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.

Common Denominator: Shoe Polish In The World Sereis

In both the 1957 and 1969 World Series, a HBP was decided upon when the umpire was given the evidence: Shoe polish on the baseball! It wasn't something out of an Indiana Jones flick, but rather a player named Jones that was involved in each.

In 1957, the New York Yankees carried a 5-4 lead into the bottom of he 10th inning in game four vs. the Milwaukee Braves. Three more outs, and New York is up three games to one. The home town team seemed like a beaten bunch as New York had scored three times in the top of the ninth to tie it, and another tally in the top of the next frame to take the lead.

But the Yankees only got one out. Nippy Jones was sent up by the Braves to pinch hit for Warren Spahn. Jones took a pitch inside. Ball. But when Jones showed the umpire the evidence in the form of shoe polish on the ball. It was like ball four. Jones on first.

Red Schoendienst hit a sac bunt. Runner one second and one out. Johnny Logan hit a double down the left-field line to tie it. Eddie Mathews dramatic home run won it. This helped the Braves. Instead of being down 3-1, it was 2-2. And by winning two of the next three games, the Braves entered a Brave New World!

So, twelve years later, and it was the New York Mets at home in game five. They were actually already up 3-1, and looking to put the Baltimore Orioles away. There was good reason to. They were the home team and if they didn't get it done here, games six and seven were in Baltimore. The Orioles had beaten the Mets handily in game one there, 4-1. The Mets managed to win game two, but barely, 2-1. They needed this one.

But the O's weren't going to give them it. In the top of the third, pitcher Dave McNally hit a two-run home run for Baltimore to break the scoreless deadlock. Two outs later, and before New York could recover, it became 3-0 when Frank Robinson hit a home run of his own. The Orioles had been shutout in game three, held to just a run in game four, but now were coming together in game five.

But a bit of a miracle saved the Mets. Leading off the bottom of the sixth, was Cleon Jones. McNally had been doing it all at this point. It was still 3-0, and Dave had a three-hitter going. Jones took one inside that sent him down. Believe me, McNally was not trying to start any trouble. Earlier, Frank Robinson had held up the game a bit by heading to the trainers room. The Orioles were a great team, and not the kind to show you up. They didn't want to give the Mets any life.

But, your not going to believe what happened when Jones went down. On the first pitch, by the way. Obviously, it was a ball. But Jones started towards first. The umpire didn't think so. Gil Hodges, the ex-Dodger and now the Met manager, came out to have a look-see at the ball. AH! Shoe polish! See ump? Shoe polish on the ball? The shoe fits the batter, and the polish is from the shoe? To first went Jones, after all. Right all along!

So, that brought Earl Weaver, the Orioles manager out of the dugout. He wanted to see the evidence for himself. Normally Earl would get really steamed at situations like this. But while he argued a bit, he seemed content. I guess the Orioles had been caught red-handed. But this was black shoe polish, not red.

So when Don Clendenon followed with a two-run home run, the Mets were back in this thing. Al Weiss tied it with a solo shot the next inning. And I mean tied it. In runs, and home runs. 3-3, and 2-2 on the long ball count.

The Mets scored twice more in the bottom of the eighth to win the game 5-3, and the 1969 World Series 4-1.



I'll bet both Nippy Jones in Cleon Jones might have felt sore from both pitches, but do you think they were mad that their shoes had lost some colour? Well, if it led to the big prize, who cares about losses?

References

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 27 August 2015.

ClassicMLB11. "1969 World Series, Game 5 Baltimore Orioles at New York Mets." YouTube, 31 July 2013. Web. 27 August 201. Classic MLB. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24d88f6TFjI>

Common Denominator: Pitched To Mantle In The Postseason, Guarded Wilt In The Postseason

That would be Gene Conley, star pitcher for the Milwaukee Braves in the 1950s and later for the Boston Red Sox. Conley was also a forward on the Boston Celtics. But in 1959/60, he had to help centre Bill Russell guard Wilt! Wilt seemed like a super imposing figure on the Philadelphia Warriors the way Mantle was an imposing figure on the Yankees.

In 1957, it was the Milwaukee Braves vs. Mickey Mantle's Yankees in the Fall Classic. The Yankees seemed like the better team, and it was going to take a group effort to beat them. The Braves had Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews' big bats.

By the time Conley took over the hill in the top of the third inning of game three, it was already 5-1 New York. One out. Mantle had walked and scored in the top of the first. Walked and was forced out at home in the third. The home town Braves were in for a long day.

