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1963 - Baseball Clip - 1950s Braves Milwaukee Braves - Radio Highlights · Retro Sports Radio: Classic Games from History

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This is Retro Sports Radio. Visit RetroSeasons
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.com for more sports history. Get them Braves.
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This is Earl Gillespie, along with my smiling
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sidekick, Blaine Walsh, inviting you to join
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us in recapturing the spine -tingling excitement
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of Milwaukee Braves baseball, the many memorable
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moments which have provided thrill after thrill
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for you fans. And it is to you, the loyal Milwaukee
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Braves fans, that this nostalgia -packed album
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is enthusiastically dedicated. Without your tremendous
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and consistent support, our Braves might never
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have risen to the great heights. Herein highlighted
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and brought back for you to keep forever. The
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Big Red Letter Day came on March 8th, 1953. The
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news spread like wildfire. Milwaukee had become
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Major League. Enthusiasm ran high. Civic celebrations,
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parades, and welcome demonstrations were the
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order of the day as impatient fans waited for
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their big moment. And what a moment it was. Milwaukee's
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first official Major League game. A tightly fought
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duel between the Cardinals and Braves in jam
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-packed Milwaukee County Stadium. An extra inning
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affair that saw the score tied at 2 -all as the
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Braves came up to bat on the last of the 10th.
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Do you remember? Will you ever forget? Here's
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Billy Bruton leading off for the Braves. Bullet
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Bill, outstanding young rookie center fielder.
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Jerry Staley on the mound for the Cardinals.
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Gets his side. Starts it on the windup. Here's
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the pitch. Billy cracks a long drive to deep
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right field. Back, back. Enos Slaughter racing
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back. Leaps high at the wall. The ball's off
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Slaughter's glove. Out of the ballpark. Bruton
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slides in the third. No, wait a minute. He's
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being waved back to second. It's a ground rule
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double. Whoops, here comes manager Charlie Grimm,
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waving his arms, arguing with umpire Lon Warnicke.
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Now the umpires are talking it over. Now Billy
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is being waved around. And it's a homer. Home
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run for Billy Bruton. The Braves win 3 -2. And
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that fantastic beginning keynoted a season of
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tremendous thrills and excitement. Spearheaded
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by unbelievable fan support. The charging Braves
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were thick in the pennant pursuit, along with
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the Dodgers, Cards, and believe it or not, the
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Philadelphia Phils. By June 3rd, the Braves led
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the league by a game and a half. Warren Spahn
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was enjoying a great year, which was to bring
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him 21 victories. But the big surprise was roly
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-poly Max Sirkant, who wrote a new record on
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May 25th. Remember that cold and rainy night?
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Max the Yaks really mowed down the Redlegs, fanning
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seven Reds in a row when play was halted for
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nearly 40 minutes. The delay failed to bother
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Big Max. When the game resumed, he promptly proceeded
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to strike out Andy Semenik to rack up a new record
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of eight strikeouts in a row. A big night to
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remember. Another big sensation was the buster
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from Santa Barbara, 21 -year -old Eddie Matthews.
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Off to a red -hot start, Matthews had 26 four
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-baggers halfway through the season, but he was
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still looking for a big first in the long ball
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department. Then, on July 12th, at Busch Stadium
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in St. Louis, it happened. Left -handed batter
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Eddie Matthews. Bases are loaded and one out.
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The pitch to Eddie, a ball that's outside. Ball
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one and no strike. Hal White. A right -hander
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warming up is going to be joined now by another
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right -hander. Ed Herod, I believe. Ed Herod.
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Two right -handers warming up for the Cardinals.
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The first edition of the Milwaukee Braves was
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a power -packed wrecking crew, and they put on
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one of the greatest blasting exhibitions in baseball
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history on August 20th in a Sunday doubleheader
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at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The Milwaukee
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Maulers belted 12 home runs to set a new National
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League record for homers in two consecutive games.
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Were you listening? Do you remember? Don't want
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to count on Adcock. Joe has nothing for three.
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The pitch is swing and drive back in the deep
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center field. Going back is Frank Thomas. Back
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on this ball. Back, back. Against the wall. 436
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feet. Here's the run scoring as Adcock runs second
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base on his way to third. And he is going to
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try to score. Here's the pipe coming in the home
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plate. He scores standing up. Holy cow. They're
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calling it a home run inside the park. And then
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came that record -breaking blow by our old friend,
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Sid Gordon. Besides Adcox and Gordon's blasts,
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Jim Pendleton and Eddie Matthews each hit for
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the circuit three times. Johnny Logan twice,
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and Jack Dittmer and Del Crandall once each.
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There were a lot of holy cows that day, Blainer.
