Denis Menke - Timeline

Astros Trades & Transactions

Oct 8, 1967: Traded Sonny Jackson(IF) and Chuck Harrison(IF) to Atl-N for Denis Menke(IF) and Denny Lemaster(P)

Nov 29, 1971: Traded Jack Billingham(P), Denis Menke(IF), Joe Morgan(IF), Ed Armbrister(OF) and Cesar Geronimo(OF) to Cin-N for Lee May(IF), Tommy Helms(IF) and Jimmy Stewart(IF)

Feb 18, 1974: Traded Pat Darcy(P) and cash to Cin-N for Denis Menke(IF)

This Date in Astros History

Oct 8, 1967: Infielders Sonny Jackson and Chuck Harrison are dealt to the Braves for lefthander Denny Lemaster and infielder Denis Menke. It turns into a good deal as Menke becomes a two-time All-Star while Lemaster wins 30 games and saves six in four seasons for Houston.

Jul 5, 1968: Ex-Brave Denis Menke tags ex-Astro Claude Raymond with a three-run bomb in the ninth to topple Atlanta, 13-9. Doug Rader follows with a solo shot. John Bateman and Rusty Staub had earlier home runs. Another former Brave, Wade Blasingame, shuts the door in the ninth.

Jul 14, 1968: Don Wilson whiffs Johnny Bench for his 18th strikeout to tie, what was then, the major-league record held by Bob Feller and Sandy Koufax . It is part of a rain-soaked 6-1 nightcap that completes a doubleheader sweep in Cincinnati. Ron Brand scored Denis Menke for a 5-4, ten-inning victory in the opener.

May 27, 1969: Doug Rader belts a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth off Luis Peraza to beat the Phillies, 6-2. Don Wilson strikes out 13 and goes the distance for the victory. Denis Menke also homers.

Jul 11, 1969: Cincinnati manager Dave Bristol launches a tirade for the ages during a 13-2 massacre by Don Wilson and the Astros. Bristol bumps umpire Augie Donatelli, steps on his shoes, berates the ump for several minutes then flings chairs and equipment upon returning to the dugout. And he was only behind 2-1 at the time! Good thing he didn't see the nine-run Houston sixth, highlighted by a bases-loaded triple from Denis Menke and two hits by Sandy Valdespino. Wilson fans ten and posts a six-hitter. He's also plunked twice at the plate.

Jul 30, 1969: Denis Menke and Jim Wynn launch grand slams in the same inning as the Astros crush the Mets, 16-3 and 11-5 in a twinbill at Shea Stadium . The double slam was the first National League occurance in 79 years. So hot were Houston's bats that Larry Dierker took Nolan Ryan deep in the nightcap and Fred Gladding broke an oh-for-the-decade slump with a bloop single for the only hit in his career.

Sep 5, 1969: Denis Menke belts a two-run blast in the ninth off Gaylord Perry for a 2-0 shocker over the Giants. Larry Dierker scatters four hits for his 18th win and fans nine to pass 200 strikeouts for the season.

Sep 10, 1969: Jim Wynn's homer and Denis Menke's bases-loaded double spark an 8-1 win over the Dodgers. Denny Lemaster scatters six hits. The Astros are tied for fourth in the tight N.L. West, but are just two games out of first place.

May 24, 1970: Astros erupt for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth to surprise the Reds, 10-7. Denis Menke has two hits in the inning and four in the game. Jesus Alou drives in three. Jack DiLauro saves it for Fred Gladding.

Aug 30, 1970: Jim Wynn launches two homers off Nolan Ryan to pace a 9-5 thrashing of the Mets. Wynn totals four hits and drives in five. Denis Menke also goes deep twice. Don Wilson survives an early 3-0 deficit to gain the victory. Wynn tells the press that Ryan's fastball is no match for his bat and backs it up.

Jul 16, 1971: Astros turn the first triple play in their history during a 9-4 victory over Nolan Ryan and the Mets . Shortstop Roger Metzger takes a tap by Cleon Jones and steps on second, forcing Tommie Agee. His toss to first beats Jones to the bag. First baseman Denis Menke sees Ken Boswell make a belated dash to third so he fires across the diamond where Doug Rader completes the trifecta.

Aug 2, 1971: Don Wilson fires a two-hitter to outduel Ferguson Jenkins and Chicago, 2-1. Denis Menke doubles home Doug Rader then scores on a single by Jesus Alou. Houston fans boo Joe Pepitone in each of four hitless trips to the plate.

Nov 29, 1971: Astros deal infielders Joe Morgan and Denis Menke, outfielders Cesar Geronimo and Ed Armbrister, and pitcher Jack Billingham to Cincinnati for infielders Lee May, Tommy Helms and Jimmy Stewart in what would be the defining moment of Spec Richardson's tenure as General Manager. Morgan, Geronimo and Billingham would play major roles in two Worlds Championships. May and Helms have productive but not spectacular runs in Houston while Stewart, a utilityman, would bat .207 over two seasons.

Feb 18, 1974: Houston trades pitcher Pat Darcy and cash to Cincinnati for infielder Denis Menke. For former All-Star Menke, he closes his career hitting .103 in a bench role. For the Ohio-born Darcy, it's great timing as two of his three big-league seasons are on World Championship teams.

Apr 28, 1984: NBC accidentally leaves the field microphone open while broadcasting a 5-3 Atlanta victory. Astro catcher Harry Spilman argues with home plate umpire Jerry Crawford. Manager Bob Lillis and Coach Denis Menke soon get into the act and profanities fly in every direction. NBC switchboards are flooded with complaints.

