Who Remembers the Braves and Mets On July 4th, 1985

[Dirty]

When they played 19 innings and Rick Camp Hit his only Homerun in the 18th to tie the game for the Bravos... a career .036 Hitter and His only career Homerun... Mets scored 5 runs in the top of the 19th to go up 16-11 and ended up winning 16-13... Game ended at 4 AM in the morning

New York Mets vs Atlanta Braves July 4, 1985 Box Score The box score below is an accurate record of events for the baseball contest played on July 4, 1985 at Fulton County Stadium. The New York Mets defeated the Atlanta Braves and the box score is "ready to surrender its truth to the knowing eye."

"The box score is the catechism of baseball, ready to surrender its truth to the knowing eye." - Author Stanley Cohen in The Man in the Crowd (1981)

Baseball Almanac Box Scores New York Mets 16, Atlanta Braves 13 Game played on Thursday, July 4, 1985 at Fulton County Stadium New York Mets ab r h rbi Dykstra cf 9 1 3 2 Backman 2b 10 2 4 2 Hernandez 1b 10 3 4 3 Carter c 9 1 5 2 Strawberry rf 7 0 3 1 Christensen rf 0 0 0 0 Foster lf 2 0 0 0 Orosco p 0 0 0 0 Sisk p 1 0 0 0 Chapman ph 1 0 0 0 Gorman p 2 0 0 0 Staub ph 0 1 0 0 Darling p 0 0 0 0 Knight 3b 10 2 3 1 Santana ss 4 1 1 0 Johnson ph,ss 5 4 3 2 Gooden p 1 0 0 0 McDowell p 0 0 0 0 Hurdle ph 1 0 0 0 Leach p 2 0 0 0 Heep lf 6 1 2 2 Totals 80 16 28 15 Atlanta Braves ab r h rbi Washington rf 8 3 3 0 Ramirez ss 9 2 3 2 Murphy cf 8 1 1 3 Horner 1b 4 1 1 0 Perry 1b 4 0 0 0 Harper lf 10 3 5 4 Oberkfell 3b 6 1 3 2 Camp p 2 1 1 1 Cerone c 4 1 1 1 Hall pr 0 0 0 0 Benedict c 2 0 0 0 Hubbard 2b 3 0 0 0 Shields p 0 0 0 0 Komminsk ph 1 0 0 0 Sutter p 0 0 0 0 Chambliss ph 1 0 0 0 Forster p 1 0 0 0 Garber p 1 0 0 0 Runge ph,3b 2 0 0 0 Mahler p 1 0 0 0 Dedmon p 1 0 0 0 Zuvella 2b 7 0 0 0 Totals 75 13 18 13 New York 1 0 0 4 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 5 – 16 28 2 Atlanta 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 – 13 18 3 New York Mets IP H R ER BB SO Gooden 2.1 2 2 2 4 3 McDowell 0.2 2 1 1 0 1 Leach 4.0 4 1 1 0 3 Orosco 0.2 1 4 4 3 1 Sisk 4.1 3 0 0 1 0 Gorman W (4-3) 6.0 5 3 3 2 2 Darling 1.0 1 2 0 2 1 Totals 19.0 18 13 11 12 11 Atlanta Braves IP H R ER BB SO Mahler 3.1 6 3 3 4 2 Dedmon 2.0 5 3 3 0 1 Shields 2.2 4 1 1 1 1 Sutter 1.0 3 1 1 0 1 Forster 4.0 3 2 2 1 3 Garber 3.0 1 0 0 2 2 Camp L (2-4) 3.0 6 6 5 2 2 Totals 19.0 28 16 15 10 12 E–Hernandez (2), Johnson (5), Washington (4), Ramirez (11), Camp (2). DP–New York 1, Atlanta 3. PB–Carter (5). 2B–New York Hernandez (13,off Mahler); Knight (8,off Camp), Atlanta Oberkfell (9,off McDowell); Murphy (16,off Sisk); Harper (8,off Sisk). 3B–New York Hernandez (2,off Dedmon), Atlanta Washington (3,off Gooden). HR–New York Hernandez (5,8th inning off Shields 0 on, 0 out); Johnson (3,13th inning off Forster 1 on, 2 out), Atlanta Harper (8,13th inning off Gorman 1 on, 2 out); Camp (1,18th inning off Gorman 0 on, 2 out). SH–Backman (5,off Garber); Christensen (1,off Camp). SF–Dykstra (1,off Camp). IBB–Foster (2,by Shields); Hernandez (11,by Garber); Staub (1,by Camp); Johnson (3,by Camp); Oberkfell (2,by Sisk). SB–Backman (9,2nd base off Dedmon/Cerone); Strawberry (8,2nd base off Shields/Cerone). CS–Washington (3,2nd base by Leach/Carter). IBB–Sisk (3,Oberkfell); Shields (3,Foster); Garber (4,Hernandez); Camp 2 (5,Staub,Johnson). T–6:10. A–44,947. Game played on Thursday, July 4, 1985 at Fulton County Stadium

