MLB: 1958 and Beyond...

[kenyan_cheena]

THE MICHIGAN HERALD

Thursday 16 September 1959

PITCHER'S DUEL FAVOURS TIGERS:
DEFICIT REDUCED TO TWO
IN CLASSIC PENNANT RACE

Story by Michael Fredricks

What has already been an enthralling American League pennant race became even more dramatic yesterday as the Detroit Tigers edged the 1st-placed Cleveland Blues 3-2 to move within two games of them. The win was Detroit's second in a row over the Blues after Tuesday's 6-1 victory, the game a tense, at-times-heated affair dominated by the two starting pitchers. Both teams managed to record only six hits but it was Detroit's 1958 Rookie of the Year Milt Pappas that came away with the victory, the 20 year-old lasting eight innings, striking out two and walking four on 116 pitches. His counterpart Don Mossi produced an even stronger performance despite being the losing pitcher: he struck out six and walked three in a complete game effort, the left hander throwing 118 pitches.

Ken Boyer's two-out RBI-double in the top of the 4th opened the scoring but the Blues took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the inning, singles to Rocky Colavito and Russ Nixon followed by walks for Bobby Avila and Chico Carrasquel. Nixon then scored on a double play ball, Billy Harrell grounding to 2nd. The Tigers took the lead for good in the 6th, Charlie Maxwell singling down the right field line to get on board after Pappas had struck out to lead things off. Maxwell then stole 2nd before moving to 3rd on Frank Bolling's groundout, Al Kaline singling to bring Maxwell home and tie the scores. Boyer came through again in the next at-bat, producing his second two-out double of the game to score Kaline. The Blues never threatened through the remainder of the game, despite the encouragement of the 52,245 spectators in attendance.

As was the case in the series opener, Cleveland's biggest bats were kept silent. Willie Mays was 0-for-4 while Colavito batted 1-for-4 with a run scored. In the two games both are just 1-for-8, combining for one run scored and zero RBIs. Pappas was named Player of the Game but a good case could have been made for American League MVP favourite Boyer. The 3rd baseman finished 2-for-4 with two RBI, both of which gave Detroit the lead.

"All we've done is cut their lead in half," said Tigers manager Bill Norman afterwards. "Winning the series does nothing for us: we need a sweep. I'll regard anything less than that as a failure. I said it yesterday and I'll say it again: every game is a must-win for us. We put ourselves in this position with some poor performances at the beginning of the month and we are really paying for that."

The series concludes today, after which the Tigers venture to Washington to face the Senators and the Blues remain in Cleveland to host Baltimore. After those three-game sets the two rivals will be at it again as they face off in Detroit for four games, starting Monday...

[CatKnight]

Still enjoying your writing, kenyan. The AL looks like it may come down to the last day.

[kenyan_cheena]

MILWAUKEE * WISCONSIN
JOURNAL SENTINEL

Friday 17 September 1959

ADCOCK HOMERS TWICE AS
BRAVES SWEEP PHILLIES,
MOVE INTO TIE FOR 2ND

Story by Lomas Robertson

The Milwaukee Braves completed their second consecutive sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday, winning 12-11 in a ten-inning, five hour epic that saw them move into a tie with the Pennsylvanian ballclub for 2nd place in the National League at 81-63. The Braves took all three matchups hosting the Phillies from the 27th to the 29th of August and repeated the dose this week, winning Tuesday's opener 5-4 in ten innings and Wednesday's game 5-3. Yesterday's clash was the best of the them and quite possibly the game of the year as the Phillies fought back from a six-run deficit to take the lead only to see the Braves send the game into extra innings with a trio of runs in the bottom of the 9th.

Defending National League MVP Joe Adcock was the star for the Braves as he batted 3-for-5 with two home runs, three runs scored and three RBI. His teammates Wes Covington (4-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI) and Felix Mantilla (2-for-4, 2 R, 4 RBI, 1 HR) were also instrumental in the win. 2nd baseman Solly Hemus (3-for-5, 3 R), leftfielder Roy Sievers (2-for-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, 1 HR) and shortstop Granny Hamner (2-for-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 HR) all did their part to keep the Phillies in the game.