Conley got Jerry Coleman to pop out to Mathews at third for the second out. Pitcher Don Larsen (Making his first appearance on the hill in the World Series since his perfect game in game five of '56) then grounded out to end that.

The top of the fourth saw Conley retire Hank Bauer for the first out. But then Tony Kubek singled. Mantle was back at the dish. And he deposited a 3-1 Conley offering over the wall in right-centre to make it a 7-1 ballgame. Gene got out of there without further damage, but in the bottom of the frame, he left for a pinch hitter.


Conley did not make another appearance in the 1957 World Series, which the Braves eventually won. In 1959, he was on the Boston Celtics of the NBA, when the big rookie was Wilt Chamberlain. The Big Guy got 30 points on Russell (22 points himself) in their first ever head-to-head meeting on November 7, 1959. Conley did not do much. Wilt seemed even more dominating in their next meeting, just eighteen days later. Wilt put up 45 points to Russell's 15. Conley did much better this time out, however. He scored 17 points himself. But Wilt's team won. This team was a worthy opponent.

The very next day, November 26, Conley scored 24 points vs. Wilt's Warriors. It proved to be a season high. The Celtics first opponent in the playoffs was Philadelphia, of course. Philly had beaten Syracuse in the first round.

Wilt got 42 in the first game vs. Boston, although the Celtics won. Wilt scored only 29 in the second game as the Warriors knotted things. Boston blew 'em out by 30 in game three, however. Six Celtics scored 10 or more points, with Conley getting exactly 10. Gene failed to score a point in the crucial game four, but the Celtics won anyways as Wilt got only 24 compared to Russell's 17.

But when things went back to Boston, Wilt assumed a God-like mode in this game five. It was a must-win situation. And Wilt won the game for his team. 50 points. Russell got only 22. Conley, 15. The series finally ended with a close 119-117 win in game six in Philadelphia, as the first Russell / Chamberlain matchup lived up to it's billing. Wilt scored 26, but Russell stayed right with him with 25 of his own. Conley added sixteen.

The Celtics then needed seven game to beat the St. Louis Hawks for the NBA crown. Conley fouled out in the final game and scored only five points, but Boston won.

References

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 19 August 2015.

Sports Reference LLC. Basketball-Reference.com - Basketball Statistics and History. http://www.basketball-reference.com/. Web. 19 August 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/>.

World Series: Did You Know?

The Yankees had to face Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente and Frank Robinson in their Fall Classic adventures in the late 1950s and early 1960s. New York was there in 1957, '58, and from 1960-1962. But there was a great rightfielder in the way in all of them.

Aaron really showed the Yankees why he was such a great slugger. It must have been hard for New York to get up for a team from Milwaukee in 1957. They were so used to facing the Dodgers or the Giants, that they might not have known what to expect from the Braves. Hank Aaron might have been a quite superstar, but he left a lasting impression on everyone. The guy in right did a lot of things right in this and many of the remaining games.

In game three, with the Fall Classic tied at one game all, it was all New York. Mickey Mantle's fourth inning home run must have really taken it all out of the hometown Braves' fans. It was 7-1 after that two-run blast. But Aaron gave 'em something positive with a two-run home run of his own in bottom of the fifth. It did not stop the Yankees from going away with this one, but it gave them something to worry about.





The next game, Aaron became a clutch hitter. His dramatic two-run dinger in the bottom of the tenth turned a 5-5 tie into a 7-5 Milwaukee win! That tied this Fall Classic. A 1-0 effort the next day gave Milwaukee a 3-2 Series lead. And Aaron added a home run in game six, but New York won the game. At it's dramatic finale, though, it was the underdog Braves scoring a 5-0 win in game seven to win the 1957 World Series! Aaron didn't hit a home run in that game, but collected an RBI and a run scored. Obviously, no one on the Yankees did either of those things.

Aaron's team was back against the same team the next year. Although Hank hit .333, he got only two RBIs and three runs scored. And he failed to hit one out of the park. The Yankees, down three games to one at one point, stormed back to win the last three games.

In 1960 it was again the Yankees as the favourites. But Roberto Clemente, helped his Pittsburgh Pirates pull of an upset.

In game one, he drove in a run, as the Pirates won 7-4 at home. New York, though, annihilated the Pirates 16-3 and 10-0 in the next two games. The Pirates won game four, 3-2. But Clemente didn't do much.



