MLB: 1958 and Beyond... - Page 11

mikehoudini · 06-27-2008, 01:25 PM

To quote Butch Cassidy or the Sundance Kid, "Who are these guys?" That refers to the Cubbies, who are playing phenomenally! Bob Anderson at 19-2? Reliefer-turned-starter Jim Brosnan having an off-year! Maybe Ernie Banks'll get his world series after all!

kenyan_cheena · 06-27-2008, 11:22 PM

The Cleveland Sunday Courier

SUNDAY 15 AUGUST 1959

BLUES LOSE SCORE
FOR REMAINDER OF SEASON
WITH SHOULDER INJURY

Story by Larry Jacobson

If the Cleveland Blues are to emerge as American League and World Series Champions this year, they'll have to do it without the services of star pitcher Herb Score after he injured his shoulder yesterday at Fenway Park while pitching against the Red Sox. In his first start since suffering a back injury on the 20th of July Score had to leave the game in the 3rd inning after giving up a single to outfielder Jim Piersall. He immediately clutched at his left shoulder after delivering the pitch, going down on one knee and signalling to both catcher Russ Nixon and the dugout that something was wrong.

After a thorough examination Cleveland's medical stuff announced that Score was suffering from bone chips in his left shoulder, an injury that will require surgery and keep him out for at least eight weeks, a duration that stretches beyond the scheduled completion fo the World Series.

Though not as big a deal as Score's injury the Blues were absolutely walloped by Boston, the Red Sox winning 10-1. It was their third biggest win of the season and some sweet revenge for the four-game sweep the Blues inflicted upon them in Cleveland last week. The victory was built on a four-run 1st inning, Score looking uneasy and nervous as he came out to the mound, perhaps still worried about his back despite being passed fit. When he walked the first two batters he faced it became even more obvious that everything was not right with him. After Frank Malzone flied out to centre Jackie Jensen then hammered a double into left, scoring both Don Buddin and Ken Aspromonte. But Jensen got greedy and was thrown out at 3rd by Minnie Minoso's bullet from the outfield. Score then recorded his third walk of the inning before Boston were suddenly ahead 4-0 on Dick Gernert's two-run homer to deep left field. Bill Renna grounded out to end the frame but the damage had been done.

The Blues pulled one back in the bottom of the 2nd but Boston extended the lead out to seven in the 3rd. Frank Malzone flied out for a second time to start the inning before Jensen was walked and Piersall singled on the pitch where Score was injured. Things got worse for the Blues when reliever Jim Bailey gave up a two-RBI double to Dick Gernert (both runs were charged to Score) to make it 6-1. Renna then singled to move Gernert to 3rd before Pete Daley brought him home with a single of his own. Pitcher Barry Latman laid down a nice sacrifice bunt that advanced the runners and when Buddin reached on a Chico Carrasquel error Renna scored to make it 8-1. The Red Sox added two more runs in the 5th, Dick Gernert doubling to lead off the inning and then scoring on a throwing error by Blues 3rd baseman Billy Harrell that allowed Renna to reach 1st. He scored soon after on a Latman sac fly to right-centre.

Needless to say, Gernert had a fantastic day for Boston. He batted 3-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBI, hitting two doubles and a home run. Latman did a great job of silencing the Blues batters, who were without the rested Rocky Colavito. He allowed just five hits and struck out four in 5.1 innings. Minoso and Carrasquel (both 2-for-4) were the only Cleveland batters to show any resistance. Mays was 0-for-4, Nixon 1-for-5 and Roger Maris 1-for-4 filling in for Colavito. Preston Ward was able to draw three walks and was 0-for-2.

If, as is very likely, yesterday does turn out to be the final appearance of the season for Herb Score, it will be looked upon as a campaign that promised so much but was cruelly interrupted by injury. The 26 year-old had already won twelve games by the end of May and looked unstoppable but has gone on to register just five more victories in the time since. Blues manager Joe Gordon could not hide his disappointment, sadness and frustration.

"Of course he's a big loss for us," Gordon said, shaking his head. "He's been incredible this year and we're gonna miss him down the stretch. But even more than that I'm just feeling so sad for the guy, you know? He fought back from that horrific injury in '57 to be our rock last year and after the start he made this season I thought anything was possible for him. What he's done so far was already fantastic but it's sad thinking where he could have taken it."

***

Herb Score's numbers for the 1959 season:

27 starts, 17-7, 2.83 ERA, 200.2 IP, 129 HA, 131 BB, 207 K, 8 CG, 5 SHO, 1 No-hitter

Month-by-month

April: 6 starts, 6-0, 1.91 ERA, 30 BB, 43 K
May: 8 starts, 6-1, 1.63 ERA, 37 BB, 65 K
June: 7 starts, 2-4, 4.80 ERA, 38 BB, 66 K
July: 5 starts, 3-1, 2.10 ERA, 22 BB, 32 K
August: 1 start, 0-1, 23.15 ERA, 4 BB, 1 K

Jeff1787 · 06-28-2008, 01:48 AM

All I can say is..."that ain't fair."

kenyan_cheena · 06-28-2008, 01:56 AM

THE MICHIGAN HERALD

Monday 16 August 1959

KALINE COLLECTS FIVE HITS
AS TIGERS TRUMP YANKEES

Story by Michael Fredricks

The Detroit Tigers secured a 2-1 series win over the New York Yankees yesterday afternoon, taking a heartstopping matchup 9-8. Led by Al Kaline's 5-for-5 two-RBI performance the Tigers put some much-needed breathing space between themselves and the Bronx Bombers and stayed in touch with the Cleveland Blues in the race for the American League pennant. The game was a real slugfest as the two sides combined for 27 hits, including six home runs and five doubles. The Tigers ignited the fuse in the bottom of the 2nd when 1st baseman Vic Wertz hammered a solo home run over the wall in right field. They had a chance to add to it as the next two batters both singled but the Yankees extinguished those hopes when Charlie Maxwell struck out swinging to end the inning.

New York answered back immediately, taking a 2-1 lead in the 3rd when the first three batters they sent to the plate reached safely, Mickey Mantle's single bringing Gil McDougald home before Harry Simpson scored from 3rd when Norm Siebern grounded into a fielder's choice that saw Mantle out at 2nd. But as soon as they lost the lead the Tigers took it back again, producing a five-hit three-run burst in the bottom of the frame to lead 4-2 and have the crowd on their feet applauding. The highlight of the inning was the back-to-back solo home runs from Kaline and his partner in crime Ken Boyer, both shots into left field. They were followed by a trio of singles in the next four at-bats that saw Harvey Kuenn score.

The action just kept on coming as the Yankees scored twice on a trio of doubles in the 4th, one of them coming from an unlikely source in starting pitcher Whitey Ford. But once again the Tigers put their heads in front, Kaline knocking in Charlie Maxwell on a double to the gap in left-centre to give his team a 5-4 lead going into the 5th. The scores were tied up again when Yankees 2nd baseman Gil McDougald smashed a solo home run down the right field line in the 6th inning before the Yankees reclaimed the lead in the 7th, scoring once without a single hit. Mantle drew a walk to lead off the inning and made it to 3rd on a throwing error by Tigers catcher Charlie Lau as he stole 2nd. After Norm Siebern was intentionally walked pinchhitter Willie McCovey grounded out to 2nd. Bill Skowron was then also granted a free pass to 1st before Mantle crossed home plate on Elston Howard's grounder to 3rd, Skowron out at 2nd. Tony Kubek lined out to 3rd to end the inning.

In a game that had already experienced a deal of drama the Tigers came up with their second three-run inning in the bottom of the 7th, pinchhitter Gail Harris hitting a two-out three-run homer in his only at-bat of the game, the shot eliciting a deafening roar from the Briggs Stadium faithful. But it was almost expected that the Yankees would reply and they did, tieing the scores at 8-8 in the top of the 8th when the veteran Hank Bauer absolutely crushed a 2-1 Pumpsie Green fastball over the centrefield wall, McDougald also scoring after he'd singled in the previous at-bat.

