The Medal Between Games

A medal between games, twenty four outs worth nothing, one pitch on the way out, and the best joke anybody ever peeled.

This Day in the Old Ball Game comic strip for August 31: four panels depicting Bert Shepard, who lost his right leg below the knee after being shot down over Germany, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross between games of a doubleheader at Griffith Stadium in 1945; Orioles reliever Hal Brown recording all 24 outs his team made in Cleveland without allowing a hit and getting no credit for it in 1955; Roy Face throwing exactly one pitch in his last appearance as a Pirate while Steve Blass waited in left field in 1968; and Dave Bresnahan of Williamsport throwing a carved potato past third base in 1987.

Ed. 08.31.26

The Medal Between Games (1945)

Bert Shepard was shot down over Germany, lost his right leg below the knee, came home in a prisoner exchange, and caught on with the Senators as a coach. On August 4, bases loaded and the staff wrecked by four straight doubleheaders, Ossie Bluege waved him in. Shepard struck out the first man he faced and gave up one run over 5 and a third innings. It was the only big league game he ever pitched. 27 days later, between games of a doubleheader, they pinned the Distinguished Flying Cross on him at Griffith Stadium.

Twenty Four Outs, No Credit (1955)

Bill Wight took the mound in Cleveland and never got anybody out. Two walks, five hits, five runs, gone before the game's first out. In came Hal Brown, and Cleveland never touched him again. Brown worked eight innings, allowed no hits, and got all 24 outs his team made that day. He got nothing for it. Herb Score struck out 13, and Baltimore lost 5 to 1.

One Pitch (1968)

Pittsburgh had agreed to sell Roy Face to Detroit. They offered him a farewell start. He turned it down. So Steve Blass got the first out, walked to left field, and stood there while Face came in, threw exactly one pitch, got Felix Millan on a grounder, and walked off. Blass came back and finished an 8 to 0 shutout he could not be credited with. It was his 802nd appearance for Pittsburgh, tying what was then the record for games with one club, and his last as a Pirate.

The Great Potato Caper (1987)

Dave Bresnahan bought potatoes and carved one until it passed for a baseball. Fifth inning, runner on third, he called time, came back with the spud in his mitt, and fired it past third. Rick Lundblade trotted home and got tagged with the real ball. The umpire was not amused and awarded him the plate. His teammates passed a hat to cover the fifty dollar fine. He was released the next day. The next season Williamsport retired his number and let anybody with a potato in for a dollar.

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The Medal Between Games