Milwaukee went into the bottom of the 4th with a 3-0 lead and doubled it in quick time, 2nd baseman Mel Roach hitting a two-out single to score Mantilla before Adcock hit the first of his homers, a two-run shot to deep left-centre. But Philadelphia had cut the lead back to three by the 6th and then exploded in the 7th, scoring seven runs on five hits, made up of a grand slam home run from Sievers and then a three-run blast by Hamner, making the score 10-7. By the time the bottom of the 9th arrived the Phillies were still leading 11-8, but Felix Mantilla sent a collective roar around County Stadium when he smashed a two-out three-run home run to deep left to tie it up. The Phillies could only get one man on base in the 10th and when Eddie Haas and Bob Roselli went down in succession to start the bottom of the frame it appeared the game was heading for the 11th. But after Adcock and Eddie Mathews came up with back-to-back singles Hank Aaron was walked, loading the bases. Covington then singled to left to score Adcock and end the game, Milwaukee 12-11 winners.

"One of the more incredible wins of the season for us," said a smiling Braves manager Fred Haney. "I don't like repeating myself but I will say this again: this team has no quit in them. Even when it became obvious that the Cubs were out of reach, we never gave up. We kept on putting in these types of efforts day after day and now we're tied for 2nd. I can't see any reason why we can't finish the year here, all by ourselves."

National League Standings
as at end of play,
16 September 1959

1ST: CHICAGO CUBS 90-54 (.625)
2nd: Milwaukee Braves 81-63 (.563), (9.0 G.B.)
2nd: Philadelphia Phillies 81-63 (.563), (9.0 G.B.)
4th: Pittsburgh Pirates 75-69 (.521), (15.0 G.B.)
5th: St. Louis Cardinals 71-73 (.493), (19.0 G.B.)
6th: Cincinnati Reds 66-78 (.458), (24.0 G.B.)
7th: San Francisco Giants 62-82 (.431), (28.0 G.B.)
8th: Brooklyn Dodgers 50-94 (.347), (40.0 G.B.)

[kenyan_cheena]

THE OHIO EXPRESS

Friday, 17 September, 1959

FERRARESE DOMINANT
IN TIGERS SHUTOUT

Story by Grady McCallum

The Cleveland Blues pushed their lead at the top of the American League back out to three games yesterday with an 8-0 victory over the chasing Detroit Tigers. Starting pitcher Don Ferrarese was at his brilliant best for the hometown Blues, allowing just three hits in six innings of work to improve to 15-6 on the season and reduce his ERA to an American League-best 2.39. He received great support from his teammates with Minnie Minoso, Preston Ward and Russ Nixon all producing multi-hit outings and knocking in two runs. Rocky Colavito was only 1-for-5, but that one hit was a two-out two-RBI double in the 8th. Willie Mays completed what was a miserable series for him with an 0-for-5 afternoon, meaning he finished the three-game set with a single hit in thirteen at-bats.

Blues manager Joe Gordon was immensely proud of his team's effort.

"This was a huge game and they really delivered," he said. "We lose this one and they're just a game behind but the guys never gave them a sniff. Don was outstanding and we came up with some good hitting to compliment his efforts. It ain't over yet but a three-game lead with ten days left in the season ain't anything to complain about. Now the task is to maintain it before going to Detroit. Baltimore ain't going to do us any favours so we'll have to be at our best in each game."

[kenyan_cheena]

THE ST. LOUIS STAR

Saturday 18 September 1959

MUSIAL INJURES KNEE,
DONE FOR SEASON

Story by Leon Fletcher

Ageless St. Louis Cardinals legend Stan Musial will spend the final week of the season on the disabled list following a knee injury he suffered during his team's 12-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday. Musial pulled the medial collateral ligament in his left knee while running the bases in the 8th inning. He had just smoked a double down the right field line but pulled up in pain as he arrived at 2nd base. The 38 year-old received a standing ovation from the crowd as he was assisted from the field. Phillies 3rd baseman Willie Jones produced a Player of the Game performance, hitting 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. He smashed a two-out two-run homer in the 3rd and a two-RBI double in the 5th.

