World Series: Did You Know?

Amazingly, it is Willie Mays who has the record for most double plays hit into in a single contest. Three.

Willie was playing in his first ever Fall Classic in 1951, and it was his New York Giants vs. their cross-town rivals, the Yankees. For the Bronx Bombers, it was Joe DiMaggio's last World Series and Mickey Mantle's first.

So after three games, it looked like the Giants were going to follow up their historic pennant win with a World Series triumph. It was 2-1 for the team representing the National League in the final showdown.

Game four, for good measure, was at home at the old Polo Grounds. Right where Bobby Thompson had hit that pennant-winning walk-off home run. The fourth contest was all Yankees, however.

Sal Maglie was the right choice for the Giants, and got the Yankees out in the top of the first with no scoring. Monte Irving, who just recently passed away, drove home Alvin Dark in the bottom of the frame with a single.

But just to show you how good this Yankee team was, right in the top of the second, they tied it. Joe Collins singled to score Gene Woodling. The Giants had The Miracle Man, Thompson, on first with one out in the bottom of the inning. However, Willie Mays hit into a double play to end that.

Allie Reynolds, the Yankees' starter, put the Bronx Bombers ahead for good with a single off Maglie in the top of the fourth. The Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio, blasted a two-run home run off The Barber the next inning. 4-1 for the junior circuit champs after 4 1/2. They were really in the driver's seat.

Bobby Thompson started the bottom of the fifth for the Giants by drawing a walk. Mays again hit into a double play. Wes Westrum followed with walk, too. If only Mays' hadn't done that. The Giants may have come back right there.

As it was, Maglie was removed for a pinch hitter. Sheldon Jones came in to pitch. The Bronx Bombers were done finished.

In the top of the seventh, the Giants had Phil Rizzuto in the wrong spot. Westrum noticed The Scooter a little too far off second base. But Eddie Stanky, after getting the throw, hit Rizzuto in the back as he was heading to third. Rizzuto scored the fifth Yankee run. Woodling scored the sixth when McDougald singled. Neither tally was earned.

In the bottom of the seventh, Mays came up after Thompson had singled with one out. This time, he skied it to DiMaggio in centre. Westrum fanned to end the inning. The Giants finally scored again in the bottom of the ninth on a single by Thompson. That scored the other Thompson, Hank.

The single sent Irvin, who'd himself hit a single following a leadoff walk to Thompson, to third. Runners on the corners, one out, 6-2. And Mays at the dish.

Mays sent a roller to Rizzuto at short.

Ouch!

It happens to even the best of them.

World Series: Did You Know?

Monte Irvin, who passed away two days ago, stole home in his very first time on the basepaths in 1951. His daring moves helped the New York Giants win the game.

The 1951 World Series will forever be known as DiMaggio's last, The Say Hey Kid and The Mick's first. But Mickey Mantle was in right field and Willie Mays was in centre.

So it was the Giants playing the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium in game one. Eddie Stanky led off the first against Allie Reynolds and could only ground out. Alvin Dark flied out to Mantle in right.

But Hank Thompson walked, and Irvin singled. Mantle got to it, but it was Thompson who motored to third. A double by Wally Lockman (Which bounced into the stands in left) made it 1-0, Giants. Irvin did not get to score on the play. However, a two runners were in scoring position, and Bobby Thompson was know the batter.

Irvin then took things into his own hands. As Reynolds delivered to Thompson, he broke for home, and caught everyone napping, including catcher Yogi Berra. Safe! 2-0, Giants.

Irvin ended the game with four hits, although the run he scored was his only one. He also failed to collect an RBI. The Giants, however, won the game, and after three games, looked poised to wrap it all up. The Yankees rallied from two games to one down and ended up winning the last three games.



Monte ended the series with 11 hits, two stolen bases, a triple and hit .458. All tops. This would also not be his last Fall Classic. The Giants returned in 1954, this time winning. Irvin, however, hit just .222 in New York's sweep of Cleveland.


References

Neft, David S, and Richard M. Coheen. The World Series: Complete play-by-play of every game, 1903-1989. New York: St. Martin's Press. 1990. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. "October 4, 1951 World Series Game 1, Giants at Yankees" Baseball-Reference.com Major League Statistics and Information http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA195110040.shtml (13 Jan. 2016)

1951 World Series, dvd, Major League Baseball Productions. 2013.

World Series: Did You Know?

