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(AP) - As the BLB approaches it's 10th anniversary of its "new age" there have been a few player performances that gave those fans in attendance something to talk about for years. They might not remember who they went to the game with or what the final score was, but they will always remember what they saw, and that it was something special.
July 25, 1978 - Pitcher David Rumsey of Hyundai pitched 8.1 innings, walked none, and struck out a league record 16 batters against Maine. Rumor has it that the fans in the outfield ran out of K's and started using permanent markers. Rumsey finished the season with 319 strikeouts, #1 in the BLB.
September 9, 1979 - Pittsburgh left fielder John "The Tank" Brown goes 5-5 with 3 HR's and 7 RBI's against Sin City. In what would be Brown's best season he finished with 39 HR's and 120 RBI's.
May 30, 1983 - Hyundai pitcher Erasmo Rubancava throws the BLB's first perfect game. In the nine inning masterpiece he struck out 7 and walked none against Mississippi.
As the 1987 season kicked off each fan hoped to see something great the day they went to the ballpark. Towering home runs, no-hitters, diving catches...whatever their fancy may be.
As the day of April 20th approached though all eyes were on one teams stadium, the Washington Bats. Rumors circulated the whole week that GM Pat McLaughlin would promote the game by giving away marijuana cigarettes to the first 5,000 fans that showed up. The media was in a frenzy. Thousands of fans showed up early. President Ronald Regan even held a press conference. After signing the Anti-Drug Abuse Act last October he vowed that this "stunt would be dealt with harshly and appropriately," and it was.
As the game neared start time well over 500 local and federal law enforcement officers descended on the park. They stifled the give-a-way and a near riot ensued. Onlookers remarked later it reminded them of the 1960's all over again. Police reports stated that 27 people were arrested. For the 36,466 fans that went to the game and not jail it was drug free, and they got to watch a 7-4 victory by their Bat's over rival Virginia.
At the same time this melee was nationally broadcast another game started with a lot less fanfare. The Pawtucket Patriots were opening up a three game home stand against Ale Division foe Maine. The majority of the media attention for this game focused on CF Adam Nickell's 19 game hit streak. The young star has been a terror on opposing pitchers the last few seasons and this season he looks even tougher.
On the mound for the Patriot's was SP Joe "Magician" Ponte, an off-season FA acquisition from Carolina. It was a clear 57 degree night at Petoria Park with an 11 mph wind blowing in from center when Ponte released his first pitch of the night, a ball. Eight pitches later and the inning was over, as all three Maine batters put the ball in play but either grounded or flew out.
The 2nd inning was a repeat of the 1st, and in the 3rd Ponte struck out the entire side. Slight murmurs started to run through the crowd as the "Magician" looked to be on top of his game. The 4th through 7th innings all kept following the same pattern. If the batter didn't strike out or ground out, he would hit a fly into the outfield which would be easily snagged. As the 7th inning stretch got underway most fans were too nervous to stand, much less sing. Thousands ran from their seats in order to use the bathroom, too mesmerized up to that point to even notice they were all sitting cross legged and in pain. Team mates quickly and quietly moved away from Ponte on the bench. The stat line for every fan read that Ponte had pitched 7.0 innings, struck out seven, and had allowed no walks or hits...a perf...well you know the word they all wanted to use but nobody dared breathe out loud.
By the time the top of the 8th began a hush had come over the stadium. Maine 1B Eddie O'Fallon stepped up to the plate and many couldn't watch. Last year O'Fallon hit .305 and he's considered one of the best players in the game. Four pitches into the battle though he bowed to destiny and hit a lazy fly ball which was scooped up by LF Joe Acuna. Next up for Maine was LF Don McGuire, who was so nervous he swung on the 1st pitch he saw and popped out as well. When CF Joe Iliquez struck out looking four pitches later the crowd cheered, but recalling the circumstances kept it mild. Why jinx the guy now most thought.
In the bottom of the 8th Pawtucket scored two runs to build a 4-0 lead. The fact that seven Patriot's batted and generated 3 hits and 2 runs actually irritated most of the 32,469 in the stands. At this point nobody cared about the offense, nobody cared that Nickell added his 3rd hit of the game and upped his hit streak to 20, nobody cared about anything except Joe Ponte.
When the 9th began Ponte slowly jogged to the mound. In most circumstances he would be in the showers by now. In 303 games started up to this point, he's had 9 complete games...but this is a shot for history. No manager in his right mind would deny him at least the chance. Short stop Clarence Evans was Ponte's first victim and four pitches into the count he got him to pop out to right field. Next up, 3B Bobby Broome. This time it took Ponte five pitches before he rolled a grounder to the left side which was scooped up and zinged to first...two outs. The fans, as if beckoned by one voice, all stood. This was it, this was history. As CF Ron O'Dea strolled into the batters box all eyes rested on his shoulders. Would this career .165 hitter deny destiny, could he hit a soft blooper over an infielders head, or maybe draw a walk?
