The epicenter in North Philly

Chico Ruiz steals home 62 years ago today as Art Mahaffey’s pitch eludes catcher Clay Dalrymple

A stunned Monday night crowd of 20,067 at Connie Mack Stadium finds itself 62 years ago today at the epicenter of the beginning to the end for the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies as Cincinnati rookie Chico Ruiz brazenly steals home with two outs in the sixth inning against right-hander Art Mahaffey.

Ruiz’s daring dash – much to the surprise of future Hall of Famer Frank Robinson at the plate, no less – accounts for the only run the 1-0 game in North Philly.

Ruiz easily scores as a startled Mahaffey throws his pitch past catcher Clay Dalrymple.

The Phillies fritter away a great opportunity to tie the score off Reds starter John Tsitouris in the ninth after Wes Covington leads off the inning with a double to right-center.

Tsitouris promptly retires John Herrnstein on a pop-up to shortstop Leo Cardenas and Dalrymple on a grounder to second baseman Pete Rose that moves pinch-runner Adolfo Phillips to third base.

Tsitouris then walks Tony Taylor before striking out Ruben Amaro Sr. to end the game with Phillips standing just 90 feet away with the tying run.

The first-place Phillies, who begin the night 6 ½ games ahead with only 12 games to go, end up losing 10 straight games – a skid that costs them the National League pennant.

The monumental collapse scars a generation of Phillies fans, a burden many of their descendants still share today.

“Losing streaks are funny,” Phillies manager Gene Mauch later says.

“If you lose at the beginning (of the season), you got off to a bad start. If you lose in the middle of the season, you’re in a slump. If you lose at the end, you’re choking.”

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