On August 31, 1957 the New York Giants vs Brooklyn Dodgers August 31, 1957.Saturday, August 31, 1957,, Ebbets Field Attendance: 14,222, Time of Game: 2:38 Sal Maglie started for Brooklyn and Al Worthington for the Giants, neither figured in the final decision. According to Baseball Reference these were the top 5 plays of the…
New York Giants votes to move the franchise to San Francisco
1957 – Richie Ashburn, known for his ability to foul pitches off, hits spectator Alice Roth twice in the same at bat. The first one breaks her nose, and the second one hits her while she is being removed from her seat on a stretcher. Ironically, she is the wife of Earl Roth, the sports editor of the Philadelphia Bulletin. The Phils win, 3 – 1, over New York.
The Brooklyn Sports Authority gets an engineering report on a 50,000-seat stadium in the downtown area. It will cost an estimated $20.7 million, including the land site. Indications are that there will be trouble finding a market for the bond issue.
Horace Stoneham says that the Giants will quit New York after the season. He says he has not heard anything more from San Francisco and that his move is not contingent on that of the Dodgers. He sees a new stadium or joint occupancy with the Yankees as the only solution that could convince the Giants to stay in New York.
Forbes Field’s vast centerfield expanse provides the setting for one of Willie Mays’ greatest catches, coming at the expense of his young friend, admirer, protégé and rival, Roberto Clemente. Clemente hits a ball that seems headed towards a light tower in left center. The New York Times’s Roscoe McGowen recounts what happens next: “In the 1st inning, with two Pirates on base and one out, Roberto Clemente whacked a terrific drive toward the screen surrounding the light tower in left center field, more than 440 feet from home plate. Willie astonished the players, as well as the fans, by leaping high against the screen and making a glove-twisting catch. Most observers thought the ball had bounced off the screen.” Clemente then almost compounds his misfortune the following inning: “Clemente got into the catching act in the Giants’ 2nd inning. Going almost to the wall for Daryl Spencer’s long drive, Roberto saw the ball bounce out of his glove as he was making one of his ‘basket catches.’ But he snared the ball before it could drop to the ground.”
With a unanimous vote, National League owners grant permission to both the Dodgers and Giants to relocate their clubs to the West Coast if they so desire.
May 1, 1957- The Milwaukee Braves win 5-1 in 10 innings bs the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds. Frank Torre and Bobby Thomson hit home runs in the 10th inning off of John (Windy) McCall. Warren Spahn pitches a complete game and raises his record to 4-0.
The Giants trade right-hander Hoyt Wilhelm to the Cardinals for their former All-Star first baseman/outfielder Whitey Lockman. The knuckleballer will win only one of five decisions for the Redbirds before being selected off waivers by Cleveland in September, and New York’s newest infielder will spend two seasons with his old club, hitting .246 in 225 games over that span.
On January 5, 1957, Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers officially announces his retirement, voiding a recent trade to the rival New York Giants. In December, the Dodgers had dealt Robinson to the Giants for pitcher Dick Littlefield and $35,000. Giants vice-president Charles Feeney had offered Robinson a $60,000 contract. Citing problems with…