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And how the fans loved their Braves. As the season
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drew to a close, Milwaukee and Wisconsin fans
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set a new all -time National League attendance
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mark of 1 ,826 ,397 patrons. So what if the Brooklyn
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Bums copped the pennant? Milwaukee had a special
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championship of its own. According to most baseball
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experts, without the enthusiasm of the fans,
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the Braves would not have achieved their fantastic
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climb from 7th place in 52 to their strong 2nd
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place finish in 53. Their first year in the beer
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and baseball capital of the world. The following
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year provided more and even bigger thrills for
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Braves fans who continue to jam County Stadium
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in unprecedented fashion. Well, the second chapter
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of the Milwaukee story was primarily one of injuries.
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Bobby Thompson, obtained in a big trade with
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the Giants, suffered a broken leg in a spring
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exhibition game. And popular Andy Pafko was beamed
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on opening day. And so it went all season long.
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Despite their miseries, the Braves put up a terrific
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battle and furnished some new and spectacular
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thrills, like this one, which took place on June
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12th. Remember? Here's the wind -up, and the
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3 -2 pitch, a swing, a line drive down the left
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field line, and it's a foul ball! Holy cow! That
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ball was fouled by about a foot. Willie Jones,
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lines one foul, just outside the line. And Jim
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Wilson is still standing on the threshold of
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a Hall of Fame. It's ball three and strike two.
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Two outs. ...on base here in the top half of
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the ninth inning. Milwaukee leading 2 -0. Jones
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takes his time coming back. That ball was fouled
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only by about a foot. A liner down the left field
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line. Ball three, strike two. Pendle gets down
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behind the plate, giving out a very important
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signal right now. Wilson wants a new baseball.
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Infield is set. The outfield is set. Playing
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Jones for a pull hitter. Ball three and strike
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two on Willie. Right -handed batter lifts his
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bat up over his head, loosening up his shoulders.
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Now Jim goes down to the rosin sack. Gives it
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a squeeze. Throws it down. Ball three and strike
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two. Two outs. Here's the windup. And the big
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pitch. A swing and a foul going upstairs to our
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right. And it's still 3 -2 on Willie Jones. Dan
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Schell is due to come up next. Jones backs out
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of the batter's box momentarily. Leans over to
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pick up a handful of dirt. Drives off his hand.
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It's been a hot day here on June the 12th. Temperature
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is 81 degrees. Here's the windup. And the 3 -2
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pitch. A swing and a grovels hit to the second
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baseman. Picks it up. There's the play. The first.
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And Jim Wilson pitches a no -hit. Jimmy Wilson
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has just entered the Hall of Fame with a no -hit
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game against the tough Philadelphia Phillies.
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Another memorable moment of 54 came on July 31st
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at historic Ebbets Field. Joe Adcock provided
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the thrills as he won on a batting binge, the
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like of which had never been seen. Was your set
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turned on when... Three home runs, a double,
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four runs scored, and six runs batted in for
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Joe. First pitch by Padres, the curveball is
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high and outside for the ball. Ball one and no
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strikes. The top half of the ninth inning is
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12 -6. Into the windup. The fastball swung on
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and drives back into the deep left center field.
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It's going back towards the wall. It's a home
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run. Joe Adcock has just tied a real major league
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record with his fourth home run today. What a
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one -man show by Jolton Joe. Adcock had also
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homered and doubled the day before. then maintained
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his extra base barrage by doubling the first
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time up the following day. And then came the
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beanball that sidelined the Cushota clubber for
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a number of days. And that was another in a string
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of injuries which included Eddie Matthews' split
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finger. Despite this run of hard luck, the Braves
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finished a creditable third, just seven and a
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half lengths behind the pennant -winning New
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York Giants. And again, Earl, it was the Braves
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fans themselves who accounted for one of the
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season's big highlights, breaking their own attendance
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record and showing up two million strong at County
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Stadium, the first time ever that a National
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League team clicked the turnstiles to the tune
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of two million. The 55 flag chase really started
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with a flourish. Were you a fan in the stands
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on that opening day which provided one of our
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greatest thrills? Remember how it went? The Braves
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trailed 2 -1 in the eighth, and the situation
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called for a pinch hitter for Warren Spahn. And
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thus it was that young Chuck Tanner made his
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Major League debut. Now let's see if Warren Spahn
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is coming out. I believe here comes Chuck Tanner.
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Chuck Tanner is going to bat. For the pitcher,
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Warren Spahn. A rookie up from Atlanta. Of the
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Southern Association, where he had a tremendous
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year. Chuck Tanner is making his first appearance
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in a major league ball game. He's an awfully
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nice shot. And a good hitter. He had a good spring.