But the Tigers once again assumed the lead in the bottom of the frame, Al Kaline leading off with a double before Ken Boyer was intentionally walked. Harvey Kuenn then grounded into a double play but it was followed by a moment that cost the Bronx Bombers dearly as Green reached when shortstop Tony Kubek fumbled a harmless grounder, allowing pinchrunner Irv Noren to score. The Yankees had one runner on board in the 9th but they ran out of comebacks and when Yogi Berra grounded out to 2nd the four-hour, 21-minute thriller was over. The crowd stood as one and gave their ballclub an extended ovation, immensely proud of their efforts.

"What a game!" exclaimed Kaline. "It feels so great to be out there competing with those guys and getting the better of them. They've owned this league for so long now but maybe that's ending this year. Maybe, I hope so. We just have to focus on coming out prepared each day and doing the little things right. A lot of people thought we'd be out of the picture by now but there's no chance we're gonna let this opportunity slip away."

While Kaline was the star for the home team, Gil McDougald had a fantastic afternoon for the Yankees. He batted 4-for-5, scoring three times and knocking in two runs. The win saw Detroit restore a 3.5-game buffer over the Yankees, something they'll be desperate to maintain as the season enters its final weeks...

American League Standings
as at end of play,
Sunday 15 August 1959

1ST: CLEVELAND BLUES 69-48 (.590)
2nd: Detroit Tigers 68-49 (.581), (1.0 G.B.)
3rd: New York Yankees 64-52 (.552), (4.5 G.B.)
4th: Baltimore Orioles 54-62 (.465), (14.5 G.B.)
4th: Washington Senators 54-62 (.465), (14.5 G.B.)
6th: Kansas City Athletics 54-63 (.462), (15.0 G.B.)
7th: Boston Red Sox 53-64 (.453), (16.0 G.B.)
8th: Chicago White Sox 50-66 (.431), (18.5 G.B.)

kenyan_cheena · 06-28-2008, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikehoudini

To quote Butch Cassidy or the Sundance Kid, "Who are these guys?" That refers to the Cubbies, who are playing phenomenally! Bob Anderson at 19-2? Reliefer-turned-starter Jim Brosnan having an off-year! Maybe Ernie Banks'll get his world series after all!

They have been fantastic, especially during the last four weeks. Just imagine if in the first two years of this dynasty the home run record gets broken and the Cubs win the World Series? How incredible would that be?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff1787

All I can say is..."that ain't fair."

I couldn't believe it when I saw the headline in the news section. It's robbed us of what would have been an incredible pitching matchup in the opening game of the series if it ends up being Cleveland vs Chicago. I just hope Score comes back bigger and better in '60 and lasts the whole season. There's also the fact that his chances of winning Cy Young are all but over, which is a bummer.

kenyan_cheena · 06-28-2008, 11:09 PM

The Philadelphia Inquirer

WEDNESDAY 18 AUGUST 1959

BOUCHEE'S THREE RBI
LEAD PHILLIES PAST CUBS
IN SERIES OPENER

Story by Tommy Simmonds

The Philadelphia Phillies improved to 11-4 in the month of August with an important 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field yesterday. It was the first of a two-game set that the Phillies will have to make the most of in order to get back within striking distance of the Cubs, who have been on a season-best run during the past three weeks. Yesterday's win was the fifth in a row for Philadelphia and pulled them to within 4.5 games of the Illinois ballclub. They swept the Giants at home to conclude last week's schedule, getting a measure of payback after dropping three of four in San Francisco the week before. 1st baseman Ed Bouchee had a great day for the victors, batting 2-for-5 with three RBIs. He hit a two-out RBI triple in the 6th that opened the scoring and a two-out two-RBI single in the 7th that followed a two-run homer from catcher Stan Lopata earlier in the inning.

Taking a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the 7th the Phillies were able to withstand a late Chicago fightback, Ernie Banks homering twice including a two-run shot in the bottom of the 9th that brought the home side to within two with no one out. But Lee Walls and Sammy Taylor both struck out swinging before Bobby Adams grounded out to 2nd to end the game. Starting pitcher Turk Farrell came up big for the Phillies but was relieved at just the right time. He worked into the 9th but was pulled after Banks' second homer. He kept the Cubs hitless from the 2nd inning through to the end of the 6th and struck out the side in the 5th. His final numbers were: 8.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 10 K, 117 PI. Farrell is now 16-9 with an ERA of 4.12. Phillies manager Eddie Sawyer voiced his concerns over running down the Cubs but is optimistic about his side's chances.

"They've been incredible for these last few weeks," Sawyer said. "It's a real problem for us that they hit this purple patch at this point of the season, when we're closing in on the final weeks. It makes it harder for us because there's not as much time to catch them. We've been pretty good ourselves this month but despite that we haven't made up any ground. The challenge is to keep on performing and simply hope they cool off 'cause after this series we don't bump into them again until the 9th of September. That's gonna be a four-game set so we have to make sure that when it comes around we're in a position to capitalise on it. I'm confident we can do that."

kenyan_cheena · 07-03-2008, 06:12 PM

THE OHIO EXPRESS

Thursday, 19 August, 1959

HARRELL'S FOUR RBI
HELP BLUES RETAIN
LEAGUE LEAD

Story by Grady McCallum

Thanks mainly to a dominant outing from starter Don Ferrarese and a 2-for-3 4-RBI effort from 3rd baseman Billy Harrell the Cleveland Blues recorded a crushing 11-1 home win over the Washington Senators yesterday afternoon. It was the exact same scoreline that they had defeated the Athletics in Kansas City by a week before, the win keeping the Blues a game ahead of the Detroit Tigers in the American League pennant race.

Ferrarese went seven innings, giving up ten hits but just the one earned run on 106 pitches. He's now 11-5 and improved his MLB-best ERA to 2.23. He gave a hearty thank you to his outfielders afterwards as eleven of the outs during his stay in the game were on flyballs. Harrell hit a pair of 2-RBI doubles, the first a two-out shot down the left field line in the 2nd and the other a line drive to centre in the 6th that he was thrown out on trying to stetch it into a triple. It was part of a monster seven-hit six-run inning where catcher Russ Nixon and centrefielder Willie Mays also hit doubles.

Surprisingly Cleveland's leading power hitter Rocky Colavito didn't get in on the action, the rightfielder having an 0-for-3 afternoon with a walk and a run scored. Mays was 2-for-5 with two RBI while Nixon went 3-for-4, also knocking in two and scoring twice. Shortstop Chico Carrasquel collected three hits in four at-bats with two runs scored, Ferrarese helping himself with a 2-for-3 day at the plate and his fourth RBI of the season.

Cleveland are now 70-49, a game ahead of the Tigers (69-50) who defeated the Orioles in an 11-10 ten-inning shootout but five ahead of the struggling Yankees (65-54). The Bronx Bombers dropped two of three games to the White Sox in Chicago to start the week, something they can't afford to do if they want to claim their fifth consecutive American League pennant and eleventh in the last thirteen years...

kenyan_cheena · 07-05-2008, 09:14 AM

The New York Age

FRIDAY, 20 AUGUST, 1959

INTRODUCING THE NEW YORK METS

Story by Louis Greenberg

A special ceremony and press conference was held yesterday in Flushing, Queens where the name that New York's 1962 National League expansion franchise will be known as was revealed. In attendance were Major League Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick and the ballclub's ownership group consisting of New York attorney William Shea and his associates George Walker, M. Donald Grant, Charles Payson and his wife Joan. Mr Grant and the Paysons were formerly members of the San Francisco Giants board and had been the lone voices of dissent when the vote had been taken to move the franchise to California back in 1957. Renouncing their membership soon after, they joined forces with William Shea to bring a second NL team back to New York when MLB announced their plans for expansion last year.

