Baseball – 1949

Baseball in 1949

<< Previous Year | Next Year >>

January

January 12The Giants are fined $2‚000‚ and manager Leo Durocher‚ $500 for signing Fred Fitzsimmons as a coach while he was still under contract to the Braves. Fitz gets a $500 fine and a 30-day spring training suspension.
January 25Lou Boudreau is rewarded for the Indians’ championship with a 2-year‚ $65‚000 annual contract as player-manager.
January 27Fred Saigh buys out the interest of Robert Hannegan and now controls 90 percent of the Cardinals’ stock. Saigh and Hannegan had swung the deal in 1947 with only $60‚300 in cash in a $4 million deal. Hannegan came out with $866‚000 profit in 2 years.
January 28The Giants sign their first black players‚ Negro Leaguers Monte Irvin and P Ford Smith. They are assigned to Jersey City. Irvin will star for the Giants but Smith never makes the major leagues.
January 29The Pirates get Murry Dickson from St. Louis for $125‚000.

February

February 2Brothers Bill and Charlie DeWitt gain control of the Browns by acquiring 57 percent of the stock from Dick Muckerman for $1 million.
February 7Joe DiMaggio signs with the Yankees for $100‚000‚ the first six-figure contract in the ML.
February 9A federal appeals court orders the $300‚000 suit against baseball by Mexican League jumper Danny Gardella back to a lower court for trial.

March

March 1The Browns‚ owners of Sportsman’s Park‚ move to evict the Cardinals in order to gain a rental increase.
March 2Joe DiMaggio leaves the Yankee camp to have an ailing right heel examined at Johns Hopkins hospital. He is told that no surgery is needed and he returns to Florida‚ but the heel will continue to bother him. The star is hitting just 7-for-31 in the Grapefruit League.
March 8Max Lanier and Fred Martin‚ late of the Mexican League‚ file a $2.5 million suit against baseball. A federal judge on April 1 will deny their right to be reinstated.
March 13The Cordele (GA) Dispatch reports that 2B Bill Rigney of the New York Giants has a heart attack today. It says that he is doing well and is expected to return to action by Saturday‚ the 19th (as noted by Bob Harris). Rigney will play in 122 games this year‚ his last as a starter.
March 17At St. Petersburg‚ The Tigers and Yankees slog through 17 innings before the game is called a 2-2 tie. There are 28 walks and 42 runners left on base.

The Dodgers vote unanimously to retain the reserve clause. “The reserve clause may have some inequities‚” says Pee Wee Reese‚ “but it is just as important for the players as it is for the owners.”
April 8Dissension rumors surround the NL title-holder Boston Braves after manager Billy Southworth calls a closed meeting of the club in a South Carolina hotel.
April 10Veteran Max West of San Diego sets a PCL record as he goes 5-for-5 with 5 extra base hits. Max has 3 homers and a pair of doubles. On his last at bat before today he doubled‚ giving him 6 straight extra base hits.
April 12Joe DiMaggio returns to Johns Hopkins hospital because of continuing pain in his heel. A bone spur is diagnosed and he will miss 65 games this coming season.
April 16At Fenway‚ Tom O’Brien and Junior Stephens clout homers to give the Red Sox a 5-2 win over their Hub rivals‚ the Braves. Mel Parnell gives up 3 hits in 5 innings.
April 17In Philadelphia‚ the A’s defeat the Phils 5-2 to capture their city series. Buddy Rosar hits a homer in the 7th.

The Yankees lose‚ 9-4‚ to the Dodgers‚ and also lose Bob Porterfield for a month. He suffers a torn muscle in his pitching arm on his last pitch of the game.
April 18In Washington‚ the Senators open with a 3-2 win over the A’s. Ray Scarborough is the winner over Art Fowler‚ both pitchers going the route.
April 19At pregame ceremonies marking the season opener with the Senators in Yankee Stadium‚ a granite monument to Babe Ruth‚ who died on August 16‚ 1948‚ is unveiled in center field. Plaques honoring Lou Gehrig and Miller Huggins are also presented. Mrs. Babe Ruth‚ Mayor William O’Dwyer‚ Governor Thomas E. Dewey‚ and the current team from St. Mary’s Industrial School in Baltimore are at the game. Gary Simpson‚ the St. Mary’s captain‚ throws out the first ball. The Yanks‚ who went just 13-14-1 in spring training‚ tie it at 2-2 in the 7th on Berra’s 2-out pinch single. New York wins 3-2‚ when Tommie Henrich‚ hits a dramatic 9th inning two-out HR off starter Sid Hudson. Henrich will hit another HR in tomorrow’s 3-0 win. Ed Lopat gives up 8 hits-three by Gil Coan-in going the distance for New York. Gene Woodling‚ the PCL’s leading hitter in 1948 with a .385 average‚ plays CF in place of the injured Joe DiMaggio.

Before a record opening-day crowd of 34‚530 in Brooklyn‚ the Dodgers pay tribute to Jack “Shorty” Laurice‚ the “number one” fan and leader of the Ebbets Field “Sym-phony” band. Laurice died in 1948. The Dodgers then trounce the Giants‚ 10-3‚ in 2 4-run innings. Campanella‚ Robinson‚ and Furillo homer to back Joe Hatten‘s 10-hitter. Larry Jansen‚ who will serve up a league high 37 homers this year‚ takes the loss.

Before 53‚000 at Detroit‚ Tigers rookie Johnny Groth homers twice in his first 3 trips against the White Sox‚ helping Hal Newhouser to a 3-hit‚ 5-1‚ victory. Batterymate Aaron Robinson also hits 2 homers. Floyd Baker has an RBI double for Chicago.

Governor Adlai Stevenson and mayor Martin Kennelly are at the opener in Chicago to see 41-year old Rip Sewell bests the Cubs again‚ 1-0‚ in a pitching duel with 39-year-old Dutch Leonard. Leonard allows 5 singles but Smalley’s fumble in the 9th on an easy grounder lets in the winning run. Sewell‚ who beat the Cubs 7 times last season‚ has now shut out the Bruins 3 times on Opening Day. It’s the first of 6 shutouts the Cubs will lose this year with Leonard starting.
April 20Phils 3B Willie Jones hits a record-tying 4 consecutive doubles after walking his 1st time up‚ but the Braves win the game‚ 6-5.
April 21The White Sox top the Tigers‚ 5-2‚ as Howie Judson wins his first decision of the year. He will lose his next 14 decisions‚ matching Washington’s Paul Calvert‚ who will also drop 14 straight this year.
April 22The Red Sox have a record-breaking opening-day crowd of 33‚955 who see Governor Paul Dever toss out the first ball. The Yankees then win their 4th in a row‚ 5-3‚ scoring all their runs in the 6th and 7th with the help of six base on balls. Boston starter Tex Hughson hands out four in the 6th‚ sandwiched around a DP. Allie Reynolds follows with a single. Tommy Henrich‚ who won the first two Yankee games with a home run‚ has four walks before striking out.

Mickey Vernon‚ the Indians new first baseman‚ celebrates his 35th birthday with a 10th inning single to give the Tribe a 4-3 win over the Tigers. Gene Bearden goes all the way for the win over reliever Dizzy Trout.

The Pirates win their home opener‚ beating the Reds‚ 5-4. Ralph Kiner‘s 3rd-inning grand slam‚ off Howie Fox‚ and Clyde McCullough’s 4th-inning triple account for the scoring.
April 24Lloyd Merriman of the Reds gets a HR-off Hugh Casey in the 8th-and a triple‚ in his first ML at bat‚ in his first ML game‚ a 3-2‚ 10 inning win over the Pirates. Kiner’s homer sends the game into overtime. In the nitecap‚ Bockman’s 2 homers account for all the Buc shots‚ as Cliff Chambers wins his first as a Pirate‚ 3-1. Merriman is the second rookie to debut like this‚ matching Hank Arft last year.

In the 2nd game of a PCL doubleheader against Oakland‚ LA’s Bill Schuster steals 2B‚ 3B‚ and home in the 2nd inning. This is the second time he has done this in a game. Oakland sweeps‚ winning 9-3 and 11-6.
April 26With the help of a triple play‚ Preacher Roe pitches the Dodgers into 1st place with a 5-2 win over the Braves and Johnny Sain. LF Gene Hermanski homers in the 1st and starts the 7-4-3 TP in the 3rd after catching Al Dark’s short fly.
April 27In a wild game at the Polo Grounds‚ pinch hitter Pete Milne’s grand slam in the bottom of the 7th caps a 5-run inning and gives the Giants an 11-8 win over the Dodgers. The Giants lost a 6-0 lead after 4 innings. Each team uses 19 players. Milne’s homer‚ which eludes Snider is CF‚ is the 4th and last pinch slam inside-the-park this century and is unique: it is Milne’s only ML homer.
April 28A New York fan charges Leo Durocher with assault after the Giants lose 15-2 to Brooklyn. Commissioner Chandler suspends Durocher but he is absolved on May 3rd. Chandler criticizes teams for lax security that allows fans on the field. Ralph Branca allows just 4 hits while the Dodgers collect 19‚ including 4 by Campanella.
April 30Rocky Nelson hits an “inside-the-glove” two-out‚ two-run HR in short LF to turn a 9th inning 3-1 Cubs’ lead into a 4-3 Cardinals’ victory. Cubs CF Andy Pafko‘s tumbling catch is ruled a trap by umpire Al Barlick‚ and as Pafko races in holding the ball high‚ the runners circle the bases. Ted Wilks is the winner over Bob Rush. The loss leaves the Cubs in last place.

May

May 1Elmer Valo is the first AL player to hit 2 bases-loaded triples in a game when he leads the A’s to a 15-9 win in the first of two against the Senators. Valo will have a 3rd bases-loaded triple during the season‚ to tie the AL mark of Shano Collins in 1918. The A’s take game 2‚ 7-3‚ called after 7 innings.
May 3Taking advantage of the shortened fence installed by White Sox GM Frank Lane‚ the Senators belt 7 homers-and need them all-in beating Chicago‚ 14-12 in 10 innings. This is only time a team has collected 7 homers in an extra inning contest. Clyde Vollmer leads the hit parade with 2‚ followed by Christman‚ Coan‚ Evans‚ Eddie Robinson‚ and Stewart. The Sox get homers from Joe Tipton and Gus Zernial.
May 4White Sox infielder Floyd Baker‚ who will play 874 games in his 13-year ML career‚ hits his only HR‚ off Sid Hudson‚ into “Home Run Lane‚” named for GM Frank Lane‚ in an 8-7 loss to Washington. The homer is short of the stands but over the wire fince 20 feet in from the stands.

