Yogi Berra hit the first pinch hit home run.
It was off Ralph Branca, who of course also gave up that homerun to Bobby Thompson in 1951. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Thompson's was in the next decade and this Fall Classic moment came four years earlier.
This moment was from game 3 of the 1947 World Series. The game, played on October 2, 1947 was an awesome display of offence by both teams. That tiny Ebbets Field, where no lead is safe, was at it again.
But the Yankees trailed 9-7 when Berra batted for catcher Sherm Lollar in the top of the 7th. Yogi went yard on a solo blast, which pulled the Yankees to within one run. It was the last pitch Branca would throw.
Hugh Casey, the Dodgers closer at the time, came in to pitch. Yogi, by the way, stayed in the game. It seemed to work as Casey pitched well.
He did have a scare in the 8th, as the Yankees put two on with nobody out. But Casey got Joe DiMaggio himself to hit into a double play. George McQuinn grounded out to end the inning. The Yankees did not get another man to first on this afternoon.
In the top of the 9th with 2 outs and nobody on, Yogi Berra was the last batter of the game. He hit a ball that hit Casey, and deflected to second basemen Eddie Stanky. Stanky threw out Berra to end the game.
Now, a little for all you who are new to baseball. In this game, the starter for the Dodgers, Joe Hatten, did not pitch 5 innings. So he can't get the win. Branca, who gave up 2 runs and 4 hits in only 2 innings of relief, also can't get the win. Casey actually gets the win, which must have pleased him since saves were not recorded at the time.
Casey gets the win because he pitched the more effectively (2.2IP 0R, 1H, 1BB, 1K) than Branca. No save for you, Casey.
Berra, meanwhile, went on to play all 7 games of that World Series. He started 5 games, pinch-hit once, and came in as a defensive replacement in game 4. The Yankees went on to win the World Series.
Berra would be around for a lot more. But in 1947, his very first one, he had already etched his name into World Series history!
References
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 05 Oct. 2013.
It was off Ralph Branca, who of course also gave up that homerun to Bobby Thompson in 1951. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Thompson's was in the next decade and this Fall Classic moment came four years earlier.
This moment was from game 3 of the 1947 World Series. The game, played on October 2, 1947 was an awesome display of offence by both teams. That tiny Ebbets Field, where no lead is safe, was at it again.
But the Yankees trailed 9-7 when Berra batted for catcher Sherm Lollar in the top of the 7th. Yogi went yard on a solo blast, which pulled the Yankees to within one run. It was the last pitch Branca would throw.
Hugh Casey, the Dodgers closer at the time, came in to pitch. Yogi, by the way, stayed in the game. It seemed to work as Casey pitched well.
He did have a scare in the 8th, as the Yankees put two on with nobody out. But Casey got Joe DiMaggio himself to hit into a double play. George McQuinn grounded out to end the inning. The Yankees did not get another man to first on this afternoon.
In the top of the 9th with 2 outs and nobody on, Yogi Berra was the last batter of the game. He hit a ball that hit Casey, and deflected to second basemen Eddie Stanky. Stanky threw out Berra to end the game.
Now, a little for all you who are new to baseball. In this game, the starter for the Dodgers, Joe Hatten, did not pitch 5 innings. So he can't get the win. Branca, who gave up 2 runs and 4 hits in only 2 innings of relief, also can't get the win. Casey actually gets the win, which must have pleased him since saves were not recorded at the time.
Casey gets the win because he pitched the more effectively (2.2IP 0R, 1H, 1BB, 1K) than Branca. No save for you, Casey.
Berra, meanwhile, went on to play all 7 games of that World Series. He started 5 games, pinch-hit once, and came in as a defensive replacement in game 4. The Yankees went on to win the World Series.
Berra would be around for a lot more. But in 1947, his very first one, he had already etched his name into World Series history!
References
Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
2005. Print.
Neft, David
S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The
Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press,
1992. Print.
Nemec,
David et all. 20th Century Baseball
Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's
Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 05 Oct. 2013.
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