If anyone remembers one particular Saturday night in Philadelphia’s old Connie Mack Stadium, a walk off grand slam in the bottom of the 11th inning by Phillies pinch hitter Rick Joseph would be the defining moment.

Otherwise, tales from a regular season baseball game between two middling teams – the Phillies and Dodgers – that played out before just 5,549 fans on a September evening in 1967 would appear to hold little fascination.

But in the fourth inning came a rare moment, a first and only.

The Dodgers had knocked starting pitcher Rick Wise from the game with a two-run third. Replacing him on the mound in the fourth was rookie Dick Thoenen — the first, and to date the only, person born in Mexico, Missouri to appear in a Major League regular season game.

In baseball parlance, a brief stint is called a “cup of coffee.” There have been some 18,000 players since the dawn of the majors. About 1,000 took part in just one game. Just over 100 pitchers threw for a single inning.

But they all made it to the top level of baseball.

“The only thing I can say is that a cup of coffee is worth all the beans on the mountain,” Thoenen said.

Thoenen was born in 1944. He played three sports at Mexico High School and was recruited by Notre Dame for his basketball prowess (he stood six feet, six inches) in 1961. After a year in South Bend, he left school and signed a minor league contract with the Phillies.

There have been others with Mexico ties to play professionally.

Hunter Haynes is a Mexico native who was signed by the Royals out of high school and pitched in the minors from 2012 to 2015 until injury cut his career short. Preston Shepherd was born in St. Louis, but graduated from MHS and was a catcher in the Cardinals system for three years in the early 1950s. William McDonald, a Missouri Military Academy graduate, had a brief stint in the minors in 1959.

Only one other player born in Audrain County appeared in at least one major league regular season game. Martinsburg native Ray Rolling played in six games – all in September – for the Cardinals in 1912. The second baseman batted .200 and is credited with nine assists in the field.

Harry Maupin from nearby Wellsville pitched for the St. Louis Browns and Cleveland, then known as the Spiders, in 1898-99 … but not very effectively. He amassed an 0-5, 9.63 career record.

On Sept. 16, 1967 the Dodgers were on top 3-2 when Thoenen entered the game to start the fourth wearing number 43. Bob Bailey greeted him with a double to left and Los Angeles rookie Luis Alcaraz slapped a single through the infield, scoring Bailey.

Dodgers pitcher Don Sutton dropped a bunt in front of the mound. Thoenen pounced on it and threw to first for the out. He then retired lead off hitter Nate Oliver on a looping liner to left. Wes Parker grounded back to the mound.

Thoenen tossed to first and the inning was over. Phillies manager Gene Mauch sent Grant Jackson out to pitch.

Thoenen now goes by Rich. He is reluctant to talk about his career. He had seven strong seasons in the minors, spending much of the time with the San Diego Padres, then of the Pacific Coast League. Thoenen won 45 games, lost 40 and had a career 3.16 earned run average – numbers worthy of a call up to the majors.

But this was the era when the Reserve Clause bound players to a team. Team owners had control over a player’s career. The Phillies clearly had no interest in trading Thoenen, nor could they find a roster spot for him on the big club.

“I will say I was probably four to five years early, so to speak, entering the game,” he pointed out. “After ’73 things turned around for the players.”

Thoenen’s career had some unique moments. He played in the Padres’ final minor league game in 1968 and hit a home run to help secure an 8-7 win.

The next season, San Diego became home to the expansion major league Padres. The Phillies moved their minor league affiliate to Eugene, Oregon, where Thoenen closed out his career.

Because he started 1968 on the Phillies spring training roster, Topps issued a rookie card that year. Thoenen shared space on card number 348 with another young pitcher, Larry Colton.

Colton also appeared in a single major league game. He is one of about 90 people to have pitched just two innings in the majors.