August 27, 1955 – In 11 innings at the Polo Grounds, the Braves completed a three-game sweep of the New York Giants on Danny O’Connell’s solo home run, his second of the game. It was the first time he hit two homers in a game.
Sandy Koufax, in his second big league start, two-hits the Reds at Ebbets Field, 7-0. The 19 year-old bonus baby, displaying the dominance that he will feature during the 1960’s, goes the distance, striking out 14 Cincinnati batters.
In the championship game of the Little League World Series, Schenectady, NY, defeats Colton, CA, 7 – 5. Future Cub 2B Ken Hubbs stars for Colton. This team later becomes the subject of a best-selling book by Martin Ralbovsky, Destiny’s Darlings.
In an 11 – 0 White Sox win, Chicago 3B Cass Michaels has his head fractured by a pitch from A’s Marion Fricano. Michaels is sidelined the rest of the year, and the injury will effectively end his 12-year major-league career.
August 27, 1953 – Three Braves minor leaguers from the Toledo Sox were named to the American Association All-Star team. They were pitcher Gene Conley, leading the Association with 21 wins; infielder Billy Klaus (#2); and outfielder Sam Jethroe (shown here scoring run).
The Dodgers set the National League mark for consecutive games with a double play when they complete a twin killing in their twenty-third straight contest, a 10-5 loss to Chicago at Wrigley Field. The fifth inning 1-4-3 DP, pitcher Clyde King to second baseman Jackie Robinson to first baseman Gil Hodges, leaves Brooklyn two shy of the major league record.
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.
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.
“The two fine Italian arms of Branca and Furillo had a no-hitter running for eight innings” writes columnist Dick Young; in the 3rd inning, Ralph Branca’s no-hitter seems broken by a one-hop shot to RF by pitcher Mel Queen, but Carl Furillo guns him out at first. Branca, pitching on two days rest, finally gives up two Pirate hits in the 9th before winning, 5 – 0. In the nitecap the Pirates jump on Erv Palica for three runs in the first inning and hold on for a 5 – 3 win behind Bill Werle and Vern Law. Clyde McCullough is the “Big Un” with a two-run double and a two-run homer. The Pirates continue to be the only team with a season edge on the Dodgers.
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.
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