The New York Yankees took the AL pennant by five games over Cleveland in 1951. Meanwhile, in the National League, the Dodgers had a 13-game lead in August before the Giants rattled off 16 straight victories to catch Brooklyn in the last week of the season, and the two teams finished tied at 96 wins. Down 4-2 in the ninth inning of the third and deciding playoff game, Giants OF Bobby Thomson hit a 3-run home run to win the series and send New York to the World Series. The walk-off homer picked up the moniker “The Shot Heard Round the World.” Despite the dramatic pennant win, the Giants fell to the Yankees in six games as the Bombers won their third consecutive championship. The Yankees were led by veteran starters Vic Raschi, Eddie Lopat, and Allie Reynolds; league MVP Yogi Berra and an aging Joe DiMaggio anchored the lineup. The Giants featured 23-game winners Sal Maglie and Larry Jansen, while outfielders Monte Irvin, Willie Mays, and Thomson led a potent offense. Brooklyn catcher Roy Campanella (.325, 33 HR, 108 RBI) beat out batting champ Stan Musial of the Cardinals to win the National League MVP award.\n\nMilestones and Moments from 1951:\nJimmie Foxx and Mel Ott were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame…Bob Feller threw his third career no-hitter on July 1 against the Tigers…Browns owner Bill Veeck secretly hired 3’7” Eddie Gaedel to bat leadoff in the second game of a doubleheader on August 19; Gaedel drew a walk and was immediately replaced by a pinch-runner.

World Series – New York Yankees AL over New York Giants NL 4 games to 2

World Series MVP –
Babe Ruth Award – Phil Rizzuto

​

Sort bySearch Days, Events, Players Title (A - Z)Date (Newest)

October 4, 1951

In the opening game of the World Series, the first all-black outfield in major league history makes its appearance

October 5, 1951

Mickey Mantle’s season comes to an immediate end when he severely injures his right knee

October 9, 1951

Gil McDougald becomes the third player in World Series history to hit a grand slam in 13-1 rout

October 10, 1951

Yankees win their 14 World Series Title

November 25, 1951

History of the World Series – 1951

July 22, 2019

Polo Grounds V

​

Awards –

MVP Awards –

NL Roy Campanella

AL Yogi Berra

NL Rookie of The Year – Willie Mays

AL Rookie of The Year – Gil McDougal

All-Star Game – July 10th – N.L. 8 over A.L. 3, played at Briggs Stadium (AL)
AL Starter N. Garver NL Starter R. Roberts+ MVP

National League All-Stars

American League All-Stars

All-Star Managers

All-Star Game Ball Park

The stories that shapped the year:

Sort bySearch Days, Events, Players Title (A - Z)Date (Newest)

January 22, 1951

Leon Roberts is born in Vicksburg, MI.

January 23, 1951

Guido Rujo sells his interest in the Boston Braves to co-partners Lou Perini and Treasurer Joe Many.

January 25, 1951

1951 – Vern Ruhle is born in Midland, MI. Ruhle spends seven seasons as an Astro pitcher, best known for taking over a spot in the starting rotation in 1980 when J.R. Richard suffered a stroke and helping Houston win their first division crown. Later, he is a successful pitching coach in Houston under manager Larry Dierker. 

January 26, 1951

The Baseball Writers Association of America vote sluggers Mel Ott and Jimmie Foxx into the Hall of Fame

January 29, 1951

MLB signs a six-year All-Star Game pact for TV and Radio rights calling for $6 million

February 3, 1951

Grand party to celebrate the national league being 75 years old

February 5, 1951

California governor Earl Warren denies the rumor that he is being considered to be baseball’s next commissioner

February 6, 1951

Gabby Street dies in Joplin, Missouri

February 9, 1951

The St. Louis Browns sign Satchel Paige, 45

February 21, 1951

The South Carolina House of Representatives introduces a resolution urging that Shoeless Joe Jackson be reinstated.

February 25, 1951

Smokey Joe Williams dies in New York City at age 62

February 25, 1951

Cesar Cedeno is born in Santo Domingo, DR.

March 6, 1951

Charlie Brown, who made his debut in Charles Schultz’s Peanut comic strip in last October, appears in his first baseball game

March 10, 1951

J. Edgar Hoover, longtime director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, declines the post of baseball commissioner

March 12, 1951

Commissioner Happy Chandler loses his bid to remain in office

March 13, 1951

Brooklyn signs a 21-year lease with the City of Vero Beach to use an abandoned naval base as their spring training facility, which will become known as Dodgertown. The site will be the team’s Grapefruit League home through the 2008 season, with exhibition games taking place at the 6,000-seat Holiman Stadium.

March 19, 1951

1951 – Detroit Tigers player representative Fred Hutchinson asks that players be allowed a say in choosing the new baseball commissioner.

March 21, 1951

Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed first baseman Dale Long makes his first appearance as a catcher in an exhibition game against the minor league San Diego Padres.

March 23, 1951

The Brooklyn Dodgers sign a 21-year lease with the city of Vero Beach, Florida, for use of their spring training facilities there.

March 25, 1951

Hall of Fame player/manager Eddie Collins dies in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 63

March 26, 1951

During a spring exhibition game against the University of Southern California at Bovard Field, Mickey Mantle hits a home run which is estimated to travel 650 feet. The rookie’s performance, which includes a single, triple, and another homer, is one of the highlights of the Yankees’ first ever West Coast trip.

March 26, 1951

In an exhibition game at the University of Southern California, Mickey Mantle propels a home run estimated at 654 to 660 feet.

April 6, 1951

P Bert Blyleven is born in Zeist, Netherlands. His family will move first to Canada, then to the United States while he is still a youngster. Throwing one of the best curveballs in history, he will pitch for 22 seasons, winning 287 games, throwing 60 shutouts and striking out 3701 opponents. A member of World Champion teams in Pittsburgh in 1979 and Minnesota in 1987, he will gain election to the Hall of Fame in 2011, on his 14th try.

April 17, 1951

The Philadelphia Athletics and the Washington Senators play the first home Opening Day night game in American League history. Washington wins, 6 – 1, behind the solid pitching of 40-year-old Connie Marrero as his batterymate Mickey Grasso hits a home run.

April 17, 1951

Golf great Sam Snead tees off from home plate and hits the center field scoreboard at Wrigley Field before the Cubs’ home opener.

April 17, 1951

For the first time, in a career that will span more than half of a century, public address announcer Bob Sheppard announces the Yankees’ lineup. The ‘Voice of God’s introduction of the Bronx Bombers will include the memorable names of Mickey Mantle, playing his first game in pinstripes, Phil Rizzuto, and Yogi Berra, but the first player’s name announced will be DiMaggio – Dom DiMaggio, the leadoff batter for the visiting Red Sox.

April 17, 1951

Mickey Mantle makes his major league debut for the New York Yankees

April 20, 1951

Philadelphia Athletics win their first game at Fenway Park in 3 years

April 20, 1951

U.S. President Harry S. Truman throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the Senators’ home opener

April 21, 1951

Led by Gus Bell, who belts a home run, three doubles and a single, the Pirates defeat Cincinnati, 7 – 5, at Crosley Field.

April 21, 1951

At Griffith Stadium, Gil Coan of the Washington Senators collects two triples in the 6th inning. The Senators score seven runs in the frame, but that’s it as they lose to the Yankees, 8 – 7. Tom Ferrick is the winning pitcher.

April 30, 1951

Minnie Minoso is dealt to the White Sox by the Indians as part of a three-team trade that also involves the A’s. Dave Philley, Gus Zernial, Paul Lehner, Lou Brissie, Ray Murray, and Sam Zoldak will be the other players also changing their uniforms in the seven-player deal.

May 1, 1951

Mickey Mantle blasts the first home run of his career in an 8-3 victory

May 1, 1951

Harry Suitcase Simpson and Bob Feller celebrate a 7-1 victory over the Red Sox

May 2, 1951

As a pinch hitter, Lou Limmer goes deep off Tigers’ right-hander Saul Rogovin in the top of the ninth to tie the game at 3-3, in the A’s eventual 5-3 extra-inning loss at Briggs Stadium. The at-bat marks the first time in major league history that a Jewish batter faces a Jewish pitcher with a Jewish catcher (Joe Ginsberg) behind the plate.

May 3, 1951

Gil McDougald ties a major league record by driving in six runs in one inning

May 6, 1951

Cliff Chambers second Pirate to pitch a no hitter despite 8 walks

May 8, 1951

Bobby Shantz, A’s lefty, wins his first game of the season, stopping the White Sox, 9 – 4, on 12 hits. Ferris Fain and Eddie Joost hit consecutive homers for the A’s.

May 15, 1951

Detroit Tigers acquire pitcher Bob Cain from the Chicago White Sox for pitcher Saul Rogovin

May 15, 1951

In a fine trade for Chicago, the White Sox send lefty Bob Cain to the Tigers for hurler Saul Rogovin.

