games behind the Cardinals, despite the 16-13 Rookie of the Year performance by Tom Seaver. Hall of Fame righthander Seaver would go on to win 311 games over his 20 year career with four teams.
Related Blog Post;
SF Giants Pounded by the Oakland A’s
June 15, 1977; The Day the Mets’ Traded Seaver, The Phillies Acquired Bake McBride
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