On May 2, 1964, the Giants played the defending World Champion Dodgers at Chavez Ravine. In the 9th inning, Dodgers pitcher Joe Moeller had a 4-2 lead and looked to get the complete game victory.
Willie McCovey led off the inning with a walk. Up next was the new Giants left fielder... Duke Snider.
Yup... The Duke of Flatbush actually finished his career as a Giant. The whole "Willie, Mickey and the Duke" trio once had two of them as teammates.
Snider was not a member of the Dodgers when they won in 1963. The Mets, hoping that his presence on the team would boost the box office. After a year of calling the Polo Grounds his home and wearing the N-Y logo on his hat, he was sold off to the Giants in 1964.
So up he stepped in 1964 and hit a line drive home run into the Dodger Stadium seats and tied the game up.
The Giants would win the game in extra innings.
In the last game of his career, the second to last day of the 1964 season, Snider came to the plate as a pinch hitter in the 9th.
The Giants were losing 10-5 and fading in the pennant race. Snider singled off of Cubs pitcher Lindy McDaniel.
With 2 outs, Willie Mays homered. The last moment of Duke Snider's career he greeted his one time counterpart at home plate.
Farewell Duke.
A glorious era of baseball is getting a little more faint.
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