S-O-M Game of the Day: 65 Twins at 70 Reds

wayne simpson 1971Strat-o-matic is a baseball simulation that began as a cards and dice game in the early 1960s before entering the computer age.

These featured games on Shoestring Catches are part of season replays or tournaments played with cards and dice.

Today’s game matches the 1965 Minnesota Twins at the 1970 Cincinnati Reds.

Atlanta’s Shelby Miller was one out away from a no-hitter on Sunday, May 17, when the bid ended with a single.

Wayne Simpson was an outstanding young rookie for the Reds during their run to the National League pennant in 1970. Unfortunately, an injury virtually ended Simpson’s season in July. However on this day, like Miller, Simpson was great, he just made one bad pitch.

SIMPSON JUST MISSES NO-HITTER AS IT GETS SPOILED IN 9TH

CINCINNATI – Wayne Simpson was in control throughout the game as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Minnesota Twins 2-0 in Crosley Field.

But in one moment, it was gone. “It” was a no-hitter and the one the who ruined the party was Zoilo Versalles.

With two outs in the ninth, Versalles drilled a triple to break up Simpson’s date with immortality. Simpson (2-0) maintained his composure to finish the affair after the next batter. He ended with five strikeouts and two walks.

Only four batters reached base against Simpson. Harmon Killebrew reached on an error in the second, but he was erased on a double play. Versalles walked in the fourth and he was thrown out trying to steal. Tony Oliva later walked in the frame.

Cincinnati managed five hits in the contest with four coming against Twins starter Jim Perry (1-1). Both of the runs for the Reds came via the long ball. Lee May blasted a solo shot in the sixth before rookie Bernie Carbo added his homer in the seventh.

zoilo versalles 1965IN REAL LIFE: Wayne Simpson was an all-star for the Cincinnati Reds in his first year in the majors. Simpson was 14-3 overall, but his season was hampered by an injury on July 31 when he picked up his last loss. He had an appearance in August and another in the September before he was done.

The 1967 first round draft pick for the Reds really did have a one-hitter in 1970. On April 19, Simpson held the San Francisco Giants to a first-inning double by Ken Henderson as the Reds won 6-0 at Crosley Field.

Zoilo Versalles won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1965. Versalles had 19 homers, 77 RBI and a .273 batting average that year as he led the Twins to an appearance in the World Series against Los Angeles, which the Dodgers won in seven games.

Versalles played in the majors from 1959 to 1971. He began his career with the Washington Senators before the team became the Minnesota Twins. After 1967 when he left the Twins, he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians and the Atlanta Braves. He also went back to Washington and was with the other Senators franchise.