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Chuck, who last year hit .323 at Atlanta with
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20 home runs and 101 runs batted in. A lieutenant
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swinger with one out of nobody on base. Jerry
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Staley, the right -hander, is ready. Here comes
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the first pitch, and Chuck swings at the line
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drive down the right field line, back towards
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the wall. Home run, his first time up in the
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Major League. How dramatic can things get? In
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55, Milwaukee was all agog over hosting his first
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All -Star game. And the Braves were well represented
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by Del Crandall, Warren Spahn, Johnny Logan,
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Ed Matthews, Henry Aaron, and lean, lanky Gene
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Conley. Do you recall Conley's memorable mound
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stint in the 12th inning? Two outs and nobody
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on base. Conley's first pitch to Al Rosen. Swung
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on and lane foul down the third baseline at strike
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one. The National League outfield playing deep
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and towards left for Al Rosen. Al was hampered
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quite a bit last year by an injury to one of
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his fingers. A strike one count. Five to five
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in the top half of the 12th inning. Conley leaning
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way over, getting his sign from Lopata. Strike
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one count. The pitch to Rosen. Curve misses inside.
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It's even up at ball one and strike one. Ball
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one, strike one. Shadows lengthening out here
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at Milwaukee County Stadium have now practically
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obliterated the infield. The wind -up on the
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one -and -one pitch. Rosen's trying to hold up
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on his swing. It's a strike, and it's one -and
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-two. Conley looks like he has that good curveball
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breaking for him this afternoon. As the American
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leaguers, the first three to face him here, have
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been reaching out for the pitch. Ball one, strike
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two. Two outs. Nobody on base. Rosen set on the
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batter's box. Straightaway stance. The pitch.
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Fastball is high and it's even up. Ball two,
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strike two. 5 -5 ball game. Ball two and a strike
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two counter. Now Rosen. Conley delivers. There's
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a swing and a miss and he's stuck out the side.
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There was no stopping the Dodgers that year,
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and they won going away by 13 and a half games.
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A significant note occurred at season's end with
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the signing of Fred Haney as coach for the coming
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year, a year which was to be marked by fun, frenzy,
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and finally, frustration. The big moment of 56
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came on June 17th when popular Jolly Chelly Grimm
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resigned and Fred Haney took over the managerial
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reins. Haney's debut was a dramatic one as the
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Braves dumped the Dodgers in a doubleheader.
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Again, Joe Adcock sets the pace with three homers,
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one of them a real tape measure job. Adcock.
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Big, powerfully built right -handed batter, and
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Ed Roebuck's first pitch is way inside, comes
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back to the screen, it's a ball. Ball one and
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no strike. Oh, one of no strikes to come on Joe
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Adcock. Outfield deep to the left. There's a
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swing and a long one. That was way, way up there
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and maybe on the roof. It's on the top of the
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roof here at Ebbets Field. Up over the roof at
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Ebbets Field, a double -deck. Boy, what a slam
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by Joe Adcock, and it's 5 -4. And I think that's
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the first time that's ever been done in the history
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of Ebbets Field. The Braves went on to take 11
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straight and became king of the hill. Bulwark
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of the Braves' surge was ageless Warren Spahn,
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who marked a major milestone midway in the final
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month of the campaign. Warren Spahn, the left
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-hander, stretches. The one -and -two pitch,
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a swing and a ground ball to the third baseman.
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The Pegas second base out. Over to first base,
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double play, and there are two out. A double
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play. Teddy Matthews to Danny O 'Connell to Joe
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Adcock. And that's the gamble a manager will
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take with his power hitter up there. And having
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him cut away, there's the danger of the double
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play ball, and then a hit into the double play.
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Third to second to first. Now here is right fielder
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Jim Greengrass, who homered in the second. Has
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ground it out twice and walked. The 56th race
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went right down to the wire, and on the second
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last day of the season, the Braves met the Cardinals
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in a must game. We came close. Oh, how we came
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close. But it was not to be. Remember how you
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felt the night of September 29th? At a very opportune
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time for the St. Louis Cardinals. As he lines
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a double to deep right center field. And that
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is only the fourth base hit off Warren Spahn.
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So St. Louis now has the winning run on second
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base. It only went away. The batter is third
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baseman Ken Boyer. And he is going to receive
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an intentional walk. A time is called. By the
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home plate umpire Frank Descoli. Boyer who. as
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one for four is receiving an intentional walk.
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It'll bring up the left fielder, Rip Rapolsky.
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Now we're ready to go. Time back in. First pitch
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high outside, ball one, as Moyer is receiving
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the intentional walk with first place open. Ball
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two. And ball four. So Spahn for the first time
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since the sixth inning is in real trouble. That's
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his second walk of the ball game. An 11 -1 third
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inning. That's an intentional walk. Musial's
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double forcing the walk. With Boyer up there.
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Now here is Rip Rapolsky. And Rapolsky has nothing
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for four. He has slide to right. Popped to the
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first baseman, grounded his short, and was safe
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on a fielder's choice. St. Louis runners at first
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and second base with one man out. The first pitch
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to Rapulski is high outside, a ball. 1 -1 in
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the last half of the 12th inning. Ball one and
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no strikes on Rapulski, Wally Moon on deck. New
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Zealand second base. Ken Boyer on first base.
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Spahn looks back over the left shoulder. The
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1 -0 pitch is swinging a ground ball at deep
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third. Gets off the leg of Eddie Matthews. Rolls
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in a foul territory. Here is the winning run
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scoring. And the ball game is over. And women
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might go to National League credit for 1956.