A number of names had been suggested for the new franchise during the past months, including "Continentals", "Skyscrapers" and "Burros" but the ownership group announced that the team would be known as the "New York Mets". The name relates to the club's already exisiting corporate identity as the "New York Metropolitan Baseball Club, Inc." but also hearkens back to the name used by an earlier New York organisation in the 1880s. In addition to the naming of the club, the first soil was turned on the construction of its home venue which it was announced will be known as Shea Stadium and seat some 57,000 spectators.

"This is a fantastic day for all of us," said Shea, motioning to his fellow owners. "Not only are we excited about bringing baseball to Queens, we are also looking forward to re-establishing a rivalry that has existed in our fine city for over half a century. I'm sincere when I say our hope is that the rivalry between the Brooklyn Dodgers and our New York Mets will exceed that which existed when the Giants still called New York home."

Commissioner Frick voiced his happiness with the team's monicker, also expressing his anticipation about the "new exciting era for baseball" that is now only a couple of years away...

kenyan_cheena · 07-07-2008, 06:24 PM

THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE

SUNDAY, 22 AUGUST, 1959

LONG GOES DEEP THREE TIMES
IN CUBS' EXTRA INNINGS WIN

Story by Brian Davison

Chicago Cubs leadoff hitter Dale Long had an afternoon he, his team and the 38,395 fans in attendance at Wrigley Field won't soon forget yesterday as he smashed three home runs and knocked in five RBI in his ballclub's 6-3 12-inning victory over arch rivals the St. Louis Cardinals. It was without a doubt the finest outing of the 33 year-old 1st baseman's career as he batted 3-for-6. Long cleared the wall in deep centre in the 3rd to tie the scores at 2-2, his shot coming after Bobby Adams had kicked off the inning with a solo blast of his own. Then in the 8th he tied it up for a second time leading off the frame before his three-run smash to deep right in the bottom of the 12th won the game for the Cubs.

The victory was the fourth in a row for Chicago. It secured a series win and saw them improve to an incredible 16-3 in August and 33-8 since July the 5th. They are now 78-43 and enjoy a 7.5-game lead over the 2nd placed Philadelphia Phillies (71-51) who lost for the third time in four games yesterday with a 6-4 defeat in Cincinnati. While Long was the star of yesterday's game, special mention must also be made for the performance of the two starting pitchers. Both worked ten innings, Cardinals hurler Paul Foytack giving up eight hits and three earned runs while striking out three on 121 pitches. For Chicago Bob Purkey showed his toughness, his pitch count reaching 145 before he left the game having allowed eleven hits and three earned runs, also striking out two batters.

The series comes to a conclusion this afternoon before the Cubs hit the road with stop overs in Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and St. Louis during the coming ten days...

kenyan_cheena · 07-09-2008, 12:58 AM

THE OHIO EXPRESS

Monday, 23 August, 1959

BLUES OVERCOME SLOW START
TO RUN DOWN YANKEES
AND SQUARE SERIES

Story by Grady McCallum

For the second game in a row the Cleveland Blues have rallied from an early deficit to defeat the New York Yankees, home runs from Preston Ward in the 6th and Willie Mays in the 8th giving them a lead they never relinquished in an absorbing 7-6 victory yesterday afternoon. The Bronx Bombers took a 3-0 lead in the 1st thanks to back-to-back homers from Bill Skowron (a two-run shot) and Mickey Mantle. But the Blues erased the deficit in quick time, Ward's two-RBI single in the 2nd followed by an RBI-triple from Mays in the 3rd, the former NL MVP then scoring on Rocky Colavito's ground out to 2nd. That tied the scores at 4-4 before Ward and Mays gave the hometown team a three-run lead, Ward's 6th inning bomb to right field a two-out two-run effort. The Yankees pulled back two in the top of the 9th in a fightback that gave the Cleveland stadium faithful heart palpitations. Norm Siebern's triple scored both Skowron and Mantle but Hank Bauer flied out to shallow centrefield to end the rally.

Player of the Game Preston Ward was 2-for-4 with four RBI, Mays also batting 2-for-4. He scored twice and knocked in two runs. 2-for-4 was a popular statline as the meat of the Blues lineup, from the third man in the order Mays down to Ward at seven all finished the game with it, as did Mickey Mantle for the Yankees. Blues starter Don Ferrarese recorded his 12th win of the season. He went seven innings for the second game in a row, giving up eight hits and four earned runs. He struck out seven on 111 pitches and is now 12-5, his ERA still an MLB-best at 2.37. Bobby Shantz pitched all eight innings for New York, the Blues collecting ten hits from him as he fell to 17-10 on the season. Shantz's ERA is 4.22.

Yesterday's win followed Saturday's thriller when the Blues trailed 5-1 before scoring three in the 8th and two more in the 9th to win 6-5. The two losses will hit the Yankees hard, especially seeing as they won Thursday's series opener 7-1 and torched the Blues 12-3 on Friday. Over the four games they outscored Cleveland 30-17 but didn't make up a single game on them, something that manager Casey Stengel lamented after yesterday's defeat.

"This has been probably the most frustrating week of the season for us," he said. "To start by losing two in Chicago and then come here and outplay these guys but have nothing to show for it ... what can I say? Sometimes it's a cruel game."

While the Yankees and Blues were slugging it out in Cleveland the Detroit Tigers won three of four against the Red Sox in Boston, securing the series win with a 9-4 victory yesterday that kept them tied with the Blues for 1st place in the American League at 72-51. The Yankees are now a larger-than-it-looks five games back at 67-56, a deficit that they'll have great difficulty reeling in over the final 31 games of the season...

Jeff1787 · 07-09-2008, 08:37 AM

What a great race...I'll be backing the Blues! I'm not a Yankees fan, but those two last games really hurt.

TribeFanInNC · 07-09-2008, 10:21 AM

Great race indeed, although I have this sinking feeling the Blues will come up just short. Maybe it's just the Cleveland sports fan in me

CatKnight · 07-09-2008, 06:07 PM

Just realized (to my dismay) that I've never posted here, though I've followed you for quite awhile.

Great read, kenyan! You have a gift for really making your game world come alive. I wasn't alive in '57-'58, but still feel I have a good understanding of the major players and such thanks to your dynasty.

More!

kenyan_cheena · 07-09-2008, 06:43 PM

Thanks for all the kind words, guys. I should have another post up by around this time tomorrow.

kenyan_cheena · 07-10-2008, 06:28 PM

MILWAUKEE * WISCONSIN
JOURNAL SENTINEL

Tuesday 24 August 1959

AARON NAMED NATIONAL LEAGUE'S
PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Story by Lomas Robertson

A season plagued by frustration had a rare ray of light shined upon it yesterday as Milwaukee Braves outfielder Hank Aaron was named National League Player of the Week for the first time during the campaign. The 25 year-old batted a sensational .524 with two home runs and seven RBI as the defending World Champions went 3-3 while hosting the Cardinals and Giants, Aaron extending his current hitting streak to eleven games. On the season last year's World Series MVP and '57 League MVP is .318 with 28 HR and 76 RBI.

As has been previously outlined in this column the '59 season has been a difficult one for the Braves, numerous injuries sabotaging their quest for a third consecutive World Championship. Following Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Giants they fell to 66-57 and find themselves 12.5 games behind the League-leading Cubs (78-44). Despite the situation looking hopeless manager Fred Haney is not giving up.

"We aren't out of it until the standings say we are," he said. "We'll just keep fighting, each and every day. There's immense pride on this ballclub at being two-time defending Champions and those achievements will keep driving us right to the end of the season."

