2010-11 Holiday Festivus Tourny

3 run shot in top of 1st sets the pace

David Cone vs Harry Taylor
The Bombers jumped all over Taylor for 3 huge runs in the top of the first courtesy of a 3 runs shot by one Constantino (Tino) Martinez.  Thanks to an error by Bernie Williams on a Carl Furillo single, Bruce Edwards had the opportunity to lift a sac fly to right to easily score Spider Jorgensen to make it 3-1.  Scotty Brosius' solo shot with 1 out in the 4th restored New York's 3 run lead.  A two run shot by Jorgensen in the bottom of the frame made it a 1 run game.  Neither starter made it past the 6th inning.  Cone ran out of gas after getting 1 out in the 5th and Taylor was done after 6.  Both hurlers threw over 100 pitches and couldn't even get close to the finish line.  The game would be trusted to each team's respective pens.  New York's pen would give up just 1 run over the final 3 2/3 innings.  That one run would come from an RBI single by Dixie Walker in the 7th.  New York would add two more runs off of Dodger reliever Rex Barney, who allowed solo runs in the 7th and 8th.  Those runs would provide the difference as New York would win by 2.  Cone would actually garner the win even though he didn't go deep into the game.  "El Capitan" Derek Jeter's RBI single in the 7th would be the difference make and Bernie Williams' solo shot to lead off the 8th would provide valuable insurance.  "The Sandman", Mariano Rivera would pitch a scoreless 9th to notch the save.
Series tied at 1-1

Bases clearing 2B

GAME 5 - 47-BKN 8, 53-BKN 4
Clem Labine vs Ralph Branca

GAME 4 - 47-BKN 5, 53-BKN 4
Russ Meyer vs Harry Taylor

Walk of single

3 run blast

GAME 3 - 47-BKN 5, 53-BKN 4
Carl Erskine vs Joe Hatten
Once again the '47 crew jumped out to an early lead courtesy of a RBI triple by Spiker Jorgensen and a fielder's choice by pitcher Hatten.  That lead would be short lived as the '53 team unloaded it's full arsenal for 3 runs in the top of the 4th.  Jackie, who is doing double duty on both varsity's, led off with a double and two batters later scored on a single by Skoonj.  Campy put the punctuation mark on the inning with a 2 run shot and just like that Joe Hatten was down 3-2.  It would get a little bit worse before it would get better for the '47 bunch.  An error by Jorgensen at third would lead to Erskine scoring a run to make it 4-2.  Unfortunately for the '53 team that run came on a DP that Jackie grounded into, which squandered a bases loaded no out opportunity.  That opened the door for '47, which benefited greatly by a 2 out 3 run homer by pinch hitter extraordinaire Arky Vaughn.  Hatten and Max Casey would combine to shutout '53 over the final 3 innings to make Vaughn's homer stand up in this one run nail biter.
1947 Dodgers lead series 2-1

GAME 2 - 47-BKN 6, 53-BKN 3
Ralph Branca vs Preacher Roe

2 out pinch hit HR

GAME 1 - 53-BKN 11, 47-BKN 9
Vic Lombardi vs Bill Loes

4-5 w/6 RBI's

GAME 7 - Ebbets Field - BKN 2, ATL 1
Tommy Glavine vs Clem Labine

The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife as fans filed into the famed rotunda on Sullivan and McKeever places.  Like so many times before these fans were treated to heartbreaking game 7's it was impossible for them to feel any sort of confidence.  However today had the chance to be different for as they cast their eyes across the field to the first base dugout they saw a team and a franchise that mirrored their own.  It's not a great stretch for one's imagination to see the parallels between the 1940's-1950's Brooklyn Dodgers and the 1990's-2000's Atlanta Braves.  Like no time before or after both franchises dominated the National League, only to have their dreams crushed by the Yankees in the World Series or some upstart team who got hot in the NL to block their pennant quest.  Both teams cobbled together a magical 15 year string of league dominance only to win 1 World Championship.  The Dodgers winning theirs in 1955 and the Braves gathering theirs exactly 40 years later in 1995.

