Bob Baxter Throws Complete-Game Nine-Hitter and Offense Rallies 14 Hits After a One-Hour-and-Forty-Minute Umpire Delay at Mark Devlin Field
LAWRENCE — Norwood American Legion Baseball Coach Pete Wall admitted that his squad could be in trouble if his top pitcher, Tim Cox, was unable to take the mound for the opening game of their best-of-three playoff series against Lawrence.
Theoretically, Wall was right on the money, but he could not have planned a better outcome when Cox had to scratch due to a sore back.
Stepping into the void, Bob Baxter delivered a stellar complete-game, nine-hit performance, backed by a potent 14-hit offensive onslaught that propelled Norwood to a resounding 15-3 victory last night at Mark Devlin Field. The series shifts immediately to Norwood’s Balch Field tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Cox had originally been slated to start and even began warming up, but a bizarre one-hour-and-forty-minute delay caused by a no-show umpiring crew prompted Cox to realize his back was too stiff to throw. “I threw at practice [Monday] and Coach Wall told me I might be pitching tonight,” Baxter said. “Timmy’s back started stiffening, but I was ready. I usually throw mostly curves, but I stayed with my fastball tonight because it was working. It was the best I’ve thrown all year.”
After a 1-1 tie through the early frames—sparked initially by an opening-frame home run to left field by Norwood’s Andy French and answered by Lawrence’s Ken Covey—Norwood broke the game wide open with six runs in the fifth inning and seven more in the sixth. Dave McMullen, playing through a tender hamstring, paced the assault with a home run and two singles. Second baseman Mike Wall went 3-for-6 with a double and two RBIs, while Ned Brigham smashed a towering home run to left-center during the fifth-inning surge. Additional offensive contributions came from Bob Goonan, Chris Malouf, Joe Benson, Pete Wall, and Derek Ghostlaw. Baxter successfully shut down the Lawrence lineup, which had previously eliminated Natick, setting the stage for tonight’s home matchup.
(Reporting by Mark Knowlton for The Patriot Ledger).
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
-
Lou Gehrig League Debuts in Norwood-July 11, 1973
Inaugural Season of the Lou Gehrig Baseball League On July 11, 1973, the newly formed Lou Gehrig League prepared to launch its inaugural teenage baseball season. ⠀ The debut was scheduled for a Thursday night under the lights at American Legion Stadium in Norwood, featuring two teams of 13 and 14-year-old local boys. Named in…
-
Norwood Defeats Wellesley 4-1-July 10, 1973
Norwood vs. Wellesley American Legion Baseball On the evening of July 9, 1973, the Norwood American Legion baseball team traveled to Wellesley with aspirations of securing a lead in the Zone 6A standings. The team successfully achieved its goal, returning home with a 4-1 victory, which placed them just a half game ahead of Walpole…
-
Norwood’s Upset Victory in Zone 6A American Legion Baseball-July 14, 1971
The Patriot Ledger’s coverage of the Zone 6A American Legion baseball games on July 13, 1971, revealed a series of thrilling matches that left fans on the edge of their seats. One of the most notable upsets occurred when Norwood defeated league leader Needham in a closely contested game. As the evening began, Needham’s Jack…
-
Joe Porcello Joins Norwood’s Lineage of All-Around Baseball Superstars-April 5, 1971
Norwood High School has produced its share of standout athletes, and in 1971, Joe Porcello emerged as the latest “does‑it‑all” baseball star. Following in the footsteps of Richie Hebner and Bill Travers, Porcello earned praise for his versatility and dominance on the diamond.Porcello, a senior, excelled in hitting, fielding, and pitching, making him a rare…
-
Bill Travers Drafted by Milwaukee Brewers-June 5, 1970
Fresh off setting the all-time Norwood High pitching record, 17-year-old lefty Bill Travers is heading to professional baseball after being drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers.
-
Norwood’s Loss Means Title Tie‑This Day In Norwood History‑May 28, 1969
The Norwood Mustangs entered their final Bay State League game of the 1969 season with a simple assignment: defeat a Dedham team sitting below .500 and claim the league championship outright. But baseball has a way of humbling even the strongest clubs, and after 11 tense innings, Norwood found itself on the wrong end of…
-
Mustangs’ Coach lopes It Happens-May 22, 1969
On May 22, 1969, Norwood baseball fans were buzzing with anticipation. The Norwood High School Mustangs, already leading the Bay State League, were preparing for a marquee matchup against Walpole. But the real story was the lanky junior left‑hander who had become the talk of the town: Bill Travers. Travers, who had already compiled a…
-
Pirates Rookie Richie Hebner On a Hot Streak-May 13, 1969
This Day In Norwood History-May 13, 1969-Pirates Rookie Richie Hebner On a Hot Streak
-
Giampa, Hebner Boost Norwood-May 25, 1966
On May 23, 1966, the Norwood High School Mustangs traveled to Natick and delivered a gritty, late‑inning surge to secure a 4–2 Bay State League victory, powered by the steady arm of Joe Giampa and the explosive bat of Richie Hebner. Natick struck first, plating a run in the bottom of the opening inning. But…
-
Norwood All-Star Baseball-August 5, 1965
This Day In Norwood History-August 4, 1965-Norwood All-Star Baseball
Discover more from Norwood Historical Society
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.