"Making A Great Defensive Play Then Leading Off The Next Inning"

. . . a diving catch by Willie Davis of a line drive hit by Jay in order to stop one Red rally.

"Willie Davis will lead off the next inning," announced Scully as the Dodgers ran to their bench, where Davis was applauded. "Naturally."

Scully meant this as an aside, probably, but it's eerily true that a man, after he's made an outstanding defensive play, will often bat first in the next inning, earning fresh, loud applause. (Abner Doubleday and Destiny apparently agreed on this matter when they formulated the rules of baseball.)

Pennant Race, by Reds pitcher Jim Brosnan (1962), writing about the 1961 season*. This was Brosnan's second book, after The Long Season (detailing his 1959 season).…