September 30, 1954 Once again, the visitors started quickly but could not hold their lead. Al Smith’s leadoff home run off Johnny Antonelli put Cleveland up 1–0. Early Wynn preserved that lead, pitching four perfect innings, but in the fifth inning, Willie Mays walked and Hank Thompson singled, and Dusty Rhodes, again pinch-hitting for Monte…
In a game which will be best remembered for Willie Mays making a spectacular over-the-shoulder grab of a ball hit to deep to center field, robbing Vic Wertz of an extra-base hit, Dusty Rhodes becomes the second player in World Series history to end a game with a homer. The Giants pinch-hitter’s walk-off three-run home run off Bob Lemon beats the Indians 5-2 in Game 1 of the Fall Classic.
On April 2, 1952, New York Giants star Monte Irvin breaks his ankle sliding into third base during an exhibition game against the Cleveland Indians. The injury will force the slugging outfielder to miss most of the 1952 season.
In the opening game of the World Series, the first all-black outfield in major league history makes its appearance when Monte Irvin, Willie Mays, and Hank Thompson take the field for the Giants at Yankee Stadium. Leo Durocher, in a curious move, replaces the previously injured outfielder Don Mueller in right field with Hank Thompson, a third baseman by trade, and uses veteran outfielder Bobby Thomson at the hot corner.
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.
In game one at Cincinnati, Willie Mays steals the first of 338 bases. Then pitcher Willie Ramsdell picks him off second base. But the Giants win, 3 – 1, behind Sal Maglie. New York takes the nitecap as well, 6 – 4, as Monte Irvin (2) and Mays both swipe bases.
Monte Irvin clubs two homers off Ralph Branca as the Giants edge the Dodgers, 5 – 4. The second homer, a three-run shot in the 8th, gives the win to reliever Sheldon Jones. The Dodgers now lead the Giants by five games.
On July 8, 1949, Monte Irvin and Hank Thompson, brought up from Jersey City three days earlier, become the first black players for the New York Giants. Irvin walks in a pinch-hitting appearance in the 8th for Clint Hartung, while Thompson goes hitless in a 4-3 loss to Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The game marks…
1949 – The New York Giants sign their first black players: Negro League players Monte Irvin and Ford Smith. Both men are assigned to the Jersey City Giants (International League). Irvin will star for the Giants, but Smith will never make the major leagues.
On February 25, 1919, future Hall of Famer Monte Irvin is born in Columbia, Alabama. Playing in the Negro leagues during his prime, talented Monte Irvin made it to the majors in 1949 with the Giants. Despite his years in the shadows, Irvin still enjoyed a fine career, finishing among league leaders in many offensive…
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