April 17, 1968 Chicago Cubs at Atlanta Braves Play by Play and Box Score

View a short video showing advanced box score features / click orange/red text for additional info

BOS 2
CHW 0 NYY 3
@CAL 2 DET 4
CLE 3
(10) MIN 13
WSA 1 BAL 4
@OAK 1 ATL 2
CHC 0 CIN 4
STL 3
(12) NYM 3
SFG 0 PHI 3
LAD 2 PIT 13
HOU 4

Standings at end of play this day

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, Attendance: 5,475

Wednesday, April 17, 1968, 8:05PM
Time of Game: 1:56

Cubs

2-4

Lost 2

9th, 2½ GB

                1  2  3   4  5  6   7  8  9    R  H  E
                -  -  -   -  -  -   -  -  -    -  -  -
Cubs            0  0  0   0  0  0   0  0  0    0  5  1
Braves          0  0  1   0  0  0   1  0  X    2  6  0

W: P Niekro (2-0), L: B Hands (0-2)

Braves

3-4

Won 1

7th, 2 GB

BATTING

Chicago Cubs                 AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
D Kessinger SS                4   0   0   0    0   0  .308  .641    0    0   4   
G Beckert 2B                  4   0   2   0    0   0  .389  .921    0    2   3   SB
B Williams LF                 3   0   1   0    1   0  .423 1.213    0    2   1   2B
R Santo 3B                    3   0   1   0    1   1  .350 1.150    0    0   4   
E Banks 1B                    4   0   0   0    0   0  .231  .808    0   14   0   
L Johnson RF                  4   0   1   0    0   0  .333  .866    0    0   0   2B,GDP
R Hundley C                   2   0   0   0    1   1  .333  .851    0    4   3   
A Phillips CF                 3   0   0   0    0   0  .227  .670    0    2   0   GDP
B Hands P                     2   0   0   0    0   1  .250  .500    0    0   1   
  A Spangler PH               1   0   0   0    0   0  .250  .625    0    0   0   
  B Stoneman P                0   0   0   0    0   0                     0   0   
Totals                       30   0   5   0    3   3                    24  16

BATTING

2B: B Williams (3, off P Niekro); L Johnson (3, off P Niekro).

TB: B Williams 2; G Beckert 2; L Johnson 2; R Santo.

GIDP: A Phillips (1); L Johnson (1).

Team LOB: 6.

With RISP: 0 for 6.

FIELDING

E: G Beckert (1).

BASERUNNING

SB: G Beckert (1, 2nd base off P Niekro/J Torre).

Atlanta Braves               AB   R   H RBI   BB  SO    BA   OPS  Pit   PO   A  Details
F Alou CF                     4   0   2   1    0   0  .267  .590    0    3   0   CS
S Jackson SS                  4   0   0   0    0   0  .172  .502    0    0   5   
H Aaron RF                    3   1   1   1    0   2  .259  .829    0    2   0   HR
J Torre C                     3   0   1   0    0   0  .250  .500    0    3   0   
F Millan 2B                   2   0   0   0    0   0  .231  .517    0    1   2   SH
C Boyer 3B                    3   0   1   0    0   1  .115  .322    0    1   6   
D Johnson 1B                  3   0   0   0    0   1  .125  .514    0   15   0   
S Valdespino LF               3   1   1   0    0   1  .313  .734    0    2   0   
P Niekro P                    2   0   0   0    0   0  .200 1.000    0    0   2   SH
Totals                       27   2   6   2    0   5                    27  15

BATTING

HR: H Aaron (2, off B Hands; 7th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to LF).

SH: F Millan (1, off B Hands); P Niekro (1, off B Hands).

TB: H Aaron 4; F Alou 2; C Boyer; J Torre; S Valdespino.

RBI: H Aaron (5); F Alou (2).

Team LOB: 3.

With RISP: 1 for 4.

FIELDING

DP: 2. S Jackson-F Millan-D Johnson; C Boyer-D Johnson.

BASERUNNING

CS: F Alou (1, 2nd base by B Stoneman/R Hundley).

PITCHING

Chicago Cubs                  IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
B Hands, L (0-2)               7     5   2   2    0   4   1   3.75   25     -       ·  ·     13· 3· 0· 5     63    -     0.73   0.02
B Stoneman                     1     1   0   0    0   1   0   0.00    4     -       ·  ·      0· 2· 0· 1          0-0    0.26   0.01
Totals                         8     6   2   2    0   5   1          29     -       ·  ·     13· 5· 0· 6           -

Atlanta Braves                IP     H   R  ER   BB  SO  HR    ERA   BF  Pit-Str  Ct·Sw·Lk   GB·FB·LD· ?   GmSc  IR-IS   LevI    WPA
P Niekro, W (2-0)              9     5   0   0    3   3   0   1.69   33     -       ·  ·     15· 7· 0· 5     77    -     1.38   0.53
Totals                         9     5   0   0    3   3   0          33     -       ·  ·     15· 7· 0· 5           -

Balks: None.

