Ron Santo hits for cycle in New Year’s Day 1966 classic (and the Cubs win!)

Happy New Year, APBA fans! 

Perhaps inspired by Rod Caborn’s Replay Insider articles, I’ve been playing more of my 1966 replay lately.  I got in a Pirates-Reds series a couple nights ago and Bob Bailey continues to rake with a homerun and triple.  He tied Willie Mays for the league in homers (6) and overcame Richie Allen and Jim Wynn for the lead in rbis with 18. 

Of course, he still also leads in average (.437), slugging (.831) and on-base percentage (506).  While Bailey’s card is good (1-4-6-7, 15-10), I wouldn’t expect these kind of stats to continue for too much longer.   

Today, I had about as exciting game as I can remember.  I’m playing on New Year’s Day but the actual game between the last place Chicago Cubs (5-11) and the second place Houston Astros (11-8) took place on May 3, 1966. 

Bill Hands (D) is on the mound for the Cubs and Dave Giusti (CY) is throwing for the ‘Stros.  Hands is off to a bad spring with a 0-2 record and a ERA over 9.00. He gets some help from Ron Santo in the first inning with a two-run homer on a 66-1.  That’s his second of the season.  In the top the third, he follows it up by rolling a 11-4 with Glenn Beckert on second, a triple.  The Cubs are up 3-0! 

In the third though, Hands gives three hits and three walks and Houston scores five runs.  The Cubs’ pen is pretty thin so I have to be patient but Cal Koonce (CY) finally comes in to get the job done.  Hands leaves with an ERA over 10.00 now.  In the fourth, two Houston errors and a Glenn Beckert single score two runs. 

Santo lashes a single in the fifth but Chicago can’t capitalize.  With Bob Hendley (CYW) now on the mound, Houston scores a go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning and two more in the sixth on a Jim Gentile double (his batting average has finally risen above .100 for the season).  Houston leads 8-5. 

In the seventh inning, Ron Santo hits the 11-4 once again.  A double.  Santo gets the cycle!  Byron Browne does his duty and drives him home.  8-6 Astros now. 

Giusti is pulled for Claude Raymond (BXZ) but “Frenchy” has some issues with Sonny Jackson’s defense (an E-6 with Don Kessinger at the plate) as well as his own control as he throws at Adolpho Phillips (the second HBP in the game for him).  Beckert sees his chance again and belts a two-run double.  It’s now tied 8-8. 

It’s goose eggs till the 11th inning.  Ted Abernathy (CYW) has done a great job for two innings keeping the Astros’ bats silent.  Barry Latman (BY) is in for the Astros.  He gives up a walk to John Boccabella and then a double to Byron Browne.  Runners on second and third with one out.  Randy Hundley grounds out to the pitcher and no one moves.  It’s up to Don Kessinger.  He gets a 22-7 and raps a base hit to score both. 

With a two-run lead, the Cubs want this win.  They bring in newly-acquired kid, Ferguson Jenkins, a BX.  Jenkins gets the Astros out 1-2-3 for the save. 

Abernathy – Win
Jenkins– Save
Latman– Loss

Santo 4 for 6, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 rbis
Beckert 4 for 6, 2B, 3 rbis
Kessinger 3 for 6, 2 runs, 2 rbis, GWH

Santo’s performance raises his batting average up to .365 for the year, tied for sixth in the league.  He still maintains the second best on-base average at .487.  Don Kessinger, a surprise in 1966, is hitting .327. 

With the loss and Pittsburgh’s taking two of three from Cincinnati, Houston now moves down to third place.  Chicago is still in last place but they now share it with stinkin’ Cardinals. 

Nice going Ronnie!  Kick up those heels!