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

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

ByBaseball

“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.

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

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Pirates club the Dodgers, 12 – 11, to win the opener of two with the league leaders. Brooklyn chases Howie Pollet and takes a 9 – 2 lead but the Bucs roar back with eight runs in the 7th inning. Clyde King, unscored on in his last eight games, is the loser. The Dodgers load the bases in the 9th, and Murry Dickson walks pinch-hitter Cal Abrams to force in a run and make the score 12 – 11. But Carl Furillo and Pee Wee Reese fail to deliver. Pete Castiglione has two homers for the Pirates. Brooklyn wins the second game, 4 – 3, when Jackie Robinson homers in the 10th, off Ted Wilks. Andy Pafko homers in the 8th, off Bob Friend, and Preacher Roe (17-2) goes all the way.

Willie Mays makes a miraculous play in the 8th

Willie Mays makes a miraculous play in the 8th

ByBaseball

Giants P Jim Hearn defeats the Dodgers, 3 – 1, as Willie Mays makes a miraculous play in the 8th. With the score 1 – 1 and Billy Cox on third, Mays makes a running catch of a Carl Furillo drive in deep right center field and whirls counterclockwise to throw out the astonished Cox at home. Wes Westrum’s two-run homer off Ralph Branca in the 8th provides the two-run margin. Hearn allows just six hits, all singles, as the Giants move to 10 1/2 behind Brooklyn.

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

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

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Pirates’ Ralph Kiner drives in seven runs, hitting three home runs, including his 10th grand slam, in a 13 – 12 slugfest win over the Dodgers. His final homer, a solo shot off Erv Palica in the 8th, breaks a 12 – 12 tie. Manager Chuck Dressen berates Palica, publicly questioning the pitcher’s courage by clutching his throat in a choke signal. In Kiner’s final at bat, in the 9th, Carl Furillo pulls down the slugger’s long drive near the CF gate. Joe Garagiola and Gus Bell also homer for the Bucs, while Roy Campanella and Jackie Robinson homer for Brooklyn.

Gil Hodges of the Brooklyn Dodgers ties a major league record by piling up 17 total bases in a game
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Gil Hodges of the Brooklyn Dodgers ties a major league record by piling up 17 total bases in a game

ByThis Day in Baseball

  On August 31, 1950, In front of 14,226 fans at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn Dodger’s first baseman Gil Hodges became the fourth major league in the century to hit four home runs in a game. Lou Gehrig was the last player to accomplish this in 1932. Hodges, who also singles, breaks the modern major league…

Carl Furillo returns to the Dodgers’ lineup after an injury and has 2 hits and a run in a 2 – 1 win over the Giants

Carl Furillo returns to the Dodgers’ lineup after an injury and has 2 hits and a run in a 2 – 1 win over the Giants

ByBaseball

1949 – After pinch hitting yesterday‚ Carl Furillo returns to the Dodgers’ lineup after an injury and has 2 hits and a run in a 2 – 1 win over the Giants. Don Newcombe wins on a three-hitter. Furillo will hit .431 in the final 8 weeks of the season and finish at .322‚ fourth best in the National League.

Roy Campanella and Carl Furillo during a Montreal Royals and Brooklyn Dodgers

Roy Campanella and Carl Furillo during a Montreal Royals and Brooklyn Dodgers

ByThis Day in Baseball

    April 1, 1948 – Roy Campanella and Carl Furillo during a Montreal Royals and Brooklyn Dodgers exhibition game in Cuidad Trujillo, Dominican Republic – 1948. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Other Resources & Links   [et_pb_signup provider=”getresponse” getresponse_list=”Thomas Hannon|zs45L” success_action=”redirect” success_redirect_url=”https://thisdayinbaseball.com/join-the-community/” success_redirect_query=”on|off|off|off|off” title=”Baseball history from Doubleday to Present Day” button_text=”Join us!” description=” This Day In Baseball gives…