May 15, 1951

At Fenway Park, the Red Sox celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first American League game in Boston

May 15, 1951

At Crosley Field, Braves P Vern Bickford pitches a two-hitter, but Ewell Blackwell bests him by allowing one hit, as the Reds win, 1 – 0. Connie Ryan’s 6th-inning hit is the first off Bickford, and Johnny Pramesa’s homer in the 7th is the other. The only Boston hit is a 5th-inning double by Bob Elliott. The Reds tie the National League record (set in 1911) for nine innings by going to bat just 24 times.

May 16, 1951

Mickey Mantle hits his first Yankee Stadium home run

May 16, 1951

Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Andy Pafko compare fists with the Heavyweight Champion, Ezzard Charles

May 18, 1951

Boston Braves catcher Walker Cooper goes 5 for 5 in a 12 – 3 rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Max Surkont wins his fifth game, scattering 10 hits and giving up home runs to Ralph Kiner and Wally Westlake in the late innings.

May 19, 1951

In a 9-4 loss to Boston‚ Cleveland’s Al Rosen hits his 2nd grand slam in a week. He hit one on the 13th against the White Sox.

May 20, 1951

Richie Asburn collects 8 hits in a double header sweep of Bucs

May 23, 1951

Mel Parnell gives up 4 hits in shutting out the Browns‚ while stroking 4 hits himself. Ted Williams walks 5 times in the 12 – 0 win. Vern Stephens sets an assist record for a third baseman‚ with an assist from SS Johnny Pesky. On the last out of the game‚ a grounder to Pesky‚ he flips to Stephens‚ who fires to 1B to set the record at 10 assists. Frank Malzone will equal the record in 1957 and Ken McMullen will top it in 1966.

May 23, 1951

The Reds’ Connie Ryan clouts an 11th-inning grand slam to beat the Cardinals‚ 5 – 1‚ in St. Louis.

May 23, 1951

5/23/1951: The Tigers were ahead 7-3 at Yankee Stadium when the game was washed out in the top of the fourth. Both Bud Souchock and Joe DiMaggio lost homers.

May 24, 1951

Bob Feller fires a 2-hitter. Larry Doby has a homer and 4 RBIs to lead the Tribe in 16-0 rout

May 24, 1951

Mickey Mantle is 0 for 5 but reaches base twice after striking out on a wild pitch. The second time‚ in the 6th inning‚ he reaches second base before Detroit C Joe Ginsberg can retrieve the ball‚ and Joe DiMaggio follows with a homer to deep left field. New York wins‚ 11 – 1‚ behind Joe Ostrowski.

May 25, 1951

At Shibe Park, the much-heralded Giant rookie Willie Mays makes his major league debut against the Phillies.

May 27, 1951

A large ad appears in the Minnesota Sunday Times asking the local fans for their continued support of the Millers despite the promotion of the team’s phenom to the major leagues. Giants owner Horace Stoneham explains Willie Mays’ performance, compiling a .477 batting average while hitting safely in 33 of 35 games, has warranted the young outfielder’s move to the Polo Grounds in New York.

May 28, 1951

New York Giants rookie Willie Mays collects his first major league hit – Homerun

May 29, 1951

The Indians sign high school star Billy Joe Davidson for a reported $150‚000

May 29, 1951

Indians hurler Bob Lemon one-hits the Tigers, 2 – 1. The only Bengal hit is Vic Wertz’s home run.

June 1, 1951

6/1/1951: Vic Wertz led off the bottom of the second in Detroit with a shot off Allie Reynolds. Johnny Mize homered to lead off the Yankee fourth against Virgil Trucks. The game was rained out after 4 1/2 innings.

June 1, 1951

1951 – The Pittsburgh Pirates waive first baseman Dale Long to the St. Louis Browns, who send him to the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League. Long will be back in Pittsburgh for the 1955 season.

June 2, 1951

Due to the poor lighting during an Alabama-Florida League contest at Peanut Stadium in Headland, Alabama, Ottis Johnson of the Dothan Browns fails to get out of the way of a fastball thrown by Jack Clifton. The 24 year-old Class D minor league outfielder undergoes surgery and spends eight days in the hospital before dying on June 10 as a result of being hit by the Dixie Runners hurler’s pitch.

June 2, 1951

During a game against the Durham Bulls, Mike Romello hits umpire Emil Davidzuk after being called out for leaving third base early. A judge at the game arrests the visiting Danville’s shortstop on the spot, and the infielder will later be fined $25 for his assault on the arbitrator.

June 3, 1951

With two outs in the second inning of an eventual 1-0 loss to the Giants, Cardinals’ southpaw Max Lanier walks Monte Irvin, gives up a double down the right-field line to Willie Mays, and then intentionally walks Hank Thompson to load the bases. The St. Louis lefty will get out of the early jam by striking out opposing pitcher Dave Koslo, but the frame will mark the first time in major league history a trio of black players occupies three bases at the same time.

June 4, 1951

1951 – Gus Bell hits for the cycle to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 12 – 4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium.

June 15, 1951

The Cubs trade Andy Pfako along with Johnny Schmitz, Wayne Terwilliger, and Rube Walker to the Dodgers for Bruce Edwards, Joe Hatten, Eddie Miksis, and Gene Hermanski. The deal, which prevents the coveted ‘Handy Andy’ from going to the rival Giants, is the first of many to be made by Buzzy Bavasi, Brooklyn’s new general manager.

June 16, 1951

1951 – Andy Strong, an outfielder for the Crowley Millers, is killed by a lightning strike in the 6th inning of a game with the Alexandria Aces. The game had been halted in the 5th inning due to rain but conditions were clear when play resumed.

June 20, 1951

Billy Southworth’s first win as Braves manager is a breeze as Warren Spahn shuts out the Cubs, 9 – 0, and is 3 for 4 at the plate, including a home run.

June 20, 1951

Cleveland IF Bobby Avila hits three home runs going 5 for 6 against the Red Sox. His 15 total bases will stand as a team record until surpassed by Rocky Colavito in 1959. Before today, Avila had hit just one homer against the Bosox. Cleveland outslugs Boston to win, 14 – 8, as Early Wynn earns the complete game win.

June 21, 1951

Donald L. Barnes, at the request of Browns’ owners William and Charles Dewitt, announces the sale of the controlling interest of the club to Bill Veeck, former owner of the Indians. The arrangement of the transaction ensures the new owner will keep the team in St. Louis, debunking the rumors of the shift of the franchise to Milwaukee.

June 21, 1951

At Chattanooga, Mobile outscores the hosts, 28 – 7. Bears 1B Wayne Belardi goes 4 for 7 with two home runs – including a grand slam – a double and 10 RBIs. Every Bear hitter scores at least two runs. Belardi’s outburst will earn him another call-up to the Brooklyn Dodgers.

June 22, 1951

A power failure at Forbes Field delays the start of the game with the Dodgers by two hours and the game ends at 1:56AM the latest to date

June 22, 1951

Willie Mays, 20, hits a 10th-inning home run, the first of his 22 extra-inning home runs, off 42-year-old Dutch Leonard of the Cubs. It is a three-run shot that gives the Giants a 9 – 6 win.

June 23, 1951

In a 7-6 loss to the Yankees‚ Cleveland’s Al Rosen hits his 3rd grand slam of the season.

June 23, 1951

1951 – Don Newcombe gives up a 1st-inning single to Ralph Kiner in beating the Bucs on a one-hitter, 13 – 1. The Dodgers jump on Bill Werle and successors for 16 hits, including homers by Carl Furillo and Rocky Bridges.

June 25, 1951

The Phillies gain a measure of revenge for their 2 – 1 City Series loss to the A’s two months ago, by beating their rivals today, 5 – 1. A pre-game show features Lisa Kirk, star of the musical Kiss Me Kate.

June 26, 1951

1951 – Fresh from a doubleheader loss on the 24th at Forbes Field, the Dodgers get further bad news at the Polo Grounds. Sal Maglie shuts out Brooklyn on three hits, and Preacher Roe takes his first loss after ten wins. Eddie Stanky and Whitey Lockman hit homers.

June 27, 1951

Behind three-run homers by Andy Pafko and Duke Snider, Don Newcombe coasts to an easy win over the Giants.

June 27, 1951

The third-place Red Sox score three runs in the 7th to beat the A’s, 6 – 5. Sox pitcher Ray Scarborough gets beaned with an errant pickoff throw and is knocked unconscious; reliever Willard Nixon earns the win.

June 27, 1951

Former Cubs farmhand Boyd Tepler brings a $450,000 suit against baseball, the Chicago Cubs, and William Wrigley, citing an arm injury he suffered in 1944. His suit contends that “negligent” coaching allowed him to continue with flaws in his pitching motion that resulted in damage to his arm and the end of his promising career.

June 28, 1951

Monte Irvin clubs two homers off Ralph Branca as the Giants edge the Dodgers, 5 – 4

June 28, 1951

Singer Helen Traubel sells her estimated 5,000 shares in the Browns to Bill Veeck and urges her fellow stockholders to do the same.