The Braves have a great chance to make up some ground on the two teams placed above them as they host both the Cubs and Phillies this week, starting with the series opener against Chicago this afternoon where Joey Jay faces the daunting task of outdueling Cy Young favourite Bob Anderson.

kenyan_cheena · 07-12-2008, 12:49 AM

The New York Age

WEDNESDAY, 25 AUGUST, 1959

BUY-OUT OFFER MADE TO
O'MALLEY FOR DODGERS

Story by Louis Greenberg

A trio of New York businessmen made a public announcement yesterday claiming they intend to purchase the Brooklyn Dodgers from current owner Walter O'Malley. Standing outside Ebbets Field shortly before the start of the Dodgers game against the Cincinnati Reds (which the home team lost 6-5) the group was led by Maurice Goldstein, a senior partner in the renowned law firm Goldstein Cooper Brown. Goldstein stated that he and his associates have been lifelong fans of the Dodgers but were disgusted with the downward spiral the club has been on during the last two years. They laid the blame for the team's misfortune squarely on O'Malley, saying the owner had been remiss in his duty to put a competitive lineup on the field.

A number of local newspaper scribes had been alerted about the conference beforehand and Goldstein had them eating out of his hand, the solicitor firing shots at O'Malley over his "gross incompetence". A considerable portion of those there to see the game also stood and watched, some laughing and agreeing strongly with his words. In an unexpected revelaton Goldstein also stated that he and his colleagues were amongst the individuals who helped finance the renovations carried out on Ebbets last year and so they had a "personal stake" in what becomes of the team. When asked about the confidentiality O'Malley had claimed over the situation Goldstein sighed.

"No agreement or contract was ever signed to guarantee our silence," he said. "This ballclub has gone from being World Series Champions to the laughing stock of the league in the space of four years. Something has to be done about it. I'm putting the offer to Mr. O'Malley right now: we are willing, ready and able to purchase the Brooklyn Dodgers."

Yesterday's defeat to the Reds saw Brooklyn fall to 42-82 on the season. If owner Walter O'Malley stays true to his words of mid-July the ballclub's manager Walter Alston will be fired at the end of the season if the team losses at least 85 games, something that could happen before the end of August. Goldstein addressed the Alston situation, saying the treatment he's been given by O'Malley was "reprehensible".

"It simply amazes me how O'Malley has just hung him out to dry," said Goldstein. "If you don't have a roster of players that can compete it doesn't matter how good a manager you are. Walter O'Malley has failed in the extreme to provide Alston with a roster talented enough to compete for the National League pennant and if he has his way, the man will be out the door at the end of the year. It's disgraceful and if we are successful in our aim of acquiring ownership of the Dodgers Walter Alston will be staying on as manager!"

This last comment brought a hearty cheer from the crowd, the conference breaking up soon after. Goldstein, his associates and the 27,212 spectators that attended Ebbets yesterday filed into the ground and supported their team vigorously. They went home disappointed, a four-run 8th giving the Reds a 6-4 lead that they did not surrender. But that was not really the big story of the day and it will be fascinating to see how O'Malley responds to Goldstein's offer in the days to come...

kenyan_cheena · 07-12-2008, 01:33 AM

KANSAS CITY TELEGRAPH

FRIDAY 27 AUGUST 1959

ATHLETICS COMPLETE SWEEP
OF AILING YANKEES

Story by George Milton

In what could very well be the final nail in the coffin of the New York Yankees season the Kansas City Athletics completed a Yankee Stadium sweep of the four-time defending American League Champions yesterday, the 4-2 victory adding to Tuesday's 8-4 win and Wednesday's 10-6 triumph. In an instance of poetic justice former Yankee hurler Ryne Duren was on the mound for yesterday's series closer, the Cy Young hopeful pitching eight fantastic innings in which the home team could only record two hits and two earned runs. Duren struck out thirteen batters, equalling a season-high he set against the Red Sox back on July 24.

The game was a classic pitcher's duel with Bob Turney holding the Athletics to just four hits and striking out nine in a complete game outing. But the visitors made the most of their opportunities, converting two hits, two walks and an error by 1st baseman Bill Skowron into three runs in the 5th inning. Duren has been excellent since being traded back to the Athletics, the righthander going 7-3 in eleven starts with an ERA of 2.76 and 96 strikeouts. He's been named Player of the Game in five of those appearances, including yesterday's.

Some observers have been saying recently that the Bronx Bombers sabotaged their own campaign when they traded away Duren back on the 11th of July. They were 50-36 and just one game out of the league lead at the time and have gone 17-23 since. Now 67-59, they're eight games behind the 1st placed Cleveland Blues (75-51). Yesterday's defeat was a season-high fifth in a row for the Yankees, Kansas City becoming the third ballclub to sweep them at Yankee Stadium this season following Detroit and Cleveland's efforts last month.

As for the Athletics, they've ended an eight-game road trip with an impressive 5-3 mark. After taking two against the Red Sox last week they were swept in Chicago but their triumph in the Bronx gives them something to crow about on the way home. The team is 9-5 since August 10 and 59-66 on the season. Many have said that their chances of keeping their star pitcher beyond this year are quite remote and that Duren is simply using them to up his stock for the new contract he signs during the off-season. He's one of a number of top talents in the league that will be on the market and his signature is sure to be a sought after one.

kenyan_cheena · 07-12-2008, 02:33 AM

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE

SATURDAY, 28 AUGUST, 1959

CUBS SMASH FOUR HOME RUNS
IN PITTSBURGH DECIMATION

Story by Brian Davison

After dropping two of three in Milwaukee to start the week the Chicago Cubs obliterated the Pittsburgh Pirates 13-4 in the opener of a three-game set at Forbes Field yesterday. The Cubs lineup was back to its destructive best, leftfielder Harry Anderson leading the way with a 4-for-5 afternoon. He hit a two-run homer in the 3rd and an RBI-double in the 7th while shortstop Ernie Banks hammered his 39th and 40th home runs of the season, the National League MVP favourite batting 3-for-5 with three runs scored. Dale Long gave an indication of what was to come when he homered leading off in the 1st and finished 3-for-5. Catcher Sammy Taylor (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and 2nd baseman Bobby Adams (2-for-4, 3 RBI) also contributed to the massacre.

"What can you say about it?" said Pirates shortstop Dick Groat, shaking his head. "They kicked our backsides, pure and simple. I can't see anyone getting near them in the pennant race and I can't see anyone from the American League competing with them in the series, either. They're just awesome."

Starting pitcher and defending NL Cy Young Award winner Jim Brosnan gave up nine hits in a complete game outing, his eleventh of the season. In thirty starts he's 12-14 with an ERA of 4.11. He may be the weakest member of what is a brilliant rotation but he's shown glimpses of last year's form in recent weeks and is 5-1 in his last eight starts. The win improved Chicago's record to an MLB-best 80-46 and pushed their lead over the 2nd placed Phillies out to 7.5 games. The Pirates fell to 68-58 and are a half-game back from the 3rd placed Milwaukee Braves.

kenyan_cheena · 07-14-2008, 06:28 PM

THE MICHIGAN HERALD

Sunday 29 August 1959

TIGERS BACK IN 1ST PLACE
AFTER WIN OVER BLUES

Story by Michael Fredricks

The 1959 American League pennant race took another dramatic turn yesterday as the Detroit Tigers regained outright 1st place with a dominant 8-2 win over the Cleveland Blues in Ohio. It followed Friday's impressive 5-1 victory that had brought the Tigers level at the top of the league. While a number of players contributed the stars of the game were starting pitcher Bob Buhl and 3rd baseman Ken Boyer. In just his fourth start since being moved into the rotation on the 15th Buhl produced a complete game gem, restricting the powerful Cleveland offense to eight hits and two earned runs, both coming on solo homers from Rocky Colavito. Buhl struck out eight batters and contained the top three men in the Blues lineup (Minoso, Ward and Mays), each of them recording a single hit in four at-bats.

In his four starts Buhl is 3-0 and has been named Player of the Game in the last two. On the season he's 8-0 with an ERA of 2.45. While Buhl was mesmerising Cleveland's lineup Ken Boyer took to its pitching, producing a 4-for-5 afternoon with a run scored and two RBI, his team-leading 90th and 91st of the season. His RBI-double in the 7th was part of a three-run frame that gave the Tigers their final margin of victory. It also included a solo home run from Frank Bolling and a double from the veteran Vic Wertz that scored Boyer.

