Monday, August 22, 1949
There is only one game today as it is a travel day. The AL eastern teams are on a train to the Midwest while in the NL it is the Midwest teams heading east. There are not too many road trips left in this season and to won't be much longer before we see teams closing out their season series' against different opponents.
Brooklyn 5 Boston (NL) (H) 3
Both teams scored a run in the first, but then the Boston defense committed four errors in the second inning and suddenly Brooklyn led 5-1. Jack Banta (7-1) and Vern Bickford (12-11) buckled down from there and six scoreless innings followed and Banta put down a late Braves rally attempt in the ninth and Brooklyn had the win.
Tuesday, August 23, 1949
Notes: The New York Yankees announced they had purchased the contract of first baseman Johnny Mize from the New York Giants.
Philadelphia (AL) 2 Chicago (AL) (H) 1 (10)
The White Sox gunned down three Philadelphia runners at the plate during the game but Joe Coleman (15-8) kept Chicago in check until the Athletics could score that second run in the tenth. Mickey Haefner (7-11) was the hard-luck loser for the White Sox in a close game.
Cleveland (H) 9 Washington 1
Cleveland extended Washington's losing streak to seventeen today as the Senators led 1-0 after four innings but then the Indians offense got cranked up and moving. First baseman Mickey Vernon went 4-for-4 and hit a two-run triple in the Indians four-run seventh.
New York (AL) 3 Detroit (H) 1
Allie Reynolds (9-10) didn't allow a run until the ninth inning but had Joe Page to come in to get the last two outs and pick up a save for his efforts. Hal Newhouser (15-8) pitched well but got the loss. Joe DiMaggio took his first game off since his return to play two months ago.
Boston (AL) 7 St. Louis (AL) (H) 3
Ted Williams hit a three run homerun (#40, 135) in the third and the Red Sox led 6-0 after the fifth and Joe Dobson (13-8) held on for the win. Dobson only allowed six hits but he walked nine batters - three double plays behind him came in very handy.
Boston (NL) (H) 5 Pittsburgh 4
Pittsburgh outhit Boston 11-9 on the day but the Braves bunched their hits to score four times in the fifth and then hold on to defeat the Pirates. Johnny Sain (12-11) made it close in the end but held on to claim the win.
St. Louis (NL) 9 Brooklyn (H) 8 (GM 1) (11)
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| Nippy Jones |
The game went back and forth but with a three-run lead in the ninth the Dodgers were sure they would get the game one win, but then Stan Musial hit a three run homerun (#30, 105) to tie the score to eventually send the game into extra innings. Both teams scored in the tenth, but the Cardinals scored again in the eleventh and the Dodger didn't have an answer.
Note: I think this might be the game where Nippy Jones hurt his back (Bio). Jones would go on to play most of the remainder of the 1949 season, but his off-season back surgery didn't go well and essentially ended his career. He did have one bright and shining moment for the 1957 Milwaukee Braves but unfortunately, he is now merely a footnote in baseball history.
Brooklyn (H) 7 St. Louis (NL) 0 (GM 2)
Brooklyn left fielder Mike McCormick, back after an extended hiatus, hit a three run homerun in the fourth inning and Brooklyn managed a split of the doubleheader. Preacher Roe (12-7) allowed only one hit and shutout St. Louis.
New York (NL) (H) 6 Chicago (NL) 5
Chicago led 5-0 after the top of the fifth but then New York began to climb back into it, eventually cutting the lead to 5-3. Then with two outs in the bottom of the ninth pinch-hitter Don Mueller lined a double off the wall and drove home the tying and winning runs. Dave Koslo (12-4) had a shaky start but a strong finish and picked up the come-from-behind win.
Cincinnati 7 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 0
Cincinnati starter Herm Wehmeier (4-12) has had some shaky starts recently but he had the good stuff today, limiting Philadelphia to only three hits and going all the way for the shutout victory. Shortstop Virgil Stallcup went 4-for-5 on the day and scored and drove in a run to help key the Reds offense.
Wednesday, August 24, 1949
Chicago (AL) (H) 10 Philadelphia (AL) 5
Chicago opened a quick 2-0 lead and then kind of exploded for five runs in the fifth "kind of" because two runs were walked home and another two came home on sacrifice flies. They all count though and Randy Gumpert (9-11) took them and went all the way for the win. Lead-off hitter Herb Adams went 4-for-5 with three runs scored to spark the White Sox offense.