The first 3 innings were scoreless and based on that one could surmise that this would be a nail biting pitcher's duel.  That sentiment would hold true.  Ryan Klesko's 1 out solo shot in the top of the fourth broke the ice, but not the spirit of the team from Brooklyn who answered back with a run of their own thanks to a Jackie Robinson RBI double in the bottom of the inning.  Glavine and Labine would continue dueling until the bottom of the 6th when the deservedly maligned Blauser once again erred in the field.  Blauser would turn Junior Gilliam's hot smash to short into an Indiana Jones type adventure by first booting the ball then airmailing his throw over the head of McGriff at first.  Glavine tried to pick the corners vs Jackie and wound up walking the 1947 NL Rookie of the year to put runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out.  Glavine, who is not the most loved ballplayer in New York City looked to crush the spirits of those fans one more time by inducing Duke Snider to hit one right back to the box for a 1-6-3 DP.  Gilliam crossed over to third, but there was now 2 outs and only a hit would score him.  Up stepped "Skoonj".  Carl Furillo, nicknamed "Skoonj" which is short for the Italian word for Octopus (Scungilli) is a dour man who while respected by his teammates and fans was never a club house insider.  Furillo would routinedly travel to and from games by himself as opposed to joining one of the fabled "Dodger  car pools" from Bay Ridge.  In fact Furillo would go out of his way to live in Queens, so he could stay far away from the epicenter of the team, which was Bay Ridge Brooklyn.  Furillo might have been faulted for his loner attitude, but he could never be accused of not being a total professional and one of the hardest outs in the National League.  Glavine knowing what he was up against decided at first to pick the corners in the hopes of getting Skoonj to chase something bad.  This would not work and so Glavine was forced to come inside which was a mistake as Furillo turned on it and lined a clean single to left to put Brooklyn up 2-1.

On a day where runs would come at a premium that 2-1 lead would loom large.  Clem Labine, who usually works out of the pen, relished his time in the spotlight as a starter and cruised for 7 innings before tiring.  Ben Wade would start the 8th in relief of Labine, but leave after recording just 1 out after he walked pinch hitter Pendelton.  Game 5 winner Carl Erskine was called on to close the game out from an unfamiliar spot as a reliever.  Oisk would easily get Chipper and McGriff to fly out to end the 8th.  After fanning Klesko to start the 9th Oisk go pinch hitter David Justice to fly easily to Robinson in left.  When pinch hitter Mike Mordecai walked the fans began to get that uneasy feeling that they had known since 1941 when Mickey Owen dropped a called strike 3 that would have ended a Fall Classic game with the Dodgers winning.  Instead the Yankees would get new life on that day and "Ole Reliable" Tommy Henrich would single home the winning run to start a string of fall disappointments for Brooklyn.  With Lemke due up next Oisk knew what he had to do.  He quickly got 2 strikes on the diminutive second baseman and decided to not play around and try to make him chase a bad pitch, which is the popular convention in baseball.  Instead Oisk went back to his bread and butter 12/6 curveball and dropped a beauty in their for a called strike 3 to end the game and the series.  The fans in Brooklyn celebrated up and down Empire Blvd.
Dodgers win series 4-3

GAME 6 - Ebbets Field - ATL 8, BKN 6 (11 inn)
Greg Maddux vs Bob Milliken
Fans came from all over the borough of churches to see their Bums close out the Braves.  What they were treated to was a wild and wacky back and forth contest that ended like so many other big games have in Brooklyn, in heartbreak fashion.  Neither starter (Maddux or Milliken) could control the explosive offenses that they were facing.  Greg Maddux was equally a victim of his team's fielding as Mark Lemke picked up the mantle for Jeff Blauser and made his 3rd error of the tourney.  Atlanta struck first when Grissom led off the game with a triple and scored on Lemke's single to make it 1-0.  It would stay that way until the bottom of the 4th when "the silent man" Gil Hodges hit a 2 run shot.  If Duke Snider wasn't pegged at the plate on the previous play (Campy's double) the score would have been 3-1.  Atlanta took advantage of that by going ahed 4-2 thanks to a Javy Lopez 3 run homer in the 6th.  Campy's lead off homer in the 7th made it 4-3, but McGriff returned the favor with a solo shot in the 8th to put the Braves back up by 2 with 6 outs to go.  Maddux would easily get the first 2 outs in the 8th, but after a harmless single by Snider it all began to unravel thanks to Lemke's error of an easy grounder by Furillo.  That set the stage for a 2 out 2 run single by Hodges, who might be Brooklyn's most beloved hero.  Just like that Atlanta's 2 run lead was gone.  The game was now tied and Brooklyn fans were hoping and praying for just one 1 as the game headed to extras.  Neither team scored in the 10th.  Jim Hughes, who got the final out of the 10th would start the 11th for the Dodgers.  Pinch hitter Pendleton would lead off with a walk and defensive replacement 19 year old Andruw Jones would single to put runners on 1st and 2nd with nobody out.  Marquis Grissom, who would go 4-6 on the day  would crush his second triple to give the Braves a 2 run lead.  A long fly to center by Chipper would extend the lead to 3.  Mike Bielecki would record 2 quick outs in the bottom of the 11th, but it's never over when you are facing a potent lineup like the one Brooklyn features.  With 2 out, the "little colonel" Pee Wee Reese homered to make it a 2 run game.  Junior Gilliam followed that up with a clean single to center.  With Jackie Robinson stepping up to the plate it was time for a change.  Atlanta manager Zaner went to the pen and summoned Greg McMichael who on 4 pitchers got Jackie to fly to Klesko in left to force a decisive game 7.
Series tied 3-3