[Dirty]

July 04, 2004

The 4th, Baseball, and Rick Camp

In the eighth inning with my Atlanta Braves leading the slumping Boston Red Sox 10-4 and on their way to a series win, the skies over Turner Field opened and one of those afternoon thunderstorms common to the South forced a brief rain delay. When play resumed, I waited for the inevitable, but it never came. (Or if it did, I was too absorbed in Catch-22 to notice.) Amazingly, the July 4, 1985, 19-inning classic at Fulton County Stadium was never mentioned by Braves announcer Pete Van Weiren. That particular game was delayed twice and included an improbable 18th-inning home run by lifetime .060 hitter Rick Camp to tie it up and send it further into the wee hours of the morning. Eventually, the hated Mets would pull it out, a victory that was marked by Keith Hernandez hitting for the cycle.
But the story doesn't end there. Even though the calendar had rolled over to the 5th, the several hundred fans that remained at the stadium at four in the morning were treated to the 4th of July fireworks. According to reports, 911 operators were inundated with phone calls from the neighborhoods surrounding Fulton County Stadium fearing that the city was under attack.
I do remember watching this game, at least up to some point when even a diehard had to sleep. Since then, the game has become one of legend, often repeated ad infinitum on TBS or by long-time Braves fans who suffered through not only that game but most of the 80s with one of the Major League's worst teams.
Below, you'll find a play-by-play of the game courtesy of Retrosheet. If you've never explored this site and you're a baseball fan, I highly recommend wasting away a day or two.
+ Boxscore from the Ultimate Mets Database
+ Profile of Rick Camp from Baseball Library
+ "The Night They Played Forever"

