Baseball – 1952

Baseball in 1952

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January

January 1Former major leaguer Hi Bithorn dies in mysterious circumstances in northern Mexico when he is shot by a policeman. The police say he told a hotel clerk that he was trying to sell his car because he had no money, but Bithorn had $2000 on him at the time of death. A stadium in Puerto Rico will be named after Bithorn who last pitched in the majors in 1947.
January 4Ex-Reds pitcher Lee Grissom is acquitted of manslaughter charges stemming from a bar room fight on July 30‚ 1950 when he struck a 27-year-old truck driver. Grissom was 12-17 for the last-place Reds in 1937.
January 9As the Korean War drags on‚ the Marines give notice that they will recall Ted Williams to active duty. He’ll be recalled on May 1st.
January 16The U.S. Standardization Board clears the way for Stan Musial to get a salary increase to $85‚000. Prior to this relaxation of the rules‚ there was a wage freeze in effect due to the Korean War. Under the new rules‚ a team is free to raise individual salaries‚ as long as they do not exceed a complicated formula‚ based on total team salaries for any one year‚ from 1946-50‚ plus 10 percent.
January 17Detroit owner Walter O. “Spike” Briggs dies at the age of 74. His son will succeed him in the presidency.
January 18The Chicago White Sox accept Vice President Charlie A. Comiskey‚ Jr.’s resignation. Comiskey’s request for more money was refused.
January 26Because of poor attendance‚ the Canadian-American League suspends operations for its 1952 season. This is one of 7 minor leagues that will not operate this year‚ dropping the total from 50 to 43. The Korean War military obligation is the primary reason.
January 31Harry Heilmann with 203 votes and Paul Waner with 195 become the newest members of the Hall of Fame.

The Phils settle their damage suit with former P Art Lopatka out of court. He contends that the Phils made him pitch with a fractured index finger‚ resulting in damage to his arm. He further contends that when he was no longer of use‚ the Phillies released him as damaged “goods” in 1947.

A U.S. federal jury awards Mexican owner Jorge Pasquel $35‚000 for breach of contract by former Dodger star‚ Mickey Owen.

February

February 1The Dodgers report a $24‚000 shortfall in 1951 revenue‚ sparking a New York district attorney probe. There is a possible error in the WS and post-season play-off revenues.
February 7North American P Bill Samson achieves an undistinguished winter league record by walking 14 Vargas batters in 6 innings while pitching for Cerveceria Caracas of the Venezuelan League. This negative feat also matches the ML record set in 1906 by Henry Mathewson of the New York Giants‚ who needed 9 full innings for an equal display of pitching wildness.
February 14The Browns pick up 1B Dick Kryhoski and pitchers Gene Bearden and Bob Cain from Detroit. The Tigers receive C Matt Batts‚ OF Cliff Mapes‚ P Dick Littlefield‚ and 1B Ben Taylor.
February 16Hall of Famer Honus Wagner‚ 77‚ retires after 40 years as a ML player and coach. He receives a pension from the Pirates‚ with whom he spent most of those years.
February 21Tommy Fine‚ North American righthander who posted only 4 ML decisions with the Red Sox and Browns‚ pitches the only no-hit‚ no-run game in the history of the Caribbean Series. Fine‚ hurling for Club Havana (Cuba) against Cervecería Caracas (Venezuela)‚ wins 1-0 in the 4th Serie del Caribe at Panama City.
February 26The Army swears in Dodger P Don Newcombe.

March

March 5Norman Bel Geddes‚ after designing a 5‚000 seat complex for the Dodgers in Vero Beach‚ FL‚ states that Walter O’Malley has asked for a stadium design for Brooklyn. It is to have a retractable dome‚ garage‚ automatic hotdog vending machines‚ and artificial turf that can be painted in different colors.
March 8The Cubs play their first game in Mesa‚ AZ‚ beating the Indians‚ 5-4‚ before 4‚000 fans at Rendezvous Park. The Cubs spent the past 30 spring training seasons (1921-51) on Catalina Island before relocating. Mesa community leader Dwight “Pat” Patterson is the moving force in convincing the Cubs to sign a two-year contract to play in Mesa. In 1991‚ the field at HoHoKam Park will be named after him.
March 24Cardinal pitcher Bob Slaybaugh is hit in the left eye by a line drive‚ necessitating an operation to remove the eye. Slaybaugh will pitch briefly in the minors in 1954 and then retire.
March 26The Cardinals purchase infielder Gene Mauch from the Yankees.

April

April 1The PCL institutes a new rule that prohibits players from leaving their mitts on the field between innings. They are allowed to drop them in foul territory. The Majors will go to a similar rule in 1954.
April 2Giants slugger Monte Irvin breaks his ankle sliding into 3B in an exhibition game against the Indians in Denver. He will play just 46 games in 1952.
April 9The Braves send one-time MVP Bob Elliott to the Giants for P Sheldon Jones and $50‚000.
April 11In an pre-season game in Columbus‚ Ohio‚ the Tigers lose to the Tigers‚ 5-0‚ and lose CF Hoot Evers when a pitched ball breaks his right thumb.

A promotional stunt by radio station KVEN in San Francisco gets fowled up. Because of a Western Union strike‚ the station planned to use homing pigeons to send the inning by inning accounts to the station from Ontario‚ where Fresno and Ventura (PCL) were playing an exhibition game. The station would then recreate the game. Alas‚ only the second inning pigeon arrived and by the evening of the 12th‚ only two more pigeons completed their missions. Hopelessly lost and tired‚ the first inning pigeon shows up in Santa Monica on the 15th.
April 15In the last home opener in Braves Field in Boston‚ 4‚694 fans watch Warren Spahn lose 3-2 to Brooklyn’s Preacher Roe. Campanella’s bases-loaded single in the 5th gives the Dodgers the go-ahead run.

Led by Hank Sauer‘s grand slam‚ the Cubs beat the host Reds‚ 6-5 in 10 innings It is the only opening day slam in Cubs history.

At Shibe Park‚ Hank Bauer and Mickey Mantle lead a 14-hit attack against Alex Kellner and Carl Scheib as the Yankees beat the A’s‚ 8-1. Vic Raschi allows two hits in 8 innings and wins his 2nd opener in a row. Bauer had two hits and a homer‚ while Mantle has three hits‚ two RBIs‚ and a stolen base.
April 16The Dodgers Duke Snider goes 5-for-6 in a 14-8 win over the Boston Braves. Campy drives in 5 runs with a double and homer as the Dodgers amass 20 hits.

Rain postpones two openers today‚ but at Washington‚ Mel Parnell‚ batting 7th ahead of Lepcio and Niarhos‚ pitches a 3-0 win‚ allowing 3 hits.
April 17Umpire Bill Summers turns in 7 members of the White Sox and Indians for “fraternizing” before a game‚ won by the Indians 7-3. The AL fines the unnamed players $5 each for violating the 1951 rule.
April 18In their home Opener before 29‚874‚ Pittsburgh’s Bob Friend shuts out the Reds‚ 5-0‚ on 5 hits. It is the 2nd win in a row for the Pirates‚ and they won’t have a win streak longer than two games all season‚ a 20th century ML record low.
April 19Eddie Mathews of the Boston Braves hits his first ML HR‚ off Ken Heintzelman of the Phillies in Philadelphia. The Braves win 4-0.

Against the Pirates Mel Queen‚ the first two Reds batters-Grady Hatton and Bobby Adams-belt homers. It’s the 5th time in history it’s happened. The Reds go on to win‚ 9-3‚ behind Herm Wehmeier.

In a Patriot’s Day twinbill at Fenway‚ the Red Sox take 2 from the A’s‚ 11-2 and 6-1‚ to sweep the series. The A.M. game draws 8‚598 who see Don Lenhardt footsie his way around for an inside-the-park grand slam‚ after hitting a ball off the fence in left CF off Dick Fowler. It is the first IP grand slam at Fenway. Harry Taylor is the winner. Maury McDermott is the winner over Morrie Martin in the nitecap‚ which draws 23‚541. A’s 3B Hank Majeski ties the AL mark with 10 assists in game 2. Ferris Fain‚ the AL bat champ last season‚ is hitless so far‚ going 0-for-19.
April 20Ted Kluszewski leads the Reds as Cincy turns back the Pirates‚ 8-6 and 12-2. Klu has a two-run homer in the opener‚ off Murry Dickson‚ and then knocks in 7 runs in the nitecap with a grand slam and two triples. Joe Adcock belts a pair of homers to back Harry Perkowski‘s complete game. The Reds are now a game in back of Brooklyn.

Sal Maglie allows two hits and the Giants top the Dodgers‚ 6-0. The shutout is the first by a visiting pitcher at Ebbets since 1949. The Brooks last shutout anywhere was on June 26‚ 1951 when Maglie beat them at the Polo Grounds. Davey Williams and Hank Thompson belt homers for New York.
April 21In New York‚ Mantle’s first-inning homer off Bobby Shantz starts the Yankees to a 5-1 win over the A’s. The Yanks tie a ML mark when they pull off their 12th double play in 3 games; tomorrow they go to 14 in 4 games‚ tying a mark set by the White Sox last year.
April 22A federal grand jury cites Cardinal owner Fred Saigh with income tax evasion.
April 23Future Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm of the New York Giants wins his first ML game pitching 5 1/3 innings in relief in a 9-5 win. In his first at bat he cleans a pitch from the Braves’ Dick Hoover for a homer. It will be Wilhelm’s only ML HR in 1‚070 games. The loser is rookie Gene Conley.

Vinegar Bend Mizell‚ the Cards highly touted rookie‚ allows just 5 hits in his ML debut‚ but he is shaded by the Reds Ken Raffensberger‚ who wins‚ 2-1. The game was marred by ejections of Stanky‚ Hemus and Brazle. Stanky’s banishment‚ his first as a manager‚ follows a strike call by ump Scotty Robb. The NL will fine and reprimand Robb for pushing Stanky. Stanky and Hemus also receive fines.

Bob Cain of the Browns and Bob Feller of the Indians each pitch a one-hitter‚ with the Browns prevailing 1-0 and moving into first place. The game ties a ML record for the fewest hits by two teams and sets the AL record. The last double one-hitter was July 4‚ 1906. The Browns Bobby Young hits a triple in the first inning and scores the lone run on an Al Rosen error on Marty Marion‘s grounder. The Indians only hit is a single by Luke Easter. For Feller‚ it is the 4th time he’s tossed a one-hitter against the Brownies and his 11th career one-hitter. It’ll be 35 years before another Tribe tosser‚ Tom Candiotti‚ pitches a one-hit loss.
April 24Leo Durocher charges that the umpires are ignoring the “quick pitch” rule.