The final game of the series takes place this afternoon. A win for the Tigers stretches their lead to two games while a Cleveland triumph sees the teams back level again. But it won't be the final time they'll clash this year. The two rivals face each other seven more times before the end of the regular season with a three-game series in Cleveland from September 14 and a four-game set in Detroit from the 20th. Both of them will prove vital in shaping the final outcome of this extraordinary race...

Top of the American League
as at end of play, Saturday 28 August 1959

1ST: DETROIT TIGERS 76-52 (.594)
2nd: Cleveland Blues 75-53 (.586) (1.0 G.B.)
3rd: New York Yankees 68-60 (.531) (8.0 G.B.)

06-27-2008, 11:22 PM	#202 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,626	*The Cleveland Sunday Courier* SUNDAY 15 AUGUST 1959 BLUES LOSE SCORE FOR REMAINDER OF SEASON WITH SHOULDER INJURY Story by Larry Jacobson If the Cleveland Blues are to emerge as American League and World Series Champions this year, they'll have to do it without the services of star pitcher Herb Score after he injured his shoulder yesterday at Fenway Park while pitching against the Red Sox. In his first start since suffering a back injury on the 20th of July Score had to leave the game in the 3rd inning after giving up a single to outfielder Jim Piersall. He immediately clutched at his left shoulder after delivering the pitch, going down on one knee and signalling to both catcher Russ Nixon and the dugout that something was wrong. After a thorough examination Cleveland's medical stuff announced that Score was suffering from bone chips in his left shoulder, an injury that will require surgery and keep him out for at least eight weeks, a duration that stretches beyond the scheduled completion fo the World Series. Though not as big a deal as Score's injury the Blues were absolutely walloped by Boston, the Red Sox winning 10-1. It was their third biggest win of the season and some sweet revenge for the four-game sweep the Blues inflicted upon them in Cleveland last week. The victory was built on a four-run 1st inning, Score looking uneasy and nervous as he came out to the mound, perhaps still worried about his back despite being passed fit. When he walked the first two batters he faced it became even more obvious that everything was not right with him. After Frank Malzone flied out to centre Jackie Jensen then hammered a double into left, scoring both Don Buddin and Ken Aspromonte. But Jensen got greedy and was thrown out at 3rd by Minnie Minoso's bullet from the outfield. Score then recorded his third walk of the inning before Boston were suddenly ahead 4-0 on Dick Gernert's two-run homer to deep left field. Bill Renna grounded out to end the frame but the damage had been done. The Blues pulled one back in the bottom of the 2nd but Boston extended the lead out to seven in the 3rd. Frank Malzone flied out for a second time to start the inning before Jensen was walked and Piersall singled on the pitch where Score was injured. Things got worse for the Blues when reliever Jim Bailey gave up a two-RBI double to Dick Gernert (both runs were charged to Score) to make it 6-1. Renna then singled to move Gernert to 3rd before Pete Daley brought him home with a single of his own. Pitcher Barry Latman laid down a nice sacrifice bunt that advanced the runners and when Buddin reached on a Chico Carrasquel error Renna scored to make it 8-1. The Red Sox added two more runs in the 5th, Dick Gernert doubling to lead off the inning and then scoring on a throwing error by Blues 3rd baseman Billy Harrell that allowed Renna to reach 1st. He scored soon after on a Latman sac fly to right-centre. Needless to say, Gernert had a fantastic day for Boston. He batted 3-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBI, hitting two doubles and a home run. Latman did a great job of silencing the Blues batters, who were without the rested Rocky Colavito. He allowed just five hits and struck out four in 5.1 innings. Minoso and Carrasquel (both 2-for-4) were the only Cleveland batters to show any resistance. Mays was 0-for-4, Nixon 1-for-5 and Roger Maris 1-for-4 filling in for Colavito. Preston Ward was able to draw three walks and was 0-for-2. If, as is very likely, yesterday does turn out to be the final appearance of the season for Herb Score, it will be looked upon as a campaign that promised so much but was cruelly interrupted by injury. The 26 year-old had already won twelve games by the end of May and looked unstoppable but has gone on to register just five more victories in the time since. Blues manager Joe Gordon could not hide his disappointment, sadness and frustration. "Of course he's a big loss for us," Gordon said, shaking his head. "He's been incredible this year and we're gonna miss him down the stretch. But even more than that I'm just feeling so sad for the guy, you know? He fought back from that horrific injury in '57 to be our rock last year and after the start he made this season I thought anything was possible for him. What he's done so far was already fantastic but it's sad thinking where he could have taken it." * Herb Score's numbers for the 1959 season:** 27 starts, 17-7, 2.83 ERA, 200.2 IP, 129 HA, 131 BB, 207 K, 8 CG, 5 SHO, 1 No-hitter *Month-by-month* April: 6 starts, 6-0, 1.91 ERA, 30 BB, 43 K May: 8 starts, 6-1, 1.63 ERA, 37 BB, 65 K June: 7 starts, 2-4, 4.80 ERA, 38 BB, 66 K July: 5 starts, 3-1, 2.10 ERA, 22 BB, 32 K August: 1 start, 0-1, 23.15 ERA, 4 BB, 1 K __________________ MLB: 1958 and Beyond... The Greatest Prize in Sports Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 06-27-2008 at 11:23 PM.

06-28-2008, 01:56 AM	#204 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,626	THE MICHIGAN HERALD Monday 16 August 1959 KALINE COLLECTS FIVE HITS AS TIGERS TRUMP YANKEES Story by Michael Fredricks The Detroit Tigers secured a 2-1 series win over the New York Yankees yesterday afternoon, taking a heartstopping matchup 9-8. Led by Al Kaline's 5-for-5 two-RBI performance the Tigers put some much-needed breathing space between themselves and the Bronx Bombers and stayed in touch with the Cleveland Blues in the race for the American League pennant. The game was a real slugfest as the two sides combined for 27 hits, including six home runs and five doubles. The Tigers ignited the fuse in the bottom of the 2nd when 1st baseman Vic Wertz hammered a solo home run over the wall in right field. They had a chance to add to it as the next two batters both singled but the Yankees extinguished those hopes when Charlie Maxwell struck out swinging to end the inning. New York answered back immediately, taking a 2-1 lead in the 3rd when the first three batters they sent to the plate reached safely, Mickey Mantle's single bringing Gil McDougald home before Harry Simpson scored from 3rd when Norm Siebern grounded into a fielder's choice that saw Mantle out at 2nd. But as soon as they lost the lead the Tigers took it back again, producing a five-hit three-run burst in the bottom of the frame to lead 4-2 and have the crowd on their feet applauding. The highlight of the inning was the back-to-back solo home runs from Kaline and his partner in crime Ken Boyer, both shots into left field. They were followed by a trio of singles in the next four at-bats that saw Harvey Kuenn score. The action just kept on coming as the Yankees scored twice on a trio of doubles in the 4th, one of them coming from an unlikely source in starting pitcher Whitey Ford. But once again the Tigers put their heads in front, Kaline knocking in Charlie Maxwell on a double to the gap in left-centre to give his team a 5-4 lead going into the 5th. The scores were tied up again when Yankees 2nd baseman Gil McDougald smashed a solo home run down the right field line in the 6th inning before the Yankees reclaimed the lead in the 7th, scoring once without a single hit. Mantle drew a walk to lead off the inning and made it to 3rd on a throwing error by Tigers catcher Charlie Lau as he stole 2nd. After Norm Siebern was intentionally walked pinchhitter Willie McCovey grounded out to 2nd. Bill Skowron was then also granted a free pass to 1st before Mantle crossed home plate on Elston Howard's grounder to 3rd, Skowron out at 2nd. Tony Kubek lined out to 3rd to end the inning. In a game that had already experienced a deal of drama the Tigers came up with their second three-run inning in the bottom of the 7th, pinchhitter Gail Harris hitting a two-out three-run homer in his only at-bat of the game, the shot eliciting a deafening roar from the Briggs Stadium faithful. But it was almost expected that the Yankees would reply and they did, tieing the scores at 8-8 in the top of the 8th when the veteran Hank Bauer absolutely crushed a 2-1 Pumpsie Green fastball over the centrefield wall, McDougald also scoring after he'd singled in the previous at-bat. But the Tigers once again assumed the lead in the bottom of the frame, Al Kaline leading off with a double before Ken Boyer was intentionally walked. Harvey Kuenn then grounded into a double play but it was followed by a moment that cost the Bronx Bombers dearly as Green reached when shortstop Tony Kubek fumbled a harmless grounder, allowing pinchrunner Irv Noren to score. The Yankees had one runner on board in the 9th but they ran out of comebacks and when Yogi Berra grounded out to 2nd the four-hour, 21-minute thriller was over. The crowd stood as one and gave their ballclub an extended ovation, immensely proud of their efforts. "What a game!" exclaimed Kaline. "It feels so great to be out there competing with those guys and getting the better of them. They've owned this league for so long now but maybe that's ending this year. Maybe, I hope so. We just have to focus on coming out prepared each day and doing the little things right. A lot of people thought we'd be out of the picture by now but there's no chance we're gonna let this opportunity slip away." While Kaline was the star for the home team, Gil McDougald had a fantastic afternoon for the Yankees. He batted 4-for-5, scoring three times and knocking in two runs. The win saw Detroit restore a 3.5-game buffer over the Yankees, something they'll be desperate to maintain as the season enters its final weeks... American League Standings as at end of play, Sunday 15 August 1959 1ST: CLEVELAND BLUES 69-48 (.590) 2nd: Detroit Tigers 68-49 (.581), (1.0 G.B.) 3rd: New York Yankees 64-52 (.552), (4.5 G.B.) 4th: Baltimore Orioles 54-62 (.465), (14.5 G.B.) 4th: Washington Senators 54-62 (.465), (14.5 G.B.) 6th: Kansas City Athletics 54-63 (.462), (15.0 G.B.) 7th: Boston Red Sox 53-64 (.453), (16.0 G.B.) 8th: Chicago White Sox 50-66 (.431), (18.5 G.B.) __________________ MLB: 1958 and Beyond... The Greatest Prize in Sports