Cleveland (H) 3 Washington 0
Washington's woes continued as their losing streak extended to eighteen games as Cleveland started Mike Garcia (13-8) threw a three-hit shutout. Mickey Vernon drove in all the Indians runs today, starting with a two run single in the sixth and adding an insurance run in the eighth.
Detroit (H) 3 New York (AL) 0
New York outhit Detroit 6-3 but one of Detroit's hits was a two run homerun by left fielder Pat Mullin and Art Houtteman (12-6) did the rest. Johnny Mize made his New York Yankees debut in this game.
Boston (NL) (H) 6 Pittsburgh 1
Boston blew open a close game with a four-run eighth and allowed Warren Spahn (19-5) to pick up another win. Spahn didn't get a shutout, but the only run he allowed was unearned.
Brooklyn (H) 4 St. Louis (NL) 1
St. Louis starter Al Brazle (12-6) got off to a bad start, allowing three homeruns before the end of the third inning, two of them to Jackie Robinson (#13, 91). Don Newcombe (15-6) didn’t allow a run until the ninth inning and picked up the win.
Chicago (NL) 8 New York (NL) (H) 1
Chicago left fielder Hank Sauer hit two homeruns (#24, 72) early to help the Cubs build a 4-0 lead and then Andy Pafko added a three run homerun (#24, 71) late to seal the win. Dewey Adkins (3-1) made a spot start and went all the way for the victory.
Thursday, August 25, 1949
Boston (AL) 9 Chicago (AL) (H) 5
Ted Williams hit a two run homerun (#41, 138) in the first and Bobby Doerr (#12, 85) did likewise in the fourth as Boston moved off to a 4-1 lead, only to see Chicago respond with a three-run seventh to tie the score at 4-4. The Red Sox immediately jumped on the White Sox bullpen for a five-run eighth and Mickey McDermott (5-5) held on for the win. Johnny Pesky was back at third base for Boston after a week out due to an injury.
Cleveland (H) 4 New York (AL) 1
New York starter Eddie Lopat (18-3) only had one bad inning but Joe Gordon had a two-run double and Mickey Vernon had a two-run triple in the bottom of the fourth and Cleveland was able to pull within one game of the Yankees. Bob Feller (12-6) went all the way for the win.
Detroit (H) 7 Washington 4
Washington thought they had a good chance to end their losing streak, but with a tie score and the bases loaded with only one out in the eighth they just couldn't take the lead. Detroit came right back with a three-run eighth and extended the Senators losing streak to nineteen games. First baseman Eddie Robinson was back in the lineup after ten days for Washington and had a 3-for-4 day with a run, an RBI, and a triple.
Philadelphia (AL) 5 St. Louis (AL) (H) 4
St. Louis built up an early 4-2 lead but Philadelphia rallied for three runs in the eighth to regain the lead. Alex Kellner (13-7) got the win and went 2-for-4 on the day with a run scored.
Cincinnati 18 Boston (NL) (H) 4
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| Grady Hatton |
Cincinnati led 5-1 after the second and then after a scoreless middle of the game exploded for thirteen runs in the final three innings. Center fielder Lloyd Merriman went 4-for-7 and scored three runs and third baseman Grady Hatton went 4-for-6 with three runs scored and four RBI's to lead the offense. Ken Raffensberger (10-17) went all the way for the win plus he went 2-for-6 on the day with two runs scored and two RBI's as every Reds player scored a run, had a hit, and had an RBI.
Brooklyn (H) 7 Chicago (NL) 4 (GM 1)
Brooklyn first baseman Gil Hodges hit a grand slam in the third inning and the Dodgers easily captured game one. Chicago first baseman Herman Reich poked a three-run double late to make it close, but Rex Barney (8-5) quickly recovered and was able to go all the way for the win.
Chicago (NL) 5 Brooklyn (H) 4 (GM 2)
In the inverse of game one, it was Chicago who struck quickly and then held on for the win. The Cubs jumped on Jack Banta (7-2) with four in the first and Dutch Leonard (6-16) went all the way for the win.
New York (NL) (H) 5 St. Louis (NL) 4
In the typical New York Giants style they kept the game close with their good pitching and relied on homeruns to quickly grab a lead, but the game ended up being played out quite differently. With a 2-1 lead the Giants committed three errors in the top of the eighth and St. Louis took advantage to score three runs and take a 4-2 lead. The Giants responded when, after they had two outs in the bottom of the ninth, they put together a pinch-hit triple, a walk, a single, and then a two-run double by Sid Gordon to win the game in an exciting come-from-behind fashion.