WP: None.

IBB: None.

HBP: None.

OTHER

Umpires: HP - Mel Steiner, 1B - Paul Pryor, 2B - Augie Donatelli, 3B - Tony Venzon.

Time of Game: 1:56.

Attendance: 5,475.

Field Condition: Unknown.

Weather: 65° F, Night, No Precipitation.

LINEUPS

   Chicago Cubs                  Atlanta Braves                       
1. D Kessinger          SS    1. F Alou               CF 
2. G Beckert            2B    2. S Jackson            SS 
3. B Williams           LF    3. H Aaron              RF 
4. R Santo              3B    4. J Torre              C  
5. E Banks              1B    5. F Millan             2B 
6. L Johnson            RF    6. C Boyer              3B 
7. R Hundley            C     7. D Johnson            1B 
8. A Phillips           CF    8. S Valdespino         LF 
9. B Hands              P     9. P Niekro             P

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

   Inn Out Score RoB  Pt wWPA  wWE  Batter          Pitcher         Play Detail
  +---+---+-----+---+---+----+----++---------------+---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   t 9   1  2-0  12-      14% 100% L Johnson       P Niekro        Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
   t 9   0  2-0  1--     -12%  75% R Santo         P Niekro        Single to CF; Williams to 2B
   t 9   0  2-0  12-      10%  86% E Banks         P Niekro        Flyball: LF
   b 7   0  0-1  ---      10%  91% H Aaron         B Hands         Home Run
   t 2   1  0-0  12-       9%  55% A Phillips      P Niekro        Ground Ball Double Play: 3B-1B

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Top of the 1st, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Phil Niekro facing 1-2-3
  Scr/Out RoB  Pt  wWE  Batter          Play Detail
  +------+---+---+----++---------------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
   O      ---      52%  D Kessinger     Flyball: RF
   O      ---      53%  G Beckert       Groundout: SS-1B
          ---      51%  B Williams      Double to LF
   O      -2-      54%  R Santo         Strikeout
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 0.

Bottom of the 1st, Braves Batting, Tied 0-0, Bill Hands facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      52%  F Alou          Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      51%  S Jackson       Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      50%  H Aaron         Strikeout Looking
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 0.

Top of the 2nd, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Phil Niekro facing 5-6-7
   O      ---      52%  E Banks         Groundout: 3B-1B
          ---      48%  L Johnson       Double to CF
          -2-      46%  R Hundley       Walk
   OO     12-      55%  A Phillips      Ground Ball Double Play: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 0.

Bottom of the 2nd, Braves Batting, Tied 0-0, Bill Hands facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      52%  J Torre         Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      51%  F Millan        Groundout: 3B-1B
          ---      52%  C Boyer         Single to CF
   O      1--      50%  D Johnson       Strikeout
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 0.

Top of the 3rd, Cubs Batting, Tied 0-0, Phil Niekro facing 9-1-2
   O      ---      52%  B Hands         Strikeout
   O      ---      54%  D Kessinger     Flyball: CF
          ---      53%  G Beckert       Single to LF
   O      1--      55%  B Williams      Groundout: 1B unassisted
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 0.

Bottom of the 3rd, Braves Batting, Tied 0-0, Bill Hands facing 8-9-1
          ---      59%  S Valdespino    Single to RF
   O      1--      58%  P Niekro        Bunt Groundout: P-2B/Sacrifice; Valdespino to 2B
   RO     -2-      66%  F Alou          Single to LF; Valdespino Scores; Alou out at 2B/LF-2B
   O      ---      65%  S Jackson       Groundout: 2B-1B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 1.

Top of the 4th, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Phil Niekro facing 4-5-6
   O      ---      68%  R Santo         Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      70%  E Banks         Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      71%  L Johnson       Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 1.

Bottom of the 4th, Braves Batting, Ahead 1-0, Bill Hands facing 3-4-5
   O      ---      69%  H Aaron         Strikeout
   O      ---      68%  J Torre         Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      67%  F Millan        Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 1.

Top of the 5th, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Phil Niekro facing 7-8-9
   O      ---      70%  R Hundley       Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      72%  A Phillips      Groundout: SS-1B
   O      ---      73%  B Hands         Groundout: P-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 1.

Bottom of the 5th, Braves Batting, Ahead 1-0, Bill Hands facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      71%  C Boyer         Strikeout
   O      ---      70%  D Johnson       Groundout: 3B-1B
   O      ---      69%  S Valdespino    Groundout: 2B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 1.

Top of the 6th, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Phil Niekro facing 1-2-3
   O      ---      73%  D Kessinger     Groundout: P-1B
          ---      69%  G Beckert       Single to RF
          1--      65%  B Williams      Beckert Steals 2B
   O      -2-      71%  " "             Flyball: RF
          -2-      70%  R Santo         Walk
   O      12-      77%  E Banks         Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 1.