06-28-2008, 11:09 PM	#206 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,626	The Philadelphia Inquirer WEDNESDAY 18 AUGUST 1959 BOUCHEE'S THREE RBI LEAD PHILLIES PAST CUBS IN SERIES OPENER Story by Tommy Simmonds The Philadelphia Phillies improved to 11-4 in the month of August with an important 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field yesterday. It was the first of a two-game set that the Phillies will have to make the most of in order to get back within striking distance of the Cubs, who have been on a season-best run during the past three weeks. Yesterday's win was the fifth in a row for Philadelphia and pulled them to within 4.5 games of the Illinois ballclub. They swept the Giants at home to conclude last week's schedule, getting a measure of payback after dropping three of four in San Francisco the week before. 1st baseman Ed Bouchee had a great day for the victors, batting 2-for-5 with three RBIs. He hit a two-out RBI triple in the 6th that opened the scoring and a two-out two-RBI single in the 7th that followed a two-run homer from catcher Stan Lopata earlier in the inning. Taking a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the 7th the Phillies were able to withstand a late Chicago fightback, Ernie Banks homering twice including a two-run shot in the bottom of the 9th that brought the home side to within two with no one out. But Lee Walls and Sammy Taylor both struck out swinging before Bobby Adams grounded out to 2nd to end the game. Starting pitcher Turk Farrell came up big for the Phillies but was relieved at just the right time. He worked into the 9th but was pulled after Banks' second homer. He kept the Cubs hitless from the 2nd inning through to the end of the 6th and struck out the side in the 5th. His final numbers were: 8.0 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 10 K, 117 PI. Farrell is now 16-9 with an ERA of 4.12. Phillies manager Eddie Sawyer voiced his concerns over running down the Cubs but is optimistic about his side's chances. "They've been incredible for these last few weeks," Sawyer said. "It's a real problem for us that they hit this purple patch at this point of the season, when we're closing in on the final weeks. It makes it harder for us because there's not as much time to catch them. We've been pretty good ourselves this month but despite that we haven't made up any ground. The challenge is to keep on performing and simply hope they cool off 'cause after this series we don't bump into them again until the 9th of September. That's gonna be a four-game set so we have to make sure that when it comes around we're in a position to capitalise on it. I'm confident we can do that." __________________ MLB: 1958 and Beyond... The Greatest Prize in Sports Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 06-28-2008 at 11:12 PM.

07-03-2008, 06:12 PM	#207 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,626	*THE OHIO EXPRESS* Thursday, 19 August, 1959 HARRELL'S FOUR RBI HELP BLUES RETAIN LEAGUE LEAD Story by Grady McCallum Thanks mainly to a dominant outing from starter Don Ferrarese and a 2-for-3 4-RBI effort from 3rd baseman Billy Harrell the Cleveland Blues recorded a crushing 11-1 home win over the Washington Senators yesterday afternoon. It was the exact same scoreline that they had defeated the Athletics in Kansas City by a week before, the win keeping the Blues a game ahead of the Detroit Tigers in the American League pennant race. Ferrarese went seven innings, giving up ten hits but just the one earned run on 106 pitches. He's now 11-5 and improved his MLB-best ERA to 2.23. He gave a hearty thank you to his outfielders afterwards as eleven of the outs during his stay in the game were on flyballs. Harrell hit a pair of 2-RBI doubles, the first a two-out shot down the left field line in the 2nd and the other a line drive to centre in the 6th that he was thrown out on trying to stetch it into a triple. It was part of a monster seven-hit six-run inning where catcher Russ Nixon and centrefielder Willie Mays also hit doubles. Surprisingly Cleveland's leading power hitter Rocky Colavito didn't get in on the action, the rightfielder having an 0-for-3 afternoon with a walk and a run scored. Mays was 2-for-5 with two RBI while Nixon went 3-for-4, also knocking in two and scoring twice. Shortstop Chico Carrasquel collected three hits in four at-bats with two runs scored, Ferrarese helping himself with a 2-for-3 day at the plate and his fourth RBI of the season. Cleveland are now 70-49, a game ahead of the Tigers (69-50) who defeated the Orioles in an 11-10 ten-inning shootout but five ahead of the struggling Yankees (65-54). The Bronx Bombers dropped two of three games to the White Sox in Chicago to start the week, something they can't afford to do if they want to claim their fifth consecutive American League pennant and eleventh in the last thirteen years... __________________ MLB: 1958 and Beyond... The Greatest Prize in Sports Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 07-09-2008 at 12:53 AM.

