36 YEARS AGO TODAY (April 25, 1970):
Tiger P Earl Wilson fans for the 3rd out in the
7th inning against the Twins. On the 3rd strike by
Jim Kaat, Twins C Paul Ratliff traps the ball in
the dirt, and must either throw to 1B or tag the
batter. Instead he rolls the ball back to the
mound, ignoring the fact that ump John Rice has not
signaled a K. As the Twins head for their dugout,
Wilson begins running the bases and is around 3B
when OF Brant Alyea retrieves the ball and throws
to SS Leo Cardenas, who is standing by home.
Wilson turns back to 3B but Cardenas and Alyea run
him down for a 7-6-7 out on a 3rd strike. Wilson
pulls a hamstring on the play and leaves, trailing,
2–1, and Detroit ties it up 3–3 in the 9th. But
Harmon Killebrew singles home Tony Oliva in the
bottom of the 9th for the win.