Bottom of the 6th, Braves Batting, Ahead 1-0, Bill Hands facing 9-1-2
   O      ---      75%  P Niekro        Flyball: CF
   O      ---      74%  F Alou          Popfly: 1B
   O      ---      73%  S Jackson       Groundout: SS-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 1.

Top of the 7th, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-1, Phil Niekro facing 6-7-8
   O      ---      77%  L Johnson       Flyball: LF
   O      ---      80%  R Hundley       Strikeout
   O      ---      82%  A Phillips      Flyball: CF
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 1.

Bottom of the 7th, Braves Batting, Ahead 1-0, Bill Hands facing 3-4-5
   R      ---      91%  H Aaron         Home Run
          ---      92%  J Torre         Single to LF
   O      1--      92%  F Millan        Bunt Groundout: C-1B/Sacrifice; Torre to 2B
   O      -2-      91%  C Boyer         Foul Flyball: LF
   O      -2-      90%  D Johnson       Groundout: SS-1B
                  1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 2.

Top of the 8th, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-2, Phil Niekro facing 9-1-2
                  Al Spangler pinch hits for Bill Hands batting 9th
   O      ---      93%  A Spangler      Flyball: CF
   O      ---      94%  D Kessinger     Groundout: 2B-1B
   O      ---      95%  G Beckert       Groundout: 3B-1B
                  0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 2.

Bottom of the 8th, Braves Batting, Ahead 2-0, Bill Stoneman facing 8-9-1
                  Bill Stoneman replaces Al Spangler pitching and batting 9th
   O      ---      95%  S Valdespino    Strikeout Looking
   O      ---      95%  P Niekro        Flyball: CF
          ---      95%  F Alou          Single to LF
          1--      95%  S Jackson       Alou Caught Stealing 2B, Safe on E4; Alou to 2B
   O      -2-      94%  " "             Flyball: LF
                  0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 2.

Top of the 9th, Cubs Batting, Behind 0-2, Phil Niekro facing 3-4-5
          ---      88%  B Williams      Walk
          1--      75%  R Santo         Single to CF; Williams to 2B
   O      12-      86%  E Banks         Flyball: LF
   OO     12-     100%  L Johnson       Ground Ball Double Play: SS-2B-1B
        0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Cubs 0, Braves 2.

Retrosheet.org Boxscore:ATL196804170

Play-by-Play Explanation

Scr/Out- This has a "O" for every out on the play and an "R" for every run that scored on the play. Some plays will have both in no particular order.
RoB- This gives the baserunner (Runners on Base) configuration at the start of the play. "1-3" would mean runners on first and third. Clicking on this will show the defensive players and baserunners on the field for this play. This is a subscriber feature, so non-subscribers are limited as to the number of times they can use this feature in a day.
Pt- When available, the number of pitches in this plate appearance. Clicking on this number will show the sequence of pitches thrown including, when available, things like runner going, ball blocked, attempted pickoffs and the like. We believe this data to be as accurate as humanly possible, but there are going to be some errors in the data, so please take it with a grain of salt. Clicking on this will show the defensive players and baserunners on the field for this play. This is a subscriber feature, so non-subscribers are limited as to the number of times they can use this feature in a day.
Batter- The batter at the plate when this play occurred. If the play is a baserunning event, then the batter's name will be repeated as indicated by quotes.
Play Detail- This is an explanation of the play that occurred. In some cases, batted ball location and type will be indicated within parentheses. Again, these are best efforts to the record the game as it happened. Also, plays made on the baserunners (including the batter as a baserunner) will be indicated in parentheses after the baserunner's name. Advancement of baserunners is given in cases where the advancement is not easily deduced or obvious from the play. For example, advancement for a walk will not be given, but for a single or double it will be given.

Please report any issues or strangeness you see with the description of plays given above. We have tested several hundred different types of plays, but, in all likelihood, there are still some errors or misinterpretations of the play-by-play data.

The information used here was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Interested parties may contact Retrosheet at 20 Sunset Rd., Newark, DE 19711.

In some cases, the results from play-by-play data will contradict results in the official record. The official record has many, many errors, but we have not undertaken to reconcile those errors. Pitch-by-pitch data should not be taken as completely accurate, though we believe it to be as accurate as is currently possible.


Quick Index: Play Index \| Players \| Teams \| Leagues \| Managers \| Leaders \| Awards \| Postseason \| Box Scores \| Minors \| Draft SportingNews.com \| Stat of the Day \| SR Blog \| Tutorial Videos \| All-Star \| Travel \| Bullpen Wiki \| Random
You Are Here > Baseball-Reference.com > Boxes > 1968 > ATL \| CHC > Apr 17, 1968, Cubs at Braves Box Score and Play by Play

Baseball-Reference.com-- Baseball's History: 1871-Now

BATTING

PITCHING

OTHER

LINEUPS

TOP 5 PLAYS (wpa explanation)

PLAY BY PLAY (explanation)

Play-by-Play Explanation