It's a holiday, so everybody is playing two games today. Buckle up, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.
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| Mickey Owen |
Note: Brooklyn activated catcher Mickey Owen. Owen had been on the Mexican League suspended list. Chicago (NL) immediately claimed Owen on waivers from Brooklyn. Chicago sent out catcher Rube Novotney to make room on the roster for Owen.
Monday, July 4, 1949
Detroit (H) 5 Cleveland 3 (GM 1)
After having lost four at home to Detroit just past week Cleveland was hoping to give some payback this week, and the Indians took a quick 1-0 lead. Bob Feller (7-3) looked good at the start, but then gave up a two run homerun to Pat Mullin in the fourth followed by a three run homerun by Aaron Robinson and all of a sudden Detroit was in control. Art Houtteman (6-2) picked up the win in game one.
Detroit (H) 8 Cleveland 0 (GM 2)
Detroit's dominance of Cleveland continued as Hal Newhouser threw a two-hit shutout and benefitted from another big Tiger's fourth inning. This time a six-run fourth inning knocked Gene Bearden (3-8) out of the box and paved the way for a doubleheader sweep.
New York (AL) 2 Boston (AL) (H) 1 (GM 1)
Boston starter Walt Masterson (6-4) had control problems in the second and walked home two runs and give New York a 2-1 lead, and that was all the scoring for today's game. Vic Raschi (12-5) went all the way to get the Yankees the game one win.
Boston (AL) (H) 10 New York (AL) 4 (GM 2)
Vern Stephens broke out his own mini-slump with a three run homerun (#26, 78) in the third and then Al Zarilla plated three with a double in the fifth and Boston walked to an easy game two victory. Mel Parnell (12-4) was able to shake some of his recent poor performances and go all the way for the win.
Note: ATMgr had Birdie Tebbetts starting at catcher for Boston but Baseball-Reference.com had Matt Batts.
Washington 11 Philadelphia (AL) (H) 8 (GM 1)
Washing ton scored first, but Philadelphia tied the score at 1-1 after the second. Eddie Robinson hit a grand slam in the fifth as the Senators regained the lead, but two innings later it was the Athletics on top. After a couple more back and forth's the Senators exploded for four runs in the top of the ninth off Dick Fowler (6-8) and made a winner of Dick Welteroth (1-3)
Philadelphia (AL) (H) 3 Washington 2 (GM 2)
Another game with some back and forth's, but this time Philadelphia got the lead and held on to it to split the doubleheader. A's starter Bobby Shantz (4-2) got his first complete game of the season. Eddie Yost made a pinch-hit appearance for Washington, his first appearance in three weeks.
Chicago (AL) 7 St. Louis (AL) (H) 1 (GM 1)
Chicago led 6-0 after the top of the third and Randy Gumpert (6-7) did the rest. Third baseman Floyd Baker went 4-for-4 on the day, Luke Appling had a 4-for-5 day, and Gumpert helped himself with a 2-for-3 day that included two runs scored and an RBI. Third baseman Bob Dillinger was back in the field for St. Louis following a ten-day hiatus.
St. Louis (AL) (H) 3 Chicago (AL) 2 (GM 2)
Chicago led 2-0 early, but Ned Garver (5-9) shut them down afterward and St. Louis crept back into it, eventually taking a 3-2 lead in the seventh. Billy Pierce (2-9) only allowed six hits, but two his runs allowed were unearned and those errors made the difference.
Boston (NL) (H) 5 New York (NL) 3 (GM 1)
New York got an early lead, Boston came back, New York responded, and then Boston backup catcher Mickey Livingston hit a surprise three run homerun in the sixth and Boston held on for the game one victory. Bill Voiselle (4-4) picked up the win and Larry Jansen (7-7) took the loss.
Boston (NL) (H) 15 New York (NL) 6 (GM 2)
Johnny Mize hit a two run homerun in the top of the first to give New York a lead, but then Boston drubbed a series of Giants pitchers and won going away. Del Crandall had a 4-for-5 day and Marv Rickert (.407) continued his torrid pace with a 2-for-3 day with three runs scored, four RBI's, two walks, a double, and homerun.
Brooklyn (H) 9 Philadelphia (NL) 0 (GM 1)
Philadelphia was on a six-game losing streak and Brooklyn was at three, so something had to give. Preacher Roe (7-6) didn’t allow a Phillies hit until the sixth, the only hit he allowed, and cruised to an easy victory. Duke Snider went 3-for-4 and hit his twentieth double of the season.
