Common Demoninator: The Torres

"Last out of game six of the 1958 Fall Classic. Brother hit the first player to hit a home run in Atlanta Braves history."

Now, if you'd asked me that, I would have said "Hank Aaron or Eddie Mathews," but I know Aaron had singled in the Braves' last at bats in the bottom of the tenth inning of game six. Mathews struggled in the World Series that year (Hitting just .160 as his team lost in seven games to the Yankees), batted in that last inning and fanned. But he was just the second out as some dramatic stuff was going on.

The New York Yankees trailed 3-1 to the Milwaukee Braves in the 1958 World Series, and had lost to them in seven frustrating games the previous year. They simply couldn't hit Lew Burdette, who beat them three times. The trend seemed to continue in 1958, as Warren Spahn won game one at home and Burdette easily won the second game, 13-5. Mickey Mantle managed to hit two home runs off him, however.

Don Larsen and Ryne Duren combined on a 4-0 win in game three, as the action was now at Yankee Stadium. Spahn beat Whitey Ford 3-0 in game four, and suddenly, the Braves were just a win away. Burdette seemed poised to provide the coup-de-grace in game five, right there in front of the New York crowd. He battled Bob Turley, trailing only 1-0 through 5 1/2. But then the Yankees exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth. Turley finished with a shutout. It was heading back to Milwaukee.

The Braves led 2-1, but the Yankees made their move in the sixth again. In the top of that frame, Spahn couldn't get an out in time. The Mick singled. As did Elston Howard. Mickey motored to third on an error. Yogi Berra sent one of Warren's pitches to centre, and Mickey tagged, scoring the tying run. Ryne Duren sent the game into extras as he got the Braves 1-2-3 on K's in the bottom of the ninth.

Spahn came undone in the top of the tenth. His arm probably gave out. Gil McDougald homered to start it. Then, three singles made it 4-2, New York. The Braves needed two.

Red Schoendienst hit a grounder to second and nearly beat the throw. Two more outs was all the tall right-hander needed to square this World Series at three games each. Johnny Logan walked. Eddie Mathews fanned. Milwaukee was down to their last out, but Duren would not get it.

Duren seemed to forget about Logan, who took off towards second. No throw. Hank singled to left, and that lapse by the Yankees had cost them at least one run. 4-3. Joe Adcock bounced one into centre. Tying run ninety feet away. Winning run is any hit past the outfielders. That was it for Duren.

Bob Turley (1-1 in this Fall Classic), came in looking not for the win, but rather the save. The win would be Duren's if he could get pinch hitter Frank Torre out. But the team needed the win. I don't think Duren much cared. His job, to get the save, was now Turley's.

And Bob did just that.

Frank lined to Gil McDougald at second, the very man who'd broken the 2-2 tie in the top of the frame. Turley then came in relief of Don Larsen in game seven and beat Burdette and the Braves, 6-2. Coincidentally, it was Mathews that got on via a walk to start the bottom of the ninth. A single with two down gave the Yankees a tad of a scare. But then Schoendienst flied to Mantle in centre to end that.

Amazingly enough, that was it for the postseason as far as the Milwaukee Braves went. They nearly won in 1959, but it was the Los Angeles Dodgers that not only beat them in a two-of-three playoff, but won the Fall Classic, too.

The Braves soon had to deal with the Dodgers some more in the coming years, and after the Dodgers won again in 1963 and 1965, it was time for the Braves to make another move. They were in a Brave New World in Atlanta to start the 1966 season.

So on April 12th, 1966, in Atlanta, the Braves started their season in their new home. The Pittsburgh Pirates, who'd won the National League flag in 1960, were their opposition. Joe Torre was now their catcher. Frank had been purchased by Philadelphia after the 1961 season. He spent a good deal of time in the minors in 1963, then retired.

Joe proved to be the better of the two brothers, and this was long before his managerial career began.

But getting back to the Braves' first game in Atlanta, it was scoreless through 4 1/2. In the bottom of the fifth, with one out, Joe sent a Bob Veal pitch out of the park, making it 1-0 for the home team. With the Braves trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the 13th, Joe was again going downtown.

The problem was, there wasn't anyone on base again. The Pirates held on for a 3-2 win, just as the Yankees had held on in game six of '58.