June 28, 1951

The Cubs’ Frank Hiller faces just 27 batters in pitching a one-hitter over the Cards, winning 8 – 0. Enos Slaughter has a 5th-inning single but is erased on a double play. Randy Jackson poles his seventh homer in the seventh and the Cubs pull off a double steal in the ninth when they add four runs. Jack Cusick swipes home, with Hiller stealing third.

June 29, 1951

Twin Falls Cowboys catcher Dick Conway dies on the way to the hospital; he was injured after a ball from Don Trower hits his chest in practice before the game. Conway had been slugging .505 in his young career; he dies at age 19.

June 30, 1951

The Braves make it easy for new manager Tommy Holmes’s first appearance in front of the home crowd. Boston tallies eight runs in the 7th inning and seven runs in the 8th inning, to squash the Giants, 19 – 7. Backing Vern Bickford’s pitching, Earl Torgeson racks up seven RBIs in the two innings, including a grand slam off Sal Maglie, the first time that the Barber’s been clipped for a slam.

July 1, 1951

Cleveland Indians ace Bob Feller hurls the third no-hitter of his career

July 1, 1951

Elmer Valo belts three homers to help the A’s sweep the Senators, 10 – 7 and 3 – 2. Two of his homers come in the first game, when teammate Gus Zernial hits his 18th homer. Irv Noren has a pair of doubles and a homer for the Nats.

July 1, 1951

Philadelphia’s Russ Meyer and Jim Konstanty hold Brooklyn to one hit but lose anyway, 2 – 0. Pee Wee Reese’s 2-run triple follows two walks in the 3rd and accounts for all the hits and runs.

July 1, 1951

In the second game of a doubleheader, the Browns’ Ned Garver, en route to a 20-win season, limits the White Sox to two hits, winning, 3 – 1. The loss drops the Sox out of the American League lead. Chicago wins the opener, 2 – 1 in 11 innings on Minnie Minoso’s 400-foot homer to left center. Minnie’s blow breaks up a pitching duel between loser Duane Pillette and Ken Holcombe.

July 1, 1951

Yanks top the Red Sox, 5 – 2, behind Eddie Lopat’s 6-hitter

July 2, 1951

Bill Veeck gets the necessary 75 percent of outstanding stock on the last day of his option to buy the St. Louis Browns from Bill and Charlie DeWitt.

July 3, 1951

Bill DiBenedetto of the Class D Hornell Dodgers walks 21 in a 5 – 1 loss to Corning. This record number of walks breaks the 36-year-old record of Harry Harper of the Minneapolis Millers.

July 3, 1951

Giants rookie Willie Mays blasts a 13th-inning solo homer off the Phillies’ Jocko Thompson 

July 3, 1951

former major league pitcher Hugh Casey commits suicide by shooting himself in the neck

July 4, 1951

In a wild doubleheader featuring a double ejection of manager Charlie Dressen, the first-place Dodgers sweep the Giants, winning 6 – 5 in 11 innings, and 4 – 2. The Dodgers drive out Sal Maglie in the opener after the Giants build a lead on homers by Don Mueller and Willie Mays. Brooklyn counters in the 8th with a pinch homer by Roy Campanella, a homer by Pee Wee Reese, and a tying single from Gil Hodges. Bobby Thomson’s homer in the 11th puts the Giants ahead by one, but Preacher Roe wins it with a squeeze bunt. Ralph Branca wins the nitecap with homer help from Hodges and Duke Snider. Dressen is tossed in the 2nd inning of the second game for protesting pitch calls; after he takes a seat behind the dugout umpire Scotty Robb tosses him a second time. The victories put Brooklyn 6 1/2 games up.

July 5, 1951

Gil Hodges homers lead the Dodgers over the GiantsChuck Dressen declares, “We knocked ’em out. They won’t bother us anymore.”

July 5, 1951

Rich “Goose” Gossage is born in Colorado Springs, CO.

July 6, 1951

At the Polo Grounds, the Braves smack two homers (Willard Marshall and Walker Cooper) in the top of the third, only to have the Giants answer with three home runs – by Wes Westrum, Bobby Thomson, and Don Mueller – in the bottom of the inning. The Giants outslug the Braves for the game, 12 – 10.

July 7, 1951

At Fenway Park, the Yankees lose to the Red Sox, 10 – 4, with the Sox being led by Clyde Vollmer’s grand slam in the 1st inning. Vollmer had a two-run triple in yesterday’s 6 – 2 win over the Yankees.

July 7, 1951

Hoot Evers strokes four singles and a double in the Tigers’ 13-3 rout of the Indians

July 8, 1951

The feud between Joe DiMaggio and Casey Stengel reaches a head in the 2nd inning against the Red Sox after DiMaggio makes an error

July 8, 1951

Red Schoendienst hits home runs from both the left and right side of the plate

July 9, 1951

At a joint meeting between players and owners, agreement is reached on night curfews and the retention of the reserve clause.

July 10, 1951

The Giants bring up 2B Davey Williams], hitting .280 at Minneapolis, as well as pitcher Al Corwin. Williams is expected to share 2B duties with Eddie Stanky.

July 10, 1951

Using four home runs from Stan Musial, Bob Elliott, Ralph Kiner and Gil Hodges, the National League All-Stars defeat the American League 8-3

July 12, 1951

Allie Reynolds of the New York Yankees no-hits the Cleveland Indians

July 12, 1951

The Red Sox and White Sox draw a record crowd of 52,592 for a twi-night doubleheader at Comiskey Park

July 13, 1951

The Red Sox and White Sox play 19 innings under the lights, tying a major league record. Mickey McDermott pitches the first 17 innings for Boston, as Chicago wins this marathon, 5 – 4. Clyde Vollmer has a homer and two singles for the BoSox and 3B Vern Stephens plays the entire game (18 1/3 innings) without a putout. Boston scores twice in the top of the 19th, but the Sox strike back with three runs. For the second night in a row, the two teams set a record for the longest night game. Tomorrow the Sox will set a major league mark when they pull off their 14th double play in four games.

July 13, 1951

Both Wes Westrum and Davey Williams of the Giants hit grand slams, as the Giants beat St. Louis, 14 – 4, at the Polo Grounds. The win moves New York into second place.

July 14, 1951

Clyde Vollmer singles in two runs in the 9th inning and the Boston Red Sox tip the Chicago White Sox, 3 – 2.

July 15, 1951

New York Yankees demote struggling rookie Mickey Mantle

July 15, 1951

Philadelphia Athletics lefty Sam Zoldak pitches a one-hitter against the Chicago White Sox, winning, 5 – 0, in the second game of a doubleheader. Chico Carrasquel has the lone safety, a dribbler between SS and 3B. Zoldak also drives in 2 runs. Bob Hooper is the winner for the A’s in the first game, helping the cause with a three-run homer. The A’s lose Ferris Fainwhen he grounds out in the opener and, in disgust, kicks first base, breaking his foot. Fain is leading the American League with a .337 average. He’ll return on August 21st.

July 15, 1951

Happy Chandler completes his contract as baseball commissioner, but fails to win the owners’ support for a renewal.

July 16, 1951

While in Detroit, the Yanks option rookie Mickey Mantle to Kansas City (AA). Mantle, plagued with strikeouts – 3 on the 13th – and in a slump, will go 0-for-22 in his start with the Blues, before ending with a tear at .361. The Yankees will recall him on August 20th. Art Schallock takes Mickey’s place on the Yankee roster and gives up 7 hits in 2 1/3 innings in today’s 8 – 6 win.

July 17, 1951

LF Joe Adcock is 4 for 4 and throws out a runner at home in the 9th, to lead the Reds to a 9 – 8 win over the host Phillies.

July 17, 1951

After pitching for Bill Veeck in Cleveland in 1948, Satchel Paige rejoins him with the St. Louis Browns.

July 18, 1951

The Reds purchase OF Hank Edwards from the Dodgers.

July 18, 1951

The Pirates’ Ralph Kiner drives in seven runs, hitting three home runs, including his 10th grand slam

July 18, 1951

Congressman Emanuel Celler says that President Harry Truman backs his probe of the reserve clause and sports status under the antitrust legislation.

July 19, 1951

1951 – Despite a pair of homers by Clyde Vollmer, the Indians edge the Red Sox, 5 – 4, in 11 innings.

July 20, 1951

1951 – In a move that will aid their pennant drive, the Giants put OF Bobby Thomson at 3B to replace the slumping Hank Thompson, out with a spike injury. Thomson, who’s been riding the bench since losing his starting job to the rookie Willie Mays, will hit .357 for the rest of the season.

July 20, 1951

In a game against the Reds with All-Star hurler Ewell Blackwell on the mound, the Giants, for the first time, employ their infamous scheme for stealing catchers’ signs using a telescope positioned in the center-field clubhouse. The ‘Jints’ beat Cincinnati, 11-6, and New York will win 22 of the remaining 27 games at the Polo Grounds, overtaking the Dodgers to win the National League pennant.

