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 14:

As of this morning, the Dodger lead is 9 games.

Cubs 5, Dodgers 4. Cubs 11 Dodgers 7
The Dodger 8-game win streak comes to an abrupt end with a doubleheader loss to the 7th place Cubs at Ebbets Field. In the 1st game, Brooklyn's Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese both homer for the Dodgers, but it isn't enough as Chicago's Hank Sauer has 2 home runs and knocks in 4 runs. Turk Lown picks up his 2nd win of the year against 4 losses. He gives up 4 runs on 6 hits in 8 2/3 innings pitched. Dutch Leonard earns his 1st save of the year. Carl Erskine starts for the Dodgers and only lasts 3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 9 hits. Bud Podbielan gets the loss, his 1st of the year against 1 win, as he gives up Sauer's 2- run home run in the 7th that wins it for the Cubs. As it turns out, these are the only runs given up by Podbielan in his 6 innings pitched. The Cubs have 11 hits in the game, the Dodgers 6. Chicago has the only error in the game.See Game

In the 2nd game, the Cubs score 5 runs in the 1st inning, and never trail. Despite giving up 7 runs in the game, Bob Kelly gets the win for Chicago, his 1st of the year against 0 losses. He gives up 10 hits in the game. Johnny Klippstein gets the save, his 1st of the year. For the Dodgers, Dan Bankhead lasts only 3 innings, giving up 8 runs on 8 hits. Phil Haugstad and Erv Palica finish for the Dodgers. Haugstad gives up 1 run on 2 hits on 5 innings pitched. Palica yields 2 runs on 2 hits in 1 inning. For Brooklyn, Duke Snider hits his 19th home run of the year with 1 aboard. Bruce Edwards homers for Chicago, with 1 man on. Frank Baumholtz and Randy Jackson each have 3 hits in the game for the Cubs. Baumholtz triples in the game, his 6th of the year. Carl Furillo and Gil Hodges also have 3 hits each for the Dodgers. Each team has 12 hits in the game. The Cubs have 2 errors to the Dodgers' 1. See Game

Cardinals 4, Giants 3
Enos Slaughter doubles in 2 runners in what prove to be the winning runs in the 7th inning, as the Cardinals beat the Giants in New York. Al Brazle is the winning pitcher for the Cards. He gets his 2nd win against 0 losses. He comes in on relief for Max Lanier, who started and only lasted 4 1/3 innings after giving up 3 runs. Brazle goes 4 2/3 innings and pitches hitless ball. Monty Kennedy starts for the Giants and goes 4 1/3 innings, giving up 2 runs on 9 hits. George Spencer, who gets his 2nd loss against 4 wins, comes in on relief and gives up 2 runs on 4 hits in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Sheldon Jones finishes for New York and pitches 1 inning, giving up no hits. Stan Musial goes 3 for 5 for St. Louis, raising his batting average to .366. Al Dark also goes 3 for 5 for the Giants. There were no home runs in the game. The Cards get 13 hits, the Giants 7. There were no errors in the game by either team. See Game

Dodgers/Reds and Giants/Pirates in doubleheaders tomorrow