SAN FRANCISCO -- Chances are there will never be a day in Bill Laskey's life he will remember more clearly, and perhaps with greater pride, than April 28, 1982.
As they say in the baseball business, that was the day the 24-year-old, 6-5, 190-pound right-handed pitcher did it all, and in his big league debut as a starter. He pitched all nine innings, gave up no runs and only three hits, and got his firstbig league hit and first RBI.
It all added up to a 7-0 victory for the San Francisco Giants over the Montreal Expos.
'This is my first dream come true in the big leagues,' Laskey said, 'and until I read about it in the newspapers I'm not going to believe it happened.'
It happened all right, and if you don't believe it check the Expos.
'I kept thinking we would get to him,' said Expos Manager Jim Fanning, 'but instead of weakening he got better. It was a pretty impressive performance.'
Giants Manager Frank Robinson said he was not surprised at how well Laskey pitched, only that he was able to go nine innings.
'I liked what I saw of him in spring training,' said Robinson. 'I like his stuff, his control, the velocity of his fastball and the way he goes after the hitters.'
The Giants obtained Laskey and pitcher Rich Gale from the Kansas City Royals during the winter in exchange for outfielder Jerry Martin. Credit scout Grady Hatton for recommending Laskey and general manager Tom Haller for listening and acting.
Laskey walked only one Expos batter and struck out two. Strikeouts, he said, are not his style.
'The key for me is to get ahead of the hitters and then get them to hit a piitch they might otherwise pass up,' said Laskey. 'I'm not going to overpower too many people.'
The first hit off Laskey was a two-out, fourth-inning double by Al Oliver. The other two were singles in the fifth by Tim Wallach and Tim Blackwell. No Montreal baserunner reached third and more than half the outs were popups.
Like most pitchers, at least in the National League, Laskey was as proud of his single in the third, which scored a run, as he was with his pitching.
'My dad worked with me on my hitting as a youngster,' recalled Laskey, 'so the credit goes to him because I never hit before in professional baseball.'
As luck would have it, Laskey's parents, Zigmond and Helen Laskey of Toledo, Ohio, were on hand to see him start his first big league game.
'When the Giants called me up from Phoenix last week,' said Laskey, 'my folks, who were down visiting me, drove my van to San Francisco. When Mr. Robinson told me during the weekend I would be starting on Wednesday, they decided to stick around. I'm glad they did. It had to be a big thrill for them, too.'
The Giants treated Laskey to a 14-hit attack, their most productive this year, in routing Bill Gullickson and three Montreal relievers. Jeff Ransom, Laskey's rookie batterymate, had two RBI with a single and sacrifice fly. Champ Sommers had three hits and a walk in a perfect performance.
'He's in the rotation now,' said Robinson of Laskey, 'and I'd have to say he's earned it. Of course, one shutout is no guarantee to future success, but he was very impressive and I'd like to think it was no fluke. Really, he showed this kind of ability in spring training.'