Shades of Harvey Haddix. Elmer Singleton of San Francisco (PCL) pitches a no-hitter for 12 innings against Sacramento. Singleton is touched for 3 hits in the 13th and loses‚ 1-0.
April 26Detroit’s Art Houtteman‘s no-hit bid is broken up on a 2-out‚ 9th-inning hit by Harry Simpson‚ but the Tigers romp over the Indians‚ 13-0.
April 28The St. Louis Browns lend 2 black minor league players‚ 3B John Britton and P Jim Newberry‚ to the Hankyu Braves of the Japanese Pacific League‚ making them the first team to send players outside of the U.S. Abe Saperstein‚ owner and coach of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters‚ negotiates this special example in “lend-lease” for both sides.
April 29Cleveland OF “Big Jim” Fridley goes a (20th c) record-tying 6-for-6 in a 21-9 romp over the host Philadelphia A’s. Al Rosen chips in with 3 HRs and 7 RBI‚ as both teams total 43 hits‚ 2 hits short of the AL mark. The Indian outfield collects 12 hits to tie the AL record‚ last tied in 1917. The Indians had been shut out in 3 out of their past 4 games‚ and held to a single hit in 2 of them.

The White Sox sweep a pair at Washington‚ winning 7-4 and 4-3 in 11 innings. In the nitecap‚ Bobo Newsom‚ making his 2nd appearance‚ loses his first in relief. Bobo was signed before the season for a record 5th tour of duty with the Nationals. He’ll even his record‚ then be waived to the Browns.
April 30Before 24‚767 at Ted Williams Day at Fenway Park‚ the Red Sox slugger plays in his final game before going to Korea as a Marine fighter pilot. It is also his first start since pulling a muscle on opening day. In his last at bat‚ Williams hits a game-winning two-run HR in the 7th against Detroit’s Dizzy Trout to give the Red Sox a 5-3 win.

At Yankee Stadium‚ Bob Cain gives up a homer to Mickey Mantle but the Browns lefty beats the Yanks‚ 9-4.

May

May 1With one out in the 8th inning‚ the A’s Skeeter Kell beats out an infield hit to break up Joe Dobson‘s no hitter. The A’s Dave Philley adds a solid single in the 9th as Dobson and the White Sox win‚ 3-0.
May 2After allowing no hits through 8 innings‚ the Cubs Turk Lown cracks under the strain and gives up 3 hits and loses to the Dodgers‚ 3-1. Billy Loes is the winner in relief. The Cubs score in the first on a double steal by Bob Addis and Frankie Baumholtz.

The A’s draw just 3‚679 who view a see saw battle with the White Sox‚ with the A’s winning 13-12. “We kicked the extra point‚” quips Jimmy Dykes afterwards. The A’s score 5 in the 1st on one hit and 4 walks‚ but the Sox rally and take a 12-7 lead in the 6th on Lollar’s 3-run HR. A 5-run 7th knots it and Majeski single in the 9th scores Zernial.
May 3The Red Sox beat the Browns 5-2 in Fenway though odd occurrences interrupt the game. In the bottom of the first‚ 2 fraternity boys dressed in baseball uniforms run onto the field and start throwing a rubber ball around. Two innings later a one-legged man on crutches jumps onto the field to talk to Browns SS Marty Marion and P Earl Harrist. He then shakes hands with Red Sox base runner Don Lenhardt before being hurried off the field.

The Indians lose‚ but go down swinging as they use a record 23 players including the first black battery in the AL. 39-year-old Negro League veteran Quincy Troupe is behind the plate when reliever Sam Jones comes in. Bob Chakales loses it for the Tribe with 2 outs in the 9th. Jones and Troupe are the battery tomorrow as Jones will pick up a 9-6 win against the Red Sox in relief.

The New York Yankees send promising reserve outfielder Jackie Jensen‚ along with OF Archie Wilson‚ P Spec Shea‚ and SS Jerry Snyder to the Senators for slick-fielding OF Irv Noren and infielder Tommie Upton. Shea will have two fine seasons on the hill before going over it‚ while Jensen‚ the former heir to DiMaggio’s spot‚ will eventually emerge as a star with the Red Sox. Noren will have his best year in 1954‚ when the left fielder will be an all-star.
May 4Boston 1B Faye Throneberry hits his 2nd grand slam of the season off Early Wynn of the Indians‚ but the Tribe wins‚ 9-6. The Red Sox have accounted for all 4 of the AL’s grand slams thus far‚ as the infielder joins teammates Walt Dropo and Don “Footsie” Lenhardt.
May 5Paul Minner allows just 4 hits but loses his 7th straight to the Giants‚ 3-2. He has never beaten them. Reliever Monte Kennedy allows just one hit in 6 1/3 innings for the win.

Mickey Mantle‘s father dies of Hodgkin’s Disease and Mantle will miss six games attending the funeral and seeing to family matters in Oklahoma. Mickey’s grandfather died eight years earlier of the same disease.
May 10Hank Bauer of the Yankees goes 5-for-6 in an 18–3 romp over Boston. The Bombers score 11 runs in the 7th inning. The BoSox come away with a record-tying 10 assists in the 5th inning (Retrosheet records nine) as they rack up 18 for the game. The 10 in one inning was last done on August 17, 1921.


Behind Spec Shea‚ Washington beats the A’s 3-1. A’s pitcher Morrie Martin‚ 11-4 last year‚ suffers a broken finger and won’t appear in a game until May 2 1953.
May 13In his first ML start since returning from 19 months in the army‚ the Phils Curt Simmons allows just 2 hits while fanning 12 to beat the Cubs‚ 2-0. Joe Hatten is the loser.

Bobby Thomson has a HR and double to drive in 5 runs to power the Giants to a 7-4 win over the Reds. Elliott and Mays also homer as Larry Jansen wins his 10th straight over the Reds going back to August 29‚ 1948.

P Ron Necciai of Bristol (Appalachian League) no-hits Welch and strikes out 27 batters‚ including four in one inning‚ to win‚ 7-0. In his next start he will strike out 24 while giving up 2 hits. Necciai will later compile a career 1-6 mark with the Pirates.

The Cardinals send OF Wally Westlake and SS Eddie Kazak to the Reds for Dick Sisler and Virgil Stallcup.
May 14Despite 8 interruptions by Reds manager Sewell asking the umps to examine the ball‚ Sal Maglie records his 6th straight win‚ 6-3‚ at the Polo Grounds. After the last play stoppage‚ an angry Maglie heaves the ball over the umps head‚ but manager Durocher calms the sizzling Sal down. Bobby Thomson starts the scoring with a triple and a steal of home in the 1st.
May 15After pitching four no-hitters in the minors‚ 33-year-old Virgil “Fire” Trucks of Detroit pitches his first in the ML‚ a 1-0 blanking of the Senators. Vic Wertz‘s dramatic two-out HR in the 9th off Bob Porterfield wins the game at Briggs Stadium.
May 17Behind the spectacular pitching of Ben Wade‚ the Dodgers coast to a 12-7 win over the Pirates. Wade strikes out 6 batters in a row and does not allow a hit until rookie Tony Bartirome‘s single in the 6th when the Corsairs plate 6 runs. The Brooks get 11 hits including a bases loaded triple by Snider. Campanella is hit on the hand by a pitch from Kline but x-rays reveal no fracture.

Vet Hank Edwards‚ replacing the slumping John Wyrostek in RF‚ is 5-for-5‚ including 2 doubles and a triple‚ as the Reds defeat the Phils‚ 7-3.
May 19Senators’ owner Clark Griffith sells his nephew‚ C Sherry Robertson‚ to the A’s. Robertson will return to the Senators’ front office in 1953‚ and from 1958 to 1970‚ will serve as farm director.
May 20In his first start following his no-hitter‚ Detroit’s Virgil Trucks and Dick Littlefield combine to two-hit the Athletics‚ 5-1.

Playing center field and batting third‚ Mickey Mantle displays his switch-hitting skills by collecting two singles from each side of the plate. His first two hits are against righty Ken Holcombe‚ while the last two come off lefty Chuck Stobbs. Johnny Sain scatters six White Sox hits to win‚ 3-1.
May 21After leadoff batter Billy Cox grounds out against Ewell Blackwell‚ the Whip loses his snap. The Dodgers then score 15 runs in the first inning as a NL record 19 consecutive batters reach 1B. Captain Pee Wee Reese walks twice in reaching base safely 3 times. Andy Pafko is thrown out trying to steal 3B‚ and Duke Snider mercifully strikes out to end the barrage against the Reds. The Dodgers score 15 runs on 15 RBIs in the frame‚ and coast at home‚ 19-1. Winning pitcher Chris Van Cuyk has the most hits with four-two in the first inning off Bud Byerly and Frank Smith‚ while Bobby Morgan has a pair of two-run homers and Snider another two-run homer. The Reds lone run is a homer by reserve catcher Dixie Howell.
May 22The Celler committee finds legislation for government control of baseball to be unnecessary. It says that the sport can solve its own problems‚ and opposes legislation exempting the reserve clause from antitrust laws.
May 23The Dodgers jar the Phils‚ 5-1‚ as Campanella drives in all five runs. Campy has two homers (#99 and #100) in his first two at bats‚ including a grand slam. In his final at bat yesterday against the Reds‚ Campy also homered. Ben Wade wins over Karl Drews.

Sal Maglie wins his 8th without a loss‚ stopping the Braves‚ 5-3. Maglie tires in the 9th‚ giving up three hits‚ including a 2-run homer by Ebba St. Claire. Al Dark’s 2-run homer in the 5-run 4th is the big blow for the Giants‚ who stay a half-game in back of the Dodgers.

The Phillies send P Bubba Church‚ 15-11 last year‚ to Cincinnati for OF Johnny Wyrostek‚ an all-star the past 2 years‚ and P Kent Peterson.
May 24Jimmy Piersall and New York’s Billy Martin first exchange insults before a game in Boston‚ then exchange punches in the tunnel under the stands. It takes coaches Bill Dickey and Oscar Melillo‚ along with starter Ellis Kinder‚ to break the fight up. Piersall goes to the clubhouse to change his bloody shirt and gets into another brawl with teammate Maury McDermott. He sits as Ellis Kinder stops the Yanks‚ 5-2.

