Pete Alexander Beats the Clock
A ballgame over in under an hour, a rookie's split-second gamble, one vote that sent a capital's team packing, and a bench player who needed one swing.
Ed. 09.21.26
Pete Alexander Beats the Clock (1919)
Nobody told Grover Cleveland Alexander he had a train to catch, but he pitched like he did. On a Sunday in Chicago, the Cubs ace shut out the Boston Braves 3-0 in 58 minutes. Old Pete's speed mark lasted exactly one week. On September 28, the Giants and Phillies played nine innings in 51 minutes, and no big-league game has ever finished faster.
Chico Ruiz Breaks for Home (1964)
The Phillies led the National League by 6½ games with 12 to play when the Reds came to Connie Mack Stadium. Sixth inning, no score, two outs, Frank Robinson at the plate with two strikes. Rookie Chico Ruiz took off from third anyway. Art Mahaffey's rattled pitch got away, Ruiz scored, and the Reds won 1-0. Philadelphia lost the next nine too and finished one game short. Nobody in Philly has forgotten his name.
Washington Loses Its Senators (1971)
Owner Bob Short had offered his club to anyone who would keep it in Washington. Nobody met his price. So American League owners met and voted 10-2 to let him move the Senators to Arlington, Texas, where they became the Rangers. The nation's capital then went 33 years without a big-league team. Baseball finally came back in 2005.
John Vander Wal's One-Swing Season (1995)
Vander Wal's whole job with the Rockies was one at-bat, usually late and usually loud. At Candlestick Park he came off the bench in the seventh and homered off Sergio Valdez for his 26th pinch hit of the season, breaking Jose Morales's record of 25 from 1976. He finished with 28 in a strike-shortened year. Nobody has topped it since.