Oct 8, 1967:	Traded Sonny Jackson(IF) and Chuck Harrison(IF) to Atl-N for Denis Menke(IF) and Denny Lemaster(P)
Nov 29, 1971:	Traded Jack Billingham(P), Denis Menke(IF), Joe Morgan(IF), Ed Armbrister(OF) and Cesar Geronimo(OF) to Cin-N for Lee May(IF), Tommy Helms(IF) and Jimmy Stewart(IF)
Feb 18, 1974:	Traded Pat Darcy(P) and cash to Cin-N for Denis Menke(IF)

Oct 8, 1967:	Infielders Sonny Jackson and Chuck Harrison are dealt to the Braves for lefthander Denny Lemaster and infielder Denis Menke. It turns into a good deal as Menke becomes a two-time All-Star while Lemaster wins 30 games and saves six in four seasons for Houston.
Jul 5, 1968:	Ex-Brave Denis Menke tags ex-Astro Claude Raymond with a three-run bomb in the ninth to topple Atlanta, 13-9. Doug Rader follows with a solo shot. John Bateman and Rusty Staub had earlier home runs. Another former Brave, Wade Blasingame, shuts the door in the ninth.
Jul 14, 1968:	Don Wilson whiffs Johnny Bench for his 18th strikeout to tie, what was then, the major-league record held by Bob Feller and Sandy Koufax . It is part of a rain-soaked 6-1 nightcap that completes a doubleheader sweep in Cincinnati. Ron Brand scored Denis Menke for a 5-4, ten-inning victory in the opener.
May 27, 1969:	Doug Rader belts a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth off Luis Peraza to beat the Phillies, 6-2. Don Wilson strikes out 13 and goes the distance for the victory. Denis Menke also homers.
Jul 11, 1969:	Cincinnati manager Dave Bristol launches a tirade for the ages during a 13-2 massacre by Don Wilson and the Astros. Bristol bumps umpire Augie Donatelli, steps on his shoes, berates the ump for several minutes then flings chairs and equipment upon returning to the dugout. And he was only behind 2-1 at the time! Good thing he didn't see the nine-run Houston sixth, highlighted by a bases-loaded triple from Denis Menke and two hits by Sandy Valdespino. Wilson fans ten and posts a six-hitter. He's also plunked twice at the plate.
Jul 30, 1969:	Denis Menke and Jim Wynn launch grand slams in the same inning as the Astros crush the Mets, 16-3 and 11-5 in a twinbill at Shea Stadium . The double slam was the first National League occurance in 79 years. So hot were Houston's bats that Larry Dierker took Nolan Ryan deep in the nightcap and Fred Gladding broke an oh-for-the-decade slump with a bloop single for the only hit in his career.
Sep 5, 1969:	Denis Menke belts a two-run blast in the ninth off Gaylord Perry for a 2-0 shocker over the Giants. Larry Dierker scatters four hits for his 18th win and fans nine to pass 200 strikeouts for the season.
Sep 10, 1969:	Jim Wynn's homer and Denis Menke's bases-loaded double spark an 8-1 win over the Dodgers. Denny Lemaster scatters six hits. The Astros are tied for fourth in the tight N.L. West, but are just two games out of first place.
May 24, 1970:	Astros erupt for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth to surprise the Reds, 10-7. Denis Menke has two hits in the inning and four in the game. Jesus Alou drives in three. Jack DiLauro saves it for Fred Gladding.
Aug 30, 1970:	Jim Wynn launches two homers off Nolan Ryan to pace a 9-5 thrashing of the Mets. Wynn totals four hits and drives in five. Denis Menke also goes deep twice. Don Wilson survives an early 3-0 deficit to gain the victory. Wynn tells the press that Ryan's fastball is no match for his bat and backs it up.
Jul 16, 1971:	Astros turn the first triple play in their history during a 9-4 victory over Nolan Ryan and the Mets . Shortstop Roger Metzger takes a tap by Cleon Jones and steps on second, forcing Tommie Agee. His toss to first beats Jones to the bag. First baseman Denis Menke sees Ken Boswell make a belated dash to third so he fires across the diamond where Doug Rader completes the trifecta.
Aug 2, 1971:	Don Wilson fires a two-hitter to outduel Ferguson Jenkins and Chicago, 2-1. Denis Menke doubles home Doug Rader then scores on a single by Jesus Alou. Houston fans boo Joe Pepitone in each of four hitless trips to the plate.
Nov 29, 1971:	Astros deal infielders Joe Morgan and Denis Menke, outfielders Cesar Geronimo and Ed Armbrister, and pitcher Jack Billingham to Cincinnati for infielders Lee May, Tommy Helms and Jimmy Stewart in what would be the defining moment of Spec Richardson's tenure as General Manager. Morgan, Geronimo and Billingham would play major roles in two Worlds Championships. May and Helms have productive but not spectacular runs in Houston while Stewart, a utilityman, would bat .207 over two seasons.
Feb 18, 1974:	Houston trades pitcher Pat Darcy and cash to Cincinnati for infielder Denis Menke. For former All-Star Menke, he closes his career hitting .103 in a bench role. For the Ohio-born Darcy, it's great timing as two of his three big-league seasons are on World Championship teams.
Apr 28, 1984:	NBC accidentally leaves the field microphone open while broadcasting a 5-3 Atlanta victory. Astro catcher Harry Spilman argues with home plate umpire Jerry Crawford. Manager Bob Lillis and Coach Denis Menke soon get into the act and profanities fly in every direction. NBC switchboards are flooded with complaints.