Brooklyn (H) 6 Philadelphia (NL) 2 (GM 2)
Philadelphia finally scored a run in the eighth inning of game two, but they were already losing 6-0 at the time and the Dodgers swept the doubleheader. The first two Dodgers to bat got on base and Carl Furillo homered (#11, 47), his second homerun of the day, and Don Newcombe (8-2) set the Phillies down from there.
St. Louis (NL) 6 Chicago (NL) (H) 2 (GM 1)
St. Louis activated pitcher Max Lanier before the game. Lanier had been on the Mexican League suspended list. Lanier pitched well in his first outing (like the Cardinals need more pitching) but didn’t get a decision in game one. St. Louis led 2-0 early, Chicago tied it in the fourth, and there the score stayed until the ninth. The Cardinals pushed across a run to take a 3-2 lead, and then Red Schoendienst hit a two-out three run homerun to give St. Louis a comfortable lead.
St. Louis (NL) 13 Chicago (NL) (H) 5 (GM 2)
Hank Sauer hit his second homerun (#16, 54) as a Cub, a three-run shot in the bottom of the first, but then St. Louis absolutely pounded Chicago pitching again to sweep a doubleheader. Enos Slaughter went 4-for-4 with a homerun (#7, 58) and got his average up to .404. Slaughter's homerun followed a homerun by Nippy Jones, and Stan Musial added one of his own later (#13, 50). Al Brazle (8-4) got the easy win. St. Louis now has a nine-game winning streak.
Cincinnati (H) 7 Pittsburgh 5 (GM 1)
Ralph Kiner hit a two-run triple in the first and then added a two-run homerun (#19, 66) in the sixth, but in between Cincinnati scored seven runs and knocked Cliff Chambers out of the box. Howie Fox (7-6) got the win in game one.
Pittsburgh 7 Cincinnati (H) 0 (GM 2)
Ralph Kiner got Pittsburgh off to a fast start again, this time with a three run homerun (#20, 69) in the first. This time however Pirates starter Bill Werle (3-7) held Cincinnati to only three hits and went all the way for the shutout and a split on the day.
Note: This is the game where Dino Restelli, who had gotten off to such a hot start in 1949, was hit by a pitch from Ewell Blackwell and was reportedly never quite the same again.
Tuesday, July 5, 1949
Cleveland 14 Detroit (H) 2
Cleveland ended their six-game losing streak to Detroit behind a big day from right fielder Bob Kennedy. Kennedy hit a three run homerun in the fourth and followed that up with a grand slam in the fifth. And if that wasn't enough, he hit a two-run homerun (#5, 16) in the eighth, giving him nine RBI's on the day. Each homerun came off a different Detroit pitcher as well. Kennedy has become a permanent fixture in right field for Cleveland over the past month.
New York AL) (H) 5 Boston (AL) 2
Boston center fielder Dom DiMaggio led off the game with a homerun and Boston soon led 2-0. Mickey McDermott (2-2) twice got Joe DiMaggio to pop out when there were runners on first and second, but the third time was too much and DiMaggio's single put a run on the board and the Yankees went on to win easily from there. Eddie Lopat (11-2) went all the way and got the win.
Chicago (AL) 13 St. Louis (AL) (H) 9 (11)
St. Louis led 4-0 after the second, but a third inning three run homerun from Luke Appling made most of that lead disappear quite quickly, and then Chicago scored five times in the sixth to take a big lead. This should have been enough for Bill Wight, but Wight tired late and the Browns managed to tie the game with a four-run ninth. The White Sox scored four in the eleventh (two unearned) and Max Surkont (5-1) held on to get the win.
Philadelphia (NL) 3 Brooklyn (H) 1
Philadelphia ended its eight game losing streak behind a dominant pitching performance from Ken Heintzelman (6-6). Brooklyn didn't get a hit until the eighth inning and only had two on the day while the Phillies scratched enough runs to get the win. Joe Hatten (2-8) had had some rough outings for the Dodgers this year but pitched well today and took the loss.
St. Louis (NL) 9 Chicago (NL) (H) 2
St. Louis has been pounding Chicago pitching and today was no exception as the Cardinals scored twice in the first, twice in the second, and then added four in the fifth to win decisively. Marty Marion and Rocky Nelson both drove in three runs to support Harry Brecheen (13-2).
Wednesday, July 6, 1949
Chicago (AL) (H) 2 Cleveland 1
Chicago scored a run in both the first and second innings and Cleveland answered with a single tally in the third, and that was all the scoring in this one. Bob Kuzava (3-3) went all the way to defeat Steve Gromek (5-5) in a pitcher's duel.
