Mr. McNally 19 Alive

 Final out in the 1966 World Series, Brooks Robinson (5), Andy Etchebarren (8), and Dave McNally (19).

I was thinking about this when I saw Chris Davis hit a homer for the Orioles. He wears No. 19 for them. I remember back in the early 80's nobody wore that number due to respect of Dave McNally's pitching career

Early years with the O's

which lasted about 13 years (1962-1974). What a great career it was. He won about 181 games for them in that span. Four twenty-game winning seasons as well 8 seasons of winning 13 or more games with his highest being 24 in 1970. A smooth, lanky left-hander who stood about 5'1l. Good hitter, the first and only pitcher to hit a Grand Slam in a World Series. Likewise, he brought down the reserve clause and established free agency for future players. He is probably most famous for clinching Game Four of the 1966 World Series (I hope somebody finds the live NBC videotape of that game).

That was the series in which the Orioles swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in four straight when the Dodgers were favored to sweep them with the great pitching staff of Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Claude Osteen, Phil Regan, and Don Sutton. Likewise, the speed of Maury Wills and Willie Davis with the timely hitting of Lou Johnson, Ron Fairly, Wes Parker and the 1965 NL Rookie of the Year, and team home run leader, Jim Lefebvre. Baltimore had a decent staff but Jim Palmer was the leader with 15 wins while McNally was 2nd with 13 follwed by Wally Bunker and Steve Barber with 10. Compare that to the Dodgers' staff with Koufax had 27 wins, Osteen 17, Regan with 14 & 21 saves, Drysdale 13, and Sutton with 12.

But the Orioles had triple crown winner, Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Boog Powell, Curt Blefary (bad fielder though), and Davey Johnson as well timely hitting and fielding by Paul Blair and speed by Luis Aparicio. Russ Snyder. Likewise, the Orioles had good relief pitching for Moe Drabowsky, Eddie Fisher, Eddie Watt, Dick Hall, and closer Stu Miller. Orioles manager, Hank Bauer, didn't hesitate to use them particularly in Game 1 of that series. With McNally leading 4-1 in the 3rd inning with the had the bases-loaded and 1 out, Bauer replaced him with Drabowsky.  That was the only time in the series that Bauer went to the bullpen. Drabowsky finished game one (Orioles 5-2), with Palmer and Bunker pitching shutouts in Game 2 (6-0, beating Sandy Koufax) and Game 3 (1-0, Osteen).

Celebrating with Hank Bauer in the locker room afterwards.

Bauer brought McNally back to pitch Game 4. Another's pitchers duel with him and Don Drysdale. The only run of the game came when Frank Robinson hit a solo shot off Drysdale in the 4th, his 2nd off him and the series. From then on, McNally pitched flawless but had help from center-fielder, Paul Blair's leap over the chain-linked fence catch in the 8th inning on Jim Lefebvre's liner. Blair had just come in as a replacement to Curt Blefary before that catch to preserve a 1-0 lead. In the 9th, McNally stuck out Dick Stuart, but gives up a single to Al Ferrera (Nate Oliver pinch-runner) and a walk to Maury Wills. With left-handed batter, Willie Davis up to bat, McNally got him to line out to Frank Robinson. Before finally facing the dangerous Lou Johnson who lead his team in RBI's. Orioles pitching coach, Harry Brecheen, comes to the mound for instruction along with catcher, Andy Etchebarren. Then with two quick strikes on Johnson, McNally gets him to pop out to center fielder, Blair, for the final out.  The Orioles win their first World Series and the last AL team to win it besides the New York Yankees since the 1948 Cleveland Indians during that stretch.

Later years with the O's.

With that said. McNally is not going to the Hall of Fame like other retired Orioles like Frank Robinson who was MVP of the '66 series or Brooks Robinson. (Boog Powell is not in the Hall and his number not retired). But I don't think, he should be forgotten either. After McNally retired in 1975, nobody wore 19 till Fred Lynn came to the Orioles in 1985 then Larry Sheets, and then Ben McDonald. I remember seeing Scott Erickson wearing it and I think Jeff Conine, Aubrey Huff. Recently, Koji Uehara and now Davis. Hey, Davis is having a great year but lets not forget of who brought that number alive?