GAME 5 - Fulton County Stadium - BKN 3, ATL 1
Carl Erskine vs John Smoltz
After yesterday's slugfest the fans came expecting a pitcher's duel.  What they got to see was classic Erskine.  When "Oisk's" 12/6 curve is dropping he is unhittable.  Today was just such a day as Carl Erskine struck out 12 Braves batters, which included Jermaine Dye 4 times for the golden sombrero.  Smoltzie, to his credit, battled all day even though he did not have his best stuff.  In fact Smoltzie fanned 7 and walked none, but he was not able to overcome the two runs Brooklyn scored off of him in the top of the first before he finally settled down.  Ab RBI single by Snider and a sac fly by Skoonj gave Oisk a 2-0 lead before he even toed the rubber.  A solo shot by Campy in the 4th staked Oisk to a 3-0 lead.  Atlanta had their chance to tie it in the 8th when Terry Pendleton led off with a pinch hit single.  Pendleton replaced Jeff Blauser who made his 9th error of the series by this point.  After pinch hitter David Justice was called out on strikes, Marquis Grissom followed suit to make it 2 outs.  Mark Lemke singled to put runners on the corners and Chipper Jones came through with an RBI single to make 3-1.  Atlanta was finally on the board and the fans were thinking they just might have solved Erskine.  Up stepped the "crime dog", Fred McGriff, who launched one deep down the right field line that looked to be gone.  Furillo raced back and waited for what seemed like an eternity for the ball to come out of the clouds and drop into his mitt while he was standing with his back to the wall.  McGriff's shot died in the glove of the Reading Rifle and so did Atlanta's chances to win the pivotal game 5.
Dodgers lead series 3-2

GAME 4 - Fulton County Stadium - BKN 9, ATL 8
Preacher Roe vs Denny Neagle
Braves manager Douglas Zaner eloquently called this game, "The Turning Point".  After an explosive 5 run outburst in the bottom of the 7th inning Atlanta looked to have this game put away.  With the score 8-5 and Brooklyn's hopes seemingly crushed the suspect pen of the Braves gave 4 runs back in the top of the 8th.  Greg McMichael and Mark Wohlers combined in their generosity.  Between the two they could only get 1 out.  Brad Clontz came on to bail them out and he too couldn't get an out.  It wasn't until Pedro Borbon Jr. got Duke Snider to hit into a DP did the inning end.  Just like that Atlanta went from the brink of going up 3-1 in the series to allowing Brooklyn to get right back into it with the series now tied at 2. The heart of the Dodger order (3-4-5) was unstoppable.  Jackie Robinson (2-4, 2 RBI), Carl Furillo (4-5, 3 RBI) and Duke Snider (2-5, RBI) broke the collective backs of the Brave pen.  Jermaine Dye made two huge errors in the outfield, which could not be made up by his good (2-4, RBI) day at the plate.  Snider hit Brooklyn's lone homer on the day.  Atlanta wasted 4 round trippers (Lopez, Dye, Blauser & Klesko).  Ben Wade notched the win for Brooklyn even though he gave up a run in his only inning of work.  Jim Hughes finished out the game allowing just 1 hit and no runs to protect Brooklyn's 1 run lead over the final 2 frames.
Series tied 2-2

