Dick Stuart’s two-run, tie-breaking 450-foot unmanned expedition to Waveland Avenue puts Pittsburgh in the winner’s circle, 4 – 2, over the Chicago Cubs.

Dick Stuart’s two-run, tie-breaking 450-foot unmanned expedition to Waveland Avenue puts Pittsburgh in the winner’s circle, 4 – 2, over the Chicago Cubs.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Dick Stuart’s two-run, tie-breaking 450-foot unmanned expedition to Waveland Avenue puts Pittsburgh in the winner’s circle, 4 – 2, over the Chicago Cubs. Stuart’s clout, in conjunction with an earlier two-run blast by Bill Mazeroski, helps boost the surging Bucs to their 20th win in 28 tries, moving them from last place on July 22nd to third place today, making up eight games on the floundering Giants in the process. Roberto Clemente’s stellar defense keeps the Cubs’ bats at bay. Cubs’ beat writer Richard Dozer writes: “The Cubs couldn’t get an offensive menace started, due largely to the Pirates’ right fielder, Roberto Clemente. He made two sensational catches: one acrobatic catch of Bobby Thomson’s liner in the 4th inning and one in the 8th inning to rob Walt Moryn of a single that would have sent Ernie Banks to third with no one out. Clemente also threw out Dale Long, who was attempting to move from first to third on Sam Taylor’s single in the 2nd inning and it was speedy Roberto’s single in the 6th that preceded Stuart’s 450-foot home run.”

Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente, tit for tat. Having had his birthday thunder stolen by Clemente earlier this year, Mays returns the favor, or tries to. The game actually comes one day after Clemente’s birthday. the Giants’Mays hits a solo homer in the 3rd to put Pittsburgh in a 2 – 0 hole, but Clemente then contributes a big blow to a decisive three-run rally that puts Pittsburgh ahead to stay. This time, while not a 430-foot triple over Mays’s head, it’s a similarly-sized blast – “a tremendous wallop,” to quote the Pittsburgh Press, “over the left-center wall.”

ByBaseball

Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente, tit for tat. Having had his birthday thunder stolen by Clemente earlier this year, Mays returns the favor, or tries to. The game actually comes one day after Clemente’s birthday. the Giants’Mays hits a solo homer in the 3rd to put Pittsburgh in a 2 – 0 hole, but Clemente then contributes a big blow to a decisive three-run rally that puts Pittsburgh ahead to stay. This time, while not a 430-foot triple over Mays’s head, it’s a similarly-sized blast – “a tremendous wallop,” to quote the Pittsburgh Press, “over the left-center wall.”

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

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

ByThis Day in Baseball

On August 19, 1951, owner Bill Veeck sends three-foot, seven-inch Eddie Gaedel to bat for his St. Louis Browns. Gaedel, who had been signed by Veeck in perhaps his most famous publicity stunt, walks on four pitches from Detroit Tigers left-hander Bob Cain. Gaedel, who is removed for pinch-runner Jim Delsing, will be banned from…

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.

ByBaseball

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.

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.

ByBaseball

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.

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.

ByBaseball

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.

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.

ByTom

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.