At Crosley Field‚ Reds catcher Andy Seminick drives in 6 runs with 2 homers‚ one a grand slam‚ in an 11-5 win over St. Louis.
May 26Bill Bell‚ only 18‚ a Bristol (Appalachian League) teammate of Ron Necciai‚ hurls his 2nd consecutive no-hitter‚ beating Bluefield 4-0.
May 28Willie Mays is 0-for-4 in his last game as a civilian‚ but the Giants top the Dodgers‚ 6-2‚ beating Billy Loes.
May 29Boston’s Maury McDermott faces 27 batters and fires a one-hitter to beat the visiting Senators‚ 1-0. Mel Hoderlein’s 4th inning single is the only hit and he is erased on the basepaths. Maruy walks one batter who is also doubled up. The Senators leave no runners on base today and combined with 2 they left on base on the 27th set a new ML low for fewest left on base‚ two consectuve games. It will be matched in both leagues.

The Giants Willie Mays enters the army. Although Mays is hitting just .236‚ the Giants are 2 1/2 games in first place. They will lose 8 of their next 10 games.

Meanwhile‚ the Giants lose another young Birmingham player as Braves scout Dewey Griggs signs Henry Aaron to a contract. The Indianapolis Clowns receive telegram offers from both clubs‚ and Aaron‚ thinking he’ll have a better chance to make the team‚ prefers the Braves.
May 30At New York‚ Mantle’s homer in the 3rd is all the scoring the Yanks can muster against Bobby Shantz‚ as the “Mighty Molecule” strikes out 11 on Memorial Day. Mantle doubles off Shantz in the 14th‚ but the A’s hold on for a 2-1 victory. Dave Philley knocks home the winner. In game 2‚ Bob Hooper loses a shutout with 2 out in the 9th‚ but wins‚ 4-2.

The Senators and Red Sox split a pair‚ Washington taking the opener‚ 5-2‚ and Boston the nitecap‚ 5-3. Ferrick beats Kinder in game 1 behind Yost’s 3-run homer‚ while in game 2 Mel Parnell wins his 17th in a row against Washington. Parnell last lost to Washington on May 28‚ 1948. Kinder (vs. Chicago) and Parnell are tied for Red Sox record for consecutive wins against an opponent‚ but Kinder will move ahead on June 1. The Senators will run up a streak of their own winning their next 9 vs. Boston.

Over the protests of manager Paul Richards‚ White Sox GM Frank Lane swaps fleet CF Jim Busby‚ along with Mel Hoderlein‚ to Washington for Sam Mele. Busby’s loss leaves a defensive hole in the outfield‚ which the Sox will fill when they acquire Jim Rivera in July.

In front of 35‚999 at Wrigley‚ Big Bob Rush shuts out the Reds on 2 hits and the Cubs light up Bud Byerly and Joe Nuxhall for 15 hits and 11 runs. Dee Fondy has a double and triple to drive home 3 runs. Rush walks none‚ strikes out ten‚ and does not give up a hit until Grady Hatton doubles with 2 out in the 7th. He has now pitched 29 straight scoreless innings on his way to 32 scoreless innings‚ and a 7-0 record‚ between May 3 and June 4. He’s 5-0 for May.

In a Memorial Day doubleheader in St. Louis‚ 13‚000 fans at Sportsman’s Park cheer as the Browns split a pair with Chicago. Satchel Paige (4-1) picks up a 3-2 win in the opener over Virgil Trucks (0-5)‚ and Dizzy Trout (1-5) pitches 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and Chicago wins in 12 innings‚ 8-5.
May 31Charlie Grimm succeeds Tommy Holmes as manager of the Boston Braves. Holmes will sign on with the Dodgers as a pinch hitter‚ but hit just .111.

June

June 1The Red Sox top the White Sox‚ 3-2‚ with reliever Ellis Kinder winning his Boston club record 18th straight over Chicago. Saul Rogovin is the loser.

Led by Pete Naton’s CWS-record 11 total bases‚ Holy Cross rolls by Western Michigan‚ 15-3. Holy Cross will beat Missouri‚ 8-4‚ for the NCAA championship.
June 2Don Lenhardt clouts a 10th inning grand slam‚ his 2nd of the year‚ to give the Red Sox a 6-2 victory over the White Sox. Footsie’s reward will be a new uniform tomorrow.
June 3After several games in right‚ Mantle returns to centerfield and celebrates with four singles and scores two runs off Billy Pierce. The 4th place Yankees beat the visiting Pale Hose‚ 4-3‚ in 13 innings

At Crosley Field‚ Frank Smith hurls 6 shutout innings of relief‚ allowing one hit‚ as the Reds edge the Phils‚ 2-1.

In his 2nd straight game‚ ancient Satchel Paige pitches 5 2/3 innings of scoreless ball against the Senators‚ goes 3-for-3 and drives in the winning run in top of 17th inning for his 5th victory. The Browns win‚ 3-2. Paige will finish the year with a .128 average. Browns starter Dave Madison goes 4 1/3 innings and starts the trend by going 2-for-2 at the plate: he’ll finish the year with a .105 average.

Y. Yamasaki of the Chunichi Dragons steals 6 bases in a single game for a Japanese record. This ties the AL record of 6 set by Eddie Collins of Philadelphia in 1912; it is one behind the NL record set by George Gore in l88l and Billy Hamilton of Philadelphia in 1894.
June 4Billy Goodman of the Red Sox goes 5-for-5 in a 13-11 slugfest with Cleveland. The Indians Larry Doby hits for the cycle.

The Giants push across 2 runs-one earned-in the 4th inning against the Cubs Bob Rush to stop his streak of consecutive scoreless innings at 32. Rush (8-2) is still victorious‚ 6-2‚ and now leads the NL in strikeouts.

The Reds purchase veteran OF Willard Marshall from the Boston Braves.
June 6The Cubs top the Braves‚ 7-2‚ behind Hank Sauer‘s bat. The MVP-bound Sauer‚ hitting .350‚ drives in his 49th and 50th runs of the year.

Bucky Walters succeeds Charlie Grimm as manager of the minor league Milwaukee Brewers after the latter had accepted the Braves job.
June 7Sam Jethroe hits the last grand slam in the history of the Boston Braves‚ as the Braves win the 2nd game of a doubleheader‚ 7-6.
June 8At Yankee Stadium‚ Browns P Tommy Byrne hits a 4th inning fly ball behind 3B that New York’s Gil McDougald chases. A fan catches the ball but the umpire rules interference and calls the batter out. Browns manager Rogers Hornsby‚ coaching third‚ doesn’t disagree. However‚ Browns owner Bill Veeck‚ listening on the radio in St. Louis‚ phones Hornsby and orders him to protest‚ which Hornsby reluctantly does‚ but too late anyway. The Yanks win 5-2‚ then take the nitecap as Vic Raschi shuts out St. Louis. That night‚ Hornsby calls Veeck and tells him to stop meddling‚ a call that will cost him his job.
June 9A week after being traded from the Red Sox‚ Don Lenhardt hits another grand slam and drives home 5 but Detroit loses to Boston‚ 9-8. Dropo and Piersall homer for the Hubmen.
June 10After an absence of 5 months‚ Charlie Comiskey‚ Jr.‚ rejoins the White Sox as vice president after he was reelected to the board.

In Boston‚ St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck fires manager Rogers Hornsby saying‚ “I made a mistake. I thought Hornsby had mellowed.” That afternoon‚ the players present Veeck with a trophy for freeing them from Rajah’s tyranny. The Browns name Marty Marion as their player-manager.

Sam Mele of the White Sox hits a 3-run HR and a 3-run triple in the 4th inning of a game at Philadelphia‚ as Chicago romps 15-4. Chicago plates 12 runs‚ 6 unearned‚ in the frame.

The Red Sox send pitchers Randy Gumpert and Walt Masterson to Washington for pitcher Sid Hudson.
June 11Hello‚ cuz. Hank Sauer hits 3 homers off Curt Simmons at Wrigley Field to account for all the scoring as the Cubs‚ behind Turk Lown‚ beat the Phillies 3-2. It is Hammerin’ Hank’s 2nd three-homer game: the first came in 1950‚ also off Curt Simmons. Sauer is now leading the NL in HR (18)‚ RBIs (58)‚ and batting average (.352)‚ but he’ll go hitless in his next 24 at bats‚ striking out 10 times‚ and his average will drop 32 points in a week.

At Fenway Park‚ Bosox catcher Sammy White clouts a 9th inning grand slam with one out to defeat the Brown’s Satchel Paige‚ 11-9. Paige (5-2) takes a 9-5 lead into the 9th. White completes his home run trot by rounding 3B and crawling from half way home and kissing the plate. Another rookie provides entertainment to start the inning as Piersall‚ leading off‚ announces to Paige that he is going to bunt. He does just that and beats Paige to 1B‚ where upon he starts mirroring Satchel’s moves and yelling “oink‚ oink‚ oink.” Evers beats out an infield hit and Piersall continues his antics at 2B. A now distracted and annoyed Paige walks Kell‚ and one out later‚ forces in a run by walking Goodman. A single by Lepcio sets up White’s slam. After the game‚ Browns C Clint Courtney opines‚ ‘I believe that man is plumb crazy. Yeah‚ he’s nuts altogether. I never saw a man do those things. Anywhere.”
June 12The AL suspends Browns manager Marty Marion indefinitely for pushing umpire Bill McGowan in the previous night’s loss to Boston. It was Marion’s first game as manager.
June 14Warren Spahn of the Braves ties the NL record of Jim Whitney (set on this date 68 years ago) with 18 strikeouts against the Cubs in a 15-inning complete game effort. Hal Jeffcoat’s 2-run triple wins it‚ 3-1‚ for the Cubs‚ while Spahn’s HR is the only Boston score. The Braves manage just 4 hits.