A day after the two teams play to a 13-inning‚ 14-14 tie‚ the Tigers beat the Red Sox‚ 5-1‚ behind Virgil Trucks 3-hitter. The Tigers shell Harris for 14 hits in 5 2/3 innings.
May 5Charlie Gehringer‚ star 2B of the Tigers between 1925-41‚ is picked for the Hall of Fame. Two days later‚ the Old-Timers committee will select Kid Nichols and Three-Finger Brown.

At the Polo Grounds‚ Johnny Mize pounds a 10th-inning homer and the Giants beat the Pirates 3-2 to sweep their three-game series. The homer‚ off Murry Dickson‚ is Big John’s 300th. Reliever Hank Behrman‚ in for Sheldon Jones‚ pitches out of tight jams in the 9th and 10th to win. Wally Westlake is stranded in the 10th after reaching Behrman for a leadoff triple.

Before the start of a series with the Yanks‚ the White Sox abandon their trick LF fence. The 5-foot chicken wire fence‚ erected to cut the distance by 20 feet‚ resulted in 11 HRs in 8 games‚ but opponents hit 7 of them. The AL will subsequently rule that fences cannot be moved more than once a season. The Yanks still win today‚ 7-5‚ to go 13-3. Tommy Henrich has the only homer‚ while Johnny Lindell‚ Yankee left fielder‚ twice makes catches that would’ve cleared the wire fence. Allie Reynolds‚ with help from Joe Page‚ is the winner.

At Cleveland‚ Bob Feller‚ making his first start since pitching two innings in the season opener and coming up with a sore shoulder‚ beats the Red Sox‚ 7-3. The Tribe scores six in the 2nd inning‚ including Ken Keltner‘s three run homer off Jack Kramer. On the next pitch‚ Minnie Minoso making his second start‚ hits his first major-league homer. Ted Williams and Bobby Doerr hit 8th-inning homers for Boston‚ while Joe Gordon adds a homer in the 5th for Cleveland.

The Red Sox acquire outfielder Al Zarilla from the Browns for Stan Spence‚ who pinch-hit today‚ and cash.
May 6Bobby Shantz makes a sensational debut‚ tossing nine hitless innings in relief in a 13-inning‚ 5-4‚ Athletics’ win over the Tigers. Shantz finally gives up 2 hits and a run in the 13th‚ but old-timer Wally Moses‚ now back with the A’s‚ saves him with a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 13th.
May 8In Philadelphia‚ the Reds score 5 in the 9th to take a 7-3 lead‚ but the Phils tie to go into extra innings. Cincinnati then scores 7 runs in the 12th to win‚ 14-7.

Behind the 2-hit pitching of Tommy Byrne‚ the Yanks roll over Detroit 12-0. Gene Woodling scores 5 runs.
May 9At Detroit‚ the Tigers set back the first-place Yankees‚ 4-1‚ behind the five-hit pitching of Ted Gray. Vic Raschi also allows just five hits‚ including a homer by Dick Wakefield‚ in taking the loss.

The first-place Giants win their 7th in a row as Sheldon (Available) Jones stops the Cubs‚ 7-2. Aided by ten walks and homers by Sid Gordon and Willard Marshall‚ the Giants pin the loss on starter Ralph Hamner‚ who allows one hit in three innings.
May 10Longtime Cardinal owner Sam Breadon dies. Robert Hannegan‚ the man to whom he sold the club‚ will die October 6.
May 11The White Sox score in all 8 innings they bat in beating the Red Sox‚ 12-8.
May 14Roy Sievers has a double and HR to drive in 4 runs in the Browns 8-3 win over the Tigers. Slick-fielding Tiger first baseman Paul Campbell ties the ML record by making 2 unassisted DPs; while with Montreal (IL) in 1941‚ Campbell started 26 DPs at 1B.

President Truman makes a surprise visit to the ball park and cheers on the Washington Senators ot a 5-4 win over the Red Sox. It is the Nats’ 10th victory in 11 games.

The Braves overcome an 8th inning grand slam by Gil Hodges and beat the visiting Dodgers‚ 7-6. The Dodgers take the lead in the 12th on an RBI triple by Jackie Robinson‚ but Boston plates 2 to win.

For the third time in four days‚ Luke Easter of San Diego (PCL) hits two homers as the Padres lose 8-5 to Los Angeles. Tomorrow’s doubleheader will draw a record 23‚083 (according to John Spalding).
May 15White Sox hurler Bill Wight coasts to a 10-0 win over the Indians‚ and Al Gettel follows with a 2-0 whitewash of the Tribe.

Boston’s Vern Bickford stops the Dodgers‚ 4-0‚ allowing just four singles. One is by Gil Hodges‚ extending his hitting streak to 17 games. Jim Russell switch hits a homer and double to pin the loss on Morrie Martin. The Braves start Al Lakeman at 1B in place of Earl Torgeson‚ who separated his shoulder yesterday when he attempted to block Jackie Robinson on a double play. Torgeson will be operated on tomorrow and will be sidelined several months.
May 16The Cubs pick up 2B Bob Ramazzotti from Brooklyn for $25‚000 and INF Harry Schenz.
May 18The Pirates trade Johnny Hopp (.218) to the Dodgers for Marv Rackley. Hopp will go 0-for-14 while Rackley will be 11-for-35 before the trade is canceled on June 7.
May 21The Dodgers break up a tight game with an 8-run 9th to trim the Cardinals‚ 15-6. Pee Wee Resse scores 5 runs and Jackie Robinson has 6 RBIs.
May 22Brooklyn’s Don Newcombe‚ 23‚ (according to the later baseball encyclopedias: 25‚ according to Who’s Who in Baseball). makes his first ML start a dandy‚ shutting out the Reds‚ 3-0 in Cincinnati. It’s the first shut out in a National League debut in eleven years and extends Brooklyn’s win streak at Cincinnati to 19 games going back to June‚ 1947. Newk gives up hits to the first 2 batters‚ then allows just 3 more hits while walking none. He drives in 2 runs as well. Ken Raffensberger then matches Newk by firing a one-hitter to beat Brooklyn‚ 2-0‚ tossing only 83 pitches. The only hit is a leadoff single by Gil Hodges in the 8th. Raffensberger pitched two one-hitters against the Dodgers in 1948.
May 24Striking out the last 6 St. Paul batters‚ Maurice McDermott of Louisville (American Association) fans a total of 20 for a new league record. McDermott wins‚ 3-1‚ striking out the side in the 3rd‚ 5th‚ 6th‚ 8th‚ and 9th innings.
May 27The Indians start so badly‚ 12-17‚ that owner Bill Veeck arranges a “2nd Opening Day.” Behind Benton‚ the Indians make it a success‚ beating Chicago‚ 4-0. The Indians do rise to 2nd place‚ within 2 1?2 games of the top‚ but they will finish 3rd‚ 8 games back.
May 28White Sox rookie LF Gus Zernial breaks his collarbone making a diving catch against Cleveland in the 10th. He will be out of action for 2 months. The Indians push across a run in the 11th to win for Early Wynn‚ 3-2. Wynn allows 4 hits and retires the last 21 batters in a row.

The A’s Lou Brissie loses a tough one‚ 2-1‚ to the Yankees in 14 innings. Yogi Berra does the most damage driving in a run in the 9th with a double‚ then scoring from 1st on a double in the 14th. Joe Page is the winner.

In Don Newcombe‘s Ebbets Field debut‚ the Dodgers stake him to a 6-0 lead over the Braves. But Boston rallies to tie it at 6 apiece‚ led by Pete Reiser‘s 8th inning grand slam‚ and wins‚ 7-6.
May 29After 44 games and 285 errorless chances‚ 2B Red Schoendienst of the Cardinals errs twice against the Pirates. His last E was September 15‚ 1948. Elmer Riddle wins‚ 4-2‚ over the Cards Harry Brecheen.
May 30Jackie Robinson hits a 13th-inning HR to give the Dodgers a 2–1 game one win at the Polo Grounds. The Giants take the nitecap, 7-4, and the Leo Durocher-Robinson feud is fueled when Robby steals second during a timeout for a pitching change. He has to return to first and Leo gives him the “swollen head” gesture.
May 31Cleveland druggist Charley Lupica boldly climbs to a 20-foot platform atop a flagpole after announcing that he was staying there until the Indians repeat as pennant winners. The 7th-place Indians will move up to 4th by the time Lupica descends on September 25‚ but the disappointed druggist will be rewarded for his loyalty with a new car by Bill Veeck.