Game five of the 1949 Fall Classic, not game four of the 1971 October Fest, was the first to be played under the lights. The game in '71 was the first to start under the lights.

The game, the usual Yankees / Dodgers tilt, saw Brooklyn at home trying to send it back to the Big, Bad Bronx for games six, or maybe even seven. It was 3-1, New York, but this one had been a tight one all the way. Game five, however, looked like a route.

The Yankees didn't want to return home, and made it clear with their start to this one, right in enemy territory. The Dodgers had a habit of coming back. New York had won game one, 1-0. Brooklyn took the second, by the same score.



Game three was at Ebbets Field and New York eked out a 4-3 win. A 6-4 win in game four was almost a Yankee collapse, as they took a 6-0 lead before the Dodgers clawed back with four runs. Here, in game five, it was 10-1 after 5 1/2. New York had knocked Rex Barney out. Anyone else who dared take the mound was in for a long day.

But Brooklyn, with their small park, wasn't about to go away quietly. They scratched across one run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 10-2. Then, they really woke up the next inning.

Jackie Robinson, playing in his second World Series, knocked another in with a sacrifice fly to make it 10-3. Gil Hodges scored three more with a three-run home run. That made it 10-6. It's such a little park. A four-run lead wasn't safe. Case and point. Joe Page, the Yankee relief ace, came in to fan Luis Olmo to finally end the inning. But Brooklyn had two more innings to go.

Erv Palica pitched the top of the eighth for Brookly. He couldn't afford to allow any more runs. Quickly, he got Tommy Henrich and Yogi Berra. But then Joe DiMaggio walked. Bobby Brown singled The Yankee Clipper to second. Palica got Gene Woodling to fly out to end that.

Page, though, was equal to the task. He was out there to settle this nonsense. He got Brooklyn 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth, to put New York three outs away. Could they add anything more to the cause in the top of the frame?

Paul Minner was one to pitch. After getting Cliff Mapes on a fly to Olmo in left, it was Jerry Coleman with a double. Joe Page batted for himself. After all, who would stop the Dodgers in their half? But all Page could do is ground back to the mound. Coleman stayed at second. Phil Rizzuto lined to Gene Hermanski in right. Time to turn the page to Joe for the last of the ninth. It was an eventful one. Because at some point during all this, the lights were turned on at Ebbets Field. The Dodgers seemed to wake up again, and come on strong.

Eddie Miksis batted for Spider Jorgensen, and lashed a double to put Page on the edge. Joe settled down and got the dangerous Duke Snider out on a swing and a miss for strike three. A home run here could make it 10-8, and Page didn't want that. He followed crowning Duke Snider by fanning Jackie Robinson for the second out. The game, however, continued when Hermanski walked. Gil Hodges was up. He knew how to go yard. If he did, the Dodgers were within a run. New York scored twice in the top of the first and were up 5-0 before Brooklyn scored its first run. So it had been all New York. However, Brooklyn was fighting back.

Page fanned Hodges to end it. The Dodgers ended up with as many hits (11) as the Yankees, but in the end, it was New York with a five-game triumph. Even though it had been short in terms of games, New York didn't turn the lights out until the last of the ninth on Brooklyn. The Dodgers were awake through it all and just didn't see the light of reality that their rivals were taking them down.



Night baseball had made it's way to the World Series. Game four of 1971, as mentioned earlier, was the first to start after the sun's descent. By 1985, all games were being played at prime time. The Fall Classic should be played with stars on the field and in the sky, right?


References


Fonseca, Lew, director. World Series Of 1949. A.G. Spalding And Bros. / Major League Baseball, 1949.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. (14 Oct. 2015).

"1949 World Series ‐ New York Yankees vs Brooklyn Dodgers | Enlighten Me." Enlighten Me. 2013.  http://enlightenme.com/1949-world-series/. Web. (14 Oct. 2015).

Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/. Web. (14 Oct. 2015)

World Series: Did You Know?