07-05-2008, 09:14 AM	#208 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,626	*The New York Age* FRIDAY, 20 AUGUST, 1959 INTRODUCING THE NEW YORK METS Story by Louis Greenberg A special ceremony and press conference was held yesterday in Flushing, Queens where the name that New York's 1962 National League expansion franchise will be known as was revealed. In attendance were Major League Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick and the ballclub's ownership group consisting of New York attorney William Shea and his associates George Walker, M. Donald Grant, Charles Payson and his wife Joan. Mr Grant and the Paysons were formerly members of the San Francisco Giants board and had been the lone voices of dissent when the vote had been taken to move the franchise to California back in 1957. Renouncing their membership soon after, they joined forces with William Shea to bring a second NL team back to New York when MLB announced their plans for expansion last year. A number of names had been suggested for the new franchise during the past months, including "Continentals", "Skyscrapers" and "Burros" but the ownership group announced that the team would be known as the "New York Mets". The name relates to the club's already exisiting corporate identity as the "New York Metropolitan Baseball Club, Inc." but also hearkens back to the name used by an earlier New York organisation in the 1880s. In addition to the naming of the club, the first soil was turned on the construction of its home venue which it was announced will be known as Shea Stadium and seat some 57,000 spectators. "This is a fantastic day for all of us," said Shea, motioning to his fellow owners. "Not only are we excited about bringing baseball to Queens, we are also looking forward to re-establishing a rivalry that has existed in our fine city for over half a century. I'm sincere when I say our hope is that the rivalry between the Brooklyn Dodgers and our New York Mets will exceed that which existed when the Giants still called New York home." Commissioner Frick voiced his happiness with the team's monicker, also expressing his anticipation about the "new exciting era for baseball" that is now only a couple of years away... __________________ MLB: 1958 and Beyond... The Greatest Prize in Sports

06-27-2008, 01:25 PM	#201 (permalink)
mikehoudini All Star Reserve Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Catonsville, MD Posts: 680	To quote Butch Cassidy or the Sundance Kid, "Who are these guys?" That refers to the Cubbies, who are playing phenomenally! Bob Anderson at 19-2? Reliefer-turned-starter Jim Brosnan having an off-year! Maybe Ernie Banks'll get his world series after all!

06-28-2008, 01:48 AM	#203 (permalink)
Jeff1787 All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The Doghouse Posts: 765	All I can say is..."that ain't fair."

07-07-2008, 06:24 PM	#209 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,626	THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE SUNDAY, 22 AUGUST, 1959 LONG GOES DEEP THREE TIMES IN CUBS' EXTRA INNINGS WIN Story by Brian Davison Chicago Cubs leadoff hitter Dale Long had an afternoon he, his team and the 38,395 fans in attendance at Wrigley Field won't soon forget yesterday as he smashed three home runs and knocked in five RBI in his ballclub's 6-3 12-inning victory over arch rivals the St. Louis Cardinals. It was without a doubt the finest outing of the 33 year-old 1st baseman's career as he batted 3-for-6. Long cleared the wall in deep centre in the 3rd to tie the scores at 2-2, his shot coming after Bobby Adams had kicked off the inning with a solo blast of his own. Then in the 8th he tied it up for a second time leading off the frame before his three-run smash to deep right in the bottom of the 12th won the game for the Cubs. The victory was the fourth in a row for Chicago. It secured a series win and saw them improve to an incredible 16-3 in August and 33-8 since July the 5th. They are now 78-43 and enjoy a 7.5-game lead over the 2nd placed Philadelphia Phillies (71-51) who lost for the third time in four games yesterday with a 6-4 defeat in Cincinnati. While Long was the star of yesterday's game, special mention must also be made for the performance of the two starting pitchers. Both worked ten innings, Cardinals hurler Paul Foytack giving up eight hits and three earned runs while striking out three on 121 pitches. For Chicago Bob Purkey showed his toughness, his pitch count reaching 145 before he left the game having allowed eleven hits and three earned runs, also striking out two batters. The series comes to a conclusion this afternoon before the Cubs hit the road with stop overs in Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and St. Louis during the coming ten days... __________________ MLB: 1958 and Beyond... The Greatest Prize in Sports Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 07-07-2008 at 08:53 PM.

07-09-2008, 12:58 AM	#210 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,626	*THE OHIO EXPRESS* Monday, 23 August, 1959 BLUES OVERCOME SLOW START TO RUN DOWN YANKEES AND SQUARE SERIES Story by Grady McCallum For the second game in a row the Cleveland Blues have rallied from an early deficit to defeat the New York Yankees, home runs from Preston Ward in the 6th and Willie Mays in the 8th giving them a lead they never relinquished in an absorbing 7-6 victory yesterday afternoon. The Bronx Bombers took a 3-0 lead in the 1st thanks to back-to-back homers from Bill Skowron (a two-run shot) and Mickey Mantle. But the Blues erased the deficit in quick time, Ward's two-RBI single in the 2nd followed by an RBI-triple from Mays in the 3rd, the former NL MVP then scoring on Rocky Colavito's ground out to 2nd. That tied the scores at 4-4 before Ward and Mays gave the hometown team a three-run lead, Ward's 6th inning bomb to right field a two-out two-run effort. The Yankees pulled back two in the top of the 9th in a fightback that gave the Cleveland stadium faithful heart palpitations. Norm Siebern's triple scored both Skowron and Mantle but Hank Bauer flied out to shallow centrefield to end the rally. Player of the Game Preston Ward was 2-for-4 with four RBI, Mays also batting 2-for-4. He scored twice and knocked in two runs. 2-for-4 was a popular statline as the meat of the Blues lineup, from the third man in the order Mays down to Ward at seven all finished the game with it, as did Mickey Mantle for the Yankees. Blues starter Don Ferrarese recorded his 12th win of the season. He went seven innings for the second game in a row, giving up eight hits and four earned runs. He struck out seven on 111 pitches and is now 12-5, his ERA still an MLB-best at 2.37. Bobby Shantz pitched all eight innings for New York, the Blues collecting ten hits from him as he fell to 17-10 on the season. Shantz's ERA is 4.22. Yesterday's win followed Saturday's thriller when the Blues trailed 5-1 before scoring three in the 8th and two more in the 9th to win 6-5. The two losses will hit the Yankees hard, especially seeing as they won Thursday's series opener 7-1 and torched the Blues 12-3 on Friday. Over the four games they outscored Cleveland 30-17 but didn't make up a single game on them, something that manager Casey Stengel lamented after yesterday's defeat. "This has been probably the most frustrating week of the season for us," he said. "To start by losing two in Chicago and then come here and outplay these guys but have nothing to show for it ... what can I say? Sometimes it's a cruel game." While the Yankees and Blues were slugging it out in Cleveland the Detroit Tigers won three of four against the Red Sox in Boston, securing the series win with a 9-4 victory yesterday that kept them tied with the Blues for 1st place in the American League at 72-51. The Yankees are now a larger-than-it-looks five games back at 67-56, a deficit that they'll have great difficulty reeling in over the final 31 games of the season... __________________ MLB: 1958 and Beyond... The Greatest Prize in Sports

07-09-2008, 08:37 AM	#211 (permalink)
Jeff1787 All Star Reserve Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The Doghouse Posts: 765	What a great race...I'll be backing the Blues! I'm not a Yankees fan, but those two last games really hurt.

07-09-2008, 10:21 AM	#212 (permalink)
TribeFanInNC Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 112	Great race indeed, although I have this sinking feeling the Blues will come up just short. Maybe it's just the Cleveland sports fan in me __________________ Dog Days Baseball: Blackwood Werewolves (retired) Career 728-415 record, 6 Larch Division titles, 1973 Kennel Cup Champions eMLB: Los Angeles Dodgers (fired) Career 161-163 record

07-09-2008, 06:07 PM	#213 (permalink)
CatKnight Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 235	Just realized (to my dismay) that I've never posted here, though I've followed you for quite awhile. Great read, kenyan! You have a gift for really making your game world come alive. I wasn't alive in '57-'58, but still feel I have a good understanding of the major players and such thanks to your dynasty. More!