10/19 – 10/21 – Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Game 3 – ’96 Braves 6, ’53 Dodgers 3
Glavine Vs. Loes

With the series moving to Atlanta, it was the Dodgers turn to strike in their first at-bat.  Braves’ starter Tom Glavine, notorious for 1st-inning woes, was true to form, surrendering 3 hits, 3 walks and a wild pitch.  Having faced all 9 Brooklyn batters, Glavine was lucky the Jackie Robinson’s and Roy Campanella’s hits were only singles and only plated 3 runs. But Glavine settled down after that and allowed only 3 hits and 3 walks over the next 5 innings.  Meanwhile, 23-year old Brooklyn starter Billy Loes had no trouble with the Atlanta hitters, setting them down with ease.  Only 1 Braves base runner managed to reach as far as 2nd base through 7 innings.   Atlanta finally broke through, and in a big way, in the bottom of the 8th when with 2 outs Ryan Klesko hit a huge 3-run HR, and suddenly the game was tied.

Neither team scored in the 9th inning, and it was time for free baseball.

On in relief, Pedro Borbon (1-1) set down Brooklyn in order in the top of the 10th.  Marquis Grissom led off the Atlanta half of the 10th with a single off Dodgers reliever Ben Wade (0-1), and one out later advanced to 2nd base on a walk.  Fred McGriff then singled up the middle, and Grissom, the fastest runner on the field, rounded 3rd with plans to score the winning run. However, Duke Snyder though otherwise and fired a bullet to Campanella at home to nail Grissom for the 2nd out.  But the disappointment of the deflated Atlanta crowd turned to elation when the next batter Ryan Klesko worked the count full, then fouled off 2 pitches, and then stunned everyone with yet another 3-run bomb to give Atlanta a 6-3 walk off win. For the game, Klesko was 3-3 with 2 walks, 2 HRs and 6 RBIs.  

’96 Braves lead 2-1
--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

Game 2 – ’96 Braves 5, ’53 Dodgers 4,
Labine Vs. Maddux

A Chipper Jones 3-run HR in the top of the 1st game Atlanta an early 3-0 lead.  But the Braves gave it away in the bottom of the 3rd.  Gil Hodges doubled and scored on an infield ground out.  It appeared that would be all when Jim Gilliam hit a routine, 2-out grounder to Chipper Jones.  But Jones let the ball play him, and Brooklyn made him pay.  Robinson and Snider followed with RBI singles.  And with the 2 unearned runs the Dodgers had tied the score.  Although Brooklyn starter Clem Labine had only thrown 80 pitches after 5 innings of work, manager Andy Weinrib had decided he’d seen enough and brought in long-reliever Bob Millikin.  It proved fateful, as a Jeff Blauser 2-out, 2-run double off Millikin gave the Braves the lead again 5-3.   Meanwhile, Greg Maddux continued to pith well until he ran out of gas after 6.2 innings.  Mark Wohlers got out of the 7th, although he gave up a solo shot to Carl Furillo in the 8th to pull the Dodgers within a run.  But Pedro Borbon sat down all 4 batters he faced to pick up the save and preserve the win for Maddux (2-1).  Millikin (1-1) took the loss.        

Series tied 1-1
--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

10/17 – 10/18 – Ebbets Field
Game 1 – ’53 Dodgers 3, ’96 Braves 2
Erskine Vs. Smoltz

With both staff aces on top of their game, this one had all the makings of a good, close match…and it was. Fred McGriff put Atlanta on top with an RBI double in the 1st inning. But the Dodgers went up 2-1 on back to back doubles by Carl Furillo and Roy Campanella, and an infield groundout. The score remained that way until the 9th inning, when Atlanta managed to scratch out a tie without the benefit of a hit off reliever Joe Black. 2 walks, a wild pitch and an infield out knotted the score at 2. But it didn’t stay that way long. Duke Snider greeted reliever Greg McMichaels with a single, advanced to 2nd on a walk, advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch, and then scored the winning run moments later on a Gil Hodges single. Black (1-0) had blown the save but got the win. McMichaels (0-1) took the loss.