METS 1ST: 90 minute rain delay before start; Dykstra
grounded out (second to first); Backman singled; Backman was
picked off first (pitcher to first); Hernandez doubled; Carter
singled [Hernandez scored]; ball hit puddle and stopped;
Strawberry singled [Carter to second]; Foster walked [Carter to
third, Strawberry to second]; Knight struck out; 1 R, 4 H, 0 E,
3 LOB. Mets 1, Braves 0.
BRAVES 1ST: Washington tripled; Ramirez grounded out (shortstop
to first) [Washington scored]; Murphy walked; Horner walked
[Murphy to second]; Harper struck out; Oberkfell walked [Murphy
to third, Horner to second]; Cerone grounded out (first to
pitcher); 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 3 LOB. Mets 1, Braves 1.
METS 2ND: Santana made an out to center; Gooden struck out;
Dykstra made an out to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 1,
Braves 1.
BRAVES 2ND: Hubbard grounded out (shortstop to first); Mahler
struck out; Washington walked; Ramirez made an out to center; 0
R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 1, Braves 1.
METS 3RD: Backman grounded out (second to first); Hernandez made
an out to center; Carter walked; Strawberry walked [Carter to
second]; Foster walked [Carter to third, Strawberry to second];
Knight lined to right; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 3 LOB. Mets 1, Braves 1.
BRAVES 3RD: Murphy struck out; Horner singled; 41 minute rain
delay; MCDOWELL REPLACED GOODEN (PITCHING); Harper singled
[Horner to second]; Oberkfell doubled [Horner scored, Harper
scored]; Cerone struck out; Hubbard grounded out (pitcher to
first); 2 R, 3 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 1, Braves 3.
METS 4TH: Santana singled; HURDLE BATTED FOR MCDOWELL; Hurdle
made an out to left; Dykstra singled [Santana to second]; DEDMON
REPLACED MAHLER (PITCHING); Backman singled [Santana scored,
Dykstra to third]; ball hit puddle (now deeper) and
stopped; Hernandez tripled [Dykstra scored, Backman
scored]; Washington slipped in the outfield; Carter
singled [Hernandez scored]; Strawberry grounded out (first to
pitcher) [Carter to second]; Foster made an out to right; 4 R, 5
H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 5, Braves 3.
BRAVES 4TH: LEACH REPLACED HURDLE (PITCHING); Dedmon grounded
out (third to first); Washington singled; Ramirez forced
Washington (second to shortstop); Murphy grounded out (third to
first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 5, Braves 3.
METS 5TH: Knight reached on an error by Ramirez [Knight to
first]; Santana grounded out (catcher to first) [Knight to
second]; Leach struck out; Dykstra grounded out (pitcher to
first); 0 R, 0 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. Mets 5, Braves 3.
BRAVES 5TH: Horner struck out; Harper singled; Oberkfell
grounded out (second to first) [Harper to second]; Cerone
singled [Harper scored]; Hubbard struck out; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1
LOB. Mets 5, Braves 4.
METS 6TH: Backman singled; Backman stole second; Hernandez lined
to center; Carter singled [Backman to third]; SHIELDS REPLACED
HUBBARD (PITCHING); ZUVELLA REPLACED DEDMON (PLAYING 2B);
Strawberry singled [Backman scored, Carter to third]; Strawberry
stole second; Foster was walked intentionally; Knight grounded
into a double play (third to second to first) [Foster out at
second]; 1 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Mets 6, Braves 4.
BRAVES 6TH: Zuvella made an out to left; Washington singled;
Washington was caught stealing second (catcher to shortstop);
Ramirez grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Mets 6, Braves 4.
METS 7TH: Santana made an out to second; Leach grounded out
(second to first); Dykstra singled; Backman made an out to left;
0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 6, Braves 4.
BRAVES 7TH: Murphy grounded out (third to first); Horner struck
out; Harper grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Mets 6, Braves 4.
METS 8TH: Hernandez homered; Carter struck out; Strawberry
singled; Foster grounded into a double play (shortstop to second
to first) [Strawberry out at second]; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 0 LOB.
Mets 7, Braves 4.
BRAVES 8TH: OROSCO REPLACED FOSTER (PITCHING); HEEP REPLACED
LEACH (PLAYING LF); Oberkfell singled; Carter allowed a passed
ball [Oberkfell to second]; Cerone walked; KOMMINSK BATTED FOR
SHIELDS; Komminsk struck out; Zuvella made an out to center
[Oberkfell to third]; Washington walked [Cerone to second];
Ramirez walked [Oberkfell scored, Cerone to third, Washington to
second]; SISK REPLACED OROSCO (PITCHING); Murphy doubled [Cerone
scored, Washington scored, Ramirez scored]; Horner lined to
second; 4 R, 2 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 7, Braves 8.
METS 9TH: SUTTER REPLACED KOMMINSK (PITCHING); Knight struck
out; JOHNSON BATTED FOR SANTANA; Johnson singled; Heep singled
[Johnson to third]; Dykstra singled [Johnson scored, Heep to
second]; Backman forced Dykstra (second to shortstop) [Heep to
third]; Hernandez made an out to left; 1 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2 LOB.
Mets 8, Braves 8.
BRAVES 9TH: JOHNSON STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING SS); Harper made an
out to first; Oberkfell grounded out (first unassisted); Cerone
reached on an error by Johnson [Cerone to first]; HALL RAN FOR
