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Michel Throws Ball to Score a 7-2 Win

In 1972, the Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game was played at RFK Stadium for what was presumed to be the final time. Following is a recap of that contest.

The Republicans Monday night at RFK Stadium broke open a scoreless game in the bottom of the third tinning by scoring five times, and for all intents and purposes icing their ninth win in a row over the Democrats.

Winning pitcher Bob Michel began the decisive third inning by reaching first on an error. After two walks, Don Clausen punched a 2-run single to right field, Wilmer “Vinegar Bend” Mizell then blooped a pop up single to the left and took second on the throw to the plate. Pete Peyser slashed a single to center, scoring two more runs. End of three, Republicans 5 — Democrats 0.

The Dems countered in the fourth when speedy Walter Fauntroy bunted for an error-assisted triple and scored on Mo Udall’s single to center. The GOP scored two more in the fourth on Vinegar Bend Mizell’s long double to left-center. End of four, GOP 7, Dems 1.

The Democrats scored their second run in the top of the fifth when Stu Symington scored from third on a ground ball out.

Winning pitcher Bob Michel struck out one and walked only one. Being a great advocate of self help, he assisted his own cause in the fourth by picking off Jack Brinkley who had become negligent after going to the trouble of stealing second. This play was one of the last gasps for the luckless Democrats.

Loser Henry Gonzalez, who bravely appeared in a Texas Rangers uniform, did not pitch badly. His erratic control hurt him more than the Republican batters. Henry walked five and struck out three.

It was the 10th win in the 11-game Roll Call series for GOP Manager Sil Conte and his spirited moonlighting ballplayers. Editor Sid Yudain presented Conte with the “first leg” of the coveted 4th Roll Call trophy. Democratic Manager Frank Clark, 57, who’s been active in every game of the series, says he intends to stick it out at least for the next three years, so Democrats can claim one trophy with three wins.

At a post-game party sponsored by Sears Roebuck, Dick Ichord was voted Most Valuable Democratic player, and Bob Michel, for the second year, was named the GOP’s MVP.

As usual, John “Skip” Maraney acted as player coordinator and Fowler West was in charge of ticket sales and, with Tom Ward, handled logistics.

In a preliminary game that followed the Congressional tilt, the New York Mets beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 in a game that was hardly as exciting.

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