Week 22 Results (09/09/1957 - 09/15/1957)

 Monday, September 9, 1957

 Transaction List:

 

Cleveland catcher Jim Hegan made his final  season appearance on 09/08/1957

 

Boston pitcher Frank Baumann made his season debut on 09/10/1957

 

Brooklyn pitcher Jackie Collum was recalled before 09/10/1957. Brooklyn first baseman Jim Gentile made his major league debut on 09/10/1957. Brooklyn pitcher Fred Kipp made his major league debut on 09/10/1957. Brooklyn catcher Joe Pignatano was recalled before 09/10/1957

 

Chicago (AL) first baseman Ron Jackson made his season debut on 09/10/1957. Chicago (AL) outfielder Jim Landis returned to play on 09/10/1957 following his injury (?) of 08/06/1957. Chicago (AL) pitcher Barry Latman made his major league debut on 09/10/1957. Chicago (AL) pitcher Jim McDonald was recalled before 09/10/1957

 

St. Louis outfielder Jim King was recalled before 09/10/1957

 

Pittsburgh catcher Danny Kravitz was recalled before 09/10/1957

 

Note: No games on the schedule today as it is a travel day. The AL Midwest teams are moving east, while in the NL the East teams are heading towards a final Midwest swing.

 

Tuesday, September 10, 1957

 

Transaction list:

 

Cleveland pitcher Bob Alexander made his season debut on 09/11/1957. Cleveland had previously acquired pitcher Alexander from Chicago (NL) (date unknown) in a trade for a PTBNL (Dolan Nichols was named on 09/14/1957)

 

New York (AL) outfielder Hank Bauer returned to play on 09/11/1957 following his injury (?) of 08/30/1957. New York (AL) outfielder Zeke Bella made his major league debut on 09/11/1957. New York (AL) outfielder Bobby Del Greco (team debut 09/11/1957) was purchased from Chicago (NL) on 09/10/1957

 

Chicago (NL) pitcher John Briggs made his season debut on 09/11/1957. Chicago (NL) outfielder Frank Ernaga was recalled before 9/11/1957

 

Cleveland catcher Dick Brown was recalled before 09/11/1957

 

Roman Mejias

Washington infielder Neil Chrisley was recalled before 09/11/1957

Pittsburgh outfielder Roman Mejias returned to play on 09/11/1957 following his injury (?) of 08/04/1957

 

Detroit infielder Ron Samford returned to play on 09/11/1957 following his injury (?) of 08/12/1957

 

Boston (H) 6 Chicago (AL) 5

 

The White Sox scored three times in the first but the Red Sox soon answered with three in the fourth and from there it was a tight one all the way to the finish. Jackie Jensen hit a two-run homerun (#29) in the fifth as the big hit for Boston and Tom Brewer (12-13, 4.31) went all the way for the win.

 

Chicago (NL) (H) 10 Brooklyn 6

 

The Cubs led 5-1 after the fourth as Sandy Koufax had trouble keeping the ball in the park. Carl Furillo hit a three-run homerun (#10) in the fifth to make the score 5-4 and it turned into a battle. The Dodgers did manage to tie the score a few times, but then Dale Long hit a two-run homerun (#25) in the seventh and the Cubs walked away with it.

 

New York (NL) 10 Cincinnati (H) 4

 

George Crowe hit a two-run homerun (#28) in the second inning and from there the game looked like it was going to be a pitcher's duel between Brooks Lawrence (14-10, 3.84) and Johnny Antonelli (9-16, 4.81) but then the Giants scored nine times in the seventh before an out was recorded. The big hit in the inning was a three-run homerun from Willie Mays (#28) that truly put the game out of reach.

 

Pittsburgh 4 Milwaukee (H) 3 (10)

 

The Pirates tied the score at 3-3 with one in the ninth and then won the game Bob Skinner singled home Bill Virdon with the lead run and Bob Purkey (10-9, 3.57) stayed in to make sure they got the win.

 

Philadelphia 4 St. Louis (H) 3

 

Still covering first base while Stan Musial is limited to pinch-hitting duties, Joe Cunningham hit a two-run homerun (#10) in the first and then added a solo shot (#11) in the fourth. It wasn't enough though as the Phillies came back and Curt Simmons (13-11, 3.28) got the win with help from the bullpen.

 

Wednesday, September 11, 1957

 

Transaction List:

 

Kansas City pitcher Al Aber made his final major league appearance on 09/11/1957.

