Monday, April 29, 1957
No games today. Both leagues are taking a travel day while the AL East teams move westward and the NL West teams move eastward as both begin their first major road trip of the season. There is a full schedule of games on tap for tomorrow.
Just as a point of reference, the leagues designate teams as east or west for scheduling purposes, although this has been scrambled with the recent franchise moves earlier this decade: Philadelphia (AL) to Kansas City, St. Louis (AL) to Baltimore, and Boston (NL) to Milwaukee. So if the term "AL East" or something similar is used it is in reference to the schedule, not a specific league / division structure reference.
AL East: Baltimore, Boston, New York, Washington
AL West: Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City
NL East: Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
NL West: Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, St. Louis
And yes, it will be scrambled even further next year when Los Angeles and San Francisco come into play.
Transaction list:
Kansas City pitcher Ed Blake made his final major league appearance on 04/28/1957.
Boston acquired pitchers Bob Chakales and Dean Stone from Washington in return for infielder Milt Bolling, pitcher Russ Kemmerer, and outfielder Faye Throneberry on 04/29/1957.
Baltimore pitcher Don Ferrarese made his final early-season appearance on 04/28/1957. Ferrarese will be recalled in mid-September.
Washington acquired
infielder Milt
Bolling, pitcher Russ
Kemmerer, and outfielder Faye
Throneberry from Boston in return for pitchers Bob
Chakales and Dean Stone
on 04/29/1957.
Milt Bolling
Detroit pitcher Billy Hoeft was injured (?) on 04/28/1957 and did not return to the mound until 05/17/1957.
Milwaukee outfielder Andy Pafko made his season debut on 04/30/957.
Baltimore catcher Tom Patton made his major league debut on 04/30/1957
Tuesday, April 30, 1957
Transaction List:
Baltimore infielder Wayne Causey made his first season appearance on 05/01/1957.
New York (NL) infielder Bobby Hofman made his season debut on 05/01/1957.
Detroit acquired outfielder Karl Olson from Washington in return for Jack Phillips on 04/30/1957. Phillips was DNP for Washington.
Chicago (AL) (H) 7 Baltimore 4
The White Sox got off to a fast start with three in the bottom of the first but the big hit was in the fifth when the Orioles brought in a left-handed reliever specifically to face Larry Doby and Doby knocked a three-run homerun to put the game away for Chicago. Billy Pierce (4-0, 2.90) went seven-plus innings for the win.
Note: The BBR Box Score shows that Joe Ginsberg is the starting catcher for Baltimore whereas the ATMgr files list Tom Patton. Patton does make an appearance, but not as a starter. This was Patton's only major league appearance.
Cleveland (H) 8 Washington 6
The score was tied 2-2 after the fifth but the Indians scored three times in the sixth on a Roger Maris three-run homerun and then added three more in the eighth, all of which were necessary as the Senators kept trying to climb back into it. Washington first baseman Roy Sievers hit a two-run homerun in the ninth to get back with two, but the Indians stiffened up and got the hard-fought win.
New York (AL) 9 Detroit (H) 3
It was a pitcher's duel until the Yankees dinged the Tigers bullpen for five runs in the eighth and then three more in the ninth. Bill Skowron hit his fourth homerun in the past few days to keep the Yankees close and then Gil McDougald hit a two-run triple in the eighth and a run-scoring double in the ninth to help put it away for Johnny Kucks (1-2, 6.86).
Boston 13 Kansas City (H) 3
The game was close for a while but then the Red Sox scored five times in the sixth and then ran away with it. Ted Williams went 3-for-5 (.378) with two runs scored, four RBI's, a double and homerun to spark the offense plus third baseman Frank Malzone added a three-run homerun in the ninth to further cement the victory. Willard Nixon (2-1, 5.31) gave up three runs in the first but shut down the A's thereafter.
Note: Twice today I brought in a left-handed reliever to face a left-handed batter and both times the batter responded with a three-run homerun.