July 22, 1951

With the Cubs 10 games under .500 at 35-45, Phil Cavarretta replaces Frankie Frisch as manager

July 24, 1951

Willie Mays makes barehanded grab at Forbes Field

July 25, 1951

Willie Mays Bare handed grab

July 26, 1951

At Fenway Park, Clyde Vollmer knocks in six runs on three homers to lead the Red Sox to a 13 – 10 win over the White Sox.

July 26, 1951

In a 9-1 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Jim Russell becomes the first player in major league history to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in a game in two different games. The Dodger outfielder’s accomplishment will be surpassed in 1956, when Yankee slugger Mickey Mantle goes deep both right and left-handed in the same game for a third time.

July 27, 1951

The White Sox, just 3 1/2 games behind New York and Boston, open a four-game series in New York. Trailing 3 – 1 in the 9th, the Sox make it 3 – 2 before rain and the Yankees delay the game. Gil McDougald is thrown out for stalling, and Casey Stengel uses five pitchers in the inning. Finally, the Yanks win as the game is called after 30 minutes.

July 27, 1951

After two shutouts over the Cards, Bubba Church gives the Phils staff its third in a row, stopping Chicago, 2 – 0. It is Church’s eighth straight win over the Cubs and Chicago’s ninth straight loss at Wrigley Field.

July 28, 1951

Willie Mays has his third homer in six days

July 28, 1951

P Russ Meyer hurls a 1 – 0 shutout over the Cubs, the fourth shutout in a row for the Phillies staff. Robin Roberts, Ken Johnson and Bubba Church pitched the earlier whitewashings.

July 28, 1951

Charlie Gehringer succeeds Billy Evans as General Manager of the Detroit Tigers.

July 28, 1951

Clyde Vollmer hits a walkoff grandslam in 16th off Bob Feller

July 29, 1951

 Joe DiMaggio powers two homers off Lou Kretlow in the opener in double header sweep

July 29, 1951

Against the Phillies, Cubs player-manager Phil Cavarretta earns his money by driving home three runs in a 5 – 4 win snapping the Cubs’ 10-game home losing streak

July 29, 1951

Willie Mays steals the first of 338 bases. Then pitcher Willie Ramsdell picks him off second base.

July 30, 1951

Joe DiMaggio makes a rare mental error against Detroit

July 30, 1951

Retired Hall of Famer Ty Cobb testifies in front of Emanuel Celler’s Congressional committee in Washington, D.C.

July 31, 1951

The Dodgers win their 10th in a row, defeating the host Pirates, 8 – 3. Don Newcombe earns his 15th win and 9th in a row. Newk also collects three of the Flatbushers’ 16 hits.

July 31, 1951

In an 8 – 6 Red Sox loss to the Browns, Clyde Vollmer doubles to finish the month with 13 homers, four doubles and a triple among his 31 hits. “Big Un” knocks in 40 runs with his outburst.

July 31, 1951

The Browns acquire Cliff Mapes from the Yankees, sending Bobby Hogue, Kermit Wahl, Tom Upton and Lou Sleater to New York. The trade frees up an outfield spot for Mickey Mantle’s return as well as Mapes’s #7 uniform.

August 1, 1951

The Cubs’ Eddie Miksis lines a ball to Willie Mays in CF, which caroms off his head for a double, as the Cubs nip the Giants, 3 – 2. Cal McLish wins over Larry Jansen. The Giants come back in the second game behind the shutout pitching of Al Corwin to top the Cubs, 2 – 0. Bob Kelly is the losing pitcher, while Corwin wins his first major league game.

August 1, 1951

At Pittsburgh, the Dodgers take a 7 – 2 lead against Murry Dickson, then make two hits off four relievers and lose, 12 – 9. The Pirates score four in the 4th and four more in the 8th, including Ralph Kiner’s 27th homer, to win and snap the Dodgers’ victory streak at 10 games.

August 1, 1951

Congressman Emanuel Celler denies the accusation that his committee wants a third major league. He states that some changes with regard to territorial rights will have to be made.

August 1, 1951

8/1/1951 – In the first game of two at Wrigley Field, the score was tied at one apiece in the top of the seventh inning. The Giants had the bases loaded with no one out after two singles and an intentional walk to catcher Wes Westrum. Davey Williams ran for Westrum, who was hitting in the eighth spot in the lineup. The Giants failed to score in the frame and Williams remained in the game playing second base and Sal Yvars entered the contest to catch and bat in the first slot in the lineup. In the eighth inning, the Giants had a run across with two out and runners on first and second. It was Williams turn to hit but New York manager Leo Durocher insisted to plate umpire Lee Ballanfant that Yvars was the proper batter. Ballanfant correctly did not comment on the idea and allowed Yvars to come to the plate. Since Yvars struck out for the final out of the inning, the Cubs remained quiet about the batting out of order. Chicago scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to win the contest, 3-2.

August 6, 1951

Lame duck Commissioner Happy Chandler testifies in front of the Senate committee, urging that baseball expand out of its eastern area. He adds that some owners see sport only as big business.

August 7, 1951

Bobby Doerr suffers a severe sacroiliac pain that forces the future Hall of Famer into early retirement.

August 7, 1951

The Phils shut out the Braves, 1 – 0, in 15 innings, in the second game of a doubleheader as reliever Ken Heintzelman bests Warren Spahn, also in relief. The Phils capture the opener, 3 – 1, on Robin Roberts’ 15th win.

August 7, 1951

Senator Edwin C. Johnson backs the reserve clause in his testimony, citing his bill to exempt baseball from antitrust legislation.

August 7, 1951

In a day-night doubleheader the Dodgers sweep a pair from the Giants, taking the first game, 7 – 2, behind the solid relief of Carl Erskine. Gil Hodges, Duke Snider and Carl Furillo homer. Brooklyn takes the nitecap, 6 – 5, in 10 innings, after jumping on Sal Maglie for a 5 – 1 lead. Snider and Furillo homer again, while Bobby Thomson goes deep for the Giants. Billy Cox’s RBI single wins it, giving the Dodgers an 11 1/2 game margin, the greatest lead in Brooklyn history.

August 9, 1951

With possible baseball commissioner Douglas MacArthur looking on, the Dodgers top the Giants again, 6 – 5, for their 12th win in 15 games between the two rivals. The two teams combine for a National League record 24 walks.

August 9, 1951

In the Braves’ 5 – 4 win over the Phillies, catcher Ebba St. Claire participates in three double plays to tie the major league record. The record will be topped in the American League, but not till 1999 will another National League backstop be in three double plays in a game.

August 10, 1951

1951 – Ramón Bragaña, manager of the Azules de Veracruz, intentionally walks René González (Tuneros de San Luis) with the bases loaded, the only such occurrence in Mexican League history. The order is given by Jorge Pasquel, owner of the club.

August 11, 1951

WCBS-TV televises the first baseball game broadcast in color, a Dodgers’ 8-1 victory over the visiting Braves in the first game of a twin bill. Brooklyn’s announcers Red Barber and Connie Desmond provide the play-by-play commentary for the Ebbets Field contest, detailing Ralph Branca’s victory over eventual 20-game winner Warren Spahn.

August 11, 1951

At Texas League Park in Tulsa, OK, Bob Turley of the San Antonio Missions strikes out 22 Oilers in a 16-inning game that is called due to darkness with the score tied 3-3. When the Class-AA minor league season ends, the 20 year-old right-hander will join the Browns, making his major league debut for the last-place team on September 29.

August 11, 1951

In Philadelphia‚ the Giants lose to the Phils‚ as Robin Roberts shuts them out‚ 4 – 0‚ for his 16th win. Putsy Caballero hits his first major league homer‚ off George Spencer, for the Phils.

August 11, 1951

The Dodgers take the first of two games against the Braves‚ winning, 8 – 1, behind Ralph Branca. The Braves take the nitecap‚ 8 – 4‚ behind Max Surkont and a home run by Sid Gordon. With Red Barber and Connie Desmond making the calls‚ the doubleheader is the first major league game to be telecast in color.

August 11, 1951

Behind the four-hit pitching of Early Wynn‚ the Indians defeat the White Sox, 2 – 1, in front of a Ladies Night crowd of 70‚119. Wynn’s homer in the 7th breaks the tie created by 2nd-inning homers by Eddie Robinson and Al Rosen. It’s the Tribe’s 9th straight win to stay deadlocked with the Yankees for first place. Loser Joe Dobson‚ who has beaten Wynn twice this year‚ gives up just 6 hits.

August 11, 1951

Eddie Joost homers in the 9th for the A’s‚ to tie the Yanks 4 – 4‚ but the Yanks win in 11‚ 7 – 4. Sloppy fielding and a two-run single by Yogi Berra account for the scoring. The win goes to reliever Bob Kuzava‚ late of the Senators‚ while Alex Kellner takes the loss.

