Baseball – 1951

Baseball in 1951

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January

January 23Guido Rujo sells his interest in the Braves to copartners Lou Perini and Treasurer Joe Many.
January 26The baseball writers vote Mel Ott and Jimmie Foxx into the Hall of Fame.
January 29Baseball signs a 6-year All-Star Game pact for TV-radio rights calling for $6 million. A number of owners criticize lame duck Commissioner Happy Chandler‚ stating that in a couple of years the broadcast rights would be worth much more than a million per annum.

February

February 5California Governor Earl Warren denies he is a candidate for baseball commissioner.
February 9The St. Louis Browns sign Satchel Paige‚ 45. He had been out of ML baseball since last pitching for the Indians in l949.
February 21The South Carolina House introduces a resolution urging that “Shoeless Joe” Jackson‚ who was banished from baseball because of his part in the Black Sox Scandal of 1919‚ be reinstated.

March

March 9The St. Louis Browns seek a $600‚000 loan to help them stay in St. Louis.
March 10The Browns reveal plans to move the club to Milwaukee because of poor attendance.

FBI director J. Edgar Hoover reports that he declined the post of baseball commissioner.
March 12Happy Chandler loses his fight to stay in office by a 9-7 vote.
March 19Detroit player rep Fred Hutchinson asks that players be allowed a say in choosing the new commissioner.
March 21Pittsburgh’s lefty first baseman Dale Long makes his first appearance as a catcher in an exhibition game against San Diego.
March 23The Brooklyn Dodgers sign a 21-year lease with the city of Vero Beach‚ FL‚ for use of their spring training facilities there.
March 26In an exhibition game at USC‚ Mickey Mantle propels a homer estimated at 654 to 660 feet. The shot clears Bovard Field and then goes the width of a practice football field before landing. Mantle has two homers‚ a bases loaded triple‚ and drives in 7 runs as the Yankees flunk the collegians‚ 15-1.
March 31Chuck Connors ties a Los Angeles (PCL) record when he hits 3 homers and drives in 7 runs in a 12-1 win over San Francisco.

April

April 1The Browns trade infielder George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss and SS Merrill Combs to Cleveland for 3B Fred Marsh and $35‚000.
April 2Boston slugger Walt Dropo‚ the 1950 AL Rookie of the Year‚ breaks his wrist.
April 12Cincinnati President Warren Giles proposes Gen. Douglas MacArthur‚ recently deposed commander of UN forces in Korea‚ as the new commissioner.

A UPI poll picks the Red Sox and Giants to win the pennant. An AP poll picks Brooklyn and the Red Sox.
April 17Rain cancels yesterday’s presidential opener in Washington‚ washing out the debut of rookie Tom Morgan. Morgan would have been the first Yankee rookie ever to start an opener. Clad in an army uniform‚ Whitey Ford tosses out the first pitch today at Yankee Stadium‚ and Vic Raschi scatters six singles to shut out the Red Sox‚ 5-0. Bill Wight gives up all the Yankee runs‚ including a two-run homer to Jackie Jensen in the 3rd inning. Mickey Mantle‚ making his debut before 44‚860‚ has one hit and scores a run. Also debuting is public address announcer Bob Sheppard who won’t miss a Yankee opener until 2006.

The Athletics play the first home Opening Day night game in AL history‚ losing to Washington 6-1. Forty-year-old Connie Marrero is the winner as batterymate Mickey Grasso homers.
April 18Southpaw Eddie Lopat of the Yankees 2-hits the Red Sox‚ winning 6-1.

At Pittsburgh‚ the Bucs Murry Dickson goes 6 innings‚ allowing 3 runs in the first inning‚ to get the victory‚ 5-4 over the Cards. Dickson cracks a homer and Wally Westlake also homers for the game winner. Tom Poholsky‚ the first Cardinal rookie to ever start an opener‚ pitches 7 innings and takes the loss.

In the pregame ceremonies at Wrigley Field‚ Sam Snead tees off from home plate and hits a golf ball off the CF scoreboard‚ the only ball ever to reach the structure. The Cubs follow suit in their home opener‚ slamming the Reds 8-3 and beating Cub nemesis Ken Raffensberger. Rookie 1B Dee Fondy hits a 2nd-inning bases-loaded triple‚ off Ken Raffensberger‚ in his first ML at bat‚ one of his 3 hits.

Cold weather‚ including snow in Pittsburgh‚ holds the opening day attendance for the 8 games to 171‚678. Last year it was 252‚700.
April 20The A’s win their first game at Fenway since September 12‚ 1948‚ beating the Sox‚ 6-3. Making it sweeter is besting Mel Parnell‚ winner of 10 straight over Philadelphia. The A’s break a 3-3 tie in the 8th with 3 runs to make Alex Kellner the winner‚ just the 3rd lefty since 1948 to go the distance in Fenway.
April 21Gil Coan of the Senators gets two triples in the 6th inning at Washington‚ the last major leaguer this century to collect 2 triples in an inning. The Senators score 7 runs in the frame‚ but that’s it as they lose to the Yankees‚ 8-7. Tom Ferrick is the winner.
April 22Led by Gus Bell‚ who belts a homer‚ 3 doubles and a single‚ the Pirates defeat the Reds‚ 7-5. The second game of the twinbill is postponed because of a sloppy Crosley Field.
April 25Former Braves P 33-year-old Jim Prendergast contests the reserve clause. His lawyer‚ Frederic Johnson‚ who was the attorney for Danny Gardella‚ files a $150‚000 suit‚ alleging that his client’s trade from Syracuse to Beaumont in the Texas League constitutes a breach of the nation’s antitrust laws.

RF Bob Usher of the Reds throws out 2 runners in the 5th inning in a 4-3 win against the Cubs.

In the opening game‚ a 8-6 win over the Browns‚ Eddie Robinson becomes the 8th player‚ but the first White Sox to hit a ball over the RF grandstand‚ added 26 years ago‚ at Comiskey. His blast comes off Al Widmar. Also leaving the park are Delsing and Wood for St. Louis‚ and Zarilla for the Sox. Browns ace Ned Garver beats Marv Rotblatt‚ 7-4‚ in the nitecap
April 26Connie Marrero of Washington allows just one hit-a homer by the A’s Barney McCosky-in topping Philadelphia‚ 2-1. Joe Coleman is the loser‚ serving up solo homers to Mickey Vernon and Gil Coan.
April 29El Paso owner Jack Corbett seeks a writ to prevent Commissioner Happy Chandler from removing records pending outcome of his antitrust suit.
April 30In a complex 3-way deal‚ the White Sox get OF/3B Minnie Minoso from the Indians and OF Paul Lehner from the Athletics. Philadelphia sends P Lou Brissie to Cleveland and gets OF Gus Zernial and Dave Philley from Chicago and P Sam Zoldak and C Ray Murray from Cleveland. Hard-luck lefty Lou Brissie is considered the plum in the proceedings. Rookie Minoso‚ who hit .339 at San Diego (PCL) last year is leading all Indian hitters with a .461 mark.

The Giants break an 11-game losing streak with an 8-5 win over the Dodgers. New York scores 6 runs in the first inning as Chris Van Cuyk lasts exactly 11 pitches before Earl Mosser‚ making his ML debut‚ takes over. After three walks‚ Mosser leaves for Joe Hatten‚ the 3rd of six pitchers. Sal Maglie wins‚ with relief help from Sheldon Jones.

Jim Prendergast‚ formerly of the Syracuse Chiefs‚ sues major league baseball for $150‚000 to test the legality of the reserve clause. The 33-year-old lefty contends the reserve clause is monopolistic and violates anti-trust laws.

May

May 1The Yankees’ new phenom‚ Mickey Mantle‚ connects for his first ML HR‚ off Randy Gumpert of the White Sox. Minnie Minoso becomes the first black to play for the White Sox. He plays 3B and‚ facing Vic Raschi in his first ML at bat‚ rips a HR to CF. The Yankees win 8-3‚ with Mantle collecting 3 RBIs.

At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants collect 5 hits-3 by Alvin Dark-to beat the Cubs‚ 5-3. Dark’s big hit is a grand slam in the 6th. He also starts a nifty DP in the 7th when‚ with 2 on and no out‚ Terwilliger lines of Jim Hearn‘s ankle and the carom is fielded by Dark. With Chicago in the field in the 4th‚ Umpire Frank Dascoli banished the entire bench of Cubs players (11 of them) to the clubhouse‚ apparently for calling him “Rabbit Ears.” Later‚ two of the players‚ Bill Serena and Smoky Burgess‚ were recalled for pinch hitting duties.

The A’s (2-12) score a record 8 runs in the 11th inning to beat Detroit‚ 9-1‚ and end their 10-game losing streak. Dave Philley‚ in his 1st day as an Athletic‚ hits a bunt single and triple in the big frame. Lou Limmer‘s bases loaded triple off Gene Bearden starts the scoring.

University of New Mexico pitchers walk 21 Arizona batters in college baseball.
May 2Before 4‚976 at the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants score 6 runs in the 7th to defeat the Cubs‚ 8-1. George Spencer‚ who won the final game of the 1950 season‚ makes his 1951 debut a successful one‚ allowing six hits. Johnny Schmitz takes the loss for Chicago. Ray Noble has two ribbies for New York. Noble is playing for Wes Westrum‚ who broke his finger yesterday when he was hit by a foul tip.
May 3In St. Louis‚ Gil McDougald hits a grand slam and a triple in the 9th‚ as the Yanks score 11 runs in the inning to rout St. Louis‚ 17-3. McDougald‚ destined to be Rookie of the Year‚ racks up 6 RBIs in the frame. Jackie Jensen follows McDougald’s triple with one of his own‚ then homers after Gil’s grand slam. Allie Reynolds is the winner.
May 4NY Representative Emanuel Celler‚ citing the case of Danny Gardella‚ plans a probe of ML baseball for antitrust violations.

In St. Louis‚ the Yanks pummel the Browns 8-1 behind Eddie Lopat. Mantle‚ again batting leadoff and playing RF‚ connects for his 2nd HR‚ off Duane Pillette‚ a 450-shot in the 6th inning.
May 5In a Western International League at Victoria‚ visiting Salem wins 1-0 in 23 innings. Victoria’s losing pitcher Roland Smith hurls the entire game.
May 6Pirate P Cliff Chambers throws a no-hitter at the Boston Braves in Boston‚ winning 3-0. He walks 8 and throws one wild pitch but hangs on to record only the second no-hit game in Pirate history. Chambers‚ hitting .429‚ drives in Wally Westlake with the 3rd run in the 8th. The loser is George Estock‚ a Braves reliever making his only ML start and the loss is his only ML decision. For Chambers‚ it is his last win in a Pirates’ uniform before he’s traded to St. Louis.

The Reds and Giants split a pair at the Polo Grounds‚ with the Reds taking the opener‚ 4-3‚ in 10 innings. Reds 2B Connie Ryan nabs Whitey Lockman in the 10th with the hidden ball trick‚ the 2nd time in 2 years that he’s pulled it off against New York. The Giants take the nitecap‚ 8-5‚ behind Dave Koslo’s 1st win of the year.

Boom Boom Beck‚ 46-year-old coach for the Toledo Mud Hens‚ takes the mound in the game 1 of a twinbill against Minneapolis (AA) and wins 10-2. The victory gives the former major leaguer an overall pro mark of 236-236.
May 8Bobby Shantz‚ A’s lefty‚ wins his first game of the season‚ stopping the White Sox‚ 9-4‚ on 12 hits. Ferris Fain and Eddie Joost hit consecutive homers for the A’s.
May 9With 13 players on the sick list with the flu‚ the Cards bow to the Giants‚ 17-2. New York has now won 8 out of 10 games after suffering an 11-game losing streak. Noble‚ Dark‚ and Lockman each have 4 hits with Dark collecting 2 doubles and a triple. Maglie is the easy winner allowing 5 hits. Bill Sarni makes his debut‚ taking over for Garagiola behind the plate. Sarni caught for the 1943 LA Angels at the age of 15.
May 10The A’s send veteran Sam Chapman to Cleveland for 2B Lou Klein and OF Allie Clark.
May 12Although Boston’s Dom DiMaggio begins his 27-game hitting streak‚ the longest of the season in the AL‚ with 3 hits against the Senators‚ Washington wins 5-4.

In the 2nd game of a double header‚ Stan Musial‚ on the Cards bench because he has flu‚ pinch hits in the 8th inning and blasts a 3-run homer into the RF stands at Crosley Field. Teammate Bill Howerton had earlier hit a 2-run pinch homer‚ only the 4th time in NL history that two pinch hitters have hit four-baggers (it will happen 4 more times in the 1950s). The Cards win 8-6‚ after dropping the opener‚ 7-2.
May 13At Philadelphia’s Shibe Park‚ Mantle hits his first righty homer‚ off Alex Kellner‚ in the majors‚ then makes the last out by popping up his bunt attempt with the tying run on 3rd. The A’s win 5-4‚ then win the nitecap as well. Mantle has no homers in the 2nd game loss‚ but misses 2nd base on a hit.