 

Brooklyn pitcher Don Bessent made his final season appearance on 09/10/1957

 

Boston pitcher Rudy Minarcin returned to the mound on 09/12/1957 following his injury (?) of 08/17/1957

 

Detroit third baseman George Thomas made his major league debut on 09/11/1957. Thomas signed as an amateur free agent (bonus baby) on 08/05/1957.

 

Kansas City 4 Baltimore (H) 3 (10) (GM 1)

 

The A's scored single runs in the top of the eighth, ninth, and ten innings to tie the score, tie the score again, and then finally go-ahead run. Woodie Held got the game-winner when he drove in Joe DeMaestri with that final run in the tenth.

 

Kansas City 5 Baltimore (H) 4 (GM 2)

 

Light-hitting Bob Martyn caught everyone by surprise with a three-run homerun (#2) in the fourth to put the A's ahead 4-2, but it came down to needing to score a run in the final inning to get Kansas City the win. Wally Burnette (4-9, 4.22) picked up both of the wins in the doubleheader.

 

Chicago (AL) 4 Boston (H) 3

 

A Jim Rivera homerun (#16) in the top of the ninth gave the White Sox the edge over the Red Sox. Bill Fischer (7-2, 3.18) went all the way for the win.

 

Tony Kubek

New York (AL) (H) 4 Cleveland 3 (10) (GM 1)

The Yankees had the bases loaded with one out in the ninth but couldn’t score, so when they had another opportunity in the tenth they didn't want to blow it again and this time Tony Kubek came through with a game-winning two-run single.

 

Cleveland 3 New York (AL) (H) 1 (GM 2)

 

Another close one as the Indians led 2-0 early and they added a run in the eighth for a little cushion. Ray Narleski (6-12, 3.53) went all the way for the win.

 

Detroit 5 Washington (H) 2 (GM 1)

 

The Tigers didn't do much in this game but they bunched their hits and scored three times in the first and Jim Bunning (20-5, 2.34) took over from there.

 

Detroit 1 Washington (H) 0 (GM 2)

 

Charley Maxwell hit a homerun (#28) in the second inning and Frank Lary (11-17, 4.08) made it stand up as he went all the way for the shutout win in game two.

 

Brooklyn 5 Chicago (NL) (H) 1

 

The Dodgers stayed hot but it took a three-run eighth to ice this game for the visitors. Johnny Podres (17-7, 2.76) continued his excellent season.

 

Pittsburgh 5 Milwaukee (H) 4

 

Del Rice hit a three-run homerun (#5) in the second to give Warren Spahn (19-7, 3.30) and the Braves a 4-0 lead, But Ron Kline (8-18, 4.04) buckled down from there and kept Milwaukee scoreless thereafter. The Pirates finally did get through to Spahn when Frank Thomas hit a two-run homerun (#26) in the seventh and then in the eighth Bob Skinner tripled home two-run and immediately scored on a Thomas RBI single. Thomas now has 114 RBI's on the season.

 

St. Louis (H) 8 Philadelphia 0

 

Herm Wehmeier (10-8, 5.68) has had a rough year but he had the good stuff today as he threw a seven-hit shutout to keep the Cardinals faint post-season hopes alive. First baseman Joe Cunningham has been on a tear while Stan Musial was injured and is currently limited to pinch-hit duties and after a 3-for-5 day is now hitting .386 in his limited appearances.

 

Note: The BBR Box Score shows Ted Kazanski as the starting third baseman for Philadelphia while ATMgr shows Willie Jones.

 

Thursday, September 12, 1957

 

Transaction List:

 

Washington pitcher Joe Black made his final major league appearance on 09/11/1957

 

St. Louis infielder Eddie Miksis (team finale 09/11/1957) was placed on waivers. St. Louis pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm (team finale 09/11/1957) was placed on waivers

 

Chicago (NL) pitcher Tom Poholsky made his final major league appearance on 09/11/1957. Chicago (NL) catcher Jim Fanning returned to play on 09/13/1957 following his injury of 08/16/1957

 

Dizzy Trout

Baltimore pitcher Dizzy Trout made his final major league appearance on 09/11/1057

Cincinnati infielder Curt Flood made his first season appearance on 09/14/1957

 

Milwaukee pitcher Phil Paine made his season debut on 09/13/1957

 

Chicago (AL) 6 Boston (H) 2

 

Right fielder Jim Rivera got the White Sox a quick lead with a solo homerun (#17) in the second but it was a three-run homerun in the top of the ninth by Rivera (#18) that locked the game up for the White Sox. Jim Wilson (17-8, 3.34) went all the way for the win.