Little Bobby Shantz scores his 11th victory in 12 starts‚ and 10th in a row‚ with a 9-2 win over the 7th-place Browns. However‚ the A’s lose 21-year-old third baseman Hal Bevan‚ purchased last month from the Red Sox‚ who breaks his leg sliding home. Bevan is out for the year and will next appear with the ’55 Kansas City A’s.
June 15The Cardinals‚ down 11-0 after 3 innings‚ rally to defeat the Giants‚ 14-12. All the Redbird scores come in the last 4 innings (7+3+2+2) as Solly Hemus ties the game with an 8th-inning HR and adds another in the 9th. The Giants end the game with the bases loaded. The comeback is a NL record: the AL record was set on June 18‚ 1911. The Giants allow no rallies in game two and win 3-0 behind Dave Koslo. Wes Westrum‘s three-run homer is the game’s scoring.

Before 69‚468 at Municipal Stadium‚ New York scores 6 runs in the 2nd inning off Bob Lemon enroute to an 8-2 win. Mantle’s 3-run homer is the big blow in the inning.

In 100 degree weather in St. Louis‚ the Browns take 5 hours: 38 minutes to sweep a pair from the A’s‚ 6-3‚ and 7-6 in 11 innings. Ned Garver‚ having lost to the A’s several weeks ago‚ resumes his winning ways with his 11th win in 12 decisions over the Quakers. In the nitecap‚ the A’s prolong it with a hidden ball trick in the 6th: after a conference on the mound and with runners on 1B and 3B‚ third baseman Billy Hitchcock returns to his position and tags out lead runner Darryl Johnson.
June 16In New York‚ Bobby Thomson greets reliever Willard Schmidt by hitting his first pitch for a ultimate grand slam to give the Giants an 8-7 9th inning win over the Cardinals. It is the Jints 4th homer in the game.
June 17In Detroit‚ the Yanks come back from a 6-1 deficit as Mantle clouts a homer to the upper deck of left center off Bill Hoeft in the 6th. But Detroit pushes over a run in the 11th to win‚ 7-6.

The Holy Cross Crusaders defeat the University of Missouri 8-4 to win the NCAA College Baseball title.
June 18In Boston‚ Warren Spahn strikes out 11 Reds‚ but loses 3-1. In his last outing‚ Spahn struck out 18 and lost.

At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants Jim Hearn beats Pirates for the 10th straight time‚ winning 5-2. His record against Pitt is 15-2. Hank Thompson hits an IPHR that hits the top of the RF bull pen wall‚ 450 feet away‚ and caroms towards CF. Bobby Thomson hits his 4th HR in 3 days.
June 19After 4 straight losses to the Cubs‚ Carl Erskine of the Dodgers no-hits them 5-0‚ topping Warren Hacker. The only base runner is relief P Willard Ramsdell‚ who Erskine walks in the 3rd. Erskine is now 6-1 for the first-place Dodgers.

The A’s Bobby Shantz wins his 11th in a row‚ stopping the White Sox‚ 4-1 while batting in 2 runs. It is his 12th win in 13 starts. The 11 wins is the longest streak in the AL since Johnny Rigney had 11 wins in a row for the 1939 White Sox. Shantz is 22-3 since last July.
June 20The A’s nip the visiting Tigers‚ 8-7‚ in the first of 2‚ then stall their way to a 3-3 tie in the nitecap. Joe Astroth‘s single in the 9th drives home the winner. For the fourth time as an Athletic (and the 2nd this year)‚ Billy Hitchcock pulls a successful hidden ball trick‚ nabbing Fred Hatfield after a triple. In game 2‚ the Bengals score a pair in the top of the 10th to go ahead‚ but the A’s stall until the 6:59 curfew and the game reverts to its 9th inning score.

At Crosley Field‚ Andy Seminick hits a pinch grand slam in the 5th inning and then doubles and scores on a single in the 10th off Curt Simmons as the Reds beat the Phillies‚ 6-5. The Phils take the nitecap‚ 4-3.
June 21As a publicity stunt‚ Harrisburg of the Inter-State League signs a woman player‚ Eleanor Engle‚ but she does not get into a game. Female ball players are officially banned by minor league President George Trautman shortly after.

Vinegar Bend Mizell twirls his first ML shutout‚ a 4-hit‚ 9-0 whitewash of the Braves in Boston.
June 22At Chicago‚ Bob Kuzava shuts out the White Sox‚ 3-0‚ for New York. Yogi Berra homers for the Yanks. In the nitecap at Comiskey Park‚ Mantle provides New York’s only scoring with a homer‚ as Marv Grissom wins for Chicago‚ 2-1.
June 23At Detroit‚ 12 straight Red Sox reach base as they score 11 runs in the 4th inning to defeat the Tigers‚ 12-6. Sammy White hits a homer and drives in 4 runs‚ while Walt Dropo also homers.

The Athletics waive C Joe Tipton to Cleveland.
June 24Bobby Shantz’s 11-game win streak comes to an end as the Indians edge the A’s‚ 2-1. Al Rosen’s 2-run homer trumps Allie Clark‘s solo shot to Early Wynn the win .
June 25White Sox SS Chico Carrasquel fractures his little finger in a 10-inning Sox loss‚ which drops Chicago 4 games out of 1st place. He’ll reinjure it July 9 and be out of the lineup till August 19. The injury to Carrasquel‚ the starting SS in the All-star game in 1951‚ 1953‚ and 1954‚ is key as the Sox will finish in 3rd.

Playing for Laredo (Gulf Coast)‚ Armando Flores connects for two grand slams in the 8th inning‚ just the 2nd player ever in organized ball to accomplish the feat.
June 27Phils manager Eddie Sawyer is fired‚ and Steve O’Neill replaces him.

At the Stadium‚ Mickey Mantle unloads a first inning homer off Bob Hooper‚ and the Yankees roll to a 10-0 rout of the A’s.
June 28Stan Musial tops the All-Star balloting for the 2nd year in a row. The Man will have his 23-game hit streak stopped tomorrow by rain and the Pirates.

The White Sox buy back Willie Miranda from the Browns‚ which had acquired the SS from Chicago 2 weeks ago. Miranda will fill in for the injured Carrasquel.

At New York‚ the 6th-place A’s wallop the AL-leading Yankees‚ 12-0 behind Bobby Shantz‘s 13th win‚ tops in the majors. Shantz allows 2 hits. Gus Zernial belts 2 homers and single to drive in 5 runs. Shantz’s ERA drop to 1.50.

The Red Sox ship Jimmy Piersall to Triple-A Birmingham. In 3 weeks‚ he’ll enter Westborough State Hospital for psychiatric treatment and stay there 6 weeks for treatment.
June 29The NL suspends manager Leo Durocher for 4 days for misconduct.

The Kansas City Blues slam 10 homers against St. Paul to set an American Association record for most HRs by one team and tie the record for most by 2 teams. The Blues total 53 bases, and hit 6 home runs in the third inning, both AA marks, enroute to a 17-4 win. Roy Partee has 3 homers, including two in the big inning. Vic Power, Kal Segrist, and Bill Renna have two apiece, and Andy Carey hits one. St. Paul hits none.

The Dodgers’ Tommy Holmes‚ fired as Braves manager a month ago‚ hits a pinch single in the 7th against his old club‚ to help Brooklyn to a 6-5 win over the Braves. The Dodgers have now whipped the Braves 11 straight in 1952.

Down 8-2 with 2 outs and no one on in the 9th inning of game 1‚ the Cubs rally for 7 runs and beat the Reds 9-8 in game one. Ex-Red Johnny Pramesa knocks home the winning run‚ as the Cubs set an NL record with the biggest two-out‚ none-on‚ 9th inning rally in history. (also a since tied NL-in 2001-record for most runs in the 9th with 2 out) The effort exhausts the Cubs as they drop the nitecap‚ 9-1.
June 30Satchel Paige is named to the All-Star team.

July

July 1At bat in the 1st inning in Boston‚ Braves Earl Torgeson’s back swing hits Giants C Sal Yvars on the shin guard. After an exchange of pleasantries‚ Torgeson singles and is on base when Yvars breaks Torgeson’s bat. After the side is retired‚ Torgeson then goes into the Giants’ dugout after Yvars. Torgy is ejected after punching the catcher in the face‚ and Vern Bickford‚ yesterday’s winner‚ joins him for yelling at the umpire that Yvars ought to be thumbed as well. The Giants then win 6-3. Torgeson and Yvars will mix it up again on July 18‚ 1954.

The Indians Larry Doby walks 5 times in a 19-inning 4-3 win at St. Louis. The Tribe answers the Browns score in the 19th with 2 runs‚ but they loses SS Ray Boone when he suffers torn ligaments in his right knee covering 2nd base on a pickoff attempt. Brissie wins his first‚ beating Paige (6-3)‚ who walks 9 in 11 innings.
July 3The Giants beat the Dodgers for the 6th time in a row‚ tipping Brooklyn 4-3. Don Mueller drives in two runs off Billy Loes with a triple‚ then scores‚ and his throw in the 8th nips the tying run. The Dodgers outhit the Giants‚ 8-4‚ but Jim Hearn‚ with relief from Wilhelm‚ gets the win.

The White Sox take two from the Browns‚ 6-3 and 12-3‚ to gain 2nd place in the AL. The first game‚ a completion‚ of an April 27 game takes 4 innings‚ with Chuck Stobbs emerging the winner. Stobbs gets a save in the nitecap‚ taking over for Marv Grissom. Eddie Robinson knocks in 7 runs in the pair‚ including two 3-run homers in the nitecap.

At Brunswick (Georgia-Florida League)‚ Cordele beats Brunswick‚ 14-2. In the 4th inning‚ Ralph “Froggy” Betcher of Cordele bats with the bases loaded. A wild pitch and 2 of the Pirates 6 errors on the day empty the bases. Betcher then hits his first and only home run of the season.
July 5The Tigers fire their manager‚ Red Rolfe‚ replacing him with the popular veteran pitcher Freddie Hutchinson.

At Shibe Park‚ Mantle ties the game with a 5th inning homer off Alex Kellner‚ and the Yanks go on to top the A’s‚ 3-1.
July 6Dodgers starter Ben Wade homers twice‚ off Warren Spahn‚ in an 8-2 win over the Braves in Boston. It is Brooklyn’s 13th win in a row over the Braves.

