World Series: Did You Know?

Gene Woodling and Granny Hamner each hit exactly .429 in the 1950 Fall Classic. And each went 6-14, so they tied for the lead in batting average for that year's World Series. Despite the four game sweep by the Yankees of the Phillies, not all was clear-cut.

Woodling, who batted leadoff for New York, drew a walk as the very first batter in game one. Philly pitcher Jim Konstanty allowed Gene to reach third and another runner to reach first. But that's where Big Jim got out of the inning without a run allowed. For Thanks to another Woodling walk in the third inning, New York loaded the bases! But just went it seemed like they were about to blow the cover off the lid, New York stranded three more runners.

The Yankees scored the only run of the game in the fourth, but Woodling did not figure into it at all. But in the top of the seventh, he singled. Again, New York stranded two runners. But New York won the game 1-0 and Hamner failed in all three trips to the plate.

In game two, Woodling led off the game with a single. Yogi Berra also added a single. New York continued to waste these efforts, as the inning ended in a 0-0 deadlock.

In the second inning, both Gene and Granny came up with big hits. New York got a single by Jerry Coleman and a walk by starting pitcher Allie Reynolds. Gene Woodling hit a clutch single to score Coleman and put New York up 1-0.

In the bottom of the frame, the Phillies threatened to tie it. With one out, Hamner hit a triple. Philadelphia needed just a hit or sac fly and this game was guaranteed a tie. Neither happened as a grounder made two outs. A fly ball off the bat of Mike Goliat ended the inning.

In the top of the fourth, with New York still up 1-0, Hank Bauer popped out to Hamner at short. But Coleman smashed a double and Reynolds drew a walk. The stage was set for another Woodling delivery. It never happened as he hit a foul fly to left that was caught. The Yankees were then retired as Phil Rizzuto lined out to right.

Hamner, for his part, didn't reach the dish in that inning until there was two down and nobody on. But he coaxed a walk from Reynolds. Then, he stole second. But that's all Philly got that inning. However, the Phillies did tie the game the next inning.

It was in the bottom of the ninth that Philadelphia almost won it. And it was our boy with a one-out double that did the honours! Dick Whitman was sent up to bat for Ken Silvestri. New York put him on first intentionally. But Goliat ended the inning by hitting into a double play! The Phillies would pay dearly for that missed opportunity as Joe DiMaggio hit a home run in the top of the tenth inning off Robin Roberts to win the game for New York.

It was off to the Big, Bad, Bronx for the next two games. Philly lost them both. Woodling was not in the lineup for game three, however.

Hamner got a single in the top of the second. He then made it to third on another single. But Philadelphia couldn't get him or anyone else home that inning.

The Yankees took the lead in the bottom of the third. Jerry Coleman cashed in Phil Rizzuto with a single. I guess Woodling was not needed! But what the Phillies needed was some offence, now!

The got it in the top of the sixth as Dick Sisler's single tied it. Hamner was the next batter, but watched helplessly as Dick was picked off first! So Granny had to wait until the next inning to bat. When that rolled around, he came through with a single.

Seminick then hit a sac bunt of Ed Lopat to move him into scoring position. When Goliat followed with a single, it was Philadelphia up, 2-1! I guess things had worked out fine for Hamner. What about Woodling? Would he ever get into the game? Time was running out for him and New York.

In the bottom of the eighth, New York not only tied things up, but they loaded the bases. Before that Gene batted for Lopat and was retired.

Then, with two outs, Hamner made an error on a Bobby Brown grounder that allowed the tying run to score. Jim Konstanty, brought in to put out the first, managed to retire Johnny Mize to prevent any further damage. Woodling would stay in the game as he went out to play left field.

But Hamner came through with a double to lead off the top of the ninth. As was the case in game two, a two-bagger by Granny had the potential to win the game. Again, though, Philly blew this one!

