Tracy Stallard
Encyclopedia
Evan Tracy Stallard is a retired American
professional baseball
player, a Major League Baseball
pitcher from 1960 to 1966. He played with the Boston Red Sox
, New York Mets
and St. Louis Cardinals
.
Stallard is most remembered for giving up New York Yankees
slugger Roger Maris
' 61st home run
in 1961.
with the Lafayette Red Sox of the Class D Midwest League
from 1956 to 1957. Over the two seasons, he notched up win-loss records of 5-8 and 7-12, respectively. For the 1958 season, he was promoted to the Raleigh Capitals of the Class B Carolina League
, where he posted a 9-6 record and a 3.09 earned run average
. 1959 had several stops for Stallard, the first being the Class AAA Minneapolis Millers
of the American Association
. Stallard threw for a 7-11 record and a 3.51 ERA. He also saw time with the Class A Eastern League Allentown Red Sox
, where he posted up a 9-4 record with a dominant 1.68 ERA. In the season of 1960, where Stallard was eventually called up to the major leagues, he posted a 4-5 record with a 4.82 ERA for Allentown.
. He faced 15 batters without giving up a single hit, and amassed 6 strikeouts. Three of his appearances were against the New York Yankees
.
1961
marked Stallard's first full season in Major League Baseball, starting in 14 games and playing in the relief role for 29.
Right-handed batters only hit .209 off Stallard for the season. He also had a strong month of May, tallying a 2.70 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 10 innings of relief. On July 16, Stallard was given his first Major League start. In 6⅔ innings pitched, Tracy gave up one earned run on six hits, but he would get a no decision as Boston reliever Arnold Earley
blew a 1-0 lead which eventually led to a 4-3 loss ot the Chicago White Sox
. Stallard's first victory came on August 10, striking out eight in 8⅔ innings pitched in a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins
. Stallard started in 14 of his last 15 appearances for the season going 2-7 with a 5.00 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 86⅓ innings pitched as a starter.
Roger Maris hit his 61st home run of the season off Tracy Stallard, breaking Babe Ruth
's single season record of 60.
The contest between the Red Sox and the Yankees was the final game of the season with Stallard, then 2-6, facing off against Yankees right-hander Bill Stafford
(12-9). In the first duel between Maris and Stallard in the first inning, Stallard threw a changeup to Maris that ended up being a soft fly to left field. In the fourth inning, Stallard fell behind 2-0 to Maris. Up to that point, Stallard had said that he was probably having the best game he had ever pitched. Stallard threw a fastball, and Maris hit it over the wall for his 61st home run. It was Maris's only hit off Stallard in seven lifetime at bats.
Stallard felt no shame over the ordeal, saying, "I'm glad he did it off me. Otherwise, I would never have been thought of again. That was about all I did, and I've had a good time with it." There has been speculation that Stallard grooved the pitch in an attempt to help Maris hit the home run, of which he has denied these claims. Stallard struck out five and gave up five hits and just the one earned run in seven innings on the outing, but the Red Sox failed to score in a 1-0 loss, dropping him to a final record of 2-7 for the season.
Stallard appeared in only one game for the Red Sox in 1962
, spending the rest of the season with the minor league Class AAA Seattle Rainiers
, where he threw for a 7-6 record and a 3.49 ERA.
. Boston had shipped him along with Pumpsie Green
and Al Moran
to the Mets for Felix Mantilla on December 11, 1962.
Stallard again started in the relief role for his first 13 games, but was finally given the opportunity to start on June 2. The game against the Pittsburgh Pirates
was his first start since the day Roger Maris hit his 61st home run of the season. Stallard responded to the promotion by notching up a 2.28 ERA with 27 strikeouts in ⅓innings for the entire month of June. Afterwards, though, Stallard's season fell apart. He ended with a record of 6-17 to go with a 4.71 ERA.
