The Cards Played the Giants and Braves -- the Same Day
by Harold Friend
On September 13, 1951, the New York Giants, on the way to the Miracle at Coogan’s Bluff, were rained out of their getaway game with the Cardinals. The original National League schedule had both teams off the next day, and since this was the Giants’ last visit to St. Louis, an afternoon game was arranged. It sounds routine, but the Cardinals had already scheduled a make up game against the Braves for that night.
Commissioner Ford Frick Gave His Permission
Giants’ owner Horace Stoneham objected to the Cardinals’ playing two teams the same day, which seems strange since the arrangement would strain the Cardinals’ pitching staff, but Commissioner Ford Frick gave St. Louis permission to play a doubleheader -- one game each against different teams.
The Last Time It Happened in the National League
The last time a National League team played such a double header was in 1883, and the Giants were also involved. On July 4, 1883, the Giants, then called the Maroons, played games against Boston and Providence. Of course, they were both day games.
The Cardinals Split
On September 14, the Cardinals beat the Giants, 6-4, routing 20 game winner Sal Maglie, before 4,160 fans. The loss dropped the Giants 6 games behind Brooklyn. In the night game, Warren Spahn stopped St. Louis almost completely as he held the Redbirds offense to a sixth inning single by opposing pitcher Al Brazle. Spahn won his 20th game, facing only 29 batters in a 2-0 Boston victory.
Why Give Away a Game?
In 1951, teams played a doubleheader almost every Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day. Day-night doubleheaders requiring a paid admission for each game were extremely rare. In 2007, teams almost never play scheduled doubleheaders. Why give away a game? Instead, when the need arises, teams play day-night twin bills, forcing fans to pay to see each game. At Yankee Stadium, the parking lots are emptied and fans must re-enter and pay the parking fee again for the second game.
The Tigers and the Yankees
The Giants wanted to play the game because there was no guarantee, even if the pennant were at stake, that the game would be made up. In 1935, Detroit played 151 games, going 93-58. There were three scheduled games they never played. The Yankees played 149 games, going 89-60. They had five games that were never played. If the Tigers lost their three unplayed games, they would have 61 losses. If the Yankees won all of their unplayed games, they would have won the pennant by one game.
No Bobby Thomson Home Run
Such situations do not occur today. Instead, there is the possibility of a playoff game to determine a division winner or to determine the wild card. Of course, if two teams tie for a division title, as the Yankees and Red Sox did in 2005, head to head competition determines the division winner and there is no need for a playoff game. If that were the case in 1951, Brooklyn would have won the pennant by virtue of their 13-9 edge over the Giants. Bobby Thomson and Ralph Branca would be no more renown than Henry Thompson and Erv Palica.
References:
"Cards Play Giants and Braves Today." New York Times. 13 September 1951, p. 41.
Sheehan, Joseph M. "Cards Halt Polo Grounders, 6-4, Routing Maglie in 6-Run Second." New York Times. 14 September 1951, p. 29.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/
On September 13, 1951, the New York Giants, on the way to the Miracle at Coogan’s Bluff, were rained out of their getaway game with the Cardinals. The original National League schedule had both teams off the next day, and since this was the Giants’ last visit to St. Louis, an afternoon game was arranged. It sounds routine, but the Cardinals had already scheduled a make up game against the Braves for that night.
Commissioner Ford Frick Gave His Permission
Giants’ owner Horace Stoneham objected to the Cardinals’ playing two teams the same day, which seems strange since the arrangement would strain the Cardinals’ pitching staff, but Commissioner Ford Frick gave St. Louis permission to play a doubleheader -- one game each against different teams.
The Last Time It Happened in the National League
The last time a National League team played such a double header was in 1883, and the Giants were also involved. On July 4, 1883, the Giants, then called the Maroons, played games against Boston and Providence. Of course, they were both day games.
The Cardinals Split
On September 14, the Cardinals beat the Giants, 6-4, routing 20 game winner Sal Maglie, before 4,160 fans. The loss dropped the Giants 6 games behind Brooklyn. In the night game, Warren Spahn stopped St. Louis almost completely as he held the Redbirds offense to a sixth inning single by opposing pitcher Al Brazle. Spahn won his 20th game, facing only 29 batters in a 2-0 Boston victory.
Why Give Away a Game?
In 1951, teams played a doubleheader almost every Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day. Day-night doubleheaders requiring a paid admission for each game were extremely rare. In 2007, teams almost never play scheduled doubleheaders. Why give away a game? Instead, when the need arises, teams play day-night twin bills, forcing fans to pay to see each game. At Yankee Stadium, the parking lots are emptied and fans must re-enter and pay the parking fee again for the second game.
The Tigers and the Yankees
The Giants wanted to play the game because there was no guarantee, even if the pennant were at stake, that the game would be made up. In 1935, Detroit played 151 games, going 93-58. There were three scheduled games they never played. The Yankees played 149 games, going 89-60. They had five games that were never played. If the Tigers lost their three unplayed games, they would have 61 losses. If the Yankees won all of their unplayed games, they would have won the pennant by one game.
No Bobby Thomson Home Run
Such situations do not occur today. Instead, there is the possibility of a playoff game to determine a division winner or to determine the wild card. Of course, if two teams tie for a division title, as the Yankees and Red Sox did in 2005, head to head competition determines the division winner and there is no need for a playoff game. If that were the case in 1951, Brooklyn would have won the pennant by virtue of their 13-9 edge over the Giants. Bobby Thomson and Ralph Branca would be no more renown than Henry Thompson and Erv Palica.
References:
"Cards Play Giants and Braves Today." New York Times. 13 September 1951, p. 41.
Sheehan, Joseph M. "Cards Halt Polo Grounders, 6-4, Routing Maglie in 6-Run Second." New York Times. 14 September 1951, p. 29.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/
posted by Yankee27us at
9/25/2007
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