07-09-2008, 06:43 PM	#214 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,626	Thanks for all the kind words, guys. I should have another post up by around this time tomorrow. __________________ MLB: 1958 and Beyond... The Greatest Prize in Sports

07-10-2008, 06:28 PM	#215 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,626	MILWAUKEE * WISCONSIN JOURNAL SENTINEL Tuesday 24 August 1959 AARON NAMED NATIONAL LEAGUE'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK Story by Lomas Robertson A season plagued by frustration had a rare ray of light shined upon it yesterday as Milwaukee Braves outfielder Hank Aaron was named National League Player of the Week for the first time during the campaign. The 25 year-old batted a sensational .524 with two home runs and seven RBI as the defending World Champions went 3-3 while hosting the Cardinals and Giants, Aaron extending his current hitting streak to eleven games. On the season last year's World Series MVP and '57 League MVP is .318 with 28 HR and 76 RBI. As has been previously outlined in this column the '59 season has been a difficult one for the Braves, numerous injuries sabotaging their quest for a third consecutive World Championship. Following Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Giants they fell to 66-57 and find themselves 12.5 games behind the League-leading Cubs (78-44). Despite the situation looking hopeless manager Fred Haney is not giving up. "We aren't out of it until the standings say we are," he said. "We'll just keep fighting, each and every day. There's immense pride on this ballclub at being two-time defending Champions and those achievements will keep driving us right to the end of the season." The Braves have a great chance to make up some ground on the two teams placed above them as they host both the Cubs and Phillies this week, starting with the series opener against Chicago this afternoon where Joey Jay faces the daunting task of outdueling Cy Young favourite Bob Anderson. __________________ MLB: 1958 and Beyond... The Greatest Prize in Sports Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 07-11-2008 at 10:29 PM.

07-12-2008, 12:49 AM	#216 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,626	*The New York Age* WEDNESDAY, 25 AUGUST, 1959 BUY-OUT OFFER MADE TO O'MALLEY FOR DODGERS Story by Louis Greenberg A trio of New York businessmen made a public announcement yesterday claiming they intend to purchase the Brooklyn Dodgers from current owner Walter O'Malley. Standing outside Ebbets Field shortly before the start of the Dodgers game against the Cincinnati Reds (which the home team lost 6-5) the group was led by Maurice Goldstein, a senior partner in the renowned law firm Goldstein Cooper Brown. Goldstein stated that he and his associates have been lifelong fans of the Dodgers but were disgusted with the downward spiral the club has been on during the last two years. They laid the blame for the team's misfortune squarely on O'Malley, saying the owner had been remiss in his duty to put a competitive lineup on the field. A number of local newspaper scribes had been alerted about the conference beforehand and Goldstein had them eating out of his hand, the solicitor firing shots at O'Malley over his "gross incompetence". A considerable portion of those there to see the game also stood and watched, some laughing and agreeing strongly with his words. In an unexpected revelaton Goldstein also stated that he and his colleagues were amongst the individuals who helped finance the renovations carried out on Ebbets last year and so they had a "personal stake" in what becomes of the team. When asked about the confidentiality O'Malley had claimed over the situation Goldstein sighed. "No agreement or contract was ever signed to guarantee our silence," he said. "This ballclub has gone from being World Series Champions to the laughing stock of the league in the space of four years. Something has to be done about it. I'm putting the offer to Mr. O'Malley right now: we are willing, ready and able to purchase the Brooklyn Dodgers." Yesterday's defeat to the Reds saw Brooklyn fall to 42-82 on the season. If owner Walter O'Malley stays true to his words of mid-July the ballclub's manager Walter Alston will be fired at the end of the season if the team losses at least 85 games, something that could happen before the end of August. Goldstein addressed the Alston situation, saying the treatment he's been given by O'Malley was "reprehensible". "It simply amazes me how O'Malley has just hung him out to dry," said Goldstein. "If you don't have a roster of players that can compete it doesn't matter how good a manager you are. Walter O'Malley has failed in the extreme to provide Alston with a roster talented enough to compete for the National League pennant and if he has his way, the man will be out the door at the end of the year. It's disgraceful and if we are successful in our aim of acquiring ownership of the Dodgers Walter Alston will be staying on as manager!" This last comment brought a hearty cheer from the crowd, the conference breaking up soon after. Goldstein, his associates and the 27,212 spectators that attended Ebbets yesterday filed into the ground and supported their team vigorously. They went home disappointed, a four-run 8th giving the Reds a 6-4 lead that they did not surrender. But that was not really the big story of the day and it will be fascinating to see how O'Malley responds to Goldstein's offer in the days to come... __________________ MLB: 1958 and Beyond... The Greatest Prize in Sports

07-12-2008, 01:33 AM	#217 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,626	KANSAS CITY TELEGRAPH FRIDAY 27 AUGUST 1959 ATHLETICS COMPLETE SWEEP OF AILING YANKEES Story by George Milton In what could very well be the final nail in the coffin of the New York Yankees season the Kansas City Athletics completed a Yankee Stadium sweep of the four-time defending American League Champions yesterday, the 4-2 victory adding to Tuesday's 8-4 win and Wednesday's 10-6 triumph. In an instance of poetic justice former Yankee hurler Ryne Duren was on the mound for yesterday's series closer, the Cy Young hopeful pitching eight fantastic innings in which the home team could only record two hits and two earned runs. Duren struck out thirteen batters, equalling a season-high he set against the Red Sox back on July 24. The game was a classic pitcher's duel with Bob Turney holding the Athletics to just four hits and striking out nine in a complete game outing. But the visitors made the most of their opportunities, converting two hits, two walks and an error by 1st baseman Bill Skowron into three runs in the 5th inning. Duren has been excellent since being traded back to the Athletics, the righthander going 7-3 in eleven starts with an ERA of 2.76 and 96 strikeouts. He's been named Player of the Game in five of those appearances, including yesterday's. Some observers have been saying recently that the Bronx Bombers sabotaged their own campaign when they traded away Duren back on the 11th of July. They were 50-36 and just one game out of the league lead at the time and have gone 17-23 since. Now 67-59, they're eight games behind the 1st placed Cleveland Blues (75-51). Yesterday's defeat was a season-high fifth in a row for the Yankees, Kansas City becoming the third ballclub to sweep them at Yankee Stadium this season following Detroit and Cleveland's efforts last month. As for the Athletics, they've ended an eight-game road trip with an impressive 5-3 mark. After taking two against the Red Sox last week they were swept in Chicago but their triumph in the Bronx gives them something to crow about on the way home. The team is 9-5 since August 10 and 59-66 on the season. Many have said that their chances of keeping their star pitcher beyond this year are quite remote and that Duren is simply using them to up his stock for the new contract he signs during the off-season. He's one of a number of top talents in the league that will be on the market and his signature is sure to be a sought after one. __________________ MLB: 1958 and Beyond... The Greatest Prize in Sports Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 07-12-2008 at 01:35 AM.

07-12-2008, 02:33 AM	#218 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,626	THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE SATURDAY, 28 AUGUST, 1959 CUBS SMASH FOUR HOME RUNS IN PITTSBURGH DECIMATION Story by Brian Davison After dropping two of three in Milwaukee to start the week the Chicago Cubs obliterated the Pittsburgh Pirates 13-4 in the opener of a three-game set at Forbes Field yesterday. The Cubs lineup was back to its destructive best, leftfielder Harry Anderson leading the way with a 4-for-5 afternoon. He hit a two-run homer in the 3rd and an RBI-double in the 7th while shortstop Ernie Banks hammered his 39th and 40th home runs of the season, the National League MVP favourite batting 3-for-5 with three runs scored. Dale Long gave an indication of what was to come when he homered leading off in the 1st and finished 3-for-5. Catcher Sammy Taylor (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and 2nd baseman Bobby Adams (2-for-4, 3 RBI) also contributed to the massacre. "What can you say about it?" said Pirates shortstop Dick Groat, shaking his head. "They kicked our backsides, pure and simple. I can't see anyone getting near them in the pennant race and I can't see anyone from the American League competing with them in the series, either. They're just awesome." Starting pitcher and defending NL Cy Young Award winner Jim Brosnan gave up nine hits in a complete game outing, his eleventh of the season. In thirty starts he's 12-14 with an ERA of 4.11. He may be the weakest member of what is a brilliant rotation but he's shown glimpses of last year's form in recent weeks and is 5-1 in his last eight starts. The win improved Chicago's record to an MLB-best 80-46 and pushed their lead over the 2nd placed Phillies out to 7.5 games. The Pirates fell to 68-58 and are a half-game back from the 3rd placed Milwaukee Braves. __________________ MLB: 1958 and Beyond... The Greatest Prize in Sports Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 07-12-2008 at 02:35 AM.