Monday, May 25, 2015

World Series: Did You Know?

Game three of the 1957 Fall Classic set a record for most walks in a nine-inning contest. That is, for both teams with 19. The New York Yankees won this in a rout over Milwaukee, but no matter. There were a lot of baserunners.

The World Series of '57 was all square after two games in New York. On to a Brave New World! Pitching game three for Milwaukee was Bob Buhl. Neither he nor New York starter Bob Turley lasted. Turley was gone after 1 2/3 innings. His control problem was obvious, as he walked four.

Buhl had problems of his own. He didn't make it out of the first inning. Tony Kubek hit a home run with one out, and the Yankees were on top to stay. But they didn't stop there. Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra walked. A failed pickoff of Mantle at second moved both runners into scoring position. Then a sac fly by Gil McDougald made it 2-0. Harry Simpson drove in Berra with a single. Buhl was out of the game.

The Braves managed to score a run off Turley in the bottom of the second due to his wildness. And when he walked Eddie Mathews, Bob headed towards the showers. In came Don Larsen, no stranger to wildness, but also a perfect game pitcher his last World Series appearance. Larsen got out of the inning.

Juan Pizzaro came in to pitch after Buhl left. He walked two more batters, plus he was tagged for four runs in his outing. Mantle singled off him. He'd later add a home run off Gene Conley, who only walked one batter in 1 2/3 innings. That's how far Pizzaro got. It was 5-1 by the time Conley was on the hill, and Mantle's blast scored two more runs. McDougald drew the walk of Conley.



Larsen walked a batter, but fortunately, it was after Hank Aaron hit a two-run home run off him in the bottom of the fifth. Ernie Johnson was the Braves' fourth pitcher (coming in to pitch the top of the fifth) and walked The Mick in the top of the sixth. Larsen gave up two hits and a walk in the bottom of the frame, but got out of it without allowing a run.

Bob Trowbridge came in to pitch the top of the seventh and it was a disaster. The Yankees coaxed three walks off him, and much more. Hank Bauer singled home two. Tony Kubek added his second home run of the game, and it was now 12-3, New York. There was nothing left to play for, now.

Don McMahon pitched the top of the eighth, and it was a scoreless inning, but no without drama. He allowed a walk and threw a passed ball. Larsen also permitted a walk, to the first batter of the bottom of the frame, but proceeded to retire the next three hitters. When Larsen batted for himself in the top of the ninth, McMahon walked him. Don walked Don. Don then got Bauer to hit into an inning-ending double play, which erased Don at second.

Eddie Mathews drew his third walk of the game in the bottom of the ninth, as Milwaukee came up for it's last stand. Aaron singled. Andy Pafko was also hit by a pitch later. But Don Larsen got out of this jam to. New York had won this game to go up two games to one.



The 1957 World Series had some of the all-time greats. Aaron, Mantle, Mathews, Berra. Plus, on the pitching side, Warren Spahn and Whitey Ford. And this game has been preserved in kinescope for good measure. Fitting that it was. Milwaukee overcame this setback and ended up winning it all in seven. Even when they lost, they were part of World Series history. 19 freebies to first!


References

Major League Baseball. World Series Official Programs 1992 & 1993. Print.

“Rare Spots Films - Vintage Baseball Video Sports Audio Events .” Rare Sports Films - Vintage Baseball Video Sports Auto Racing Events. RARE SPORTSFILMS, INC. (Raresportsfilms.com), <www.raresportsfilms.com/1957world.html>.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 25 May. 2015.

Youtube. Web. 25 May. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/>.

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