Johnny Sain was the only member of the New York Yankees bullpen to surrender a run in the 1951 Fall Classic. Seems odd considering he was a better pitcher then Bobby Hogue, Bob Kuzava, Tom Morgan and Joe Ostrowski. But they held the New York Giants in check while Sain didn't. That's insane!

Hogue and Morgan picked up Allie Reynolds in a lost cause in game one at Yankee Stadium. Leo Durocher's team didn't need any miracles. They won it easily, 5-1. Dave Koslo went the distance for the Giants.

The Yankees lost Mickey Mantle for the rest of the Fall Classic, as he tripped over a sprinker in game two, but they won the game by the score of 3-1. Hank Bauer finished the game in Mantle's spot. Mickey scored the game's first run. How about the bullpen? The Yankees didn't need any as Ed Lopat went all the way to square up the World Series.

Game three was in the Polo Grounds, and the hometown team won. Like game one, it was a rout. The final score was 6-2 as the Giants got a great pitching performance from Jim Hearn. The Yankees' pitching was ineffective. At, least, that was until Hogue and Ostrowksi came in for mop up duty. The held the Giants scoreless for 3 2/3 innings. But it was too late.

So the Yankees needed game four. They ended up returning the favour to the Giants. They won a 6-2 game of their own here. Allie Reynolds got the better of Sal Maglie as Joe DiMaggio hit a home run. Reynolds finished with a eight-hitter and seven K's.

The Yankees left the Polo Grounds on a winning note as they took game five, to go up 3-2 in the 1951 Fall Classic. Oh, they won it big. 13-1! Gil McDougald had a grand slam in the top of the third. It was more than enough, of course. DiMaggio and Phil Rizzuto drove in three each for good measure. Lopat was even better then in game two, as he pitched a complete game five-hitter.

The Yankees wrapped it up at home Vic Raschi won it 4-3. But he had trouble. Vic left without retiring a batter in the top of the seventh. It was 4-1, Yankees at the time. And the tying run was at the dish. Johnny Sain hopped in from the bullpen and got the next three batters out. It looked like a brillant move by Casey Stengel. But Sain narrowly avoided disaster in the eighth as the Giants loaded 'em up on a hit and two walks.

In the top of the ninth, the wheels really came of the chariot for Said. It was still 4-1, but Eddie Stanky singled. Alvin Dark got a bunt single. Wally Lockman singled to load 'em up. No outs. Bob Kuzava came in to pitch.

But Monte Irvin hit a long drive to left to score Stanky. Both Dark and Lockman moved up into scoring position on the play. Another long drive to left scored Dark, with Lockman staying at second. Still, a single could tie this thing, eh? Pinch hitter Sal Yvars gave it a ride to right. But Hank Bauer, who'd drove in three runs on the afternoon, made the catch to end it.

So Sain got a "hold" out of all that, but he hardly deserved it. Yet he was a valuable member of Stengel's teams from 1951 to 1954. He'd spot start (Going 11-6 in '52 and 14-7 in '55 with only 35 starts), he'd relieve (Leading the league in saves in 1954 with 26). Sain was part of the "Spahn and Sain" combo of the 1948 Boston Braves. And he was the last pitcher to face Babe Ruth (In an exhibition game) and the first to pitch to Jackie Robinson (Opening Day, 1947). Later, he served as a pitching coach on the Yankees from 1961 to 1963, helping Whitey Ford, Ralph Terry and Jim Bouton to their first 20-win seasons). Maybe he got bombed here in 1951, but that shouldn't take away from all his Yankee contributions! Sadly, most Yankee fans rue the fact that they traded the very man who beat New York three times in the 1957 Fall Classic for him.

Lew Burdette!

Sports Reference LLC. "(title of a particular page or blank for general citation)." Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. ()

World Series: Did You Know?

The last game of the 1939 World Series had a very odd ending. The "Lombardi Snooze" The New York Yankees swept the Cincinnati Reds as a result. But the ending was sort of inevitable given the Yankee firepower and pitching.

New York, up 3-0 in the top of the tenth inning of game four, found themselves tied at four. They'd scored twice in the top of the ninth to tie it, and were now looking to put the Reds away. The home team, playing in Crosley Field, was trying to stay alive. But as it turns out, Cincy needed to stay more alert and aware. 