’53 Dodgers lead 1-0
--submitted by Douglas Zaner--

GAME 7 – Sportsman Park – BKN 8, STL 5
Joe Hatten vs Harry Gumbert
Tension filled the air in the Gateway city thanks to the finality that is felt on every pitch during a decisive game 7. Brooklyn broke the ice with 2 runs in the top of the 3^rd when Pee Wee Reese launched a sac fly to right to score Stanky with the bases loaded. Furillo followed with an RBI single before Jorgensen grounded out to end the inning. The 2-0 lead that Joe Hatten was given didn’t last long. After Litwhiler led off the bottom of the third by taking one off the noggin, Marty Marion doubled for the first of his 3 consecutive hits on the day. Hurler Gumbert lifted a sac fly to Furillo in left and Lou Klein singled home Marion to tie the game at 2-2. Hatten was  on the ropes at this point and was lucky to get Walker to pop out to short as St. Louis’ centerfielder was caught swinging from his heels hoping to go deep. No way Hatten was pitching to Musial who got a no brainer intentional pass in order to face Walker Cooper who grounded out to short to end the inning. Brooklyn would pick up where they left off in the 3^rd when Bruce Edwards led off the 4^th with a single and moved to second on Hatten’s sac attempt. Pete Reiser lined a double into the right center gap to make it 3-2, then scored on another White Kurowski error at the hot corner. After Carl Furillo and Jorgensen led off the 5^th with consecutive singles, Skoonj would score from third on a room service 6-4-3 DP off of Edwards’ bat to make it 5-2. Ray Sanders’ sac fly in the bottom of the 6^th scored Musial to bring the Redbirds back to within 2. Brooklyn would blow it open in the 7^th with 3 runs. After Reese walked and Furillo doubled Jorgensen was given an intentional pass. Edwards hit into his second consecutive run scoring DP, which for the moment was keeping the Cards and starter turned reliever Mort Cooper still in the game. Hatten stepped to the plate with 2 out and delivered an RBI single to give himself a 4 run lead. After a balk by Cooper, Reiser lined a single to right to balloon the lead to 5. Hatten looked fully intent on giving back the big lead he just received. After 3 consecutive  singles (Litwhiler, Marion & Pinch hitter Demaree) St. Louis was poised to make a run. Klein’s medium length fly ball to Furillo in left scored Litwhiler to make it 8-4. Harry Walkers untimely DP ended the inning a for all intents and purposes ended St. Louis’ chances of threatening Brooklyn. Kurowski’s lead off homer in the bottom of the 9^th off of reliever Clyde King made it a 3 run game. King got his sea legs and fanned the next two batters (Litwhiler / O’Dea). Pinch hitter Debs Garms would hit a hard chopper to Reese at short to end the game and the series. The Dodgers will await the winner of the '53 Brooklyn vs '96 Braves series to see who the meet in the finals
Brooklyn wins series 4 games to 3

GAME 6 – Sportsman Park – BKN 9, STL 1
Ralph Branca vs Howie Pollet
Down 3 games to two the Dodgers had the unenviable task of having to win two straight contests on the road. On the mound for them was their ace Ralph Branca. Most baseball fans only remember Branca for that ill fated day in the Polo Grounds in 1951 when he gave up quite possibly the most famous homer of all time in baseball history. Most neglect to realize that he was a fantastic starter who won 20 games in 1947 at the ripe old age of 21. Branca proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was a clutch pitcher by going the distance and allowing just a meaningless 8^th inning run by the Cardinals. By the end of the 3^rd inning it looked like a lock that we’d see game 7 as the Dodgers went up 6-0 off of Pollet, who had nothing in his arsenal on the day. Brooklyn scored 5 huge runs in the 3^rd to pretty much end all hopes by the Cards real early. Pistol Pete Reiser’s three run shot capped off a huge inning for the Brooks, who made it 7-0 with 2 in the 7^th thanks to back to back errors by Wally Kurowski. St. Louis did manage 10 hits, including 4 by Lou Klein, but they could never piece them together. Jackie Robinson had 3 hits in 5 AB’s, which helped make it an easy day for Branca on the hill.
Series tied 3-3