In what many thought would be Musial's final year the veteran of eighteen seasons has shown only slight signs of slowing down, batting .272 with thirteen home runs and 85 RBI on a team that has struggled for consistency throughout the campaign. Yesterday's loss saw the Cardinals fall to 71-74, nineteen games behind the league-leading Cubs. Whether the injury has any ramifications on Musial returning next year remains to be seen. The Pennsylvanian-born 1st baseman is contracted with the Cards through until the end of the 1960 season. In a career that started back in 1941 Musial boasts a .334 batting average, 409 home runs (6th all-time) and 1,736 RBI (8th all-time).

[kenyan_cheena]

MILWAUKEE * WISCONSIN
JOURNAL SENTINEL

Sunday 19 September 1959

JAY SUBDUES CUBS AS
BRAVES WINNING STREAK
REACHES SIX GAMES

Story by Lomas Robertson

The Milwaukee Braves secured a series win over the Chicago Cubs yesterday, defeating their southern rivals 2-1 thanks mainly to a superb outing from starting pitcher Joey Jay. The 24 year-old produced a complete game masterpiece, allowing just seven hits and striking out six batters on 129 pitches to improve to 13-8 on the season. After defeating the Cardinals in St. Louis last Sunday and sweeping the Phillies at home to start the week Milwaukee opened this series with an 8-3 win on Friday, making yesterday's triumph their sixth in a row. Milwaukee's two wins over Chicago have delayed the Cubs' clinching of the National League pennant as with eight games left in the season they hold a seven-game lead over both the Braves and Phillies.

In yesterday's matchup the Cubs opened the scoring with Ernie Banks' 50th homer of the season in the 6th inning. Milwaukee responded immediately, an error by Banks and an Eddie Mathews single enough to score Johnny Temple in the bottom of the frame. The Braves then secured the win in the 9th on Felix Mantilla's RBI-single to short right field, pinch runner Casey Wise scoring from 2nd.

Even though their chances of achieving a third consecutive National League pennant are all but over Milwaukee must be commended for the fight they've shown. Their 28-15 record since the beginning of August is the best in the National League and with the way they are playing it would not be a surprise to see them finish in outright 2nd place. Since making the move from Boston to Milwaukee in 1953 the organisation has finished no worse than 3rd in every season, an outstanding achievement that will be preserved this year...

[kenyan_cheena]

The New York Age

SUNDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER, 1959

YANKEES TORCH ATHLETICS

Story by Louis Greenberg

The New York Yankees were mathematically eliminated from the American League pennant race on Friday but that didn't stop them from producing their third big win in a row on Saturday. The Bronx Bombers followed up Thursday's 18-2 slaughter of the Red Sox and Friday's 10-5 domination of the Athletics with another big win over Kansas City, 3rd baseman Andy Carey going 3-for-4 with three RBI in yesterday's 11-4 demolition. The ballclub's destructive streak won't change the fact that they'll miss the World Series for the first time in five years and just the second time in eleven but it might have helped to quell some of the frustration brought about by this season's disappointing campaign.

"We just haven't been good enough," said centrefielder Mickey Mantle, who hit his 38th home run of the season in the win. "This organisation has been through an incredible stretch of success and to see it come to an end like this is disappointing. Maybe if we'd faired better in the series these last two years it wouldn't cut so deep but I'll tell you this: it really hurts. We've set a standard for these other ballclubs to strive for and this year they haven't just met it, they've obliterated it. The fact we're so far back is proof of that."

Many will point to the trade that sent Cy Young favourite Ryne Duren to the Athletics at the end of July as the start of the Yankees'downfall in season '59 and, surprisingly, Mantle tends to agree with that observation.

"The numbers don't lie," he said. "We're ranked in the lower half of the majors in ERA. Teams like Cleveland and Detroit and the Cubs are right up there and they're the ones who'll be contesting the World Series this year. I don't doubt that if Ryne was still here, we'd still be in contention."

Mantle is not normally so candid with his opinions and it's possible that Yankees management might not take kindly to some of the sentiments he's expressed, even if they are the truth. The fact is that the Yankees are now one week away from their worst finish since 1948, when they went 94-60 and placed 3rd behind the Blues and Red Sox...