Frank Crosetti drew a walk. A sac bunt moved Cro into scoring position. A grounder by Charlie Keller was muffed by Billy Myers, and that put runners on the corner. For The Yankee Clipper himself. So Joe DiMaggio singled to right, scoring Cro withe go-ahead run. But more problems awaited the Reds.

Ival Goodman could not handle Joe's single, and bobbled it, which made Keller head towards home. Ernie Lombardi got the throw, couldn't quite hold on, and for good measure was bowled over by Keller. DiMaggio seeing all this, made it all the way around the bases. He scored to make it 7-4, New York.

The Reds didn't exactly go away quietly in the bottom of the frame. Two straight singles started the inning, but Lombardi fouled out. The next two batters were also retired, and the 1939 Fall Classic was over.


References

Baseball Almanac, Inc. “Baseball Almanac: Baseball History, Baseball Records and Baseball Research. Baseball Almanac, Inc. Web. 19 May 2015, <http://www.baseball-almanac.com/>.

Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. 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.

Retrosheet. Web. 19 May. 2015.  <www.retrosheet.org>

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

World Series: Did You Know?

By winning game three of the 1938 Fall Classic, Yankee Lefty Gomez had six wins without a loss in the postseason. In terms of World Series, Gomez has the highest winning percentage of any pitcher (6-0). The New York Yankees had another Mr. October long before Reggie Jackson!

Gomez had previously beaten the Chicago Cubs once in the 1932 Fall Classic. He added two wins in 1936 against the New York Giants, and another two in 1937 against them.

So, here he was in game two of the '38 October Classic. The Chicago Cubs provided the opposition, and the Yankees were looking for their first sweep since Grove and co. needed only four games to beat Chicago back in '32. The downside, of course, was that Grove might not get another start to expand on his October heroics.

The Cubs sent Dizzy Dean to the hill to try and finally stop the Yankees. It would prove to be 'Ol Diz's last hurrah. But what a hurrah it was! Dizzy, having long since lost his stuff in a freak injury in the 1937 All-Star Game, went out and matched Lefty out-for-out!

Diz was doing his share of Yankee dissing in this game. He was 7-1 in 1938, as he only pitched sporadically. But he also posted and ERA of 1.81. And let's not forget about his swagger, character, not to mention his heroics in the 1934 Fall Classic. His brother Paul and Dizzy went out and won two games each that World Series.

The Yankees went down 1-2-3 in the top of the first in this game played at Wrigley Field. In the bottom of the frame, Stan Hack (Who many feel belongs in the Hall Of Fame), got it going with a single. He eventually scored on a sac fly.

New York got a double from Joe Gordon that scored two Hall Of Famers. Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio trotted on home to make it 2-1, Yankees on the two-bagger. Gomez himself ended the inning with a fly ball.

Stan Hack, was again the spark the Cubs needed in the bottom of the third. His single started things. When Babe Herman followed suite, New York was in trouble. A sac bunt and a double by Joe Marty the centrefielder, and Chicago was back on top, 3-2.

Dean, if you can believe it, was in god mode from the top of the third through the top of the seventh. The mighty Bronx Bombers did got get a man to first safely in those innings. Gomez, meanwhile, did give up a single in the bottom of the fourth. It was quickly erased via a double play. Marty singled in the bottom of the fifth, but was cut down on an attempted steal. An error put a runner on first the next inning, but that's all Chicago got. Dean led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, continuing his heroics. But with two down, Lefty picked Dizzy off first. And, in the top of the eighth, the wheels came off Dean's chariot!

Canadian George Selkirk singled to break up Dean's spell of retiring sixteen batters in a row. Dean got the next batter to force Selkirk, and was within five outs of leveling the 1938 Fall Classic. But Lefty Gomez, the next scheduled batter, was pinch hit for. Dean was equal to the task, and got Myril Hoag to hit into a force. With that, Dizzy had retired eighteen of nineteen batters. Four more outs to go. But Dizzy would retire only one of the next four batters he faced.