St. Louis (AL) (H) 5 Detroit 3
With the score tied at 1-1 St. Louis first baseman Jack Graham hit a two-run homerun (#16, 45) and St. Louis had a lead they wouldn’t give up. Karl Drews (5-6) got the win and Virgil Trucks got the loss (10-8) despite hitting three doubles and driving in two runs to try and jumpstart the Tigers offense.
Boston (AL) 6 Washington (H) 0
Vern Stephens hit a two run homerun (#27, 80) in the first and Boston cruised to an easy win in Washington. Ellis Kinder (11-2) went all the way for the complete game shutout.
Brooklyn 6 Boston (NL) (H) 4
Elbie Fletcher and Marv Rickert both homered in the first to give Boston a 3-1 lead and there it stood until an error by center fielder Jim Russell opened the door to a four-run Brooklyn fifth. Russell booted another ball in the seventh to allow the Dodgers to add to their lead and Ralph Branca (11-4) and Jack Banta took it from there.
Cincinnati (H) 8 Chicago (NL) 2
Cincinnati scored six times in the bottom of the third and strolled to an easy win over Chicago. Ken Raffensberger (4-12) has had a rough season but got the complete game victory today.
Note: On this day in 1949 Cincinnati defeated Chicago 23-4 as catcher Walker Cooper went 6-for-7 with three homeruns and ten RBI's. The Reds scored runs off all six Cubs pitchers on the day.
St. Louis (NL) 6 Pittsburgh (H) 2
After having gone 10-0 against the two teams at the bottom of the National League St. Louis now moved into Pittsburgh to play the team that is just ahead of those two at the bottom. The Cardinals wasted no time as they scored three runs in the top of the first, withstood a two-run homerun from Ralph Kiner (#21, 71), and eventually led 6-2 after the third. George Munger (8-7) went all the way for the victory.
Thursday, July 7, 1949
Cleveland 5 Chicago (AL) (H) 2
Cleveland got on the board quickly and led 4-0 after the top of the fifth. Larry Doby went 2-for-4 with two RBI's to spark the offense and Bob Lemon (7-7) went all the way for the win.
Note: Chicago activated pitcher Alex Carrasquel. Carresquel had been on the Mexican League suspended list.
New York (AL) 6 Philadelphia (AL) (H) 0
Allie Reynolds (6-6) twirled a five hit shutout and Joe DiMaggio hit a homerun and drove in two runs to lead New York to a road victory in Philadelphia. The Yankees scored four times in the eighth to blow it open and give Reynolds some cushion.
Detroit 7 St. Louis (AL) (H) 2
Detroit utilized a four-run fourth inning to take the lead and then hold on for the win. Backup center fielder Pat Mullin drove in two key runs as sport starter Lou Kretlow (2-4) made the most of his opportunity.
Note: St. Louis reliever Ralph Winegarner made his 1949 debut today. Winegarner first appeared in a few games late in 1930 as a third baseman for Cleveland. He had a few other cups of coffee as a reliever with Cleveland after that, his last appearance before today having come in 1936.
Washington (H) 4 Boston (AL) 2
Ted Williams hit solo homeruns in the first and ninth innings (#26, 86), but in between Mickey Haefner (6-6) shutdown Boston and got the win. Center fielder Clyde Vollmer hit a three run homerun in the fifth off Chuck Stobbs (6-2) and that was all Haefner needed today.
Note: The box score at Baseball-Reference.com states that this game was completed on August 20, 1949. There are no other details provided, so I am just going to play as of today's date.
Brooklyn 2 Boston (NL) (H) 0
Joe Hatten (3-8) had the upper hand today as he shutout Warren Spahn (14-2) and Boston. Brooklyn didn’t have a hit until the fifth and the game was scoreless through seven, but with two outs in the top of the eighth Pee Wee Reese hit a solo homerun to put the Dodgers on top. Brooklyn added an insurance run in the ninth and Hatten finished what he started.
Chicago (NL) 10 Cincinnati (H) 5
Cincinnati scored four times in the sixth to take a 5-3 lead, but couldn’t hold it as Chicago came back with a five-run seventh and won going away. The Cubs seventh featured a three run homerun from newly acquired Mickey Owen and Andy Pafko's second homerun (#20, 49) of the day.
New York (NL) (H) 14 Philadelphia (NL) 1
After two unexpected off days a relaxed and rested New York team pounded Philadelphia for an easy win. Dave Koslo (5-2) went all the way for the win and hit a homerun of his own. Bobby Thomson added two late homeruns (#18, 66) to put the game out of reach.