In game five, Roberto got an RBI, and the crucial game was won by Pittsburgh, 5-2. One more win and it's all over. But New York crushed 'em 12-0 in game six.



In game seven, Roberto was a bit of a rally-killer. He hit into an inning-ending double play in the bottom of the third. But Pittsburgh was up 4-0 at that point. New York charged back and took a 7-4 lead into the last of the eight.

But Roberto Clemente singled home the Pirates' second run of the inning as Pittsburgh closed to within one. When Hal Smith hit a three-run home run, it was suddenly Pirates 9, Yankees, 7. New York came back to tie it in the top of the ninth, before Pittsburgh won it all on a home run by Bill Mazeroski in the bottom of the frame.



The next year, New York was back in the Fall Classic and looking for revenge. They faced the underdog Cincinnati Reds. Looking in right, they saw Frank Robinson.

In game on, Frank and his 'mates seemed a little intimidated by the Big, Bad, Bronx. They lost 2-0 and could only collect two hits. Frank got none, but did manage to draw a walk. Alas, Cincy was going to need more than that to beat New York.

Frank failed to get a hit again in game two, but walked again and somehow managed to score twice. The most important thing to come out of all that was the Reds' 6-2 win, which knotted this thing at a game apiece. Cincinnati had found a way. Now heading home with three in Crosley Field, they had to have a nice shot of confidence.



And they looked like they were going to take game three as well. Frank Robinson got a double in the bottom of the third to make it 1-0. New York tied it. In the bottom of the seventh, it was Eddie Kasko with a single to put the Reds ahead again.

Bob Purkey, pitching for the Reds, retired the first two men in the top of the eighth. But then Frank watched helplessly as Johnny Blanchard hit the first pitch to him over Frank's head in right for a game-tying home run. When Roger Maris did the same in the top of  the ninth, the Yankees were ahead for good. So close.



Facing Whitey Ford, who'd shutout Cincinnati in game one, Frank could only ground out in his first at-bat of game four. Eddie Kasko singled in the bottom of the fourth. Ford hit Frank when he batted that inning, but Cincinnati stranded 'em both! The game stayed close until the top of the sixth, when the Yankees doubled their lead from 2-0 to 4-0. Ford had hurt himself batting, however, and when Elio Chacon greeted him with a single to start the bottom of the frame, Whitey was done. Jim Coates came in and got two outs. But Frank stepped in. Coates could be mean and was here and now. Frank took another one for the team. But Wally Post ended the inning by flying out to centre.

Coates sailed along from their, and New York extended their lead to 7-0 going into the bottom of the ninth. Oh, Jimmy Coates was still pitching. Frank Robinson drew a one-out walk. Post delivered this time. He singled Robinson to second. Coates had to get it all together to fan Gene Freese and Gordy Coleman to preserve the shutout.

While it had all seemed easy, Frank had reached base three times and Cincy had gotten some chances to score a run or two. They didn't capitalize. They sure did in game five, but it was the situations they didn't that cost 'em!

The Yankees charged out in front, 6-0 after two innings. But here, big Frank hit a big home run. It was a three-run home run in the bottom of the third that knocked New York's starting pitcher, Ralph Terry, out of the game. The Reds, awakened, got two more hits but stranded them both.

New York, you see, didn't mess around. The scored five more runs in the top of the fourth, just as they had in the top of the first. Now ahead 11-3, Cincy would need some more fireworks. They got some.

Vada Pinson led off the bottom of the fifth with a single, but decided to test Roger Maris' arm in centre. Roger gunned him out at second. Frank Robinson grounded out. And error and a two-run home run by Wally Post made sure the inning was not all wasted. Still, it could have been 11-6 at this point, not 11-5. New York again came back the very next inning. They scored twice in the top of the sixth to make it 13-5.

Frank had another big hit in the bottom of the seventh. With two down, he hit a double to left. But there he stayed as Coleman grounded out. Wally Post got nailed with a pitch to start the bottom of the eighth. But again, Cincy couldn't get it done.

The final hit total was 15-11 for New York. But the game was all New York, as they were World Series Champions, four games to one. Frank and his mates had given it their all, though.





The old song, "Willie, Mickey and The Duke" was sung to honour the three greats in centre. Robinson got mentioned. But it's amazing how many great rightfielders there were back in the day. New York got to see three of the finest!

World Series: Did You Know?

The Braves are the only franchise to reach the pinnacle of baseball from three different franchise locations. They've had a long history and each stop in a city has been a Brave New World.

