50 years ago today...

[Jersey Yankee]

Bobby Thompson and Ralph Branca (http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/01/sports/baseball/01SHOT-INDEX.html). I wasn't there but if anyone else was or remembered where they were back then, I hope they can discuss that moment.

JY

[jiffyjeff]

you were there, you just don't remember

[Jersey Yankee]

Originally posted by jiffyjeff
you were there, you just don't rememberYeah, right. I wish I were there. Ralph Branca and Bobby Thomson are still around making comments about the most famous moment in baseball history, of which there were countless.

And to think those Damned Yankees still beat the Giants to win the 1951 WS. You won't get me away from that flip side of the coin no matter how hard you try.

JY

[Sixty one]

On Oct. 4th 1951, the Yankees and Giants opened the world series at Yankee stadium. The Giants fresh from their incredible victory over the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in the first game. However, the Yanks rebounded and won the series in six games. It was to be the last series for the Yankee Clipper who even had a homerun and the first for the Mick who was to get injured -his knee- protecting Dimag. Mickey never had the speed he exhibited running after that knee injury. It was also a pretty good series for the Scooter who was in his prime. He even hit a homerun!

[Jersey Yankee]

Sixty one, thanks for the info. So Mick was a speed demon in the regular season? I'd always wondered about this WS, since it was Joe D's last and Mick's rookie year and 1st WS. Reminds me of Jete a little bit. Any more info to offer, feel free to elaborate all you want, muse, whatever. I'm all ears, pal!!!

[Sixty one]

Thanks for the response Jersey! By the way, I also hail from the great Garden State. !951 also saw the debut of another rookie with the Yankees that doesn't get the attention that the Mick gets....namely Gil McDougal. He had a wierd but successful batting stance. If you ever see it on film you'll know what I mean. He had a great rookie year and I believe may have hit a grandslam in that series. I haven't looked it up so I'm not positive. He had a great career with the pinstripes playing a regular at 2nd, 3rd, and shortstop during his tenure. Unfortunately, he is best remember for being the batter that hit Herb Score in the eye thus shortening his great career. I don't think Gil was the same after that. By the way, I believe he still lives in NJ!

[Jersey Yankee]

Sixty one, no problem, I'm always all ears. Of course at times I become all mouth, but it goes with the territory, I guess. :lol::lol::lol:

I actually moved to Jersey less than a year ago, so I adopted the title to get myself used to it. I'm actually a Noo Yawka who used to call people on the other side of the Hudson "Joisey Bums", but real estate prices got the best of me so I'm here. :);)

Interesting story on Gil McDougald (http://www.baseballreference.com/m/mcdougi01.shtml), though I'll admit very well I never knew him at all. The only other '51 starter I'm familiar with was the ROY, the Say Hey Kid, #24 with the Giants.

I never knew much about Herb Score (http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/scorehe01.shtml) either but let me know more about his career. I never followed the history as well as I should've so any bit of information helps.

Thanks a lot.

[Sixty one]

I'm glad to hear that you are getting used to Jersey! Herb Score was a great lefthander who pitched for the Indians in the 50's. I think it was 1956 or 57 when Gil hit him with a line drive off his bat in a night game. Score was never the same after that. Herb Score was probably the Sandy Koufax of the 50's. I believe he became a broadcaster with Cleveland after his career ended and retired only a few years ago.
By the way, did you know that Bobby Thompson...."shot heard round the world"..lives in Watchung, NJ? Also, try to find a film of that series just to see the wierd but successful stance that Gil McDougal used in 1951. He later changed his stance and played until , I believe 1960, all with the pinstripers.:P :NY: :NY: :NY: :NY: :NY:

[Jersey Yankee]

Sixty one, sorry for getting back so late, but I very much appreciate all this additional info. This gives me so many projects of reading during the offseason, I'll definitely have to hit the baseball vids. One more thing to look towards, so thanks so much & I'll see you later.