Jerry Buchek
Encyclopedia
Gerald Peter Buchek is a former professional baseball player. He was an infielder
over parts of 7 seasons (1961, 1963-1968) with the St. Louis Cardinals
and New York Mets
. Buchek was a member of the 1964 World Series
champion Cardinals. For his career he hit .220 with 22 home run
and 108 runs batted in in 421 games played.
On April 12, 1966 he hit the first ever home run
at Busch Memorial Stadium
.
Among Mets fans he was known for starting an improbable comeback victory against the Atlanta Braves
on July 9, 1967. Down 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and nobody on base, Buchek, batting .230, was sent in to pinch hit for Bud Harrelson
, who already had four hits, including a double, that game. Buchek hit a home run to tie the game, and the Mets went on to score another, to win 5-4.http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196707090.shtml
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
over parts of 7 seasons (1961, 1963-1968) with the 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...
and 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...
. Buchek was a member of the 1964 World Series
1964 World Series
The 1964 World Series pitted the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals against the American League champion New York Yankees, with the Cardinals prevailing in seven games. St...
champion Cardinals. For his career he hit .220 with 22 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...
and 108 runs batted in in 421 games played.
On April 12, 1966 he hit the first ever 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...
at Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....
.
Among Mets fans he was known for starting an improbable comeback victory 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....
on July 9, 1967. Down 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and nobody on base, Buchek, batting .230, was sent in to pinch hit for Bud Harrelson
Bud Harrelson
Derrel McKinley "Bud" Harrelson is a former Major League Baseball shortstop who played for the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers from to . After retiring, he served as a coach for the World Champion Mets, and as manager of the Mets in 1990 and 1991...
, who already had four hits, including a double, that game. Buchek hit a home run to tie the game, and the Mets went on to score another, to win 5-4.http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196707090.shtml