In the 1st game of a doubleheader with the A’s‚ Mickey Mantle and Gil McDougald both double and homer off 14-game winner Bobby Shantz‚ as New York wins 5-2. It’s Mantle’s 3rd homer of the season off Shantz. The A’s take the nitecap‚ 7-6‚ on Ferris Fain‘s double in the 9th.
July 8The NL defeats the AL 3-2 behind the pitching of Phils Curt Simmons and Cubs Bob Rush in Philadelphia. The game is ended after 5 innings because of rain with Bob Lemon the losing pitcher. Hank Sauer‘s homer with Stan Musial aboard in the 4th proves to be the deciding run. Shantz strikes out the side in the 5th‚ whiffing Whitey Lockman‚ Jackie Robinson‚ and Stan Musial. Lon Warneke umps his first All-Star game after pitching in three in the 1930s.
July 10The A’s top the Indians‚ 11-1 behind Alex Kellner‘s 4-hitter and the 3-for-3 hitting by Elmer Valo‚ who drives in 4 runs. Ferris Fain runs his hitting streak to 22 games.
July 11CF Richie Ashburn picks up 3 assists throwing out Cardinal runners at the plate‚ as the Phils win 4-3. The loss stops the Cards win streak of ten games. Robin Roberts scatters 14 hits-4 by Hemus and 3 each by the 2 Rices-to win.
July 12In New York‚ Browns bespectacled backstop Clint Courtney lives up to his nickname of “Scrap Iron” when he slides hard into New York’s Billy Martin in a 2nd-inning play. In the 6th inning‚ Courtney tries to knock over Berra in a play at home‚ and in the 8th he gets tagged in the face by Billy Martin‚ again at second base. Both dugouts empty as he and Martin start fighting and Courtney is decked. Courtney is the only player ejected‚ but the AL hands out a record (since topped) $850 in fines. The Yankees prevail‚ 5-4‚ in 11 innings‚ as Allie Reynolds goes the distance to beat Satchel Paige.

Bob Lemon stops the A’s‚ 5-1‚ although Ferris Fain extends his hitting streak by doubling and scoring in the 9th inning. Lemon does slip a called 3rd strike past Fain in the 4th‚ just the 4th K this year for the A’s first baseman.
July 13Before 26‚770 fans‚ Mike Garcia of the Indians blanks Washington 1-0 on 2 hits in the first game of a doubleheader.

In the first game of a doubleheader at the Stadium‚ Vic Raschi gives up only one hit as the Yankees rout the Tigers 11-1. The lone hit is a Joe Ginsberg HR. Mantle is 4-for-5‚ including a 5th inning homer off Marlin Stuart. In the nitecap‚ Mantle homers in the 1st inning off Hal Newhouser‚ for his 5th straight hit of the afternoon‚ and the Yankees roll again‚ 12-2.
July 14At Yankee Stadium‚ Tigers slugger Walt Dropo goes 5-for-5 against New York in an 8-2 win. All 5 hits are singles. Billy Hoeft starts and records his 1st ML win.
July 15Walt Dropo continues his streak in game one going 4-for-4 against the Senators Walt Masterson. In game 2 he gets a single‚ double‚ and triple in his first 3 at bats to run his streak to 12 straight hits. He goes 4-for-5‚ fouling out in the 7th‚ with 5 RBI‚ but Washington wins both games‚ 8-2 and 9-8. Moose’s 13 hits in 3 games ties Joe Cronin‘s AL record.

The Indian power hitters dazzle the Yankees with a triple steal in the first inning as Al Rosen scores‚ Larry Doby goes to 3rd‚ and Luke Easter‚ in his only ML theft‚ goes to 2nd. Early Wynn allows several late inning solo home runs‚ including a tape measure shot by Mantle to deep right center‚ but tops the Yankees‚ 7-3.

The A’s take a pair from the Browns‚ winning the opener‚ 7-6‚ when Eddie Joost hits a game-ending grand slam with the A’s down by 3. Reliever Satchel Paige gets no one out and gives up 4 hits in the inning. Joost hits another homer in game 2 as Bobo Newsom wins‚ 11-3.

Still going strong. Johnny Vander Meer‚ 38‚ of Beaumont (Texas League) pitches a no-hitter. In 1938 he pitched 2 consecutive ML no-hitters‚ still a record.

At St. Louis‚ the Giants Dave Koslo wins his 12th straight victory over the Cards‚ 6-3. Koslo‚ hitless in 29 AB this year‚ contributes 2 hits‚ 2 RBIs‚ and a run.
July 16Walt Dropo gets 2 more hits‚ giving him 15 in 4 games‚ which ties another AL record by Joe Cronin. Dropo scores 3 runs in the 9-0 win at Washington. Bill Wight allows just 4 hits in the shutout.
July 17Before 51‚114‚ the Indians scalp the Chief‚ Allie Reynolds‚ for 6 runs in the first two innings and coast to an 11-6 victory in the opener of doubleheader at the Stadium. Mantle connects for a homer off Steve Gromek‚ his 4th homer in 5 days.
July 19Red Sox GM Joe Cronin announces that rookie Jim Piersall‚ following his erratic behavior‚ will take an indefinite leave of absence. This is based on advice from doctors.

The visiting Fitzgerald club (Georgia State League) sends up 12-year-old batboy Joe Relford to bat as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning of a game with Statesboro. The black batboy‚ who broke the league’s color barrier‚ grounds out‚ but makes a fine catch in the outfield when he stays in the game. Umpire Ed Kubick‚ who approved the move‚ will be fired by the league the next day and Fitzgerald manager Charlie Ridgeway will also be given his walking papers. Joe Relford? He’ll be fired as well.
July 20League Presidents Will Harridge and Warren Giles become directors of the Hall of Fame.
July 22Detroit’s Virgil Trucks gives up leadoff single on his first pitch to Eddie Yost‚ but that is the only hit he allows in beating Washington‚ 1-0.

The visiting Reds score 4 runs in the 10th inning‚ but Brooklyn comes back with 5 runs to win‚ 7-6.

Dave Koslo masters the Cardinals‚ 3-2‚ for his 13th straight win over the Birds going back to July 11‚ 1950. Dusty Rhodes and Hank Thompson homer off Gerry Staley. Rhodes‚ who joined the team on the road‚ hits the first pitch he sees at the Polo Ground for a HR.
July 25Mantle has two singles but his homer off Art Houtteman is the only New York scoring. Detroit wins‚ 2-1 as Yankee castoff Steve Souchock homers in the 9th.
July 26Mantle again supplies the Yankees fire power‚ hitting a grand slam into the left-CF upper deck at Briggs Stadium off Ted Gray‚ but again New York loses. Detroit wins 10-6 in 11 innings and again it is Steve Souchock supplying the firepower‚ this time with a pinch grand slam. Bob Hogue loses to Gray.

Hitless in his last 19 at bats‚ Dick Groat goes 5-for-5 to help the Pirates down the Braves‚ 6-4.

The Giants trip the Reds 7-2 on Hank Thompson’s grand slam. Larry Jansen wins his 12th win in a row over Cincy‚ as New York routs Herm Wehmeier. Jansen last lost to the Reds on Augst 29‚ 1948.
July 28Rogers Hornsby‚ after being fired by the St. Louis Browns‚ replaces another former Brownie manager‚ Luke Sewell‚ as manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Sewell firing is announced today. Hornsby will look over the Reds’ minor league teams for a week and coach Earle Brucker will coach in the interim.
July 29In Chicago‚ the first place Yankees‚ having lost 6 of their last 7 games‚ look like they’ll lose another as the White Sox build a 7-0 lead through 6 innings behind Billy Pierce. New York scores 3 in the 7th to cut the lead‚ then score 3 in the 9th off Harry Dorish. Dorish loads the bases for Mantle‚ who goes downtown with his 2nd grand slam in three days. Reynolds then shuts out the Sox to give New York a 10-6 win.
July 30Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick sets a waiver rule to bar inter-league deals until all clubs bid with the club lowest in the league to get the first pick. He sets the price at $10‚000. He also bars all other deals after July 31st.

Journeyman hurler Lou Kretlow fashions his 2nd consecutive 2-hitter‚ as the White Sox down New York 7-0.

August

August 1The Dodgers waive veteran lefty Johnny Schmitz to the New York Yankees. He’ll be a Yankee for less than 4 weeks before being packaged off to the Reds.
August 2In Brooklyn, the Cubs Hank Sauer hits a three-run homer in the third inning off Ben Wade. The game is rained out in the fifth inning and Sauer will end the season tied for the home run lead with Ralph Kiner with 37.
August 5At Shibe Park‚ a crowd of 35‚673-the largest since July 15‚ 1948-see Bobby Shantz of the Athletics win his 20th game‚ 5-3 over the Red Sox. The miniature mound marvel is the AL’s first 20-game winner and he leads the majors in ERA with 1.55.

The Giants edge the Dodgers‚ 5-4‚ in a 15 inning 4 hour 59 minute marathon. Andy Pafko hits a 14th inning HR to put the Brooks ahead‚ but the Giants answer with a pinch homer from Bob Elliot. Pafko drives in another tally in the 15th but the Giants plate 2 to win. Gil Hodges hits a 7th inning grand slam for da Bums and George Wilson hits a pinch homer‚ his 1st ML homer‚ for the Giants.

Danny Menendez‚ the owner of the Toledo Mud Hens‚ is indicted and charged with cheating 3 fans out of $1‚700 worth of tickets after he failed to keep his promise of keeping the team in Ohio until the end of the season. Menendez moved them to Charleston‚ WV‚ midway through the season‚ where they became the Charleston Senators‚ and kept the proceeds from 38‚000 extra seat sales.
August 6In one of the decade’s best pitched games‚ St. Louis Browns Satchel Paige‚ 46‚ beats Detroit’s Virgil “Fire” Trucks 1-0 in 12 innings. Bobby Young scores the winner as Paige strikes out 9.