Pittsburgh (H) 7 St. Louis (NL) 5
Pittsburgh snapped the eleven game St. Louis winning streak in a close one. Pittsburgh scored five runs in the second off Gerry Staley and led 6-2 after the fourth, but the Cardinals eventually cut the lead to 6-5 after the top of the seventh. Ralph Kiner hit a solo homerun (#22, 72) to give the Pirates a little cushion and Tiny Bonham (3-2) finished what he started.
Friday, July 8, 1949
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| Monte Irvin |
Note: New York (NL) activated former Negro League players Hank Thompson and future Hall-of-Famer Monte Irvin. Infielder Jack Lohrke and outfielder/pinch-hitter Pete Milne were sent down to Jersey City to make room on the roster.
Boston (AL) (H) 3 Philadelphia (AL) 2 (10)
Philadelphia only had three hits on the day, but they used them judiciously to take an early lead and then to tie the game in the ninth and send the game to extra innings. In the bottom of the tenth Dom DiMaggio led off with a single, was sacrificed to second by Johnny Pesky, and Ted Williams drove him home for the game winner. Joe Dobson (6-6) went all the way for the win.
Chicago (AL) (H) 9 Detroit 8 (12)
Chicago scored five in the third and it took Detroit until the top of the ninth to tie the score at 6-6 and to send the game into extra innings. Both teams scored two runs in the tenth, and then in the bottom of the twelfth George Metkovich walked, stole second, advanced to the third on a throwing error by the catcher, and then scored when Cass Michaels lined one off the wall.
Washington 8 New York (AL) (H) 5
Cuddles Marshall (1-2) was given a spot start art home today and it didn’t go well as Washington dinged him for five runs in the second. Bud Stewart added a three run homerun in the third and the Senators were able to hold off a late Yankees rally for the win.
St. Louis (AL) (H) 3 Cleveland 2
Cleveland swept four games at home against St. Louis last week but the Browns got the win in this one. The Indians scored first and last, but in between the Browns plated single runs in three consecutive innings and Cliff Fannin (2-6) held that slender lead. Shortstop Eddie Pellagrini made an appearance at shortstop for St. Louis after having missed the past three weeks.
Brooklyn (H) 7 New York (NL) 3
When New York second baseman Hank Thompson led off the game it was the first time that three ex-Negro Leaguers were pitcher (Don Newcombe), catcher (Roy Campanella) and batter all at the same time. Thompson made an out and Newcombe went on to win (9-2) as Brooklyn looked to avenge their three game sweep in the Polo Grounds last weekend.
St. Louis (NL) 3 Cincinnati (H) 1
Howie Pollet (9-4) didn't give up any hits or runs until the eighth inning as he held Cincinnati in check for the win. Ewell Blackwell (0-3) held St. Louis to only three runs on the day but could have used some offensive support. Shortstop Marty Marion hit a solo homerun and drove in his 55th run of the season, the same number as Stan Musial and only five less than club leader Enos Slaughter.
Boston (NL) 2 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 1 (11)
With the score tied 1-1 after the sixth neither team could mount an offense and the game went into extra innings. In the eleventh Boston right fielder Tommy Holmes lined a solo homerun and Nels Potter (1-0) and Bobby Hogue held on for the Boston win.
Pittsburgh (H) 1 Chicago (NL) 0
Ralph Kiner doubled home third baseman Pete Castiglione in the bottom of the first and that was all the scoring in this one. Vic Lombardi (3-2) got the complete game shutout and Dutch Leonard (2-12) was the hard-luck loser. Hank Sauer had two singles for Chicago and is hitting .344 for the Cubs since coming over from Cincinnati. I am not sure the Cubs were expecting a poor fielding, slow, singles hitter though.
Saturday, July 9, 1949
Philadelphia (AL) 8 Boston (AL) (H) 6 (12)
Philadelphia got off to a fast start building a 5-1 lead after the third inning against Mel Parnell (12-5), but by the end of the sixth Boston had climbed back to retake the lead at 6-5. The Athletics tied it and the game went into extra innings, and in the twelfth second baseman Pete Suder, in his first game back from a three week absence, hit a dramatic two run homerun to put Philadelphia on top to stay.
New York (AL) (H) 3 Washington 0
Yogi Berra homered in the second and then first baseman Dick Kryhoski hit a two-out two run homerun in the seventh and New York was able to walk away with another win. Vic Raschi (13-5) only gave up two hits in shutting out the Senators.
Brooklyn (H) 10 New York (NL) 5
Brooklyn took an early lead, New York made it close, and then a two-out three-run double from Jackie Robinson in the sixth blew it open to pull the Dodgers to within one game of second place.
Note: In the third inning Don Mueller, having just entered the game as an injury replacement in right field, walked to start the inning. The next batter, catcher Ray Mueller, homered. This was my first instance of any Mueller-on-Mueller action since Ray was acquired.