 

Detroit 5 Washington (H) 1

 

The Tigers scored three times in the third and then Duke Maas (10-11, 3.77) hit a two-run homerun (#2) in the fourth to help his own cause. Roy Sievers hit #43 in the fifth for the Senators only run.

 

Milwaukee (H) 1 Brooklyn 0

 

Bob Buhl (18-6, 1.67) only allowed a seventh-inning single to Carl Furillo and went all the way to further reduce the Braves magic number to 10. Eddie Mathews tripled home Hank Aaron in the sixth for the Braves only run.

 

Friday, September 13, 1957

 

Transaction List:

 

Eddie and
Johnny O'Brien

Pittsburgh pitcher Eddie O'Brien (Brother of Johnny O'Brien) made his season debut on 09/14/1957. Pittsburgh outfielder John Powers was recalled before 09/14/1957

Detroit pitcher Joe Presko made his season debut on 09/14/1957

 

Cleveland 9 Boston (H) 8

 

Vic Wertz hit two-run homeruns (#34, #35) in the first and third innings, but the Indians found themselves losing 7-4 after the third. There the score stayed until the Indians offense re-awoke and tied the score with a three-run eighth and then immediately followed that up with two more runs in the ninth and the eventual win.

 

Chicago (AL) 8 New York (AL) (H) 3 (Grand Slam!)

 

Walt Dropo broke up a 1-1 game with a grand slam homerun (#18) in the top of the sixth and Billy Pierce (22-8, 2.65) went all the way for the win, lowering the White Sox magic number to nine.

 

Note: Today marked Mickey Mantle's return to the starting lineup as he has been limited to pinch-hitting duties over the past ten days.

 

Kansas City 10 Washington (H) 4

 

Quite a game - twenty-four hits, six walks, five errors, two double plays, a wild pitch and a passed ball (no balks!), two ejections, and an injury. The Senators didn’t get on the board until they scored three times in the eighth, but the A's answered right back with four in the top of the ninth. Alex Kellner (9-7, 4.76) got the win.

 

Note: It's been a long year in Washington. In the sixth inning and already losing 4-0, both of the first two batters in the inning for the Senators (Eddie Yost and Ed FitzGerald) were separately ejected for arguing with the umpire.

 

Chicago (NL) (H) 9 Pittsburgh 1 (GM 1)

 

Maybe the wind was blowing out in Wrigley, at least in the bottom half of the inning as the Cubs hit four homeruns to pummel the Bob Friend (26-7, 2.53) and the Pirates. Ernie Banks hit two (#37, #38) and Bobby Adams (#2) and Bob Speake (#12) went deep as well.

 

Note: Doubleheaders between these two teams today and tomorrow should have been to determine who was going to finish in last place, but the Pirates had different plans in this replay.

 

Chicago (NL) (H) 6 Pittsburgh 4 (GM 2)

 

Three run innings in both the fourth and sixth innings were enough to power Moe Drabowsky (12-10, 3.69) and Cubs to a doubleheader sweep over the Pirates.

 

Cincinnati (H) 3 Philadelphia 2

 

The Phillies scored a run on a two-out single by Ed Bouchee in the top of the ninth to tie the game at 2-2 but in the bottom of the ninth Wally Post sent the home fans home happy with a walk-off homerun (#21).

 

Milwaukee (H) 6 Brooklyn 2

 

Wes Covington drove in three runs with two homeruns (#24, #25) and Eddie Mathews drove in three runs with a double and a homerun (#37) to power the Braves past the Dodgers. Gene Conley (8-8, 4.60) went all the way for the win.

 

Note: The Dodgers had the bases loaded in two separate innings and came away with no runs, and in two other innings they had two runners on but hit into inning-ending double plays. That's a rough way to live.

 

St. Louis (H) 4 New York (NL) 2

 

Del Ennis uncorked a two-run homerun (#23) in the fifth to break up a 2-2 tie and it turned into a pitching duel after that, with Larry Jackson (16-6, 2.28) and the Cardinals bullpen outlasting Ruben Gomez (14-17, 3.81) for the victory.

