PD: When Rocky rolled: 50 years ago, Colavito’s four homers flattened the Orioles in Baltimore

June 10, 1959. Some night.

After 50 years, those who witnessed perhaps the shining moment in Cleveland’s hard-luck baseball history since the Eisenhower era still remember much of that special game.

The game was televised in Cleveland, back when baseball belonged to radio—as if the event were Hollywood scripted.

First-place Baltimore drew 15,883 fans to Memorial Stadium, a cavernous ballpark that measured just 309 feet down the lines but jutted out to 385 in the power alleys and 410 to dead center.

The Indians jumped on the Orioles in the top of the first as left fielder Minnie Minoso stroked a two-out, three-run homer, scoring center fielder Tito Francona, who had singled, and Colavito, who had walked.

The Tribe clung to a 4-3 lead in the third when Colavito displayed his trademark stretch—the bat across his shoulders, behind his neck—before digging in for his second trip to the plate.

With Tribe first baseman Vic Power on first after a walk, Colavito lifted Jerry Walker’s pitch over the left-field fence, barely staying fair.

...

The best-timed pitch of all was by Kahn’s Wieners, which ran an ad in that day’s Sports section featuring a picture of Colavito with, “Rocky Colavito shows you how to slug home runs ... and how to get 100% meat energy!”

Rocky Colavito… 100% meat energy!