The Braves finished their inaugural season in Atlanta with a 85-77 record. Joe finished the year with 36 home runs. Aaron hit 44. Felipe Alou hit 31, but Mathews hit only 16. He'd be elsewhere in 1967. Burdette and Spahn were long gone, and the pitching staff the Braves had wasn't gonna get them near the Dodgers that year. Sandy Koufax won 27 games alone, although Drysdale was only 13-16. Tony Cloninger and Ken Johnson led the Atlanta staff that year in wins with just 14 each.

References

Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.

Golenbock, Peter. "1958." Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print. pp. 331-337.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print. pp. 270-274.

Common Denominator: Haddix And Burdette

 "Opposed each other on May 26, 1959. Pitched at least once in game seven vs, the Yankees in the World Series. Won one of the game sevens they pitched vs. the mighty Bronx Bombers."

Lew Burdette gave up 12 hits over 13 innings pitcher for the Milwaukee Braves vs. The Pittsburgh Pirates on May 26, 1959. Harvey Haddix retired the first 36 batters to face him. He ended the game with 12 2/3 IP.

And poor Harvey lost the game.

The Braves had just come off back-to-back seven game Fall Classics with the mighty New York Yankees, who don't lose too many game sevens, you see. Lew Burdette was masterful in 1957 vs. the Yankees. The scored just two runs off him his first start, none in his second.

So that brings us to game seven at Yankee Stadium. Don Larsen, who like Harvey Haddix knows a thing or two about perfect games (Well, at least what was considered one at the time) started for New York. But he was over-matched.

Don left early. Lew carried a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth. And there was a "4" under the hit total on the scoreboard for the home team. The Yankees went down fighting, getting three hits in their last at-bats, including one by pitcher Tommy Byrne.

However, with two down, it was Eddie Mathews taking Moose Skowron's grounder, stepping on third and ending the 1957 World Series. The Yankees took their revenge the next year, beating Burdette 6-2 at County Stadium. The Braves were up 3-1 at one point, only to see the Yankees, behind Bob Turley (2 wins and a save) battle back.

The Braves did not make it back to the Fall Classic in 1959. They lost a two-of-three playoff to the Dodgers, who were now in Los Angeles. However, they weren't the only team missing from the World Series that year. The Yankees couldn't catch the Chicago White Sox, so for just the second time in the 1950s, they weren't around in October.

It was the Pittsburgh Pirates turn the next season to make it. Harvey Haddix got to pitch. But New York looked too strong. They won game two 16-3 in Pittsburgh. Game three, 10-0 at home. Game six, 12-0 right there at Forbes Field.

Haddix put the Buckos up three games to two with a 5-2 win in game five, despite a solo home run from Roger Maris. Game seven saw Pittsburgh lead 4-0, trailed 7-4, regain the lead 9-7. Oh, they scored five runs in the bottom of the eight frame! The Pirates needed just three more outs for the championship, but no pitcher could hold the fort. Bobby Richardson got it all started with a single. While Haddix came in and got Maris this time, Mickey Mantle singled home a run to put the Yankees to within a run. A grounder by Yogi Berra scored the tying run. Haddix, the lefty, got out with no further damage.

Bill Mazeroski stepped in to begin the bottom of the ninth. The series was tied at three, the game at nine. But two pitches later, it was all over. Maz belted Ralph Terry's second offering over Berra's head in left for a dramatic finish to a wild World Series. Haddix may have lost a heartbreaker to Burdette, but the record book also shows that they were right next to each other (Chronologically) when it came to the winning pitcher in game seven against the great New York Yankees.

References

Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.

Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 28 July. 2016.

World Series: Did You Know?

Ralph Terry pitched in the deciding games for the Yankees from 1960-1962. The New York Yankees won two of those. Ralph, though, had to settle for just one win (and a loss) in those three games.

Finally getting the Yankees out of a hectic inning in 1960, Terry was in no position to save the Bronx Bombers. He relieved Jim Coates in the bottom of the eighth inning of game seven, but it seemed to late. The Pittsburgh Pirates had fought back from 7-4, and now led 9-7. Though Terry finally got the last out of that frame, there seemed little hope of him throwing another pitch.



And exciting rally earned New York the right to play on. Bobby Richardson and Mickey Mantle had the key hits, and the Yankees scored twice. They'd trailed 4-0 and 9-7, and just showed the Pirates why they were such a great team.

