1969: Light-Hitting Arcia Powers Padres Past Houston
Sat, Sep 15, 2007
by Geoff Young
September 15, 1969, San Diego: Padres 5, Astros 3 (box score)
Jose Arcia’s career spanned two seasons and change. In just over 650 plate appearances, the infielder from Cuba batted .215/.260/.278. His OPS+ was 52.
Arcia came into this game hitting .190/.234/.236 on the season (259 PA). He had driven in six runs all year, three in an August 20 contest at Montreal. You get the picture, right? The guy couldn’t hit.
On the third Monday in September, though, Arcia was a one-man wrecking crew. He led off the bottom of the first with an infield single off Astros right-hander Don Wilson and came around to score the game’s first run on a Nate Colbert single to left.
In the fourth, Jerry Morales doubled home Van Kelly with one out. After Fred Kendall struck out, Frankie Libran and pitcher Corkins walked to load the bases. Wilson was yanked in favor of Jim Ray, who proceeded to serve up a bases-clearing double to Arcia. The Padres now led, 5-0.
San Diego starter Mike Corkins worked five strong innings before faltering in the sixth. After allowing two runs on four straight hits to open the inning, Corkins yielded to veteran Jack Baldschun, who wild-pitched a third run home before retiring the side with the Padres’ lead still intact.
Dave Roberts worked the final three innings, facing just one over the minimum en route to his first career save, in support of Corkins’ first career win. Jimmy Wynn accounted for three of Houston’s six hits in a losing cause.
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September 15, 2007 at 9:31 am
Where does one find photo coverage of the Padres? I’d like to see some pics of the blue/orange jerseys from last night…
I checked the usual suspects (UT, NCT, Padres.com) and didn’t find anything to my liking.
September 15, 2007 at 11:01 am
Not photos, but there’s always the video … game highlights at …
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com.....sp?c_id=sd
The uni’s looked like the ‘98 pinstripes … a very good look!
September 15, 2007 at 11:06 am
Also, yahoo always has photos …
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/te.....ryzaK4u7YF
September 15, 2007 at 11:12 am
And here’s some nice photos @ ESPN …
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....=270914125
September 15, 2007 at 11:15 am
A commenter at uniwatchblog.com had this to say …
Q. Anyone see the Padres unis last night? They were wearing duds from the 1997 World Series year…with the white and orange “SD” on the cap. What kind of throwback is that? Or is it a tribute to Tony Gwynn somehow?
A. The Padres made the World Series in 1998. The official reason they announced at the game for wearing 1997 was because it was the last season Tony Gwynn won a batting title.
It was not a Tony Gwynn tribute, but the third of three decade-themed nights this season. 1970s night was in May against the Cardinals, and 1980s night was in June against the Red Sox.
I appreciate the Padres putting on throwback nights like this every year. They’ve had at least one every season since moving into Petco Park in 2004.
September 15, 2007 at 12:40 pm
Thanks for the info LM!!!