Subscribe to Baseball History Comes Alive

Free Bonus for Subscribing:

Gary’s Handy Dandy World Series Reference Guide

Get new posts by email

Vince Jankoski returns today with details about what is surely one of the most unusual games ever played….with a surprise ending! I doubt there’s ever been a game like this. Tippy Martinez wins the game, but that’s the only hint I’m giving. You’ll have to read to the end to find out the details of what I’m calling a most unusual game for the ages! -GL

Tippy Martinez Wins One Of

The Most Unusual Games Ever Played!

And That’s Putting it Mildly!

Gary’s recent article on immaculate innings calls to mind a feat I do not believe has ever been equaled, and certainly can never be surpassed.  On the evening of August 24, 1983, the Baltimore Orioles, in second place, a half-game behind the Milwaukee Brewers, faced off against the Toronto Blue Jays in Memorial Stadium.

In the bottom of the seventh inning with the Jays leading 2-1, manager Joe Altobelli pinch hit Jim Dwyer for third baseman Todd Cruz and back-up catcher Joe Nolan for starting catcher Rick Dempsey.  Both pinch hitters walked, but neither scored, leaving the O’s one run in the hole.

In the top of the eighth, second baseman Rich Dauer moved to third to replace Cruz, and Lenn Sakata entered the game at second.  Nolan replaced Dempsey behind the plate.  Toronto scored once to take a 3-1 lead.

There was no further scoring until the bottom of the ninth which is when things got crazy.  Gary Roenicke pinch hit for Dauer and Benny Ayala pinch hit for Nolan.  Baltimore plated two runs to tie the game, placing Altobelli in a conundrum.  He had out-thought himself.  He had no more catchers.  Both Dempsey and Nolan had been removed for pinch hitters.  What is a manager to do?

Move reserve infielder Sakata to catcher that’s what.  It would be the only time Sakata would be behind the plate in his 11 year, 547 game career.  But that left a hole at second base.  Dauer had been removed; Sakata was now at catcher.  There were no more reserve infielders –  at least none that could be trusted in such a crucial time in an important game, Leo Hernandez and Glen Gulliver notwithstanding.  So, Altobelli moved left fielder John Lowenstein to second.  Lowenstein had some experience at infield positions, although he had not played second base since 1975 with Cleveland.  Ayala went into left field to replace Lowenstein.  And lest I forget, Altobelli needed a third baseman to replace Dauer who had replaced Cruz.  He used outfielder Roenicke.  Roenicke played third five times in his 952 game major league career.

Tim Stoddard was brought in to pitch the tenth.  Facing this unorthodox defensive alignment, Stoddard promptly gave up a go-ahead home run to Cliff Johnson and a single to Barry Bonnell.  That was enough for Altobelli who yanked Stoddard in favor of Tippy Martinez.

Tippy was no fool.  He knew that, with that bizarre arrangement of fielders, if he threw home and the hitter put the ball in play, there was a good chance that something bad was going to happen.  So, he didn’t throw home.  Instead, he picked Bonnell off first.

That was good, but it left Martinez out of options.  Now, he must throw home.  Wary about putting the ball in pay, he walked Dave Collins.  Martinez smartly played the percentages again, eschewing throwing to Sakata, and picking Collins off first.

Once again out of options, Martinez was forced to face the next batter, Cecil Upshaw.  Upshaw got bat on ball and, expectedly, got a hit –  a ground ball that Lowenstein fielded but could not make the throw.  No matter.  At this point Martinez realized he was out of the inning.  Relieved, he proceeded to pick Upshaw off first.

The Orioles scored four times in the bottom of the tenth, giving Tippy the win.  A home run by Cal Ripken, Jr., tied the score and Sakata’s three-run round tripper provided the winning margin.  Batters hit 1.000 against Martinez with an OBP of 1.000 and a slugging average also of 1.000.  He faced two batters, put them both on base and got the win anyway.  He would go on to get another win the next day.  Those two wins kept the Orioles a half game behind division leading Milwaukee whom they eventually overtook to win the division.

Was Tippy’s effort that day simply an unusual baseball occurrence?  Was it an outstanding physical performance and nothing else?  I believe it was something more.  I contend it was thinking man’s baseball.  Baseball is, after all, a game of smarts.  It is also a game of percentages.  The thinking man plays the percentages and wins the game.  That is what Tippy did.    

Vince Jankoski

Subscribe to Baseball History Comes Alive. FREE BONUS for subscribing: Gary’s Handy Dandy World Series Reference Guide.  https://wp.me/P7a04E-2he

Visit the Baseball History Comes Alive Home Page