Wall Street Journal quotes players Monte Irvin, Sal Yvars and Al Gettel, three former members of the 1951 New York Giants, as admitting that they stole catchers’ signs at the Polo Grounds to help the club overtake the 13 1/2-game lead of the Brooklyn Dodgers and win the National League pennant

Wall Street Journal quotes players Monte Irvin, Sal Yvars and Al Gettel, three former members of the 1951 New York Giants, as admitting that they stole catchers’ signs at the Polo Grounds to help the club overtake the 13 1/2-game lead of the Brooklyn Dodgers and win the National League pennant

2001 – A story in The Wall Street Journal quotes players Monte Irvin, Sal Yvars and Al Gettel, three former members of the 1951 New York Giants, as admitting that they stole catchers’ signs at the Polo Grounds to help the club overtake the 13 1/2-game lead of the Brooklyn Dodgers and win the National League pennant. Except for Yvars, all the participants will deny using the system during the three-game playoff with the Dodgers. According to the report, Bobby Thomson, whose three-run, ninth-inning home run in Game Three of the playoff won the pennant for the Giants, did not, however, steal a sign before hitting his historic home run.

Johnny LeMaster becomes the second player to hit an inside-the-park home run in his first major league at-bat
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Johnny LeMaster becomes the second player to hit an inside-the-park home run in his first major league at-bat

Johnny LeMaster becomes the second player to hit an inside-the-park home run in his first major league at-bat, dashing around the bases on a fourth-inning pitch thrown by Don Sutton in the Giants’ 7-3 win over LA at Candlestick Park. The San Francisco shortstop joins Luke Stuart, who accomplished the feat at the Polo Grounds while playing for the 1921 Browns.

In the Polo Grounds’ final game, Mets lose to Phillies 5-1
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In the Polo Grounds’ final game, Mets lose to Phillies 5-1

In the Polo Grounds’ final game, played in front of a paltry 1,752 patrons, Jim Hickman of the Mets hits the last home run in the 52-year history of the Coogan’s Bluff ballpark. The iconic stadium, which served as the home of the Giants (1911-1957), Yankees (1913-1922), and Mets (1962-63), first opened its doors on June 28, 1911.

At the Polo Grounds, Pete Rose hits the first pitch of the game from Jay Hook for a homer. It’s the only score as the Reds win, 1 – 0. Jim Maloney strikes out 13 Mets in the win.

At the Polo Grounds, Pete Rose hits the first pitch of the game from Jay Hook for a homer. It’s the only score as the Reds win, 1 – 0. Jim Maloney strikes out 13 Mets in the win.

At the Polo Grounds, Pete Rose hits the first pitch of the game from Jay Hook for a homer. It’s the only score as the Reds win, 1 – 0. Jim Maloney strikes out 13 Mets in the win.

Jim Hickman hits a walk off grandslam ending his lossing streak at 18 games

Jim Hickman hits a walk off grandslam ending his lossing streak at 18 games

One loss shy of tying the major league record of 19 consecutive defeats, Roger Craig switches his uniform number to 13 in an attempt to change his luck. The move appears to work when Jim Hickman lofts a short fly ball in the ninth inning with two outs and the bases-full in a tie game, that just ticks the upper-deck overhang in left field at the Polo Grounds for a walk-off grand slam, giving the Mets an improbable 7-3 victory over the Cubs.

New York Mets vs Pittsburgh Full Radio Broadcast (Kiner, Murphy, Clemente)

New York Mets vs Pittsburgh Full Radio Broadcast (Kiner, Murphy, Clemente)

July 6, 1963 At Polo Grounds, the Pittsburgh Pirates scored seven runs in the eighth inning and pushed the New York Mets to their ninth consecutive loss tonight, 11 to 3. Bill Virdon’s three-run homer was the deciding hit against Loser Al Jackson and Rookie Larry Bearnarth. Nine Pirates batted before the first out was…

Snider hits walk off for the Mets

Snider hits walk off for the Mets

    June 7, 1963 New York Mets Duke Snider hits a three-run walk-off home run to give the Mets a 3-2 win over the Cardinals at the Polo Grounds.     @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=”…

Mays hits titanic blast @ Polo Grounds – his last homerun at his former home propels Giants into first place

Mays hits titanic blast @ Polo Grounds – his last homerun at his former home propels Giants into first place

On May 5 1963, at the Polo Grounds Willie Mays hits his final home run in the old ballpark, a titanic 3 runs blast in the first inning. Helping the Giants to a 6-3 win. Jack Sanford improves to 5-1. May’s blast helps propel the Giants into first place.  The end of an era! Marv…