The Dodger's of the 1950's and other teams as well, would often not play young talent against hitters they would hit well on. In fact, by keeping these players from
playing constantly, some would be .350 hitters, would hit .220. By making phenomenoms look mediocre, teams wouldn't lose minor leaguers they didn't have room for in the draft. This was the case for Brooklyn in the later half of the fifties. Roberto Clemente was not hitting well at all in the minors, but this was because he only played about a 1/3 of the season. Buzzi Bavasi and Walter O'Malley knew they would bring up Clemente soon to have a Snider, Furillo and Clemente outfield, but at this time Branch Rickey had left the Dodgers and was now working for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mr. Rickey remembered Clemente and got him in the draft. The Dodgers missed out on what would have been the best infield of all time.
In 1951, the New York Giants started their season in the cellar and stayed that way as the Dodgers were leading the league by quite a bit. The Dodgers, in fact, expected to clinch the pennant by early September. But then, suddenly the Giants went on an amazing winning streak in which they stole signs. At the end of the season, at improbable odds. The Dodgers and Giants were tied, so they set up a three game series to break the tie. The teams had each won one when it came down to the third game. Ralph Branca was pitching well and in the bottom of the ninth, he was up 4-1. At this point many fans had gone home, but suddenly three Giants got on base and Bobby Thomson got up and hit a homerun, which is henceforth known as "the shot heard round the world"
Larry French, a pitcher for the Cubs in the 1930's, was in an extra-inning game with the Brooklyn Dodgers. There was a man on second, Frenchy Bordagaray, and he was so nervous he wouldn't lead off and was tapping his toe against the bag. Amazingly, Larry French picked him off. When asked by the infamous Casey Stengel, who was managing Brooklyn, "You were practically standing on the base, tapping it witb your toe. How did he get you out?" He responded, "I dunno. He must have gotten me between taps."
When I was going over the 1919 White Sox Scandal, I found that Comiskey would do things that were so cheap. He promised the Sox that if they won the pennant they would get a bonus. So they won and Comiskey was lavishly celebrating up above the field, spending a lot of money (bribery) on the press. Meanwhile the Sox get a cheap case of flat champagne and that turns out to be their bonus. So say it with me now...
Comiskey Stinks!!!!