[kenyan_cheena]

BASEBALL WEEKLY

Monday 20 September 1959

VOLUME 25, ISSUE 38

TIGERS AND BLUES TAKE SWEEPS
INTO ALL-IMPORTANT MATCHUP

Story by Michael Jones, published in the
20 September 1959 issue of BASEBALL WEEKLY

The Cleveland Blues and Detroit Tigers both completed sweeps of their respective DC-area opponents yesterday (Baltimore and Washington), meaning that the Ohio ballclub will take a three-game lead into the four-game series between the two teams that starts today in Detroit. No doubt the Tigers were hoping for some assistance from the Orioles in their quest to chase down the Blues. Unfortunately none came and they had to be content with keeping pace and maintaining the three-game deficit that opened when Cleveland defeated them 8-0 on Thursday in the final game of last week's series.

During these past three days the two teams showed once again that they are the class of the American League, the Blues overcoming the Orioles by a combined score of 18-12 in a competitive series while Detroit had something of an easier time when they visited the Senators, outscoring them 17-7 in the three-game set. Neither of these bitter Lake Erie rivals had to be reminded of the importance those weekend matchups held, as a slip-up by one would have benefitted the other greatly.

"Everyone was wondering which one of us would blink first," said Blues outfielder Rocky Colavito after yesterday's game. "And in the end, neither one of us did."

The fact that one of these two teams will be watching from the bleachers come this time next week makes their rivalry all the more intense. There's no second chances: it's either finish 1st or go home. That aspect of the pennant races has been something that fans of the sport have savoured over the years and there's no doubt that it will push both the Blues and Tigers to produce some fantastic efforts during these next seven days...

American League standings as at end of play,
Sunday 19 September 1959 (one week remaining in the season)

1ST: CLEVELAND BLUES 90-57 (.612)
2nd: Detroit Tigers 87-60 (.592) (3.0 G.B.)

_____________________________________________

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE

MONDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER, 1959

- LATE EDITION -

CUBS
CLINCH
PENNANT!!!

Story by Brian Davison

The moment Chicago Cubs fans have been waiting fourteen years for finally arrived this afternoon as the ballclub clinched its seventeenth National League pennant in its 84-year history. They did it in dramatic fashion, coming from behind to steal a 5-4 win in a series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. The win put them eight games ahead of both the Milwaukee Braves and Philadelphia Phillies with six days remaining in the season. Having been eliminated from the pennant race by Chicago yesterday the Braves had defeated Philadelphia earlier today to open the way for the Cubs to clinch with a victory over the Pirates, and that's exactly what they did.

Trailing 4-2 heading into the bottom of the 5th Chicago scored single runs in the 5th, 7th and 8th to reel Pittsburgh in. Dale Long hit a two-out solo home run in the 5th before Gene Oliver tripled to drive in Sammy Taylor in the 7th. Taylor then singled to score pinch runner Frank Yokum in the 8th. Most of the 38,360 fans in attendance were on their feet throughout the top of the 9th and they had reason to be nervous when Roberto Clemente reached on an Ernie Banks error to lead things off. But after Dick Groat and Bob Skinner went down in quick order pinch runner Eddie O'Brien was picked off at 1st by relief pitcher John Buzhardt. When the umpire signalled that O'Brien was out the crowd erupted in jubilant, triumphant applause. Buzhardt was mobbed by his teammates, all of them joining together in a joyous celebration in the middle of the diamond.

"It's fantastic to have finally achieved this," said an emotional Cubs manager Bob Scheffing. "But these guys won't be satisfied with just making the World Series. All of us are determined to bring a World Championship to Chicago and we'll be trying our darndest to do that. It'll be difficult because the American League has the home field advantage this year but if we can pinch one of those two opening games that should put us in a good position coming back home to Wrigley."

The city of Chicago has not tasted World Series success since 1917 when the White Sox defeated the Giants in six games. For the Cubs the drought has been even longer, despite a number of chances. After back-to-back triumphs in '07 and '08 the Cubs have strived for another championship for 51 long years, failing in seven previous trips to the Fall Classic. Could this be the year that the waiting ends? It certainly looks like it...

[kenyan_cheena]

THE MICHIGAN HERALD

Tuesday 21 September 1959

TIGERS WIN NAIL-BITING OPENER,
PULL WITHIN TWO GAMES OF BLUES

Story by Michael Fredricks

If the next three games of this week's monumental Cleveland Blues-Detroit Tigers series follow the same path as yesterday's opener it might just be necessary to station ambulances outside of Briggs Stadium. In the latest of what have been a number of classic pitcher's duels between the two teams of late Detroit's Jim Bunning overcame Cleveland's Don Ferrarese and the Tigers rode an early 2-0 lead all the way to a dramatic 2-1 victory. The win brought them to within a pair of games of Cleveland's American League lead with still six games remaining in the season. The prospect of a one-game playoff to decide who claims the pennant is now looming large as the Tigers defeated Cleveland for the fifth time in the last seven clashes between the teams.