 

Saturday, September 14, 1957

 

Transaction List:

 

New York (AL) first baseman Bill Skowron made his final regular-season appearance on 09/13/1957. Note: Skowron did appear in post-season

 

Boston outfielder Gene Stephens made his final season appearance on 09/13/1957. Boston pitcher Dean Stone made his final season appearance on 09/13/1957. Boston outfielder Marty Keough made his season debut on 09/15/1957.  Boston catcher Sammy White returned to play on 09/15/1957 following his injury (?) of 09/04/1957

 

Cleveland pitcher Bud Daley returned to the mound on 09/15/1957 following his injury (?) of 08/28/1957

 

Chicago (NL) pitcher Ed Mayer made his major league debut on 09/15/1957). Mayer and Bobby Del Greco were acquired in trade from St. Louis in return for Jim King on 04/20/1957. Mayer was DNP for St. Louis

 

Detroit 4 Baltimore (H) 2 (GM 1)

 

The Tigers scored three times in the second, a two-run double by Frank Bolling being the big hit. Billy Hoeft (16-8, 2.87) got the win with help from the Detroit bullpen

 

Detroit 2 Baltimore (H) 0 (GM 2)

 

Paul Foytack (15-8, 3.41) didn’t allow a hit until Willy Miranda knocked a one-out single in the bottom of the eighth, the Orioles only hit of the game. Connie Johnson (14-10, 2.19) was the hard-luck loser in game two.

 

Cleveland 3 Boston (H) 0

 

The Red Sox could only muster three hits on the day versus Cal McLish (8-3, 1.90) and a host of Indians relievers. Cleveland picked up twelve hits on the day, but just lacked that crucial hit to drive in some additional runs.

 

Chicago (AL) 3 New York (AL) (H) 0

 

Both teams came into this series with a clear understanding of what these games meant - if the Yankees couldn't pull off a sweep then it was pretty much over. Dick Donovan (20-6, 2.52) allowed only two hits and shutout the Yankees on their home field. Earl Torgeson hit a two-run double in the third and then hit a solo homerun (#14) in the seventh to provide the Chicago offense.

 

Kansas City 4 Washington (H) 3

 

Ned Garver (8-10, 3.71) went all the way to defeat the Senators, although it was a close one all the way. Ralph Lumenti (0-1, 9.39) made his first career start and actually acquitted himself well.

 

Chicago (NL) (H) 3 Pittsburgh 0

 

After yesterday's doubleheader sweep against the Pirates the Cubs went right back to it, with Dick Drott (8-14, 3.47) hurling a three-hit shutout for the game one win. Bob Speake hit a two-run homerun (#13)  in the sixth and Drott took over from there.

 

Chicago (NL) (H) 7 Pittsburgh 5 (GM 2)

 

Dale Long hit a two-run homerun (#26) in the third and then added another RBI later which came in handy when the Pirates tried to come back. Dave Hillman (4-11, 6.42) got the win and the Cubs swept a doubleheader against the Pirates for the second consecutive day.

 

Cincinnati (H) 11 Philadelphia 10

 

The Phillies led 7-3 after the top of the fifth but by the top of the ninth rolled around the Reds were on top 10-8, two homeruns by Bob Thurman (#15, #16) helping to lead the way. Rip Repulski tied the score at 10-10 in the top of the ninth with a two-run homerun (#17), but in the bottom half of the inning Smoky Burgess doubled home Don Hoak with the game-winner.

 

Milwaukee (H) 2 Brooklyn 1

 

Lew Burdette got the start but it was the Milwaukee bullpen that got the credit by thrown three no-hit, no-run innings to end the game. Hank Aaron got the go-ahead RBI with a seventh-inning single that scored Johnny Logan.

 

New York (NL) 4 St. Louis (H) 2

 

The Cardinals scored first but the Giants came back and Johnny Antonelli (10-16, 4.72) took care of business. Don Mueller had a two-run single in the sixth and the Giants had their lead.

 

Sunday, September 15, 1957

 

Transaction List:

 

George Kell

Milwaukee pitcher Dave Jolly made his final major league appearance on 09/14/1957. Note: Jolly did not appear in the post-season

Baltimore third baseman and future Hall-of-Famer George Kell made his final major league appearance on 09/14/1957

 

Cincinnati infielder Bobby Henrich returned to play on 09/16/1957 following his injury (?) of 08/26/1957

 

Baltimore (H) 4 Cleveland 2 (GM 1)

 

Vic Wertz hit a two-run homerun (#36) in the fourth to give the Indians an early lead, but the Orioles eventually came back with three in the seventh, thanks in part to some sloppy Cleveland defense. Billy Loes (11-8, 2.49) got the win in relief with bullpen help from George Zuverink.