St. Louis (NL) 8 Cincinnati (H) 4
St. Louis started off with a five-run first and Max Lanier (1-0) went all the way for the win. Cincinnati accrued twelve hits on the day, but Lanier got the outs when he needed them. Right fielder Ron Northey went 3-for-5 with a homerun and three RBI's to lead the offense.
Boston (NL) 3 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 2 (10)
The game was scoreless through five when Boston finally got on the board with one in the sixth and one in the seventh. Philadelphia finally broke through against Johnny Sain (7-9) with two in the bottom of the seventh, and the game eventually moved into extra innings. In the eleventh Phillies left fielder Del Ennis threw one runner out trying to score but couldn't do it a second time and Boston and Sain held on for the win.
Pittsburgh (H) 8 Chicago (NL) 0
Cliff Chambers (4-2) was the star of the day for Pittsburgh as he not only threw a shutout but also went 3-for-4 with a walk while at the plate. Ralph Kiner hit a two-run homerun (#23, 75) in the first to get the Pirates a quick lead and Chambers took over from there.
Sunday, July 10, 1949
It's another doubleheader Sunday with four doubleheaders today, but only ten games total to play. Weather must be wreaking havoc in the middle-eastern seaboard as there are no games in Philadelphia (NL) or Washington (AL).
Boston (AL) (H) 7 Philadelphia (AL) 0 (GM 1)
After only two batters Boston had a 2-0 lead as Johnny Pesky lined one down the line for a homerun and then they added two more that inning to take a 4-0 lead. That was all Ellis Kinder (12-2) needed as he relentlessly mowed down the Philadelphia batters today in game one.
Philadelphia (AL) 5 Boston (AL) (H) 3 (GM 2)
This time it was Philadelphia's turn to get off to a fast start and then have an outstanding pitching performance shut down the opposition. Bobby Shantz (5-2) needed some help out of the bullpen but the Athletics never game up the lead to gain a split in the doubleheader.
Chicago (AL) (H) 4 Detroit 3 (GM 1)
Detroit scored first and took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the eighth, but the White Sox spoiled their plans by scoring three times and taking the lead. Bill Wight (8-6) was able to finish what he started and took home the game one win.
Detroit 4 Chicago (AL) (H) 1 (GM 2)
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| Bob Feller |
The score was 1-0 until the eighth inning when Detroit decided to add some insurance runs. Art Houtteman (7-2) continued his fine season as he didn’t allow a run until the ninth inning.
Cleveland 8 St. Louis (AL) (H) 0 (No-Hitter!)
Larry Doby hit a three-run homerun in the first and Joe Gordon and Mickey Vernon added two-run homeruns later in the game, but the news of the day was a no-hitter thrown by Bob Feller (8-3). Feller only walked one batter and he successfully strangled the Browns offense all day today.
New York (NL) 5 Brooklyn (H) 3
New York took an early 2-0 lead but Brooklyn finally broke through against Sheldon Jones (12-2) in the seventh with two runs to tie the score and eventually send the game into extra innings. Catcher Ray Mueller hit a two run triple in the top of the tenth to put the Giants ahead to stay and salvage one game of their three game set in Brooklyn.
Cincinnati (H) 8 St. Louis (NL) 5 (GM 1)
As is their wont St. Louis burst out to a quick lead and were on top 5-0 after the top of the fifth. Cincinnati scored twice in the fifth and then in the sixth Walker Cooper hit a three run homerun to tie the score and all of a sudden it was a whole new ball game. After the tie backup shortstop Claude Corbitt drove in the final three runs and Ken Raffensberger (5-12) held on to get the game one win.
St. Louis (NL) 3 Cincinnati (H) 1 (GM 2)
Cincinnati had a sweep on their minds and a fourth inning Walker Cooper homerun gave them a 1-0 lead. Enos Slaughter drove home a run to tie it in the sixth, and then drove home another run in the eighth to give St. Louis the lead. Al Brazle (9-4) went all the way for the game two win.
Chicago (NL) 6 Pittsburgh (H) 3 (GM 1)
Newly acquired Frank Baumholtz got a chance to start in center field and hit two triple to spark the Cubs offense. Bob Rush (4-8) has had a rough year but went all the way for the game one win today.
Pittsburgh (H) 5 Chicago (NL) 3 (GM 2)
Pittsburgh gamed a split in the doubleheader by scoring three time in the first, adding two more in the third, and then holding on for dear life. Bill Werle (4-7) got the win but needed Rip Sewell to get the final few outs.
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