Chuck Essegian was the first player to hit two pinch-hit home runs in the World Series. They were both hit in the same World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers looked lost sometimes in the 1959 World Series. Old Chuck helped 'em find the was against Chicago!
Essegian seemed to have a knack for getting 'em right when the Dodgers needed them the most.
But the Dodgers couldn't even score a run in the first game, lost 11-0. In game 2, it took Los Angeles a while to finally score. Down 2-0 in the top of the 5th, Charlie Neal went yard on a solo shot to cut the lead in half. From there, the pitching duel between Chicago's Bob Shaw and Los Angeles' Johnny Podres resumed!
But with two outs in the top of the 7th inning, and with the Dodgers still down 2-1, Essegian finally got Los Angeles tied. Pinch-hitting for Podres, it was his turn to go yard on a solo blast. 2-2. Before the White Sox could recover from that one, it was time for anothr long ball. Jim Gilliam drew a bases on balls, Charlie Neal was again at the dish. And again, as in the 5th inning, he went deep. The two-run dinger put the Dodgers up 4-2.
As it turns out, Los Angeles need both those. In the bottom of the 8th inning, it was Ted Kluszewski of the White Sox that singled. Sherman Lollar singled. The tying run was at first and there was not a man out. Klu left for a pinch runner, Earl Torgeson. Larry Sherry, who had come in to pitch, gave up his third straight hit when Al Smith hit a double to left. Torgeson scored, but Lollar was thrown out at home. Given a bit of a reprieve, it was time for Sherry to come through and he did. Billy Goodman went down on strikes and Jim Rivera was out number three. The Dodgers still led, 4-3.
In the 9th, Sherry picked up the save by retiring Norm Cash on a groundout, Luis Aparicio on a groundout, and even Nellie Fox on one!
Essegian did not play in game three, which was the first World Series game played on the west coast. The Dodgers didn't need him, as they took it, 3-1. Essegian was nowhere to be found the next game. Los Angeles led 4-0, but the White Sox tied it in the top of the 7th. A run in the bottom of the 8th made the Dodgers the 5-4 winners. The Los Angeles Dodgers led the 1959 Fall Classic, three games to one. Game five would be at home.
Their attempt to wrap it all up in the fifth game went for not, despite a dandy performance by Sandy Koufax. Down 1-0 in the bottom of the 7th, it was Essegian who batted for Maury Wills, the shortstop. Essegian drew a walk, but was forced at second when Duke Snider hit a ground ball. Podres came in to run for Snider. Gilliam singled. Shaw, pitching again, threw a delivery that catcher Lollar could not handle. Both runners advanced on the wild pitch. Los Angeles failed to get either home as Neal flew out.
The Dodgers would ultimatley lose the game, 1-0. Now, the Fall Classic headed back to Chicago. But it was Los Angeles that jumped out early.
Snider didn't need a pinch runner this time as he blasted a two-run shot in the top of the third. With a man on, a single by Willis and a double by Podres made it 4-0 Dodgers the next inning. They were just warming up, as it turns out. Gilliam walked, Neal hit a double. 6-0, Dodgers. Wally Moon went deep. 8-0, Dodgers!
The White Sox, though, weren't exactly going home, even if they were playing at home. A three-run home run by Ted Kluszewski in the bottom of the fourth made it an 8-3 game. Podres was forced out, too early for the win. Sherry came in and did his usual work, holding Chicago at bay.
But there was the matter of the last run of the 1959 World Series. It was the top of the 9th inning. Ray Moore was on the mound and Duke Snider was all set to lead off. But The Duke was not going to bat. Chuck Essegian was. How often does a guy who is on his way to the Hall Of Fame and has a long ball to his name in the game going to be replaced?
But Essegian was about to make manager Walter Alston look like a genius. Stroking a solo homer to left, the Dodgers were up 9-3 and averaging a run scored per inning in the game. When Sherry got the last out, Los Angeles brought the World Series crown to the west coast.
Essegian was not a great player. He hit only 47 home runs in a career that lasted just six years and 404 games. And even there, his lifetime batting average was just .255. But, the Dodgers won it when there superstars came through, like Snider, Wills and Drysdale. They won it thanks to Sherry. But there is always room in the World Series for some unexpected help. Essegian is another person who you can't quite name as, "World Series" hero, but the 1959 World Series might not have been won by the Los Angeles Dodgers without him!