 

Baltimore (H) 5 Cleveland 1 (GM 2)

 

The Indians scored a run in the third without the benefit of a hit, but that was their highlight as Ray Moore (7-15, 5.32) held Cleveland to only one hit in game two. A two-run homerun by Joe Durham (#3) was the big hit for the Orioles.

 

Boston (H) 7 Detroit 0 (GM 1)

 

The Tigers didn’t have a hit until the eighth and they didn't have a walk until the ninth as Willard Nixon (11-9, 4.97) had the good stuff today. Jimmy Piersall hit a two-run homerun (#25) in the fourth to give the Red Sox a 4-0 lead and then Billy Klaus added a three-run shot (#10) in the eighth to put the game out of reach.

 

Boston (H) 3 Detroit 2 (GM 2)

 

Boston and Detroit started the day with identical 78-63 records but a doubleheader sweep by the Red Sox puts them up by two games with both teams having eleven games remaining. Tom Brewer (13-13, 4.22) not only went all the way for the win but had a clutch single that drove in a run but an error on the play also allowed a second run to score and the Red Sox never looked back.

 

New York (AL) (H) 7 Kansas City 3 (GM 1)

 

First baseman Vic Power drove in all three of the A's runs with two solo homeruns (#15, #16) and a run-scoring single, but the Yankees scored five times in the bottom of the first and Bob Turley (17-3, 2.62) went all the way for the game one win.

 

Note: Power led off the top of the first with a homerun and Hank Bauer led off the bottom of the first with a homerun. That might be a first for me.

 

Kansas City 5 New York (AL) (H) 4 (14) (GM 2)

 

The Yankees were cruising with a 3-0 lead until the eighth when the A's jumped up and took a 4-3 lead. They couldn’t hold it though as Tony Kubek hit his second homerun (#5) of the game in the bottom of the ninth to tie the score at 4-4 and it was off to extra innings. Both teams had opportunities but it was the A's who scored an unearned run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourteenth and Tom Morgan (3-16, 5.58) held on to claim the win.

 

Chicago (AL) 10 Washington (H) 6

 

The White Sox led 5-2 after the top of the third and that was before Sherm Lollar hit two homeruns (#20, #21) and picked up five RBI's on the day. Roy Sievers also hit two homeruns (#44, #45), but Chicago was never really challenged in this one.

 

New York (NL) 8 Chicago (NL) (H) 7 (GM 1)

 

The Giants led 4-0 and 6-3 but a three-tun homerun from the bat of Dale Long (#27) tied the game at 6-6. An error opened the door to New York scoring two runs in the top of the ninth as Chicago loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning but could only get one run home.

 

New York (NL) 6 Chicago (NL) (H) 1 (GM 2)

 

Willie Mays hit two homeruns (#30, #31) and drove in five runs as the Giants swept their doubleheader in Chicago.

 

Brooklyn 2 Cincinnati (H) 0

 

Don Newcombe (15-8, 3.12) induced the Reds into hitting into four double plays on the day plus he hit a homerun (#2) in the seventh for the first run of the day.

 

Philadelphia 6 Milwaukee (H) 3 (Grand Slam!)

 

A grand slam by first baseman Ed Bouchee was the big hit in a five-run eighth and while the end was sometimes in doubt, the Phillies bullpen finally got the job done.

 

Dick Groat

Pittsburgh 16 St. Louis (H) 12 (GM 1) (Three Homerun Game!)

After having been bottled up on Chicago with four losses in the past two days the Pirates busted out the whooping stick today with a twenty-three hit, sixteen run explosion. Pittsburgh was ahead 8-4 after the third, 12-7 after the sixth, and then had to hold off a St. Louis rally in the end. The Cardinals had six homeruns in game one, all solo shots, including three by Ken Boyer (#22, #23, #24). Paul Smith went 5-for-5 for the Pirates, and Dick Groat checked in with a 4-for-5 day that included three runs scored, four RBI's, and two doubles.

 

St. Louis (H) 4 Pittsburgh 1 (GM 2)

 

Both teams used up all their hits in game one and Sam Jones (8-11, 3.31) was able to go all the way and give the Cardinals bullpen some well-deserved rest. Stan Musial was back on the field at first base today for the first time since he returned from his injury a week ago and he drove in his 100th run of the season.