On June 4, 1977, in a game at the Kingdome against the expansion Seattle Mariners, Indians centerfielder Rick Manning was having a great night. He’d been struggling so far that season, batting just .224 with 3 homers entering the game. It was a disappointing start, well below the team’s expectations. Manning hit .285 as a rookie two years earlier, and .292 the year before, while winning a Gold Glove. He was viewed by the club as a building block to their future, so his slow start in 1977 was a concern.