The Dodgers spot the Braves 6 runs‚ then roar back to win‚ 12-6 and take over the NL lead. Erv Palica gives up just two hits over the last 7 innings for his first win. Brooklyn scores five runs off Max Surkont in the 3rd and 4th innings‚ and Carl Furillo adds a three-run homer in the 5th off Dave Cole.

At Ft. Worth‚ ex-Dodger Rex Barney walks 16 Houston batters in 7 2/3 innings to set a Texas League record. Barney faces 41 batters and is behind on all but 7 off them‚ and adds 2 wild pitches. He leaves with a 2-1 score after walking across a run in the 8th‚ and ends up losing 6-2 to Vinegar Bend Mizell.
May 15At Fenway Park‚ the Red Sox celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first AL game in Boston. On hand are 29 old-timers who played‚ managed‚ or umpired in the AL in that first year including Connie Mack‚ Dummy Hoy‚ Cy Young‚ Hugh Duffy‚ Clark Griffith‚ Tom Connolly‚ Billy Sullivan Sr.‚ Wid Conroy‚ Bill Bradley‚ and Ollie Pickering. Eight of the 29 participated in the first AL game‚ played in Chicago on April 24‚ 1901.

The game that followed the ceremony featured dramatic home runs as Ted Williams hits the 300th of his career in the 4th inning against Chicago’s Howie Judson. With Williams up in the 8th inning‚ White Sox manager Paul Richards moves reliever Harry Dorish to 3B and brings in Billy Pierce to pitch to Ted. Williams pops up against the lefty‚ and Dorish then returns to the mound. Boston ties the game against Dorish at 7-7‚ but little Nellie Fox‚ playing in his 6th season‚ cracks his first major league homer in the 11th to give Dorish a 9-7 victory. Ray Scarborough is the loser. The Sox will win their next 13 games.

At Crosley Field‚ Braves P Vern Bickford pitches a 2-hitter‚ but Ewell Blackwell bests him by allowing one hit‚ as the Reds win‚ 1-0. Connie Ryan‘s 6th inning hit is the 1st off Bickford‚ and Johnny Pramesa‘s homer in the 7th is the other. The only Boston hit is a 5th inning double by Bob Elliott. The Reds tie the NL record (set in 1911) for 9 innings by going to bat just 24 times.

In a fine trade for Chicago‚ the White Sox send lefty Bob Cain to the Tigers for hurler Saul Rogovin.
May 16At Yankee Stadium‚ Mantle drives in four runs and scores three as New York routs the Indians‚ 11-3. Mantle connects for the first of his 206 homers at the Stadium‚ the blast coming off Dick Rozek.
May 17Gus Zernial hits his 7th HR in 4 successive games to tie the ML record set by Tony Lazzeri in 1936‚ as his A’s beat the Browns 7-6. Yesterday‚ in a 10-9 loss to the Browns‚ Big Gus hit 2 homers to equal Lazzeri’s mark of 6 home runs in 3 games (and tied by Kiner in 1947).

The Browns trade C Les Moss to the Red Sox for C Matt Batts‚ P Jim Suchecki‚ Jim McDonald‚ and $100‚000.

The Cards trade Erv Dusak and 1B Glenn “Rocky” Nelson to the Pirates for SS Stan Rojek.
May 18Catcher Walker Cooper of the Braves goes 5-for-5 in a 12-3 route of the Pirates. Max Surkont (5-1) is the winner‚ scattering 10 hits and giving up late inning HRs to Kiner and Westlake.
May 19In a 9-4 loss to Boston‚ Cleveland’s Al Rosen hits his 2nd grand slam in a week. He hit one on the 13th against the White Sox.
May 20Before 42‚088 at Wrigley‚ Dutch Leonard wins a pair‚ beating the Braves‚ 4-3 and 5-4. Dutch tosses two innings in each game as the Cubs beat Chet Nichols and Vern Bickford. The Cubs are now a game back of the front-running Dodgers.

The Phils defeat the Pirates 17-0 and 12-4‚ as Richie Ashburn gets 4 hits in each game. Russ Meyer tosses the shutout in the first game pasting over Murry Dickson.
May 23Mel Parnell gives up 4 hits in shutting out the Browns‚ while stroking 4 hits himself. Ted Williams walks 5 times in the 12-0 win. Vern Stephens sets an assist record for third baseman‚ with an assist from SS Johnny Pesky. On the last out of the game‚ a grounder to Pesky‚ he flips to Stephens‚ who fires to 1B to set the record at 10 assists. Malzone will equal the record in 1957 and Ken McMullen will top it‚ in 1966.

Rookie P Bill MacDonald of the Pirates blanks the Phils 6-0 in his first ML start.

The Reds Connie Ryan clouts an 11th inning grand slam to beat the Cardinals‚ 5-1‚ in St. Louis.
May 24Cleveland whips the Senators 16-0‚ with Bob Feller pitching a 2-hitter. Larry Doby has a homer and 4 RBIs to lead the Tribe.

Mantle is 0-for-5 but reaches base twice after striking out on a wild pitch. The 2nd time‚ in the 6th inning‚ he reaches 2B before Detroit C Joe Ginsberg can retrieve the ball‚ and DiMaggio follows with a homer to deep left field. New York wins‚ 11-1‚ behind Joe Ostrowski.
May 25Giants rookie Willie Mays‚ who was hitting .477 with Minneapolis‚ goes 0-for-5 in his ML debut against the Phils. He strikes out in his first at bat‚ against Bubba Church. New York wins‚ 8-5.
May 26The Dodgers use 12 different players in the number 9 slot, 7 of them Ps, in losing to the Braves 12–10. In attendance is General Douglas MacArthur, who was proposed as the new baseball commissioner last month by Reds prexy Warren Giles.

At Yankee Stadium‚ the Yanks top the A’s‚ 8-5‚ with Mantle belting a bases-loaded triple off Dick Fowler that bounces off the bleacher railing in CF.
May 28After going 0-for-12‚ Willie Mays connects for his first ML hit‚ a HR off Braves P Warren Spahn. The Giants lose the game 4-1.

Newly acquired White Sox hurler Saul Rogovin 2-hits the Browns in a 4-2 win.
May 29The Indians sign high school star Billy Joe Davidson for a reported $150‚000‚ eclipsing the $100‚000 the Pirates paid to Paul Pettit in 1949. Several teams sought the services of the tall lefty‚ alleged to be the best Indians prospect since Bob Feller.

Indians hurler Bob Lemon one-hits the Tigers 2-1. The only Bengal hit is Vic Wertz‘s HR.
May 30In a doubleheader loss with Boston‚ Yankee slugger Mickey Mantle strikes out 3 times in the opener‚ and twice more to start the 2nd game: Stengel lifts the slugger in the middle of the game for Cliff Mapes. In the opener‚ Ted Williams scores from 2B on a sacrifice bunt‚ and then ties the game with a HR. Vern Stephens 15th inning homer off Specs Shea wins it for Boston‚ 11-10. Williams then ties the nitecap with a double and Stephens’ single drives him home with the game winner as Boston triumphs‚ 9-4. Ray Scarborough and Bill Wight are today’s winners. The loss drops the Yanks into 2nd place‚ where they’ll stay for a month.

The first place White Sox beat the Browns‚ 5-2 behind Billy Pierce. But in game 2‚ Randy Gumpert (3-0) stops Chicago’s 4-game winning streak‚ beating the Sox‚ 8-1. Gumpert has 2 hits and 2 runs batted in. Widmar is the loser.

June

June 1The Reds score 3 runs in the 9th to beat the host Dodgers‚ 6-5. Joe Adcock drives home 2 of the runs in the final frame with a single.

The Pirates waive 1B Dale Long to the Browns‚ who ship him to San Francisco (PCL). Long will be back in Pittsburgh for the 1955 season.
June 2The 7th place A’s hand the White Sox a 5-1 defeat‚ Chicago’s first since May 13th. The first-place Sox had won 14 straight. Bob Hooper tops Joe Dobson‚ who made the mistake of serving up a grand slam to Gus Zernial.

The Red Sox send 1950 AL Rookie of the Year Walt Dropo to San Diego (PCL) to regain his form.

In an Alabama-Florida League (Class D) game‚ Dothan OF Ottis Johnson‚ 24‚ is struck in the head by a fastball thrown by Jack Clifton of Headland. Johnson dies on June 10 of the skull fracture.
June 4In Philadelphia‚ Pirates OF Gus Bell hits for the cycle in a 12-4 win over the Phillies.

In Cleveland‚ in an effort to defeat their Yankee nemesis‚ the Indians distribute 15‚000 lucky rabbits feet for Beat Eddie Lopat Night. Lopat recalled later‚ “While I was warming up‚ before the game‚ a drunk came on the field and threw a black cat at me and it clung to my uniform jersey.” It works‚ as Cleveland plates five runs in the first inning-three on a Bob Kennedy homer-on the way to an 8-2 win. It is Lopat’s first defeat to the Indians after 11 straight wins.

At Boston‚ the Reds are down 7-0 after 7 innings‚ but score 3 in the 8th and 7 in the 9th to beat the Braves‚ 10-7.

The White Sox trade Don Lenhardt and the recently acquired Paul Lehner to the Browns for Kermit Wahl and cash.
June 5The Pirates rookie knuckler Paul LaPalme hurls a 8-0 shutout against the Boston Braves in his first ML start.
June 8The Indians repeat history when they stop Dom DiMaggio‘s 27-game hitting streak‚ just as they ended his brother Joe’s record 56-game streak 10 years before. The Tribe wins‚ 7-1‚ behind Bob Feller.

Before 53‚940 at Comiskey Park‚ Vic Raschi and the Yankees edge the Sox‚ 4-2. Mantle‚ leading the Yankees with 33 RBIs‚ ties the game with a single and throws out Nellie Fox‚ who tries to score from 3B on Minoso’s fly to right.
June 13Oklahoma wins the College WS in Omaha‚ defeating Tennessee in the final game 3-2.
June 15Happy Chandler says that his resignation will become effective on July 15th.

Just before game time at Wrigley Field‚ the Cubs and the first-place Dodgers make another trade this one 4-for-4: OF Andy Pafko‚ P Johnny Schmitz‚ C Rube Walker‚ and IF Wayne Terwilliger go to Brooklyn for C Bruce Edwards‚ OF Gene Hermanski‚ IF Eddie Miksis‚ and P Joe Hatten. To the surprise of fans‚ the 8 appear in their new uniforms. The Cubs get the best today as Bruce Edward knocks in 4 runs‚ three on a homer‚ off Carl Erskine‚ and Miksis fields well. Pafko hits his 13th homer in a losing cause and will incur an injury in this series that will sideline for three weeks in July. But the New York Post expresses the sentiment of most‚ calling it “the most barefaced swindle in years.”

Pittsburgh sends Cliff “no hit” Chambers and OF Wally Westlake to the Cards for C Joe Garagiola‚ P Howie Pollet‚ P Ted Wilks‚ OF Bill Howerton‚ and 2B Dick Cole.

The Yanks swap pitchers‚ sending Tommy Byrne to the Browns for Stubby Overmire: New York adds $25‚000 to the deal. The Yanks also deal three RH pitchers-Bob Porterfield‚ Tom Ferrick‚ and Fred Sanford-to the Senators for needed lefty Bob Kuzava. Porterfield will blossom into the Nats ace over the next five years‚ but Kuzava will save the final World Series game in 1951 and 1952.
June 16Andy Strong‚ 23‚ outfielder of Crowley (Evangeline)‚ is killed during a game at Alexandria‚ La.‚ when struck by a bolt of lightning. The game was suspended because of a thunderstorm‚ and then when the storm abated‚ play was resumed. Strong took his position in center to start the 6th when the bolt struck him dead.
June 17In Boston‚ the Dodgers win the first of two‚ 3-1‚ behind Carl Erskine‘s 2-hitter. Gil Hodges hits his 34th homer in support. The Braves jump on Johnny Schmitz for 3 runs in the first inning and take the nitecap‚ 4-3. Jackie Robinson leaves 13 baserunners in the 2 games.

The Giants top the Phils‚ 8-5‚ with reliever George Spencer earning the win. Al Dark and Wes Westrum each collect 4 hits to edge New York 9 in back of Brooklyn.

In the 2nd game of a DH with the A’s‚ White Sox righty reliever Luis Aloma wins‚ 9-0. It is the only start in Aloma’s career‚ making him the 2nd pitcher this century to throw a shutout in his only start (as noted by historian Walt Wilson.) Don Fisher in 1945 was the first. The Sox win the opener in Philadelphia‚ 4-1‚ behind Randy Gumpert.
June 18Preacher Roe (16-2) returns after a 10-day absence and subdues the Braves‚ 5-3. Jackie Robinson snaps a 2-2 tie with a homer in the 8th off Chet Nichols.