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Again, you fans showed your loyalty, turning
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up 20 ,000 strong to welcome back the boys from
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their ill -fated St. Louis jaunt. And on everyone's
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lips were the words, Wait till next year. The
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Hot Stove League blazed brightly that winter
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as both the Braves and U fans champed to the
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bit, waiting for the 57 season to roll around.
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The Braves started off in typical fashion behind
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the mound mastery of Lou Burdette. Burdett stretches,
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delivers a swing, a ground ball to the shortstop.
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Johnny Logan picks it up over to second base.
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The ball game is over. And Burdett just hurled
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a magnificent shutoff, duplicating his feat of
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1956 when he shut off the Chicago Cubs. Here
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in the ninth inning, for the Redlegs, no runs,
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one hit, no errors, and one man was left on base.
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As Wally Post forces Pete... wasn't it at second
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base, Logan to Danny O 'Connell. So the final
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score, Milwaukee won, Cincinnati nothing. The
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57 race was a real dogfight with no less than
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five teams hanging tough and tight. Again, the
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Braves were hard hit by injuries, but they had
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a golden touch in coming up with replacements.
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Hero of the year was an unknown from Wichita
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whose fabulous hitting spree kept the Braves
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pen and hopes alive. Remember him? Remember a
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guy called Hurricane Bob Hazel? Ball two, strike
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one. And he's been doing just that. And, of course,
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he has brought a smile and a big, wide smile
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to the face of our general manager, John Quinn.
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What is on first and second base with one out?
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The 2 -1 pitch, a swing and a drive back in the
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deep right center field, going back towards the
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wall. Back, back it is. A home run for Bob Hazel.
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to the right of it over the fence, a tremendous
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drive. He now has six runs batted in today, and
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Milwaukee has a 7 -0 lead. The hurricane continued
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to howl in fantastic fashion. Bob Hazel, left
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-handed batter, facing the right -handed Turk
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Lown. A one -and -two pitch, and it's just outside,
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ball two, at the end of. Six innings, Cincinnati
22:27
four, and the Cardinals one at the end of six.
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Ball two, strike two. The pitch, a swing and
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a drive, back in the right field, going back
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towards the wall, is Wally Moore, and it's a
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home run! Bobby Hazel just hit one out to give
22:53
the Braves the lead, eight to seven. With the
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hurricane blowing up a mighty storm, the Braves
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cyclone their way to a five -game lead late in
23:01
the season. Now it became a matter of magic numbers,
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a matter of not if, but when. Now the date is
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September 23rd, and the Cards are in town. What
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a spot for sweet revenge. The game hand -sweats
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its way into the 11th inning, and the hitter
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is hammering Hank Aaron. The pitch to Henry Aaron,
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a swing and a drive back into center field, going
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back towards the wall. It's back at that fence.
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And is it caught or not? It's a home run! The
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Braves are the champions of the National League!
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Henry Aaron just hit his 43rd home run of the
23:34
year! Holy cow! It was happy days for the Braves
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and their legions of loyal fans. And now the
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most delicious deal of all, the dream come true.
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The Braves playing in the World Series against
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the highly favored New York Yankees. Remember
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how the Yankees called us Bush and how we made
24:30
them eat their words? The hated Yanks took a
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one -game lead over the first three tussles.
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And then came that dramatic fourth game at County
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Stadium. The Yankees held a 5 -4 lead in the
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10th inning. Bob Grimm checks with Yogi Berra.
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Up on the rubber, goes into the stretch, arms
24:47
down. The 2 -0 pitch, a swing and a line drive
24:51
to left field. And now it's up to Eddie Matthews.
25:17
Here's the 2 -2 pitch. They swing and they drive
25:19
back into right field. Going back towards that
25:21
wall. It may be. It is a home run for Eddie Matthews.
25:26
The series seesawed to the seventh game and all
25:28
the chips were down. With only two days rest
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and the winner of two big victories, Lou Burdette
25:33
took the mound in place of flu -stricken Warren
25:36
Spahn. And again, Burdette was nothing less than
25:38
brilliant. The Braves forged ahead. Carson's
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ready. He fires and they swing a line drive to
25:45
right field. and is being waved around third
25:52
base. And then, Blainer, came that nerve -wracking
26:20
ninth inning. The Braves led 5 -0, but the ever
26:23
-dangerous Yankees staged a big threat. Faces
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are loaded. Bill Skowron, the batter, 5 -0. The
26:28
Braves lead. There's a swing and a foul back.