Essegian seemed to have a knack for getting 'em right when the Dodgers needed them the most.
But the Dodgers couldn't even score a run in the first game, lost 11-0. In game 2, it took Los Angeles a while to finally score. Down 2-0 in the top of the 5th, Charlie Neal went yard on a solo shot to cut the lead in half. From there, the pitching duel between Chicago's Bob Shaw and Los Angeles' Johnny Podres resumed!
But with two outs in the top of the 7th inning, and with the Dodgers still down 2-1, Essegian finally got Los Angeles tied. Pinch-hitting for Podres, it was his turn to go yard on a solo blast. 2-2. Before the White Sox could recover from that one, it was time for anothr long ball. Jim Gilliam drew a bases on balls, Charlie Neal was again at the dish. And again, as in the 5th inning, he went deep. The two-run dinger put the Dodgers up 4-2.
As it turns out, Los Angeles need both those. In the bottom of the 8th inning, it was Ted Kluszewski of the White Sox that singled. Sherman Lollar singled. The tying run was at first and there was not a man out. Klu left for a pinch runner, Earl Torgeson. Larry Sherry, who had come in to pitch, gave up his third straight hit when Al Smith hit a double to left. Torgeson scored, but Lollar was thrown out at home. Given a bit of a reprieve, it was time for Sherry to come through and he did. Billy Goodman went down on strikes and Jim Rivera was out number three. The Dodgers still led, 4-3.
In the 9th, Sherry picked up the save by retiring Norm Cash on a groundout, Luis Aparicio on a groundout, and even Nellie Fox on one!
Essegian did not play in game three, which was the first World Series game played on the west coast. The Dodgers didn't need him, as they took it, 3-1. Essegian was nowhere to be found the next game. Los Angeles led 4-0, but the White Sox tied it in the top of the 7th. A run in the bottom of the 8th made the Dodgers the 5-4 winners. The Los Angeles Dodgers led the 1959 Fall Classic, three games to one. Game five would be at home.
Their attempt to wrap it all up in the fifth game went for not, despite a dandy performance by Sandy Koufax. Down 1-0 in the bottom of the 7th, it was Essegian who batted for Maury Wills, the shortstop. Essegian drew a walk, but was forced at second when Duke Snider hit a ground ball. Podres came in to run for Snider. Gilliam singled. Shaw, pitching again, threw a delivery that catcher Lollar could not handle. Both runners advanced on the wild pitch. Los Angeles failed to get either home as Neal flew out.
The Dodgers would ultimatley lose the game, 1-0. Now, the Fall Classic headed back to Chicago. But it was Los Angeles that jumped out early.
Snider didn't need a pinch runner this time as he blasted a two-run shot in the top of the third. With a man on, a single by Willis and a double by Podres made it 4-0 Dodgers the next inning. They were just warming up, as it turns out. Gilliam walked, Neal hit a double. 6-0, Dodgers. Wally Moon went deep. 8-0, Dodgers!
The White Sox, though, weren't exactly going home, even if they were playing at home. A three-run home run by Ted Kluszewski in the bottom of the fourth made it an 8-3 game. Podres was forced out, too early for the win. Sherry came in and did his usual work, holding Chicago at bay.
But there was the matter of the last run of the 1959 World Series. It was the top of the 9th inning. Ray Moore was on the mound and Duke Snider was all set to lead off. But The Duke was not going to bat. Chuck Essegian was. How often does a guy who is on his way to the Hall Of Fame and has a long ball to his name in the game going to be replaced?
But Essegian was about to make manager Walter Alston look like a genius. Stroking a solo homer to left, the Dodgers were up 9-3 and averaging a run scored per inning in the game. When Sherry got the last out, Los Angeles brought the World Series crown to the west coast.
Essegian was not a great player. He hit only 47 home runs in a career that lasted just six years and 404 games. And even there, his lifetime batting average was just .255. But, the Dodgers won it when there superstars came through, like Snider, Wills and Drysdale. They won it thanks to Sherry. But there is always room in the World Series for some unexpected help. Essegian is another person who you can't quite name as, "World Series" hero, but the 1959 World Series might not have been won by the Los Angeles Dodgers without him!
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