On This Date in Sports August 9, 1963
In collaberation with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
Looking for a change of luck, Roger Craig of the New York Mets changes his number from 38 to 13. Entering the game with an 18-game losing streak Craig was hoping to avoid equaling the record for most consecutive starts with a loss. The switch worked as Craig went the distance as the Mets won 7-3 on a walk off grand slam by Jim Hickman who deposits a ball in the upper deck at the Polo Grounds against Lindy McDaniel.
Born on February 17, 1930, in North Carolina, Roger Craig made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955. Posting a record of 5-3 in the regular season, he won a key game in the World Series as the Dodgers finally beat the New York Yankees for their first World Championship. Following the Dodgers to Los Angeles, Roger Craig was a swing man in their rotation often finding himself in the bullpen.
After posting a record of 49-38 with a 3.73 ERA in seven seasons with the Dodgers, Roger Craig was taken with the sixth pick by the New York Mets in the National League’s first expansion draft. He quickly became one of the faces of the expansion Mets struggles. On April 11, 1962, Roger Craig was the starting pitcher for the Mets first game an 11-4 loss on the road against the St. Louis Cardinals. As the Mets set a modern record with 120 losses, Craig led the league in losses going 10-24 with a 4.51 ERA.
Struggling again in the Mets second season, Roger Craig was filtering with history, losing 18 straight starts one away from the single season record. Despite entering the game with a 2-20 record on the season, Craig’s ERA was somewhat respectful at 4.16 as the Mets scored just 31 runs in his 18-game losing streak. Looking for a change of luck, Roger Craig changes his uniform number from 38 to 13 as he prepared to face the Chicago Cubs at the Polo Grounds. Things looked good as the Mets took a 3-2 lead on a RBI single by Duke Snider in the fifth inning. However, the Cubs tied the game in the eighth inning as Billy Williams led the inning off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ron Santo. After the Cubs tied the game, Mets Manager Casey Stengel showed faith in Craig allowing him to complete nine innings, his final line was three runs on eight hits with eight strike outs. In the bottom of the ninth, Joe Hicks got the Mets rally started with a one out single. After Choo-Choo Coleman struck out, Al Moran doubled to left to put the winning run in scoring position. Lindy McDaniel entered the game replacing Cubs starter Paul Tooth as Roger Craig was lifted for a pinch hitter. McDaniel would intentionally walk Tim Harkness to loaded the bases to face Jim Hickman. Hickman was the Mets hottest having delivered the first cycle in team history two days earlier. Lindy McDaniel meanwhile was prone to the long ball, having already given up a walk off grand slam in June. Jim Hickman on a full count lifted McDaniel’s pitch into the overhanging upper deck in right field to send the crowd of 11,566 Mets fans home happy. With the 7-3 win, the Mets improved to 37-77 on the season.
Roger Craig would finish the season with a record of 5-22 with an ERA of 3.78. He would be traded to the Cardinals following the season in which the Mets finished 51-111.