Hamner made it to third on a sac bunt. When Goliat was walked intentionally, runners were on the corners with just one out. Philadelphia sent up Dick Whitman to pinch hit again, this time for Konstanty. He hit a grounder to first that Hamner tried to score on. But he was cut down at the dish. Then, with runners on first and second and two out, Eddie Waitkus flied out to right.

The first two Yankee batters were retired in the bottom of the ninth. There was still Woodling. Gene kept the inning alive with a single. When Phil Rizzuto followed with a single of his own, the winning run was on second. Jerry Coleman, continued to come up big as he hit the third straight single of the inning. Woodling trotted home from second and New York won the game 3-2, and led the 1950 Fall Classic, three games to zero.

In game four, Gene Woodling was back in the starting lineup. Back in left and batting leadoff. And he made an immediate impact.

He started things by reaching on an error. Then, Yogi Berra scored him with a single. A wild pitch moved Yogi to third. When DiMaggio followed with a double, it was 2-0, New York. They were just getting started, however.

Hamner, for his part, got a single in the top of the fourth off Whitey Ford. That put runners on the corners with only one out. But The Chairman Of The Board, who was making his first World Series start, got out of the inning via a double play. Andy Seminick hit a grounder to first, where Johnny Mize mad the putout. The Big Cat then fired home to nail Del Ennis, trying to score from third!

Woodling got a single in the bottom of the bottom of the fifth, but was stranded. But New York scored three more times the next inning off Jim Konstanty. The game looked hopelessly over for Philadelphia, with Ford fanning Hamner to start a 1-2-3 seventh.

Woodling continued the onslaught in the bottom of the seventh. He rapped at one-out single off Konstanty. But he got too greedy and tried to steal second. He was a dead duck.

The defiant Phillies came up to bat, behind still by five, in the top of the ninth. Willie Jones led off with a single. Del Ennis was hit by a pitch. But Ford, looking for the shutout, got Dick Sisler to force Ennis at second. Hamner batted for the last time in the 1950 Fall Classic and Whitey fanned him again. Seminick batted again and lofted one to Woodling in left. It should have been the last out. New York should have won, 5-0.

But Woodling made an error on the fly, and the shutout was lost. Actually, two runs scored for Philly, who still had life. Just to leave no doubt about that, Goliat followed with a single. Allie Reynolds was brought in to relieve Ford, who had been cruely robbed of a blanking. Thus are the breaks of the World Series.

Reynolds though, had no intention of letting the Phillies win this game. He fanned pinch-hitter Stan Lopata, and the game was won by New York, 5-2. That completed a four-game sweep!

Despite that, this Fall Classic was close. Every game was one that you would not bet the farm on the winner. In Woodling and Hamner, it was sort of fitting that each batted the same, for their efforts led to many of those close moments being decided or almost decided. While Jerry Coleman won the MVP of the World Series and Jim Konstanty was the MVP of the National League that year, the efforts of Gene and Granny provided some tremendous excitement!

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!

World Series: Did You Know?

Whitey Ford almost got a shutout in his first World Series start! A fitting start to the man who would win the most lifetime games in the Fall Classic. The New York Yankees had a legend in the making in game four of the 1950 World Series!

Not even on the Yankees roster until July of that season, the lefty proceeded to win his first 9 decisions for New York. His only loss would be a relief stint against the Philadelphia Athletics. But the Athletics' National League counterparts would feel Whitey's wrath in the World Series that year.

The Philadelphia Phillies of 1950, who went by the name "Blue Jays" from 1943 to 1949, were known as the Whiz Kids. They put up a brave fight in the first three games, but New York was too strong. With a quick 3-0 Series lead, the Bronx Bombers gave Ford the start in game four. Who better to turn out the lights out on the kids, long before their bedtime?

The Yankees, at home, scored twice in the bottom of the first off Bob Miller. It was an early curtain call for the Phillies pitcher, who managed to retire only one batter. And it looked like an early curtain call for the entire Philly team.

Jim Konstanty, who had started game one for Philadelphia, came in to pitch. What was odd was, he hadn't started a game in the regular season. That was the season Jim had one of the best relief seasons of all-time. Jim took a tough 1-0 loss in game 1. But here, Konstanty was needed for the some much needed relief. More relief than rolaids. More relief than pepto bismol! For a while, Jimmy did just that.