The first pitch was a wicked fastball that even this late in the game O'Dea was not ready for as he swung a bit too late, 0-1. The next two pitches both went a tad outside, 2-1. Was Ponte tired? Could he summon the energy and calm the nerves? The next pitch was another fastball that once again caught O'Dea off guard, this time he didn't even move the bat, strike two evens the count. The crowd suddenly exploded. Jinxes be damned they loved Ponte and they wanted him to know it. He had made them all famous. Regardless of the outcome, regardless if he got that last strike, this would be something people would talk about forever and they had all been there. At the water cooler, on the school bus, at the mall...the crowds would form and the questions would be asked. They would then slowly and carefully recite exactly what happened, how it happened, and how they had watched it all happen, pitch by glorious pitch.
Determined to not go down with his bat on the shoulder O'Dae fouled off the next pitch. The frenzy died, but built back up. This was now the 6th pitch of the at bat. The windup came, the ball was delivered, the crowd exploded, and once again O'Dae fouled it off. Same pitch, same location, same result. As Ponte prepared for his 7th pitch, more than any other Maine player had lasted the entire day, it looked like a calmness came over him. He shook off several signs, gave a slight grin, and began the windup. This time the crowd went silent. In an almost eeriness described by many as the calm before the storm the entire crowd sensed something was about to happen and prepared themselves for it. As the slider came off the "Magicians" fingertips O'Dae was completely unprepared for it. Expecting another fastball the 29 year old O'Dae, who has almost double the amount of career strikeouts as hits, swung, missed, and went down as a small part of history himself.
They will say for years that you could hear the roar for miles around. At 9:27 PM on April 20th, 1987 Joe Ponte threw the 3rd perfect game in BLB history. Facing only 27 batters Ponte threw just 99 pitches. Ten Maine batters grounded out, eight of them flew out, and the remaining nine were struck out. As he was carried off the field by his team mates he gave a big wave to the crowd, a thank you of sorts. Thank you for believing in him, thank you for cheering for him, and a thank you for being there. Together they had made the journey, and together they would always remember it.
SP Joe "Magician" Ponte
Pawtucket Patriots
July 25, 1978 - Pitcher David Rumsey of Hyundai pitched 8.1 innings, walked none, and struck out a league record 16 batters against Maine. Rumor has it that the fans in the outfield ran out of K's and started using permanent markers. Rumsey finished the season with 319 strikeouts, #1 in the BLB.
September 9, 1979 - Pittsburgh left fielder John "The Tank" Brown goes 5-5 with 3 HR's and 7 RBI's against Sin City. In what would be Brown's best season he finished with 39 HR's and 120 RBI's.
May 30, 1983 - Hyundai pitcher Erasmo Rubancava throws the BLB's first perfect game. In the nine inning masterpiece he struck out 7 and walked none against Mississippi.
As the 1987 season kicked off each fan hoped to see something great the day they went to the ballpark. Towering home runs, no-hitters, diving catches...whatever their fancy may be.
As the day of April 20th approached though all eyes were on one teams stadium, the Washington Bats. Rumors circulated the whole week that GM Pat McLaughlin would promote the game by giving away marijuana cigarettes to the first 5,000 fans that showed up. The media was in a frenzy. Thousands of fans showed up early. President Ronald Regan even held a press conference. After signing the Anti-Drug Abuse Act last October he vowed that this "stunt would be dealt with harshly and appropriately," and it was.
As the game neared start time well over 500 local and federal law enforcement officers descended on the park. They stifled the give-a-way and a near riot ensued. Onlookers remarked later it reminded them of the 1960's all over again. Police reports stated that 27 people were arrested. For the 36,466 fans that went to the game and not jail it was drug free, and they got to watch a 7-4 victory by their Bat's over rival Virginia.
At the same time this melee was nationally broadcast another game started with a lot less fanfare. The Pawtucket Patriots were opening up a three game home stand against Ale Division foe Maine. The majority of the media attention for this game focused on CF Adam Nickell's 19 game hit streak. The young star has been a terror on opposing pitchers the last few seasons and this season he looks even tougher.
On the mound for the Patriot's was SP Joe "Magician" Ponte, an off-season FA acquisition from Carolina. It was a clear 57 degree night at Petoria Park with an 11 mph wind blowing in from center when Ponte released his first pitch of the night, a ball. Eight pitches later and the inning was over, as all three Maine batters put the ball in play but either grounded or flew out.