August 12, 1951

The Giants (59-51) start the day 13 games behind first place Brooklyn (70-36). On Wes Westrum Day at the Polo Grounds‚ Sal Maglie wins the first game against the Phillies, 3 – 2‚ and rookie Al Corwin takes the second game, 2 – 1. Eddie Stanky returns to the lineup after a week’s absence and has 5 walks in the two games while leading off. The sweep launches a 16-game win streak and a spurt of 39 wins in 47 games.

August 12, 1951

Roy Campanella breaks up a pitching duel between Don Newcombe and Boston’s Johnny Sain with a three-run homer‚ his second of the game‚ and the third time in 9 games he’s collected a pair of homers. Campy’s 5 ribbies give the Dodgers a 7 – 2 win.

August 12, 1951

The Yankees lose a pair to the A’s. The A’s use 17 hits to win the opener‚ 9 – 5, then use Pennsylvania’s Sunday Blue Law which calls for a 7:00 curfew to win the nitecap‚ 7 – 4. The Yanks start an 8th-inning 5-run rally at 6:37 and take a 9 – 7 lead‚ but the curfew wipes it out before Pete Suder can hit. Beginning next year‚ the American League will adopt the 40-year-old suspended game policy of the National League.

August 13, 1951

Every one who shows up with a musical instrument is admitted free to Ebbets Field. 2,426 fans take advantage of the offer, including one with a piano. The Dodgers have a motive in countering the local musicians’ union which wants to silence the non-union Sym-Phoney. The Dodgers outplay the Braves, 7 – 6, as Gil Hodges belts a three-run homer in the 8th, following an intentional walk to Roy Campanella, who had homered earlier.

August 13, 1951

The Giants keep pace with a 5 – 2 win over the Phils. Larry Jansen, pitching for the first time in eight days, wins his 15th. Whitey Lockman hits a three-run homer.

August 13, 1951

‘51 Tigers Jerry Priddy, Aaron Robinson, GM Charlie Gehringer, manager Red Rolfe and Dizzy Trout.

August 14, 1951

In a night game at the Polo Grounds – the last of 14 night games this year – the Giants’ righty George Spencer beats the Dodgers, 4 – 2. Erv Palica takes the loss, as the Giants jump on him early. Alvin Dark doubles and comes home on Don Mueller’s homer. An out later, Whitey Lockman homers and Palica doesn’t make the 2nd inning. The Dodgers score in the 8th on successive homers by Billy Cox and Duke Snider.

August 14, 1951

Ted Williams hits two home runs to take the American League lead, and the Red Sox pull off a triple play to beat the A’s, 7 – 4. With his 25th home run, Ted reaches 100 RBIs.

August 15, 1951

Al Rosen belts a 1st-inning grand slam to jump start the Indians to a 9 – 4 win over the Browns, their 13th in a row. For Rosen, it is his fourth slam of the year, just the 9th player to accomplish the feat. Ned Garver gives up seven runs in the 1st inning in losing to Early Wynn.

August 15, 1951

At Crosley Field, the Reds’ Ken Raffensberger tops the Cubs, 1 – 0, on Ted Kluszewski’s home run in the 4th off Cal McLish.

August 15, 1951

Willie Mays makes a miraculous play in the 8th

August 15, 1951

1951 Dom DiMaggio slides in safe at the plate as Bobby Doerr and Johnny Pesky look on. White Sox catcher is Phil Masi. Ump is Ed Hurley.

August 16, 1951

The Cards score six runs in the 7th inning to defeat the Pirates, 9 – 6. Murry Dickson, trying for his 17th win, takes the loss. Stan Musial hits a three-run homer in the 6th to start the scoring for St. Louis. His inside-the-park homer is his first hit in 13 at bats, and his second one in four days.

August 16, 1951

The Browns end the Indians’ win streak at 13 when Tommy Byrne pitches and bats St. Louis to a 4 – 0 win. Byrne allows two hits in seven innings and drives in all the runs before retiring with back spasms. Mike Garcia loses to drop the Indians’ lead to 1 1/2 games over the Yankees.

August 16, 1951

Sal Maglie outpitches Don Newcombe, 2 – 1, to cut the Dodger lead over the Giants to 9 1/2 games. Maglie allows four hits, including Billy Cox’s 300-foot homer, in winning his 17th. The Giants score the winner in the 7th when Bobby Thomson scores on a wild pitch. Pee Wee Reese goes hitless, ending his 22-game streak.

August 16, 1951

At Elmira, NY, minor leaguer Don Zimmer marries Jean Carol Bauerle at home plate. Teammate Ed Roebuck is supposed to make it a double wedding, but opts for a church instead.

August 19, 1951

In Philadelphia, the Giants overcome a four-run deficit to win, 5 – 4, and cut Brooklyn’s lead to eight games. Al Corwin wins in relief, after Bobby Thomson’s two-run homer gets the Giants on the board. The Giants have won nine in a row.

August 19, 1951

Wearing uniform number 1/8, forty-three inch tall Eddie Gaedel walks on four pitches from Bob Cain in his only major league appearance. Bill Veeck’s idea of playing the midget was legal at the time but is later outlawed.

August 19, 1951

In Boston, the Braves score five in the 6th and roll over the Dodgers, 13 – 4. Warren Spahn picks up his 15th win and his 21st complete game. A 2nd-inning homer by Willard Marshall, off Ralph Branca, starts the scoring.

August 19, 1951

Forty-three inch tall Eddie Gaedel walks on four pitches in his only major league appearance. Bill Veeck’s idea of playing the midget was legal at the time but is later outlawed.

August 19, 1951

Forty-three inch tall Eddie Gaedel walks on four pitches in his only major league appearance. Bill Veeck’s idea of playing the midget was legal at the time but is later outlawed.

August 19, 1951

Bill Veeck sends three-foot, seven-inch Eddie Gaedel to bat for his St. Louis Browns

August 21, 1951

Bob Feller is the first 20 game winner stopping the Senators, 4 – 0

August 21, 1951

The Giants manage just one run in seven innings off Reds knuckleballer Willie Ramsdell, but the wheels come off in “The Knuck” in the 8th: Eddie Stanky belts a leadoff homer, Whitey Lockman adds a 2-run shot, and Wes Westrum finishes with a 3-run roundtripper off reliever Frank Smith. George Spencer (9-4) wins in relief, 7 – 4.

August 21, 1951

Major General Emmett O’Donnell is selected by the owners to be the new commissioner, but President Harry Truman overrules the decision stating the officer is needed in Korea in his post as commander of bombers.

August 22, 1951

Tommy Byrne keeps walking them and the Red Sox keep stranding them as St. Louis and Boston battle for 13 innings before the Sox win, 3 – 1. Brownie Byrne walks 16 Sox batters, tying the American League walk record set by Bruno Haas in 1915 (Haas walked 16 in a loss to the Yanks, his only major league decision), and Boston strands 22 runners: the American League record for stranded runners is 24, set by the Indians in 18 innings on July 10, 1932. Byrne breaks his personal record of 13 walks in a game he set in 1949. The Brownies don’t help him much, stranding 14.

August 22, 1951

At the Polo Grounds, the Giants win their 11th straight, again coming from behind to top the Reds, 4 – 3. Monte Irvin homers in the 2nd off Ewell Blackwell, but it is Whitey Lockman’s double in the 8th that wins it for reliever Sheldon Jones.

August 22, 1951

The Dodgers sweep a pair of 10-inning games from St. Louis, with Clyde King picking up both come-from-behind victories. King goes three innings in game one and one inning in game two. Jackie Robinson is 5 for 6 in the nitecap including a 2-out single in the 10th off Al Brazle. Andy Pafko has a homer in the nitecap, while Stan Musial hits his 29th in the first game. Carl Furillo has three hits on the afternoon and a pair of assists in game 1, bringing his season total to 21. The Dodgers have now won 14 straight from the Cards.

August 23, 1951

1951 – At Ebbets Field, the Cards finally beat the Dodgers, 4 – 2. Max Lanier allows seven hits, including Roy Campanella’s 27th homer, in beating Don Newcombe. Newk won’t lose again to the Birds till 1957, winning 12 straight.

August 24, 1951

In another of Bill Veeck’s legendary public relations stunts “Fans Managers’ Night,”

August 24, 1951

At the Polo Grounds, the Giants tie the Cards in the 9th on three singles, and with the bases loaded, Bobby Thomson scores the winner on a fielder’s choice play at the plate. New York wins, 6 – 5, its 12th in a row and 4th in a row in coming from behind.

August 24, 1951

At Ebbets Field, the Dodgers’ Ralph Branca outduels Cubs pitcher Paul Minner to win, 1 – 0. Branca strikes out 10 Cubs, walks none, and gives up three hits.

August 24, 1951

Mickey Mantle returns to the Yankee lineup after demotion to minors

August 25, 1951

Before 66,110 at Cleveland, Mickey Mantle belts an opposite field 2-run homer off Mike Garcia to help the Yankees win, 7 – 3. New York (77-46) moves to a game back of the Tribe.