Frank Crosetti took Dean out of the park to make it 4-3, Yankees. Dizzy fanned the next batter, Red Rolfe, but now the Cubbies had a uphill climb. They had to face the Mariano Rivera of the time. Closer, Johnny Murphy. Murp got 'em 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eight.

Dean was greeted in the ninth by way of a single by Tommy Henrich. Old Reliable had come through again. The next batter was The Yankee Clipper himself. Joe DiMaggio smacked a home run to make it 6-3. Incredibly, the Cubs got the tying run to the plate after the first two men went down in the bottom of the frame. But Murphy picked up the save by retiring Hack on liner to short.



Gomez had the win, the Yankees eventually completed the sweep. Gomez did not make it back to the hill in the 1938 Fall Classic. In his last-ever World Series start in 1939, he lasted just one inning. It was his seventh start, and it ended with a no decision.

Gomez eventually went to the Hall Of Fame, despite not winning 200 games (189). Amazingly enough, his mound opponent in his sixth World Series win, also went to the Hall despite just 150 wins. Each was heroic in October, so it seems fitting that they ended up facing each other in this all-so-important game. Gomez had won game two of the 1932 World Series vs. Chicago, but no one remembers that. Babe Ruth's called shot defied that Fall Classic. In any event, Gomez had come full circle. Red Ruffling, Allie Reynolds, Bob Gibson and Whitey Ford all went on to win more games then Lefty, but each of them lost at least two games. So it's Gomez, who's nickname was Goofy, that proved to be Mr. Pitcher in the Fall Classic.

World Series: Did You Know?

Tiny Bonham is the last known pitcher to retire the side one three pitches. The unique feat, which has only been recorded as having been done three times total, came to a pitcher whose career and life was brief.

The New York Yankees were up three games to one on the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1941, and looking to put it away in game five. Having comeback and won game four, they didn't want to give Brooklyn any life. Bonham went out and pitched a gem. The Brooklyn faithful at Ebbets Field were going home disappointed!

The Yankees tallied twice in the top of the second. A wild pitch scored Charlie Keller. A single by Joe Gorden scored Bill Dickey. Whitlow Wyatt had given up three hits at this point, but settled down after this and New York got only one more runs and three more hits. It was up to Bonham to slam the door on the Dodgers.

Wyatt himself led off the bottom of the third with a double, and scored on Pete Reiser's sac fly. It was 2-1, now. Brooklyn though, would not score again on Bonham. Having given up two hits here, and an earlier triple to Reiser, Bonham would give up just one more hit from here on in!

The game was not going to be a boring affair from here anyways. New York got two on via bases on balls in the top of the fourth, but failed to score. Bonham got Brooklyn 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame, but it was not on three pitches. In the top of the fifth, Bonham's team did score.

Tommie Henrich went yard with the bases empty and one out. Old Reliable had given the Bronx Bombers the breathing room they needed. Wyatt got the next two batters out, but not without drama. Before Wyatt retired the great Joe DiMaggio himself, he had intimidated him. Some brushbacks were thrown by Wyatt during the at-bat. And by the time Joe flew out to Reiser in centre, he was mad. Wyatt and him exchanged some verbal volleys, and both benches empties. Fortunately, order was restored. Joe and Whit stayed in the game.

Wyatt seemed to feed of that exchange. The Yankees would get three more men on-base, but two of them would be retired when the very next batter grounded into a double play. Phil Rizzuto singled with two down in the top of the sixth, so the Dodgers couldn't turn two. Bonham was the batter and Wyatt fanned him. In the seventh and ninth inning, Whitlow got 'em 1-2-3.

Bonham also got 'em 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth. And the bottom of the seventh was one of the quickest half innings ever seen in World Series play.

Pee Wee Reese was the first batter. Swinging on the first pitch, he popped out to Johnny Sturm at first for the first out. The next batter was Mickey Owen. Swinging on the first pitch, he went out on a grounder to short. Augie Galan came to the dish as a pinch hitter. Again, the batter swung on the first pitch. And again he was retired. Sturm made his third putout of the inning on another pop fly.

Bonham gave up a single in the bottom of the eighth, but the Dodgers did not score. And when he again got the side 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth, New York won the game, 3-1. They also had won the 1941 World Series, four games to one.

