Fun snowy day research on Johnny Bench scorecard

[nolemmings]

Nice job!

The geek in me had to look up the game, and it is a headscratcher. With the tying run on second and two out in the bottom of the ninth, the Reds chose to pinch hit for the pitcher--with another pitcher!! Only 10 position players had been used, yet there apparently was nobody on the bench (pardon the pun) better than Mel Queen that could bat for Ted Abernathy? That seems absurd. And if the reserves were sick, injured or otherwise genuinely depleted, why not let Johnny Bench bat earlier in the inning and save Ruiz for the pitcher's spot? He came up after a leadoff single. It might have even made some sense if they pinch-hit for Bench using a pitcher who could bunt well but otherwise their strategy seems just plain dumb. Maybe an old newspaper account can explain such weirdness. Johnny probably remembers. BTW, Pavletich was not used in the game, yet apparently was in the ballpark that day, since he signed the program.