Little big man

Shortstop Freddie Patek – listed at all of 5-foot-4 – hits three homers 44 years ago today in the California Angels’ 20-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox before a Friday night crowd of 28,780 at Fenway Park.

Patek – seen here during his Pittsburgh Pirates days with the 6-foot-2 Willie Stargell – finishes the 1980 season with five homers and only 41 in his 14-year career.

This is the only game, though, in which Patek, then 35 years old, hits more than one homer.