Editor’s note: Throughout this year Press Room Pass will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1969 baseball season with a variety of stories from the covering personal accomplishments, unique moments, major league expansion and the amazing New York Mets. This is the latest installment of that series.
When Mike Corkins was signed out of high school in 1965, there was the possibility he could have been a teammate of Willie Mays.
The year Corkins joined the San Francisco Giants organization, Mays would be named the National League’s Most Valuable Player.
By 1968, Corkins had four years in the minors with a 30-41 record mostly as a starter. The California native was left unprotected in the expansion draft.
The San Diego Padres selected the right-hander and he would begin the 1969 season with the Elmira Pioneers in the Eastern League.
After going 8-14 with an ERA of 3.76 with the Pioneers, Corkins was called up to the big leagues in September.
Corkins made six appearances and four starts as he posted a 1-3 mark. His first major league win came against the Houston Astros in San Diego as he worked five innings in a 5-3 win on Sept. 15.
On Sept. 22, Corkins would be linked to Mays forever. The Giants were in San Diego and the scored was tied 2-2 heading into the top of the seventh inning. Mays entered the game as a pinch-hitter for George Foster.
Mays would blast his 600th homer off Corkins, which was a two-run shot. Willie McCovey followed with a single and Corkins was done. The Giants would go one to win 4-2.
Four days later, Corkins would get tagged again by another future Hall of Fame inductee. Hank Aaron would hit his 554th career blast and final homer of the 1960s off Corkins in Atlanta during a 10-4 Braves win.
In earlier game in San Diego, Aaron had gone without a hit against Corkins in three at bats with a strikeout.
Mays and Aaron
The 1969 homer by Mays was the only one Corkins surrendered to the legend in 10 at bats. He would also double against him.
Aaron would later hit his 653rd long ball off Corkins in 1972. Aaron would go 5-for-18 against Corkins.
At the Plate
Corkins was able to get a measure of revenge for giving up some home runs with a few of his own bombs.
His first big league homer came at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati on Sept, 4, 1970.
The Reds were on their way to the National League pennant when Corkins tagged Jim Merritt for a grand slam in a 15-2 Padres victory.
Corkins worked seven innings to get the win with help from Nate Colbert and Cito Gaston, who added homers.
The second homer for Corkins came off Ron Schueler in the same game in 1972 that he gave up a homer to Aaron.
In 1973, Corkins hit three homers with one each against Andy Messersmith, Ernie McAnally and Carl Morton.
On the Mound
The 1972 season was probably the best for Corkins as he went 6-9 with six saves and a 3.54 ERA.
He also posted the only shutout of his career a 1-0 win over the Braves in San Diego on Sept. 10. He scattered seven hits, but didn’t allow any to Aaron, Rico Carty or Darrell Evans.
Leron Lee provided the only offense for the Padres with a solo homer in the seventh inning.
Corkins had a 19-28 record with the Padres in his six-year career from 1969 to 1974.