Brooklyn (H) 9 Chicago (NL) 8 (10)
Charlie Neal was recently inserted at third base when Randy Jackson injured his knee recently and today that move paid off as Neal hit a pair of three-run homeruns to help the Dodgers build an early 7-2 lead. The Cubs came back and tied the score in the top of the ninth as they beat up the Brooklyn bullpen, but the Dodgers pulled it out when Sandy Amoros scored on a single by Gino Cimoli in the bottom of the tenth.
Milwaukee 10 New York (NL) (H) 3
Red Schoendienst and Willie Mays homered in the bottom of the first to give the Giants a quick 3-0 lead, but Bob Buhl (2-0, 1.69) didn't allow any more runs and the Milwaukee offense hit three homeruns to complete a convincing comeback. The big hit was a two-out single and error from the notoriously weak-hitting Buhl that gave the Braves their first lead in the top of the sixth.
Cincinnati 10 Philadelphia (H) 1
Both teams started the day with identical records and found themselves tied for second place in the NL and hungry for a win. The Reds were up 3-1 in the top of the fourth when Gus Bell went deep for a three-run homerun and the Reds never looked back, hitting five homeruns on the day in support of Brooks Lawrence (4-0, 1.20).
St. Louis 7 Pittsburgh (H) 6 (10)
In a game with four lead changes the Cardinals finally came out on top by scoring once in the ninth to tie the game and then adding another run in the tenth to regain the lead for good. Roy Face (0-2, 5.14) couldn’t hold the Cardinals back and took the loss while Bob G. Smith (1-1, 4.70) was happy to pick up the win.
Wednesday, May 1, 1957
Transaction List:
Baltimore catcher Tom Patton made his final major league appearance on 04/30/1957.
Chicago (NL) acquired first baseman Dale Long and outfielder Lee Walls in a trade from Pittsburgh in return for infielder Gene Baker and first baseman Dee Fondy on 05/01/1957.
Detroit third
baseman (and Quincy, IL native) Jim Finigan
was injured (?) on 04/30/1957 and did not return to play until 05/21/1957.
Jim Finigan
Philadelphia outfielder Rip Repulski was injured (?) on 04/30/1957 and did not return to play until 05/12/1957.
Pittsburgh acquired infielder Gene Baker and first baseman Dee Fondy from Chicago (NL) in return for outfielder Lee Walls and first baseman Dale Long on 05/01/1957. Pittsburgh catcher Dick Rand made his season debut on 05/02/1957.
Baltimore 7 Chicago (AL) (H) 1
The White Sox were handed their second loss of the season as the Orioles put up a three-spot in the third and then held on for the road win. Billy Loes (1-0, 0.52) only gave up the one run and went all the way for the complete game victory.
Note: the BBR Box Score shows that Dick Williams started this game at third base and that George Kell started this game at first base, but the ATMgr files have that revered.
Cleveland (H) 13 Washington 2
The Indians scored five times in the first and led 11-1 after the fourth, allowing Herb Score (1-3, 3.00) to cruise home for the easy win. Cleveland catcher Russ Nixon went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, four RBI's, and a double as the surprise hitting star in the Indians offense.
New York (AL) 13 Detroit (H) 6
The Tigers led 3-2 after the first but then the Yankees scored four times in the second and then four more times in the fourth and the rout was on. Mickey Mantle went 4-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored, eight RBI's, two doubles, a triple, and a homerun (i.e., no singles though, so no cycle) to lead the New York offense.
Boston 9 Kansas City (H) 7 (10)
The Red Sox built an early 7-1 lead, powered by two Dick Gernert homeruns and Dave Sisler was cruising towards an easy win, but then the A's got into the Boston bullpen and roared back to tie the score at 7-7 and send the game into extra innings. In the top of the tenth Gernert came through again, this time tripling home the eventual game-winner.
Chicago (NL) 1 Brooklyn (H) 0
The Cubs only had three hits and only scored one run when catcher Cal Neeman homered in the top of the third, but that was all they needed to defeat the still struggling Dodgers. Don Kaiser (2-0, 0.00) has now opened the season with two consecutive shutouts and has only allowed six hits in eighteen innings.
