Pirates Win Home Opener against Giants

Apr. 12, 1965 - Ten magnificent innings of pitching by Bob Veale, a 10th-inning home run by Bob Bailey, and respect for Roberto Clemente’s great throwing arm beat Juan Marichal and the Giants today, 1-0, before 28,189 opening day fans at Forbes Field.

Marichal shut out the Pirates for nine innings. It wasn’t enough. Bailey, the first Pirate batter in the bottom of the 10th, slugged Juan’s 1-2 pitch over the left field wall, a 430-foot shot.

There were only eight hits in the game, and all were singles until Bailey’s smash ended the stunning pitching duel.

Veale allowed only three hits. The lefthanded Pittsburgh ace struck out 10, walked only one, and didn’t allow a baserunner after Jesus Alou’s single in the fourth. Big Bob retired the final 19 Giant batters in order.

Alou’s hit produced the second most important moment of the game. Willie Mays opened the fourth with a single and took second on a wild pitch. He was still at second two outs later. Jim Hart took a called third strike, and Willie McCovey popped out.

That’s when young Alou drilled a solid single to right. Mays was on the move, but Clemente, owner of one of the finest throwing arms in baseball, came in fast, scooped up the ball on one bounce, and whipped it to the plate.

Mays, turning third, went 20 feet toward the plate then scampered back to third base. The throw wasn’t one of Clemente’s best. Jim Pagliaroni had to move 15 feet toward the mount for it, while Alou hustled around and into second base.

Could Mays have scored? Probably not, but nobody can say for sure.

Harry Walker, making his debut as manager of the Bucs, had a definite opinion on the matter: “Mays wouldn’t have had a chance on the play. It was a good thing he went back to third. It would have been suicide otherwise.”

Bailey agreed. “Mays might have been able to make it, but I doubt it,” Bob said. “Clemente had the ball as soon as he was at third, and he would have been out by a long shot.”

Pagliaroni said, “Clemente threw it low and hard. I couldn’t see Mays when the ball was coming in, but I know he would have been out.”

Herman Franks, who made his debut as Giants manager, was upset over the defeat. He was curt with reporters and refused to answer many questions.

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