Friday, February 21, 2014

Word Series: Did You Know?

Jim Konstanty started game 1 of the 1950 World Series, not having made a single start in the regular season!

The Philadelphia Phillies right-hander, who had one of the greatest seasons of relief pitching that season, came through with a 5-hitter. It was just that the Yankees' Vic Raschi was even better!

But Konstanty looked shaky early on. The New York Yankees had needed just 5 games to beat a very good Brooklyn team the year before, and were poised for a quick kill here. Even the best relief pitcher in baseball would  have his hands full with the Bronx Bombers.

And if the Phillies or Konstanty himself had any different ideas, they were quickly gone in the top of the 1st. Jim did what you don't do in baseball.

Gene Woodling led off the 1st for the Yankees by walking. Then, Phil Rizzuto singled him to second. Yogi Berra was retired on a long fly, but Woodling made it to third. The Yankee Clipper himself was next, and Joe DiMaggio always came through in these situations!

Konstanty managed to retire him on a popup to first. Then, The Big Cat, Johnny Mize flied out to right.

Jim had a 1-2-3 second, but in the Yankees third inning, it was more of the same.

Raschi himself singled. Woodling walked. Rizzuto laid it down perfectly. 2nd and 3rd and only one out. Now what would Jim do? Berra was out on a flyball, but this time, no one advanced a base. DiMaggio was walked intentionally to load 'em up. And now, The Big Cat was back!

But Konstanty retired him on a popup to third. However, given what New York had accomplished, it appeared Konstanty was due for a short outing. I mean, he would have been used to pitching about three or less innings, right?

It was the next inning where the Yankees got what they needed. Bobby Brown led off with a double. A Hank Bauer flyball got him to third. Another flyball by Jerry Coleman scored Brown. Raschi ended the inning by grounding out. 1-0, Yankees after 3 1/2 innings.

In the top of the 5th, Gene Woodling grounded to the first base side of the infield. Eddie Waitkus, who had been shot by an obsessed fan in the season before this, made the play and tossed it to Jim covering first. Rizzuto popped up behind the plate for out number two. The man the Yankees had behind the plate, Yogi Berra, popped it up foul as well, this time to Waitkus. That was the type of inning the Phillies were going to need a lot more of. Not only in this game, but in every game of the 1950 Fall Classic.

But 1-2-3 innings were in order for the Yankees' starter. Vic was just mowing 'em down on this day. 1-2-3 went the Phillies in the first four innings.

In the 5th, the Phillies got two hits. It would prove to be their only two hits of the game.

Willie Jones, the 14th batter to face Raschi, got a single with one out. After another out, Andy Seminick singled to left and Jones was on second. This was not really a great scoring opportunity. But it would prove to be the best chance Philadelphia would have in this game. It quickly died as Mike Goliat was K'd by Victor.

Konstanty then issued his fourth walk of the day to The Yankee Clipper to lead off the top of the 6th. Would Mize be denied again? Yes, as Konstanty got him to pop to third. Brown lined out to right and Bauer forced DiMaggio at second.

After Raschi fanned Konstanty to start the bottom of the frame, it was time for Vic's first walk. Waitkus made it. But Ritchie Ashburn, in only his second season in the majors, flied to DiMaggio in center. Dick Sisler ended the inning when he popped to Johnny Mize at first.

Konstanty retired Coleman to start the 7th and then the wheels seem to come off the chariot. An ill-timed error by Willie Jones (playing third base) on Raschi's grounder put a man on. And it was back to the top of the order for New York. Woodling singled. Crunch time again for Jim.

Rizzuto popped out to third. Konstanty finally made it out of there without a run touching home as Berra grounded out to first. Waitkus made the play unassisted.

The Phillies then seemed to get the right pitches in the bottom of the 7th. All three batters hit the ball well. Ennis was out on a fly to right. Jones flew out to center. Granny Hamner really got a hold of one to right. Alas, Hank Bauer made the catch.

In the top of the 8th, Konstanty had a nice 1-2-3 innings. But it was still 1-0, New York. And it would prove to be Jim's last inning.

In the bottom of the frame, Seminick popped out to the new Johnny at first. Johnny Hopp had just replaced Mize. And he saw some quick action as Andy Seminick hit one towards him in foul territory. Goliat lined out to second. Konstanty was due up next, but with the Phillies trailing, it was time for a pinch hitter. Don Whitman hit a ball with some authority to right, but again Bauer made the putout.

Russ Meyer was in to pitch the top of the 9th for Philadelphia. Although New York got their 5th hit on the day, Meyer got the Phillies out of there unscathed.

But Raschi was not to be denied. Still ahead only 1-0, he retired Waitkus on a grounder in the bottom of the 9th. Ashburn grounded out, Hopp unassisted. Dick Sisler ended the game by fanning.

Jim Konstanty had pitched a combined 5-hitter with Meyer. 4 walks was a bit too much. But just one run had scored. However Raschi, the Yankees flamethrower, had allowed just 2 hits and 1 walk. It was just enough to overcome a fine performance by someone making their first start of the season!

No comments:

Post a Comment