May 2, 1960 & May 2, 1985

50 years ago today

The Fox Cities Foxes finally got a game in after four straight rainouts (Two in Cedar Rapids and two at home against Burlington). And they finally got in the win column. But they did not get completely away from the rain.

This was supposed to be a doubleheader against Burlington, but game two was rained out in the third inning with Burlington leading 3-0. Since this was the final meeting of the series at Goodland Field (I need to go back and correct those last two days because I misread the schedule in my notebook. The first two days of this series were in Appleton).

To the game:

FC..5
BUR 4

Charlie Johnson hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to put the Foxes ahead 5-4. Dean Chance pitched a complete game for the win.

Interesting promotional note from the PC story:

Four live baby foxes, secured by Ray McClone, were among the prizes distributed to fans last night.

Wow. PETA just retroactively sued the 1960 Fox Cities Foxes. Think we could give away four live baby Timber Rattlers at a game later this season? (I almost went with baby snakes, but I don't know if there are that many Frank Zappa fans who read Rattler Radio)

The Foxes are 1-4 on the 1960 season after that win.

25 years ago today

..........................R..H..E
MADISON...013 400 040 -..12.11..2
APPLETON..010 020 000 -...3..4..1

ATTN: 167

PC Headline: Long night for Foxes in 12-3 loss

PC Lede:

It was a long night for the Appleton Foxes, but a short one for Manager Sal Rende.

The Madison Muskies pounded 4 Appleton pitchers in a 12-3 victory at Goodland Field, however, Rende watched most of the game from the stands after being ejected in the third inning.

The loss drops the Foxes (12-8) 5-1/2 games behind the Muskies (18-3) in the Midwest League's Northern Division.

Rende has some advice that is pertinent even today...

"It's not something that we are going to dwell on," said Rende. "We didn't play a very good game, and they did. A team is going to have its share of these games during a season. I'm sure we'll be on the long end of a number of them before the year is over."