Sal’s Lucky Day

“Keep the ball and make yourself some money, kid.”

Bygone baseball by C. Philip Francis

Did you see that bloody face on television, I mean the fellow who grabbed Barry Bonds’ 600^th home run ball and held on as though his life was at stake? It was. Although the owner of the latest piece of highly valued memorabilia received a beating in the process he saw something else other than one prized baseball – dollar $ign$. His name is Jay Arsenault, a 36-year old carpenter from Vacaville, California and he told a San Francisco reporter, “People were trying to kill me for it.”

Sport memorabilia experts say that Bonds’ ball might fetch up to one million dollars, but how does one snare a baseball worth thousands – or even millions? Is it pure luck or is there more to it? Sal Durante knows how…

By 1961 Babe Ruth’s 34-year single-season record of 60 home runs had been challenged by Jimmie Foxx with 58 in 1932 and Hank Greenberg’s 58 six years later, and now the New York Yankees’ M and M boys, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris were in pursuit of Ruth’s elusive number of 60. In 1961 baseball added two expansion teams changing the schedule from 154 games to 162, or eight more games than Ruth. With Maris hitting third and Mantle following the slugging duo preyed on the league’s watered-down pitching staff throughout much of the season.

Although Mickey’s health limited his playing time the North Dakota-born Maris had cleared the fences 58 times, and would be playing Game 154 in Baltimore - Ruth’s home town. Roger did not break the record in 154 games, but did hit Number 60 in Game 159. It all came down to the final contest that would be in Yankee Stadium against the Boston Red Sox. The left-handed Maris would now be facing rookie 24-year old Tracy Stallard, a right-handed fast ball pitcher who had won only two games that year.

On October 1, 1961 nineteen-year-old Sal Durante, an avid baseball fan from Brooklyn, just wanted to see a game and maybe snag a ball during batting practice. He invited his girlfriend, Rosemarie, along with his cousin and one other lady. Sal knew that Maris would most likely hit a home run ball into the right field stands, and so he bought tickets for the lower right field six-seat box with three chairs behind the other three. Sal began the game by sitting in front, but in the fourth inning he asked to change seats so he could be one row higher up.

In the first inning Maris lifted an easy fly ball into left field, and was now up again in the fourth. Stallard’s third pitch came in high and over the plate. Maris swung sending the ball over the head of right fielder Lu Clinton into row 15 not far from where Sal was sitting. At first the teenager thought the ball would go over his head, but he jumped on his seat and reached as high as he could. The ball fell in his hand, and although he was knocked into the row behind he held on. Unlike the altercations after Sosa, McGwire, and Bonds hit those historical baseballs in recent years, there were no brawls as the stadium officials were quickly at Sal’s side.

With ball in hand Durante, his party, and park officials were walking back to the offices when they met Maris. Sal attempted to give the ball to Roger who said, “Keep the ball and make yourself some money, kid.” The Yankees insisted that they keep the baseball in the stadium for security reasons, and to make sure that he would get the same item back, Sal wrote “S.D.” on the ball.

The New York Ballclub had previously announced that if anyone retrieves Roger Maris’ 61^st home run baseball a restaurant owner from Sacramento, California was offering $5,000 for that ball. Restaurateur Sam Gordon soon contacted Sal who was invited to travel to California for the exchange. Sal and Rosemarie were about to be married so the trip west became their honeymoon paid in full by Gordon.

When they all met at the Sacramento eatery Maris was there. Gordon bought the ball from Sal, displayed it for some time, and then gave it to the Yankee star. Reporters and photographers were in attendance, and it became a publicity coup for Gordon who made business cards showing the transaction

Mr. and Mrs. Sal Durante went back to normal life. They were given two 1962 New York Yankees season passes, and were asked to throw out several “first balls” at games. As of 1998 Sal and Rosemarie were married 37 years with three sons and four grandchildren. The names of Sal Durante and Roger Maris were resurrected, however, on September 8, 1998 when Mark McGwire broke Maris’ 37-year record. (Note: The one-season home run number has since been erased by Barry Bonds.) The name of Sal Durante went back into baseball oblivion for the second time in his life.

After Tracy Stallard allowed Maris’ 61^st home run, the pitcher said, “I have nothing to be ashamed about. He hit 60 others, didn’t he?” Stallard’s seven-year career included stops with the Mets and Cardinal, and retired with a record of 30 wins and 57 losses. Breaking the record of a New York Yankee icon does not make one popular, but Roger. won his second MVP award and was named the Catholic Athlete of the Year. Roger Maris died in 1985 of lymph-gland cancer at the age of 51.

The Maris ball can be seen at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York with the initials “S.D.” Sal still has his lucky rain check stub – autographed by Roger Maris, of course.

Chatter from the Dugout welcomes comments, and may be reached at: dugoutchatter@ejourney.com

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