In a matchup of aces at Shibe Park‚ Larry Jansen defeats Robin Roberts‚ 2-0. Jansen’s 4-hitter gives the Giants their 8th straight win and the Phils their 7th straight loss.
June 19Following the Cubs 3-0 shut out of the Braves by Bob Rush‚ Tommy Holmes replaces Billy Southworth as the Boston manager.

Before 61‚596 at Yankee Stadium‚ Mantle‚ batting leadoff‚ has 2 homers and 4 RBIs‚ but misses two catchable balls. He has a 3-run homer to match Yogi Berra‚ as the Yankees top the White Sox‚ 11-9 in the first of 2 games. In the nitecap‚ Mantle is 1-for-1 with a homer‚ before being replaced in CF by Gene Woodling. But the first-place Sox take a 5-4 win. Eddie Stewart has a 3-run homer and Phil Masi collects 3 hits and a homer.

Wally Yonamine‚ an American of Japanese descent (a Nisei) born in Hawaii‚ plays his first game with the Yomiuri Giants of Tokyo. He will become the first genuine American star in Japanese baseball‚ winning batting titles in 1954‚ 1956‚ and 1957. In 1957 he will also be the Central League MVP. From 1963 to 1986 he will be active with various teams as a coach or manager.

Willie Jones cracks a pair of homers‚ one with the bases loaded‚ to drive in 6 runs as the Phils roll over the host Pirates‚ 9-2. Jones’ first homer comes in the first inning with Ashburn on base‚ and his second is an inside-the-park grand slam in the 8th inning. Every Philley batter collects a hit including winning hurler Russ Meyer. Murry Dickson is chased early with Ted Wilks‚ in his first appearance for the Pirates‚ relieving.
June 20Cleveland IF Bobby Avila hits 3 HRs going 5-for-6 against the Red Sox. His 15 total bases will stand as a team record until surpassed by Rocky Colavito in l959. Before today‚ Avila had hit just one homer against the Bosox. Cleveland outslugs Boston to win 14-8‚ as Early Wynn earns the complete game win.

Tommy Holmes’s first win as Braves manager is a breeze as Warren Spahn shuts out the Cubs‚ 9-0‚ and is 3-for-4 at the plate‚ including a HR.
June 21Bill Veeck gets an option to buy the St. Louis Browns from the DeWitts.

At Chattanooga‚ Mobile outscores the hosts 28-7. Bears 1B Wayne Belardi goes 4-for-7 with 2 home runs-including a grand slam-a double and 10 RBIs. Every Bear hitter scores at least two runs. Belardi’s outburst will earn him another call-up to the Dodgers.
June 22Willie Mays‚ 20‚ hits a 10th-inning HR‚ the first of his 22 extra-innings HRs‚ off 42-year-old Dutch Leonard of the Cubs. It is a 3-run shot that gives the Giants a 9-6 win.

A power failure at Forbes Field delays the start of the game with Dodgers by 2 hours. Rain holds up play in the 6th inning by another 36 minutes‚ pushing the ending to 1:56 a.m.‚ the latest game played to date. Brooklyn has no power problems as Jackie Robinson‘s homer helps Da Bums to an 8-4 win. Of the 24‚966 on hand at the start‚ 10‚000 are still on hand at the end.
June 23Don Newcombe gives up a first-inning single to Ralph Kiner in beating the Bucs on a one-hitter‚ 13-1. The Dodgers jump on Bill Werle (3-1) and successors for 16 hits‚ including homers by Carl Furillo and Rocky Bridges.

In a 7-6 loss to the Yankees‚ Cleveland’s Al Rosen hits his 3rd grand slam of the season.
June 25The Phillies gain a measure of revenge for their 2-1 City Series loss to the A’s 2 months ago‚ by beating their rivals today‚ 5-1. A pre-game show features Lisa Kirk‚ star of Kiss Me Kate.
June 26Fresh from a doubleheader loss on the 24th at Forbes Field‚ the Dodgers get further bad news at the Polo Grounds. Sal Maglie shuts out Brooklyn on three hits‚ and Preacher Roe takes his first loss after ten wins. Eddie Stanky and Whitey Lockman hit homers.
June 27Former Cubs farmhand Boyd Tepler brings a $450‚000 suit against baseball‚ the Chicago Cubs‚ and William Wrigley‚ citing an arm injury he suffered in 1944. His suit contends that “negligent” coaching allowed him to continue with flaws in his pitching motion that resulted in damage to his arm and the end of his promising career.

The 3rd-place Red Sox score 3 runs in the 7th to beat the A’s‚ 6-5. Sox pitcher Ray Scarborough gets beans with an errant pickoff throw and is knocked unconscious and reliever Nixon earns the win.

Behind three-run homers by Andy Pafko and Duke Snider‚ Don Newcombe coasts to an easy win over the Giants.
June 28Monty Irvin clubs two homers off Ralph Branca as the Giants edge the Dodgers‚ 5-4. The second homer‚ a three-run shot in the 8th‚ gives the win the reliever Sheldon Jones. The Dodgers now lead the Giants by 5 games.

The Cubs Frank Hiller faces just 27 batters in pitching a one-hitter over the Cards‚ winning 8-0. Enos Slaughter has a 5th-inning single but is erased on a DP. Randy Jackson poles his 7th homer in the 7th and the Cubs pull off a double steal in the 9th when they add 4 runs. Jack Cusick swipes home‚ with Hiller stealing 3rd.

The singer Helen Traubel sells her estimated 5‚000 shares in the Browns to Bill Veeck and urges her fellow stock holders to do the same.
June 29Richard J. Conway‚ 19‚ catcher of the Twin Falls (Pioneer) club‚ dies at John Affleck Park in Ogden‚ Utah‚ after being struck over the heart by a thrown ball during pre-game practice. (as noted by Joey Beretta). He is the 3rd minor leaguer to die this month during play.
June 30The Braves make it easy for new manager Tommy Holmes’ first appearance in front of the home crowd. Boston tallies 8 runs in the 7th inning and 7 runs in the 8th inning‚ to squash to Giants 19-7. Backing Vern Bickford‘s pitching‚ Earl Torgeson racks up 7 RBIs in the 2 innings‚ including a grand slam off Sal Maglie‚ the first time the Barber’s been clipped for a slam.

July

July 1Veteran Bob Feller pitches the 3rd no-hitter of his career‚ tying the record of Cy Young and Larry Corcoran‚ as he beats Detroit’s Bob Cain 2-1. Feller loses his shutout in the 4th when Johnny Lipon reaches on an error‚ swipes 2B‚ goes to 3B on an errant pickoff‚ and scores on a fly. Rookie Bob Chakales shuts out the Tigers in the nightcap‚ 2-0‚ for Cleveland’s 10th straight win over Detroit. Detroit has scored 8 runs in the ten losses.

Philadelphia’s Russ Meyer and Jim Konstanty hold Brooklyn to one hit but lose anyway 2-0. Pee Wee Reese‘s 2-run triple follows 2 walks in the 3rd and accounts for all the hits and runs.

In the 2nd game of a doubleheader‚ the Browns’ Ned Garver‚ en route to a 20-game season‚ limits the White Sox to 2 hits‚ winning‚ 3-1. The loss drops the Sox out of the AL lead. Chicago wins the opener‚ 2-1 in 11 innings on Minoso’s 400-foot homer to left center. Minnie’s blow breaks up a pitching duel between loser Duane Pillette and Ken Holcombe.

Before 58‚815 at Yankee Stadium‚ the Yanks top the Red Sox‚ 5-2‚ behind Eddie Lopat’s 6-hitter. The win moves the Yankees ahead of the White Sox by 4 percentage points. Jerry Coleman homers off Mel Parnell‚ while Johnny Pesky connects for the Sox. Bobby Doerr singles for his 2‚000th career hit.

Elmer Valo belts three homers to help the A’s sweep the Senators‚ 10-7 and 3-2. Two of his homers come in the first game‚ when teammate Gus Zernial hits his 18th homer. Irv Noren has a pair of doubles and a homer for the Nats.
July 2Bill Veeck gets the necessary 75 percent of outstanding stock on the last day of his option to buy the St. Louis Browns from Bill and Charlie DeWitt.
July 3Former Dodger pitcher Hugh Casey‚ 37‚ kills himself with a shotgun blast to the neck.

Bill DiBenedetto of the Class D Hornell Dodgers walks 21 in a 5-1 loss to Corning. This record number of walks breaks the 36-year-old record of Harry Harper of the Minneapolis Millers.

Giants rookie Willie Mays hits a 13th inning solo homer off the Phillies’ Jocko Thompson to give New York a 9-8 win. It is Willie’s 2nd extra inning homer in two weeks: he’ll hit another on July 7th, against the Braves George Estock..
July 4In a wild doubleheader featuring a double ejection of manager Charlie Dressen‚ the first-place Dodgers sweep the Giants‚ winning 6-5 in 11 innings‚ and 4-2. The Dodgers drive out Sal Maglie in the opener after the Giants built a lead on homers by Mueller and Mays. Brooklyn counters in the 8th with a pinch homer by Campanella‚ a homer by Reese‚ and a tying single from Hodges. Bobby Thomson‘s homer in the 11th puts the Giants ahead by one‚ but Preacher Roe wins it with a squeeze bunt. Ralph Branca wins the nitecap with homer help from Hodges and Snider. Dressen is tossed in the 2nd inning of game 2 for protesting pitch calls; after he takes a seat behind the dugout umpire Robb tosses him a 2nd time. The victories put Brooklyn 6 1/2 games up.
July 5At Ebbets Field‚ Gil Hodges hits his 27th HR of the year to lead the Dodgers to a 8-4 win over the Giants. Andy Pafko also homers‚ off Larry Jansen. Don Newcombe notches his 12th win‚ giving up 7 hits. After sweeping the Giants in the 3-game series‚ Dodger manager Chuck Dressen declares‚ “We knocked ’em out. They won’t bother us anymore.” The Dodgers now lead the Giants by 7 1?2 games.
July 6At the Polo Grounds‚ the Braves smack 2 HRs (Willard Marshall and Walker Cooper) in the top of the 3rd‚ only to have the Giants answer with 3 HRs-by Westrum‚ Thomson‚ and Mueller-in the bottom of the inning. The Giants outslug the Braves for the game 12-10.
July 7OF Hoot Evers of the Tigers goes 5-for-5 and scores 5 runs against the Indians as the motormen roll‚ 13-3. Bob Cain is the victor with batterymate Myron Ginsberg driving in 5 runs on 4 hits.

At Fenway‚ the Yankees lose to the Red Sox‚ 10-4 with the Sox being led by Clyde Vollmer‘s grand slam in the first inning. Vollmer‚ inserted as a starter on July 4‚ had a 2-run triple in yesterday’s 6-2 win over the Yankees. Mantle‚ a late inning defensive replacement‚ hits a 9th inning HR off Ellis Kinder‚ the complete game winner.
July 8The feud between Joe DiMaggio and Casey Stengel reaches a head in 2nd inning against the Red Sox. Because of a misplay in the first‚ Stengel sends reserve Jackie Jensen out to CF to relieve the Yankee Clipper after he had already taken his position. The Red Sox clip the Yankees‚ 6-3‚ as the red-hot Clyde Vollmer belts a 2-run homer.

Red Schoendienst hits a HR from each side of the plate in game 2‚ as the Cards beat Pittsburgh 9-8 after losing 6-2.
July 9At a joint meeting between players and owners‚ agreement is reached on night curfews and the retention of the reserve clause.
July 10Exploding for a record 4 HRs‚ the NL trounces the AL 8-3 at the annual All-Star Game‚ at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. Pittsburgh slugger Ralph Kiner hits a HR for the 3rd year in a row.

The Giants bring up 2B Davey Williams‚ hitting .280 at Minneapolis‚ and pitcher Al Corwin up. Williams is expected to shore up 2B with Eddie Stanky.
July 12At Cleveland‚ Allie Reynolds of the NY Yankees no-hits Cleveland 1-0 for the first of his two no-hitters this season. Gene Woodling‘s 7th inning HR off loser Bob Feller is the difference in the 1-0 game. It is the 3rd game in a row that a Woodling homer has beaten Cleveland. The Chief’s no-hitter is the first by a Yankee since Monte Pearson in 1928. New York takes the nitecap behind Vic Raschi as Joe DiMaggio cinches it with a three-run homer off Chuck Stobbs.

Paced by a grand slam by Gus Zernial off Dick Starr‚ the A’s outslug the Browns‚ 9-7. Zernial’s homer gives him 22 to lead the AL; 10 of the homers have come of St. Louis pitching‚ and 4 of those are served up by Starr.

