Record Breaking Evening

St Louis Cardinals v Philadelphia Phillies, August 10, 1981

Veterans Stadium, Section 725 Row 21 Seat 14

The 1981 Major League Baseball strike was the fifth work stoppage in Major League Baseball since 1972. The players latest hissy fit began on June 12 and forced the cancellation of 713 games in the middle of the regular season.

I was at home watching the 5 o'clock Action News with Jim Gardner on Channel 6 when the announcement was made that the strike settled. This was not news enough to raise my interest. But Pete Rose was one hit away from breaking Stan Musial's National League hit record of 3460 hits. And the defending World Series champs were playing Musial's old team, the Cardinals.

As I ran out my back door as my neighbor was running out his back door with the same idea. Go to The Vet and try to get a ticket. And we did. Not good seats, but we were inside the ballpark.

It was a Monday night. Not typically a popular night to go to the park. But the strike was over, the Phils were defending World Series champs and they were in 1st place when the strike began. Plus there was an opportunity to witness history. 60,561 felt the same way.

Larry Christianson took the mound for the Phils. He gave up a 1st inning home run to Keith Hernandez. Pete Rose stepped up to the plate to led off the bottom of the 1st. He hit a ground ball single but it was ruled an error. Musial's record remained intact. Mike Schmidt hit a double and Rose scored on a wild pitch while Gary Matthews was at bat.

Rose got another chance in the 3rd but grounded out to the pitcher, Bob Forsch to the disappointment of 60,000 plus standing fans. Rose had another chance in the 5th only to ground out to 2nd.

The Cards put 4 runs on the board in the 4th, 6th and 7th.

With St Louis releiver Mark Littell on the mound to start the bottom of the 8th, Rose led off which would most likely be his last bat of the evening. Tension grew. The Phils were already down 5 to 1. Rose hit a clean single to left to break Musial hit record with 3,631 hits. Rose acknowledged the crowd of 60,561. Play stopped and Stan Musial was marched out to congratulate the new NL hit king. Schmidt hit Rose as 2 more scored for the Phils in the 8th.

The visiting Cards ruined the evening with back to back home runs in the 9th by Sixto Lescano and Gene Tenace.

I still have the 8 1/2 x 11 placard they gave out to fans as exited the stadium that evening. I also have the seat plate from my seat. The plates were held on with 2 rivets. My seat, ironically #14, had one rivit popped. With a little tug, I was able to bring home an extra souvenir.

After the game Rose received a congratulatory phone call from President Ronald Reagan.