Despite improving his ERA in 1964
to 3.79, Stallard still led the MLB with 20 losses to accompany only 10 wins. Although the abysmal record, Stallard was still tied for 2nd with Jack Fisher
for the highest amount of wins for the Mets, only one behind Al Jackson
(11-16). Stallard also gained the unfortunate distinction, albeit less well-known, as the starting pitcher that lost in Jim Bunning
's perfect game
on June 21, giving up six earned runs in innings. In 11 of his games the Mets scored one or no runs. While with the Mets, Stallard developed something of a taste for New York's night life, dating, among others, actress, Julie Newmar
, who would go on to play Catwoman
in the Batman
television series.
to the Cards in exchange for Johnny Lewis and Gordie Richardson
.
Stallard had the best season of his career in his first year with the Cardinals in 1965
. After pitching in his first three games as a reliever, Stallard was moved to starter on April 24, and began the season 7-3 with a 2.80 ERA. In May alone, Stallard went 3-0 with a 2.31 ERA in 50⅔ innings.
Though going only 3-2 from September 1 to the end of the season, Stallard still threw for a 2.41 ERA in 33⅔ innings over the period. He finished the season 11-8 with a 3.38 ERA. Among Cardinals starters, his win total and ERA were second to future Hall of Famer Bob Gibson
, who had 20 wins and a 3.07 ERA.
season, Stallard was very vocal about his displeasure of being assigned to the bullpen
, though he had a 6.10 ERA at the time and had just came off three consecutive games where he gave up one or more earned runs in relief. He was promoted back to the starting role on June 4, but it only amounted to a 5.71 ERA in seven starts, averaging only five innings per outing.
His final start on July 19 against the Atlanta Braves
was disastrous, giving up five earned runs in just 3⅓ innings pitched. The Cardinals fought back to prevail 10-9 in 12 innings, but the damage had been done. Stallard played his final Major League game on July 24 against the Chicago Cubs on the front-end of a doubleheader
. He came in to pitch in the bottom of the 6th, and gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, Ron Santo
. Stallard pitched into the 7th. After giving up another run, reliever Joe Hoerner
replaced him on the mound.
Soon after his final appearance, the Cardinals reassigned Stallard to the Class AAA Tulsa Oilers
of the Pacific Coast League
. From 1967 to 1973, he played for several more minor league teams, including the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs
and High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms
, with stops in Torreón
and Córdoba
of the Class AAA Mexican League.
Stallard took a season off from pitching in 1968, serving as a pitching coach for the Hi-Toms under then rookie manager Jack McKeon
, previously a Minnesota Twins
scout
and eventual manager of the 2003 World Series
champion Florida Marlins
and two-time National League Manager of the Year Award
winner. Stallard resumed his playing career in 1969 for High Point-Thomasville by posting a 3-4 record and a 2.68 ERA.
Despite posting solid earned run averages in three of his final four seasons (2.68, 2.52, 2.35), Stallard never received a call to the Majors again. In his final season, 1973, Stallard posted a 5-11 record with a 2.35 ERA at Córdoba.
Over the course of his major league career, some Hall of Fame
players had a tough time solving Stallard. Willie Mays
was a career .200 hitter off him (6-for-30), Willie McCovey
stuttered in at .152 (5-for-33, but with 3 home runs), Roberto Clemente
hit .138 (4-for-29), and Frank Robinson
could only muster a .214 (6-for-28) success rate against the pitcher. Others legends, however, such as Lou Brock
(9-for-16) had no problem rattling Stallard around.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player, a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher from 1960 to 1966. He played with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
and St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
Stallard is most remembered for giving up New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
slugger Roger Maris
Roger Maris
Roger Eugene Maris was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During the 1961 season, he hit a record 61 home runs for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs...
' 61st home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in 1961.
Early career
Stallard began his professional career in Minor League BaseballMinor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
with the Lafayette Red Sox of the Class D Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
from 1956 to 1957. Over the two seasons, he notched up win-loss records of 5-8 and 7-12, respectively. For the 1958 season, he was promoted to the Raleigh Capitals of the Class B Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
, where he posted a 9-6 record and a 3.09 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. 1959 had several stops for Stallard, the first being the Class AAA Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
. Stallard threw for a 7-11 record and a 3.51 ERA. He also saw time with the Class A Eastern League Allentown Red Sox
Allentown Red Sox
The Allentown Red Sox were a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. They played in the Class A Eastern League and were based in Allentown, Pennsylvania....