The Red Sox and White Sox draw a record crowd of 52,592 for a twi-night doubleheader at Comiskey Park. Boston wins the opener, 3–2. In the 2nd game, Saul Rogovin of the White Sox goes the route in a 17-inning contest, overcoming a two-run HR by Doerr, only to lose 5–4, on Clyde Vollmer‘s sac fly. Ellis Kinder of Boston pitches 10 scoreless innings in relief for the win. The wins move the Red Sox into first place.
July 13In a game that ends at 1:17 a.m., the Red Sox and White Sox play 19 innings under the lights, tying a ML record. Mickey McDermott pitches the first 17 innings for Boston, as Chicago wins this marathon, 5–4. Clyde Vollmer hits a homer and two singles for the Bosox; Third baseman Vern Stephens plays the entire game (18 1/3 innings) without a putout. Boston scores twice in the top of the 19th, but the Sox strike back with three runs, two on a pinch single by Ed Stewart. For the second night in a row, the two teams set a record for the longest night game and the 36 innings in two successive games establishes a AL mark.

Chuck Dressen is quoted in the Washington Post as saying his Dodgers are “the greatest in team history” and better than the ’41 team. Da Bums prove it today with 8 runs in the 1st two innings against Chicago enroute to an 8-6 win. Chicago has 5 homers‚ 2 by Ransom Jackson. Brooklyn gets a leadoff homer-his 2nd in two days-by Carl Furillo on the first pitch‚ and a first inning homer from Dick Williams‚ his ML first.

Both Wes Westrum and Davey Williams of the Giants hit grand slams‚ as the Giants beat St. Louis 14-4 at the Polo Grounds. The win moves New York into 2nd place.

Cleveland outslugs New York to win, 11-8 Four homeruns are hit, including a grand slam by Yankees first baseman Joe Collins and a 3-run HR by Cleveland catcher Jim Hegan.
July 14Clyde Vollmer singles in 2 runs in the 9th inning and the Red Sox tip the White Sox‚ 3-2.
July 15Athletics lefty Sam Zoldak pitches a one-hitter against the White Sox‚ winning 5-0 in the 2nd game of a doubleheader. Carrasquel has the lone safety‚ a dribbler between SS and 3B. Zoldak also drives in 2 runs. Bob Hooper is the winner for the A’s in game 1‚ helping the cause with a 3-run HR. The A’s lose Ferris Fain when he grounds out in game 1 and‚ in disgust‚ kicks 1B breaking his foot. Fain is leading the AL with a .337 average. He’ll return on August 21.

Happy Chandler completes his contract as baseball commissioner‚ but fails to win the owners’ support for a contract renewal.
July 16While in Detroit‚ the Yanks option rookie Mickey Mantle to Kansas City (AA). Mantle‚ plagued with strikeouts-3 on the 13th-and in a slump‚ will go 0-for-22 in his start with the Blues‚ before ending with a tear at .361. The Yankees will recall him August 20th. Art Schallock takes Mickey’s place on the Yankee roster and gives up 7 hits in 2.3 innings in today’s 8-6 win.
July 17LF Joe Adcock is 4-for-4 and throws out a runner at home in the 9th to lead the Reds to a 9–8 win over the host Phillies in the first of two. Jocko Thompson then wins, 10-0, for the Phils.

After pitching for Bill Veeck in Cleveland in 1948, Satchel Paige rejoins him with the St. Louis Browns. He’ll start tomorrow night as the Browns lose to the Senators, 7-1.

Bob Feller overcomes a 4-run ninth inning to beat the Red Sox, and move Cleveland a game and a half behind Boston. In the final inning, Feller surrenders a roundtripper to Lou Boudreau and a pinch homer to Charlie Maxwell, his first major league homerun.

The White Sox beat the Yankees, 4-3, to move a half game behind the league-leading Red Sox. But they discover that starting catcher Gus Niarhos has an arm fracture, sustained in yesterday’s marathon game. The Sox call up former Negro Leaguer Sam Hairston as a catching replacement.

In the 8th inning at New York, with the Cubs ahead 5-0, Hal Jeffcoat of the Cubs swipes 3B and home on successive pitches. Willie Mays has a two-run homer in the eighth, but the Cubs win, 7-4. The Jeffcoat steals are ordered by Cubs manager Frankie Frisch (as noted by Retrosheet from a story in the New York Times regarding the tension between Frisch and Giants manager Leo Durocher).
July 18The Pirates Ralph Kiner drives in 7 runs hitting 3 HRs‚ including his 10th grand slam‚ in a 13-12 slugfest win over the Dodgers. His final homer‚ a solo shot of Erv Palica in the 8th‚ breaks a 12-12 tie. Manager Chuck Dressen berates Palica‚ publicly questioning the pitcher’s courage by clutching his throat in a choke signal. In Kiner’s final at bat‚ in the 9th‚ Carl Furillo pulls down the sluggers long drive near the CF gate. Garagiola and Bell also homer for the Bucs‚ while Campanella and Robinson homer for Brooklyn.

Congressman Emanuel Celler says that President Harry Truman backs his probe of the reserve clause and sports status under the antitrust legislation.

The Reds purchase OF Hank Edwards from the Dodgers.
July 19Despite a pair of homers by Clyde Vollmer‚ the Indians edge the Red Sox‚ 5-4 in 11 innings. Bobby Avila scores the winner from 1B on a single as Ted Williams holds the ball. Cleveland’s win moves them 1 1/2 games in back of Boston.

Cleveland picks up OF Paul Lehner from the Browns for the waiver price. For Lehner‚ the Tribe is the 4th team he plays for this year: not since Frank Huelsman in 1904 has an AL player moved so much in a year. Ted Gray‚ in 1955‚ will match it.
July 20In a move that will aid their pennant drive‚ the Giants put OF Bobby Thomson at 3B to replace the slumping Hank Thompson‚ out with a spike injury. Thomson‚ who’s been riding the bench since losing his starting job to the rookie Mays‚ will hit .357 for the rest of the season.

Detroit’s Marlin Stuart (1-0)‚ filling in for the injured Hal Newhouser‚ beats Boston‚ 6-1‚ in his first start of the year. Chuck Stobbs takes the loss.

The Senators edge the White Sox‚ 21 scoring a run in the 9th and 10th innings. The Indians down the A’s‚ 1-0‚ in 10 innings behind Mike Garcia’s 4-hitter. The Yankees beat the Browns‚ 1-0‚ with Tom Morgan besting Ned Garver. After 87 games‚ the dust settles with Boston‚ New York‚ Cleveland‚ and Chicago all within a half-game of first place.
July 21The Cubs fall to the host Phillies and Robin Roberts‚ 5-0. With the Cubs 10 games under .500 at 35-45‚ Phil Cavarretta replaces Frankie Frisch (141-196) as manager. They will go 27-47 the rest of the way to finish in last place.

In the Braves 11-6 win over Pittsburgh‚ Bob Elliot scores 5 runs.

The Reds purchase Hank Edward from the Dodgers and sell Barney McCosky to the Indians.
July 23At Cooperstown‚ the Dodgers rally to beat the A’s‚ 9-5‚ in the 10th annual Hall of Fame game.
July 26At Fenway‚ Clyde Vollmer knocks in 6 runs on 3 homers to lead the Red Sox to a 13-10 win over the sliding White Sox. His last homer‚ a 3-run shot‚ breaks a 10-10 tie.
July 27The White Sox‚ now 3 1?2 games behind New York and Boston‚ open a 4-game series in New York. Trailing 3-1 in the 9th‚ the Sox make it 4-3 before rain and the Yankees delay the game. Gil McDougald is thrown out for stalling‚ and Casey Stengel uses 5 pitchers in the inning. Finally‚ the score reverts to the 8th inning and the Yanks win as the game is called after 30 minutes.

After two shutouts over the Cards‚ Bubba Church gives the Phils staff their 3rd in a row‚ stopping Chicago‚ 2-0. It is Church’s 8th straight over the Cubs and Chicago’s 9th straight loss at Wrigley.
July 28Charlie Gehringer succeeds Billy Evans as GM of the Detroit Tigers.

Clyde Vollmer‚ who started the month on the bench‚ continues his explosive fireworks against the Indians. He singles in the tying run in the 15th and then in the 16th hits a grand slam off reliever Bob Feller for an 8-4 Red Sox win. The grand slam is the latest hit in a game in ML history. Mickey McDermott pitches all 16 innings for the Sox‚ striking out 15 and walking one. Vollmer has 13 homers‚ including 2 slams‚ in 24 games since July 4

Pitcher Russ Meyer hurls a 1-0 shut out over the Cubs‚ the 4th shutout in a row for the Phillies staff. Robin Roberts‚ Ken Johnson and Bubba Church pitched the earlier shutouts.

The Giants go 7-0 at Crosley Field this year by defeating the Reds‚ 3-1. Willie Mays has his 3rd homer in 6 days and Larry Jansen wins to go 15-2 against the Rhinelanders.
July 29Before a Stadium crowd of 70‚972‚ the Yankees sweep the White Sox‚ 8-3 and 2-0. DiMaggio powers two homers off Lew Kretlow in the opener‚ and ex-Sox Bob Kuzava outduels Saul Rogovin to win the nitecap. With yesterday’s game rained out‚ the Sox are now 6 1?2 out of first place.

In game 1 at Cincinnati‚ Willie Mays steals the first of 338 bases. Then P Willie Ramsdell picks him off 2B. But the Giants win‚ 3-1‚ behind Sal Maglie. New York takes the nitecap as well‚ 6-4‚ as Irvin (2) and Mays both swipe bases.

Against the visiting Phillies‚ Cubs player-manager Phil Cavarretta earns his money by driving home 3 runs in a first game win‚ 5-4‚ snapping the Cubs 10-game home losing streak. His triple in the 6th off Robin Roberts ends the Cubs’ scoreless inning skein of 31 innings‚ and the consecutive scoreless innings by Phils pitchers at 41. Cavarretta takes the bench in game 2 but inserts himself as a pinch hitter in the 7th when Roberts relieves‚ and hits a pinch grand slam home run as the Cubs sweep‚ winning the nitecap‚ 8-6. The nitecap loss goes to Bubba Church‚ who put 2 runners on before giving way to Roberts. It is Church’s 1st and only career loss to Chicago after 8 straight wins.
July 30Ty Cobb testifies before the Emanuel Celler committee‚ denying that the reserve clause makes “peons” of baseball players. National Association President George Trautman testifies‚ denying that minors hampered independent teams.

Joe DiMaggio makes a rare mental error against Detroit‚ catching a Steve Souchock fly ball in deep CF and‚ thinking it’s the 3rd out‚ begins trotting in. It’s only the second out‚ and George Kell scores from 2B to make the score 4-2 in the 8th. Despite the lapse‚ the Yanks win‚ 5-4‚ with DiMag knocking in the winning run in the 9th.
July 31In an 8-6 Red Sox loss to the Browns‚ Clyde Vollmer doubles to finish the month with 13 homers‚ 4 doubles and a triple among his 31 hits. “Big Un” knocks in 40 runs with his outburst.

The White Sox lose their 10th out of 11 games‚ dropping a 4-2 decision to the A’s. Alex Kellner is the winner as Hank Majeski has 3 hits and 3 runs. The Sox are now 7 1/2 games out.

The Dodgers win their 10th in a row‚ defeating the host Pirates‚ 8-3. Don Newcombe earns his 15th win and 9th in a row. Newk also collects 3 of the Flatbushers 16 hits.

The Browns acquire Cliff Mapes from the Yankees‚ sending Bobbie Hogue‚ Kermit Wahl‚ Tom Upton and Lou Sleater to New York. The trade frees up an outfield spot for Mantle’s return as well as Mapes #7 uniform.

August

August 1Congressman Celler denies the accusation that his committee wants a 3rd ML. He states that some changes with regard to territorial rights will have to be made.

The Cubs’ Eddie Miksis lines a ball to Willie Mays in CF‚ which caroms off his head for a double‚ as the Cubs nip the Giants‚ 3-2. Cal McLish wins over Larry Jansen. The Giants come back in game 2 behind the shut out pitching of Al Corwin to top the Cubs‚ 2-0. Bob Kelly is the losing pitcher‚ while Al Corwin wins his first ML game.

At Pittsburgh‚ the Dodgers take a 7-2 lead against Murry Dickson‚ then make 2 hits off 4 relievers and lose‚ 12-9. The Pirates score 4 in the 4th and 4 more in the 8th‚ including Ralph Kiner‘s 27th homer‚ to win and snap the Dodgers victory streak at 10 games.
August 6Lame duck Commissioner Happy Chandler testifies in front of the Senate committee‚ urging that baseball expand out of its eastern area. He adds that some owners see sport only as big business.
August 7The Phils shut out the Braves 1-0 in 15 innings in the 2nd game of a doubleheader as reliever Ken Heintzelman bests Warren Spahn‚ also in relief. The Phils capture the opener‚ 3-1‚ on Robin Roberts‘ 15th win.