June

June 1Bob Feller‚ making his 1st start in 2 weeks following a siege of arm trouble‚ loses his 4th of the year as the Red Sox top the Indians‚ 3-1. Mickey Harris is the winner‚ allowing 9 hits.
June 2Against the Reds‚ the host Philadelphia Phillies hit 5 HRs in the 8th inning‚ tying the ML mark set by the 1939 Giants and turn a 3-2 deficit into a 12-3 win. The Phillie 5 includes Del Ennis‚ Andy Seminick (2)‚ Puddin’ Head Jones‚ and Schoolboy Rowe. Jones adds a stand up triple which just misses a HR‚ and Gran Hamner’s double jumps the extra base total to 18‚ a ML record. The 26 total bases ties the 20th C. mark. Seminick has 3rd inning HR to total 3 for the game.
June 3The Senators pound out 14 hits to beat Ned Garver and the Browns‚ 12-3. Paul Calvert (6-3) is the complete game winner‚ but will lose his next 14 decisions and the Senators will waive him to Detroit over the winter. The 14 straight losses is the 4th worst ever in the AL‚ and will be matched by Howie Judson this year.
June 4The Reds beat the Giants 6-3 in New York. All the Giants’ scoring is in the 6th inning when Whitey Lockman‚ Sid Gordon‚ and Willard Marshall pole consecutive HRs.
June 5Commissioner Happy Chandler lifts the ban on all players who jumped to Mexico‚ starting in 1946. Only Sal Maglie will make a significant mark after the exile. Lou Klein will be the first jumper to make a ML box score‚ successfully pinch-hitting on June 16.
June 8New York knuckler Tommy Byrne walks 13 Tigers in 11 innings‚ a Yankee club record and the most passes handed out since 1935. Dick Weik will match it in September and‚ as a Brown‚ Byrne will actually top it in an extra-inning game in 1951. The 2nd-place Tigers manage just 4 hits‚ but finally score with 2 out in the 11th to win‚ 3-2. Virgil Trucks gives up 3 hits in the win. The Yankees pitching staff will surrender 812 bases on balls this year‚ the second-most of any team in ML history (the most ever was 827 by the 1915 Philadelphia A’s).
June 9The Phillies tip the Pirates 4-3 in 18 innings in Philadelphia. No Phillies reach base via a walk in the game and each team has the same line: 68 at bats; 16 hits; 21 assists; and three errors.

Athletics P Dick Fowler records 9 putouts in a 12-inning 1-0 win over the White Sox. Bill Wight allows just 6 hits‚ including 2 by 1B Chuck Kress‚ acquired from the Reds yesterday. Luke Appling‘s 2-base error paves the way for the winning run.
June 10Frank Frisch‚ who began the season as coach of the Giants‚ replaces Charlie Grimm as manager of the last-place Cubs. Frisch was the first choice of Grimm‚ who goes into the front office as a vice president after tomorrow’s games. According to Grimm‚ “the Cubs have never had a fighting manager of the Frisch type for forty years. The last manager who’d compare with Frisch in my book is Frank Chance.”
June 12The Cubs (19-31) split a doubleheader with the Braves‚ winning the opener 6-2‚ then losing 2-0‚ to teenager Johnny Antonelli. 39-year-old Dutch Leonard is the loser to the 19-year-old bonus chucker. Cub fans give a standing ovation to manager Charlie Grimm in his last appearance in the coaching box.

Red hot Andy Seminick clubs 3 homers to help the Phils split a pair with the Cards‚‚ Seminick is 7-for-8 in the 2 games and is the middle of a streak that will produce 9 homers‚ 25 RBIs in 14 games.

The Dodgers run roughshod over the Reds‚ winning 20-7. Brooklyn’s Gil Hodges and the Reds Grady Hatton both hit grand slams as Hodges has 8 RBIs. The 2 teams combine for 15 runs (Reds-5) in the 5th inning to set a since-tied NL record for the frame.
June 13The Giants trade veteran C Walker Cooper to Cincinnati for C Ray Mueller.
June 14Bob Feller wins his 2nd of the year as the Indians route the Red Sox at Boston‚ 10-5. The Tribe scores 6 runs in the 1st off Joe Dobson‚ who does not retire a batter. Joe Gordon‘s grand slam is the big blow. The inning is marred by a rhubarb with both teams milling around the mound after Dobson hits Boudreau‚ who is playing 1B for the first time. The Sox allow Ken Keltner as a courtesy runner for the Indians skipper‚ who returns after an inning. Keltner‚ who had scored earlier in the inning‚ scores again for Boudreau. He’s the last courtesy runner this century.

Despite a Cards’ triple play in the 1st inning on a Hodges line drive‚ the Dodgers win‚ 7-2‚ for their 8th straight win. The Brooks increase their lead to 3 games in the NL.

After hitting a homer‚ triple and single‚ Wally Westlake adds a 2-out RBI double in the 9th to complete the cycle and give the Pirates a 4-3 win against visiting Boston.

Behind the 4-hit pitching of Larry Jansen‚ the Giants hand the Reds their 7th straight loss‚ 2-0. Walker Cooper‚ making his first appearance for the Reds‚ grounds into a DP to end the game. Cooper’s replacement behind the plate for the Giants‚ Wes Westrum‚ is 1-for-4. Westrum set an IL record with 5 grand slams‚ playing in just 51 games before being recalled.

Following a 4-1 Phils victory at Wrigley Field‚ Eddie Waitkus‚ 1B of the Phillies‚ is shot by 19-year-old Ruth Ann Steinhagen at Chicago’s Edgewater Beach Hotel. The shooting occurs just before midnight. Steinhagen‚ obsessed with Waitkus‚ is registered at the hotel under the name Ruth Ann Burns. The bullet punctures Waitkus’s lung and lodges near his heart. Waitkus battles for his life and will undergo 4 operations. He’ll come back to play the following season‚ though he will not be the same ball player. With a .304 batting average‚ Waitkus is currently leading the NL All-star voting for 1B.
June 15Rookie OF Dino Restelli joins the Pirates from San Francisco (PCL) and hits a pair of home runs to beat the Braves‚ 8-7. His first homer‚ with a man on‚ comes off Warren Spahn and his 2nd‚ a 2 run shot in the 9th of Hogue‚ is part of a 4 run inning. Restelli will hit 7 HRs in his first 39 at bats and will finish with 12‚ hitting .250 in 72 games. He’ll be out of the league next year.

In a swap of outfielders‚ Cincinnati sends Frankie Baumholtz and Hank Sauer to the Cubs for Peanuts Lowrey and Harry Walker. The Reds will shortly send both on to St. Louis‚ Lowrey for cash and Walker swapped a 2nd time for Ron Northey. Baumholtz and Sauer will flourish in Wrigley’s friendly confines.

Ed Sauer‚ brother of Hank‚ is also swapped today. First the Pirates purchase the catcher from the Cardinals‚ then trade him to the Braves for C Phil Masi and cash.
June 16The Braves bring up 19-year-old Del Crandall from Evansville (IN) and make him their regular catcher.
June 19The Tigers roll over the Senators in a twinbill as Virgil Trucks wins‚ 9-0 and Freddie Hutchinson follows with a 7-0 victory.
June 22The Braves and Cubs use 10 pitchers‚ who hand out 24 hits and 13 walks‚ as Chicago beats the visiting Bostonians‚ 9-8. Herman Reich has a 3-run HR‚ his 1st in the majors‚ for Chicago‚ and Sauer and Adkins also homer. Bob Elliott socks one for Boston. Reich has one assist at 1B‚ on his way to 83 assists in 85 games‚ high in the NL. This is the fewest games ever in which a player has led his position in assists (according to Mike Emeigh). Dom DiMaggio‚ in 1940‚ led AL outfielders in assists while playing just 94 games.

At St. Louis‚ the Cards overcome a 7-run deficit to rally and beat the Giants‚ 11-8. The win moves the Cards a half game behind the front-running Dodgers. Musial hits his 14th HR to help the Cards win their 23rd in 30 starts.
June 24Boston bangs out 25 hits against the Browns and rolls to a 21-2 pasting. Ellis Kinder is the winner. Ted Williams drives in 7 runs on 3 hits‚ including a pair of homers. Ted scores 4 times and adds a stolen base‚ his only one of the year. Goodman has 5 hits and also scores 4.
June 25In a shootout at Forbes Field‚ The Pirates out homer the Dodgers‚ 5-4‚ but lose the game 17-10. Gil Hodges leads the Flatbushers’ 17-hit attack with a cycle that includes two homers‚ triple‚ double‚ and single. The game features 9 home runs‚ one short of the record set August 16‚ 1947.: Kiner and Hodges‚ 2 each‚ Westlake‚ Stevens‚ Restelli‚ Robinson‚ and Furillo The win moves the Dodgers back into first place‚ as the Cards lose.

The Cards drop a 10-6 nite game to the visiting Braves‚ as Johnny Sain wins his 5th game. Sibby Sisti homers‚ one of 18 Boston hits.

Hank Sauer belts a homer to lead the last-place Cubs to a 4-1 win over the slumping Giants‚ losers of 13 out of their last 17.

The 3rd-place Phils win their 9th in 12 games‚ beating the Reds‚ 6-5. The Jays‚ as the are stilled called in the papers‚ get successive homers from Del Ennis and Stan Lopata to back Ken Heintzelman‘s win over Ewell Blackwell. Robin Roberts relieves for the Phillies. Granny Hamner scores from 2B in the 6th on a Stan Lopata fly ball to RF Harry Walker.

The Red Sox‚ winners of 9 of their last ten games‚ again crush the Browns‚ 12-2. Al Zarilla has a single‚ triple and HR to pace the Millionaires. The Sox are in 4th place‚ 5 1/2 games behind the Yankees.

Led by Jim Shamblin’s CWS-record 5 hits‚ the University of Texas beats Wake Forest‚ 10-3‚ to win the college World Series. Shamblin’s mark will be tied by Ron Hassey in 1976‚ and subsequently by a number of players.
June 26At Yankee Stadium‚ Pat Mullin hits 3 HRs to pace the Detroit Tigers to 12-4 romp in game 2. Raschi (11-2) is cuffed for 7 hits in 2 innings. The Yanks win the opener‚ 6-2‚ behind Ed Lopat.

The Cards Red Munger holds the Braves to 4 hits and clouts his first ML homer‚ off Glenn Elliot in the 5th‚ to win‚ 2-0.
June 27DiMag goes hitless but plays without pain against the Giants in the Mayor’s Trophy game. At this point the Yankees have played 65 games without DiMaggio‚ but are in first place by 4 1/2 games over the A’s and 5 ahead of Boston.
June 28After missing the first 69 games of the season because of an ailing heel‚ Joe DiMaggio awoke in early June to find the pain has disappeared. He returns to the Yankee lineup with a single and a HR that help the Bombers beat the Red Sox 6-4 in a night game at Fenway before 36‚228‚ the largest night crowd in Fenway history. Hank Bauer‘s 3 run homer in the 2nd inning off young lefty Maurice McDermott jump starts the Yanks‚ who now lead the race by 4 1/2 games.
June 29Mickey Owen and Luis Olmo rejoin the Dodgers from Mexican League exile.