The 2nd inning was a repeat of the 1st, and in the 3rd Ponte struck out the entire side. Slight murmurs started to run through the crowd as the "Magician" looked to be on top of his game. The 4th through 7th innings all kept following the same pattern. If the batter didn't strike out or ground out, he would hit a fly into the outfield which would be easily snagged. As the 7th inning stretch got underway most fans were too nervous to stand, much less sing. Thousands ran from their seats in order to use the bathroom, too mesmerized up to that point to even notice they were all sitting cross legged and in pain. Team mates quickly and quietly moved away from Ponte on the bench. The stat line for every fan read that Ponte had pitched 7.0 innings, struck out seven, and had allowed no walks or hits...a perf...well you know the word they all wanted to use but nobody dared breathe out loud.
By the time the top of the 8th began a hush had come over the stadium. Maine 1B Eddie O'Fallon stepped up to the plate and many couldn't watch. Last year O'Fallon hit .305 and he's considered one of the best players in the game. Four pitches into the battle though he bowed to destiny and hit a lazy fly ball which was scooped up by LF Joe Acuna. Next up for Maine was LF Don McGuire, who was so nervous he swung on the 1st pitch he saw and popped out as well. When CF Joe Iliquez struck out looking four pitches later the crowd cheered, but recalling the circumstances kept it mild. Why jinx the guy now most thought.
In the bottom of the 8th Pawtucket scored two runs to build a 4-0 lead. The fact that seven Patriot's batted and generated 3 hits and 2 runs actually irritated most of the 32,469 in the stands. At this point nobody cared about the offense, nobody cared that Nickell added his 3rd hit of the game and upped his hit streak to 20, nobody cared about anything except Joe Ponte.
When the 9th began Ponte slowly jogged to the mound. In most circumstances he would be in the showers by now. In 303 games started up to this point, he's had 9 complete games...but this is a shot for history. No manager in his right mind would deny him at least the chance. Short stop Clarence Evans was Ponte's first victim and four pitches into the count he got him to pop out to right field. Next up, 3B Bobby Broome. This time it took Ponte five pitches before he rolled a grounder to the left side which was scooped up and zinged to first...two outs. The fans, as if beckoned by one voice, all stood. This was it, this was history. As CF Ron O'Dea strolled into the batters box all eyes rested on his shoulders. Would this career .165 hitter deny destiny, could he hit a soft blooper over an infielders head, or maybe draw a walk?
The first pitch was a wicked fastball that even this late in the game O'Dea was not ready for as he swung a bit too late, 0-1. The next two pitches both went a tad outside, 2-1. Was Ponte tired? Could he summon the energy and calm the nerves? The next pitch was another fastball that once again caught O'Dea off guard, this time he didn't even move the bat, strike two evens the count. The crowd suddenly exploded. Jinxes be damned they loved Ponte and they wanted him to know it. He had made them all famous. Regardless of the outcome, regardless if he got that last strike, this would be something people would talk about forever and they had all been there. At the water cooler, on the school bus, at the mall...the crowds would form and the questions would be asked. They would then slowly and carefully recite exactly what happened, how it happened, and how they had watched it all happen, pitch by glorious pitch.
Determined to not go down with his bat on the shoulder O'Dae fouled off the next pitch. The frenzy died, but built back up. This was now the 6th pitch of the at bat. The windup came, the ball was delivered, the crowd exploded, and once again O'Dae fouled it off. Same pitch, same location, same result. As Ponte prepared for his 7th pitch, more than any other Maine player had lasted the entire day, it looked like a calmness came over him. He shook off several signs, gave a slight grin, and began the windup. This time the crowd went silent. In an almost eeriness described by many as the calm before the storm the entire crowd sensed something was about to happen and prepared themselves for it. As the slider came off the "Magicians" fingertips O'Dae was completely unprepared for it. Expecting another fastball the 29 year old O'Dae, who has almost double the amount of career strikeouts as hits, swung, missed, and went down as a small part of history himself.
They will say for years that you could hear the roar for miles around. At 9:27 PM on April 20th, 1987 Joe Ponte threw the 3rd perfect game in BLB history. Facing only 27 batters Ponte threw just 99 pitches. Ten Maine batters grounded out, eight of them flew out, and the remaining nine were struck out. As he was carried off the field by his team mates he gave a big wave to the crowd, a thank you of sorts. Thank you for believing in him, thank you for cheering for him, and a thank you for being there. Together they had made the journey, and together they would always remember it.
SP Joe "Magician" Ponte
Pawtucket Patriots
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