In a day-night doubleheader the Dodgers sweep a pair from the Giants‚ taking the first game 7-2 behind the solid relief of Carl Erskine. Hodges‚ Snider and Furillo homer. Brooklyn takes the nitecap‚ 6-5‚ in 10 innings after jumping on Maglie for a 5-1 lead. Snider and Furillo homer again‚ while Bobby Thomson goes deep for the Giants. Cox’s RBI single wins it‚ giving the Dodgers an 11 1/2 game margin‚ the greatest lead in Brooklyn history.

Senator Edwin C. Johnson backs the reserve clause in his testimony‚ citing his bill to exempt baseball from antitrust legislation.

Bobby Doerr suffers a severe sacroiliac pain that forces the future Hall of Famer into early retirement. The Red Sox regular 2B for 13 seasons‚ Doerr will become a Red Sox coach.
August 9With possible baseball commissioner Douglas MacArthur looking on‚ the Dodgers top the Giants again‚ 6-5‚ for their 12th win in 15 games between the two rivals. The two teams combine for a NL record 24 walks. Campanella hits two homers‚ but sustains an injury the 9th inning when Whitey Lockman crashes into him: “The hardest I’ve ever been hit in a ball game.” Campy will miss four days but the bone chips will hamper him the rest of the season. Clyde King wins his 2nd win in two days and shortstops Pee Wee Reese (19) and Alvin Dark (17) keep their hitting streaks alive. The Dodgers lead by 12 1/2 games.

In the Braves 5-4 win over the Phillies‚ catcher Ebba St. Claire participates in 3 double plays to tie the ML record. The record will be topped in the AL‚ but not till 1999 will another NL backstop be in 3 DPs in a game.
August 11In Philadelphia‚ the Giants lose to the Phils‚ as Robin Roberts shuts them out‚ 4-0‚ for his 16th win. Putsy Cabellero hits his 1st major league homer‚ off George Spencer for the 3rd place Phils (57-52)‚ now just 1 1/2 games behind New York.

The Dodgers take the 1st of 2 games against the Braves‚ winning 8-1 behind Ralph Branca. Brooklyn now leads the NL by 13 1/2 games with 49 games to play. The Braves take the nitecap‚ 8-4‚ behind Max Surkont and a home run by Sid Gordon. With Red Barber and Connie Desmond making the calls‚ the doubleheader is the first ML game to be telecast in color.

Behind the four-hit pitching of Early Wynn‚ the Indians defeat the White Sox 2-1 in front of a Ladies Night crowd of 70‚119. Wynn’s homer in the 7th gives the Tribe (68-39) and negates 2nd-inning homers by Eddie Robinson and Al Rosen. It’s the Tribes 9th straight win to stay deadlocked with the Yankees for first place. Loser Joe Dobson‚ who has beaten Wynn twice this year‚ gives up just 6 hits.

Eddie Joost homers in the 9th for the A’s‚ who tie the Yanks 4-4‚ but the Yanks win in 11‚ 7-4. Sloppy fielding and a two-run single by Berra account for the scoring. The win goes to reliever Bob Kuzava‚ late of the Senators‚ while Alex Kellner takes the loss.
August 12The Giants (59-51) start the day 13 games behind first place Brooklyn (70-36). On Wes Westrum Day at the Polo Grounds‚ Sal Maglie wins the first game against the Phillies 3-2‚ and rookie Al Corwin takes the 2nd game 2-1. Eddie Stanky returns to the lineup after a week’s absence and has 5 walks in the 2 games while leading off. The sweep launches a 16-game win streak and a spurt of 39 wins in 47 games.

Campanella breaks up a pitching duel between Newcombe and Boston’s Johnny Sain with a 3-run homer‚ his 2nd of the game‚ and the 3rd time in 9 games he’s collected a pair of homers. Campy’s 5 ribbies give the Dodgers a 7-2 win. Don Newcombe wins his 16th‚ while Sain goes 4-13.

The Yankees‚ tied for first place with Cleveland‚ lose a pair to the A’s. The A’s use 17 hits to win the opener‚ 9-5. then use Pennsylvania’s Sunday Blue Law at 6:59 (AL Rule is 7:00 with no inning starting after 6:44) to win the nitecap‚ 7-4. The Yanks start an 8th inning 5-run rally at 6:37 and take a 9-7 lead‚ but the curfew wipes it out before Pete Suder can hit. Beginning next year‚ the AL will adopt the 40-year-old suspended game policy of the NL.
August 13Where’s Steve Sax when you need him? At Ebbets Field‚ the Dodgers offer up one of the odder promotions in “Music Depreciation Night‚” and every fan with a musical instrument is admitted free. 2‚426 fans take advantage of the offer‚ including one with a piano. The Dodgers have a motive in countering the local musicians’ union‚ which wants to silence the non-union Sym-Phoney. The Dodgers outplay the Braves‚ 7-6‚ as Gil Hodges belts a 3-run homer in the 8th‚ following an intentional walk to Campanella‚ who had earlier homered.

The Giants keep pace with a 5-2 win over the Phils. Larry Jansen‚ pitching for the first time in 8 days‚ wins his 15th. Whitey Lockman hits a 3-run homer.
August 14In a night game at the Polo Grounds-the last of 14 night games this year-the Giants righty George Spencer beats the Dodgers‚ 4-2. Erv Palica takes the loss‚ as the Giants jump on him early. Al Dark doubles and comes home on Don Mueller‘s homer. An out later‚ Whitey Lockman homers and Palica doesn’t make the 2nd inning. The Dodgers score in the 8th on successive homers by Cox and Snider.

Ted Williams hits 2 HRs to take the AL lead‚ and the Red Sox pull off a triple play to beat the A’s‚ 7-4. With his 25th HR‚ Ted reaches 100 RBIs.
August 15Giants P Jim Hearn defeats the Dodgers 3-1 as Willie Mays makes a miraculous play in the 8th. With the score 1-1 and Billy Cox on 3rd‚ Mays makes a running catch of a Carl Furillo drive in deep right CF and whirls counterclockwise to throw out the astonished Cox at home. Wes Westrum‘s 2-run homer off Ralph Branca in the 8th provides the two-run margin. Hearn allows just six hits‚ all singles‚ as the Giants move to 10 1/2 behind Brooklyn.

Al Rosen belts a first inning grand slam to jump start the Indians to a 9-4 win over the Browns‚ their 13th in a row. For Rosen‚ it is his 4th slam of the year‚ just the 9th player to accomplish the feat. Ned Garver gives up 7 runs in the first inning in losing to Early Wynn.

At Crosley‚ the Reds Ken Raffensberger tops the Cubs‚ 1-0‚ on Ted Kluszewski‘s home run in the 4th off Cal McLish.
August 16Sal Maglie outpitches Don Newcombe‚ 2-1‚ to cut the Dodger lead over the Giants to 9 1/2 games. Maglie allows 4 hits‚ including Billy Cox‘s 300-foot homer‚ in winning his 17th. The Giants score the winner in the 7th when Bobby Thomson scores on a wild pitch. Reese goes hitless‚ ending his 22-game streak.

The Browns end the Indians win streak at 13 when Tommy Byrne pitches and bats St. Louis to a 4-0 win. Byrne allows two hits in 7 innings and drives in all the runs before retiring with back spasms. Mike Garcia loses to drop the Indians lead to 1 1/2 games over the Yankees.

The Cards score 6 runs in the 7th inning to defeat the Pirates‚ 9-6. Murry Dickson‚ trying for his 17th win‚ takes the loss. Stan Musial hits a 3-run homer in the 6th to start the scoring for St. Louis. His inside the park homer is his first hit in 13 at bats‚ and his 2nd inside-the-park homer in 4 days.

At Elmira‚ New York‚ minor-leaguer Don Zimmer marries Jean Carol Bauerle at home plate. Teammate Ed Roebuck is supposed to make it a double wedding‚ but opts for a church instead.
August 19In his most interesting promotional stunt‚ Bill Veeck signs a 3’7″ midget‚ Eddie Gaedel‚ who goes to bat wearing the number 1?8 in the first inning of the nightcap with the Tigers. Lefty Bob Cain laughingly walks him on 4 pitches. Jim Delsing then pinch runs‚ but the Tigers win‚ 6-2‚ after winning 5-2. Two days later the ML bars Eddie Gaedel from appearing in any more games.

In Boston‚ the Braves score 5 in the 6th and roll over the Dodgers‚ 13-4. Warren Spahn picks up his 15th win and his 21st complete game. A 2nd-inning homer by Willard Marshall‚ off Ralph Branca‚ starts the scoring.

In Philadelphia‚ the Giants overcome a 4-run deficit to win‚ 5-4‚ and cut Brooklyn’s lead to 8 games. Al Corwin wins in relief‚ after Bobby Thomson‘s 2-run homer gets the Giants on the board. The Giants have won 9 in a row‚ with tomorrow a day off.
August 21Baseball owners elect General “Rosey” O’Donnell as the new baseball commissioner‚ but President Truman overrules the decision. Truman says that O’Donnell is needed in his present job-not a talk show host‚ but Air Force commanding general of bombing in Korea.

The Giants manage just one runs in 7 innings off Reds knuckleballer Willard Ramsdell‚ but the wheels come off in “The Knuck” in the 8th: Eddie Stanky belts a leadoff homer‚ Lockman adds a 2-run shot‚ and Westrum finishes with a 3-run roundtripper off reliever Frank Smith. Spencer (9-4) wins in relief‚ 7-4. With their 10th straight win‚ the Giants move to 7 1/2 behind the rained-out Brooks.

Bob Feller wins his 20th‚ stopping the Senators‚ 4-0‚ and keeping the Indians a game ahead of the Yankees. Feller is the AL’s first 20-game winner.
August 22The Dodgers sweep a pair of 10-inning games from St. Louis‚ with Clyde King picking up both come-from-behind victories. King goes 3 innings in game 1 and one inning in game 2. Jackie Robinson is 5-for-6 in the nitecap including a 2-out single in the 10th off Al Brazle. Andy Pafko has a homer in the nitecap‚ while Stan Musial hits his 29th in game 1. Furillo has 3 hits on the afternoon and a pair of assists in game 1‚ bringing his season total to 21. The Dodgers have now won 14 straight from the Cards.

At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants win their 11th straight‚ again coming from behind to top the Reds‚ 4-3. Irvin homers in the 2nd off Ewell Blackwell‚ but it is Whitey Lockman‘s double in the 8th that wins it for reliever Sheldon Jones.

Tommy Byrne keeps walking them and the Red Sox keep stranding them as St. Louis and Boston battle for 13 innings before the Sox win‚ 3-1. Making 248 pitches‚ Brownie Byrne walks 16 Sox batters‚ tying the AL walk record set by Bruno Haas in 1915 (Haas walked 16 in a loss to the Yanks‚ his only ML decision) and setting the ML mark for an extra-inning game. Boston strands 22 runners: the AL record for stranded runners is 24‚ set by the Indians in 18 innings on July 10‚ 1932. Byrne breaks his personal record of 13 walks in a game he set in 1949. The Brownies don’t help him much‚ stranding 14.
August 23At Ebbets Field‚ the Cards finally beat the Dodgers‚ 4-2. Max Lanier allows 7 hits‚ including Campanella’s 27th homer‚ in beating Don Newcombe. Newk won’t lose again to the Birds till 1957‚ winning 12 straight.
August 24In another of Bill Veeck‘s legendary PR stunts‚ “Fans Managers’ Night‚” the Browns defeat the Athletics 5-3. The Browns coaches hold up placards for 1115 fans‚ who vote “yes” or “no” on the options given them. Manager Zack Taylor sits in a box behind the dugout with 2 fans who monitor the voting. Adding to the festivities is Max Patkin‚ the clown prince of baseball‚ who coaches at 1B for several innings. Sherm Lollar voted in behind the plate instead of Matt Batts‚ has three hits including a homer‚ and Hank Arft‚ also voted in‚ knocks home two. Gus Zernial’s 28th HR‚ off Garver‚ accounts for all the A’s runs. When the stunt was announced on August 15th‚ A’s GM Art Ehlers bitterly denounced it as “farcical.”

At Ebbets Field‚ the Dodgers Ralph Branca outduels Cubs pitcher Paul Minner to win 1-0. Branca strikes out 10 Cubs‚ walks none‚ and gives up 3 hits.

At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants tie the Cards in the 9th on 3 singles‚ and with the bases loaded‚ Bobby Thomson scores the winner on a fielder’s choice play at the plate. New York wins‚ 6-5‚ its 12th in a row and 4th in a row in coming from behind.

Against Cleveland’s Early Wynn‚ Gene Woodling cracks his 3rd homer off the Tribe ace this year‚ as the Yanks win‚ 2-0. Woodling went deep on Wynn on June 24th‚ July 24th and today. Mickey Mantle makes his first appearance since his recall from the minors.
August 25Before 66‚110 at Cleveland‚ Mantle belts an opposite field 2-run homer off Mike Garcia to help the Yankees win‚ 7-3. New York (77-46) moves to a game in back of the Tribe.