Philadelphia (NL) (H) 3 Pittsburgh 2 (GM 1)
In a game where both teams squandered multiple bases-loaded situations, it ended up being quite a nail-biter. Solo homeruns from Granny Hamner and Del Ennis in the fifth inning got Philadelphia an early lead but it was a run-scoring triple by Stan Hollmig in the seventh that put the Phillies ahead to stay.
Philadelphia (NL) (H) 6 Pittsburgh 5 (GM 2)
This game started off like the last, with teams getting on-base and not getting a timely hit. This time however both teams relied on the sacrifice fly - Pittsburgh had three in the first five innings, Philadelphia two. This finally wore off as Wally Westlake tripled home the tying run in the top of the ninth but then Stan Hollmig came through again when he singled home Del Ennis with the game-winner in the bottom of the inning. Pittsburgh started the day two games behind Philadelphia but the Phillies managed to come out ahead in both games.
Friday, August 26, 1949
Chicago (AL) (H) 3 Boston (AL) 2 (GM 1)
Chicago starter Bill Wight (13-8) outdueled Mel Parnell (18-7) to claim the game one win. Vern Stephens hit a two-run double in the top of the fifth to tie the score at 2-2 but Stephens' error in the bottom half of the inning allowed the eventual winning run to score when a double play couldn't be completed.
Chicago (AL) (H) 2 Boston (AL) 1 (GM 2)
The game was scoreless through six before Boston plated a run in the top of the seventh, but then in the bottom of the inning Ellis Kinder's (19-3) control deserted him and Chicago scored twice to take the lead. Bob Kuzava (5-8) finished what he started and the White Sox were able to complete a doubleheader sweep over the Red Sox.
Cleveland (H) 4 New York (AL) 2
The lead bounced back and forth early but the score ended up at 2-2 after the fifth with neither able to gain an advantage. Cleveland left fielder Dale Mitchell surprised everyone with only his fifth homerun of the year in the bottom of the eighth and Al Benton (9-3) held on for the win. Cleveland is now tied for second place with New York.
Detroit (H) 16 Washington 1
Detroit scored ten times in the bottom of the third and then continued to pound the hapless Washington bullpen as the Senators losing streak has now reached twenty games. George Kell went 3-for-5 and scored four runs while Pat Mullin and Vic Wertz both had four RBI's in support of Ted Gray (13-8).
St. Louis (AL) (H) 12 Philadelphia (AL) 10
St. Louis led 6-2 after the second and 7-3 after the sixth and it looked like that was pretty much where the game would end up but then things changed. Philadelphia left fielder Elmer Valo hit a three run homerun in a six-run seventh, only to see the Browns come back with four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning and retake the lead at 11-9. Both teams scored once in the eighth but Al Papai (4-7) kept the Athletics quiet in the ninth and picked up the win. Both teams had fifteen hits while the Browns accumulated eleven walks on the day.
Cincinnati 6 Boston (NL) (H) 1
Cincinnati starter Johnny Vander Meer (6-11) didn't allow a run until the ninth inning as the Reds cruised to their second consecutive win over Boston. The Reds scored twice in the second to take the lead and then added three runs in the eighth, the big hit being a two run homerun from third baseman Grady Hatton.
Brooklyn (H) 9 Chicago (NL) 3
Brooklyn starter Joe Hatten (7-9) allowed twelve hits today but gave up no walks and picked up the easy win. Brooklyn had seventeen hits and left fielder Marv Rackley came through with two big hits and three RBI's to help get the Dodgers off to an early lead.
St. Louis (NL) 4 New York (NL) (H) 3 (13)
These games between first and second place in the NL have turned out to be quite exciting, plus these two teams face each other in a doubleheader yet tomorrow. St. Louis led 3-0 early but couldn’t hold the lead and then nobody scored again until Red Schoendienst scored Solly Hemus with the eventual game-winner in the thirteenth. Batting eighth, Hemus went 4-for-5 with two runs scored on the day.
Philadelphia (NL) (H) 7 Pittsburgh 3
Philadelphia committed five errors in the first three innings and Ralph Kiner had a two run homerun (#39, 122) for Pittsburgh, but despite that, at the end of the third inning, the Phillies led 4-2. Ken Heintzelman (12-9) kept the Pirates bats quiet and picked up the victory.
