This particular “Moment In Time” is actually one of the seminal moments in the history of the game. Tuesday, April 15, 1958, at Seals Stadium in San Francisco, at 1:34 pm, Ruben Gomez of the Giants fires one to Gino Cimoli of the Dodgers as Valmy Thomas frames the pitch, and major league baseball in California (and the western United States) is born.
Ruben Gomez was a long time Giant and one of the earliest latino pitching stars in the majors, going 17-9 in his second season in 1954, and being the first Puerto Rican player to win a World Series game and eventually the first to win a ring, in the New York Giants’ final championship season. He was chosen by manager Bill Rigney to start this first game on the west coast not only because of his superb screwball, but also because he was right-handed, as the Dodgers were righty-heavy with Hodges, Furillo and even Cimoli. It would be Gomez’s first Opening Day, and although he pitched a complete game gem as SF defeated LA 8-o, it would also be his last. Gomez would have a subpar year for the Giants in ’58, and his decline from there was rapid – he was traded to the Phillies in ’59, sporting an E.R.A. over 6, then a spot reliever by 1960, and on to the Mexican League by 1963.
Regardless, Gomez would always carry the honor of being the first winning pitcher on the west coast, but had some help that day by fellow countrymen – Valmy Thomas, catching due to an injury by first-stringer Bob Schmidt late in spring-training, was also born in Puerto Rico, although was in fact the first major league player from the Virgin Islands, where he was raised and returned to after his baseball career. Thomas followed Gomez to Philadelphia in 1959 as a part-time catcher, and was out of baseball by 1962.
This first game also featured a 20-year-old rookie making his major league debut, with 13 assists at first base, not to mention a home run that day – another Puerto Rican fellow by the name of Orlando Cepeda.
As for Gino Cimoli, he was home. He was born in San Francisco, was a star at local Galileo High School, and was purposely inserted at the top of the lineup by manager Walter Alston since he was a local legend and the only native San Franciscan on either roster. In fact, Cimoli had a knack for being in the right place at the right time – he bookended Brooklyn’s final season in 1957 by hitting a game-winning homer off Philadelphia’s Robin Roberts in the 12th inning of the season opener, then scored the Dodgers’ final run in Brooklyn in the last game at Ebbets Field, and their final run of the final game as well, in Philly, both in late September. And after his Dodger days, for good measure, as a Pirate he pinch-hit for Elroy Face to lead off the bottom of the 8th of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, igniting the improbable 5-run rally to pull ahead of the Yankees and eventually win the World Series an inning later. Unfortunately, Cimoli’s historic at-bat this day was less dramatic: he struck out.
Cimoli’s return to his west coast roots would be less than triumphant, and after his average slipped almost 50 points for the Los Angeles version of the Dodgers, was traded to St. Louis in 1959. He would kick around the NL for while, before experiencing a short resurgence with the Kansas City A’s in 1962-1963, retiring in 1965.
Cimoli would return to San Francisco after his playing days and live in the greater SF area for the rest of his life – and become a Giants fan, of the San Francisco variety.
Behind the Bag 
“Holy Cimoli!” It’s ironic that although Gino played for the K.C. A’s in the early sixties, he was not an Oakland A’s fan when they came to the Bay area (his home) in 1968. Gino was signed by the great scout, Howie Haak. Carl Erskine once wrote to me that Gino had the best arm he ever saw and “Oisk” played with Carl Furillo and against the great Roberto Clemente who both had “rifles” for arms. In my opinion, Gino’s best year other than ’57 (when he was a NL all-star) was for K.C. in ’62 when he led the AL with 13 triples. His hitting strength was to right and he could motor on the basepaths. Jack Buck (HOF Cardinal announcer) told me he wore out the RF screen at old Sprtsman’s Park when he played for St. Louis in ’59! After retiring from the game in 1965, he became a UPS driver in San Francisco for many years. Everybody loved Gino. He died in the winter of 2011 and he is missed by many.
Also, look carefully at the first photo and you’ll notice a teenager behind home plate taking a photo of the famed first pitch. He was a young Dick Dobbins and his actual photo is the second one shown. Dick wrote 2 great books on the old Pacific Coast League which are a must for every fan. They are beautiful classics! Dick went on to become a loved educator and historian for the SF Giants. He passed away a few years ago. I’ll never forget him.
Thanks for sharing your insights here, Jim, very interesting and insightful, and I’m glad you enjoy my humble blog. Don’t be a stranger!