The last-place Pirates jolt the pennant hopes of the Giants by sweeping a doubleheader at the Polo Grounds‚ 7-0 and 10-8. The 2 wins match the Corsairs longest win streak of the year and knocks the Giants to 6 1`/2 games in back of the Dodgers. Murry Dickson‚ a loser to the Giants yesterday‚ is brilliant in relief in the lidlifter‚ coming in for La Palme in the 3rd inning with the bases loaded and no outs. He blanks the giants on 3 hits. The Pirates race to a 10-1 lead in game 2‚ then watch the Giants score 7 runs in the 6th inning. The game is then called on account of darkness.
August 7Umpire Bill McGowan is suspended for four days by the AL-his second suspension in four years.. In a game in St. Louis‚ McGowan throws out Tiger P Billy Hoeft‚ who had been heckling him from the dugout. When St. Louis writers‚ who had had a stormy relationship over the years with the veteran McGowan‚ ask him to identify the player‚ the umpire refuses‚ then adds an obscene gesture. The writers’ complaint results in a suspension.
August 8Bob Neighbors‚ a shortstop who played briefly with the 1939 Browns‚ is missing in action in the Korean War. Neighbors is the only ex-major leaguer killed in action in Korea and the 6th and last to die this century. There will be no casualties of major leaguers in Vietnam.
August 9Denver’s Bill Pinkard (Western League) hits a carom homer for a 1-0 win over Omaha. His 7th inning drive is grabbed by LF Dick Cordell who crashes into the wall. The impact jars the ball out of his glove‚ and it hits the wall and rebounds off his head over the fence. The umps rule it a HR.
August 10Ed Fitzgerald of the Pirates pinch hits twice against the Cubs. His first time is in the 6th inning when‚ batting for Howie Pollet‚ he flies out. In the 9th inning‚ Pittsburgh’s starting catcher Clyde McCullough is injured and forced to leave the game. With the permission of Cubs manager Phil Cavarretta‚ who shows uncommon courtesy‚ Fitzgerald pinch hits for McCullough‚ making him the only major leaguer ever to hit for two different players in a game. The Cubs still win‚ 4-3‚ after taking the opener‚ 9-5.

The Red Sox cut the Yankee lead in the A.L. to 1 1/2 games with a 3-1 victory at Yankee Stadium. Dick Gernert and Dom Dimaggio hit 10th inning homers off reliever Johnny Sain‚ and 41-year-old Al Benton picks up the win with 1 2/3 innings of relief. Benton comes in Mel Parnell with one out in the 9th and the sacks full and stops the threat. Mantle‚ leading off the 10th‚ is retired on drag bunt attempt by Benton‚ who is the only hurler to pitch to both Mantle and Babe Ruth.
August 11At Yankee Stadium‚ the 3rd place Red Sox‚ trailing first-place New York by 4 games‚ manage just 2 hits off Allie Reynolds‚ as the Chief wins 7-0. For Reynolds‚ it’s his 4th two-hitter of the year. Mickey Mantle‘s first inning homer‚ off Sid Hudson‚ is all the scoring New York needs‚ but Mantle adds a double in the 4th and a 2-run homer‚ again lefty‚ in the 5th‚ off Ralph Brickner‚ for a 6-0 lead. Boston will fade to a 6th place finish.
August 12Stu Miller of the Cardinals blanks the Cubs 1-0 in 10 innings in his ML debut. For Bob Rush (11-11‚ 2.67 ERA)‚ it is his 2nd 1-0 loss in a row; Pittsburgh beat him on August 8th.

At Boston‚ with the A’s leading 4-3 in the 13th with 2 out‚ Sox George Kell hits a fly ball down the LF line. When LF Gus Zernial attempts to catch the ball‚ a fan knocks it out of his glove. Interference is called and A’s win‚ 4-3.
August 14In a major trade‚ the Tigers send 5 players to the Browns‚ including pitchers Dick Littlefield and Marlin Stuart‚ slugger Vic Wertz and OF Don Lenhardt. Detroit receives OF Jim Delsing and 3 pitchers‚ Ned Garver‚ Dave Madison‚ and Bud Black. The nod to Detroit on this swap as Delsing will start in CF and Garver will be a reliable starter. In 1951‚ Garver became the century’s only 20-game winner with a team losing 100 games. He also led the Brownies with a .305 batting average.
August 15After losing 12 straight starts to Larry Jansen dating back to July 7‚ 1950‚ the Braves finally defeat the Giant hurler‚ 4-3‚ with 3 runs in the 9th. Jansen does not allow a hit till the 8th. New York takes the nitecap‚ 3-1‚ behind Max Lanier. Johnny Logan‘s 1st ML HR is the only tally for the Hubmen.

Phil Cavarretta signs his 1953 contract as manager of the Cubs.

Dick Marlowe of the Buffalo Bisons pitches the 2nd perfect game in the history of the International League‚ against Baltimore.
August 16The Phils heave a sigh of relief as their game with Brooklyn is called on account of rain with one out in the top of the 7th. But the host Dodgers win 15-0 using an all right-handed lineup. Billy Loes is the easy winner‚ and Dick Williams leads the way with 3 hits.
August 17Leading 2-0 in his 2nd ML game‚ Cards rookie Stu Miller is two outs away from a 2nd straight shutout only to have a Solly Hemus error allow a run. He wins 2-1.
August 18The NL suspends Leo Durocher for 5 days and fines him $100 for a row with an umpire.

The Indians get infielder George Strickland and pitcher Ted Wilks from Pittsburgh for Johnny Berardino‚ minor leaguer Charlie Sipple and $50‚000. For Berardino‚ it is his 2nd tour of duty with the Pirates‚ but he should be used to it; he had two stints with the Indians and two with the Browns.
August 20In St. Louis‚ rookie Harvey Haddix‚ on leave from Ft. Dix where his is awaiting discharge‚ makes his ML debut. He allows 5 hits against the Braves in a 7-2 win‚ a 7 1/2 inning game ended by rain.

The Bradford Phillies and the Batavia Clippers of the Pony League play the first double no-hit game in league history. In the 1st game doubleheader‚ Bradford’s Frank Etchberger no-hits Batavia 1-0. Batavia’s Jim Mitchell answers with one of his own in the night cap‚ but Bradford still wins again 1-0.
August 23At St. Louis‚ in the Cardinals’ 3-1 win over the Giants‚ New York 3B Bob Elliott is thrown out of the game for protesting a 2nd strike call by ump Augie Donatelli. Bobby Hoffman replaces Elliott‚ takes a 3rd strike‚ and is also thumbed for not liking the umpiring. Veteran Al Brazle (10-3) has a shutout until the 9th inning as he pitches the Redbirds to their 8th straight win.
August 24Phenom Ron Necciai fans only one as he receives credit for his first ML win‚ 4-3 over the Braves. Boston takes the nitecap‚ 5-3‚ behind Lew Burdette.

Before 34‚709‚ the largest single-game crowd at Sportsman’s Park since 1937‚ Preacher Roe and the Dodgers stop the Cards’ 8-game win streak‚ 10-4. Roe registers his 10th straight win over the 2nd-place Birds going back to May 7‚ 195. Joe Presko is the loser‚ exiting in the 2nd inning.

The 2nd place Indians drop 2 games behind the Yankees‚ winners over Detroit‚ when the lose‚ 9-8‚ in 16 innings to the Senators. As noted by historian Joe Haardt‚ all the Nats runs are unearned. Randy Gumpert is the winner over Early Wynn‚ both in relief. Wynn gives up 3 hits and an error on a bunt without retiring a batter.
August 25In a 1-0 win over the Yankees in Yankee Stadium‚ Virgil Trucks of the Detroit Tigers pitches his 2nd no-hitter of the season. The no-hitter is in doubt for 3 innings when a play made by SS Johnny Pesky in the 3rd inning is under debate. The official scorer‚ John Drebinger‚ records it as an error when Pesky has trouble getting a ball hit by Phil Rizzuto out of his glove. Dan Daniel of The New York World Telegram convinces Drebinger that it cannot be ruled an error because the ball was stuck in the fielder’s glove‚ and Rizzuto is awarded a hit. In the 6th inning‚ with Trucks not having given up another hit‚ Drebinger calls Pesky in the dugout from the press box‚ and the SS says that he should be given the error rather than Rizzuto the hit. The call is changed again‚ and Trucks’s no-hitter is preserved. Trucks’s record is now 5-15: he’ll finish the season at 5-19.

Ken Raffensberger hurls his 5th shutout of the year beating the Giants Larry Jansen‚ 3-0. It is Jansen’s first loss to the Reds after 12 straight wins.

Although the game only lasts 7 innings‚ Bill Bell of Bristol (Appalachian League) pitches his 3rd no-hitter of the season‚ beating Bristol 3-0.
August 28Before a Ladies Day crowd of 40‚311 in Chicago‚ the Brooklyn Dodgers top the Cubs‚ 9-6. The Brooks 12-hit attack features 3 bunts in a 4-run 7th.

The Reds send aging whip Ewell Blackwell (3-12) to the Yankees for P Johnny Schmitz‚ Ernie Nevel‚ Bob Marquis‚ minor leaguer Jim Greengrass‚ and $35‚000. The Yankees get pennant insurance and the Reds receive Greengrass‚ a player that manager Hornsby spotted in the minors. In 18 games‚ Greengrass will drive in 24 runs.
August 30A crowd of 41‚558 is on hand for Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium‚ and the Yankees celebrate by trouncing the Senators‚ 6-4. Mickey Mantle belts a homer to right off Randy Gumpert.
August 31Cleveland beats Billy Pierce (10-13) and the White Sox‚ 6-3‚ to remain 2 games behind the Yankees in the AL.

At Boston‚ the Braves top the Phillies Steve Ridzik‚ 1-0‚ on a freak hit in the bottom of the 9th. With the bases loaded‚ pitcher Virgil Jester ducks away from an inside pitch and the ball hits his bat and bounds for a single. The Phillies win the second game‚ 3-0‚ on Jim Koinstanty’s three-hitter.

At Chicago the Cubs outhits the Reds in both games‚ but only gain a split. Paul Minner wins the opener‚ 4-2‚ and the Reds rebound for a 6-5 victory. The Cubs have 12 hits in the loss‚ their 8th straight game with 10 hits or more.

The Montreal Royals clinch the International League pennant behind the stellar pitching of lefty Tom Lasorda in game 2. The Royals take a pair from Baltimore‚ 6-5 and 8-4.

Former player Arky Vaughan‚ 40‚ and a friend drown when their boat overturns in a “bottomless” lake in California.

September

September 1In the 2nd game of a doubleheader in St.‚ Louis‚ the Indians lose a critical game‚ 2-1‚ in 5 innings when rain halts the game for the 2nd and last time. The Indians are ahead in the 6th‚ but a porous tarp turns the infield into a quagmire‚ washing out their three runs. The Indians protest the game‚ saying Bill Veeck told the grounds crew to work slowly‚ but Will Harridge will reject the protest.
September 2In the 2nd game of a doubleheader‚ Washington’s Mike Fornieles makes his ML debut and pitches a one-hit‚ 5-0 shutout against the A’s. Joe Astroth‘s 2nd inning single is the only hit off the young Cuban‚ just brought up from Havana (Florida International L. class B). Washington takes the opener‚ 3-2‚ in 10 innings.