Bonham had finished the game on a fine four-hitter. It proved to be, however, the only Fall Classic game he ever won. He stayed with the Yankees until 1946, after which he was traded to Pittsburgh. His career had started with some promise, and he posted an ERA of less than three in his first five seasons. In 1942, he topped the junior circuit with and W% of .808 courtesy of a 21-5 season. He was never that good again. He died during the 1949 season.

While Bonham may not have had a long career or life, he produced over 100 wins. And his World Series career featured a clinching-game victory over the hated Dodgers. And a nice 1-2-3 pitch seventh inning!

References

Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. 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. Mar. 06. 2014.

Baseball Almanac Inc. “Three Pitch Innings.” Three Pitch Innings, www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/3_pitch_inning.shtml.

World Series: Did You Know?

Charlie Keller became the first rookie to hit two home runs in one game. Back in 1939, in game three of the Yankees' four game sweep of Cincinnati.

Even in a sweep, there is often problems for the winning side. A narrow 2-1 win by New York in game featured a triple and a run scored for Charlie. But this thing was too close for comfort. Game two ended four to zero for New York, but oddly enough, three of the four runs scored in the bottom of the third. It Keller with a double to score a run. And when Bill Dickey hit a single later, Charlie was brought home.

But it's game three we are talking about here, eh? And our boy wasn't about to let the hometown Reds make any game of this. With one on and one out in the top of the first, Keller took the crowd out of the equation with a two-run home run. That put New York up 2-0. The Bronx Bombers weren't about to stop there, either! Cincinatti, though, had some moments to put some doubt into this one.

The Reds actually got a run back in the bottom of the frame, then really got the crowd going with two more in the bottom of the second. 3-2, Cincy. Things were looking all red! But Keller and his mates weren't about to go quietly. The top of the second saw a home run, not by Keller but by The Yankee Clipper himself, Joe DiMaggio. But guess who drew a walk earlier? Charlie Keller! Just like that, this see-saw affair had the Yankees ahead to stay. But it was Charlie who applied the finishing touches!

Frank Crosetti grounded out to start the top of the fifth for New York. But then Red Rolfe got a single. In to the batter's box stepped Charlie Keller. And for the third straight plate appearance of this game, he scored a run. Well, of course he did, because he also knocked in a run. With a home run, too! It was 6-3, New York, and this thing was getting ugly.

A home run later that inning by DiMaggio pretty much added an exclamation mark on a dandy of a day. But Charlie had put New York ahead, scored the tying run, and added two deadly insurance runs on this day. All this as a rookie. He had made quite an impression on his teammates and the Cincinatti Reds. A win in game four ended this thing almost in heartbeat.

The New York Yankees of the time were that good. It was past the Ruth and Gehrig days at this point, but the Bombers continued to find a way to win. New guys would come in, like DiMaggio in '36, and Keller in '39, and next thing you know, it was October. It was just like that for New York. The regular season, then the postseason. A rookie meant a lot of growing up in a very short time. The Yankees had to be ready in the Fall Classic. Keller in '39, was just that. Ready for the big blow!

References

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

Snyder, John S. World Series!: Great Moments and Dubious Achievements. San Francisco: Chronicle, 1995. Print.

Sports Reference LLC.  Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.

“Charlie Keller.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2014, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Keller. Date Accessed, 17 Dec. 2014

Word Series: Did You Know?

Jim Konstanty started game 1 of the 1950 World Series, not having made a single start in the regular season!

The Philadelphia Phillies right-hander, who had one of the greatest seasons of relief pitching that season, came through with a 5-hitter. It was just that the Yankees' Vic Raschi was even better!

But Konstanty looked shaky early on. The New York Yankees had needed just 5 games to beat a very good Brooklyn team the year before, and were poised for a quick kill here. Even the best relief pitcher in baseball would  have his hands full with the Bronx Bombers.

And if the Phillies or Konstanty himself had any different ideas, they were quickly gone in the top of the 1st. Jim did what you don't do in baseball.

Gene Woodling led off the 1st for the Yankees by walking. Then, Phil Rizzuto singled him to second. Yogi Berra was retired on a long fly, but Woodling made it to third. The Yankee Clipper himself was next, and Joe DiMaggio always came through in these situations!