In a rain-shortened contest‚ the Dodgers come out on the short end of a 5-1 decision with the Cubs. Rookie Bob Kelly is the winner in 8 innings as Cavarretta drives in 4 runs. Chicago might have scored more except for Furillo’s 2 assists‚ bringing his total to 25. Brooklyn leads by 7.

Stan Musial homers to give the Cards a 3-1 lead over the Giants‚ but rain washes out the game after Thomson hits his 24th‚ in the 3rd.
August 26Rookie hurler Niles Jordan of the Phillies blanks the Reds 2-0 in his first ML start. Jordan gives up three hits‚ the same number allowed by loser Willard Ramsdell. The Reds win the opener‚ 4-2‚ as Ewell Blackwell bests Robin Roberts.

In the 2nd game against the Yanks‚ veteran infielder Bert Haas hits a pinch homer in the 6th for the White Sox‚ his last ML at bat. The Sox will release the 37-year old tomorrow. The Yanks win 8-6‚ to remain a game behind the Indians. The Sox take the opener‚ 3-2‚ behind Saul Rogovin.

At the Polo Grounds‚ Chuck “The Rifleman” Connors clubs his 2nd and last ML homer‚ a three-run shot off Sal Maglie in the 9th to give the visiting Cubs a temporary 4-4 tie. Wes Westrum then answers with his 2nd homer of the game‚ off reliever Walt Dubiel‚ and New York wins‚ 5-4. New York takes the nitecap‚ 5-1‚ to run their victory streak to 14 games. Jim Hearn tops Cal McLish. Mays electrifies the crowd in the 6th by singling‚ advancing on a balk and a short fly‚ and stealing home. The Giants trail by six games.

The Pirates club the Dodgers‚ 12-11 to win the opener of two with the league leaders. Brooklyn chases Howie Pollet and takes a 9-2 lead but the Bucs roar back with 8 runs in the 7th inning. Light-hitting Pete Castiglione does the early damage with a 2-run homer and solo shot before the 8-run 7th. Clyde King‚ unscored on in his last 8 games‚ is the loser. The Dodgers load the bases in the 9th‚ and Murry Dickson walks PH Cal Abrams to force in a run and make the score 12-11. But Furillo and Reese fail to deliver. Brooklyn wins the second game‚ 4-3‚ when Jackie Robinson homers in the 10th‚ off Ted Wilks. Andy Pafko homers in the 8th‚ off Bob Friend‚ and Preacher Roe (17-2) goes all the way.
August 27At Shibe Park‚ light-hitting reserve C Del Wilber of the Phillies hits 3 HRs in 3 at bats to provide Ken Johnson with all his support. He is the only player to have done this. Johnson beats the Reds Ken Raffensberger 3-0 in the nightcap after Jocko Thompson shuts out Cincinnati 2-0 in the first game. Wilber went back to the minors in 1949 to manage in the Texas League.

The two fine Italian arms of Branca and Furillo had a no-hitter running for eight innings writes columnist Dick Young; in the 3rd inning Ralph Branca‘s no-hitter seems broken by a one-hop shot to RF by pitcher Mel Queen‚ but Carl Furillo guns him out at first. Branca‚ pitching on 2 days rest‚ finally gives up 2 Pirate hits in the 9th before winning‚ 5-0. In the nitecap the Pirates jump on Erv Palica for 3 runs in the first inning and hold on for a 5-3 win behind Bill Werle and Vern Law. Clyde McCullough is the “Big Un” with a two-run double and a two-run homer. The Pirates continue to be the only team with a season edge on the Dodgers.

The Giants win two more from the Cubs‚ including a 5-4‚ twelve-inning complete game victory for Larry Jansen. It is his 17th win. The Cubs score in the top of the 12th‚ but the Giants score two off Dutch Leonard to win. Behind Al Corwin‘s pitching and homers by Stanky and Irwin‚ the Giants take the nitecap‚ 6-3.
August 28At the Polo Grounds‚ the Pirates Howie Pollet (5-14) shuts out the Giants 2-0 on 6 hits-3 by Thomson-to end New York’s 16-game winning streak‚ best in the NL since 1935. Errors in the 8th by Stanky and Mueller do in Sheldon Jones.

The Dodgers edge the visiting Reds‚ 3-1‚ behind rookie Clem Labine. Duke Snider provides the offense off Howie Fox with a single and two-run homer‚ the latter breaking a tie in the 8th.

The Indians triumph over the A’s‚ 1-0‚ on Bob Kennedy‘s homer off Sam Zoldak. It is Sam’s 2nd 1-0 loss to the Tribe. Early Wynn wins his 15th to keep the Indians a game ahead of New York‚ 7-5 winners in 10 innings at St. Louis.

The Braves sell P Johnny Sain to the Yankees for $50‚000 and a young pitcher named Lew Burdette. It is another late-season insurance measure for the New Yorkers.
August 29The Yankees pick on the lowly Browns for a 15-2 win at Sportsman’s Park. Mantle has four RBIs including a three run homer in the 9th off Satchel Paige. Ned Garver (15-9) is the loser.

Pitching on 2-days rest‚ the Giants Jim Hearn tops 17-game winner Murry Dickson‚ 3-1. It is Hearn’s 8th straight over Pittsburgh stretching back to 1949. The Giants gear up by recalling Hank Thompson from Minneapolis.

At Ebbets Field‚ the Dodgers roll to a 13-1 win over the Reds behind Don Newcombe. Gil Hodges drives in 7 runs and hits his 35th and 36th homers to tie Ralph Kiner for the homer lead. He also sets a Dodger club record. Reese has 3 RBIs to run his total to 77.
August 30The Giants move to an 8-1 lead after 5 inning over the Pirates behind two homers by Willie Mays. But George Spencer wilts in the heat and gives up homers to Frank Thomas-his first in the majors-and pinch hitter Gus Bell. After Pete Castiglione and Bill Rigney match homers‚ Ralph Kiner powers one in the 9th inning to give Pittsburgh a 10-9 victory. For Kiner‚ it is his 37th.

Brooklyn’s Preacher Roe‚ with relief help from Clyde King‚ stops the Reds‚ 3-1‚ for his 18th win.

The A’s topple the Indians‚ 6-2‚ beating Bob Feller and knocking the Tribe into 2nd place‚ a half game behind the idle Yankees. Morrie Martin and Carl Scheib combine for the win.

September

September 1OF Don Mueller hits 3 HRs in an 8-1 Giants’ win over the Dodgers. His first homer comes against Ralph Branca‚ coming off two consecutive shutouts‚ and Mueller hits his 3rd HR‚ a two-run shot off Phil Haugstad. Sal Maglie is the winner‚ giving up 7 singles and hits Robinson on the wrist in the 3rd to force home the only Dodger run. Whitey Lockman gets plunked twice for New York. Al Dark and Eddie Stanky combine in the 5th on a triple play off a liner by Reese. The Dodgers’ lead over the Giants is now down to 6 games.
September 2Don Mueller hits 2 more HRs‚ giving him 5 in 2 days‚ to tie an ML mark. His 2nd homer‚ again off Phil Haugstad‚ comes a minute after he learns he is a new father. Bobby Thomson adds his 25th homer and Jim Hearn beats the Dodgers 11-2. After Mueller’s 2nd homer‚ Haugstad decks Thomson and hits Mays with a pitch‚ evoking a warning from Al Barlick. Barlick had earlier thumbed Branca and Dick Williams in the 5th inning‚ Newcombe in the 6th when he objected to a call‚ and Jackie Robinson and rookie Clem Labine. Dressen then clears his bench to avoid any more thumbings. The Giants move to 5 games behind Brooklyn. The Dodgers are suspicious of the losses at the Polo Grounds‚ and later there are revelations about signs being flashed to Giant batters from the CF scoreboard. Did it happen? Sal Yvars later said‚ “yes‚” while Mueller remarked‚ “as for my home runs and the sign stealing‚ this has been much talked about and I would prefer not to comment.” On the Dodgers side‚ Buzzie Bavasi denied it occurred‚ but Clyde Walker concluded‚ “it did happen.”

The Cleveland Indians Harry Simpson‚ Al Rosen and Luke Easter hit consecutive HRs in the first inning‚ as Cleveland beats the Browns 5-1.

Ken Raffensberger fires a one-hitter at the Cubs to win 7-0 and gain a split for the Reds. The only hit is a 3rd-inning scratch single by Eddie Miksis that arguably would have rolled foul. Bob Rush shuts out the Reds in the nitecap to top Howie Fox‚ 3-0.

Tony Ponce of the Phoenix Senators (Southwest International League) hurls his 38th consecutive complete game in beating Yuma 4-2 for his 25th win of the season.
September 3In a Labor Day doubleheader at the Polo Grounds‚ the Phils Robin Roberts stops New York‚ 6-3‚ in the opener. The Giants blow a 3-0 1st inning lead when homers by Ashburn and Swish Nicholson bring the Phils back. Dave Koslo salvages a 2nd game‚ winning 3-1 over Niles Jordan. Willie Mays makes another rookie error in the 2nd. After an apparent inside-the-park HR‚ Phils 3B Tommy Brown appeals‚ and Mays is called out for failing to touch 3B. He is credited with a double.

At Ebbets Field‚ the Dodgers sweep the Braves‚ winning both games 7-2‚ behind Carl Erskine and Clem Labine. Roy Campanella collects 6 straight hits‚ including his 30th and 31st homers‚ before being stopped. The Dodgers (84-47) lead is six games over the Giants (79-54).

Newly acquired pitcher Johnny Sain tosses a 5-hitter to beat the A’s‚ 3-1. The A’s top the Yankees in the nitecap‚ 3-2.
September 5After a day off‚ the Giants sweep two games in Boston‚ winning 3-2 and 9-1. In the opener‚ Sheldon Jones scatters six hits to beat Warren Spahn. Spahn allows just 5 hits in his attempt to become the NL’s first 19-game winner. The Giants tally 13 hits in the second game to help Sal Maglie win his first-ever victory against Boston.

Ralph Branca‚ despite twinges in his arm‚ pitches the Dodgers to a 5-2 win over the Phillies. Gil Hodges drives home 4 runs on a grand slam off Ken Johnson. It is Gil’s 37th homer of year‚ setting a new Dodger record.

The A’s Ferris Fain goes 5-for-5 in the 2nd game of a doubleheader with Washington‚ as the A’s sweep a pair‚ 4-1 and 9-7. Fain is 6-for-9 and is hitting .341.
September 7In an 18-inning game with the Cubs‚ the Reds Lloyd Merriman records 12 putouts in CF‚ tying the NL mark. The Reds prevail‚ 7-6. The game is tied at 3-3 after regulation‚ but both teams score 3 runs in the 15th inning. Dixie Howell’s sac fly with the sacks full drives in the winner.

Bobby Thomson goes 5-for-5 against the host Braves‚ as the Giants win 7-3. Larry Jansen is the winner‚ scattering 10 hits‚ over Max Surkont. Monte Irvin drives in the first three runs‚ hitting a homer estimated at 500 feet. He now has 101 RBIs.

Preacher Roe walks six Phils‚ but pushes his record to 19-2‚ as the Dodgers win 11-6 over Robin Roberts. Carl Furillo hits two homers‚ Andy Pafko adds #22‚ and Billy Cox drives in 4 runs with a bases loaded triple and two doubles.

The A’s split a pair with the Red Sox‚ losing 8-5 to Bill Wight‚ before winning‚ 11-4. Billy Hitchcock has 2 triples and double in game 2 good for 5 RBIs. Bosox reliever Ellis Kinder makes his 54th appearance in the opener‚ breaking Wilcy Moore‘s club record set in 1931. Boston slips in the AL race to 4 games back.

Warren Hacker‚ pitching for LA (PCL)‚ pitches a no-hitter against Seattle‚ winning‚ 4-0.
September 8The pennant race heats up‚ as Dodger ace Don Newcombe 2-hits the Giants‚ 9-0‚ beating Jim Hearn. Jackie Robinson has 3 hits and 3 runs‚ scoring one run from 3B when he provokes Jim Hearn into wild pitching. Giants pitchers contribute 10 walks.

At an Old-timer’s Day at Yankee Stadium‚ former manager Joe McCarthy is honored. With the game scoreless in the 7th inning‚ Mantle belts a Bob Porterfield pitch into the last row of the RF bleachers‚ some 460 feet away to break the scoreless tie. Ed Lopat shuts out the Senators for 4-0 Yankee win.
September 9Sal Maglie wins his 20th game to give the Giants a 2-1 win over the Dodgers’ Ralph Branca. Monte Irvin‘s two-run homer in the 4th gives New York all its scoring‚ The Dodgers score in the 8th on a double by Snider and a triple by Jackie Robinson. But 3B Bobby Thomson snags a ground‚ tags Robby‚ and throws to first for a DP. The Dodgers still lead the Giants by 5 1/2 games.