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One strike. Skowron, who just returned to the
26:34
lineup today, came on as a pinch hitter in the
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fifth inning, and he's remained in the ballgame
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at first base. He's 0 -2. The outfield around
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to the left. McDougal is on at third. Coleman
26:48
is on at second. Tommy Byrne, the base runner
26:51
at first. Hank Aaron is pulled around in left
26:53
center field. The breeze is blowing across from
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left to right. Burdett's pitch swung on. Line
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grabbed by Matthews. It's set from third. And
27:00
the World Series is over and the Milwaukee Braves
27:02
are the new world champions of baseball. And
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that was it. Baseball had a new world's champion
27:08
and Bedlam broke loose in Milwaukee. There was
27:11
dancing in the streets, and our town had the
27:13
world's happiest hangover. The Milwaukee Braves,
27:16
champions of the world. World champions. And
27:24
like Alexander of old, the Braves had no more
27:27
worlds to conquer. But in the great game of baseball,
27:30
each pennant chase is a brand new race. And your
27:32
Milwaukee Braves return to the wars in 58, determined
27:35
to make it two in a row. And once again, right
27:39
up in the front ranks was a young southpaw by
27:41
the name of Warren Spahn. Corner all the cliches
27:44
you can think of. Meal ticket, bellwether, stopper,
27:48
you name it, and Spahn -y is the answer. Take
27:51
the early part of the season, for example, when
27:53
Warren got the green light against his longtime
27:55
nemesis, those transported Dodgers. Count is
27:58
even now on the rookie outfielder, Chuck Esigian.
28:02
Ball two and strike two. One out here in the
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last half of the ninth inning. Runners on first
28:11
and third. A swing and a ground ball to the third
28:13
baseman. Here's the peg to second base out. Over
28:15
to first base. Double play and Warren Spahn's
28:17
got his shutout. A double play in the last half
28:20
of the ninth inning. And Warren Spahn just registered
28:23
his 42nd shutout in a brilliant Major League
28:26
career. Another repeat in the 58 pattern. The
28:30
Braves' penchant for powdering the ball to kingdom
28:32
come. Few thrills can match the excitement of
28:35
a clutch hit. And the Braves provided many a
28:37
thrill on many an occasion. Do you recall this
28:40
one when Del Crandall climbed off the bench in
28:42
a 3 -3 battle with the Redlegs? It's been an
28:45
uphill battle for the Braves. They reached it
28:47
now as they've tied the Redlegs. A swing, a line
28:49
drive down the left field line, back towards
28:51
the wall. It is a full run over the left field
28:54
fence. Or here's that man again, Joe Adcock,
29:00
coming up as a pinch hitter. Tying run at first
29:04
base. Here comes the next pitch to Joe. A swing
29:07
and a drive back into left center field. Going
29:09
back towards the wall. Back, back. Who ran for
29:12
Joe at second of all. Game is over. And when
29:16
the big guns weren't bombarding, one of the lesser
29:19
lights often came through to keep the pot a -boiling.
29:21
Remember a young fellow named Hannah Brink? This
29:24
one happened in St. Louis. Small wonder they
29:26
called him Hairbreadth Harry. Come on, Harry.
29:30
Straighten it out. Ball went in. Boy, he hit
29:32
that ball. on top of the double -deck and right
29:35
about 15 feet foul. Braves now have two runs
29:42
on seven hits. The Cardinals only two runs and
29:44
three hits. Score is tied at two and two. Ball
29:50
one strike, one count on Hannabrink. Pitch to
29:52
Harry. A swing and a high drive back in the right
29:55
center field. Right back towards the wall. Hold
29:58
on. And so it went throughout the 58th season.
30:04
A continuing series of injuries failed to halt
30:06
the Braves' pennant express. Bob Buell and Joey
30:09
Jay were derailed, but young Carl Willey came
30:11
up from Wichita to put the Braves back on the
30:14
track. And of course, there was always Spani,
30:16
who on September 13th racked up his 20th win
30:19
for the ninth time in his career, a feat never
30:23
before accomplished by a Southpaw in the entire
30:25
history of our national pastime. Then on September
30:28
21st, another memorable day for the Milwaukee
30:31
Braves and their rabid Rooters. Were you listening
30:34
when it happened? Ed Bailey, the last chance
30:36
now for the Redlegs. Deep in the batter's box.
30:40
Here's the 2 -2 pitch. There's a swing and a
30:42
drive in the right center field. Rooten going
30:44
over, so is Henry Aaron. Dilley is calling. The
30:47
ball game is over. The Braves win. The National
30:49
League pen up there. Gathered around Don McMahon
30:52
in the mound now as he retired the side in order
30:55
in the last half of the ninth inning. on a fly
30:58
ball to Billy Bruton in right center field here
31:01
in the last half of the night. Three up, three
31:02
down. No runs, no hits, no errors. Nobody left
31:05
on base, and our Milwaukee Braves, again, are
31:07
champions in the National League. As they leave
31:10
the playing area, they're getting a wonderful
31:11
ovation from the Cincinnati fans who probably
31:14
are yelling, go take those Yankees down. Yes,
31:18
the Braves made it two in a row as Spahn notched
31:20
his 21st win despite heading for an early shower.