Konstanty managed to retire him on a popup to first. Then, The Big Cat, Johnny Mize flied out to right.

Jim had a 1-2-3 second, but in the Yankees third inning, it was more of the same.

Raschi himself singled. Woodling walked. Rizzuto laid it down perfectly. 2nd and 3rd and only one out. Now what would Jim do? Berra was out on a flyball, but this time, no one advanced a base. DiMaggio was walked intentionally to load 'em up. And now, The Big Cat was back!

But Konstanty retired him on a popup to third. However, given what New York had accomplished, it appeared Konstanty was due for a short outing. I mean, he would have been used to pitching about three or less innings, right?

It was the next inning where the Yankees got what they needed. Bobby Brown led off with a double. A Hank Bauer flyball got him to third. Another flyball by Jerry Coleman scored Brown. Raschi ended the inning by grounding out. 1-0, Yankees after 3 1/2 innings.

In the top of the 5th, Gene Woodling grounded to the first base side of the infield. Eddie Waitkus, who had been shot by an obsessed fan in the season before this, made the play and tossed it to Jim covering first. Rizzuto popped up behind the plate for out number two. The man the Yankees had behind the plate, Yogi Berra, popped it up foul as well, this time to Waitkus. That was the type of inning the Phillies were going to need a lot more of. Not only in this game, but in every game of the 1950 Fall Classic.

But 1-2-3 innings were in order for the Yankees' starter. Vic was just mowing 'em down on this day. 1-2-3 went the Phillies in the first four innings.

In the 5th, the Phillies got two hits. It would prove to be their only two hits of the game.

Willie Jones, the 14th batter to face Raschi, got a single with one out. After another out, Andy Seminick singled to left and Jones was on second. This was not really a great scoring opportunity. But it would prove to be the best chance Philadelphia would have in this game. It quickly died as Mike Goliat was K'd by Victor.

Konstanty then issued his fourth walk of the day to The Yankee Clipper to lead off the top of the 6th. Would Mize be denied again? Yes, as Konstanty got him to pop to third. Brown lined out to right and Bauer forced DiMaggio at second.

After Raschi fanned Konstanty to start the bottom of the frame, it was time for Vic's first walk. Waitkus made it. But Ritchie Ashburn, in only his second season in the majors, flied to DiMaggio in center. Dick Sisler ended the inning when he popped to Johnny Mize at first.

Konstanty retired Coleman to start the 7th and then the wheels seem to come off the chariot. An ill-timed error by Willie Jones (playing third base) on Raschi's grounder put a man on. And it was back to the top of the order for New York. Woodling singled. Crunch time again for Jim.

Rizzuto popped out to third. Konstanty finally made it out of there without a run touching home as Berra grounded out to first. Waitkus made the play unassisted.

The Phillies then seemed to get the right pitches in the bottom of the 7th. All three batters hit the ball well. Ennis was out on a fly to right. Jones flew out to center. Granny Hamner really got a hold of one to right. Alas, Hank Bauer made the catch.

In the top of the 8th, Konstanty had a nice 1-2-3 innings. But it was still 1-0, New York. And it would prove to be Jim's last inning.

In the bottom of the frame, Seminick popped out to the new Johnny at first. Johnny Hopp had just replaced Mize. And he saw some quick action as Andy Seminick hit one towards him in foul territory. Goliat lined out to second. Konstanty was due up next, but with the Phillies trailing, it was time for a pinch hitter. Don Whitman hit a ball with some authority to right, but again Bauer made the putout.

Russ Meyer was in to pitch the top of the 9th for Philadelphia. Although New York got their 5th hit on the day, Meyer got the Phillies out of there unscathed.

But Raschi was not to be denied. Still ahead only 1-0, he retired Waitkus on a grounder in the bottom of the 9th. Ashburn grounded out, Hopp unassisted. Dick Sisler ended the game by fanning.

Jim Konstanty had pitched a combined 5-hitter with Meyer. 4 walks was a bit too much. But just one run had scored. However Raschi, the Yankees flamethrower, had allowed just 2 hits and 1 walk. It was just enough to overcome a fine performance by someone making their first start of the season!