The Yanks hit 5 homers-4 off the Nats’ Dick Starr-to win‚ 7-5. Mantle’s leadoff homer on the first pitch‚ which starts the scoring‚ slams against the bottom of the flag holder on the top of the right field stands. Vic Raschi then wins the nitecap‚ 2-0‚ in a game called after the 6th inning because of “darkness.” Though Yankee Stadium has lights‚ unlike the NL‚ these cannot be used on Sunday. The Yankees (88-49) remain virtually tied with the Indians (88-51).

The Indians use three 9th-inning bunts to edge the Browns‚ 4-3. Hegan leads off with a bunt that rolls foul‚ but then drives a single past the pulled-in 3B Jack Maguire. Two more bunts and a sac fly give Mike Garcia his 19th win. Reliever Satchel Paige takes the loss.
September 11Clem Labine blanks the Reds on 2 hits as the visiting Dodgers win‚ 7-0. Pafko drives in three runs on three singles.

In St. Louis‚ New York’s Dave Koslo wins the opener of a twinbill‚ 10-5‚ ending the Cards’ 7-game win streak. Bobby Thomson has three hits and Monte Irvin has a double and his 5th steal of home this year. He has 13 steals overall. Leading 6-4 in the 9th‚ Wes Westrum breaks an 0-for-20 skein and delivers a grand slam. The Cards win the nitecap‚ 4-3‚ behind Cliff Chambers to leave the Giants 6 games in back of the Dodgers.
September 12The last Giant game of the season in St. Louis is rained out‚ and the NL reschedules it for tomorrow afternoon as part of a doubleheader with two teams.

In Cincinnati‚ Lloyd Merriman hits a bases loaded triple in the 7th‚ off Carl Erskine‚ to give the Reds a 6-3 win. Dodger starter Don Newcombe leaves in the 1st inning with a pulled muscle in his pitching arm and Erskine takes the loss. The Dodgers are now 5 1/2 ahead of the idle Giants.
September 13The Cards play a rare doubleheader-the first in the 20th century-with 2 different teams‚ defeating the Giants 6-4 in the first game in the afternoon when they score six runs against Sal Maglie in the 2nd inning. The Giants contest is a makeup game. In the nitecap‚ against the Braves‚ the Cards manage just one hit-by pitcher Al Brazle-in losing to Warren Spahn‚ 2-0. The Cards total attendance is 8‚865-4‚160 for the Giants and 4‚705 for the Braves.

Yankees leadoff hitter Mickey Mantle drives a Virgil Truck’s pitch deep into the RF upper deck to start the Yankee scoring. Witnesses say that if Mantle had hit it more to CF‚ the ball would’ve traveled 600 feet. Mantle then K’s 3 times‚ as Trucks drives over New York for a 9-2 Detroit win. Trucks adds a pair of RBIs.
September 14Browns rookie Bob Nieman hits 2 HRs in his first 2 ML at bats‚ a record unequaled. They come against Mickey McDermott of the Red Sox‚ but Boston still wins 9-6. Boston has homers by Dom DiMaggio‚ Ted Williams‚ and Walt Dropo.

Aided by 5 Cubs errors‚ Giant P Jim Hearn picks up his 15th win‚ 7-2. Bob Rush is the loser. Al Barlick tosses Wes Westrum for arguing a safe call at the plate. He’ll get a fine and 3-day suspension.

Preacher Roe wins his 20th game against just 2 losses‚ as the Dodgers edge the Pirates‚ 3-1. Andy Pafko hits his 14th homer for Brooklyn‚ still 6 games ahead of the Giants.

At the Stadium‚ the Yanks move into first place with a 5-1 win over the Indians. Joe DiMaggio triples in the 5th with two on to send the Yanks on their way.
September 15The 7th-place Pirates rise up and collect 15 hits to whip the first-place Dodgers‚ 11-2. Rookie Jack Merson drives home 6 runs on a triple‚ double‚ and 2 singles.

The Giants trim the Dodger lead to 5 games when they cash in homers by Thomson‚ Mays‚ and Mueller for a 5-2 win over Chicago. Sheldon Jones tops Paul Minner.

The Cardinals take 11 walks‚ a record-tying 5 by Solly Hemus‚ and beat the Braves 10-1. Boston’s starter Dave Cole walks the first 3 batters he faces‚ then hits Enos Slaughter to force in Hemus.

The first game of the first Dominican WS (Los Grandes Finales) is played between Licey and Escogido in Santiago. Behind the hitting of Alonzo Perry (.400 series average) and the pitching of Marion “Sugar” Caine‚ Licey wins the opener 8-0 and goes on to take the series 4-1 to become the first champion of Dominican Professional Baseball.
September 16In Chicago‚ the Dodgers beat up on the Cubs‚ winning‚ 6-1‚ behind rookie Clem Labine. Rookie Bob Kelly takes the loss‚ allowing 6 hits‚ including Gil Hodges #38.

The visiting-and rampaging-Giants sweep the Pirates‚ 7-1 and 6-4. Larry Jansen wins his 19th and Sal Maglie collects his 23rd. It is Maglie’s 11th straight win over the Bucs. The Giants collect 29 hits in the two games‚ including 6 by Al Dark‚ in handing losses to Howie Pollet and reliever Murry Dickson. The Dodger lead of 4 1/2 is their slimmest since July 4th.

At the Stadium‚ Joe DiMaggio‘s long triple off Bob Feller scores two runs in the 5th and Allie Reynolds holds on for a 5-1 New York win. The Yanks take over first place for good by a margin of .003 points over Cleveland.
September 17In Chicago‚ ex-Dodger Gene Hermanski clouts a pinch homer off Clyde King as the Cubs rally for a 5-3 win over Brooklyn. The Dodgers also lose Campanella‚ who leaves the field on a stretcher after being struck in the head by a pitch from Turk Lown. Campy will remain in a Chicago hospital when the Dodgers leave for St. Louis. He will rejoin the team in Brooklyn Friday night.

At St. Louis‚ Brown cracks a homer in the 10th‚ off starter Al Brazle‚ as the Phils win‚ 2-1. Robin Roberts goes all the way for his 20th win.

The Yanks break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the 9th when‚ with the bases loaded‚ Rizzuto squeezes home DiMaggio with the winning run. The score‚ off Cleveland’s Bob Lemon‚ gives Eddie Lopat his 20th win of the year. The Yanks now lead Cleveland by a game and Boston by 2 1/2 games.
September 18In St. Louis‚ the Cardinals cuff Ralph Branca for a 7-1 win over the Dodgers. It is Brooklyn’s 4th loss in 7 road games. Adding insult to injury‚ Musial and Slaughter pull off a double steal with Stan scoring.

After a day off‚ the Giants edge the Reds‚ 6-5‚ in Cincy‚ though Dave Koslo is touched for 13 hits. Mays has 2 of the 3 Giants errors‚ but George Spencer saves the game in his 55th appearance.

In the first of two games today‚ Browns pitcher Tommy Byrne hits a grand slam off the Senators Sid Hudson in the 9th inning to ice the game‚ 8-0. It’s the first grand slam for the Browns this year. In the nitecap‚ Byrne cracks a 10th-inning pinch single to give the Browns a 3-2 victory‚

Cleveland beats Boston‚ 6-4‚ as Mike Garcia wins his 20th. With the Yanks losing to Billy Pierce and Chicago‚ 7-1‚ the Indians and Yankees are tied for first place. This is the 10th time the 2 teams have been in a tie for first place‚ surpassing the ML record of 9 set in the NL race of 1889 and the Fed League race of 1914.
September 19Larry Doby of the Indians walks 5 times in a 15-2 cakewalk over the Red Sox in Boston. Early Wynn picks up his 20th win. Cleveland now returns home for with 5 of 6 games against Detroit; their record is 16-1 against the Tigers.

The Yankees are victorious when Mickey Mantle hits a 3-run homer off Chicago’s Lou Kretlow to win‚ 5-3. A small crowd of 12‚127 watch the game at the Stadium. The 2 teams have been tied now for 11 days. The Yanks now have 9 games left‚ 8 against Boston.

In St. Louis‚ Preacher Roe is given a Cadillac by his neighbors from the Ozarks‚ then pitches a 3-0 five hitter over the Cards. Roe is now 21-2. Filling in for the ailing Campanella‚ backup catcher Mickey Livingston has 2 RBI.

At Wrigley Field‚ the Phils Bubba Church (15-10) defeats the Cubs‚ 5-1‚ for his 9th win over the Cubs in his 2 years with Philadelphia. Bob Rush takes the loss.
September 20Following a day off in Cincinnati‚ Ken Raffensberger beats the Giants‚ 3-1‚ with reliever Blackwell striking out Westrum and Hank Thompson in the 9th with 2 runners on base. Jim Hearn is the loser.

Carl Erskine pitches the Dodgers to a 4-3 win over the Cardinals. Brooklyn’s magic number is reduced to 5.

The owners elect NL President Ford Frick as the 3rd commissioner of baseball for a 7-year term at $65‚000 per annum. Warren Giles withdraws on a vote deadlock to open the way for Frick‚ who has been NL prexy since 1934.
September 21Rookie P Jackie Collum of the Cardinals hurls a 6-0 two-hitter against the Cubs in his first start.

In Brooklyn‚ the Dodgers keep a woozy Campanella on the bench‚ preferring to rest him for the WS. Rookie Clem Labine ignores Dressen’s orders to take a full windup‚ preferring to pitch out of the stretch with the bases jammed in the 1st. Phils 3B Willie Jones then hits a grand slam and Labine ends up in Dressen’s doghouse. The Phils win‚ 9-6‚ behind Robin Roberts.
September 22Larry Jansen stops the Braves on 4 hits‚ and wins his 20th game‚ 4-1. The Giants score 3 in the 8th off Warren Spahn to win it.

It is “Charlie Dressen Night” in Brooklyn and the manager is given an oil portrait identifying him as the manager of the “National League Champions 1951.” The Phils have other ideas as they pound Don Newcombe for 10 hits in 6 innings to beat the Dodgers‚ 7-3‚ who now lead the Giants by just 3 games. Karl Drews his only victory of the year and also singles‚ breaking a string of 77 hitless at bats stretching back to May‚ 1947 (as noted by writer Kerry Keene).

OF Irv Noren of the Senators records 11 putouts in CF in a 9-inning‚ 9-1 win over the A’s‚ tying the AL record.
September 23In New York‚ it is Sal Maglie Day and Maglie responds by winning his 22nd game in beating the Braves 4-1‚ despite allowing 13 hits. It is the most victories by a Giant since Hubbell in 1937.

Roy Campanella has 4 hits‚ including a homer off 15-game winner Bubba Church‚ and the Dodgers top the Phillies 6-3. Preacher Roe is the winner‚ his record going to an amazing 22-2.

Pittsburgh’s Murry Dickson wins his 20th game‚ a 3-0 whitewash of the Reds. Dickson’s 20 wins will account for nearly a third of the Pirates’ 64 victories‚ and helps the Bucs finish a game ahead of the last place Cubs.
September 24The Giants score with 2 outs in the 9th inning to edge the Braves Chet Nichols‚ 4-3. Eddy Stanky drives home the winner with a single off 3B Sibby Sisti‘s glove Dave Koslo wins in relief.
September 25The Dodgers continue to slide. After the Dodgers lose 2 out of 3 in Philadelphia‚ Boston sweeps 2 from Brooklyn. Warren Spahn wins the opener 6-3 over Branca‚ his 4th straight loss‚ and Jim Wilson coasts to a 14-2 three-hit win in the 2nd game. Earl Torgeson drives in 6 runs in the nitecap. Meanwhile‚ the Giants win 5-1 over Robin Roberts and the Phils to move a single game in back of the Dodgers.

At Crosley Field‚ Reds catcher Johnny Pramesa clouts a grand slam in the 14th inning to defeat the Cardinals‚ 7-3.
September 26The Giants stay one game behind the Dodgers as Jim Hearn tops the Phillies 10-1 and the Dodgers crush the Braves 15-5. Campanella drives home 3 runs in the first inning and Newcombe coasts to his 19th win. With a 13-3 lead in the 8th inning‚ Robinson steals home against rookie P Lew Burdette‚ infuriating the Braves.
September 27Monte Irvin clouts a 3-run homer in the 1st inning off Phils righty Andy Hansen and Larry Jansen picks up his 21st win‚ 10-1.

Trying for his 23rd win‚ Preacher Roe loses just his 3rd game‚ 4-3‚ to Chet Nichols and the Braves. The Dodgers now lead New York by 1/2 game. Future Hall of Fame NBA basketball player Bill Sharman becomes the only man in history to be thrown out of a ML baseball game without ever having played in one. With the score tied at 3-3 in the 8th inning‚ umpire Frank Dascoli clears the entire Brooklyn bench after a home plate call by him results in a violent protest. Sharman‚ up from St. Paul (AA) at the end of the season‚ is one of the players thrown out. Dascoli’s safe call at home on Bob Addie‘s score results in the winning run.

