ALL-STARS SURVIVE LATE SLAM, EDGE SUNS, 6–4:Schoendienst Stings, Mays Mashes in Thriller

The 1956 Kelly Leak All-Stars rode a red-hot bat, a six-run cushion, and some ninth-inning nerves to a 6–4 triumph over the Suffolk Suns on Tuesday, withstanding a thunderous grand slam from Willie Mays that nearly turned the tide.

In a ballgame that had more twists than a Brooklyn subway line, it was Red Schoendienst who played the role of iron horse, punching out four base hits in five trips and keeping the All-Star offense humming through the middle innings. The veteran keystone sacker sprayed singles across the lot like he was shaking ‘em out of a salt shaker.

The All-Stars wasted no time getting on the board, as Bill “Moose” Skowron plated a run in the first with a sharp single. The second saw more fireworks, as Chuck Diering, Al Smith, and Gil McDougald each brought runners home to stake Kelly Leak’s crew to a 4–0 lead.

By the time the third inning wrapped, the All-Stars had built a 6–0 bulge, courtesy of another Schoendienst safety and a bases-loaded walk coaxed by the patient Al Smith. Things looked downright cozy—until the bottom of the seventh.

That’s when the Say Hey Kid said hello, baseball, launching a towering grand slam that cleared center field with room to spare. The Suffolk crowd erupted, and suddenly, the All-Stars’ six-run lead had shrunk to two in the blink of an eye.

But Connie Johnson, who had bent but not broken over seven innings of five-hit ball, handed the keys to the bullpen, and Sandy Consuegra and Paul LaPalme shut the door from there. LaPalme tossed a clean ninth, allowing not even a breeze on the basepaths.

Offensively, the All-Stars piled up 13 hits and drew seven walks—an old-fashioned grind-it-out kind of day. Smith and Diering drew three passes apiece, and Wes Westrum chipped in with multiple knocks behind the dish.

The fielding was crisp on both sides, with neither club committing an error. Westrum handled five chances with aplomb, and the Leakmen even turned a timely double play to keep the Suns at bay.

For Suffolk, Mays finished 2-for-5 with all four of the team’s runs batted in, reminding everyone why he’s the toast of center fielders from coast to coast. Luis Aparicio added two hits and a stolen base that turned heads.

Bob Grim, usually reliable, took the loss for Suffolk, roughed up for six runs in just under three innings. It wasn’t his day, and he tipped his cap to the Leak bats on his way to the showers.