Just getting The Big Cat, Johnny Mize, and Bobby Brown out to end the inning was something, as the Yanks got a runner to third. And from there, it seemed like The Jimmy and Whitey Show!

1-2-3 went Philadelphia in the top of the 2nd. 1-2-3 went New York in the bottom of the frame. Ford gave up a hit and nothing more in the top of the 3rd, while Konstanty had another 1-2-3 inning.

In the top of the fourth, a leadoff single by Del Ennis might have phased many-a-pitcher, but Ford got the next batter out. But when Granny Hamner singled, it was first and second and just one out. Ford bore down and got Andy Seminick, the catcher, to hit into an inning-ending double play.

After Joe DiMaggio himself fanned to open the bottom of the frame, Big Jim would have to deal with The Big Cat again. And this time, Mize singled. But Brown flew out, and Hank Bauer forced Mize at second. Still only 2-0, New York, after four innings.

Konstanty himself would stroke a one-out single in the top of the 5th for the Phillies. But Eddie Waitkus (who was shot by an obsessed fan, which inspired a scene for the movie, The Natural years later) went out on a fly to left. Richie Ashburn popped out to Jerry Coleman (who would win the Babe Ruth award in the 1950 World Series) at second.

The Yankees managed a hit by Gene Woodling in the bottom of the 5th, but that was it. Ford had his best stuff again in the top of the 6th. Whitey survived an error by Brown at third, again getting out via the double play.

Yogi Berra then broke Konstanty's spell (4.2 inning of shutout ball) by depositing one of Big Jim's offerings into the right field bleachers in the bottom of the frame. The Yankees didn't stop there, as a Brown triple drove home DiMaggio. Bauer drove home Brown with a hard drive to left for a sac fly. 5-0, New York.

Ford got 'em 1-2-3 in the 7th and 1-2-3 again in the 8th. Konstanty regained his stuff and got through the bottom of the 7th with no more damage. Robin Roberts came in to pitch the bottom of the 8th for Philly and held the mighty Yankees in check. But now, Whitey Ford was working on a 5-hit shutout. And just 3 outs away from his first World Series win.

Willie Jones led off the top of the 9th with his second hit of the game. Ford then hit the next batter, Ennis. Nervous?

Well, The Chairman Of The Board got Dick Sisler, the son of George Sisler, to force Ennis at second. When Ford fanned Hamner, the Yankees were one out away from a sweep. And Whitey was just one more out away from the shutout!

Seminick send a fly to left that Gene Woodling settled under. Game over! Shutout for Whitey Ford. World Series sweep for the Yankees.

Wait!

Scratch all of the above!

Woodling dropped it! Jones scored. Ken Johnson, who had come in to pinch run for Sisler and was probably completely forgotten about at this time, trotted in behind Willie. The score was now 5-2 for the Yankees. Obviously, both runs were unearned. But the shutout was gone. The Phillies remained ever so stubborn, even in the face of overwhelming adversary!

And Ford himself was shaken up a little. The next batter, Mike Goliat, lashed a single to send another pinch runner (Jackie Mayo) to second. The tying run was at the plate.

Roberts was the scheduled batter, but there was no way the Philadelphia Phillies were going to let the pitcher bat in this situation. Stan Lopata was sent up to hit for him. And Stan would not face Ford. Allie Reynolds, who would go on to tie Red Ruffing for the all-time lead in World Series wins (at the time) with 7, came in to pitch.

Reynolds would K Lopata. The Yankees had the sweep and Superchief had the save. But what Reynolds didn't know was that the very man he relieved here would pass him and Ruffing for all-time World Series wins. Ford would also finish with 3 shutouts, but that is only good enough for second in the Fall Classic. A shutout here could have helped Whitey Ford tie for the all-time lead. No matter, Ford had his first World Series win.

And Whitey would win a lot more!


References


Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.