August 25, 1951

8/25/1951: At the Polo Grounds two batters had homers rained out. Bobby Thomson homered off Cardinal Al Brazle with one out in the second inning and Stan Musial hit one off Al Corwin to lead off the third inning.

August 26, 1951

At the Polo Grounds, Chuck Connors clubs his 2nd and last major league homer, a three-run shot off Sal Maglie in the 9th to give the visiting Cubs a temporary 4 – 4 tie. Wes Westrum then answers with his 2nd homer of the game, off reliever Walt Dubiel, and New York wins, 5 – 4. New York takes the nitecap, 5 – 1, to run their victory streak to 14 games. Jim Hearn tops Cal McLish. Willie Mays electrifies the crowd in the 6th by singling, advancing on a balk and a short fly, and stealing home. The Giants trail by six games.

August 26, 1951

Pirates roar back with 8 runs in 7th to split a twin bill

August 26, 1951

Rookie hurler Niles Jordan of the Phillies blanks the Reds, 2 – 0, in his first major league start. Jordan gives up three hits, the same number allowed by loser Willie Ramsdell. The Reds win the opener, 4 – 2, as Ewell Blackwell bests Robin Roberts.

August 26, 1951

In the second game against the Yanks, veteran infielder Bert Haas hits a pinch homer in the 6th for the White Sox, his last major league at bat. The Sox will release the 37-year-old tomorrow. The Yanks win, 8 – 6, to remain a game behind the Indians. The Sox take the opener, 3 – 2, behind Saul Rogovin.

August 27, 1951

The Giants win two more from the Cubs, including a 5 – 4, twelve-inning complete game victory for Larry Jansen. It is his 17th win. The Cubs score in the top of the 12th, but the Giants score two off Dutch Leonard to win. Behind Al Corwin’s pitching, the Giants take the nitecap, 6 – 3.

August 27, 1951

“The two fine Italian arms of Branca and Furillo had a no-hitter running for eight innings”

August 27, 1951

A prolonged delay occurs at Olean’s (NY) Bradner Stadium when a skunk refuses to leave the infield during a Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League game between Batavia and the hometown Oilers. The minor leaguers try to shoo the crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk) mammal away but result in the players running off the field with the uninvited guest staying put for an hour before moving on, allowing the contest to resume, albeit with a lot fewer fans in the stands.

August 27, 1951

Del Wilber hits three solo round-trippers in the Phillies’ victory over Cincinnati in the nightcap at Shibe Park, making it the first time that a player has accounted for all the runs in a 3-0 game with home runs. The 32 year-old catcher will hit a total of only 19 round-trippers during his major league career.

August 28, 1951

The Indians triumph over the A’s, 1 – 0, on Bob Kennedy’s homer off Sam Zoldak. It is Sam’s second 1 – 0 loss to the Tribe. Early Wynn wins his 15th to keep the Indians a game ahead of New York, 7 – 5 winners in 10 innings at St. Louis.

August 28, 1951

The Pirates end the Giants’ 16-game winning streak defeating New York, 2 – 0. Due to the consecutive victories, Leo Durocher and his club were able to narrow the Dodgers’ lead from 13 1/2 to 6 games.

August 28, 1951

The Dodgers edge the visiting Reds, 3 – 1, behind rookie Clem Labine. Duke Snider provides the offense off Howie Fox with a single and two-run homer, the latter breaking a tie in the 8th.

August 28, 1951

The Braves sell P Johnny Sain to the Yankees for $50,000 and a young pitcher named Lew Burdette. It is another late-season insurance measure for the New Yorkers.

August 28, 1951

The Giants’ 16-game winning streak comes to end when Howie Pollet six-hits the team in the Pirates’ 2-0 victory at the Polo Grounds. The consecutive victories enable Leo Durocher and his club were to narrow the Dodgers’ lead from 13.5 to six games.

August 29, 1951

Pitching on 2-days’ rest, the Giants’ Jim Hearn tops 17-game winner Murry Dickson, 3 – 1. It is Hearn’s 8th straight win over Pittsburgh, stretching back to 1949. The Giants gear up by recalling Hank Thompson from Minneapolis.

August 29, 1951

The Yankees pick on the lowly Browns for a 15 – 2 win at Sportsman’s Park. Mickey Mantle has four RBIs including a three-run homer in the 9th off Satchel Paige. Ned Garver is the loser.

August 29, 1951

Hodges sets franchise single season homerun mark

August 30, 1951

The A’s topple the Indians, 6 – 2, beating Bob Feller and knocking the Tribe into 2nd place

August 30, 1951

The Giants move to an 8 – 1 lead after five inning over the Pirates behind two homers by Willie Mays. But George Spencer wilts in the heat and gives up homers to Frank Thomas – his first in the majors – and pinch hitter Gus Bell. After Pete Castiglione and Bill Rigney match homers, Ralph Kiner powers one in the 9th inning to give Pittsburgh a 10 – 9 victory. For Kiner, it is his 37th.

August 30, 1951

Brooklyn’s Preacher Roe, with relief help from Clyde King, stops the Reds, 3 – 1, for his 18th win.

September 1, 1951

1951 – OF Don Mueller hits 3 home runs in an 8 – 1 Giants win over the Dodgers. His first homer comes against Ralph Branca‚ coming off two consecutive shutouts‚ and Mueller hits his 3rd home run‚ a two-run shot, off Phil Haugstad. Sal Maglie is the winner‚ giving up 7 singles and hits Jackie Robinson on the wrist in the 3rd to force home the only Dodger run. Whitey Lockman gets plunked twice for New York. Al Dark and Eddie Stanky combine in the 5th on a triple play off a liner by Pee Wee Reese.

September 1, 1951

Hall of Fame umpire Bill Klem dies at the age of 77

September 2, 1951

Tony Ponce of the Phoenix Senators (Southwest International League) hurls his 38th consecutive complete game in beating Yuma, 4 – 2, for his 25th win of the season.

September 2, 1951

Ken Raffensberger fires a one-hitter at the Cubs to win, 7 – 0, and gain a split for the Reds. The only hit is a 3rd-inning scratch single by Eddie Miksis that arguably would have rolled foul. Bob Rush shuts out the Reds in the nitecap to top Howie Fox, 3 – 0.

September 2, 1951

The Cleveland Indians’ Harry Simpson, Al Rosen and Luke Easter hit consecutive home runs in the 1st inning, as Cleveland beats the Browns, 5 – 1.

September 2, 1951

Don Mueller hits two more home runs, giving him five in two days, to tie a major league mark

September 3, 1951

At Ebbets Field, the Dodgers sweep the Braves, winning both games, 7 – 2, behind Carl Erskine and Clem Labine. Roy Campanella collects six straight hits, including his 30th and 31st homers, before being stopped.

September 3, 1951

In a Labor Day doubleheader at the Polo Grounds, the Phils’ Robin Roberts stops New York, 6 – 3, in the opener. The Giants blow a 3 – 0 1st-inning lead when homers by Richie Ashburn and Bill Nicholson bring the Phils back. Dave Koslo salvages the second game, winning, 3 – 1, over Niles Jordan. Willie Mays makes another rookie error in the 2nd. After an apparent inside-the-park home run, Phils 3B Tommy Brown appeals, and Mays is called out for failing to touch third base. He is credited with a double.

September 3, 1951

Newly-acquired pitcher Johnny Sain tosses a 5-hitter to beat the A’s, 3 – 1. The A’s top the Yankees in the nitecap, 3 – 2.

September 5, 1951

After a day off, the Giants sweep two games in Boston, winning 3 – 2 and 9 – 1. In the opener, Sheldon Jones scatters six hits to beat Warren Spahn. Spahn allows just five hits in his attempt to become the National League’s first 19-game winner. The Giants tally 13 hits in the second game to help Sal Maglie win his first-ever victory against Boston.

September 5, 1951

The A’s Ferris Fain goes 5 for 5 in the second game of a doubleheader with Washington, as the A’s sweep a pair, 4 – 1 and 9 – 7. Fain is 6 for 9 and is hitting .341.

September 5, 1951

Ralph Branca, despite twinges in his arm, pitches the Dodgers to a 5 – 2 win over the Phillies. Gil Hodges drives home four runs on a grand slam off Ken Johnson. It is Gil’s 37th homer of year, setting a new Dodger record.

September 7, 1951

Preacher Roe walks six Phils, but pushes his record to 19-2, as the Dodgers win, 11 – 6

September 7, 1951

The A’s split a pair with the Red Sox, losing 8 – 5 to Bill Wight, before winning, 11 – 4. Billy Hitchcock has two triples and a double in game two, good for five RBIs. Bosox reliever Ellis Kinder makes his 54th appearance in the opener, breaking Wilcy Moore’s club record set in 1931. Boston slips in the American League race to four games back.