Milwaukee 6 New York (NL) (H) 5
The Giants scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to make it close, but Warren Spahn (4-0, 3.71) got out of the eighth and then closed out the ninth for the complete-game win. Two crucial Giants errors opened the door for the Braves offense.
Cincinnati 9 Philadelphia (H) 2
The Reds offense came alive late and turned this game into a runaway. Hal Jeffcoat (2-0, 2.55) not only went all the way for the win but also hit a two-run homerun in the eighth to help put this one out of reach.
St. Louis 8 Pittsburgh (H) 1
Another close game that ended up in a blow-out as the Cardinals offense took advantage of the Pirates bullpen to run the score up late. St. Louis second baseman Don Blasingame hit a double and triple and scored three runs to spark the offense.
Thursday, May 2, 1957
Transaction List:
Baltimore pitcher Charlie Beamon made his final season appearance on 05/01/1957.
Detroit outfielder Mel Clark made his final major league appearance on 05/01/1957.
Washington catcher Clint Courtney was injured (?) on 05/01/1957 and did not return to play until 05/31/1957.
Philadelphia catcher Joe Lonnett was injured (?) on 05/01/1957 and did not return to play until 05/26/1957.
New York (NL) pitcher Max Surkont made his final major league appearance on 05/01/1957.
Cincinnati infielder Bobby Henrich made his major league debut on 05/03/1957.
Pittsburgh pitcher Red Swanson made his season debut on 05/03/1957.
Chicago (AL) (H) 6 Washington 1
A four-run eighth inning blew open a tight game, a two-run double by White Sox third baseman Bubba Phillips being the big hit. Dick Donovan (3-0, 3.86) went all the way for the complete-game win.
Boston 6 Detroit (H) 4
The Red Sox started the day only one-half game behind the Tigers and were looking to move up into second place with a win, but it was Detroit that took an early 1-0 lead. In the fourth Detroit intentionally walked eighth-place hitter Sammy White to let pitcher Tom Brewer (1-1, 4.32) bat with the bases loaded and Brewer promptly singled to tie the score at 1-1. And then the same exact scenario happened in the sixth inning, Brewer's bat giving himself a 2-1 lead. Jimmy Piersall added a three-run homerun a few innings later, necessary because the Tigers got to the Boston bullpen to make it close in the ninth.
New York (AL) 22 Kansas City (H) 3
Yankees starter Tom Sturdivant (1-0, 4.64) allowed four hits, with three of the hits being solo homeruns, but the Yankees offense pounded the Athletics bullpen for six runs in the eighth and then ten runs in the ninth for the easy win. Sturdivant went 4-for-6 on the day with three runs scored and two RBI's as every Yankee had at least one run scored, two hits, and one RBI (22 hits total plus ten walks).
St. Louis 8 Brooklyn (H) 3
The game was quite close until the Cardinals put up a three-spot in the sixth to take a 5-2 lead, but then Stan Musial hit a three-run homerun in the seventh to put it out of reach. Herm Wehmeier (3-1, 4.67) went all the way for the win.
New York (NL) (H) 7 Cincinnati 6 (11)
Light-hitting Reds shortstop Roy McMillan hit a surprise three-run homerun in the top of the fourth to cap off a five-run inning, but Giants left fielder Hank Sauer answered with a three-run homerun of his own in the sixth as New York fought back to tie the score and eventually send it to extra innings. The Giants loaded the bases in the eleventh and Whitey Lockman singled home the game-winner for New York's third win of the season.
Philadelphia (H) 6 Chicago (NL) 5
The Cubs hit three homeruns on the day and led 5-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth when the Phillies scored a run and then won it when second baseman Ted Kazinski smoked a three-run double into the corner to pull out the come-from-behind win. Quite an exciting finish in Philadelphia.