Saturday, August 27, 1949
Chicago (AL) (H) 10 Boston (AL) 9
For a game that was tied at 2-2 after the fifth, this one had quite an ending. Ted Williams hit a three run homerun (#42, 141) in the sixth to put Boston up, but Chicago tied the score when George Metkovich hit a three run homerun in the bottom of the sixth. Both teams then scored three times each in the seventh, and then they each scored one run in the eighth. The Red Sox were held scoreless in the top of the ninth and then Cass Michaels singled home Luke Appling with the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth.
Cleveland (H) 6 New York (AL) 5
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| Hal Newhouser |
New York came into the game just percentage points ahead of Cleveland and both teams knew the winner would have sole possession of second place. Bob Kennedy hit a three run homerun in the second and the Indians seemed to be well in control, but then Tommy Henrich hit a two run homerun in the eighth and that was followed by a Johnny Lindell pinch-hit homerun in the ninth and suddenly the score was tied. Undaunted, Dale Mitchell singled to start off the bottom of the ninth, was sacrificed to second and was then driven home with the game-winner by Mickey Vernon.
Detroit (H) 8 Washington 0 (Perfect Game!)
Having lost twenty consecutive games the Washington Senators today had the privilege of facing Hal Newhouser (16-8) and Newhouser was untouchable as he threw a Perfect Game - 27 up and 27 down - in an easy 8-0 win. Newhouser also went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and three RBI's to help his own cause, while George Kell chipped in with a four-RBI day.
St. Louis (AL) (H) 11 Philadelphia (AL) 0
St. Louis starter Ned Garver (8-15) only allowed four hits to Philadelphia and went all the way for the complete game shutout. Dick Kokos and Les Moss both had three RBI's to power the Browns offense.
Boston (NL) (H) 9 Cincinnati 5
Boston powered itself to a win with a seven-run fifth inning in part due to three Cincinnati errors. Johnny Sain (13-11) got the win and left fielder Ed Sauer provided the offensive spark with a three-RBI day.
Brooklyn (H) 7 Chicago (NL) 3
Brooklyn starter Preacher Roe (13-7) overpowered Chicago by only allowing three hits in eight of work. Duke Snider had a clutch two-run single in the Dodgers three runs seventh that essentially put the game out of reach. Bob Scheffing hit a pinch-hit two-run homerun after that, but it was too little too late for the Cubs.
New York (NL) (H) 5 St. Louis (NL) 3 (GM 1)
New York led 4-0 after the third inning and held on for the close win. St. Louis scored two unearned runs in the sixth and added another run in the ninth but Dave Koslo (13-4) got the final out without any more damage being incurred.
St. Louis (NL) 5 New York (NL) (H) 4 (GM 2)
New York scored three times in the first but couldn't hold back St. Louis as the Cardinals slowly worked their way back into the game and eventually walked with a doubleheader split. The Cardinals scored twice in the third to make it close and then Stan Musial hit a two run homerun (#32, 109) in the fifth and Harry Brecheen (19-5) and Gerry Staley held off the Giants for the win.
Pittsburgh 8 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 5
Pittsburgh put up a four-spot in the third inning and held off a late Philadelphia rally to end the series against the Phillies with a win. Tiny Bonham (8-4) got the win and was abetted by Wally Westlake and Pete Castiglione who both had three RBI's on the day.
Note: This was Bonham's last major league appearance.
Sunday, August 28, 1949
Chicago (AL) (H) 5 New York (AL) 4 (GM 1)
New York's woes continued as Chicago moved off to an early lead and found themselves ahead 4-0 after the fifth. The Yankees finally got on the board with one in the sixth and then rallied to tie the score at 4-4 in the eighth, but in the bottom of the ninth second baseman Cass Michaels hit a two-out homerun off Joe Page (8-6) for the game-winner.
Note: Despite still recovering from a broken finger Yogi Berra made an appearance in this game as a pinch-runner. Berra won't return to his regular duties for another week.
Chicago (AL) (H) 1 New York (AL) 0 (GM 2)
Chicago lead-off hitter Dave Philley scored a two-out run in the top of the first when Joe DiMaggio muffed fly ball in center field and that was all the scoring in this one. Randy Gumpert (10-11) and Marino Pieretti combined on a four-hit shutout while Allie Reynolds (9-11) also threw a four-hitter but took the hard-luck loss.
