No on 1 and 2 so far.
Mick is right on #3, County Stadium
Mick is basically correct on #4 and #5 although Clark himself says it was on a 1-1 count. (I recall it as 0-1 but hey, I wasn’t in the batter’s box)
The reason Mays hit leadoff that day: he and Richie Ashburn were in a tight battle for the batting title. Word came that Ashburn had gone 3 for 4 in his game to finish at .350. Someone calculated that Willie would have to go 5 for 5 to win the crown. So Rigney put him at leadoff to give him a chance at 5 ABs. Mays got hits his first two times up, but “only” finished 2 for 5, .347
Mick is right on #3, County Stadium
Mick is basically correct on #4 and #5 although Clark himself says it was on a 1-1 count. (I recall it as 0-1 but hey, I wasn’t in the batter’s box)
The reason Mays hit leadoff that day: he and Richie Ashburn were in a tight battle for the batting title. Word came that Ashburn had gone 3 for 4 in his game to finish at .350. Someone calculated that Willie would have to go 5 for 5 to win the crown. So Rigney put him at leadoff to give him a chance at 5 ABs. Mays got hits his first two times up, but “only” finished 2 for 5, .347