The first batter Ralph faced in the bottom of the ninth was Bill Mazeroski. Bill had hit a home run in game one, a 7-4 Pittsburgh win. The pitcher's spot was up next (Harvey Haddix was the pitcher who'd failed like Coates to hold the fort), but you don't want to put the leadoff man on.

Terry threw a high ball. The next pitch was high, but in the strike zone. Maz hit it out of the park for a dramatic walk-off. Worse still, Terry was the losing pitcher. How could New York had lost this one?

Terry was back the next year, winning 16. The Bronx Bombers were simply in the mode all season long. The Cincinnati Reds, winners of the National League, soon found out just how good they were. In the Fall Classic, the teams split the first two games at Yankee Stadium, but Terry took a 6-2 loss in game two. A narrow 3-2 win in game three put New York right back where they wanted to be, Luis Arroyo winning in relief of Bill Stafford. Whitey Ford needed some relief of his own as he protected a close game through five innings. Clete Boyer doubled home a pair in the top of the sixth. 4-0. But Ford was out of the game as the bottom of the frame began. The Yankees outscored the Reds 3-0 the rest of the way, but it wasn't quite an easy of a 7-0 win that you would think.

And their series-clinching 13-5 wasn't accomplished without relief. Ralph Terry started, had a 6-0 lead, but couldn't get the job done. Frank Robinson's 3-run home run in the bottom of the third put Cincinnati right back in it. Terry was gone right there. 2 1/3 IP, 6 H. Bud Daley came in, and gave up two more hits before he put out the fire. The Reds kept hitting the ball hard, and got a two-run home run from Wally Post in the fifth. Five runs in five innings. But the Yankees scored seven runs themselves and the Reds couldn't get anything more (Though they finished with eleven hits). New York won, but Terry didn't get the win.



But all was about to be forgotten. Terry started game seven vs. San Francisco in the Fall Classic the next year. He was brilliant. Staked to only a 1-0 lead, he pitched two-hit ball through eight innings at Candlestick Park. But then...

Matty Alou batted for pitcher Billy O'Dell and singled. Terry bore down and fanned the next two batters. The Say Hey Kid, Willie Mays stepped in. A hit a double to right. Roger Maris, in right, got to it. Fired to Bobby Richardson at second. Richardson to Elston Howard the catcher. Alou held at third. But now, a base hit and the Giants win, 2-1. And it was another Willie at the dish. Willie McCovey. McCovey sent one foul to right. But on the next pitch, he crushed it. But guess what, it was caught by Richardson! Terry and the Yankees had themselves a dramatic 1-0 win. Hey, third times a charm!

References

Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.

Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 26 July. 2016.

Big Bill In Boston In 1908! Part 2

Now for the bad part. Bill didn't get a single save in his great (albeit short) 1908 season, despite even pitching a shutout as a starter. His WAR is very low.

