Julio Navarro--1966
Talk about having a bad season, 1966
couldn’t have been worse for Julio
Navarro.
Summoned by Tiger manager Chuck
Dressen on April 17, 1966 in the middle
of the seventh inning, Navarro was
entrusted with a 4-3 Detroit lead over the
hapless Washington Senators.
Entering the contest in place of starter
Hank Aguire with two outs and runners
on first and second, the right-hander
plunked right-fielder Fred Valentine to
load the bases. Senator manager Gil
Hodges then sent Bob Chance to the
plate in place of the light-hitting
shortstop Eddie Brinkman. Chance
responded with a grand slam homer.
Having lost the lead, a dejected Navarro
served up a fat one to the next hitter,
Washington third sacker Ken McMullen,
who deposited it over the fence.
Having seen enough, Dressen signaled
for Fred Gladding take a shot at getting
the last out of the inning.
The unfortunate outburst by the
Senators would punch Navarro’s one-
way ticket back to the minor leagues,
while leaving him with an infinite ERA for
the 1966 season.
Editor’s Note: Navarro would resurface in
the big leagues in 1970 for the Atlanta
Braves while putting the final touches on
his six-year big league career that saw
him go 7-9, 3.65. He would sire a son,
Jamie, who would enjoy a much more
successful big league career during the
1990s for the Milwaukee Brewers and
both the White Sox and Cubs.
(1/26/11)
couldn’t have been worse for Julio
Navarro.
Summoned by Tiger manager Chuck
Dressen on April 17, 1966 in the middle
of the seventh inning, Navarro was
entrusted with a 4-3 Detroit lead over the
hapless Washington Senators.
Entering the contest in place of starter
Hank Aguire with two outs and runners
on first and second, the right-hander
plunked right-fielder Fred Valentine to
load the bases. Senator manager Gil
Hodges then sent Bob Chance to the
plate in place of the light-hitting
shortstop Eddie Brinkman. Chance
responded with a grand slam homer.
Having lost the lead, a dejected Navarro
served up a fat one to the next hitter,
Washington third sacker Ken McMullen,
who deposited it over the fence.
Having seen enough, Dressen signaled
for Fred Gladding take a shot at getting
the last out of the inning.
The unfortunate outburst by the
Senators would punch Navarro’s one-
way ticket back to the minor leagues,
while leaving him with an infinite ERA for
the 1966 season.
Editor’s Note: Navarro would resurface in
the big leagues in 1970 for the Atlanta
Braves while putting the final touches on
his six-year big league career that saw
him go 7-9, 3.65. He would sire a son,
Jamie, who would enjoy a much more
successful big league career during the
1990s for the Milwaukee Brewers and
both the White Sox and Cubs.
(1/26/11)