September 7, 1951

Bobby Thomson goes 5 for 5 against the host Braves, as the Giants win, 7 – 3. Larry Jansen is the winner, scattering 10 hits, over Max Surkont. Monte Irvin drives in the first three runs, hitting a homer estimated at 500 feet. He now has 101 RBIs.

September 7, 1951

In an 18-inning game with the Cubs, the Reds’ Lloyd Merriman records 12 putouts in CF, tying the National League mark. The Reds prevail, 7 – 6. The game is tied at 3 – 3 after regulation, but both teams score three runs in the 15th inning. Dixie Howell’s sac fly with the sacks full drives in the winner.

September 7, 1951

Warren Hacker, pitching for Los Angeles (Pacific Coast League), pitches a no-hitter against Seattle, winning, 4 – 0.

September 8, 1951

At an Old Timer’s Day at Yankee Stadium, former manager Joe McCarthy is honored. With the game scoreless in the 7th inning, Mickey Mantle belts a Bob Porterfield pitch into the last row of the RF bleachers, some 460 feet away to break the scoreless tie. Ed Lopat shuts out the Senators for 4 – 0 Yankee win.

September 8, 1951

The pennant race heats up, as Dodger ace Don Newcombe two-hits the Giants, 9 – 0, beating Jim Hearn. Jackie Robinson has three hits and three runs, scoring one run from third base when he provokes Hearn into wild pitching. Giants pitchers contribute 10 walks.

September 9, 1951

Sal Maglie wins his 20th game to give the Giants a 2 – 1 win over the Dodgers’ Ralph Branca. Monte Irvin’s two-run homer in the 4th gives New York all its scoring, The Dodgers score in the 8th on a double by Duke Sniderand a triple by Jackie Robinson. But 3B Bobby Thomson snags a ground ball, tags Robby, and throws to first for a double play.

September 9, 1951

The Indians use three 9th-inning bunts to edge the Browns, 4 – 3. Jim Hegan leads off with a bunt that rolls foul, but then drives a single past the pulled-in 3B Jack Maguire. Two more bunts and a sac fly give Mike Garcia his 19th win. Reliever Satchel Paige takes the loss.

September 9, 1951

The Yanks hit five homers – 4 off the Nats’ Dick Starr – to win, 7 – 5. Mickey Mantle’s leadoff homer on the first pitch, which starts the scoring, slams against the bottom of the flag holder on the top of the right field stands. Vic Raschi then wins the nitecap, 2 – 0, in a game called after the 6th inning because of “darkness.” Though Yankee Stadium has lights, unlike the National League, these cannot be used on Sunday. The Yankees (88-49) remain virtually tied with the Indians (88-51).

September 11, 1951

Clem Labine blanks the Reds on two hits as the visiting Dodgers win, 7 – 0. Andy Pafko drives in three runs on three singles.

September 11, 1951

New York’s  ends the Cards’ 7-game win streak

September 12, 1951

1951 – In Cincinnati, Lloyd Merriman hits a bases-loaded triple in the 7th, off Carl Erskine, to give the Reds a 6 – 3 win. Dodger starter Don Newcombe leaves in the 1st inning with a pulled muscle in his pitching arm and Erskine takes the loss. The Dodgers are now 5 1/2 ahead of the idle Giants whose last game of the season in St. Louis is rained out, and the National League reschedules it for tomorrow afternoon as part of a doubleheader.

September 13, 1951

The Cards play a rare doubleheader with two different teams

September 13, 1951

Mickey Mantle drives a Virgil Trucks pitch deep into the RF upper deck to start the Yankee scoring. Witnesses say that if Mantle had hit it more to CF, the ball would have traveled 600 feet

September 14, 1951

Preacher Roe wins his 20th game against just two losses, as the Dodgers edge the Pirates, 3 – 1. Andy Pafko hits his 14th homer for Brooklyn, still six games ahead of the Giants.

September 14, 1951

At Yankee Stadium, the Yanks move into first place with a 5 – 1 win over the Indians. Joe DiMaggio triples in the 5th with two on to send the Yanks on their way.

September 14, 1951

Browns rookie Bob Nieman hits two home runs in his first two ML at bats, a record unequaled. They come against Mickey McDermott of the Red Sox, but Boston still wins 9 – 6. Boston has homers by Dom DiMaggio, Ted Williams, and Walt Dropo.

September 14, 1951

Aided by five Cubs errors, Giant P Jim Hearn picks up his 15th win, 7 – 2. Bob Rush is the loser. Wes Westrum is tossed by Al Barlick for arguing a safe call at the plate. He’ll get a fine and 3-day suspension.

September 15, 1951

The 7th-place Pirates rise up and collect 15 hits to whip the first-place Dodgers, 11 – 2. Rookie Jack Merson drives home six runs on a triple, double, and two singles.

September 15, 1951

The Giants trim the Dodger lead to five games when they cash in homers by Bobby Thomson, Willie Mays, and Don Mueller for a 5 – 2 win over Chicago. Sheldon Jones tops Paul Minner.

September 15, 1951

The Cardinals take 11 walks, a record-tying five by Solly Hemus, and beat the Braves 10 – 1. Boston’s starter Dave Cole walks the first three batters he faces, then hits Enos Slaughter to force in Hemus.

September 16, 1951

Joe DiMaggio’s long triple off Bob Feller keys a 5 – 1 New York win

September 16, 1951

In Chicago, the Dodgers beat up on the Cubs, winning, 6 – 1, behind rookie Clem Labine. Rookie Bob Kelly takes the loss, allowing six hits, including Gil Hodges’ 38th homer.

September 16, 1951

The visiting – and rampaging – Giants sweep the Pirates, 7 – 1 and 6 – 4. Larry Jansen wins his 19th and Sal Maglie collects his 23rd. It is Maglie’s 11th straight win over the Bucs. The Giants collect 29 hits in the two games, including 6 by Al Dark, in handing losses to Howie Pollet and reliever Murry Dickson. The Dodgers’ lead of 4 1/2 is their slimmest since July 4th.

September 17, 1951

In Chicago, ex-Dodger Gene Hermanski clouts a pinch homer off Clyde King as the Cubs rally for a 5 – 3 win over Brooklyn. The Dodgers also lose Roy Campanella, who leaves the field on a stretcher after being struck in the head by a pitch from Turk Lown. Campy will remain in a Chicago hospital when the Dodgers leave for St. Louis. He will rejoin the team in Brooklyn in a few days.

September 17, 1951

Joe DiMaggio scores the winning run on a squeeze bunt by Phil Rizzuto

September 18, 1951

After a day off, the Giants edge the Reds, 6 – 5, in Cincy, though Dave Koslo is touched for 13 hits. Willie Mays has two of the three Giants errors, but George Spencer saves the game in his 55th appearance.

September 18, 1951

Cleveland beats Boston, 6 – 4, as Mike Garcia wins his 20th. With the Yanks losing to Billy Pierce and Chicago, 7 – 1, the Indians and Yankees are tied for first place. This is the 10th time the two teams have been in a tie for first place, surpassing the major-league record of nine set in the National League race of 1889 and the Federal League race of 1914.

September 18, 1951

In St. Louis, the Cardinals cuff Ralph Branca for a 7 – 1 win over the Dodgers. It is Brooklyn’s fourth loss in seven road games. Adding insult to injury, Stan Musial and Enos Slaughter pull off a double steal with Stan scoring.

September 18, 1951

In the first of two games today, Browns pitcher Tommy Byrne hits a grand slam off the Senators’ Sid Hudson in the 9th inning to ice the game, 8 – 0. It’s the first grand slam for the Browns this year. In the nitecap, Byrne cracks a 10th-inning pinch single to give the Browns a 3 – 2 victory,

September 19, 1951

Indian Larry Doby walks five times in a 15-2 drubbing of the Red Sox when Early Wynn picks up his 20th victory. The intimidating right-hander, who will win exactly 300 games in a 23-year big league career, will post 20 or more wins in five of those seasons.

September 19, 1951

At Wrigley Field, the Phils’ Bubba Church (15-10) defeats the Cubs, 5 – 1, for his 10th win in a row over the Cubs in his two years with Philadelphia. Bob Rush takes the loss.

September 19, 1951

In St. Louis, Preacher Roe is given a Cadillac by his neighbors from the Ozarks, then pitches a 3 – 0 five-hitter over the Cards. Roe is now 21-2. Filling in for the ailing Roy Campanella, backup catcher Mickey Livingston has two RBI.

September 19, 1951

The Yankees are victorious when Mickey Mantle hits a three-run homer off Chicago’s Lou Kretlow to win, 5 – 3. A small crowd of 12,127 watch the game at the Stadium. The two teams have been tied now for 11 days. The Yanks now have nine games left, eight against Boston.

September 20, 1951

Ford Frick, replacing “Happy” Chandler, is selected by the owners to be the third commissioner of the sport.

September 21, 1951

In his major league debut, Cardinals hurler Jack Collum throws a two-hit shutout against the Cubs at Sportsman’s Park, 6-0. The rookie southpaw developed a natural screwball due to losing part of his index finger in a farm accident.