As already mentioned this was a fantastic duel between the two starting pitchers, Bunning working into the 9th inning and allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out five and walking three. He improved to 15-11 in his 40th start of the campaign in a Player of the Game performance. Bunnings' ERA is 3.92. Ferrarese's numbers were almost identical, the Oakland-born leftie going six innings and giving up the same amount of hits as Bunning. He also walked three and struck out five, falling to 15-7. Ferrarese owns one of the best ERAs in the majors at 2.41.

The Tigers made a great start to the game as the Blues failed to convert two hits into runs on the scoreboard in the top of the 1st. Detroit then scored twice in the bottom of the frame. Leftfielder Charlie Maxwell drew a lead-off walk before Frank Bolling singled to centre and Al Kaline did the same to left to drive Maxwell in. After Ken Boyer struck out looking Harvey Kuenn was walked, loading the bases. 1st baseman Vic Wertz hit a sacrifice fly to left-centre, bringing Bolling home before Billy Martin flied out to right to end the inning. The Tigers almost added to their lead in the 2nd but Bunning was thrown out at home plate by leftfielder Minnie Minoso, having reached on an error by Ferrarese earlier in the inning.

After that neither team threatened until the 5th, when Chico Carrasquel smoked a lead-off triple for the Blues but remained ninety feet from home for the rest of the inning as Billy Harrell's ground out to Bunning was followed by Ferrarese striking out swinging and Minoso flying out to left. In the bottom of the inning the Tigers had Boyer on 3rd with one out but also failed to convert. Chico Carrasquel collected his second hit of the game in the 6th, a double down the left field line. But once again he was left stranded as pinch hitter Larry Doby struck out to end the inning.

Detroit's fans remained on the edge of their seats and as the game entered the 9th inning they felt little relief. When Rocky Colavito stepped up and hammered a lead-off home run over the wall in deep left-centre a blanket of silence descended over the stadium. The shot sent Bunning out of the game and while he received an ovation as he left the field, heads dropped, hands covered faces and fingers were interlocked in prayer. After Russ Nixon and Bobby Avila both grounded out they were one out away from sealing it. But that man Carrasquel did it again, cracking a double down the left field line for his third hit of the game (all of them for extra bases). 3rd baseman Gary Geiger stepped into the batter's box and after taking two balls and fouling off three other pitches he flied out to right field, Al Kaline camping under the ball and pumping his fists triumphantly after making the catch. The crowd erupted as one, their team now just two games out of 1st place...

[TribeFanInNC]

:bites nails:

Come on Blues!!! Man do we miss Herb.

:bites nails again:

[EMSoccerCoach]

Really well done, Kenyan. You're capturing pennant race intensity brilliantly here.

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by TribeFanInNC

:bites nails:

Come on Blues!!! Man do we miss Herb.

:bites nails again:

I'm glad I've got you on the edge of your seat.

Originally Posted by EMSoccerCoach

Really well done, Kenyan. You're capturing pennant race intensity brilliantly here.

Thanks, EM. I had not planned on going into so much detail on each season but 1959 has been a pretty special year so I think it has deserved it. The fact that it's two geographical rivals in Detroit and Cleveland fighting it out makes it even more intense, IMO.

[kenyan_cheena]

THE MICHIGAN HERALD

Wednesday 22 September 1959

AGUIRRE BLANKS BLUES:
TIGERS NOW ONE GAME BACK

Story by Michael Fredricks

Detroit starter Hank Aguirre produced perhaps his finest performance of the season yesterday, throwing a complete game five-hit masterpiece as the Tigers defeated Cleveland 2-0 to move within a single game of the American League leaders. With the game scoreless through seven nerve-wracking innings Detroit struck in the 8th. After Ken Boyer and Charlie Maxwell grounded out in quick time 1st baseman Vic Wertz drew a walk before pinch hitter Gail Harris brought the Briggs Stadium faithful to their feet in thunderous applause with a home run over the fence in right field. The Blues failed to respond in the top of the 9th, Rocky Colavito's flyout to right followed by Minnie Minoso's to left and Russ Nixon's groundout to shortstop.