Stat Set 1

Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Walsh	1904	1	?	?	?	2.60	57	4.6	1.102	0.1
Griffith	1905	1	?	?	?	1.68	46	4.1	0.954	3.3
Keefe	1907	3	?	?	?	2.50	20	3.1	1.387	2.0
Chappelle	1908	0	?	?	?	1.79	23	2.9	1.095	0.3
Leever	1909	2	?	?	?	2.83	23	3.0	1.257	-0.1
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Phillipe	1910	4	?	?	?	2.29	30	2.2	0.986	2.0
Baskette	1912	1	?	?	?	3.18	51	4.0	1.336	2.2
Crandall	1913	6	?	?	?	2.86	42	3.9	1.290	0.5
Wolfgang	1914	0	?	?	?	1.89	50	3.8	1.073	1.8
Mays	1915	7	?	?	?	2.60	65	4.4	1.063	1.0
Danforth	1917	9	?	?	?	2.65	79	4.1	1.324	3.2
Dubuc	1919	3	?	?	?	2.66	32	2.2	1.182	0.6
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Morton	1921	1	?	?	?	2.76	45	3.8	1.207	2.3
Baumgartner	1925	3	?	?	?	3.57	18	1.4	1.368	2.5
Marberry	1926	22	?	?	?	3.00	43	2.8	1.348	3.1
Haid	1928	5	?	?	?	2.30	21	4.0	1.064	0.4
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Lindsey	1931	7	1	0.875	?	2.77	32	3.9	1.634	1.1
Quinn	1932	13	?	?	?	2.66	24	3.5	1.383	1.1
Russell	1933	13	?	?	?	2.69	28	2.0	1.218	3.1
Brown	1938	5	?	?	?	3.80	55	3.7	1.500	0.4
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Beggs	1940	7	4	0.636	0	2.00	25	2.9	1.161	2.2
Murphy	1941	15	7	0.682	0	1.98	29	3.4	1.397	2.2
Adams	1943	9	2	0.818	0	2.82	46	3.0	1.254	3.0
Heving	1944	10	?	?	0	1.96	46	3.5	1.228	1.9
Maltzberger	1944	12	?	?	0	2.96	49	4.8	1.095	1.8
Christopher	1947	12	2	0.857	0	2.90	33	3.7	1.277	1.4
Page	1949	27	11	0.711	0	2.59	99	6.6	1.315	4.2
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Konstanty	1950	22	4	0.846	0	2.66	56	3.3	1.039	4.7
Wilhelm	1952	11	1	0.917	1	2.43	108	6.1	1.155	2.7
Paige	1952	10	5	0.667	1	3.07	91	5.9	1.254	3.4
Kinder	1953	27	8	0.771	4	1.85	39	3.3	1.140	4.5
Mossi	1954	7	0	1.000	0	1.94	55	5.3	1.022	3.3
Narleski	1955	19	2	0.905	6	3.71	94	7.6	1.281	2.5
Freeman	1956	18	3	0.857	2	3.40	50	4.1	1.344	2.6
Farrell	1957	10	3	0.769	0	2.38	54	5.8	1.320	2.4
Zuverink	1957	9	8	0.529	0	2.48	36	2.9	1.278	2.7
Hyde	1958	18	5	0.783	0	1.75	49	4.3	1.136	4.9
Duren	1959	14	7	0.667	1	1.88	96	11.3	1.200	3.8
Staley	1959	15	4	0.789	2	2.24	54	4.2	1.169	2.5
Face	1959	10	9	0.526	1	2.70	69	6.7	1.243	3.2
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
McDaniel	1960	26	6	0.813	1	1.29	95	8.2	0.863	6.0
Arroyo	1961	29	10	0.744	1	2.19	87	6.6	1.109	3.3
Fox	1961	12	2	0.857	3	1.41	32	5.0	1.012	2.6
Radatz	1963	25	3	0.893	0	1.97	162	11.0	1.096	5.7
Perranoski	1963	21	8	0.724	0	1.67	75	5.2	1.202	4.5
Lee	1964	19	8	0.704	1	1.51	111	7.3	1.058	4.3
Ellis	1964	14	2	0.875	1	2.57	125	9.2	1.054	3.1
Miller	1965	24	1	0.960	1	1.89	104	7.8	0.997	4.3
Regan	1966	21	7	0.750	1	1.62	88	6.8	0.934	5.0
Drabowsky	1967	12	5	0.706	3	1.60	96	9.1	0.955	3.2
Abernathy	1967	28	6	0.824	1	1.27	88	7.4	0.978	6.2
Wood	1968	16	5	0.762	7	1.87	74	4.2	1.006	5.4
Tatum	1969	22	1	0.957	2	1.36	65	6.8	1.042	4.3
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Williams	1970	15	4	0.789	7	1.99	76	6.0	1.032	2.8
McMahon	1970	19	5	0.792	0	2.96	74	7.1	1.219	3.0
Sanders	1971	31	4	0.886	0	1.91	80	5.3	1.064	4.1
Giusti	1972	22	5	0.815	0	1.93	54	6.5	1.058	2.3
Hiller	1973	38	4	0.905	0	1.44	124	8.9	1.021	8.1
Borbon	1973	14	5	0.737	6	2.16	60	4.5	1.421	2.5