Milwaukee 11 Pittsburgh (H) 7
The Braves led 4-1 after the fifth and then scored four times in the sixth, but it wasn't until Hank Aaron hit a three-run homerun in the seventh that they felt comfortable with their lead. The Pirates made a dent with three runs in the bottom of the seventh and then Frank Thomas hit a three-run homerun in the bottom of the ninth, but it was too little too late.
Friday, May 3, 1957
Transaction List:
Boston pitcher Russ Meyer
made his final season appearance on 05/02/1957. Boston catcher Haywood
Sullivan made his final season appearance on 05/02/1957.
Russ Meyer
Milwaukee pitcher Juan Pizarro made his major league debut on 05/04/1957. Milwaukee catcher Carl Sawatski made his season debut on 05/04/1957.
Chicago (AL) (H) 8 Washington 5
The Senators led 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth when the White Sox struck back with a four-run inning, a two-run homerun by Minnie Minoso being the big hit. Bob Keegan (2-0, 2.40) went all the way for the win.
Boston 6 Detroit (H) 2
The Red Sox stayed hot with their fifth consecutive win as they led 4-0 after the third and Frank Sullivan (4-0, 2.00) kept the Tigers scoreless until the seventh. Boston shortstop Billy Klaus provided the fireworks by having a 4-for-5 day that included four runs scored, two RBI's, a triple, and two homeruns.
Kansas City (H) 3 New York (AL) 2
The Yankees led 1-0 until Kansas City right fielder Harry Simpson hit a three-run homerun in the bottom of the seventh and all of a sudden the A's had a 3-1 lead. Wally Burnette (2-0, 3.45) held the lead and Tom Gorman came in to get the last out in the ninth to secure the win for the home team.
Brooklyn (H) 8 St. Louis 0
Don Newcombe (2-0, 1.29) held the Cardinals to only four hits and went all the way for the shutout victory. Left fielder Gino Cimoli scored four times and right fielder Carl Furillo drove in three runs to provide Newcombe with the support he needed.
New York (NL) (H) 9 Cincinnati 2
The Reds scored first when Frank Robinson hit a two-run homerun in the top of the first, but that was the only Reds highlight as the Giants pounded a series of Cincinnati pitchers for their second consecutive win. Red Schoendienst hit a three-run homerun in the fifth to put the game out of reach as Al Worthington (1-2, 5.95) went all the way for the win.
Philadelphia (H) 5 Chicago (NL) 4
The Cubs led 3-1 after the top of the second but by the end of the fourth the Phillies were up 4-3. Chicago did tie the score at 4-4 in the top of the eighth but in the bottom of the ninth the Phillies loaded the bases and catcher Stan Lopata hit a fly ball just far enough to be able to score second baseman Ted Kazinski on a sacrifice fly for the game-winner.
Pittsburgh (H) 6 Milwaukee 3
Milwaukee first baseman Joe Adcock hit a two-run homerun in the top of the first but after that it was all Pittsburgh. Bob Friend (4-1, 3.07) kept the Braves at bay and Roy Face picked up his first save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Saturday, May 4, 1957
Transaction List:
Cincinnati infielder Rocky Bridges was placed on waivers after 05/03/1957. Bridges was later claimed by Washington in mid-May.
Milwaukee pitcher Ernie Johnson made his season debut on 05/05/1957.
Chicago (AL) (H) 3 New York (AL) 2
The Yankees started the day in third place, 2.5 games behind the first-place White Sox, and both teams were looking to improve their position. Minnie Minoso put the Chicago up 1-0 with a homerun in the fourth, and there the score stood until the ninth. New York second baseman Billy Martin poked a two-run double in the top of the inning, giving the Yankees their first lead of the day. In the bottom of the ninth Minoso hit a two-out double, and then scored on a single by Sherm Lollar that tied the score at 2-2. Larry Doby then doubled which allowed Lollar to hoof it all the way from first with the game-winner.
Cleveland (H) 2 Boston 1
The Indians scored single runs in each of the first two innings and Early Wynn (1-2, 3.58) did the rest, holding the powerful Red Sox offense to only one run. Newly acquired Dean Stone (0-1, 1.26) acquitted himself quite well in his first Boston start but walked away with the loss.
