Today in 1976, the Brewers were the victims of one of the most heartbreaking endings in major league history. I'll let Chris Jaffe of The Hardball Times set the scene:
Anyone who ever swung a bat in the back yard imagined a scenario like this. It's the bottom of the ninth, the bases are loaded and your team is down by three runs. Who hasn't imagined taking a big swing and blasting a game-winning, walk-off grand slam?
That's exactly what happened to veteran third baseman Don Money in this game. With the Yankees leading 9-6 in the bottom of the ninth in Milwaukee, Money stood at the plate with no one out. New York hurler Dave Pagan threw the ball, and Money was money. He got good wood on the ball, and it skyrocketed over the infield, flew over the outfield, and landed in the stands.
Can you imagine the surge of adrenalin Money must have felt? The sense of pride and elation of being one of the happy few to accomplish what every schoolboy dreams of. The crowd of 10,871 must have been going bonkers.
There's just one problem: it didn't happen.
First base umpire Jim McKean called time just before the pitch was thrown, negating the play and changing the course of the game. Money eventually flied out and the Brewers lost the game 9-7. Jaffe ranked it as the worst ending to a regular season game in major league history.
Four years later, Sixto Lezcano hit a walkoff grand slam in the Brewers' 9-5 win over the Red Sox. It was Lezcano's second career Opening Day slam.
With help from the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- 2010 Brewer Chris Dickerson, who turns 29.
- 1995-99 Brewer Alberto Reyes, who turns 40.