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On April 15th, the Cardinals take their home opener thanks mostly to faulty relief pitching from the Robins. A rain delay early in the game cuts into Koufax’s energy level, forcing him out after 6 effective innings with a 4-2 lead. But Stan Williams and Roger Craig give up a combined five runs in the eighth. The final score is 7-5.

After a day off, Brooklyn drops the second game to St. Louis and looks bad doing it. They go down 9-1, giving up 15 hits. Drysdale lasts only 3 innings, during which he allows 9 hits and 7 runs without striking anyone out (or walking anyone for that matter). Other than Furillo’s three hits, the offense looks bad, barely hitting anything out of the infield and managing only six singles (including Furillo’s three).

For the home opener, Robins fans are out in full swing, many of them still wearing “Dodgers” shirts. The crowd is raucous, and Chadwick Harrison III is taking it all in from his owners box with a huge smile, waving to the adoring fans who see him as the man who saved Brooklyn baseball. He has spent a good chunk of his money to acquire this team, and standing there, feeling the adoration of the crowd, makes him feel that it has been worth it. The Robins dominate the game. Johnny Podres throws a four hit shutout as Pee Wee Reese, Carl Furillo, and Don Zimmer all hit round trippers. The Robins score six runs (five in the third inning) on eleven hits. The fans go wild with appreciation for a team that almost left them.

The second game of the home series against the Cardinals is a gut-wrenching loss for Brooklyn. The Robins score three times in the first and look good all game, but the Cardinals chip away gradually. In the top of the ninth, the Robins still have a one run lead as Roger Craig comes to the mound to protect a win for Sandy Koufax. His first pitch to Cardinal centerfielder Joe Taylor lands in the left field stands to tie the game. Joe Cunningham then singles, Wally Moon hits into a fielder’s choice, Don Blasingame walks, and Ken Boyer clears the bases with a triple. Gene Green then bloops one to deep right to score Boyer, giving the Cards a three run lead, 9-6. That is all the Cards need as the stunned Robins go down in order in the bottom of the inning.

After the game, Harrison calls an emergency meeting of his top baseball people, including his son Jack, whom he has appointed general manager. They gather at his office in Park Slope.

“I do not like what I am seeing,” says the elder Harrison. “This team is not the team that I want it to be. It needs to be better.”

“You have to give it time, Dad,” says Jack. “We’re not even a week into the season. And the Cardinals are a good team.”

“The Cardinals cannot be better than my team,” Chadwick booms. “We must win. Every loss is an insult to me and to the fans who screamed out to keep baseball in this city. We need to do something we need to make a move that will show everyone that we are about winning, and that we will do what it takes to win every game.”

They are silent. No one wants to contradict the imposing older man. Even his outspoken son keeps quiet. Finally, Chadwick Harrison slams his fist on the table. “We need to make a trade. A catcher. We need to replace Campanella, poor man. We need to get ourselves a catcher. Who can we afford to lose?”

“Well, there’s Frank Howard,” suggests head scout Willie Stanton. “We already have Gil Hodges at first. We could ship him—“

“What about Gil Hodges?” says Harrison. “He is aging. Howard looks like he may be great. We can lose Hodges and start the rookie. It will revitalize the team.”

The others are stunned. Hodges has been a fixture in Brooklyn for the past decade. Finally, Jack speaks. “I believe the Reds – I mean the Redlegs – are shopping Smokey Burgess around for a first baseman. Perhaps they would be interested.”

Chadwick Harrison smiles. “That’s thinking, my boy. Contact Cincinnati. Offer them a deal. Get Burgess here. Don’t offer Hodges first. Offer someone smaller. Work your way up. Oh, hell, you know how to do this. I don’t have to tell you. I trust you, my boy.”

And with that, the meeting convenes.