31:24
And now, once again, the cry was heard. Bring
31:27
on the Yankees. Milwaukee County Stadium was
31:29
the scene of the series opener. And what a ding
31:32
-dong battle it was. Remember that eighth -inning
31:34
rally that put us back in the game? Runner on
31:36
first, none out. 2 -1 pitch. A swing and a drive
31:39
back into right field. Going back as Hank Fowler
31:42
towards the wall. He leaps! This one is out there
31:44
for extra bases. Eddie Matthews on his second
31:46
base, on his way to third. Aaron goes into second
31:49
base. The throw gets away from the shortstop,
31:51
Kubek, but it's picked up by Carey. Wes Covington
31:56
then came through with a sacrifice fly to tie
31:58
the game, and we headed for overtime. Then, in
32:02
the 10th inning... Dern tugs at the cap, now
32:04
digs in against the pitching rubber. There's
32:07
a look back toward the runner at second. Joe
32:09
Adcock, the stretch and the pause. A one -on
32:12
-one pitch. Swung on with the right... The second
32:23
game was a cakewalk for Lou Burdette, who aided
32:26
his own cause with a long home run, as the Braves
32:29
footballed their way to a 13 -5 margin. The scene
32:32
then shifted to the house that Ruth built, and
32:34
the Yanks bounced back to take the third game.
32:37
In the fourth, manager Fred Haney led with his
32:39
ace, and Warren Spahn was again the master of
32:42
old, pitching a tremendous three -hitter to win
32:45
2 -0. But the Braves got quite a scare in the
32:48
fourth inning. Surely you remember that spine
32:50
-tingling moment. Ball two and a strike one count.
32:53
First baseman Bill Skowron due to hit next. Here's
32:56
a swing and a drive deep left center field. That
32:58
ball's going a long, long way. It is a off the
33:01
wall. Here is Aaron chasing it down as Mantle
33:04
on second base on his way to third. The peg into
33:06
the infield. He goes in standing with a tremendous
33:08
triple. Mantle held third as the second out was
33:12
made. Then, here is the windup. 2 -2 pitch. A
33:16
swing and a line drive. It is knocked down by
33:19
Shane East over to first. He is out of a great
33:22
play. Holy cow, what a play by Red Shane East
33:25
and Joe Adcock. Beautiful leaping try by Shane
33:29
East. He knocks them all down. It fell to his
33:31
feet. He picked it up. Adcock was coming over
33:34
to cover first base. He went back into that bag,
33:37
jabbed at the bag, made a scoop up of a low throw
33:39
as Barrow went diving head first in the first
33:42
base. On a great play to retire the side. Yes,
33:46
the old redhead, one of baseball's all -time
33:48
greats, and the man who helped make the Braves.
33:51
The rest of that 1958 series, well, the news
33:55
was sad, and there's no point in dwelling on
33:57
the Yankees' sweep of the final three games.
33:59
Time now to look ahead to 1959. And, Blainer,
34:03
like the preceding years, this one had a full
34:05
share of pages for the memory book. That night
34:08
of May 26th, for example, when you fans of the
34:11
stadium were treated to the greatest pitching
34:13
performance in all of baseball's long history.
34:15
Harvey Haddix was on the mound for the Pirates
34:17
as inning after inning after inning went by with
34:21
Nary a brave reaching base by any means or manner.
34:24
Meantime, Lou Burnett was matching horse collars
34:27
with Harvey the Kitten, and the game was a scoreless
34:29
tie through 11 electrifying innings. And in the
34:33
12th, Haddix in the motion. to two pitch. A swing
34:36
of ground ball to the third baseman's left. He
34:38
stabs it. Here's a throw to first base. He is
34:40
out and that retires the side. And Harvey Haddix
34:44
now has 12 perfect innings of brilliant, simply
34:49
magnificent pitching performance. Another standing
34:51
ovation. The tension mounted as Burdette blanked
34:55
the Bucs in their half of the 13th. And then...
34:57
Nobody on base, nobody out. Haddix delivers.
35:00
A swing of ground ball to the third baseman.
35:01
He's in fast. Big hop. The throw to first base.
35:04
A low throw. There's the first base runner. With
35:07
first base open, Aaron was purposely passed,
35:10
and the stage was set for Jolton Joe. All one
35:13
and no strikes to count on, Joe Adcock. The winning
35:17
run on second base in the last half of the 13th
35:19
inning. Into the stretch. Here is the pitch.
35:21
A swing and a high fly ball. Driven deep into
35:24
right center field. Going back towards the wall.
35:26
Back, back. And it's a win for Joe Adcock, and
35:29
the ball game is over. And Earl, that thrilling
35:32
windup. had us all up in the air. That's right,
35:36
Blaine. The situation didn't get straightened
35:37
out until the next morning when it was decided
35:40
that Adcock's home run was really a double and
35:42
that the Braves won by a score of one to nothing.