At Fenway‚ The Yankees spot the Red Sox a 7 run lead before roaring back against Ellis Kinder. Joe DiMaggio hits a 3-run homer in the 5th‚ off Kinder‚ and clouts a 2nd HR in the 8th‚ off Earl Johnson‚ breaking a 7-7 tie. New York wins 9-7‚ with Joe Page victorious in relief.

Ralph Kiner‚ featured on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post out today‚ drives in 5 runs with a grand slam and a double to lead the Bucs to a 7-3 win over the Reds. Lombardi gets the win. Virgil Stallcup‘s 3-run homer is the scoring for Cincy.
June 30DiMaggio’s 4th HR in 3 games‚ a 3-run shot off the LF light tower‚ gives the Yankees 6-3 win‚ and a sweep of 5th place Boston. Vic Raschi (12-2) picks up the win over Mel Parnell (10-4). The Yanks leave Boston with a 5 1/2 game lead over the A’s.

Behind Hank Edwards offense‚ the Cubs down the Cardinals‚ 11-2. Edwards has 2 homers‚ 4 RBIs‚ and scores 5 runs.

At the Polo Grounds‚ the Braves take 2 from the Giants‚ 3-0 and 6-2. In the twi-nite game‚ Alvin Dark and Bob Elliott have inside-the-park-homers for Boston. Lockman’s muff of a fly ball with the sacks full allows 2 runs to score. Bill Voiselle wins the opener and Glenn Elliott the nitecap.

In a National Girls Baseball League DH in Chicago‚ Josephine Severs sets league marks with 7 RBIs in game 1‚ 11 RBIs for the DH‚ while going 7-for-9 with 13 total bases‚ also a league mark for a DH. Her Bloomer Girls beat the Cardinals‚ 13-2 and 10-3.

In Chicago‚ Ruth Ann Steinhagen is arraigned for shooting Eddie Waitkus. Waitkus‚ in a wheel chair‚ testifies at the hearing. A jury finds her criminally insane and by early afternoon she is on her way to Kankakee State mental hospital. She’ll remain there till April 17‚ 1952.

July

July 2Whoops. Cubs Andy Pafko is tagged out in the dugout after his line drive had been dropped. Andy thought the ball was caught and headed for a seat. It’s no wonder the Pirates win‚ 8-3‚ as Tiny Bonham outpitches Monk Dubiel.
July 3Giants P Monte Kennedy hits a 7th inning grand slam and shuts out the Dodgers‚ 16-0. The Giants amass 20 hits‚ batting around in the 1st and 7th. John Mize and Willard Marshall each have four hits as every starter collects at least a hit. Ralph Branca (10-2) exits early but takes the loss. It is a club record for the biggest shutout win that will stand until May‚ 2000.

Ralph Kiner‘s 21st homer‚ off Warren Hacker‚ helps the Pirates down the host Cubs‚ 7-3. Vic Lombardi goes the rout for his 3rd win.

The Cards move to within a game of the leading Dodgers‚ by beating the Reds‚ 8-1. Gerry Staley pitches the complete game win‚ and batterymate Joe Garagiola poles a homer‚ off starter Herm Wehmeier.
July 4The Dodgers increase their lead to 2 games over the Cardinals by winning 2 from the Phillies. Brooklyn takes the morning game‚ 7-1‚ behind Preacher Roe‚ then win the afternoon encounter‚ 8-4‚ behind Newcombe. Robinson’s triple in the opener kayoes Simmons and Hodges greets Konstanty with his 12th homer. Da Bums score a pair in the 7th on Cox’s homer and Hodge’s RBI single with Robinson scoring from 1st. Jones homers in the 9th for the Phils. Reese‚ Edwards‚ and Furillo homer in the nitecap.

The Redbirds divide with the Cubs‚ winning 9-4‚ Freddie Martin over Johnny Schmitz‚ then losing 5-0 as Bob Chipman tops Al Brazle.

At New York‚ the Yankees sweep 2 games from Boston‚ thanks in part to the weather. The 3-2 and 6-4 losses extend the Red Sox losing streak to 8 games. In the opener‚ the Sox entered the 9th trailing by a run despite homers by Dom DiMaggio and Vern Stephens. When Raschi walks Stephens to load the bases with one out‚ dark clouds suddenly block the sun and a violent wind blows dust that obscures the outfielders. Boston batter Al Zarilla then lines a single to LF‚ but Johnny Pesky‚ the runner on 3rd‚ can’t see if the ball is caught or not by Cliff Mapes. The perfect throw home forces Pesky‚ and Doerr pops out. In game 2‚ Joe DiMaggio‘s 5th homer ties the game at 4-all in the 5th‚ and Billy Johnson’s bases loaded single in the 7th off Mel Parnell decides it. Darkness halts the 2nd game-delayed 48 minutes because of rain-after 7 1/2 innings‚ leaving New York leading Boston by 12 games. The Yanks have drawn 1‚005‚ 343 for 35 home games.
July 6At Cincinnati‚ the Reds bang out 26 hits and roll over the Cubs‚ 23-4. Walker Cooper‚ acquired on June 13th from the Giants‚ collects a (20th C.) record-tying 6 hits in 7 at bats‚ including 3 homers‚ and scores 5 times. Cooper ends the day with 10 RBIs. Ken Raffensberger wins the laugher over Warren Hacker.
July 7Pitcher Dave Koslo hits the first 2 homers of his career-he’ll hit one more-and drives in 5 runs while beating the Phils 11-3 at the Polo Grounds. Mize also homers for the Jints.
July 8Monte Irvin and Hank Thompson‚ brought up from Jersey City 3 days earlier‚ are the first blacks to play for the Giants. Thompson‚ who was also the first black to play for the St. Louis Browns in 1947‚ starts at 2B‚ and Irvin pinch-hits in the 8th for Hartung. When Thompson steps in against Don Newcombe‚ it is the first time in ML history that a black pitcher and a black hitter have faced off. The Dodgers win‚ 4-3.

At Shibe Park‚ the Phils tie the Braves with 2 outs in the 9th when Granny Hamner doubles home Ashburn to knot the game 1-1. Both teams score twice in the 11th‚ and in the 13th Boston baserunner Alvin Dark is knocked unconscious by a ball thrown by Hamner. Dark is carried off the field on a stretcher and taken to Temple University Hospital. Del Crandall‘s sac fly in the 16th off Schoolboy Rowe wins it 4-3 for Boston. The game ends at 1:01 a.m.‚ the latest game to date in the N.L.
July 12The NL commits 5 errors‚ allowing the AL to record an 11-7 triumph in the All-Star Game at Ebbets Field. The contest marks the first appearance of black players-Jackie Robinson‚ Roy Campanella‚ and Don Newcombe in the NL lineup and Larry Doby among the AL stars.
July 15Cleveland nips the Tigers 4-3 as Bob Feller bests Hal Newhouser.

The Cards‚ losers last nite to the Phils‚ 1-0‚ come back to win‚ 1-0‚ today behind Howie Pollet. Pollet drives in the only score.
July 16At Boston‚ Warren Spahn hits a 2-run homer and hurls the Braves to a 6-1 win over the Cubs. Pete Reiser paces the 12-hit attack on the Bruins with 4 hits. Jeff Heath‚ making his 1st appearance since fracturing his ankle last September‚ is 1-for-5.

The Reds win for the first time in 9 games at Ebbets Field‚ winning 7-6 in 10 innings. Walker Cooper‘s 2nd homer of the game‚ a 2-run shot in the 10th off reliever Rex Barney‚ is the margin of victory. Cooper’s first homer‚ in the 2nd inning‚ opened the scoring and the Dodgers retaliated in the same frame‚ scoring on a triple steal executed by Robinson‚ Hodges‚ and Cox.
July 17Before a crowd of 73‚599 in Cleveland the Tribe and Red Sox split a doubleheader‚ with the Sox winning the opener‚ 4-2‚ on Early Wynn‘s homer in the 8th. Vern Stephens breaks a 1-1 tie in game 2 with a solo homer. Stephens has a 2-run homer in the opener and drives in all 4 Sox runs.

In game 2 in Boston‚ the Reds’ Kent Peterson outpitches Johnny Antonelli to win 3-2. It is Peterson’s first road win in his career after 18 straight road losses dating back to 1947. This is a ML record to start a career. The Braves win the opener 5-4 on Ed Sauer’s 2-out 9th inning single.

At Philadelphia‚ 500 fans greet Eddie Waitkus at the airport upon his return from Chicago. Still suffering the effects of being shot‚ Waitkus is headed for the hospital.
July 18Speaking out against racial discrimination‚ Jackie Robinson testifies in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee. That night he scores twice‚ once on a steal of home in the 6th with Bob Rush on the mound‚ to lead the Dodgers past the Cubs‚ 3-0.
July 19At New York‚ the Giants use a 20-hit attack to score in every inning as they beat the Reds‚ 13-3. Lockman and Marshall each have 4 hits. In tomorrow’s 5-1 win against the Reds‚ the Giants score in each of the first three innings; combined with yesterday’s effort of scoring in the last 3 frames against the Cards‚ the Giants match the 1894 Pittsburgh team (July 31-August 2) and top the 20th century mark of 12 set by the 1922 Giants. The mark will next be matched by the Colorado Rockies. The ML record of 17 innings is held by the Boston Americans‚ September 15-17‚ 1903.

For the second time this year‚ Ken Heintzelman of the Reds shuts out the Cubs‚ 1-0. Doyle Lade takes the loss.
July 21Walker Cooper’s grand slam against his old teammates is overshadowed by Bobby Thomson who has a pair of homers good for 6 runs. The Giants whip the Reds‚ 9-5.
July 23In the Cards 3-1 win over the Dodgers‚ St. Louis rookie 3B Eddie Kazak fractures his ankle and will miss the rest of the season. The palindromic young star‚ a starter in the All-star game‚ is hitting .304. Kazak will never be a starter again.
July 24The Cards‚ with Musial hitting for the cycle‚ trounce the Dodgers 14-1. This win gives St. Louis 3 straight victories at Ebbets Field‚ as they take over the lead Brooklyn has held through most of the season.