The first appearance of this National League team in the Fall Classic was back, 100 years ago. The Braves were actually in Boston, and were 12 games back on July 25th of that year. But they made a nice charge to make it up and came in home at first, 10 1/2 games up. They didn't stop there. Facing the Philadelphia A's (who themselves moved twice. First to Kansas and later to Oakland. But they never reached the World Series in Kansas), the Braves needed just four games to win it all.

From there, though, the Braves fell on hard times and only reached one more World Series. They faced a tough Cleveland Indians team. It was a close six-game affair. And Boston did amazing to beat Bob Feller twice. But it proved to be the only two games the Braves would win.

A move to Milwaukee in 1953 seemed to bring them back on track. They sold out. Then, in 1957, they made the Fall Classic and took a splendid seven-game affair from the New York Yankees.

New York took their revenge the next year, and Milwaukee was knocked out in a two-of-three playoff series by Los Angeles in 1959. The team won 83 or more games from 1960 to 1965, and had Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews as the sluggers, plus Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette as hurlers. But they did not return to the Fall Classic again in Milwaukee. They moved again to Atlanta in 1966 and were swept by the New York Mets in the inaugural National League Championship Series, three games to none in 1969.

For what it's worth, an American League team came to Milwaukee in 1970 after the Seattle Pilots lasted just one year. But, to date, they have failed to win the Fall Classic.

Atlanta actually had to wait until 1991 to reach the World Series. There, they lost a classic, seven-game World Series in the seventh game on a 1-0, walkoff to the Minnesota Twins.



They made it back to the World Series in 1992, and gave the Toronto Blue Jays all they could handle. Again, it was a classic, but Toronto prevailed in six games.



The Braves were undaunted, and looked set to return for a third straight appearance in 1993, but the Philadelpha Phillies upset them in six games in the NLCS.

After not getting a chance due to the 1994 strike, it was on to 1995, where Atlanta took on the Cleveland Indians, who had won two Fall Classics by staying dead smack in the middle of Cleveland. Atlanta wasn't about to let this one slip away.

It went six games. But Tom Glavine's masterful 1-0, 1-hitter in game six brought it all home for this seemingly jinxed team. And it was Bobby Cox, in his second tour of duty as manager with Atlanta, who finally had his first Fall Classic win.



Few, if any baseball teams stay in their original location. With expansion to the west and later the sunbelt states, franchises were likely to find greener pastures. The Braves have managed to be a winner no matter where they end up. If they should ever relocate again, my money's on them winning it all no matter where they end up!

References

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

Mantle, Mickey, and Mickey Herskowitz. All My Octobers: My Memories of Twelve World Series When the Yankees Ruled Baseball. New York: HarperCollins, 1994. 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.

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. 21 Dec. 2014.

World Series: Did You Know?

Game three of the 1957 World Series was the only time Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron went deep in the same game, not counting spring training and all-star games. The New York Yankees were looking for back-to-back in '57, but would have to deal with the Milwaukee Braves.

The game ended up being one of Mantle's best in the Fall Classic, yet he also suffered an injury that would plague him for the rest of his career.

Innocently enough, Mantle was on second in the top of the very first inning. The 1957 was all square at this point, with Mantle's Yankees and Aaron's Braves having split the first two contest at Yankee Stadium. This crucial game three was in Milwaukee. In typical New York fashion, the Bronx Bombers took the heart out of the opposition right of the bat. As in, the Yankees first at-bats. That first inning was mighty impressive by New York!

Bob Buhl started the game for the Braves. Hank Bauer, leading off, grounded out. But Tony Kubek blasted a solo home run to put the Yankees up, 1-0. They would never relinquish the lead. Adding salt to the wounds was the fact that Kubek was born and bred in Milwaukee. Mickey drew a walk. Yogi Berra also saw four pitches that missed the strike zone. Buhl tried to pick off Mantle at second, but the ball went into centerfield. Mantle got tangled up with Red Schoendienst, the Braves' second basemen and leadoff hitter. In the mix-up, Mantle suffered a shoulder injury. It didn't seem to make a difference at the time. It only seemed to add to the legend of what The Mick could do, even crippled.

Mantle made it to third on the play, then scored on a sac fly by Gil McDougald. Berra himself scored on a single by Harry Simpson. 3-0, New York. What a start! And what an end for Bob Buhl, as Simpson's single was the last pitch he threw!