Cleveland (H) 6 Boston (AL) 4
Boston took an early 4-0 lead due to some inopportune Cleveland errors and a Ted Williams homerun (#43, 142). The Indians fought their way back into it and at the end of the fifth, the score was tied at 4-4. Bob Lemon (17-9) recovered from his early innings struggles to pick up the complete-game victory but also knocked a two-run single in the sixth that put Cleveland ahead to stay.
Detroit 7 Philadelphia (AL) 4
Both teams scored two runs in the first inning and then Philadelphia regained the lead when they scored twice more in the third. There the score stood until Detroit scored five runs in the seventh. Center fielder Hoot Evers went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs to key the Tigers offense.
St. Louis (AL) (H) 3 Washington 2 (GM 1)
St. Louis would like to climb out of the cellar and Washington would just like to win a game and it was the Browns that took the advantage with an early 2-0 lead and then a 3-1 lead through the fifth. The Senators did score a run in the eighth to make it close but Karl Drews (9-13) held them off and then Ned Garver came in for the save.
St. Louis (AL) (H) 10 Washington 9 (GM 2)
Washington tried to get off to a fast start but St. Louis responded with a five-run fourth and took an 8-5 lead. The Browns led 10-6 in the top of the ninth when the Senators put up a furious rally, but right fielder Dick Kokos threw out John Simmons at home with the potential tying run and the pain continues in Washington with 23 consecutive losses. Bill Kennedy (5-6) got the win despite giving up sixteen hits in seven innings of work.
Boston (NL) (H) 2 St. Louis (NL) 1 (GM 1)
St. Louis scored first when Stan Musial doubled home Red Schoendienst in the top of the first, but that was the only run Warren Spahn (20-5) would allow as Boston came back to win game one of the doubleheader. In the bottom of the third Sibby Sisti doubled home Elbie Fletcher and was then immediately then doubled home by Pete Reiser and Spahn had his lead and he took over from there.
St. Louis (NL) 7 Boston (NL) (H) 0 (GM 2)
St. Louis starter Max Lanier (3-1) scattered seven hits and shutout Boston to gain a split in the doubleheader. Third baseman Tommy Glaviano hit a two-run homer in the second to get the Cardinals a 3-0 lead and then drove home an insurance run in the sixth to help salt the game away.
Brooklyn (H) 2 Pittsburgh 0
Brooklyn starter Don Newcombe (16-6) only gave up four hits on the day and shutout Pittsburgh. Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella drove both in runs in the second and that was all the help Newcombe needed today.
Cincinnati 4 New York (NL) (H) 1 (10) (GM 1)
Cincinnati starter Herm Wehmeier (5-12) pitched 8.2 innings of scoreless only to lose the shutout on a wild pitch in the ninth. Walker Cooper then hit a three run homerun in the top of the tenth to get Wehmeier a game one win.
Cincinnati 5 New York (NL) (H) 4 (GM 2)
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| Herman Franks |
New York scored three times in the bottom of the first and had a 4-1 lead after the fourth, but then Cincinnati came back and tied the score at 4-4 with a three-run fifth. There the score stayed until Danny Litwhiler doubled home Peanuts Lowrey in the top of the ninth to put the Reds ahead. Buddy Lively (1-8) finally got a win and Eddie Erautt pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save and clinch a doubleheader sweep for the visitors.
Note: Herman Franks made his only 1949 appearance and his final ML appearance in game two.
Chicago (NL) 2 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 1 (10) (GM 1)
In another close game Philadelphia starter Hank Borowy (8-16) pitched shutout ball for 8.2 innings but then the Cubs tied the game at 1-1 when pinch-hitter Smoky Burgess drove home pinch-runner Frank Baumholtz and the game soon moved into extra innings. Phil Cavarretta smoked a solo homerun in the top of the tenth and Doyle Lade (5-8) finished what he started to pick up the game one win.
Philadelphia (NL (H) 5 Chicago (NL) 4 (GM 2)
Philadelphia second baseman Mike Goliat hit a surprise three run homerun in the bottom of the fourth and suddenly the Phillies had a 4-1 lead. The score soon moved to 5-2 as both teams scored again, both Chicago runs coming on Bob Scheffing homeruns. Hal Jeffcoat hit a pinch-hit two run homerun in the top of the seventh to make it close, but Russ Meyer (11-6) and Jim Konstanty shut down the Cubs thereafter and gained a split in the doubleheader.
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