It is Frankie Frisch Day at the Polo Grounds and the former Giants star‚ now the manager of the Cubs‚ is feted with two tv sets and numerous other gifts from New York friends. His Cubs then add their presents‚ beating the Giants twice‚ 5-3 and 6-1. The Cubs have 5 Dps in the opener and 2 in the nitecap. Andy Pafko has a homer in the opener. In game 2‚ Hal Jeffcoat drives in 2 runs in the 2nd with a double and later steals home. Bob Rush and Doyle Lade are winners.
July 26Vern Stephens of the Red Sox (against the White Sox) each smack a homer and double in 8th inning of their respective games. Boston breaks up a tight game with a 10-run 8th inning and tops the White Sox‚ 11-2. Maury McDermott‚ with two RBIs‚ is the winner.

In a 5-4 win over St. Louis‚ A’s vet Wally Moses gets his 2‚000th hit‚ off Joe Ostrowski of the Browns.
July 27Three homers are lost in a rain-shortened game at Yankee Stadium between the Yankees and the Indians (as noted in Retrosheet). In the bottom of the first, Tommy Henrich homers off Cleveland’s Bob Feller with two on and no one out. In the top of the second, Joe Gordon bangs a solo shot with one out off Ed Lopat. One inning later, Cleveland pitcher Sam Zoldak hits a solo homer with one out off Lopat. Zoldak loses his only career homer with the washout.
July 28A 12-for-25 run raises Jackie Robinson‘s NL-leading average to .364. Jackie will tail off from that mark but will win the batting title at .342.

Detroit pitcher Dizzy Trout hits a 9th inning grand slam against the Senators Al Gettel to help the Tigers to a 13-7 victory.
July 31Sid Gordon of the New York Giants blasts 2 HRs in the 2nd inning of game 2‚ as the Giants sweep the Reds 10-0 and 9-0 behind Larry Jansen and Adrian Zabala. The 19 runs to zero in a twinbill sets a NL mark‚ 7 runs behind the AL record.

Ted Gray and Freddie Hutchinson each toss shutouts as the Tigers win two from the A’s‚ 3-0 and 6-0. For Hutchinson‚ it is the 2nd time in 5 weeks he’s teamed up on a doubleheader shutout.

August

August 3Red Sox P Ellis Kinder is unkind to Browns’ batters‚ fanning 14 of them enroute to a 9-3 win. It is the most K’s by a Sox pitcher since Joe Wood’s 15 in 1911.
August 4Four years after appearing for the Senators‚ Bert Shepard is fired as player-manager of Waterbury (Class B Colonial League) because the owners can no longer afford his $4000+ salary. Shepard pitched for the Nats wearing an artificial leg‚ having lost his leg in WW2. The players threaten to strike unless he is rehired‚ then raise enough money to cover his salary. The popular Shepard will return on 11th. Shepard plays in 69 games at first or pitching and posts a 5-6 record along with a .229 batting average. And he adds 5 stolen bases.

At Swayne Field in Toledo‚ Mud Hen pitcher Walter Noble holds Minneapolis (AA) hitless for 8 innings‚ after teammate Hal White pitched 9 innings of no-hit ball yesterday against the Millers. He gave up a leadoff single. Noble wins 2-0 in the scheduled 7-inning game. The 17 hitless innings is a American Association record.
August 5White Sox vet Luke Appling appears as SS in his 2‚154th game‚ surpassing Rabbit Maranville‘s ML mark. Appling will finish with 2‚218. The Sox top the Senators‚ 4-1‚ behind Mickey Haefner‚ in front of 4464 at Washington.
August 6Despite 3 balks which set a NL record‚ Adrian Zabala picks up his 2nd win since returning from Mexico‚ as the Giants beat the Cardinals‚ 3-1. A balk call in the 1st inning by Jocko Conlin aids Zabala‚ nullifying a home run by Nippy Jones. Jones then flies out. Zabala’s 3 balks erases the record of 2 balks set by Bob Brown of the Braves on July 23‚ 1933. The loss leaves the Redbirds a half game ahead of the Dodgers‚ who bow to the Reds.
August 7Lineup juggling is a Casey Stengel forte as his Yankees suffer injury after injury as the Browns and Yankee pitchers throw at each other. Against the Browns‚ 13 different Yankees score a run‚ tying a record‚ in the first game of a doubleheader‚ as the Yanks roll to a 20-2 win. Berra hits a three-run homer but on his next time at bat he fractures his thumb when he is hit by a pitch. He will be out until September. DiMaggio hits a three-run round tripper as well. The second game ends in a 2-2 tie.
August 8After pinch hitting yesterday‚ Carl Furillo returns to the Dodgers’ lineup after an injury and has 2 hits and a run in a 2-1 win over the Giants. Newcombe wins on a 3-hitter as Brooklyn stays tied with the Cards. Furillo will hit .431 in the final 8 weeks of the season and finish at .322‚ fourth best in the league.
August 9Dom DiMaggio’s 34-game hitting streak is on the line against Vic Raschi and the Yankees. Hitless in his first 4 at bats‚ Dom hits a sinking line drive in the 8th that his brother Joe catches at his shoetops. Dom had started his streak after going hitless against Raschi. The Red Sox win 6-3 to move 5 1?2 games behind the Yankees.
August 12It is a long day. Boston wins the opener against the Senators‚ 15-7. Then the two teams establish a new ML record for 9 innings by playing 3 hours; 14 minutes. The Sox finally win‚ 13-11. Ortiz‚ for the Nats‚ and Vern Stephens each drive in 5 in the opener‚ a CG win for Chuck Stobbs. Joe Dobson‚ in relief‚ wins the nitecap‚ as the efficient Sox total 14 hits in each game.

At Ebbets Field‚ the Braves top the Dodgers‚ 5-3‚ in a game that Brooklyn protests. In the 8th inning‚ Duke Snider belts a drive off the CF screen that Art Gore signals a home run. The Braves point out that‚ according to the ground rules‚ the ball is still in play‚ and Gore sends Snider back to 3B. When Duke is stranded there‚ the Dodgers protest. The protest will be rejected by Ford Frick‚ who censors Gore for the confusion he caused by his “bad judgment and slow thinking.”
August 13Vern Stephens gives Boston a 5-1 win over the Senators by clouting a 12th inning grand slam. Ellis Kinder (14-5) goes the rout for Boston.
August 15Reports of clubhouse troubles trail the Braves all season. Owner Lou Perini prevails on manager Billy Southworth to take a leave of absence. The team will spurt briefly under Johnny Cooney but finishes under .500 in 4th place. Braves players vote Southworth only a half-share of last year’s Series earnings but Happy Chandler restores the full share.
August 17The Cards jump back into first place with a 4-3 win over the Reds. Freddie Martin‚ ex-Mexican Leaguer‚ wins his first game since reinstatement‚ singling home Slaughter with the winning run in the 13th. Martin will finish the year at 6-0.
August 21A barrage of bottles from the Philadelphia stands as protest of a decision by umpire George Barr over a trapped line drive by Ashburn results in the first forfeiture in the ML in 7 years. Umpires Al Barlick and Lee Ballanfant are hit by flying objects during the 15-minute melee. The Giants‚ who receive this forfeit‚ gave one away in 1942 when hordes of youngsters invaded the field. The Giants are leading 4-2 with one out in the 9th of the second game of a doubleheader when the forfeit occurs. Per the rules in effect‚ neither pitcher-Larry Jansen nor Schoolboy Rowe-get a decision. As a result of the forfeit‚ Shibe Park officials ban the sale of soft drinks in bottles.
August 22The second-division Giants sell veteran Johnny Mize to the Yankees for $40‚000. Mize has tied Ralph Kiner for the NL lead in homers the past two seasons. At a train stopover in Albany‚ a shocked Stengel replies‚ “this is the first I’ve heard of it. Do with him? I don’t know what I’ll do with him.” The Yanks lead Boston by 2 1/2 games.

The Braves score two in the 9th off Ralph Branca and nip the Dodgers‚ 7-6. One of the runs comes on Eddie Stanky‘s first homer of the year‚ and just his 7th in 7 years. Pete Reiser has a two-run triple for Boston in the 1st‚ while Roy Campanella homers for the Brooks. The loss is the 6th in 7 games and drops Brooklyn two games in back of the Cards.
August 25In two 7-inning games against LaGrange‚ Marvin Chappell of Alexander City (Georgia-Alabama League) pitches a 1-0‚ 1-hitter in the first game. Then he does even better in game 2‚ firing a 7-0 no-hitter.
August 26The Red Sox sweep a pair from the Chisox‚ winning 11-4 and 10-7 and now trail the Yankees by 1 1/2 games. Mel Parnell takes the opener‚ becoming the majors first 20-game winner this year. Ted Williams blasts his 31st and 32nd homers in the opener and is now just one behind teammate Vern Stephens. Bobby Doerr has 4 hits and 4 RBIs. In the second game Chicago’s Bob Kuzava opens by allowing a run on a walk and 2 singles‚ then ties an AL mark last accomplished by Feller in 1938 by striking out six straight batters (Stephens‚ Doerr‚ Zarilla‚ Goodman‚ Matt Batts‚ Kinder). Later he is hit by an Al Zarilla line drive and taken to a hospital with bruised ribs‚ but not before losing to Ellis Kinder (16-5). The Bosox pound out 16 hits‚ including 3 more by Williams (.356)‚ and 4 by Johnny Pesky.

The Indians down the visiting Yankees‚ 5-3 behind Al Benton. Vic Raschi strikes out 8 but loses his 5th game in his last 8 starts.

The Giants Larry Jansen wins his 14th‚ stopping the league-leading Cards‚ 4-2‚ on five hits. Bobby Thomson and Marty Marion match homers‚ but the fireworks come when Durocher‚ Fitzsimmons‚ Hank Behrman‚ and Wes Westrum are ejected for various arguments in the 2nd and 3rd.

The Cubs trip the Dodgers‚ 4-2‚ routing Joe Hatten in the 3rd inning. Hank Sauer knocks in the first three runs‚ twice tripping up the shift and hitting to RF. The last run comes on a successful double steal‚ with Andy Pafko scoring on the front end. Bob Rush and Bob Muncrief‚ the winner‚ collaborate on a six-hitter.