Baltimore (H) 11 Detroit 1
Baltimore scored twice in the third and then two more times in the fourth, but it was a four-run seventh that really blew the game open. Baltimore second baseman Billy Gardner hit two homeruns and was part of a three homerun barrage in the eighth sealed the deal for the Orioles. Mike Fornieles (1-0, 3.32) went seven innings and got the win.
Kansas City (H) 2 Washington 1
The Senators loaded the bases in the top of the first but could only score one run and the A's came right back with two of their own in the bottom half of the inning, and that was it for the scoring in this one. Arnie Portocarrero (1-0, 2.13) outdueled Ted Abernathy (1-2, 3.73) for the win.
St. Louis 6 Brooklyn (H) 0
In his first start since his no-hitter last Sunday Lindy McDaniel (2-0, 0.00) shutout the Dodgers on four hits. A three-run triple by Wally Moon in the fourth inning was the big hit, although Stan Musial added a two-run homerun in the fifth to further support McDaniel.
Cincinnati 6 New York (NL) (H) 5
Cincinnati had lost their previous two games but started the day in a three-way tie for first with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, all with 10-5 records. Right fielder Wally Post got the Reds off to a fast start with a two-run homerun in the top of the first, but the Giants came right back with three of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Post then hit a three-run homerun in the second and the Reds held on for the win from there.
Chicago (NL) 4 Philadelphia (H) 2
The Phillies slowly built a 2-0 lead and Jack Sanford (1-2, 1.96) was in control but then disaster hit in the top of the seventh. The first two Cubs batters reached on errors, and then one batter later a third reached on an error, opening the door to a four-run seventh for the visitors. Jim Brosnan (2-0, 1.74) got the win and Turk Lown got his second save by shutting the Phillies down in the eighth and ninth.
Milwaukee 11 Pittsburgh (H) 10 (Grand Slam!)
The Braves got things started with three homerun in the top of the first as part of a five-run inning, but the Pirates answered right back with a Roberto Clemente three-run homerun in the bottom half of the inning to cut that lead. The Pirates then grabbed the lead with a six-run third, but the Braves weren't done as shortstop Johnny Logan tied the score at 9-9 with a grand slam homerun in the top of the fifth. A pinch-hit two-run single by Jim Pendleton put the Pirates ahead to stay in the seventh and Nellie King held off the Braves thereafter to get the save.
Sunday, May 5, 1957
Transaction List:
Philadelphia infielder John Kennedy made his final major league appearance on 05/03/1957.
Brooklyn infielder Pee Wee Reese made his season debut on 05/06/1957.
Note: The first two Sundays each featured four doubleheaders and there are five today. Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are tied for first in the NL play two in Pittsburgh today and I am expecting a lot of fireworks today.
New York (AL) 6 Chicago (AL) (H) 5 (GM 1) (10)
Two-run homeruns by Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra helped the Yankees build an early 5-0 lead, but Yankees starter Bobby Shantz got ejected in the fourth after having hit his third batter and the White Sox were able to battle back against the New York Bullpen, eventually tying the game at 5-5 and sending the game into extra innings. In the top of the tenth Berra singled home Gil McDougald then Bob Grim kept the White Sox off the scoreboard to secure the game one win
New York (AL) 7 Chicago (AL) (H) 0 (GM 2)
Mickey Mantle hit his second first-inning homerun of the day, this one with two on, and Johnny Kucks (2-2, 4.71) limited the White Sox to only five hits as threw a shutout to complete the doubleheader sweep.
Boston 7 Cleveland (H) 3 (GM 1)
Ted Williams was back in the lineup after having missed the three previous games and immediately made his presence known with a 3-for-4 day (.423) that included a walk, two runs scored, an RBI, and a double. Willard Nixon (3-1, 4.60) went all the way for the game one win as Boston exploded for five runs in the third, giving Nixon all the support he needed today.
Note: Cleveland catcher Russ Nixon hit a solo homerun of Willard Nixon, for those of you who might be curious.
