Author: Ira

Thank you for your concern, but I’m doing just fine.  Have been inundated with messages wondering why there were no posts on June 23 and June 25, despite that fact that Richie Ashburn, Frank Thomas and Elio Chacon were in the starting lineup for the 1962 Mets,  thereby raising our hopes that this could be the day 50 years ago on which the “yo la tengo” heard ’round the world was cried.  But checking the fine print, we discover  Richie Ashburn not in center field but in right, removing these games from consideration.  (Playing center field is Joe Christopher, the man who allegedly translated “I’ve got it” as “Yo la tengo.”  For an incident that may never have occurred, there are certainly a lot of facts associated with it.)

 

Which is not to say that there has been a lack of historic baseball in my life.  As part of our mission to get to the bottom of this anecdote, Georgia, James and I found ourselves at Chicago’s Wrigley Field last night and witnessed three incredible events, a minimum of one of which occurring for the first time ever: Jon Rauch giving up four runs in 1/3 of an inning (the 7th), despite allowing no hits; the Mets committing two three-base errors in one inning (the 7th again); and John McEntire attending a professional sporting event (he stayed the whole game, though he required my prodding to stand for the 7th inning stretch).

 

By now, John and Jane Web Site Visitor are doubtlessly as caught up in the hunt for the yo la tengo moment as I am.  So it is for the benefit of those doing their own research that I post.  A cursory glance at the Mets’ Fathers’ Day doubleheader loss to the Cubs 50 years ago today suggests that I should delve deeper to see if today is the day that Richie Ashburn yells “yo la tengo” to a comprehending Elio Chacon, only to collide with non-Spanish-speaking left fielder Frank Thomas.  But a closer reading of the data reveals that Thomas plays both games at third base, eliminating the possibility that this is the day we’ve been waiting for.  Hope all you sons and daughters out there are going to find some time today for Bobcat Goldthwait’s holiday classic!

 

Our search for the yo la tengo moment continues.  Fifty years ago today, above-the-title stars Richie Ashburn, Frank Thomas and Elio Chacon once more are together in the starting lineup, as the Mets fall to the Cubs.  Thomas makes an error in left field, and later in the game throws out Lou Brock attempting to stretch a single into a double.  Could either of these plays be our holy grail?  It takes a big man to admit he doesn’t know.  I don’t know.

What I do know is that pitching for the Cubs was Don Cardwell, who would later be an important part of the Miracle Mets of 1969.  And speaking of World Series victories (and an era of more painstaking documentation), have you seen this yet?

Fifty years ago today, Richie Ashburn makes two errors in center field—could one of these be our yo la tengo moment?  I’m sorry to report, it’s hard to say.  Other oddities in this game though are clearer: starting pitcher Jay Hook fails to retire a batter and gives up five runs (the good news is that only four are earned).  And in his final day in a Mets uniform, backup catcher Harry Chiti sees no action.  The next day he will be traded to the Cleveland Indians, the team from which the Mets acquired him, in return for “a player to be named later,” thus making Chiti the only man ever to be traded for himself.  Final score: Houston Colt .45’s 10, Mets 2.

Chacon, Ashburn and Thomas play apparently foible-less ball 50 years ago today in Houston.  All other baseball commentary suspended as we lower the flag to half staff for Frank Cady: Green Acres, The Bad Seed, Rear Window, The Asphalt Jungle and so much more.

Happy 83rd birthday, Frank Thomas!  Fifty years ago today, he was the starting left fielder in the Mets 3-1 victory over their expansion peers the Houston Colt .45’s.  With Elio Chacon and Richie Ashburn also in the lineup, once more we pore over the game stats searching in vain for the yo la tengo moment.  But with the late-inning substitution of Joe Christopher for Ashburn, we find the Mets fielding five players with last names that could be first names: Thomas, Christopher, Al Jackson, Sammy Taylor and Charlie Neal.  An all-time record?  We will let the historians among you sort that one out.