For choking an umpire in the Florida International League‚ Miami manager Pepper Martin is fined $100 and suspended for the remaining 2 weeks in the season.

Pulaski (Appalachian League) trips the host Bluefield Blue-Grays ending Bluefield’s home winning streak of 34 games.
August 27At Philadelphia‚ the Pirates use 5 Blue Jay errors and Ralph Kiner‘s 8th homer in his last 14 games to beat the Phils‚ 8-2. Ernie Bonham is the complete game winner in his last appearance in the ML. Bonham will die September 15th of complications from an emergency appendectomy.

Former Mexican Leaguers Max Lanier and Fred Martin drop their $2.5 million suit against baseball.
August 28In the 1st game of a doubleheader in Chicago‚ Yankee OF Tommie Henrich crashes into the wall while chasing a Charlie Kress fly ball and fractures two vertebrae. Old Reliable will be out 3 weeks. In game 2‚ 1B Johnny Mize‚ obtained 6 days earlier‚ dislocates his shoulder. Except for 7 pinch-hit appearances‚ he will be out for the regular season‚ but will reappear in the WS. The Yankees are also playing without Berra‚ who broke his thumb when he was hit by a pitch. The Yanks score 6 in the 9th to win the opener‚ 8-7‚ then take the nitecap‚ 7-5‚ behind Allie Reynolds (13-4).
August 31In the opener of a day-nite split with the A’s‚ the Indians win 7-6‚ in 14 innings. Tribe 2B Joe Gordon participates in 6 double plays‚ while WP Al Benton gives up just 4 hits in the last 8 1/3 innings. Lou Brissie wins his 13th‚ 2-1‚ in the nitecap.

September

September 1Washington’s Dick Weik should change his name to Walk as he hands out 13 base on balls in nine innings‚ losing to the White Sox‚ 3-0. He matches Tommy Byrne‘s largesse earlier in the year and he’ll close out his career in 1954 with more walks than innings pitched. Randy Gumpert is the winner today as both pitchers allow 4 hits apiece.
September 3Columbus (AA) hurler Cot Deal‚ acquired from Louisville earlier in the year‚ pitches 20 innings against the Colonels to win‚ 4-3. Deal collects 4 hits along the way.
September 4At Philadelphia‚ the Phils battle back into 3rd place by taking two from the Braves‚ 9-8 and 8-7. The Braves take an 8-5 lead in the opener on Tommy Holmes 2-run homer in the 5th‚ and Ennis matches him to start the comeback. Between August 3 (2) and today‚ Holmes has hit 10 homers without striking out.

The Yankees sign Hugh Casey‚ who was released by the Pirates in early August.

Former Mexican Leaguers Lanier and Martin‚ each go the route as the Cards sweep a pair from the Reds‚ 6-4 and 11-2‚ and increase their lead over the Dodgers to 2 1/2 games. The nitecap is a replay of yesterday 15-inning marathon which ended 9-9. The Cards plate 8 runs in the 4th inning of game 2‚ highlighted by Glaviano’s grand slam.
September 5Before 32‚844 fans in Philadelphia‚ the Yankees sweep a holiday twinbill from the A’s‚ winning 13-4 and 5-2. Raschi easily wins his 18th in the opener as DiMaggio drives in 5 runs‚ 4 on a grand slam off Lou Brissie. Billy Johnson follows with his 8th homer of the year. In the nitecap‚ DiMaggio leaves in the 2nd inning with leg cramps‚ but the Yankees win behind Tommy Byrne and Joe Page in a game called after 7 innings because of darkness. The Yankees return to NYC having won 8 of 14 road games‚ but have just 4 away games in their remaining 25. New York is 1 /12 games ahead of Boston.
September 7At Yankee Stadium‚ Allie Reynolds walks the first 3 Red Sox batters before Bobby Doerr singles home two runs. But that is all the scoring the Sox can manage. The Yankees come back to take a 3-2 lead and‚ after Doerr triples in the 8th‚ Joe Page relieves to save the game for Reynolds. The final is 5-2‚ with the hitting provided by Bobby Brown (2-run homer) and Billy Johnson with two triples.
September 8Hurling a 3-hitter‚ Harry Brecheen continues his mastery over the Cubs as the Cards win‚ 8-0. Brecheen‚ 3-0 this year against Chicago‚ is 26-6 lifetime. Schoendienst starts the game with a single and stolen base‚ then scores on Musial’s safety. The steal is the Cards 17th and last this year‚ a ML record for fewest steals.

At Boston‚ Russ Meyer tosses a one-hitter for the Phils to give the Braves their 9th straight loss‚ 3-1. Connie Ryan‘s RBI double is the only safety for the Hubmen. It is Meyer’s 2nd one-hitter‚ having thrown one with the Cubs. The crowd of 5‚856 is the smallest in Boston nite history.
September 9The Giants score 6 in the 7th to rip the Dodgers‚ 10-1 and end the Dodgers 6 game win streak. The Giants rap Roe‚ Branca and Barney for 13 hits‚ including homers by Bobby Thomson and Hank Thompson. Despite terrorizing the NL with baserunning‚ Jackie Robinson is picked off base by Dave Koslo‚ the 4th time the Giants pitchers have nabbed Robby.

At St. Louis‚ Johnny Vander Meer wins just his 5th game‚ stopping the NL-leading Cards‚ 6-1. The Cards still lead the Dodgers by a game. Al Brazle (14-7) takes the loss.

The Cubs crush the host Pirates‚ 8-1‚ behind Walt Dubiel’s three-hitter. Andy Pafko‘s grand slam climaxes a 7-run 5th inning‚ while Ralph Kiner‘s 44th homer in the 9th is the Bucs’ only score.

At Yankee Stadium‚ Ellis Kinder wins his 19th victory and his 9th straight‚ as Boston wins‚ 7-1. The Yanks manage just 4 hits‚ while Johnny Pesky and Bobby Doerr pound homers off Ed Lopat. Pesky has hit two homers this season‚ both at Yankee Stadium. Hugh Casey makes his AL debut‚ allowing two unearned runs in two innings. The loss cuts the Yanks lead to 1 1/2 games over the Red Sox.
September 10At Philadelphia‚ Red Sox lefty Mel Parnell tops the A’s‚ 9-1‚ for his 22nd victory of the year.

Stan Musial‘s 29th homer‚ coming with 2 on and 2 out in the 9th‚ gives the Cardinals a 6-5 win over the Reds‚ protecting their one game lead. The Cards collect just 5 hits off Howie Fox‚ but use 6 walks and 3 errors
September 11In the first of two games at Yankee Stadium‚ the Senators hand out 17 base on balls‚ including a ML record 11 walks in the 3rd inning‚ when the Yanks plate 12‚ the AL record for number of runs in a 3rd inning. Another mark is set as four different Yankees collect 2 walks apiece in the bottom of the 3rd. The Nats hand out 13 walks in the first three innings. Buzz Dozier‚ who pitches the last 5 1/3 innings‚ the most generous with 8 walks. Allie Reynolds (16-4) is the benefactor in the 20-5 romp. New York takes the 2nd game‚ 2-1‚ in 5 1/2 innings behind Sanford‚ with relief help from Page.

With Musial poling 3 homers‚ the Cards sweep a pair from the Reds‚ 7-5 and 7-4‚ and increase their lead over the Dodgers to 1 1/2 games. Gerry Staley‚ with relief help‚ and Howie Pollet are the winners. Kluszewski‚ 0-for-8‚ ends his 18-game hit streak.

Cleveland drops to 4th place‚ 6 games in back of the lead‚ when the Browns trip them‚ 5-4. Dale Mitchell hits his 23rd triple of the year for the Tribe‚ the most since Pittsburgh’s Adam Comorosky had the same number in 1930. No one will hit 23 again this century.
September 13For the 2nd time in his career‚ Ralph Kiner hits HRs in 4 consecutive at bats‚ over 2 games. He performed the same feat in 1947. The 2 HRs today are numbers 33 and 34‚ and the first is a grand slam in the Pirates 6-run first. He has 4 hits altogether‚ good for 6 RBIs as Cliff Chambers beats the Phils‚ 11-6. Kiner’s 1949 total will include 25 on the road‚ 29 at Forbes Field‚ 14 of them in the bullpen enclosure still known as Greenberg Gardens. Today’s grand slam‚ his 4th of the year‚ ties a ML mark held by 6 players.

Red Munger pitches the Cards to 1-0 win against the Giants in New York. He faces 28 batters‚ with only a 2nd inning single by Sid Gordon preventing a no-hitter.
September 14Ellis Kinder wins his 20th game for the Red Sox‚ shutting out the Tigers‚ 1-0‚ at Fenway for his 10th straight victory. Kinder joins teammate Mel Parnell‚ the last time this century that the Sox will have a pair of 20-game winners in a year.
September 15Pirates P Ernie Bonham dies following an appendectomy and stomach surgery‚ just 18 days after his last pitching performance‚ an 8-2 win over the Phillies. Mrs. Bonham will receive the first benefits under the players pension plan‚ $90 a month for 10 years.
September 16When Browns’ C Les Moss catches a pop foul‚ Red Sox base runner Birdie Tebbett’s starts for 2nd drawing the throw. Lou Stringer‚ the baserunner on 3rd‚ then scores. Stringer has 4 hits‚ 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored as the Red Sox roll‚ 12-4. Mel Parnell is the easy winner at Fenway. With the Yanks beating the Tigers‚ Boston remain 2 1/2 games in back.
September 18The injury plagued Yankees receive another blow when Joe DiMaggio is stricken with a form of pneumonia. He remains in Elysee Hotel while the Yankees win‚ 7-3‚ with Joe Page tossing the last 3 innings against Cleveland. Bauer has a single‚ double‚ and triple to pace the Yankees.

The Red Sox remain 2 1/2 behind the Yankees with 11-5 route of the visiting White Sox. Ellis Kinder wins his 21st and 11th straight as he is backed by two homers (his 39th and 40th) and six RBIs from Ted Williams. Ted now has 153 RBIs. Vern Stephens clouts his 40th as well‚ giving him 150 RBIs for the year.