As was the case in Monday's series opener, this was a gripping affair. The Tigers came close to making a great start, Harvey Kuenn singling to centrefield but then being thrown out at home by a Willie Mays bullet after Frank Bolling smashed a double to the gap in left-centre. The inning was over soon after and neither team came close to scoring until Mays and Colavito led off Cleveland's 4th with singles. But Minoso flied out to centre, Nixon grounded into a fielder's choice and Preston Ward hit a harmless grounder to shortstop to end the threat. It remained a game dominated by the pitchers from that point on, until the 8th when Harris took to Blues reliever Tom Acker.

Looking at the numbers for each starter, neither deserved to leave the park without a win:

Gary Bell (Cleveland Blues): 6.1 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 114 PI
Hank Aguirre (Detroit Tigers): (W, PotG) 9 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 114 PI

"These games have been worthy of a World Series," said Blues manager Joe Gordon. "They've been ridiculously competitive. Folks have been saying we aren't the same team without Herb, that if he was still available they wouldn't be as close as they are. I can't be sure if that's true or not. All I know is that we're up against a team that has been fantastic during this last week and we have to figure out how to get a win out of these next two days. I think if we do that we'll be okay."

Indeed, including their series win over the Blues last week Detroit are now on a 7-1 run, four of those wins coming against Cleveland. As Gordon said his ballclub will need to win at least one of the last two games in this series, otherwise they'll be trailing the Tigers by a game going into the final three days of the season...

[Jeff1787]

All I can say is WOW!

[TribeFanInNC]

Ding Dong needs to cut down on the walks. I have that problem in my solo play too (I'm playing with the '61 Indians); he pitched well, but couldn't stay in the game. WE NEED SOME RUNS!!!!

[Romdawg88]

Damn, this is epic stuff. Come on Blues rebound and take these next two games!

[kenyan_cheena]

Thanks for all the enthusiasm and kind words, guys. It really makes all the time and effort I've put into this dynasty worthwhile.

I made a mistake when I was figuring out the exact date that the Cubs clinched the pennant. I thought it was September 21 but it was actually the 20th. So to keep the stories in the correct order I've added an extra article to post #248 describing all the excitement. Sorry about the stuff up.

[kenyan_cheena]

The Cleveland Courier

THURSDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 1959

"MUDCAT" DELIVERS AS BLUES
TAKE VITAL VICTORY

Story by Larry Jacobson

The Cleveland Blues scored what just might be their biggest victory of the year yesterday, defeating the Detroit Tigers 4-1 in the third matchup of a four-game series to push their American League lead over the Michigan ballclub back out to two games with only four remaining in the season. Blues starter Jim "Mudcat" Grant produced exactly the performance his side required of him, the 24 year-old going 8.2 innings and giving up just the one earned run and six hits while striking out five and walking three. Grant is now 12-15 on the season, his ERA 3.50.

The 40,345 Detroit fans that came to Briggs Stadium arrived with optimism that their team would defeat the Blues for the third time in three days and draw level with them but their mood was quickly darkened in the top of the 1st, Cleveland scoring three runs on two hits and two Tiger errors. Minnie Minoso led off with a cracking double down the left field line before Preston Ward reached on a throwing error by Detroit shortstop Billy Martin on which Minoso scored. After Willie Mays walked a wild pitch saw Ward at 3rd and Mays on 2nd. Rocky Colavito then flied out to Al Kaline in rightfield but his throw to home was off the mark and allowed Ward to score and Mays to take 3rd. Bobby Avila singled to bring Mays home, after which Billy Moran grounded out and Dick Brown struck out looking to end the frame.