Gabe Paul replaces the newly elected NL President Warren Giles as GM of the Cincinnati Reds.
September 28Allie Reynolds pitches his 2nd no-hitter of the season‚ defeating the Red Sox in Yankee Stadium 8-0. It is his 7th shutout of the year. With 2 outs in the 9th‚ Ted Williams hits a foul pop that catcher Yogi Berra drops. Williams then hits another foul ?y that Berra grabs for the last out. The Chief is the first AL hurler with two no-hitters in a season; Vander Meer’s pair in 1938 is the only other time a pitcher has thrown two in a season. In the 2nd game‚ the Yankees clinch their 3rd straight pennant under Casey Stengel as Vic Raschi wins 11-3 for his 21st victory. Mantle drives home three runs with a pair of doubles and Joe DiMaggio belts the final homer of his career-a three run shot. The Yankees are 3 1?2 games ahead of slumping Cleveland with 2 to play.

In Philadelphia‚ Campanella belts his 33rd homer but Brooklyn blows a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3 as the Phils score the winner in the 9th inning. The Phils tie the game in the 8th on Andy Seminick‘s 2-run homer‚ his 1st in 7 weeks. The race is now tied (94-58) between the Giants and the Dodgers.
September 29The Giants and Dodgers both win on shutouts to stay tied. New York tops the Warren Spahn and the Braves 3-0 on Maglie’s 23rd win and Don Newcombe shuts out the Phillies‚ 5-0‚ for his 20th victory. Campy and Pafko homer as Robin Roberts takes the Phils loss.
September 30Larry Jansen of the Giants holds on to defeat the Braves 3-2 in Boston as Bobby Thomson hits his 30th HR of the year‚ and Don Mueller and Monte Irvin each drive home a run.

Jackie Robinson hits an upper deck HR in the 14th inning off Robin Roberts‚ who came on in the 8th‚ to give the Dodgers a critical 9-8 win over the Phils. Robbie saves the game in the 13th by making a great catch of an Eddie Waitkus line drive and throwing to 2B for a DP. In the process‚ he injures his elbow. Reliever Bud Podbielan is the winner‚ the victory keeping Brooklyn in a first place tie with the Giants. Catcher Andy Seminick of the Phils walks 5 times‚ the first Phillie to do so in a game. The Dodgers overcome a 6-1 deficit to win and set the stage for a playoff with the Giants.

Preceding the Browns’ season closer‚ the Harlem Globetrotters defeat a team led by baseball clown Max Patkin. The basketball game is played on a wooden court set up behind 3B. Then St. Louis ace Ned Garver cops his 20th game of the season‚ defeating the White Sox‚ 9-5. He breaks a 4-4 tie with a home run. Garver becomes the only player to win 20 for a last-place team that loses 100 games‚ as the Browns win just 32 other times. The last 20-game winner for a last place team was Hollis Thurston in 1924‚ with the White Sox (66-87).

The Tigers drive over the slumping Tribe‚ 2-1‚ behind Virgil Trucks 13th win of the year.

At Pittsburgh‚ Ralph Kiner hits a 425-foot grand slam in the 11th inning to give the Pirates an 8-4 win over the Reds.

The triumphant Yankees beat the Red Sox‚ 3-0‚ behind Frank Shea’s 9-hitter. It is the 3rd shutout in a row for the Yankees staff as they sweep the visiting Red Sox in 5 games‚ outscoring them 29-4.

In Chicago‚ the Cubs and Cardinals split a pair. In the opener‚ the Cubs come back from a 6-1 deficit and score 5 runs in the 8th to win‚ 7-6. Hank Sauer‘s 30th home run with 2 on is the big blow in the 8th. Gerry Staley tosses a 4-hitter in game 2 to beat the Cubs‚ 3-0. Musial sits out last game at the suggestion of Marty Marion ending a streak of 121 straight games played. Starting next season he’ll play 744 in a row. Had he played game 2 he would notch a streak of 865‚ better than Gus Suhr‘s NL 822 consecutive games played.

October

October 1In the NL’s first best-of-three play-off since 1946‚ Ralph Branca of the Dodgers loses to Jim Hearn and the Giants 3-1. Branca serves up HRs to Bobby Thomson and Monte Irvin. It is the first game ever to be broadcast live coast-to-coast. With both the Dodgers and Giants tied 96-58 at the end of regulation‚ Brooklyn wins the coin toss and elects to play the first game of the playoffs at home. The next 2 games will be played at the Polo Grounds.
October 2The Dodgers bounce back as rookie Clem Labine evens the playoff with a 10-0 win‚ besting the Giants’ Sheldon Jones. Home runs are smashed by Jackie Robinson‚ Gil Hodges‚ Andy Pafko‚ and Rube Walker. Willie Mays grounds into 3 DP.
October 3The Giants’ Bobby Thomson hits the most famous home run in history‚ off Ralph Branca. His “shot heard round the world” with 2 runners on and trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the 9th defeats Brooklyn 5-4 and sends the jubilant Giants into the WS. For Branca‚ it is his 6th loss of the season against the Giants‚ who have now hit 11 HRs off him this year. Whitey Lockman sets up Thomson’s blast by hitting a double off Newcombe with Al Dark on 3B and Don Mueller on 1B. Mueller breaks his ankle sliding into 3B and is carried off the field.
October 4In the opening game of the World Series‚ Monte Irvin steals home in the first inning and collects 4 hits. The Giants defeat Allie Reynolds and the Yankees 5-1 with Dave Koslo going all the way at Yankee Stadium. With the injured Mueller missing the World Series‚ Bobby Thomson switches the 3B and the Giants field the first black outfield of Thompson‚ Irvin and Mays.
October 5The Yanks and Eddie Lopat even up the WS by winning 3-1 over Larry Jansen. Lopat scatters 5 hits‚ three by Monte Irvin. Irvin has now hit safely 7 straight times in two games. Mickey Mantle is injured in the 5th inning when he steps on an exposed water sprinkler while chasing a Willie Mays fly ball. Mantle is taken off the field on a stretcher and the injury to his knee will plague him throughout his career. He will undergo the first of 6 knee operations.

In a fine pickup‚ the Reds send OF Bobby Usher and C Johnny Pramesa to the Cubs for OF Bob Borkowski and C Smoky Burgess.

S. Iijima of the Daiei Stars (later the Lotte Orions) gets 11 RBI in a single game for a Japanese record. The U.S. ML record is 12‚ set by Jim Bottomley of St. Louis in 1924; Iijima ties Tony Lazzeri of the NY Yankees who knocked in 11 in 1936.
October 6Back at the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants win 6-2‚ as Whitey Lockman homers with 2 on in the 5th. The Giants score 5 in the inning after Eddie Stanky kicks the ball out of Phil Rizzuto‘s glove on a tag play at 2B.
October 8The Yankees even up the WS with a 6-2 win‚ with Allie Reynolds going the distance. Hitless in 11 at bats‚ DiMaggio collects a homer and single.
October 9Gil McDougald becomes the first rookie to hit a grand slam in the WS‚ as the Yankees win in a romp‚ 13-1. Ed Lopat wins his 2nd game.

In New York‚ Browns owner Bill Veeck‚ Jr. hires Rogers Hornsby to a three-year contract to manage the Browns. The Rajah‚ who last managed in the majors in 1937 as skipper of the Browns‚ was fired by Bill Veeck‚ Sr. in 1932 when Hornsby managed the Cubs. Hornsby chooses the Browns offer over a similar one by the Cardinals‚ who just let Marty Marion go as manager.
October 10Hank Bauer’s bases-loaded triple propels the Yankees to a 4-3 win and their 3rd straight championship. Just before the game‚ Leo Durocher turns over a letter he received to Ford Frick that offers the Giants manager a $15‚000 bribe “if the Giants manage to lose the next 3 games.”
October 15Minor league executive Leslie O’Connor testifies before the Celler committee that ML control over the farm system is harmful to players and the minor leagues. He adds that the majors-minors council plans a pact to speed a West Coast bid for higher status.
October 16In a letter written to ML officials‚ the St. Louis Browns P Ned Garver offers a pay plan that would ameliorate the ill effects of the reserve system he supports. He would have the salaries of players on consistent tail-enders be determined by a rating system by the owners. If the club does not match the “average” salary‚ then that player should be traded to some other club that can afford his services. Garver adds that he “doesn’t care where I play‚ as long as I get a ‘fair’ salary.”
October 17The Yomiuri Giants win the Japan Series over the Nankai Hawks. Incredibly‚ they will win the pennant 19 times in the next 23 years‚ including 9 in succession (1965-73).
October 20Joe DiMaggio accompanies Lefty O’Doul’s all-stars on a tour of Japan. They will win 13 of the 15 games.
October 23Branch Rickey contends that the farm system saved baseball during the Depression. He asks Congress for legislation that will protect it from monopoly suits.

The AP picks Giant manager Leo Durocher as Manager of the Year.
October 24UPI names Casey Stengel as Manager of the Year.

Larry MacPhail calls for 4 new major leagues‚ including a Pacific Coast League.

November

November 1The NL votes Brooklyn C Roy Campanella the league’s MVP for what will be the first of 3 such awards.
November 2The National Labor Relations Board files unfair labor practices charges against the Indians on a claim the club fired a ticket seller at the union’s request. This is the first case against baseball under the Taft-Hartley Act.
November 6Dodgers President Walter O’Malley denies the farm system constitutes a monopoly. He cites the Dodgers’ deficit in 1950.
November 7Representative Emanuel Celler’s committee issues financial data from 1945-49 that differs with Walter O’Malley’s numbers. According to Celler‚ the Dodgers made a profit of 2.364 million dollars from 1945-49; the Dodgers’ “loss” of $129‚318 in 1950 included a $167‚000 loss due to the promotion of the Brooklyn Dodgers professional football team. In his continuing investigation into antitrust violations‚ Celler says that evidence in his committee suggests altering the reserve clause in that it does limit players.
November 8Catcher Yogi Berra of the NY Yankees wins the first of his 3 MVP awards‚ edging out Browns pitcher Ned Garver. Initially‚ Garver was phoned and told that he had won the award‚ but a recount showed that Yogi was the winner.

The White Sox send P Randy Gumpert and OF Don Lenhardt to the Red Sox for P Chuck Stobbs and infielder Mel Hoderlein.
November 10in Tokyo‚ 50‚000 fans are on hand as an American all-star team battles a Central League all-star team. Joe DiMaggio hits a 400 ft. HR in the 8th inning to tie the game at 1-1‚ then his brother Dom laces an RBI-triple in the 9th and scores to give the Americans a 3-2 victory. The Americans have won 12 games and tied one.
November 13Lefty O’Doul’s all-stars‚ including Joe DiMaggio‚ Ferris Fain‚ and Billy Martin‚ lose 3-1 to a Pacific League all-star team-only the 2nd time since 1922 that an American professional team has lost to Japan‚ and the first time to professional players.
November 15The baseball writers name Gil McDougald as AL Rookie of the Year.

The White Sox object to Gil McDougald‘s accolade‚ offering the statistical accomplishments of their superlative rookie‚ Minnie Minoso.
November 18Former Cubs 1B and future TV star of The Rifleman Chuck Connors is the first player to oppose the ML draft. Currently the 1B of the Los Angeles Angels (PCL)‚ Connors wants to stay in California‚ instead of going to whatever team might draft him for the ML. The PCL views his refusal in a positive manner‚ allowing them to ask higher prices for players than what the ML usually offers.
November 23The Yankees send young C Clint Courtney to the Browns for P Jim McDonald. Courtney‚ the first major league catcher to wear glasses‚ appeared in one game for New York.
November 27The Browns send C Sherm Lollar‚ P Al Widmar‚ and INF Tommy Upton to the White Sox for C Gus Niarhos‚ P Dick Littlefield‚ 1B Gordon Goldsberry‚ Joe DeMaestri‚ and OF Jim Rivera. Rivera‚ a favorite of Browns manager Rogers Hornsby‚ will return to the Sox in 8 months.
November 28The Browns trade C Gus Niarhos‚ acquired yesterday‚ to Boston for catcher Les Moss and Tom Wright. The team also signs SS Marty Marion‚ former Cardinals manager.

December

December 8The AL alters its restrictions on night games‚ adopting the NL’s suspended game rule and lifting its ban on lights for Sunday games.
December 10The Cards trade lefty Max Lanier and OF Chuck Diering to the Giants for 2B Eddie Stanky‚ who becomes the team’s player-manager.

The Reds trade C Smoky Burgess‚ 2B Connie Ryan and P Howie Fox to the Phillies for C Andy Seminick‚ IF Eddie Pellagrini‚ OF Dick Sisler and P Niles Jordan. The Reds will regret letting the burly catcher go and will reacquire him‚ again exchanging Seminick‚ in 3 years.
December 11Joe DiMaggio officially retires as a member of the New York Yankees with 361 HRs and an average of .325 after 13 seasons. His 56-game‚ consecutive-game hitting streak in l941 will stand as one of the all-time best diamond achievements.