Whitey Ford almost got a shutout in his first World Series start! A fitting start to the man who would win the most lifetime games in the Fall Classic. The New York Yankees had a legend in the making in game four of the 1950 World Series!
Not even on the Yankees roster until July of that season, the lefty proceeded to win his first 9 decisions for New York. His only loss would be a relief stint against the Philadelphia Athletics. But the Athletics' National League counterparts would feel Whitey's wrath in the World Series that year.
The Philadelphia Phillies of 1950, who went by the name "Blue Jays" from 1943 to 1949, were known as the Whiz Kids. They put up a brave fight in the first three games, but New York was too strong. With a quick 3-0 Series lead, the Bronx Bombers gave Ford the start in game four. Who better to turn out the lights out on the kids, long before their bedtime?
The Yankees, at home, scored twice in the bottom of the first off Bob Miller. It was an early curtain call for the Phillies pitcher, who managed to retire only one batter. And it looked like an early curtain call for the entire Philly team.
Jim Konstanty, who had started game one for Philadelphia, came in to pitch. What was odd was, he hadn't started a game in the regular season. That was the season Jim had one of the best relief seasons of all-time. Jim took a tough 1-0 loss in game 1. But here, Konstanty was needed for the some much needed relief. More relief than rolaids. More relief than pepto bismol! For a while, Jimmy did just that.
Just getting The Big Cat, Johnny Mize, and Bobby Brown out to end the inning was something, as the Yanks got a runner to third. And from there, it seemed like The Jimmy and Whitey Show!
1-2-3 went Philadelphia in the top of the 2nd. 1-2-3 went New York in the bottom of the frame. Ford gave up a hit and nothing more in the top of the 3rd, while Konstanty had another 1-2-3 inning.
In the top of the fourth, a leadoff single by Del Ennis might have phased many-a-pitcher, but Ford got the next batter out. But when Granny Hamner singled, it was first and second and just one out. Ford bore down and got Andy Seminick, the catcher, to hit into an inning-ending double play.
After Joe DiMaggio himself fanned to open the bottom of the frame, Big Jim would have to deal with The Big Cat again. And this time, Mize singled. But Brown flew out, and Hank Bauer forced Mize at second. Still only 2-0, New York, after four innings.
Konstanty himself would stroke a one-out single in the top of the 5th for the Phillies. But Eddie Waitkus (who was shot by an obsessed fan, which inspired a scene for the movie, The Natural years later) went out on a fly to left. Richie Ashburn popped out to Jerry Coleman (who would win the Babe Ruth award in the 1950 World Series) at second.
The Yankees managed a hit by Gene Woodling in the bottom of the 5th, but that was it. Ford had his best stuff again in the top of the 6th. Whitey survived an error by Brown at third, again getting out via the double play.
Yogi Berra then broke Konstanty's spell (4.2 inning of shutout ball) by depositing one of Big Jim's offerings into the right field bleachers in the bottom of the frame. The Yankees didn't stop there, as a Brown triple drove home DiMaggio. Bauer drove home Brown with a hard drive to left for a sac fly. 5-0, New York.
Ford got 'em 1-2-3 in the 7th and 1-2-3 again in the 8th. Konstanty regained his stuff and got through the bottom of the 7th with no more damage. Robin Roberts came in to pitch the bottom of the 8th for Philly and held the mighty Yankees in check. But now, Whitey Ford was working on a 5-hit shutout. And just 3 outs away from his first World Series win.
Willie Jones led off the top of the 9th with his second hit of the game. Ford then hit the next batter, Ennis. Nervous?
Well, The Chairman Of The Board got Dick Sisler, the son of George Sisler, to force Ennis at second. When Ford fanned Hamner, the Yankees were one out away from a sweep. And Whitey was just one more out away from the shutout!
Seminick send a fly to left that Gene Woodling settled under. Game over! Shutout for Whitey Ford. World Series sweep for the Yankees.
Wait!
Scratch all of the above!
Woodling dropped it! Jones scored. Ken Johnson, who had come in to pinch run for Sisler and was probably completely forgotten about at this time, trotted in behind Willie. The score was now 5-2 for the Yankees. Obviously, both runs were unearned. But the shutout was gone. The Phillies remained ever so stubborn, even in the face of overwhelming adversary!
And Ford himself was shaken up a little. The next batter, Mike Goliat, lashed a single to send another pinch runner (Jackie Mayo) to second. The tying run was at the plate.
Roberts was the scheduled batter, but there was no way the Philadelphia Phillies were going to let the pitcher bat in this situation. Stan Lopata was sent up to hit for him. And Stan would not face Ford. Allie Reynolds, who would go on to tie Red Ruffing for the all-time lead in World Series wins (at the time) with 7, came in to pitch.
Reynolds would K Lopata. The Yankees had the sweep and Superchief had the save. But what Reynolds didn't know was that the very man he relieved here would pass him and Ruffing for all-time World Series wins. Ford would also finish with 3 shutouts, but that is only good enough for second in the Fall Classic. A shutout here could have helped Whitey Ford tie for the all-time lead. No matter, Ford had his first World Series win.