35:45
Well, in view of the immortal pitching performance
35:47
by Harvey Haddix, the Braves were happy to settle
35:50
for any kind of a win. The 59 season settled
35:53
down to a three -way battle among the San Francisco
35:56
Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Milwaukee
35:58
Braves. The battles with the transplanted East
36:01
Coast teams were always hard fought. And this
36:04
June game with the Dodgers was a typical Donnybrook.
36:07
Wise on third. Matthews on second, Aaron on first.
36:15
Andy Papko in the batter's box. Batting at 209,
36:19
Andy has nine hits and 43 at bats. One double
36:22
and two runs batted in. He swings at the ground
36:24
ball, a base hit! Braves management, always on
36:38
the lookout to improve the club and please the
36:40
fans, constantly maneuvered to bring in new players.
36:43
You'll probably recall that 1959 saw Bobby Avila,
36:47
Lee May, Ray Boone, and Country Slaughter appear
36:50
as new faces at the stadium. Bobby Avila made
36:53
a great debut, hitting a ninth -inning homer
36:55
to whip the Red Legs and end a seven -game losing
36:58
streak. But Bobby's biggest blow came later.
37:01
Come on, Bobby. Drive down that right field line
37:08
could win the ball game as it's wide open. Simoli's
37:11
way over towards right center. Now Simoli's moving
37:12
over to his left a couple of steps. Here's the
37:15
0 -2 pitch. Low, a ball. 1 -2. Ball one and strike
37:20
two on Avila. Ball one, strike two. A tremendously
37:48
important blast because, as things turned out,
37:51
every game was a must game. Every win a needed
37:54
win. The season's end found the Braves and Dodgers
37:57
deadlocked for first place. Here at home, the
38:00
Braves dropped the first game of the pennant
38:02
playoff 3 -2. And then came drama and disaster
38:05
at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. The Braves put
38:09
on a stirring rally in the late innings, and
38:11
the score was knotted at 5 -all in the 12th inning.
38:14
Bob Rush was on the hill. Rush out in front,
38:17
ball one, strike two. Dodger runners on first
38:23
and second, but the Dodger runner of importance,
38:24
of course, is the guy on second base, Gil Hodges.
38:27
He represents the winning run of the ball game.
38:30
Five to five time, the last half of the 12th
38:32
inning. And so the Braves bid for their third
38:53
pennant in four years went by the boards, by
38:55
a whisker. But hope springs eternal in the hearts
38:58
of baseball fans, and a new season was coming
39:01
up. And with a new leader at the helm, Blainer,
39:03
astute Charlie Dressen became manager, and a
39:06
fired -up team was thick in the pen and chase
39:08
just about all season long. 1960 was the year
39:11
when everything went perfect for the Pirates,
39:13
but you Braves fans had some mighty exciting
39:16
times. Remember August 18th, the day Lou Burdette
39:19
joined the Hall of Fame? A strike to count on
39:22
Bobby Gene Smith. Two outs. Burdette has retired
39:25
26 consecutive batters. In the center of attraction
39:37
right now. Holding a great spotlight out there
39:45
in the mound. Strike two counts. Two outs on
39:49
Bobby Gene Smith. Ninth inning, Braves lead one
39:51
to nothing. Burdette has his sign. Here's the
39:56
windup. And here's the 0 -2 pitch. There's a
39:59
swing and a high fly ball to right. Come on,
40:00
Henry. He's got his no -hitter. Talk about embarrassing
40:16
moments. Lou's masterpiece was not a perfect
40:19
no -hitter because one Philly runner did reach
40:22
first. Chalk up an error for the Earl. So who
40:25
feels a thousand, Earl? The excitement of Burdette's
40:28
no -hitter had hardly died down when just a month
40:30
later, Warren Spahn took the mound in quest of
40:33
his 20th win. Again, it was the Phillies. And
40:36
talk about lightning striking twice. Warren Spahn
40:39
starts the motion. Here's the pitch. There's
40:42
a swing and a miss. He struck him out. 15 strikeouts
40:45
for Warren Spahn. 15 strikeouts tonight. Two
40:52
outs and nobody on base. We go down to the last
40:54
man now, Bobby Malkmus. Malkmus has ground to
40:57
the short, popped the short, and he's flied to
40:59
center field. Tremendous strikeout total tonight
41:02
for Spahn. But that's not the big story right
41:04
now. Ninth inning, two outs, nobody on base.
41:08
Malkmus 0 for 3, standing outside the batter's
41:11
box. The outfield's playing him around to the
41:13
left. So is the infield. Second baseman Chuck
41:15
Cotty on the edge of the outfield grass, lined
41:18
up with right center field. The veterans southpaw
41:21
spawn into the motion. Here is the pitch to Bobby
41:23
Malkmus. A swing and a drive. Hits off the glove.
41:26
Logan in fast. Up on the ball. Throws the first.
41:28
He is out. 16 years is a long time to wait for
41:45
anything, but Spani finally got his no -hitter.
41:48
Was anyone ever more deserving of such an honor?