, where he posted up a 9-4 record with a dominant 1.68 ERA. In the season of 1960, where Stallard was eventually called up to the major leagues, he posted a 4-5 record with a 4.82 ERA for Allentown.
Boston Red Sox
Tracy Stallard appeared in four games in his debut season of 19601960 Boston Red Sox season
The 1960 Boston Red Sox season involved the Red Sox finishing 7th in the American League with a record of 65 wins and 89 losses, 32 games behind the New York Yankees.- Regular season :...
. He faced 15 batters without giving up a single hit, and amassed 6 strikeouts. Three of his appearances were against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
1961
1961 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season involved the Red Sox finishing sixth in the American League with a record of 76 wins and 86 losses.- Regular season :Future Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski made his major league debut on Opening Day, April 11...
marked Stallard's first full season in Major League Baseball, starting in 14 games and playing in the relief role for 29.
Right-handed batters only hit .209 off Stallard for the season. He also had a strong month of May, tallying a 2.70 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 10 innings of relief. On July 16, Stallard was given his first Major League start. In 6⅔ innings pitched, Tracy gave up one earned run on six hits, but he would get a no decision as Boston reliever Arnold Earley
Arnold Earley
Arnold Carl Earley was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Career:Born in Lincoln Park, Michigan, Earley played eight seasons in the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox , Chicago Cubs , and Houston Astros...
blew a 1-0 lead which eventually led to a 4-3 loss ot the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. Stallard's first victory came on August 10, striking out eight in 8⅔ innings pitched in a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. Stallard started in 14 of his last 15 appearances for the season going 2-7 with a 5.00 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 86⅓ innings pitched as a starter.
Roger Maris's 61st Home Run
On October 1, 1961, New York Yankees outfielderOutfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Roger Maris hit his 61st home run of the season off Tracy Stallard, breaking Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
's single season record of 60.
The contest between the Red Sox and the Yankees was the final game of the season with Stallard, then 2-6, facing off against Yankees right-hander Bill Stafford
Bill Stafford
William Charles Stafford was a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1960-1967. Stafford was a successful pitcher for the New York Yankees from 1961–1962, winning a combined 28 games in two seasons...
(12-9). In the first duel between Maris and Stallard in the first inning, Stallard threw a changeup to Maris that ended up being a soft fly to left field. In the fourth inning, Stallard fell behind 2-0 to Maris. Up to that point, Stallard had said that he was probably having the best game he had ever pitched. Stallard threw a fastball, and Maris hit it over the wall for his 61st home run. It was Maris's only hit off Stallard in seven lifetime at bats.
Stallard felt no shame over the ordeal, saying, "I'm glad he did it off me. Otherwise, I would never have been thought of again. That was about all I did, and I've had a good time with it." There has been speculation that Stallard grooved the pitch in an attempt to help Maris hit the home run, of which he has denied these claims. Stallard struck out five and gave up five hits and just the one earned run in seven innings on the outing, but the Red Sox failed to score in a 1-0 loss, dropping him to a final record of 2-7 for the season.
Stallard appeared in only one game for the Red Sox in 1962
1962 Boston Red Sox season
The 1962 Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing 8th in the American League with a record of 76 wins and 84 losses.- Offseason :* October 20, 1961: Joe Ginsberg was released by the Red Sox....
, spending the rest of the season with the minor league Class AAA Seattle Rainiers
Seattle Rainiers
The Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels, were a minor league baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903-06 and 1919-68...
, where he threw for a 7-6 record and a 3.49 ERA.
New York Mets
Stallard resumed full-time major league pitching duty with the young New York Mets in 19631963 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the second regular season for the Mets. They went 51-111 and finished 10th in the NL, 48 games behind the World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. They were managed by Casey Stengel...
. Boston had shipped him along with Pumpsie Green
Pumpsie Green
Elijah Jerry "Pumpsie" Green is a former Major League Baseball backup infielder who played with the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets . He was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed....
and Al Moran
Al Moran
Richard Alan Moran is a former right-handed Major League Baseball shortstop who played from 1963 to 1964 for the New York Mets.Moran attended Detroit Catholic Central High School...
to the Mets for Felix Mantilla on December 11, 1962.
