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9/16/1949 – The New York Giants were at Wrigley Field to play the Cubs. In the bottom of the tenth inning, the Cubs batted out of turn and, when the Giants did not realize the mistake, the Cubs scored the winning run! The Cubs had runners on first and third with two outs when relief pitcher Bob Rush, in the eighth spot in the order, should have come to the plate. There was a “double switch” after Emil Verban pinch ran for Smoky Burgess in the ninth and remained in the game at second base and in the ninth place in the order. Verban came to the plate to hit ahead of Rush and walked to load the bases. The Giants failed to speak up. Mickey Owen then pinch hit and singled in the winning run. Once a pitch was made to Owen, the Giants lost the ability to speak up about Verban. Due to not complaining about Verban, the #9 hitter, the correct next batter was the #1 hitter, Bob Ramazzotti, so Owen was hitting in the lead off slot. The cellar-dwelling Cubs won, 5-4.

ByTom

9/16/1949 – The New York Giants were at Wrigley Field to play the Cubs. In the bottom of the tenth inning, the Cubs batted out of turn and, when the Giants did not realize the mistake, the Cubs scored the winning run! The Cubs had runners on first and third with two outs when relief pitcher Bob Rush, in the eighth spot in the order, should have come to the plate. There was a “double switch” after Emil Verban pinch ran for Smoky Burgess in the ninth and remained in the game at second base and in the ninth place in the order. Verban came to the plate to hit ahead of Rush and walked to load the bases. The Giants failed to speak up. Mickey Owen then pinch hit and singled in the winning run. Once a pitch was made to Owen, the Giants lost the ability to speak up about Verban. Due to not complaining about Verban, the #9 hitter, the correct next batter was the #1 hitter, Bob Ramazzotti, so Owen was hitting in the lead off slot. The cellar-dwelling Cubs won, 5-4.

Garry Maddox Stats & Facts

Garry Maddox Stats & Facts

ByTom

  Garry Maddox Position: CenterfielderBats: Right  •  Throws: Right6-3, 175lb (190cm, 79kg)Born: September 1, 1949 in Cincinnati, OHDraft: Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 2nd round of the 1968 MLB January Draft-Regular Phase from San Pedro HS (San Pedro, CA).High School: San Pedro HS (San Pedro, CA)Debut: April 25, 1972 (10,833rd in MLB history)vs. PHI 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SBLast Game: April 20, 1986vs….

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8/28/1949: Larry Doby of the Indians homered off Boston’s Joe Dobson in the bottom of the third inning with two out and no one on. The game was called in the top of the fourth because of darkness. It was the second game of a double header after the first game took over three hours with a long rain delay.

ByTom

8/28/1949: Larry Doby of the Indians homered off Boston’s Joe Dobson in the bottom of the third inning with two out and no one on. The game was called in the top of the fourth because of darkness. It was the second game of a double header after the first game took over three hours with a long rain delay.

The Phillies host ‘Eddie Waitkus Night’ at Shibe Park and shower their injured first baseman with gifts. The All-Star infielder, in uniform for the first time since June, had been shot in the chest at Chicago’s Edgewater Beach Hotel by Ruth Ann Steinhagen, an obsessed fan upset with his trade from the Cubs to Philadelphia.

ByTom

The Phillies host ‘Eddie Waitkus Night’ at Shibe Park and shower their injured first baseman with gifts. The All-Star infielder, in uniform for the first time since June, had been shot in the chest at Chicago’s Edgewater Beach Hotel by Ruth Ann Steinhagen, an obsessed fan upset with his trade from the Cubs to Philadelphia.

Ted Simmons Stats & Facts

Ted Simmons Stats & Facts

ByTom

[adrotate banner=”42″]   Ted Simmons Positions: Catcher and First BasemanBats: Both  •  Throws: Right5-11, 193lb (180cm, 87kg)Born: August 9, 1949 in Highland Park, MIDraft: Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1st round (10th) of the 1967 MLB June Amateur Draft from Southfield HS (Southfield, MI).High School: Southfield HS (Southfield, MI)Schools: University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI), Wayne State University (Detroit, MI)Debut: September 21, 1968 (Age 19-043d, 10,369th in MLB history)vs. LAD 2 AB,…

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8/6/1949: In the bottom of the first at St. Louis, the Cardinals had a runner on base when Giants pitcher Adrian Zabala was called for a balk by 1B umpire Bill Stewart. Zabala’s balk was for not coming to a complete stop before delivering. Nippy Jones hit the pitch into the LF seats, but Stewart said he had called time with the balk call, so the homer did not count. Jones later flied out.

ByTom

8/6/1949: In the bottom of the first at St. Louis, the Cardinals had a runner on base when Giants pitcher Adrian Zabala was called for a balk by 1B umpire Bill Stewart. Zabala’s balk was for not coming to a complete stop before delivering. Nippy Jones hit the pitch into the LF seats, but Stewart said he had called time with the balk call, so the homer did not count. Jones later flied out.

Vida Blue Stats & Facts

Vida Blue Stats & Facts

ByTom

    Vida Blue Position: Pitcher Bats: Both  •  Throws: Left 6-0, 189lb (183cm, 85kg) Born: July 28, 1949  in Mansfield, LA Draft: Drafted by the Kansas City Athletics in the 2nd round of the 1967 MLB June Amateur Draft from De Soto HS (Mansfield, LA). High School: De Soto HS (Mansfield, LA) School: Southern University and A&M College (Baton Rouge, LA) Debut: July 20, 1969 (12,874th in major league history) vs. CAL 5.1…

Three homers were lost in a rain-shortened game at Yankee Stadium
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Three homers were lost in a rain-shortened game at Yankee Stadium

ByTom

7/27/1949: Three homers were lost in a rain-shortened game at Yankee Stadium. In the bottom of the first, Tommy Henrich homered off Cleveland’s Bob Feller with two on and no one out. In the top of the second, Joe Gordon hit a solo shot with one out off Ed Lopat. One inning later, Cleveland pitcher Sam Zoldak also hit a solo homer with one out off Lopat.

Jackie Robinson testifies in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities

Jackie Robinson testifies in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities

ByTom

Jackie Robinson testifies in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities, reading a carefully worded statement put together with the help of Dodger GM Branch Rickey. The Brooklyn second baseman’s statement makes it clear he disagrees with singer and actor Paul Robeson’s belief that American Negroes would refuse to fight in any war against Russia due to the country’s racial discrimination toward blacks.

The major league owners agree to install warning tracks made of cinder in front of outfield fences before the start of next season. The origin of the concept began at Yankee Stadium, where an actual running track, used in the ballpark’s track and field events, helped fielders know their proximity to the outfield fence when attempting to make a play.

ByTom

The major league owners agree to install warning tracks made of cinder in front of outfield fences before the start of next season. The origin of the concept began at Yankee Stadium, where an actual running track, used in the ballpark’s track and field events, helped fielders know their proximity to the outfield fence when attempting to make a play.