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Shibe Park, Wes Covington Smashes a homerun, Sept. 1, 1963

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This is a beautiful 12 x 18 color photo from the Luber Collection of Shibe Park Photos.  This is a first generation color copy, produced from the original 35 mm color slide taken by my brother in 1963.  The slides from this collection have been tucked away for almost 40 years in a slide tray and were only recently rediscovered.  The slides were all in pristine condition, and the color prints are absolutely gorgeous. 

Buy now and receive the following bonus material to go along with the photo:

Bonus #1!   A signed certificate of authenticity describing the date and circumstances of the game and the situation depicted in the photo.  This document will certify that the photo is an authorized, genuine first generation copy produced by the owner of the original photo.

Bonus #2!  You will also receive a separate document providing the starting line ups, the inning by inning play by play, and the box score from this game.  

Bonus #3! You will also receive a copy of a write up of the game from the New York Times.

The Story Behind The Luber Collection

The date is September 1, 1963, less than three months before our innocence will be shattered forever by the assassination of President Kennedy.  But for now, and for a while longer, all is well with the world.

Future Hall of Famer Stan "The Man" Musial has announced that he will retire at the end of the year, and the Cardinals are in town to play the Phillies.  

My brother is 15 and I am 12.  We hop on the 59 bus in Northeast Philadelphia and take it to the Frankford elevated.  We get the train to the Somerset station, and take the number 54 bus to 21st and Lehigh.  It's a beautiful summer day, and we are not going to miss Stan the Man's last appearance at Connie Mack Stadium.

Because this is to be Stan Musial's last game ever at Shibe Park / Connie Mack Stadium, my brother brings his camera along to take pictures of the game, and he takes a series of spectacular color shots from our seats in the upper deck behind home plate.

This Picture

It's the bottom of the sixth inning and there are two men out for the Phillies, who trail the Cardinals 7-1.  The game is getting on and the shadows are growing long -- on the field, on the game, on aged Connie Mack Stadium, and worst of all, on our childhood.  Then, for a brief moment, our spirits are lifted, as Wes Covington blasts a solo home run over the right field wall.  That's Wes rounding third base, and Roy Sievers waiting at home plate, bat in hand, to congratulate him.

St. Louis pitcher Curt Simmons evokes the classic "hand-on-hips" pose typical of pitchers who have just been taken long.  Perhaps he is thinking, "At least I don't play for the Phillies any more," in order to console himself.   Third baseman Ken Boyer holds his glove in his right hand as he watches Covington circle the bases.  Catcher Tim McCarver waits behind home plate.  To his right is the Phillies batboy.  (This is obvious because he has no number on his back.)

Also visible in the picture are St. Louis left fielder Gary Kolb, who came on to replace Stan Musial in the fifth inning, and shortstop Dick Groat.

This is the only picture in the Luber Collection that shows the entire left field wall -- every billboard is clear and readable, as are the outfield distance signs of 334 in left, 420 in left center, and 447 in center field.  The batting cage behind the 447 sign is also visible in center field.

The scoreboard in foul territory in left field shows that it is the sixth inning.  Roy Sievers would to on to fly out to end the inning.