This Day in Baseball History: August 31st, 1969

Nothing like a good kiss from a buxom blonde to get the old stick going, huh?

On August 31, 1969:

Morganna uses her magic powers to get Clete Boyer back on track.


Nerd Alert. In Arthurian legend, Morganna is a sorceress that is expelled from court by Guinevere for having an affair. Pissed, she plots against Guinevere while continuing to hone her magical craft under Merlin, and she also attempts to kill Arthur (her brother) a few times. In the end, however, she brings Arthur to Avalon where she heals him so that he can return in the future in Britain's greatest need (some say Winston Churchill was that man during WWII).

Anyway, Morganna Roberts (from Louisville, Kentucky -- woohoo!) was a relatively popular entertainer. Known for her extremely large breasts, she appeared in Playboy a few times, and she even made an appearance in the movie Kingpin. In reference to her legendary tatas, she once quipped that Dolly Parton was "flat-chested". She, however, was more known for her baseball escapades. She frequently came on to the field during games to plant a kiss on an unsuspecting player, and consequently, she received the nickname "Kissing Bandit". She kissed (or at least tried to kiss) George Brett, Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken, Jr., Johnny Bench, steve Garvey, and Don Mattingly among others. After each instance, she was arrested for disorderly conduct.

On August 31, 1969, Clete Boyer became another recipient of her advances, and it came just in time. Mired in a 1-for-17 slump, Boyer needed something ... anything ... to get him going, and Morganna ran on to the field to give him a kiss. Boyer followed that up with a sheepish grin and an RBI single. Two hits later, he had a nice night. Over his next 15 at-bats, he laced 8 hits.


Trivia Time
Morganna noted, "My career began with a bet and his ended with one" in reference to her first kiss. Who did she kiss?

Tuesday's Answer --> Allman Brothers Band