Yankee hurlers Tom Gorman and Ewell Blackwell shut out the Red Sox 5-0 and 4-0 in a doubleheader.
September 3Dick Littlefield of the Browns 2-hits the White Sox‚ but loses‚ 1-0. Sam Mele‘s homer is one of the safeties. Saul Rogovin scatters 7 hits or the win.

Harry Byrd of the Philadelphia Athletics one-hits the Yankees‚ 3-0. Irv Noren‘s double is the only safety. Bullpen coach Al Bender‚ the Chippewa Chief‚ is honored before the game

Bob Feller and Hal Newhouser square off for the last time in their careers‚ but neither starter is around for the finish. The Tigers top the Indians‚ 11-8.
September 4Mike Garcia notches his 18th win‚ stopping the Tigers‚ 2-0 on 5 hits. Luke Easter belts his 25 homer to help keep the Indians 3 1/2 games in back of the Yankees.

The Yanks sign vet Charlie Keller for the remainder of the season‚ but they don’t need him today as they crush the A’s‚ 12-2. Gil McDougald has two homers and the Yanks chase Shantz with 7 runs in the 7th. The lefty was trying for his 23rd win. Chief Reynolds wins his 17th‚ spoiling Chief Bender night at Shibe Park. The former A’s ace receives a check for $6‚000‚ gifts‚ and a scroll with 150‚000 names. On hand are former teammates Frank Baker‚ Rube Oldring‚ Lena Blackburne‚ and Ira Thomas.

Stu Miller‚ who debuted with a 1-0 win over the Cubs August 12‚ repeats his performance against Chicago. Again‚ it is Schoendienst scoring the only run. Warren Hacker is the unfortunate loser.
September 5Raul Sanchez of the Senators pitches a 2-0 whitewash against the Red Sox in the first start of his career. It is the 2nd shutout in 4 days for a Nats’ Cuban rookie making his first start. Until this week both Sanchez and Mike Fornieles‚ the other rookie pitcher‚ were playing for Havana.

Vinegar Bend Mizell strikes out 11 batters in topping the Pirates‚ 4-0. Pittsburgh’s 18-year-old Bill Bell‚ a triple-no-hit winner in Class D‚ loses in his major-league debut. Rookie Vinegar Bend Mizell extends the Redbirds consecutive scoreless innings pitched to 25 with the win.

Luke Easter clouts a 3-run homer and Early Wynn wins his 19th‚ 3-0 over the White Sox. Cleveland now trails the Yankees by 2 1/2 games.

Clint Hartung‘s 2-run pinch blast in the 8th lifts the Giants to a 5-4 win over the Phils. Bobby Thomson also connects to back Al Corwin‘s win. The Giants are 6 games in back of the Dodgers as the two teams start their series.
September 6Sid Gordon of the Braves goes 5-for-8 in the first game of a doubleheader that goes 17 innings‚ as Boston loses 7-6 at Philadelphia. Phils’ starter Robin Roberts‚ trailed 6-2 after 8 innings‚ but stays the distance pitching 17 innings for the win. Del Ennis ends the game with a leadoff homer in the 17th. This is the third 17-inning effort in 2 years.

For the third win in a row‚ Luke Easter homers as the Indians win‚ 8-3 over the Browns. Big Luke clouts two to back Bob Lemon‘s 19th win‚ and Larry Doby hits his 30th.

The Giants sweep a pair from Brooklyn‚ winning 6-4 and 7-3‚ to cut the Brooks lead to 4 games. the first game goes 3 hours and 38 minutes as the Dodgers fumble the win away. Jim Hearn holds Da Bums to 4 hits in the nitecap.
September 7The Yankees Johnny Mize‘s pinch-hit grand slam gives the Yanks a 5-1 win at Washington. He has now homered in each one of the 15 ML parks‚ including Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis while in each league. Mize joins Heath as the only players to homer in every park in their league in one season; Mize also connected in each NL park in 1937‚ 1940‚ and 1947.

OF Don Grate of Chattanooga sets a record for a long toss of a baseball in Chattanooga’s Engel Stadium‚ with a throw of just one inch better than 434 feet‚ breaking a 42-year-old mark set by Larry LeJeune on October 9‚ 1910. Grate will improve his own record to 443 feet 31?2 inches on August 23‚ 1953. While playing in the PCL‚ Rocky Colavito attempts to break the record on July 1‚ 1956‚ but tops out at 435‚ 10 inches.

In the Tri-State League playoffs against Anderson‚ Charlotte’s Dean Stone follows teammate Bob Danielson’s no-hitter with one of his own‚ winning 5-0. Danielson won 1-0 on the 3rd. For Dean‚ it is his 2nd no-hitter of the year.
September 8An umpire ejects Giants P Larry Jansen for throwing a ball in the 9th inning of game one that nips Bobby Cox on the hip. Giants manager Leo Durocher is also suspended and fined $100. Jansen is fined just $25 because of his “excellent conduct record.” Brooklyn splits the doubleheader‚ winning the opener 10-2 and losing the nightcap 3-2 to reliever Sal Maglie. The Dodger lead stays at 5 games.
September 9The Cardinals Stan Musial gets his 2‚000th hit‚ off the Phils Curt Simmons‚ as the Cardinals lose 4-2.
September 10Although errors by Smalley and Jackson account for 7 unearned runs‚ the Cubs loose a 15-hit attack to beat the Dodgers‚ 11-7. Bob Rush wins his 4th against Brooklyn with no defeats. The Brooks margin is now 3 1/2 games over the Giants. Hank Sauer drives in 3 runs with 3 hits‚ including his 37th homer of the year. Hammerin’ Hank is leading the NL‚ but his homer today is his last. Ralph Kiner will tie Sauer for the NL homer title.
September 12Braves pitcher Ernie Johnson is given 16 runs by his Boston teammates‚ as he coasts to a 16-0 nitecap win against the Pirates. The Bucs win the opener‚ 8-1‚ behind Bob Friend and Ralph Kiner. Kiner blasts his 35th and 36th homers‚ each with a man on‚ to stay one back of Sauer of the Cubs.

The Indians win their 9th in a row behind Early Wynn‘s 21st win‚ a 4-0 whitewash of the Red Sox. Wynn is pitching on two days rest‚ but allows just 3 hits.

The Yankees (83-57) subdue the White Sox‚ 6-4‚ to remain a half game ahead of the Indians. Tom Gorman is the winner over Hal Brown.
September 13Braves ace Warren Spahn strikes out 6 Pirates in a row en route to an 8-0 win in Boston.

OF Frank Carswell of the Buffalo Bisons wins the International League batting title with a .344 average. He also leads the league in HRs with 30 and has 101 RBI.
September 14Enos Slaughter of the Cardinals walks twice in the 5th inning‚ and teammate Stan Musial chips in with a HR and a double in the frame‚ as St. Louis scores 11 runs against Dave Koslo. The Giants pitcher loses the game 14-4‚ his first loss to St. Louis after 13 straight wins since June 11‚ 1950.

At Cleveland‚ 73‚609 cheer the 2nd place Indians in their final meeting of the year with the first place Yanks. Cleveland‚ winners of 9 of their last 10 games‚ has Mike Garcia‚ 4-0 this year vs. New York‚ against Eddie Lopat. Garcia‚ who had not given up a run in his last 28 innings pitched‚ allows 4 runs in the first 4 innings. Reliever Lou Brissie serves up Mantle’s 20th homer in the 5th to put New York up 5-0. Reynolds relieves a tired Lopat and New York wins 7-1‚ to stay 2 1/2 games ahead of the Tribe.

In Boston‚ the Braves and Cubs split a pair. Max Surkont wins the opener‚ 1-0‚ when Eddie Mathews hits a 9th inning HR off Johnny Klippstein. The Cubs win‚ 3-2‚ in the 10th in game 2.

At Brooklyn‚ the Reds red-hot rookie Jim Greengrass‚ hits his first ML homer‚ a grand slam‚ to account for all the scoring as the Reds trim the Dodgers‚ 4-0. Herm Wehmeier is the winner. Greengrass is the 2nd Reds rookie in 3 days to slam his first ML homer: Johnny Temple hit a grand slam on the 12th against the Giants.
September 15The Dodgers tie a club record by hitting 5 HRs to defeat the Reds‚ 11-5‚ and stay 3 games ahead of the Giants. Robinson and Snider hit 2 apiece‚ while Hodges hits a solo for his 100th RBI. A crowd of 2‚612 is the smallest at Ebbets Field since 1934.

In a Cold War move reported in the New York‚ the Russians decry the American game of baseball by citing their own game of “lapka” as being the progenitor of baseball. They call American players “slaves.” The State Department links the Soviet claim as the founders of baseball as part of its “Hate America” campaign.
September 16Robin Roberts wins his 25th‚ the most in the NL since 1939. The Phils ace stops the Reds‚ 9-5.

Joe Gordon‚ former All-Star 2B for the Yankees and Indians and now manager of Sacramento (PCL)‚ inserts himself as a pinch hitter in each game of a twin bill with Los Angeles and homers on both occasions. The first one is a grand slam that wins the game 4-1.
September 17Behind Mantle’s two doubles and a homer in the Yanks win‚ 12-3‚ at Detroit‚ for New York’s 6th straight win. Mantle‚ hitting lefty against Bill Wight‚ drills his line drive homer just below the RF roof. Bauer adds a homer off starter Virgil Trucks‚ while Walt Dropo clubs his 28th for Detroit. Bob Kuzava is the winner. New York maintains its 2 1/2 game lead.

The Indians top the Senators‚ 6-1‚ behind Bob Lemon‘s 20th win. The Indians remain 2 1/2 in back of New York.

In front of a home crowd of 1.250‚ the Browns collect 16 hits‚ including a 3-run homer by Bob Nieman‚ in routing the Red Sox‚ 10-4. Sox manager Lou Boudreau starts George Schmees on the mound‚ and the outfielder allows 2 runs and 4 hits in 2 innings in his major league mound debut. Ike Delock‚ who relieves in the 3rd with the score 2-2‚ takes the loss.