And Whitey would win a lot more!
References
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.
Not even on the Yankees roster until July of that season, the lefty proceeded to win his first 9 decisions for New York. His only loss would be a relief stint against the Philadelphia Athletics. But the Athletics' National League counterparts would feel Whitey's wrath in the World Series that year.
The Philadelphia Phillies of 1950, who went by the name "Blue Jays" from 1943 to 1949, were known as the Whiz Kids. They put up a brave fight in the first three games, but New York was too strong. With a quick 3-0 Series lead, the Bronx Bombers gave Ford the start in game four. Who better to turn out the lights out on the kids, long before their bedtime?
The Yankees, at home, scored twice in the bottom of the first off Bob Miller. It was an early curtain call for the Phillies pitcher, who managed to retire only one batter. And it looked like an early curtain call for the entire Philly team.
Jim Konstanty, who had started game one for Philadelphia, came in to pitch. What was odd was, he hadn't started a game in the regular season. That was the season Jim had one of the best relief seasons of all-time. Jim took a tough 1-0 loss in game 1. But here, Konstanty was needed for the some much needed relief. More relief than rolaids. More relief than pepto bismol! For a while, Jimmy did just that.
Just getting The Big Cat, Johnny Mize, and Bobby Brown out to end the inning was something, as the Yanks got a runner to third. And from there, it seemed like The Jimmy and Whitey Show!
1-2-3 went Philadelphia in the top of the 2nd. 1-2-3 went New York in the bottom of the frame. Ford gave up a hit and nothing more in the top of the 3rd, while Konstanty had another 1-2-3 inning.
In the top of the fourth, a leadoff single by Del Ennis might have phased many-a-pitcher, but Ford got the next batter out. But when Granny Hamner singled, it was first and second and just one out. Ford bore down and got Andy Seminick, the catcher, to hit into an inning-ending double play.
After Joe DiMaggio himself fanned to open the bottom of the frame, Big Jim would have to deal with The Big Cat again. And this time, Mize singled. But Brown flew out, and Hank Bauer forced Mize at second. Still only 2-0, New York, after four innings.
Konstanty himself would stroke a one-out single in the top of the 5th for the Phillies. But Eddie Waitkus (who was shot by an obsessed fan, which inspired a scene for the movie, The Natural years later) went out on a fly to left. Richie Ashburn popped out to Jerry Coleman (who would win the Babe Ruth award in the 1950 World Series) at second.
The Yankees managed a hit by Gene Woodling in the bottom of the 5th, but that was it. Ford had his best stuff again in the top of the 6th. Whitey survived an error by Brown at third, again getting out via the double play.
Yogi Berra then broke Konstanty's spell (4.2 inning of shutout ball) by depositing one of Big Jim's offerings into the right field bleachers in the bottom of the frame. The Yankees didn't stop there, as a Brown triple drove home DiMaggio. Bauer drove home Brown with a hard drive to left for a sac fly. 5-0, New York.
Ford got 'em 1-2-3 in the 7th and 1-2-3 again in the 8th. Konstanty regained his stuff and got through the bottom of the 7th with no more damage. Robin Roberts came in to pitch the bottom of the 8th for Philly and held the mighty Yankees in check. But now, Whitey Ford was working on a 5-hit shutout. And just 3 outs away from his first World Series win.
Willie Jones led off the top of the 9th with his second hit of the game. Ford then hit the next batter, Ennis. Nervous?
Well, The Chairman Of The Board got Dick Sisler, the son of George Sisler, to force Ennis at second. When Ford fanned Hamner, the Yankees were one out away from a sweep. And Whitey was just one more out away from the shutout!
Seminick send a fly to left that Gene Woodling settled under. Game over! Shutout for Whitey Ford. World Series sweep for the Yankees.
Wait!
Scratch all of the above!
Woodling dropped it! Jones scored. Ken Johnson, who had come in to pinch run for Sisler and was probably completely forgotten about at this time, trotted in behind Willie. The score was now 5-2 for the Yankees. Obviously, both runs were unearned. But the shutout was gone. The Phillies remained ever so stubborn, even in the face of overwhelming adversary!
And Ford himself was shaken up a little. The next batter, Mike Goliat, lashed a single to send another pinch runner (Jackie Mayo) to second. The tying run was at the plate.
Roberts was the scheduled batter, but there was no way the Philadelphia Phillies were going to let the pitcher bat in this situation. Stan Lopata was sent up to hit for him. And Stan would not face Ford. Allie Reynolds, who would go on to tie Red Ruffing for the all-time lead in World Series wins (at the time) with 7, came in to pitch.
Reynolds would K Lopata. The Yankees had the sweep and Superchief had the save. But what Reynolds didn't know was that the very man he relieved here would pass him and Ruffing for all-time World Series wins. Ford would also finish with 3 shutouts, but that is only good enough for second in the Fall Classic. A shutout here could have helped Whitey Ford tie for the all-time lead. No matter, Ford had his first World Series win.
And Whitey would win a lot more!
References
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.
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