Marshall	1974	21	12	0.636	9	2.42	143	6.2	1.186	3.1
Gossage	1975	26	5	0.839	1	1.84	130	8.3	1.193	8.2
Eastwick	1976	26	9	0.743	1	2.09	70	5.9	1.115	2.8
Lyle	1977	26	8	0.765	1	2.17	68	4.5	1.197	3.7
Sutter	1977	31	9	0.775	0	1.34	129	10.8	0.857	6.5
Stanley	1978	10	5	0.667	1	2.60	38	2.2	1.242	4.1
Blair	1978	28	5	0.848	2	1.97	91	8.2	1.246	4.1
Tekulve	1979	31	6	0.838	8	2.79	75	5.0	1.176	3.2
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
McGraw	1980	20	5	0.800	0	1.46	75	7.3	0.921	4.7
Fingers	1981	28	6	0.824	0	1.04	61	7.0	0.872	4.2
Caudill	1982	26	6	0.813	0	2.35	111	10.4	1.045	4.4
Hernandez	1984	32	1	0.970	0	1.92	112	7.2	0.941	4.8
Lamp	1985	2	5	0.286	8	3.32	68	5.8	1.164	1.3
Eichhorn	1986	10	4	0.714	7	1.72	166	9.5	0.955	7.4
Henke	1987	34	8	0.810	1	2.49	128	12.3	0.926	3.3
Burke	1987	18	4	0.818	5	1.19	58	5.7	0.890	4.3
Henneman	1988	22	7	0.759	2	1.87	58	5.7	1.051	3.3
Lancaster	1989	8	3	0.727	7	1.36	56	6.9	1.032	3.9
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Eckersley	1990	48	2	0.960	0	0.61	73	9.0	0.614	3.3
Thigpen	1990	57	8	0.877	0	1.83	70	7.1	1.038	3.4
Henry	1991	15	1	0.938	3	1.00	28	7.0	0.833	2.2
Aguilera	1991	42	9	0.824	0	2.35	61	8.0	1.072	2.4
Ward	1992	12	4	0.750	24	1.95	103	9.1	1.135	3.1
Rojas	1992	10	1	0.909	13	1.43	70	6.3	1.043	3.9
Wetteland	1993	43	1	0.977	0	1.37	113	12.0	1.008	4.2
Harvey	1993	45	4	0.918	0	1.70	73	9.5	0.841	4.0
Beck	1993	48	4	0.923	0	2.16	86	9.8	0.882	2.4
Hoffman	1998	53	1	0.981	0	1.48	86	10.6	0.849	4.1
Urbina	1998	34	4	0.895	0	1.30	94	12.2	1.010	3.2
Williamson	1999	19	7	0.731	5	2.41	107	10.3	1.039	2.8
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Rhodes	2001	3	4	0.429	31	1.72	83	11.0	0.853	2.5
Smoltz	2003	45	4	0.918	0	1.12	73	10.2	0.870	3.3
Timlin	2005	13	7	0.650	24	2.24	59	6.6	1.320	2.9
Nathan	2006	36	2	0.947	0	1.58	95	12.5	0.790	3.3
Putz	2007	40	2	0.952	0	1.38	82	10.3	0.698	4.0
Rivera	2008	39	1	0.975	0	1.40	77	9.8	0.665	4.3
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR
Bell	2010	47	3	0.940	0	1.93	86	11.1	1.200	1.9
Cook	2012	14	7	0.667	21	2.09	80	9.8	0.941	2.6
Chapman	2012	38	5	0.884	6	1.51	122	15.3	0.809	3.6
Johnson	2012	51	3	0.944	0	2.49	41	5.4	1.019	2.4
Davis	2014	3	3	0.500	33	1.00	109	13.6	0.847	3.7
Rondon	2015	30	4	0.882	8	1.67	69	8.6	1.000	2.2
Pitcher	Year	S	BS	S%	H	ERA	K	K/9	WHIP	WAR

Notes


Baumgartner appeared as a starter twelve times

Wolfgang and Baskette appeared as a starter eleven times.

Danforth appeared as a starter nine times.

Phillipe and Walsh appeared as a starter eight times.

Morton and Griffith appeared as a starter seven times.

Paige, Mays and Chappelle appeared as a starter six times.

Marberry, Mossi, Lee, Ellis and Dubuc appeared as a starter five times.

Leever appeared as a starter four times.

Russell, Stanley, Adams and Keefe appeared as a starter three times.

Brown, McDaniel, Wood, Crandall and Lindsey appeared as a starter two times.

Beggs, Quinn, Narleski and McGraw appeared once as a starter.

Maltzberger, Hyde, Konstanty, Duren, Tekulve and Henke all wore glasses.


References


Sports Reference LLC. "Bill Chappelle Pitching Statistics And History." Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/ chappbi01.shtml. Web. 16 July. 2016.