Boston 2 Cleveland (H) 1 (GM 2)
Boston starter Dave Sisler complained of shoulder soreness and was unable to complete the first inning, but Bob Chakales (2-1, 3.06) came out of the bullpen and pitched a masterpiece and the Indians only run of the day came in the eighth inning on a Chico Carrasquel homerun.
Detroit (H) 4 Baltimore 3 (13)
Both teams scored a
run in the first and that was it until Baltimore third baseman George Kell
hit a two-run homerun in the top of the ninth. The Orioles couldn’t hold the
lead though as Detroit second baseman Frank
Bolling tripled home two runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the
score and send the game into extra innings. In the bottom of the thirteenth
Tigers center fielder Bill Tuttle
tripled and then immediately scored when catcher Frank House
singled him home for the win.
Frank Bolling
Kansas City (H) 5 Washington 4 (16)
Washington left fielder Roy Sievers hit a two-run homerun as part of a three-run top of the first but Kansas City didn’t quit and eventually tied the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth. In the twelfth Sievers hit another homerun, but again the A's came back when Gus Zernial answered with a solo shot of his own. In the sixteenth Kansas City first baseman Vic Power hit a two-out single, stole second, and then scored the game-winner on second baseman Milt Graff's single, extending the Senators losing streak to nine games.
Brooklyn (H) 6 Milwaukee 0
Brooklyn third baseman Charlie Neal broke the scoreless tie with a three-run double in the bottom of the seventh and Sal Maglie (1-1, 3.43) threw a complete-game shutout to get one in the win column.
Chicago (NL) 2 New York (NL) (H) 1 (GM 1)
The Cubs built an early 2-0 lead and Bob Rush (1-3, 3.00) made that lead stand up by not allowing a run (unearned) until two outs in the ninth for the game one win.
Note: The BBR Box Score shows catcher Ray Katt and shortstop Daryl Spencer hitting seventh and eighth in the Giants starting lineup, while ATMgr lists Foster Castleman and Wes Westrum.
Chicago (NL) 11 New York (NL) (H) 0 (GM 2)
The Cubs completed their doubleheader sweep in New York by getting the shutout they failed to get in game one. Moe Drabowsky (1-1, 9.23) held the Giants to only five hits and went all the way for his first win of the season. Right fielder Jim Bolger hit a three-run homerun in the first and the Cubs soon led 10-0 after the fifth inning.
Philadelphia (H) 2 St. Louis 0 (GM 1)
Philadelphia starter Curt Simmons (2-2, 2.37) got the game one win by shutting out the Cardinals only five hits. The Phillies only had seven hits, but solo homeruns by right fielder Bob Bowman and first baseman Ed Bouchee made the difference.
Philadelphia (H) 10 St. Louis 9 (GM 2) (10)
The game got off to a raucous start and the Cardinals led 5-3 after the top of the second, and they then build that up an 8-4 lead after the top of the seventh. The Phillies than scored five times in the seventh to take a 9-8 lead, but they couldn't hold this lead either and the game soon went into extra innings at 9-9. Philadelphia shortstop Chico Fernandez brought the fans to their feet in the bottom of the tenth that gave the Phillies the doubleheader sweep.
Cincinnati 6 Pittsburgh (H) 3 (GM 1)
A two-run homerun by Don Hoak in the fifth gave the Reds a 4-1 lead. Brooks Lawrence (5-0, 1.70) went seven innings to get the win and Don Gross came went the final two innings to get the save.
Cincinnati 8 Pittsburgh (H) 6 (GM 2)
The Reds led 3-0 after the top of the third, but by the end of the fourth the score was 3-3. Both teams scored three times in the fifth and were now deep into the other team's bullpen. Raul Sanchez finally got the final two outs to pick up the save as the Reds swept a doubleheader on the road in Pittsburgh.
Note: Before I start running in relievers I check to see who is scheduled to be making starts over the next few days. That is why I used Don Gross as a reliever in game one. What I didn't check was who was starting game two of the doubleheader, which was Gross.
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