The Cardinals unload 18 hits in winning‚ 15-3‚ over Philadelphia and maintain their 2 1/2 game lead over Brooklyn. Ron Northey‚ with a grand slam‚ and Musial‚ with a 3-run HR‚ pace the attack.
September 19The Yankees stretch the lead to 3 games ahead of the idle Red Sox with a 6-0 win over the Indians. Eddie Lopat is the winner.

At Forbes Field‚ Ralph Kiner hits his 50th homer‚ off Kirby Higbe‚ but the Giants beat the Pirates‚ 6-4. Davey Williams two-run homer in the 10th off Randy Gumbert is the winner. Sheldon Jones picks up the win.
September 20Jackie Robinson steals home in a 5-0 Dodger win against the Cubs. It is his 5th steal of home this year-the 2nd against the Cubs-and the 13th in his 3 years in the NL. That is the most career home swipes in the ML since Ben Chapman stole his 15th and last in 1940‚ his 11th season.

The Yankees edge the White Sox‚ 3-1‚ with Joe Page preserving the win for Allie Reynolds (17-5).

The Red Sox rally to beat the Indians‚ 6-5‚ after Boston manager Joe McCarthy complains that Indian pitcher Bob Lemon‚ who allows no hits in the first 5 innings‚ was fingering the peak of his cap between pitches. Ordered to replace the sweat-stained hat‚ Lemon then loses his no-hitter when pitcher Mel Parnell slaps a 6th inning single to ignite a 5-run Sox rally. Parnell wins his 24th.
September 21The Red Sox overcome a 3-1 deficit to beat the Indians 9-6. Williams hits his 41st homer‚ off Steve Gromek‚ as starter Ellis Kinder (22-5) pitches the last 3 innings in relief for his 12th straight victory. The Sox have two games off before the decisive game on Saturday with New York.

In New York‚ the Yankees take an 8-1 lead against Chicago‚ only to see Chicago rally for a 9-8 win. Gus Zernial clouts a 3-run homer in the 9th off Joe Page for the victory. Yank starter Tommy Byrne takes a no hitter into the 6th inning‚ gives up a double and one out later leaves with a sore shoulder. New York now leads by 2 games.

In the first of a day-night twinbill‚ Hal Lanier twirls a 5-hitter as the Cards beat the Dodgers‚ 1-0‚ with a run in the 9th to increase their lead to 2 1/2 games in the NL. Enos Slaughter‚ with 3 hits‚ scores the only run‚ and takes over the batting lead from Robinson. Robby gets tossed by ump Stewart for arguing a strike call. Preacher Roe stops the Cards in game 2‚ 5-0‚ as Brooklyn uses a 5-run 4th to move to 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis. The Cards draw 63‚877 for the 2 games.
September 22Combining 19 hits and 13 walks off 6 Cardinal pitchers‚ the Dodgers blast a 19-6 win over the host Birds and climb to half-game behind them. Furillo sets the pace with 7 runs batted in on 3 doubles and 2 singles. Joe Hatten goes all the way for his 10th win and his first in his last 7 decisions against the Cards. Enos Slaughter‚ hitless for the night‚ relinquishes the batting lead to Jackie Robinson‚ 2-for-5. Stan Musial belts his 32nd homer of the year‚ and his 21st against lefties. This is a record for a left-handed batter that will be matched by Ken Griffey‚ Jr. in 1996 and 1998.
September 23With yesterday’s rainout‚ New York plays a doubleheader with the Senators. Washington takes the opener‚ 9-8‚ in 10 innings when Sid Hudson‘s pop fly off Joe Page falls between Tommie Henrich and 2B George Stirnweiss. Fred Sanford salvages the 2nd game for New York‚ winning 7-1.
September 24At Boston‚ Ellis Kinder (15-1 at Fenway Park) pitches a 6-hitter and Williams lines his 42nd HR to beat the Yankees 2-0 and pull the Red Sox within a game of New York. Kinder has now won 13 straight games and is 4-0 against New York.

At New York Bob Elliott hits 3 successive HRs for Boston‚ as the Braves down the Giants 6-4. Spahn‚ who wins his 20th‚ the first NL hurler to reach the mark this year‚ also homers. Elliott will end the decade with 903 RBIs‚ tops for the span. Though his years were interrupted by military service‚ Ted Williams will finish 2nd with 893 RBIs for the 1940s.

Don Newcombe receives a car and other gifts before the game‚ then chalks up a 4-hit‚ 8-1‚ win over the Phillies. The win keeps Brooklyn a half game behind the Cards.
September 25The Cardinals‚ in first place for 2 months‚ win their final home game‚ 6-1‚ over the Cubs and the Dodgers lose‚ 5-3‚ to Philadelphia‚ stretching the Cards to a 1 1?2 game lead. WP Harry Brecheen collects 4 of the 12 safeties for the Birds as they rout their old nemesis Johnny Schmitz.

Despite 71 injuries that kept players out of games‚ Casey Stengel and his Yankees have been in first place all season. But today the Red Sox (93-55) move into a tie for first place with a 4-1 victory over Allie Reynolds. Ted Williams hits his 43rd HR‚ and Mel Parnell allows just 4 hits in winning his 25th game of the season. The lefty is 16-3 at Fenway this year‚ while the Red Sox have won their last 21 games at home. Joe DiMaggio listens to the game from a hospital‚ bedridden with pneumonia. The Yankees return to New York and are greeted at Grand Central Station by a huge crowd of fans‚ including Mrs. Babe Ruth‚ who predicts‚ “Whoever wins tomorrow should go all the way.”

At Cleveland‚ the 3rd place Indians beat Detroit‚ 7-1‚ but the biggest cheers from the 34‚000 fans are for flagpole sitter Charley Lupica‚ who finally descends from his perch. Lupica had been atop the flagpole since the Indians were in 7th place and vowed to stay there until the Indians were first or out of contention.
September 26Before 67‚434 at Yankee Stadium‚ the Red Sox survive a rhubarb-filled‚ 7-6 win when Johnny Pesky scores on a disputed squeeze play. The Sox‚ down 6-3 in the 5th when Joe Page comes in‚ score 4 in the 8th to win. The winning score comes in when Bobby Doerr drops a surprise squeeze bunt in front of Tommy Henrich‚ playing 3B‚ and Pesky slides under Houk’s tag at home. Ump Bill Grieve disagrees with every fan in the park by calling Pesky safe‚ and three Yanks-Cliff Mapes‚ Stengel‚ and Houk-are fined for a post-game confrontation with the ump. Leading by one game‚ the Sox move on to Washington for a 3-game series before the last 2 games of the year with the Yankees.
September 27The Red Sox‚ winners of 16 out of the last 19 with the Senators‚ win the series opener in Washington 6-4‚ collecting 12 hits in the drizzling rain.

At Yankee Stadium‚ New York’s Vic Raschi beats the A’s‚ 3-1‚ for his 20th win. Raschi allows just 4 hits.

The Cards lead is cut to a game over the idle Dodgers‚ as the Pirates defeat the league leaders‚ 6-4. The Bucs score 5 unearned runs in the 2nd inning‚ capped by rookie Saffell’s grand slam HR. Bill Werle (12-12) evens his record as the Cards have now gone 10 straight games at Pittsburgh without scoring more than 4 runs.
September 28The Yankees take a 4-run lead over the A’s on homers by Bobby Brown and Jim Delsing‚ but the A’s come back to take a 5-4 lead in the 7th. New York score three runs in the last of the 7th‚ the go ahead on Phil Rizzuto‘s squeeze bunt‚ and reliever Allie Reynolds holds on to beat Alex Kellner‚ 7-5. DiMaggio‚ down 18 pounds because of the pneumonia‚ takes batting practice.

In Washington‚ the Red Sox score a run against Ray Scarborough‚ the Nats’ top pitcher‚ and lead 1-0 going into the 9th. But Washington scores twice to win‚ the second run coming in when reliever Mel Parnell‚ facing Buddy Lewis‚ bounces a 1-2 wild pitch in the dirt past C Birdie Tebbetts. The Red Sox drop into a tie for first place.

Called up from Toronto in mid-September‚ Eddie Sanicki of the Phils gets his 3rd hit of the season. All 3 are homers as he goes 3-for-13 with a .924 SA. On September 14 Sanicki homered on his first big-league at bat with 2 men‚ against Rip Sewell of the Pirates.
September 29The Cardinals lose to former Redbird Murry Dickson‚ now with the Pirates‚ 7-2. It is Dickson’s 5th win against St. Louis this year.

The visiting Dodgers take 2 from the Braves‚ 9-2 and 8-0‚ and stay in front with a half-game lead. In the 5th and last inning of game two‚ Braves infielder Connie Ryan protests against playing in the rain by kneeling on the on-deck circle with his raincoat on. Umpire George Barr ejects Ryan from the game. Meanwhile‚ his teammates kindle a fire in the dugout as a guiding beacon for returning batsmen. Preacher Roe wins the opener and Newcombe coasts in game 2. Spahn is tagged with the loss in game 1 when the Brooks pound out 5 runs in the 4th‚ featuring a 3-run homer by Snider. Furillo hits a 3-run homer in the 6th. In the nitecap‚ the Dodgers route Sain with 5 runs in the 1st inning.

Both the Red Sox and Yankees have the day off.
September 30Boston benefits from 14 walks and outlasts Washington 11-9 to move into New York for the showdown for the AL pennant. The Nats outhit the Sox an astounding 18-5 in the game‚ but leave 11 stranded. The Nats score 2 in the 9th against Ellis Kinder‚ who relieved in the 8th and struck out the side‚ but Sam Mele grounds into a game-ending DP.

Earle Mack‚ A’s assistant manager and son of Connie‚ plans to start sore-armed Phil Marchildon against the Yankees‚ but changes his mind when he receives a flood of critical telegrams. Mack goes with Dick Fowler‚ who twirls a 4-hitter to beat the Yankees‚ 4-1. Ferris Fain‘s 3rd inning 3-run homer off Eddie Lopat is the big blow‚ while Ben Chapman adds a solo HR. Eddie Joost is 1-3 with a walk to end his season with more walks (149-not an AL high) than hits (138). In 1947 he had 114 walks‚ 111 hits‚ while hitting .206 average.