CERONE; CHAMBLISS BATTED FOR SUTTER; Chambliss grounded out
(second to first); 0 R, 0 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. Mets 8, Braves 8.
METS 10TH: PERRY REPLACED HORNER (PLAYING 1B); BENEDICT REPLACED
HALL (PLAYING C ); FORSTER REPLACED CHAMBLISS (PITCHING); Carter
made an out to left; Strawberry walked; Sisk struck out; Knight
grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 8,
Braves 8.
BRAVES 10TH: Zuvella grounded out (shortstop to first);
Washington made an out to shortstop; Ramirez singled; Murphy
forced Ramirez (third to second); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 8,
Braves 8.
METS 11TH: Johnson grounded out (shortstop to first); Heep
grounded out (second to first); Dykstra struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0
E, 0 LOB. Mets 8, Braves 8.
BRAVES 11TH: Perry grounded out (pitcher to first); Harper
doubled; Oberkfell was walked intentionally; Benedict grounded
into a double play (shortstop to second to first) [Oberkfell out
at second]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 8, Braves 8.
METS 12TH: Backman grounded out (pitcher to first); Hernandez
singled; Carter grounded into a double play (shortstop to second
to first) [Hernandez out at second]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets
8, Braves 8.
BRAVES 12TH: Forster grounded out (second to first); Zuvella
lined to second; Washington made an out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E,
0 LOB. Mets 8, Braves 8.
METS 13TH: Strawberry struck out; CHAPMAN BATTED FOR SISK;
Chapman made an out to shortstop; Knight singled; Johnson
homered [Knight scored]; Heep grounded out (first unassisted); 2
R, 2 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 10, Braves 8.
BRAVES 13TH: GORMAN REPLACED CHAPMAN (PITCHING); Ramirez
singled; Murphy struck out; Perry struck out; Harper homered
[Ramirez scored]; Oberkfell popped to catcher in foul territory;
2 R, 2 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 10, Braves 10.
METS 14TH: GARBER REPLACED FORSTER (PITCHING); Dykstra walked;
Backman out on a sacrifice bunt (pitcher to first) [Dykstra to
second]; Hernandez was walked intentionally; Carter forced
Hernandez (third to second) [Dykstra to third]; Strawberry
struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Mets 10, Braves 10.
BRAVES 14TH: Benedict popped to catcher in foul territory;
Garber made an out to second; Zuvella lined to third; 0 R, 0 H,
0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 10, Braves 10.
METS 15TH: Gorman made an out to left; Knight singled; Johnson
struck out; Heep forced Knight (second to shortstop); 0 R, 1 H,
0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 10, Braves 10.
BRAVES 15TH: Washington made an out to left; Ramirez made an out
to first; Murphy popped to second in foul territory; 0 R, 0 H, 0
E, 0 LOB. Mets 10, Braves 10.
METS 16TH: Dykstra grounded out (second to first); Backman
grounded out (pitcher to first); Hernandez grounded out (second
to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Mets 10, Braves 10.
BRAVES 16TH: Perry made an out to left; Harper made an out to
shortstop; Oberkfell singled; Benedict walked [Oberkfell to
second]; RUNGE BATTED FOR GARBER; Runge made an out to left; 0
R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Mets 10, Braves 10.
METS 17TH: CAMP REPLACED OBERKFELL (PITCHING); RUNGE STAYED IN
GAME (PLAYING 3B); Carter singled; Strawberry struck out;
Strawberry and Johnson ejected for arguing strikeout; Gorman
struck out; Knight forced Carter (third to second); 0 R, 1 H, 0
E, 1 LOB. Mets 10, Braves 10.
BRAVES 17TH: CHRISTENSEN REPLACED STRAWBERRY (PLAYING RF);
Zuvella made an out to second; Washington popped to third in
foul territory; Ramirez singled; Murphy made an out to right; 0
R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Mets 10, Braves 10.
METS 18TH: Johnson singled; Heep reached on an error by Camp
[Johnson to third]; Dykstra hit a sacrifice fly to center
[Johnson scored (unearned)]; Backman forced Heep (pitcher to
shortstop); Hernandez made an out to center; 1 R, 1 H, 1 E, 1
LOB. Mets 11, Braves 10.
BRAVES 18TH: Perry grounded out (pitcher to first); Harper
grounded out (first unassisted); Camp homered; Benedict walked;
Runge forced Benedict (third to second); 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB.
Mets 11, Braves 11.
METS 19TH: Carter singled; Christensen out on a sacrifice bunt
(catcher to second) [Carter to second]; STAUB BATTED FOR GORMAN;
Staub was walked intentionally; Knight doubled [Carter scored,
Staub to third]; Johnson was walked intentionally; Heep singled
to right [Staub scored, Knight scored, Johnson scored (error by
Washington), Heep to second]; Dykstra made an out to center
[Heep to third]; Backman singled [Heep scored]; Hernandez
grounded out (second to first); 5 R, 4 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. Mets 16,
Braves 11.
BRAVES 19TH: DARLING REPLACED STAUB (PITCHING); Zuvella grounded
out (second to first); Washington reached on an error by
Hernandez [Washington to second]; Ramirez made an out to
shortstop; Murphy walked; Perry walked [Washington to third,
Murphy to second]; Harper singled [Washington scored (unearned),
Murphy scored (unearned), Perry to third]; Camp struck out; 2 R,
1 H, 1 E, 2 LOB. Mets 16, Braves 13.




Syntax of Things: The 4th, Baseball, and Rick Camp