On Sept 30, 1980 I jumped in my either my Ford Capri or my Chevy El Camino, I forget which of them owned in 1980, and made the 95 mile drive to Candlestick Park to see my Dodgers play the home town Giants.
When I walked into the stadium I must have been handed this media guide as a giveaway that night, because I certainly wouldn't have paid money for it.
I made my way down to the field on the third base side, near the Dodgers dugout, and managed to get 8 signatures before the game started.
One of them an unknown rookie pitcher who would start the 9th in his 7th relief appearance of the season, with the score tied 3-3.
After getting Darrel Evans on a fly to center, we Dodger fans weren't too excited when proceeded to walk Will Clark and Max Venable, but he made up for it by striking out Rich Murray and Guy Sularz to end the inning.
In the 10th the Dodgers scored 3 runs before he struck out in his first career at bat to end the top of the inning.
He struck out the first 2 batters he faced in the bottom of the inning, then got Rennie Stennett to ground out giving the rookie his first career win.
Then I made the 95 mile drive home.
I hadn't had a chance to dig this out until today.
Rest in peace Fernando.
|