Stallard again started in the relief role for his first 13 games, but was finally given the opportunity to start on June 2. The game against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
was his first start since the day Roger Maris hit his 61st home run of the season. Stallard responded to the promotion by notching up a 2.28 ERA with 27 strikeouts in ⅓innings for the entire month of June. Afterwards, though, Stallard's season fell apart. He ended with a record of 6-17 to go with a 4.71 ERA.
Despite improving his ERA in 1964
1964 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the third regular season for the Mets. They went 53-109 and finished 10th in the NL, 40 games behind the World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals. They were managed by Casey Stengel...
to 3.79, Stallard still led the MLB with 20 losses to accompany only 10 wins. Although the abysmal record, Stallard was still tied for 2nd with Jack Fisher
Jack Fisher
John Howard Fisher was a Major League Baseball pitcher. The right-hander was signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent on June 24, 1957. He played for the Orioles , San Francisco Giants , New York Mets , Chicago White Sox , and Cincinnati Reds...
for the highest amount of wins for the Mets, only one behind Al Jackson
Al Jackson
Al Jackson, Jr. was a drummer, producer, and songwriter. He is best known as a founding member of Booker T. & the M.G.s, a group of session musicians who worked for Stax Records and produced their own instrumentals...
(11-16). Stallard also gained the unfortunate distinction, albeit less well-known, as the starting pitcher that lost in Jim Bunning
Jim Bunning
James Paul David "Jim" Bunning is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and politician.During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1955 to 1971, most notably with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. When he retired, he had the second-highest total of career...
's perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
on June 21, giving up six earned runs in innings. In 11 of his games the Mets scored one or no runs. While with the Mets, Stallard developed something of a taste for New York's night life, dating, among others, actress, Julie Newmar
Julie Newmar
Julie Newmar is an American actress, dancer and singer. Her most famous role is Catwoman in the Batman television series.-Early life:...
, who would go on to play Catwoman
Catwoman
Catwoman is a fictional character associated with DC Comics' Batman franchise. Historically a supervillain, the character was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Kane's cousin, Ruth Steel...
in the Batman
Batman (TV series)
Batman is an American television series, based on the DC comic book character of the same name. It stars Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin — two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City. It aired on the American Broadcasting Company network for three seasons from January 12, 1966 to...
television series.
St. Louis Cardinals
On December 7, 1964, Stallard joined the St. Louis Cardinals in a move that sent he and Elio ChaconElio Chacón
Elio Chacón Rodríguez was a Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop who played in the National League from 1960 to 1962. He was the seventh baseball player from Venezuela to play in the majors....
to the Cards in exchange for Johnny Lewis and Gordie Richardson
Gordie Richardson
Gordon Clark Richardson , is a retired American professional baseball player, a left-handed pitcher who played in the Major Leagues from 1964–1966 for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets...
.
Stallard had the best season of his career in his first year with the Cardinals in 1965
1965 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 84th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 74th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 80-81 during the season and finished seventh in the National League, 16½ games behind the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers...
. After pitching in his first three games as a reliever, Stallard was moved to starter on April 24, and began the season 7-3 with a 2.80 ERA. In May alone, Stallard went 3-0 with a 2.31 ERA in 50⅔ innings.
Though going only 3-2 from September 1 to the end of the season, Stallard still threw for a 2.41 ERA in 33⅔ innings over the period. He finished the season 11-8 with a 3.38 ERA. Among Cardinals starters, his win total and ERA were second to future Hall of Famer Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson
Robert "Bob" Gibson is a retired American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Hoot" and "Gibby", he was a right-handed pitcher who played his entire 17-year Major League Baseball career with St. Louis Cardinals...
, who had 20 wins and a 3.07 ERA.
Late career
During the 19661966 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 85th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 75th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 83-79 during the season and finished sixth in the National League, 12 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers....
season, Stallard was very vocal about his displeasure of being assigned to the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
, though he had a 6.10 ERA at the time and had just came off three consecutive games where he gave up one or more earned runs in relief. He was promoted back to the starting role on June 4, but it only amounted to a 5.71 ERA in seven starts, averaging only five innings per outing.
