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 12:

The All-Star break is over, and the teams get back to work today. Here is how the two teams stand as play begins.

Dodgers 9, Cubs 3
The Dodgers are on a roll, as they win their 7th straight in a night game at home against the Cubs before 23,365. Ralph Branca goes for the Dodgers and lasts 4 innings, giving up 0 runs on 3 hits. He comes out in the 5th after Bruce Edwards doubles. He's relieved by Clyde King, who goes 2 1/3 innings and gives up 3 runs on 1 hit. Bud Podbielan goes 2 2/3 inning, gives up 0 runs on 2 hits, and is awarded the win, his 1st against 0 losses. Paul Minner starts for Chicago, and gives up 5 runs on 6 hits in 5 1/3 innings. Dutch Leonard and Johnny Klippstein finish for the Cubs, giving up 0 and 4 runs respectively. Minner gets the loss, his 8th against 4 wins. Billy Cox (0 on), Roy Campanella (2 on), and Carl Furillo (0 on) all homer for Brooklyn. Podbielan gets 2 hits to help his own cause. Hank Sauer hits the only homer for Chicago, with 1 man aboard. The Dodgers get 11 hits in the game to the Cubs' 6. Each team commits a miscue. See Game

Cardinals 2, Giants 0
The Giants lose to the Cardinals at home before only 13,448 in an afternoon game. Gerry Staley goes all the way for the Cards, giving up no runs on 4 hits. He gets his 12th win of the year against 8 losses. Larry Jansen goes for the Giants and lasts 8 innings, giving up 2 runs on only 3 hits. However, one of the hits is a 2-run homer by Billy Johnson in the 5th inning. Jansen gets his 8th loss of the year against 12 wins. Monty Kennedy finishes up for New York. Neither team commits an error. See Game

Can the Dodgers make it 8 in a row tomorrow?