Bob Turley (13-6) started the game for New York. His half of the first was not smooth sailing, by any stretch. Schoendienst singled to start the game. Johnny Logan walked. Turley got Eddie Mathews and Hanky Aaron to pop out, but Bob walked another batter before he got out of the jam. Bases loaded and two outs are not the situation you like to be in if you are the pitcher. Especially if you have control problems! And New York would face this situation again in the very next inning. Guess who they had to face?

The Yankees got nothing in the top of the second. Milwaukee went on the attack in the bottom of the frame, however. Bob Hazel hit a single to get things started. Del Rice hit a single to bring the tying run to the plate. Juan Pizarro, the relief pitcher, was retired on a fly to left. But Shoendienst scored Hazel with a single to right. Logan was retired on a strikeout, but when Bob Turley walked Eddie Mathews, his night was over. Don Larsen came in to pitch. The bases were loaded. There were two outs. Aaron was the batter. Larsen got him fly out to the other Hank in right.

The Yankees though, got two more in the top of the third to make it a 5-1 game. Mantle and Berra hit singles to start things. Mickey was on third. Mantle then tried for home on a grounder by McDougald. The Mick was out, Berra taking second. However, Elston Howard batted for Simpson and loaded the bases on another walk. Jerry Lumpe singled home Berra and McDougald. New York had all the runs they needed! Not that they let up. Mickey had a habit to atone for mistakes. You know, by going yard?

In the fourth inning, Bauer was retired by Gene Conley to start things. But the hometown kid singled. Mantle hit a home run to right center. 7-1, New York.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, Johnny Logan led off with a single. Eddie Mathews was retired on a fly to left. Hammering Hank hammered a Larsen offering where Mantle and Bauer could not catch it. 7-3, New York. Mickey's teammates had more answers for that, however.

Mickey drew a walk in the top of the sixth, but was stranded. In the bottom of the frame, Aaron came to bat with the bases loaded and two outs, just like in the bottom of the second. All he could do in ground out to third basemen Lumpe. Wow! A game where Aaron hits a home run but twice leaves the bases loaded? Sometimes, you do see it all in the Fall Classic! In the same game.

Two outs, and three walks by New York in the top of the seventh presented another chance for more damage. The Yankees always seemed to make you pay for this. Bauer, always a tough out, proved that. Hank proved that his first name is a good name to have by singling home two runs. When Tony Kubek, also having a great game, followed that with his second long ball of the game it was 12-3, New York. This demonstrates why you have to take advantage of situations where you have the chance to score in the World Series. You don't score, but the other team does, and it's a double whammy! Mantle flew out to left, but New York didn't need any more from him. Milwaukee sure could have used more from Aaron!

In the bottom of the 9th inning, Mathews led off with a walk. Aaron singled this time. It looked like the Braves had something going. Wes Covington flied out. But when Andy Pafko was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded and there was only one out. I guess Hank Aaron wanted to be the batter. No way is he failing three times in one game under these circumstances.

But Don Larsen reached back and retired Bob Hazel on a pop up to Gil McDougald at short. Del Crandall looked at strike three from Larsen, making New York winners by the score of 12-3.

Mantle finished the game 2-3 with a home run, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI and two walks. Aaron finished the game 2-5 with a home run, 1 run scored and 2 RBIs. But no walks.

The injury to Mantle shoulder would hurt his effectiveness the rest of the Series. He did not even play in game 5 and only came in the 8th inning of game 6. In game 7, he managed just one hit as Milwaukee won the 1957 World Series with a 5-0 win. The Mick did not hit a home run in any of the remaining four contests after game three.

Aaron meanwhile, had another home run and three RBI in game four, won by Milwaukee 7-5 in 10 innings. Aaron also went yard in game six, but the Braves lost this one to Turley, 3-2. Aaron had an RBI, but no home runs in game seven.

Aaron and Mantle would meet again the next World Series, but they did not connect in same game. The Braves, you had to think, were on the verge of a dynasty, while New York always seemed to have one, although perhaps in decline. But the Braves and Yankees would not play again in the World Series for nearly 40 years.

It's always too bad when you have two greats in opposite leagues in baseball rarely face each other outside of exhibition games. Only now, with the advent of interleague play in 1997, do you get to see the other league until October. In Mantle's and Aaron's case this 1957 Fall Classic was early in their careers. But the late 50s and 60s were dominated by the new Los Angeles Dodgers, so the Braves were out of luck. Mantle's teams made the postseason 12 times in his first 14 years in the bigs. I guess it's one of the reasons I actually like inter-league play!

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