His final start on July 19 against the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
was disastrous, giving up five earned runs in just 3⅓ innings pitched. The Cardinals fought back to prevail 10-9 in 12 innings, but the damage had been done. Stallard played his final Major League game on July 24 against the Chicago Cubs on the front-end of a doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
. He came in to pitch in the bottom of the 6th, and gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, Ron Santo
Ron Santo
Ronald Edward Santo was an American professional baseball player and long-time radio sports commentator. He played in Major League Baseball from 1960 to 1974, most notably as the third baseman for the Chicago Cubs. A nine-time All-Star, he was a powerful hitter who was also a good defensive...
. Stallard pitched into the 7th. After giving up another run, reliever Joe Hoerner
Joe Hoerner
Joseph Walter Hoerner was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. A native of Dubuque, Iowa, the left-hander was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent before the 1957 season. He played for the Houston Colt .45s , St...
replaced him on the mound.
Soon after his final appearance, the Cardinals reassigned Stallard to the Class AAA Tulsa Oilers
Tulsa Oilers (baseball)
The Tulsa Oilers, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off in multiple leagues from 1905 to 1976. For most of their history, they played at Oiler Park, which opened on July 11, 1934, and was located on the Tulsa County Fairgrounds at 15th Street and...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. From 1967 to 1973, he played for several more minor league teams, including the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs
Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs
The Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs were an American minor league baseball team in the Texas League from 1965 to 1971. The team played in Turnpike Stadium in Arlington, Texas....
and High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms
Thomasville Hi-Toms
The Thomasville HiToms are a baseball team in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate summer baseball league. The team plays its home games at Historic Finch Field in Thomasville, North Carolina. The HiToms were one of the earlier teams to compete in the Coastal Plain League and first started...
, with stops in Torreón
Torreón
Torreón is a city and seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name in the Mexican state of Coahuila. As of 2010, the city's population was 608,836 with 639,629 in the municipality. The metropolitan population, including Matamoros, Coahuila, and Gómez Palacio and Lerdo in adjacent Durango,...
and Córdoba
Córdoba, Veracruz
Córdoba, officially known as Heroica Córdoba, is a city and the seat of the municipality of the same name in the Mexican state of Veracruz. It was founded in 1618....
of the Class AAA Mexican League.
Stallard took a season off from pitching in 1968, serving as a pitching coach for the Hi-Toms under then rookie manager Jack McKeon
Jack McKeon
John Aloysius McKeon , nicknamed Trader Jack, is a former Major League Baseball manager. In 2003, he won a World Series with the Florida Marlins...
, previously a Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
and eventual manager of the 2003 World Series
2003 World Series
The 2003 World Series marked the 99th baseball World Series event. The Florida Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in six games, 4–2.-Background:...
champion Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
and two-time National League Manager of the Year Award
Manager of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Manager of the Year Award is an honor given annually since 1983 to the best managers in the American League and the National League . The winner is voted on by 28 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America . Each places a vote for first, second, and third...
winner. Stallard resumed his playing career in 1969 for High Point-Thomasville by posting a 3-4 record and a 2.68 ERA.
Despite posting solid earned run averages in three of his final four seasons (2.68, 2.52, 2.35), Stallard never received a call to the Majors again. In his final season, 1973, Stallard posted a 5-11 record with a 2.35 ERA at Córdoba.
Over the course of his major league career, some Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
players had a tough time solving Stallard. Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
was a career .200 hitter off him (6-for-30), Willie McCovey
Willie McCovey
Willie Lee McCovey , nicknamed "Mac", "Big Mac", and "Stretch", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He played nineteen seasons for the San Francisco Giants, and three more for the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics, between and...
stuttered in at .152 (5-for-33, but with 3 home runs), Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball right fielder. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the youngest of seven children. Clemente played his entire 18-year baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates . He was awarded the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in...
hit .138 (4-for-29), and Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He played from 1956–1976, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He is the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues...
could only muster a .214 (6-for-28) success rate against the pitcher. Others legends, however, such as Lou Brock
Lou Brock
Louis Clark "Lou" Brock is an American former professional baseball player. He began his Major League Baseball career with the Chicago Cubs but, spent the majority of his career as the left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brock was best known for breaking Ty Cobb's all-time major league...
(9-for-16) had no problem rattling Stallard around.