On Saturday morning, August 30, 1975, my father and I departed our Decatur, IN, home early in the morning bound for Cleveland, OH. Our final destination was Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium where we were going to see a Major League Baseball matinee between the hometown Indians and the visiting Minnesota Twins.
As was typical of my father, we arrived early … incredibly early. This was during an era where it was not uncommon for the gates to open two hours before gametime and early arrivers could see the tail end of the home team’s batting practice and the entirety of the visitors. We were so early that day we saw Cleveland’s cleanup hitter, Boog Powell, arrive at the ballpark. My 8-year-old self remembered thinking at the time that Powell was a giant of a man. Years later, at his barbecue joint in the outfield at Baltimore’s Camden Yards, I met Powell and (no doubt due to his advancing years) was able to pretty much look him in the eye as I recounted that encounter 30-plus years prior.
There are scant remaining memories of the Indians-Twins game, unfortunately. What I do recall was a sparsity of fans and thus, we were able to get good and close to the action behind the Twins dugout. (The previous evening’s game drew a robust 6,520 spectators.). I also recall the game getting rained out by persisent and heavy rain before the fourth inning. (And, thus, no official record of the game exists.) One other thing I recall was future Baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew signing autographs outside the dugout just prior to the game starting and me not mustering enough courage to go and ask for one.
One thing I don’t recall with any certainty was whether or not Twins’ rookie, Lyman Wesley Bostock Jr., was in the starting lineup that day. He played the previous five games so I’m of the belief that Minnesota manager Frank Quilici had Bostock penciled in that Saturday afternoon.
And, after finishing FOX Sports’ investigative reporter Tom Rinaldi‘s gripping episodic podcast, “Wesley,” I’m sticking to my belief that I saw Bostock in action that day, if even for only a few rain soaked innings.
For those who may not be familiar with Bostock’s story, he is the only player in the history of Major League Baseball to have been murdered during the season. Bostock was shot while riding in a relative’s car in Gary, IN, the night of September 23, 1978, following an afternoon game in nearby Comiskey Park.
I have faint recollections of the event, but had lost Bostock’s career to the past until I stumbled upon Rinaldi’s work. The 8-episode series takes listeners through his early years, time at what is now Cal State Northridge, his route to the Majors, the decision to head west to the California Angels when granted free agency, and, ultimately, the circumstances surrounding his shooting and the trial of his killer.
It is a remarkable story and one I cannot recommend highly enough for anyone who enjoys baseball.
Without giving anything away, I was beyond shocked that the Angels-White Sox played their game the next afternoon. Less than 12 hours after learning their teammate had been killed, MLB still had the teams play!?! I’m not sure I was ever a Commissioner Bowie Kuhn fan, but man. Then, almost as infuriating, the evening of Bostock’s funeral the following Thursday, the Angels hosted the White Sox in Anaheim. Notably, California won both games: 7-3, in Chicago, and, 11-7, in Anaheim. Rookie Carney Lansford, who took over Bostock’s third spot in the batting order, homered in each victory.
Please find a YouTube trailer of “Wesley” below. Check it out.