Detroit were able to get two men on board in the bottom of the inning but failed to score. Billy Martin made his second error of the game in the 2nd inning, bobbling a grounder from Grant that allowed him to reach. The Blues did not trouble the scoreboard but in the 4th Avila blasted a solo homer to left to make the score 4-0. After getting two quick outs in the bottom of the 5th Grant loaded the bases with three consecutive walks, giving Detroit's fans renewed hope. But it was snatched away in an instant when Al Kaline swung at the first pitch and flied out to right. Grant then retired the next six batters he faced with Martin, Tim Thompson and Bob Buhl all grounding out to 2nd base in the 7th inning. The Tigers finally scored in the 8th, Frank Bolling doubling to left-centre before being driven in by Ken Boyer's single to short-left. But they never came close to threatening and when pinch hitter Vic Wertz flied out to right in the bottom of the 9th the game was over and the Cleveland Blues were back in the driver's seat in this classic pennant race.

"A huge win for us," said Blues manager Joe Gordon. "Mudcat delivered when we needed it most. Really, it's not often you see us get such a comfortable win with Rocky going 0-for-5. They helped us out with those errors in the 1st but we'll take the win."

The series finale takes place this afternoon, after which the Blues travel to Boston for three against the Red Sox while Detroit hosts the Yankees. Clearly, Cleveland has the easier season-ending assignment...

[kenyan_cheena]

MILWAUKEE * WISCONSIN
JOURNAL SENTINEL

Friday 24 September 1959

BRAVES PILE MISERY
ON PHILLIES IN THIRD
CONSECUTIVE SWEEP

Story by Lomas Robertson

Our Milwaukee Braves extended their winning streak against the Philadelphia Phillies to an incredible ten games yesterday, taking the final matchup of the season between the two ballclubs 5-3 at Connie Mack Stadium. The victory secured an extraordinary four-game sweep in Philadelphia and saw the Braves finish with a 15-7 record against the Pennsylvanian ballclub this year. Milwaukee is now 87-64 and in outright 2nd place in the National League, three games clear of the Phillies. It's been a fantastic September for the Braves as they've gone 16-5 during the month and 10-1 in their last eleven games.

Yesterday's win was built around a great outing on the mound from starter Gene Conley. The 28 year-old pitched eight strong innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs. He walked two batters and struck out three, throwing 109 pitches in improving to 13-8 on the season. Down 2-0 early and 2-1 after the 5th Milwaukee exploded for four runs in the 6th. Eddie Mathews led off the frame with a solo home run to left before Joe Adcock singled down the 3rd base line. Wes Covington then crushed a Jack Sanford fastball over the fence in right field to give the Braves a 4-2 lead. After Carl Sawatski and Felix Mantilla grounded out Johnny Logan reached on a Solly Hemus error and was at 3rd soon after when Conley singled to shallow right. Hank Aaron then singled to drive Logan in. Johnny Temple walked to load the bases but Eddie Mathews grounded out to 2nd in his second at-bat of the inning. Philadelphia pulled back a run in the bottom of the 9th but got no closer.

"It's been a great ending to the season for us," said Aaron. "Yeah, we won't be back in the Classic but that doesn't diminish what we've achieved. This club has fought through a lot of adversity and we can hold our heads high, without a doubt."

Aaron's contract with the Braves expires at the end of the season and while he's expressed a desire to remain with the club for the long term he hasn't ruled out a possible move, either. It's been said that he was expecting Braves management to offer him a healthy extension during the summer but nothing eventuated. It will be more than intriguing to see how his situation is resolved during the coming off-season.

While the Braves were sweeping Philadelphia the Chicago Cubs were doing the same to the NL's other Pennsylvanian team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. They followed up Monday's pennant-clinching victory with dominant efforts on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, outscoring the Pirates 23-9 over the course of the series. Likely National League MVP Ernie Banks played in three of the games and batted a fantastic .545 (6-for-11) with five RBI, three runs scored and two home runs, both coming in yesterday's finale.

NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS
AS AT END OF PLAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 1959
(THREE GAMES LEFT IN SEASON)

1ST: CHICAGO CUBS 95-56 (.629)
2nd: Milwaukee Braves 87-64 (.576), (8.0 G.B.)
3rd: Philadelphia Phillies 84-67 (.556), (11.0 G.B.)
4th: Pittsburgh Pirates 78-73 (.517), (17.0 G.B.)
5th: St. Louis Cardinals 73-78 (.483), (22.0 G.B.)
6th: Cincinnati Reds 71-80 (.470), (24.0 G.B.)
7th: San Francisco Giants 64-87 (.424), (31.0 G.B.)
8th: Brooklyn Dodgers 52-99 (.344), (43.0 G.B.)