41:51
The big win marked Warren's 12th season of 20
41:54
or more wins, another chapter for the record
41:57
books. And so our march of memorable moments
41:59
moves into 1961. As we record these highlights
42:03
for posterity, the season is still young. Many
42:06
things are yet to happen. Baseball takes many
42:09
twists and turns, but it never erases what's
42:11
in the records. And the early 61 season produced
42:14
two fantastic and fabulous highlights. Remember
42:17
the bitter cold night of April 28th? Perfect
42:20
for polar bears, but hardly fit for the precious
42:22
arm of a veteran southpaw. Spani's turn again,
42:26
and his opponents are the hard -slugging, power
42:28
-packed giants. Were you there? Were you listening?
42:31
Batter is a pinch batter. Mateo Alou. Mateo Alou,
42:41
brother of Felipe Alou, the Giants right fielder.
42:47
Mateo's been up three times. He has two hits.
42:49
He's batting at 667. And here is the first pitch.
42:54
He bunts one. A drag bunt on the first base side.
42:56
Spahn overthrows. He's out and a great play.
42:59
Lawrence Spahn and Joe Adcock. And it's two away
43:02
in the ninth inning. After that backhanded flip
43:04
to nip a loo, Spahn had one big out to get. Then...
43:08
This is Amal Fatano batting for Sam Jones. And
43:14
he's out in front of Warren Spahn. Ball two,
43:19
no strikes. Spahn, he starts his motion. 2 -0
43:22
pitch, a swing and a hearty ball to Roy McMillan.
43:24
He bobbles the ball, comes up, throws the first
43:27
base, and he is out! And Warren Spahn has pitched
43:29
another no -hitter! Warren Spahn has just picked
43:32
his second no -hitter in his second consecutive
43:34
year. And he's being mobbed out here behind the
43:37
mound. Roy McMillan took that hard shot. It bounced
43:40
off his chest. He picked it up and threw the
43:43
guy out at first base. And Warren Spahn has done
43:45
it again. As Mel Allen would say, how about that?
43:49
After years of waiting, Wiley Warren turns the
43:52
trick two seasons in a row. What more can be
43:54
said about this man among men? You know, Blaine,
43:58
it doesn't always happen that good pitching is
44:00
combined with stout hitting. And when the two
44:02
fail to click together, not even writing new
44:04
records can win the game. Consider that Pier
44:07
6 brawl against the Redlegs down Cincinnati way.
44:10
How well I remember, Earl. Spani was off the
44:13
mark that day, and when the Braves came to bat
44:15
on the 7th, they trailed 10 -2. Frank Bowling
44:18
continued his hot hitting with a line single
44:20
to left, and the hitter was Eddie Matthews. 2
44:25
-2 pitch. There's a swing, a long drive way back
44:28
in the right field. There she goes. Home run
44:31
for Eddie Matthews. Now it's Aaron at bat and
44:34
on the second pitch. There's a swing and a drive
44:40
to the left field line back towards the screen.
44:42
And this one is a home run for Henry Aaron. Line
44:47
drive up into the screen. And Aaron just picked
44:50
up his 10th home run of the season. Strategy
44:53
called for a pitching change, and in came Marshall
44:55
Bridges to replace the shell -shocked Jim Maloney.
44:58
Adcock at bat. There's a swing and a drive back
45:01
into center field, going back towards the wall.
45:03
It may be. It is a home run for Joe Adcock. Three
45:09
home runs in a row tie a major league record.
45:12
Wow, three in a row and more fireworks to come.
45:15
Popular newcomer Frank Thomas strides to the
45:17
plate. Never before in the annals of Major League
45:29
Baseball had any team cracked four consecutive
45:31
homers. And it was our battling Braves who did
45:34
it. Sure, we lost the game, but the four back
45:37
-to -back blasts typify the thrills and excitement
45:40
of Braves baseball. Well, as the saying goes,
45:43
Blainer, you win a few, lose a few, and a few
45:46
are rained out. But ever since hitting town in
45:48
53, the Braves have furnished the fans with untold
45:51
thrills and have consistently been in contention.
45:54
The passing parade sees stars come and go, but
45:57
new faces keep the picture bright and exciting.
46:00
A popular Andy Pathko reaches the end of the
46:02
line, but along comes a young Joe Torre to replace
46:05
him. Trades may see us say farewell to a Billy
46:08
Bruton or Joey Jay or Johnny Logan, but in their
46:12
places are stars like Frank Bowling and Roy McMillan.
46:15
The turnover is terrific, but the fun and excitement
46:18
go on and on, and it's always great to be at
46:21
Connie Stadium to see what will happen next.
46:24
Right you are, Earl, and in days and seasons
46:26
to come, we'll experience new thrills, see new
46:29
stars, and bask in the glory of more pennants
46:32
and world championships. Earl and I will be seeing
46:34
you and the Milwaukee Braves at beautiful Milwaukee
46:37
County Stadium.