Our Blog: 1951 NL Pennant Race

This is part of a series on the 1951 Dodger/Giant 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.

Sunday, September 30th:

With both the Dodgers and the Giants winning yesterday, the teams are still tied for 1st place before plays begins.

Team	W	L	W-L%	GB
Dodgers	95	58	.621	--
Giants	95	58	.621	--

Giants 3, Braves 2.
Behind the pitching of Larry Jansen, the Giants win their last game of the regular season before 13,209 at Braves Field in Boston. Jansen wins his 22nd of the year, against 11 losses, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits in 9 complete innings. He opposes Jim Wilson, who lasts 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 8 hits. Wilson suffers the loss, evening his record at 7-7. Max Surkont (2 innings, 1 hit) and Vern Bickford (1 inning, 0 hits) pitch 3 shutout innings in relief of Wilson. For the Giants, Al Dark is 3 for 4, including his 40th double of the year. Also for New York, Bobby Thomson slugs his 30th home run of the year, in the 2nd inning with the bases clear. Bob Addis has 2 doubles for Boston, his 6th and 7th of the year. The Giants have 9 hits, 0 errors, and leave 7 on base. The Braves have 5 hits, 0 errors, and leave 4. See Game

Dodgers 9, Phillies 8.
Before 31,755 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, and behind 6-1 after 3 innings and 8-5 after 7, the Dodgers rally to get 3 runs in the 8th to tie the game. The game goes into extra innings before Jackie Robinson hits a solo home run in the top of the 14th inning, to give the Dodgers a 9 to 8 victory and force a playoff with the Giants. The teams have a combined 32 hits in the game, with the Dodgers using 7 pitchers and the Phillies 3. Preacher Roe starts for Brooklyn and lasts only 1 2/3 innings, giving up 4 runs on 5 hits. Ralph Branca (1 1/3 innings, 2 runs, 2 hits), Clyde King (1 inning, 2 runs, 3 hits), Clem Labine (1 inning, 0 runs, 1 hit),Carl Erskine (2 innings, 0 runs, 2 hits), Don Newcombe (5 2/3 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit), and Bud Podbielan (1 1/3 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit) all appear in relief. Podbielan gets the win, evening his record at 2-2 on the year. Bubba Church starts for the Phillies and lasts 4 1/3 innings, giving up 5 runs on 6 hits. He's relieved by Karl Drews, who gives up 3 runs on 5 hits over 3 innings. Robin Roberts comes on in the 8th and pitches the remaining 6 2/3 innings, giving up 1 run on 6 hits. The 1 run is Robinson's 18th homer. Roberts takes the loss, moving his record to 21 and 15. Pee Wee Reese and Duke Snider each have 3 hits for the Dodgers. In addition, the Dodgers have 3 triples - Robinson (7th),Reese (8th), and Roy Campanella (1st). They also have 3 doubles - Campanella (33rd), Rube Walker (8th), and Snider (25th). Richie Ashburn has 4 hits and Andy Seminick collects 5 walks for the Phillies. Also for the Phils, Tommy Brown clubs his 10th homer of the year, in the 2nd inning with the bases empty. Finally, Granny Hamner has a triple (7th) and a double (23rd), while Eddie Pellagrini (4th) and Willie Jones (28th) also double. The Dodgers have 17 hits, 1 error, and leave 9 on base. The Phillies have 15 hits, 1 error, and leave 18. See Game

As a result of today's play, the Dodgers and Giants meet in a 3-game playoff beginning tomorrow.