Chicago Cubs: A look at five random team heroes

Chicago Cubs: What reliever Lindy McDaniel did on June 6th, 1963, was incredibly rare.

The box score of the game between the Cubs and Giants at Wrigley Field that day does not look like anything out of the ordinary. It was a 3-2 Cubs win in 10 innings. Hall of Famer Juan Marichal started for the Giants. Seems reasonable, right? Well, the way it ended was pretty nuts.

Lindy McDaniel, a relief pitcher for the Cubs, won the game by hitting a walk-off home run to center field. He hit it off seven-time All-Star Billy Pierce, who came in for Marichal. It was on a 2-2 count as he was leading off the bottom of the inning after he came in to get the two final outs in the top of the inning. One of the outs he recorded was picking off Hall of Famer Willy Mays at second.

McDaniel himself had a very successful career, pitching to a 3.45 ERA and made two All-Star appearances in 21 seasons. He played for the Cardinals, Cubs, Giants, Yankees and Royals in his MLB career. The 1963 Cubs did not go anywhere in terms of postseason berths, but this was a very cool and historical moment.