Our Blog: 1951 NL Pennant Race

The 1951 National League pennant race was perhaps the most famous one of all, and culminated with the Shot Heard 'Round the World, the Bobby Thomson home run that wins the pennant for the New York Giants. We are posting a daily blog, exactly one year to the day, on what is now the 60th anniversary of each game.

Friday, August 24:

After the Dodger loss yesterday (the Giants didn't play), the Dodger lead is now 7 1/2 games as of game time.

Behind 5-4, The Giants score 2 in the 9th and win their 12th in a row before 10,559 at the Polo Grounds in New York. They've now come from behind 4 straight games. Dave Koslo starts for New York and lasts 6 1/3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 8 hits. George Spencer comes on in the 7th, in relief of Koslo, with 1 out, and gives up 2 runs, 1 earned, on 2 hits in 1 2/3 innings. Sheldon Jones pitches a 1-hit scoreless 9th, and wins his 4th of the year against 9 losses. Harry Brecheen starts for St. Louis, giving up 4 runs on 8 hits in 6 2/3 innings. After Dick Bokelmann pitches 1/3 of an inning, Gerry Staley comes on in relief and gives up 2 runs on 6 hits in 1 1/3 innings. He gets the loss, bringing his record to 14 and 13 on the year. The Giants have solo home runs from Al Dark, his 10th of the year in the 3rd inning, and Whitey Lockman, his 11th of the year, in the 6th. Dark, Willie Mays, and Bobby Thomson all have 3 hits for New York. The Cardinals have 2 solo home run of their own - Billy Johnson, his 9th of the year in the 3rd inning, and Del Rice, his 8th of the year, in the 7th. Solly Hemus and Nippy Jones both have 3 hits for St. Louis. The Giants have 14 hits, 2 errors, and leave 14 on base. The Cards have 11 hits, 0 errors, and leave 10. See Game

Dodgers 1, Cubs 0.

The Dodgers score an unearned run in the 1st, which proves to be the only one in the game, and they defeat the Cubs before 22,186 under the lights at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. Both teams have complete games from their starting pitchers. Brooklyn's Ralph Branca is masterful, as he gives up only 3 hits, striking out 10 and walking none. He improves his record to 11 and 5. His ERA for the year drops to 2.75. Chicago's Paul Minner gives up the 1 unearned run on 9 hits, striking out 1 and walking 1. He suffers his 13th loss against 6 wins. The 1 run in the game is scored by Pee Wee Reese, who had singled, advanced to 2nd on an error by Gene Hermanski, and to 3rd on a fly to right. He is driven in from 3rd on a bunt by Jackie Robinson, who has 2 hits, bringing his batting average to .343 on the year. The Dodgers have 9 hits, 0 errors, and leave 6 on base. The Cubs have 3 hits, 2 errors, and leave 2. See Game

Tomorrow: Dodgers/Cubs, Giants/Cards square off again.