STORIES FROM THE PAST
50 years ago
Masterful Ralph Acuna pitched his second straight one-hitter at Lions Field last night, hurling the Brawley Wildcats to a 1-0 extra-inning victory over the Calexico Bulldogs. The Imperial Valley League triumph left Brawley with a 2-3 conference mark. The Bulldogs have been same IVL record. It was sweet revenge for a 16-inning, 1-0 loss at Calexico.
Vic Carrillo pitched for the Bulldogs. He gave up just two hits. Carrillo was doomed by one Bulldog error. Carrillo’s downfall came in the bottom of eight. Pinch hitter Rick Titsworth flied out. Clark Seybert worked Carrillo for a walk and stole second. Robert Allen struck out, but Cesar Luna dropped the third strike. He threw to Keith Smith, to get Allen at first. Seybert took advantage of the play, moving to third.
Alex Mucino came to bat with two outs. He rapped a three-hopper to shortstop Ken James. It went between James’ legs. Seybert scampered home on the play for the 1-0 verdict.
40 years ago
An earthquake centered 60 miles from the International Border in the Gulf of Baja at the mouth of the Colorado River rattled and rolled through Imperial Valley. The quake, which was given a preliminary reading of 5.5 on the Richter Scale at the California Institute of Technology’s seismological laboratory in Pasadena, struck at 2:03 p.m. Friday.
No damage was reported to Valley police, despite the intensity of the quake in the area. After the initial jolt, the earth continued to roll for about one-half minute. A reporter for La Voz de la Frontera, a Mexicali daily, said there was little damage in Mexico or the surrounding colonies. He added, however, “People here have just been shaken up.”
The quake was reportedly felt as far north as Los Angeles.
30 years ago
For those who complain that there is little in the way of entertainment in the Valley, Sam Guerrero has built a roller coaster “out in the desert by Glamis.”
Well, actually Guerrero built the roller coaster about 10 years ago but he had not completed it until recently. Now he has painted it white and thus “changed the whole outlook,” he said.
Guerrero, a 26-year-old employee at El Centro Regional Medical Center, based the design of his roller coaster on the one in San Diego’s Belmont Park, he said. An artist, Guerrero found “there was no turning back once I started. Everyone gave ideas. (It) drives you crazy after a while, but it is interesting.”
Guerrero started building the roller coaster in 1976 and finished the 2-foot-high project in 1978. It was stored in a friend’s garage until recently, he added.