62 Strike-outs In One Game

No–this isn’t a typo, and it also is not a story about the author . I spent some time with my Dad recently and we began reminiscing about when Cliff Hicks and Bob “Spud” Grosshuesch umpired baseball games in the area. Both of these SD Baseball Hall of Famers had a sincere interest in promoting the game, and in developing local talent. My Dad reminded me that Spud Grosshuesch holds a record that will most likely never be broken.
How is this linked to the YHS Class of 1969? Bob Hicks’ father is Cliff Hicks, and Pam Grosshuesch’s father is Bob Grosshuesch. Pam has some great memories of traveling to towns like Menno, Crofton, Scotland, and Tabor, while her Dad played or coached. Even prior to her being born, Spud set pitching records at SDSU, and was drafted by the St Louis Cardinals.
Oh, what about those 62 strike-outs....?
Spud pitched for Bonesteel, SD around the time most of us in the YHS Class of 1969 were born. Bonesteel and Platte played one Saturday, and at the end of 15 innings, the score was tied at 1-1. The game was called until the following Saturday, when Spud pitched another 13 innings, and the game ended when Bonesteel won by a score of 5-4. The scorebook was checked later, and it was discovered that Spud had pitched all 28 innings, and he recorded the win with an astonishing 62 strike-outs, in a single game. Today’s superstars can’t even come close to a record like this.
We have seen quite a change since we were kids. It was no problem to ride the bikes over to Fantle or Westside Parks, and as long as we were home by “when the streetlights came on”, our “folks” didn’t worry about us. We had great fun going to the ballgames in those little towns, or shooting the .22 at gophers in a pasture. What a simpler time.
What great memories......come to our reunion and share some more !!!
Oh, and ask about Bob Hicks pitching several innings right handed, and then switching gloves and pitching more innings with the left hand.....or Don Baker’s curved “fungo” bat, or.....

Written by Mike Oleson, with help from Wilbur Foss.