No fewer than 17 families have sent three or more brothers into major league combat. There were five Delahanty brothers, four O'Neill's, and 15 other trios of siblings to appear in big league games. But only once, it is believed, have three brothers all played on the same team, in the same game, and batted consecutively in the same inning -- in ascending order of age!

The San Francisco Giants' organization had nurtured a family of talented outfielders from the Dominican Republic by the name of Alou. Felipe, a right-handed batter, was the first Alou brother to emerge in 1958 when he appeared in 75 games. Left-handed Matty broke in two years later, and Jesus, a right-hander, made his major-league debut in this very game.

Felipe was a part-time outfielder until 1961 when his batting average and playing time took on substance. Previously, he had found his path blocked by the likes of Willie Mays, Willie Kirkland, and Orlando Cepeda, but later Felipe joined forces with Mays, Cepeda, Willie McCovey and Harvey Kuenn to form one of the more potent offenses of the early 1960s. Felipe's career later peaked with the Braves with whom he twice led the National League in hits.

At 5'9", 160 pounds, Matty was the smallest of the kinsman but assembled the highest lifetime batting average (.307). Matty made his debut in September of 1960 but ran into the same obstacles as brother Felipe and never became a regular with the Giants. Not until he was traded to the Pirates and was afforded an opportunity to play regularly did Matty's talents blossom. In 1966, he was crowned the NL batting champ with a .342 average, and in 1969 he led the circuit with 231 hits.

Jesus was the youngest and largest (6'2", 195 lbs.) of the brothers. When called up from Tacoma on this date, Jesus saw a formidable logjam of outfielders in brother Felipe, Mays, McCovey, Kuenn, and brother Matty. But after Felipe was soon traded, Jesus saw considerable playing time. As were his two older brothers, Jesus was also traded after six seasons in San Francisco and then spent several productive campaigns in Houston.

The historic game occurred as the waning season bloated rosters, the Mets were secure cellar tenants, and the Giants clung precariously to fourth place. San Francisco needed this win and used five pitchers and three pinch hitters in a vain attempt to escape defeat.

It was in the top of the eighth that Giants manager Alvin Dark called on the Dominicans. Trailing 3-0, Jesus pinch-hit for shortstop Jose Pagan and grounded out to short. Matty then swung for pitcher Bob Garibaldi and fanned. Felipe, the starting leadoff batter, also grounded out, tapping to Mets pitcher Carl Willey. It was an embarrassing exhibition for the Alous as none of them hit the ball out of the infield. Dark had said before the game that he had hoped the Giants would have gotten a 10-run lead so he could use all three Alous in the same outfield. But simply batting in the same inning of the same game was enough to produce a unique mark in baseball annals.

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