Jim Hearn of the Giants shuts out the Cubs‚ 2-0‚ on a 5-hitter and the Giants move to within 3 games of 1st place. Bob Rush takes the loss.
September 20The Senators top the Red Sox‚ 10-6‚ and pin the loss on Mel Parnell‚ his first defeat to the Nats since May 28‚ 1948. Parnell had won 17 straight against Washington but the portsider does not survive the 4th inning. Shea has 2 hits and 2 RBI to help his win.
September 21A’s rookie Harry Byrd loses a heartbreaker to New York and Allie Reynolds‚ 1-0. Byrd will be named the AL Rookie of the Year. Reynolds strikes out 8 to move ahead of Shantz 153 to 152 for the AL lead.

In their last game in Boston before moving to Milwaukee next season‚ the Braves lose to Brooklyn‚ 8-2. Joe Black beats Jim Wilson and allows 3 hits in winning his first ML start and giving the Dodgers at least a tie for the NL pennant. Roy Campanella hits the last homer at Braves Field. The game draws a crowd of 8‚822‚ the second largest crowd this year for the Braves.
September 23The Dodgers beat the Phils‚ 5-4‚ to clinch the NL pennant‚ the first time in 4 years the winner is not determined until the last game.
September 24At Fenway‚ New York’s Johnny Sain relieves in the 10th for a 3-2 win in the opener‚ then relieves in the nightcap to preserve an 8-6 win. Mantle leads the way with a homer‚ triple‚ 2 doubles and a single on the afternoon‚ driving in 6 runs. His triple in the 10th wins the opener‚ and his 4th inning homer in the nightcap‚ off Mel Parnell‚ gives New York a 7-0 lead. Boston comes back to cut the lead to one run in the 8th inning when they score two runs off Bob Kuzava. In the 9th‚ Mantle misses on a sac bunt attempt‚ then doubles home Rizzuto with another run. New York now leads Cleveland by 2 games with 4 to play.

Cleveland keeps pace with the Yankees by beating the White Sox‚ 6-0‚ behind Bob Lemon‘s 3-hitter. Lemon wins his 23rd and pitches his 21st complete game‚ both AL highs. He has now pitched 309.2 innings‚ the only pitcher in the 1950s to pitch 300 innings in a year.
September 25Hal Newhouser of the Tigers wins his 200th game‚ defeating the Browns‚ 3-2. Newhouser goes the distance‚ allowing 6 hits. It is his last win for Detroit‚ who will release him in early 1953.

At New York‚ Robin Roberts wins his 28th‚ the most in the NL since Dean in 1935. The Phils ace stops the Giants‚ 74‚ completing his 30th game in 37 starts.
September 26The Yanks clinch their 4th straight pennant with an 11-inning 5-2 win at Philadelphia behind Ed Lopat and Johnny Sain. Billy Martin‘s two out‚ two run single in the 11th clinches it. The loser is starter Harry Byrd‚ who gives up early solo homers to Mantle and Irv Noren. Gus Zernial’s 2-run homer is all the A’s offense.
September 27The Braves Ed Mathews hits three HRs as visiting Boston breaks a 10-game loss streak and beats Brooklyn 11-3. Virgil Jester wins‚ his last in the majors and the last victory for the Boston Braves franchise.

Cleveland scores 10 runs in the first 2 innings to coast to an 11-6 win at Detroit. Bob Chakales‚ with relief help‚ wins his first of the year. The 2 teams combine for 9 double plays to tie an AL record set in 1925.
September 28The Braves play a 12-inning‚ 5-5 tie in Brooklyn in their last game as the Boston Braves. The Dodger pitching staff sets a NL record for most strikeouts in a season with 773 when Jim Hughes fans Sid Gordon in the 12th.

Stan Musial makes his only ML pitching appearance. With his 6th batting title wrapped up‚ he takes the mound against the Cubs Frank Baumholtz‚ the runner-up in the batting race in a confrontation agreed upon before the game. Baumholtz‚ batting righthanded‚ reaches base on an error by 3B Solly Hemus‚ and Harvey Haddix‚ who had shifted to RF‚ comes back for Musial. The Cubs win 3-0 behind Paul Minner. Musial has one hit to finish the year at .336: a hitless Baumholtz closes at .325.

The Phils Robin Roberts wins his 28th game‚ the most in the league since 1935‚ a 7-4 win before 5‚933 at the Polo Grounds. It is Roberts’ 30th complete game. Roberts is backed by homers from Willie Jones and Swish Nicholson‚ while the Giants Hank Thompson goes deep.

October

October 1In Game 1 of the WS‚ the Dodgers defeat the Yankees 4-2 at Ebbets Field behind relief ace Joe Black‚ who started only 2 games during the season.
October 2The Yanks tie up the WS behind the masterful 3-hit pitching of Vic Raschi‚ who defeats Carl Erskine 7-1. Raschi strikes out 9.
October 3Brooklyn’s Preacher Roe wins in Yankee Stadium 5-3. Brooklyn scores 2 runs in the 9th on Yogi Berra‘s passed ball.
October 4The Yankees draw even at home 2-0 behind the shutout pitching of Allie Reynolds. Johnny Mize‚ inserted at 1B‚ clubs a HR‚ single‚ double‚ and walk in 4 at bats.

In the famed Little World Series‚ the Rochester Red Wings (IL) defeat the Kansas City Blues (AA) 4-3.
October 5At Yankee Stadium‚ the seesaw WS battle continues as Brooklyn wins 6-5 in 11 innings when Duke Snider doubles home Billy Cox. Carl Erskine goes all the way for the win.
October 6At Ebbets Field‚ the Yankees even it up for the 3rd time‚ as Raschi and Reynolds combine for a 3-2 win in Brooklyn. Berra’s homer ties the game in the 7th and Mickey Mantle‘s homer in the 8th becomes the winner. At age 20‚ Mickey is the youngest player to hit a homer in the post-season‚ a mark that will stand for 44 years. RF Carl Furillo robs Johnny Mize of a HR in the 9th.
October 7In Game 7 the Yankees take their 4th consecutive WS championship‚ as Allie Reynolds‚ one of 3 relievers‚ defeats Joe Black 4-2. Billy Martin saves the day by snaring a 2-out‚ bases-loaded IF pop off the bat of Jackie Robinson. Gil Hodges goes hitless again and is 0-for-21 in the Series. Each Yank will receive a winners’ share of $6‚026‚ and each Dodger‚ a losers’ share of $4‚200.
October 14Welcome to the Bigs. The Giants acquire Gail Henley from Tulsa and trade him to the Reds for P Frank Hiller. Tomorrow‚ Cincy will bundle Henley with Cal Abrams and C Joe Rossi and trade the trio to Pittsburgh for 22-year-old OF Gus Bell. Pittsburgh will then pack Henley back to the minors.
October 23The PCL announces a 176-game schedule for 1953.

November

November 12The baseball writers name Philadelphia P Bobby Shantz as the AL MVP. He was 24-7 for the 79-75 A’s.

The White Sox place OF Jim Rivera on a one-year probation after he is cleared of a rape charge.
November 19AL President Will Harridge says there will be greater fines for managers who use abusive language while arguing with umpires.
November 20In a controversial vote‚ the writers name Cubs slugger Hank Sauer as the NL MVP. The Cubs finished in 5th place‚ despite Sauer’s 37 HRs and 121 RBIs. “Yeah‚ I’m surprised‚ says Hank. But I can tell you this‚ I’m sure tickled pink. I thought maybe the other guy‚ Roberts‚ would win it.” Sauer has 226 points in the voting‚ while Robin Roberts is 2nd with 211‚ and Joe Black is 3rd with 208.

Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick states that he thinks the PCL will eventually reach ML status.
November 21Dodgers P Joe Black‚ who had a record of 15-4‚ easily wins the NL Rookie of the Year.
November 22The writers vote Harry Byrd of the Athletics as the AL Rookie of the Year. Byrd‚ with 9 points‚ just beats out Clint Courtney with 8.
November 25The St. Louis Cardinals seek payment from the New York Giants for 2 televised games in an effort to determine the TV and radio rights of visiting teams for revenue.
November 28International League President Frank Shaughnessy reveals plans to form 2 new major leagues by merging the top teams in the American Association and the top teams from the International League. He thinks that in 5 to 6 years‚ ML baseball will elevate these two leagues‚ along with the Pacific Coast League‚ which nearly has ML status now.
November 30On a local TV program‚ Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson charges that the New York Yankee management is racist for its failure to bring up a black player. George Weiss of the Yanks denies the allegations.

December

December 2Dodgers executive Buzzie Bavasi dismisses the Yankees reaction to Jackie Robinson‘s charges. Commissioner Ford Frick plans no action against Robinson.
December 4Detroit trades P Virgil Trucks‚ who tossed two no-hitters during the year‚ along with P Hal White and OF Johnny Groth‚ to the Browns in exchange for 2B Owen Friend‚ OF Bob Nieman‚ and OF/C J.W. Porter.
December 5ML attendance figures show an 11 percent drop.
December 6The AL approves a 2-league waiver rule curbing inter-league trading after June 15th.

At the 1952 meetings a new bonus rule is approved‚ replacing the one that was instituted in 1946 and repealed in 1950. This new rule sets the bonus limit at $4‚000 or the player could be lost though the draft. “Under the rule adopted‚ a bonus player is any free agent with less than 90 days’ professional experience‚ who signs for more than $4‚000 with a major league club ($5‚000 if the player is retained in the majors)‚ $4‚000 by minor clubs higher than Class B and $3‚000 by B‚ C‚ and D. A bonus player in the minors must pass through a draft period before he can be transferred in any manner‚ except by outright release‚ and a major bonus player must be retained for two years‚ unless waivers area asked for his unconditional release.” Such waivers are irrevocable. This second bonus rule lasts until abolished at the 1957 winter meeting in Colorado Springs.
December 11Pittsburgh names Fred Haney as its manager for 1953 replacing Bill Meyer‚ the Bucs manager since 1947.
December 12Peter J. McGovern becomes president of the Little League‚ succeeding Charles Durban‚ who resigns because of ill health. The Little League began in 1939 with 8 teams in 2 leagues and has grown to over 1‚800 leagues in 44 states and several foreign countries.
December 18In a shake-up of the Cleveland Indians‚ Hank Greenberg stays on as GM‚ while Ellis W. Ryan resigns as president after losing a showdown. Mike Wilson‚ who buys Ryan’s share‚ will be the Indians new president.