September 21, 1951

In Brooklyn, the Dodgers keep a woozy Roy Campanella on the bench, preferring to rest him for the World Series. Rookie Clem Labine ignores Charlie Dressen’s orders to take a full windup, preferring to pitch out of the stretch with the bases jammed in the 1st. Phils 3B Willie Jones then hits a grand slam and Labine ends up in Dressen’s doghouse. The Phils win, 9 – 6, behind Robin Roberts.

September 23, 1951

In New York, it is Sal Maglie Day and Maglie responds by winning his 22nd game in beating the Braves, 4 – 1, despite allowing 13 hits. It is the most victories by a Giant since Carl Hubbell in 1937.

September 23, 1951

Pittsburgh’s Murry Dickson wins his 20th game, a 3 – 0 whitewash of the Reds. Dickson’s 20 wins will account for nearly a third of the Pirates’ 64 victories, and help the Bucs finish a game ahead of the last-place Cubs.

September 23, 1951

Roy Campanella has four hits, including a homer off 15-game winner Bubba Church, and the Dodgers top the Phillies, 6 – 3. Preacher Roe is the winner, his record going to an amazing 22-2.

September 24, 1951

1951 – The Giants score with two outs in the 9th inning to edge the Braves’ Chet Nichols, 4 – 3. Eddie Stanky drives home the winner with a single off 3B Sibby Sisti’s glove. Dave Koslo wins in relief.

September 25, 1951

At Crosley Field, Reds catcher Johnny Pramesa clouts a grand slam in the 14th inning to defeat the Cardinals, 7 – 3.

September 25, 1951

The Dodgers continue to slide. After Brooklyn lost two out of three in Philadelphia, Boston sweeps two from them. Warren Spahn wins the opener, 6 – 3, over Ralph Branca, his 4th straight loss, and Jim Wilson coasts to a 14 – 2 three-hit win in the second game. Earl Torgeson drives in 6 runs in the nitecap. Meanwhile, the Giants win, 5 – 1, over Robin Roberts and the Phils to move a single game back of the Dodgers.

September 26, 1951

The Giants stay one game behind the Dodgers as Jim Hearn tops the Phillies and the Dodgers crush the Braves, 15 – 5

September 27, 1951

Gabe Paul replaces the newly elected National League President Warren Giles as GM of the Cincinnati Reds.

September 27, 1951

Monte Irvin clouts a 3-run homer in the 1st inning off Phils righty Andy Hansen and Larry Jansen picks up his 21st win, 10 – 1.

September 27, 1951

Preacher Roe loses just his 3rd game, 4 – 3 and the Dodgers now lead New York by half a game and Bill Sharman becomes the only man in history to be thrown out of a major league baseball game without ever having played in one

September 27, 1951

Bill Sharman, recently called up from Fort Worth, is one of 15 Dodgers who are ejected by umpire Frank Dascoli for bench jockeying after a close call at home plate. The future basketball Hall of Famer will never play in the big leagues, and thus he will become the only player to be ejected from a major league game without ever appearing in one.

September 28, 1951

Allie Reynolds of the New York Yankees hurls his second no-hitter of the season

September 29, 1951

Don Newcombe becomes the first black to win twenty games in a season

September 30, 1951

Jackie Robinson hits an upper-deck home run in the 14th inning off Robin Roberts to give the Dodgers a critical 9 – 8 win over the Phils

September 30, 1951

Larry Jansen of the Giants holds on to defeat the Braves 3 – 2 in Boston as Bobby Thomson hits his 30th home run of the year, and Don Mueller and Monte Irvin each drive home a run.

September 30, 1951

Preceding the Browns’ season closer, the Harlem Globetrotters defeat a team led by baseball clown Max Patkin. The basketball game is played on a wooden court set up behind third base. Then St. Louis ace Ned Garver cops his 20th game of the season, defeating the White Sox, 9 – 5. Garver becomes the only player to win 20 for a last-place team that loses 100 games, as the Browns win just 32 other times.

September 30, 1951

The triumphant Yankees beat the Red Sox, 3 – 0, behind Spec Shea’s 9-hitter. It is the third shutout in a row for the Yankees staff as they sweep the visiting Red Sox in five games, outscoring them 29 – 4.

September 30, 1951

The Tigers drive over the slumping Tribe, 2 – 1, behind Virgil Trucks’ 13th win of the year.

October 1, 1951

The Giants and Dodgers play the first Nationally Televised Game

October 3, 1951

Harry Caray and Mel Allen named top play by play men

October 3, 1951

Cookie Lavagetto and Ralph Branca and after the Shot Heard ‘Round the World, October 3, 1951.

October 3, 1951

The Shot Heard Round The World

October 4, 1951

In the opening game of the World Series, the first all-black outfield in major league history makes its appearance

October 5, 1951

Mickey Mantle’s season comes to an immediate end when he severely injures his right knee

October 9, 1951

Gil McDougald becomes the third player in World Series history to hit a grand slam in 13-1 rout

October 10, 1951

Yankees win their 14 World Series Title

October 20, 1951

Joe DiMaggio accompanies Lefty O’Doul’s All-Stars on a tour of Japan. They will win 13 of the 15 games played.

October 23, 1951

The Associated Press selects Giants skipper Leo Durocher as the Manager of the Year. Under his leadership, the Giants rallied from a 13 1/2-game deficit in mid-August to win the pennant, beating the Dodgers in a three-game playoff series best remembered for Bobby Thomson’s fabled home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of the deciding game at the Polo Grounds.

October 24, 1951

Former Reds and Dodger owner Larry MacPhail suggests there should be four new major leagues, including one located on the West Coast. The innovative baseball executive, responsible for introducing night baseball and commercial air travel, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1978.

October 28, 1951

The Red Sox trade catcher Les Moss and Tom Wright for Gus Niarhos and outfielder Ken Wood

November 1, 1951

Future Hall of Famer Roy Campanella (.325, 33, 108) wins the first of his three National League MVP Awards. The Dodger backstop will also receive the prestigious honor in 1953 and 1955.

November 2, 1951

National Labor Relations Board files unfair labor practices charges against the Cleveland Indians

November 6, 1951

1951 – Brooklyn Dodgers president Walter O’Malley denies that his minor league team system constitutes a monopoly. He cites the Dodgers’ deficit in 1950.

November 7, 1951

Representative Emanuel Celler’s committee finds multi million dollar difference from Walter O’Malley’s numbers

November 8, 1951

Yogi Berra wins his first of three MVP awards

November 10, 1951

1951 – In Tokyo, 50,000 fans are on hand as an American All-Star team battles a Central League All-Star team. Joe DiMaggio hits a 400-foot home run in the 8th inning to tie the game at 1 – 1, then his brother Dom laces an RBI triple in the 9th and later scores to give the Americans a 3 – 2 victory. The Americans have won 12 games and tied one.

November 13, 1951

Lefty O’Doul’s All-Stars lose 3 – 1 to a Pacific League All-Star team for the second time in history

November 15, 1951

The Baseball Writers Association of America name Gil McDougald and Willie Mays Rookie of the year

November 18, 1951

Former Chicago Cubs first baseman “The Rifleman” Chuck Connors becomes the first player to refuse to participate in the major league draft

November 20, 1951

Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues sign a 17-year-old infielder named Henry Aaron

November 23, 1951

1951 – The New York Yankees send young catcher Clint Courtney to the St. Louis Browns for pitcher Jim McDonald. Courtney, the first major league catcher to wear eyeglasses, has appeared in one game for New York.

November 27, 1951

1951 – The St. Louis Browns send C Sherm Lollar, P Al Widmar and IF Tom Upton to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for C Gus Niarhos, P Dick Littlefield, 1B Gordon Goldsberry, SS Joe DeMaestri and OF Jim Rivera. Rivera, a favorite of Browns manager Rogers Hornsby, will return to the Sox in eight months.

November 28, 1951

1951 – The St. Louis Browns trade C Gus Niarhos, acquired yesterday, along with OF Ken Wood to the Boston Red Sox for C Les Moss and OF Tom Wright. The Browns also sign shortstop Marty Marion, former St. Louis Cardinals manager.

December 5, 1951

Joe Jackson dies at the age of 62

December 8, 1951

1951 – The American League alters its restrictions on night games, adopting the National League’s suspended game rule and lifting its ban on lights for Sunday games.

December 10, 1951

The Reds trade C Smoky Burgess, 2B Connie Ryan and P Howie Fox to the Phillies for C Andy Seminick, infielder Eddie Pellagrini, OF Dick Sisler and P Niles Jordan. The Reds will regret letting the burly catcher go and will reacquire him, again exchanging Seminick, in three years.

December 10, 1951

The Cards trade lefty Max Lanier and OF Chuck Diering to the Giants for 2B Eddie Stanky, who becomes the team’s player-manager.

December 11, 1951

Joe DiMaggio announces his retirement

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