Ralph Kiner hits his 54th homer and 16th in September‚ as the Pirates beat Herm Wehmeier and the Reds‚ 3-2. The monthly total eclipses Cy Williams’ 1923 NL mark. Kiner’s blow is a tremendous drive over the scoreboard in LF at Pittsburgh.

October

October 1The Cards lose a critical game to the Cubs‚ 3-1‚ as Bob Chipman bests Cubs nemesis Harry Brecheen. Hal Jeffcoat homers for the Cubs.

Meanwhile‚ the Dodgers lose to Philadelphia‚ 6-4‚ preserving the one-game Brooklyn margin. The Phils pole 3 homers in the last 3 frames with Roe‚ working on one day’s rest‚ getting the loss.

The Red Sox need to win just one of the final 2 games against New York to clinch the title. Before a crowd of 69‚551 at Yankee Stadium‚ New York overcomes a 4-0 deficit‚ as Joe Page is nearly untouchable in 5 innings in relief of Allie Reynolds. Page walks in 2 runs‚ but he picks up the win. Joe DiMaggio starts for New York and scores the first run and Johnny Lindell‘s HR wins it‚ 5-4. The two teams are now tied.

Alex Kellner wins his 20th beating the Senators‚ 7-4‚ to finish the season as the A’s first 20-game winner since Lefty Grove in 1933. The A’s‚ 81-73‚ finish the year with the same record as the Phillies‚ but the Phils are in 3rd place and the Mackmen in 5th. The Phils‚ one of 6 teams to have an attendance increase‚ draw 834‚348‚ while the A’s draw 816‚514‚ a drop of 128‚562.
October 2The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox enter the final day of the season tied for first place. Nearly 70‚000 pack Yankee Stadium to see the finale. Rizzuto triples and score in the 1st inning and Vic Raschi nurses the 1-0 lead into the 8th against Ellis Kinder before the Yankees score 4 against a tired Mel Parnell and an unlucky Tex Hughson. A Sox rally falls short‚ and the Yankees win the game and the pennant‚ 5-3. Ted Williams is hitless in 2 official trips (and 1-for-12 in his last 4 games) while George Kell of the Tigers goes 2-for-3. Kell’s final mark is .3429 while Williams’ is .3427. Ted leads the AL in homers (43) and ties for the lead with teammate Vern Stephens in RBIs with 159. He also reaches base 358 times (194 hits‚ 162 walks‚ and 2 hit by pitches)‚ the 2nd highest total in ML history. Only Ruth in 1923 reached more times.

One game back on the final day‚ the Cards finally win‚ 13-5 over the Cubs‚ and await the progress of the Dodgers against the Phils. Musial hits 2 homers and a single and winning pitcher Howie Pollet collects 3 hits. Hank Sauer poles his 31st for the Bruins in the 9th.

The Phillies shell Don Newcombe and tie the game 7-7 in the 6th. The game goes overtime before the Dodgers get 2 in the 10th for the win and the pennant.

In a promotional stunt‚ the Browns use a different pitcher in each of 9 innings against the Chicago and almost pull it off. But the White Sox win‚ 4-3. Roy Sievers‚ soon to be named Rookie of the Year‚ is 5-for-5‚ including his 16th HR. The 9 pitchers used is‚ incidentally‚ a ML record. All the Brownie pitchers‚ except for Al Papai‚ allow at least a hit. In game 2‚ Ed Albrecht‚ a 29-game winner for Pine Bluff (Class C Cotton States League)‚ makes his winning debut and gives up 1 hit in a 5-3 win‚ called after 5 innings because of darkness. It’s his only ML win. The lone Sox hit off Albrecht is a 2-run triple by SS Jim Baumer‚ who will make his next ML appearance with the 1961 Reds. He is the only player to play in the 40s and 60s‚ and not the 50s.

A future pitching trend is foretold by the record of Yankee ace Allie Reynolds (17-6)‚ who finishes only 4 of 31 starts. Dave Koslo of the Giants is the surprise ERA leader in the NL‚ but his 2.50 mark contains not a single shutout.
October 5In the Series opener at the Stadium‚ the New York Yankees and Allie Reynolds beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 1-0 on Tommy Henrich‘s 9th-inning HR off Don Newcombe. Newcombe had struck out 11 and walked none before Henrich’s blast. Allie Reynolds gives up only 2 hits and fans 9. Henrich’s hit is the first game-ending homer is WS history: there will be 10 more this century‚ including 2 that win the Series.
October 6Another 1-0 game‚ and Preacher Roe wins this one for Brooklyn to knot the Series. Gil Hodges‘ single drives in Jackie Robinson in the 2nd for the winner.
October 7The 9th inning decides the 3rd game also. At Ebbets Field‚ with the game tied 1-1‚ the Yanks score 3‚ the Dodgers 2 in the final stanza. Johnny Mize‘s 2-run pinch single is the big factor followed by Jerry Coleman‘s run-scoring hit. Roy Campanella and Luis Olmo hit bases-empty HRs in the bottom of the 9th.

Danny Gardella drops his suit against baseball‚ settling out of court for a reported $80‚000. All other suits by players who had jumped to Mexico have been dropped. Gardella will state in 1961 that the amount paid to him was $60‚000.
October 8Allie Reynolds relieves Lopat with 2 on and 2 out in the 6th‚ strikes out Johnny Jorgensen on 3 pitches‚ and then retires the next 9 batters. The Yankees win 6-4.

The Philadelphia A’s trade C Buddy Rosar to the Red Sox for Billy Hitchcock.
October 9The Yankees pound the Dodgers 10-6 to win the WS in 5 games. Pinch hitter and 3B Bobby Brown is the hitting hero‚ batting .500 and driving in 5 runs.
October 15Dodgers GM Branch Rickey sells P Paul Minner and 1B Preston Ward to the Cubs for $100‚000. He also offers the Brooklyn Bridge for another $100‚000.
October 19Three weeks after acquiring SS Chico Carrasquel from the Dodgers organization for cash and 2 minor leaguers‚ the White Sox steal 2B Nellie Fox from the A’s for C Joe Tipton.
October 26The San Francisco Seals (PCL)‚ managed by Lefty O’Doul‚ finish a tour of the Orient that includes 5 games in Japan‚ one of which draws 100‚000.

November

November 1Gillette buys the WS television rights for $1.37 million‚ the money to be dedicated to the players pension fund.
November 18NL batting leader (.342) Jackie Robinson is picked for the NL MVP award.
November 21Bill Veeck sells the Indians for $2.2 million to a local syndicate headed by Ellis Ryan. Hank Greenberg will be general manager.
November 25Ted Williams‚ who lost the Triple Crown when his batting average was .0002 below that of George Kell‚ wins the MVP vote in a landslide‚ 272 points to 175. The favorite Phil Rizzuto‚ and Joe Page‚ finish 2nd and 3rd in the voting. In several days‚ Ken Smith‚ the executive secretary of the BBWAA will announce a change in policy‚ made at the request of Ford Frick‚ NL prexy. No longer will the newspapers be given the results of the MVP voting a week ahead of the announcement. Dan Daniels‚ writing in a front page article in TSN‚ will accuse a number of sports writers of using the advance knowledge to place bets. He says in NYC‚ nearly $500‚000 was bet on the results‚ with some bookies refusing to pay when they learned of the papers’ early notice.
November 26The Japanese Central League is joined by the Pacific League.

December

December 1Attendance in the ML is 20.2 million‚ down from 20.9 in 1948. The Yankees and the Indians each finish with over 2.2 million‚ but the Browns fall to 270‚000. The Browns will try to cover their light attendance with $200‚000 obtained in cash in December sales of Bob Dillinger‚ Gerry Priddy‚ and Paul Lehner. The Browns get 5 players in the transactions.
December 7After ten years in pinstripes‚ Charlie “King Kong” Keller is released by the Yankees. He’ll sign for a season in Detroit.
December 12By a 7-1 vote‚ the AL rejects a proposal to bring back the legal spitball. The rules committee also alters the strike zone to the space between the armpits and the top of the knees. The new rule eliminates the batter’s shoulders being within the strike zone.
December 13The Browns send star 3B Bob Dillinger (.324) and OF Paul Lehner to the A’s for a reported $100‚000 and infielders Frankie Gustine, and Billy DeMars‚ and outfielders Ray Coleman‚ and Ray Ippolito. Dillinger will play just a half-season in Philley before being swapped to Pittsburgh.
December 14In a major trade‚ the Giants get Alvin Dark and Eddie Stanky from the Braves in a swap for Willard Marshall‚ Sid Gordon‚ Buddy Kerr‚ and Sam Webb.

The Cubs send P Bill Voiselle and $35‚000 to the Braves for infielder Gene Mauch. The Cubs had hoped to come away with Warren Spahn or Johnny Antonelli.
December 17The Yankees and Detroit swap first baseman‚ the Tigers getting Dick Kryhoski while New York takes Dick Wakefield‚ signed by the Tigers in 1941 with a $52‚000 bonus.
December 24The Braves swap Ed Sauer and Jim Russell plus cash to the Dodgers for P Luis Olmo. Russell will play‚ Sauer won’t.
December 31The 1940s is the only decade in ML baseball history in which no new stadiums are built. After Cleveland opened Municipal Stadium in 1932‚ no new ballpark will be opened until County Stadium in Milwaukee is unveiled in 1953.

The 1940s will end with 8 blacks on ML rosters: 3 each on the Dodgers and Indians‚ and 2 with the Giants. Although it will be another decade before all ML teams would be integrated‚ most teams will be playing blacks in the next 2 years. All but the Browns‚ Cubs‚ and Reds set attendance records in the 1940s. There were 81 scheduled night games in 1940 and 384 in 1949. The change to playing under the lights is underscored by the release of the 1950 schedule. The Cardinals have permission to open the season with the Pirates in a night game.