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. We are posting a daily blog, exactly one year to the day, on what is now the 60th anniversary of each game.

July 3:

Both teams won yesterday, and as a result the Dodgers maintain a 5 game lead on the Giants. The Dodgers face the Braves again today in Boston. The Giants go against the Phillies in New York. Here is how the two teams stand as play begins.

Braves 4, Dodgers 3
In an error-filled game in Boston, Braves' Max Surkont wins his 7th game of the year, pitching a complete 9 innings, and giving up 3 runs, only 1 earned, on 7 hits. He is now 7 and 6 on the year. Johnny Schmitz started for the Dodgers and goes 6 innings, giving up 2 runs, 1 earned, on 4 hits. Carl Erskine comes in on relief in a tie game, and gets the loss, giving up 2 runs, both earned, on 7 hits in 2 1/3 innings pitched. Sid Gordon knocks in the winning run for the Braves with a base hit up the middle. The Dodgers have 4 errors in the game. The Braves have 2. See Game

Giants 9, Phillies 8
The Giants win dramatically, beating the Phillies in New York in 13 innings. The teams battled back and forth. New York came from behind to tie the game 3 times, each time averting defeat - in the 9th, the 10th, and the 12th. Once again behind in the 13th inning, Willie Mays hits his 8th home run of the year to tie the game, and then Whitey Lockman singles in the winning run. Sheldon Jones starts for the Giants and lasts 6 innings, giving up 3 runs, 2 earned. 4 pitchers follow, with Larry Jansen getting the eventual win. He is now 11 and 6 on the year. Ken Johnson starts for Philadelphia. He lasts 5 innings and is relieved after facing 2 batters in the 6th. He gives up 3 runs on 5 hits. 3 pitchers follow, with Jocko Thompson getting the eventual loss. He is now 2 and 6 on the year. In addition to Mays, both Bobby Thomson and Bill Rigney hit solo home runs. Richie Ashburn, with a 3 run shot, and Eddie Pellagrini, with noone on, hit home runs for the Phils. There are 28 hits in the game, of which the Giants get 16. The Giants have 3 errors in the game, the Phils 1. See Game

Tomorrow: Giants and Dodgers square off in an Independence Day doubleheader.