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.

Monday, September 17th:

As a result of the Giant doubleheader win and Dodger single game win yesterday, the lead is down to 4.5 games before play begins.

Before 9,352 fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago, the Cubs defeat the Dodgers behind Turk Lown's 4th victory of the year. Lown gives up 3 runs, 2 earned, on 9 hits, improving his record to 4 and 8. Don Newcombe starts for the Dodgers and lasts 6 2/3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits. One of those hits is a 2-run home run by Hank Sauer in the 7th inning. It's Sauer's 29th homer of the year. After a double by Hal Jeffcoat, his 18th of the year, Clyde King comes on in relief and gives up the second 2-run homer of the inning to pinch-hitting Gene Hermanski, before retiring the side. Hermanski's homer is his 4th of the year. King suffers the loss, moving his record to 14 and 7. Carl Erskine pitches the 8th, giving up a run on 1 hit. Jeffcoat is 3 for 3 in the game for Chicago. For Brooklyn, Andy Pafko hits a solo home run in the 6th inning, his 25th round-tripper of the year. The Cubs have 7 hits, 2 errors, and leave 0 on base. The Dodgers have 9 hits, 0 errors, and leave 9. See Game

The Dodger lead is now down to 4 games over the idle Giants.

Tomorrow: Dodgers/Cardinals. Giants/Reds.