Baseball History On Youtube: Cards and Dodgers, 1959

The Los Angeles Dodgers (moved from Brooklyn after the 1957 season) won the pennant in 1959, and the World Series. They also became (Due to the emergence of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale) one of the most dominating baseball teams of the 1960s. Because of that, the 1959 version of them is often forgotten.

The St. Louis Cardinals did not win the pennant in 1959. But like the Dodgers, they were in three World Series in the 1960s. Like the Dodgers, they went 2-1.

Their 1959 team wasn't ready yet. Lou Brock was not there. Bob Gibson was trying to stay with the team. They were not in the Dodgers' class at the time.

But here is the (not complete) game from July 25, 1959 between these two clubs.

Things To Look Out For

This game is going to extras. Well, even if it's incomplete, at least we see the end.

That left field wall is short. Real short!

Roger Craig and Larry Jackson are your starters. Jackson was the losing pitcher in Jim Maloney's 10-inning no-hitter 8/19/65. He also led the National League in wins with 24 in 1964. The year earlier Craig led the NL in losses with 22. He also had led the league in losses in 1962 with 24. On the plus side, he won World Series with Brooklyn in 1955, Los Angeles in 1959, and finally St. Louis in 1964. So here, he was facing some of his future teammates.

Rookie Ron Fairly and veteran Stan Musial are in the game. Did you know? Along with Pete Rose, they are the only players to play 1000 games in the infield and outfield! Musial is playing first in this game and Fairly is in right. Right next to...

Duke Snider! Playing in centre, and probably not liking the spacious right field. Lost a lot of home runs there. But he gets the ball rolling for Los Angeles in the bottom of the first @ 7:22 with the RBI.

Musial is batting in the sixth slot, just like his number. Snider is batting in the fourth slot, just like his number!

How can you not like Don Zimmer the player? Just skip to around 13:00! Hey, the guy wears Micheal Jordan's number! And he had the feistyness as a player he would have as a manager. Notice Pee Wee Reese, #1? Now coaching at third after retiring as a player after the 1958 season.

Who replaces Zim? That would be announced @ 15:25. Maury Wills, another Dodger rookie.

Dodgers "bullpen", spotted @ 18:54. Ah, back in the day where they were on the field, and in play.

Roger Craig, the Dodgers' starting pitcher. Hey...He's not a bad pitcher. Yeah, he was 10-24 in 1962 with the Mets and 5-22 for them in 1963. But this guy is a good pitcher!

Would Musial get to the ball in right if he was playing the outfield @ 22:37. You be the judge.

St. Louis bullpen gets bust @ 25:20!

Changes for the Cardinals @ 26:31. Wally Shannon in to short. Not Mike Shannon. Also, one of the best relief pitchers of the time, and making the list for best relief seasons of all-time, is Lindy McDaniel. On to make an appearance. He goes four strong innings for the win.

We have Clem Labine into the game @ 41:54. One of the better relief pitchers of the time.

The play around 43:10 is funny. Well, you see it all in baseball sometimes!

Musial bats @ 44:21, and gets walked intentionally. Then, Curt Flood comes in to run for him. Flood was in his second year.

References

"July 25, 1959 St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score and Play by Play." | Baseball-Reference.com. <http://www.baseballreference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN195907250.shtml>

michael681999. “Cardinals and Dodgers from 1959.” Online video clip. YouTube. Youtube. 30 Dec. 2012. Web. <www.youtube.com/watch?v=olDX0mdsOHI&t=2s>. 9 Sept. 2015.