GAME 5 - Ebbets Field – STL 2, BKN 1
Mort Cooper vs Vic Lombardi
Both starters pitched their hearts out, but to no avail, as the game headed to extra innings tied a 1-1. Cooper was given the impossible task of keeping Brooklyn off the scoreboard for 9 innings after Lou Klein led the game off with a homer to make it 1-0 Cards. Cooper looked like he was going to perform the impossible until pinch hitter Arky Vaugh tripled with 1 out in the bottom of the 9^th. “Pistol” Pete Reiser popped out to short for the second out of the inning. It all rested squarely on the shoulders of Rookie of the Year Jackie Robinson, who lined a single to right to send the game to extra innings. What a clutch 2 out hit by the man who has spent the whole 1947 season fighting against racist remarks and poor behavior by fans in visiting cities. Robinson attempted to steal second, but could not get a good jump and was eventually forced at second by a weak grounder by his keystone partner Reese. Neither  team scored in the 10^th. With one out in the 11^th Stan “the Man” Musial launched a tape measure shot into the middle of Bedford Avenue to put the Redbirds up 2-1 off of reliever Harry Taylor. Bruce Edwards would lead off the bottom of the 11^th with a clean single off of Cardinal reliever Howie Krist. Stanky would bunt him into scoring position for pinch hitter Gene Hermanski who grounded weakly to short. With Edwards on third with 2 out Reiser needed a hit to keep the game going. He would hit a 1 hop bullet back to the box that Krist would easily snare and toss to Sanders at first for the final out.
St. Louis leads series 3-2

GAME 4 – Ebbets Field – STL 9, BKN 8
Max Lanier vs Joe Hatten
After consecutive 1-0 shutouts it was only a matter of  time before the offense exploded for both teams. As you all know Ebbets field will never be known as a pitching friendly park and today’s 5 homers proved exactly why that statement is true. With the game knotted at 4-4 the Cards erupted for 3 runs in the top of the 6^th thanks to a sac fly by Danny Litwhiler and a two run homer by Walker Cooper. Brooklyn go 2 of those runs back in the 7^th when Eddie Miksis, making a rare start, singled with 2 out to score Reese and Edwards. An RBI triple by Lou Klein and a single by Harry Walker put the Redbirds back up by 3 in the top of the 8^th. Brooklyn stayed right in the thick of it by answering back with 2 runs of their own. Carl Furillo led off the bottom of the 8^th with a homer and Pee Wee Reese doubled home Jackie Robinson with 2 out to make it 9-8. Harry Brecheen, who had a rocky 8^th inning in relief of Lanier looked to be cruising in the 9^th, until pinch hitter Cookie Lavagetto singled with 2 outs. Sknoonj battled Brecheen to a full count then fouled off 3 pitches before popping out to Marty Marion at short to end the game.
Series tied 2-2

GAME 3 – Ebbets Field – BKN 1, STL 0
Harry Gumpert vs Ralph Branca
Same score, same scenario, different results. Gumbert and Branca locked up in a scoreless tie until Dixie Walker singled home Pete Reiser with 2 out. St. Louis threatened in the 9^th when Walker Cooper doubled off the left field wall with 1 out. Ralph Branca, who looked to be tiring was able to dig down deep for some high cheddar to fan Ray Sanders and pinch hitter Ken O’Dea to close his 4 hit shutout out in style.
Brooklyn leads 2-1

GAME 2 – Sportsman Park – STL 1, BKN 0
Harry Taylor vs Mort Cooper
Mort Cooper did just what a stopper does by going the distance and tossing a neat 5 hitter while striking out 8. Harry Taylor was doing his darndest to keep Brooklyn even as he and Cooper were battling toe to toe in a scoreless tie until the bottom of the 7^th when Ray Sanders singled home Harry Walker with 2 out. That would be the only run scored for either team in the contest. Eddie Stanky led off the top of the 8^th with a single for Brooklyn, but got stranded. In the 9^th Bruce Edwards singled with 2 outs, but Spider Jorgensen forced him at second to end the game.

Series tied 1-1

GAME 1 – Sportsman Park – BKN 4, STL 1
Joe Hatten vs Max Lanier
Lou Klein’s 2 out RBI single plated Harry “the Hat” Walker to make it 1-0 Redbirds. His brother Dixie Walker’s ground out tied the game as pitcher Joe Hatten jogged home from 3^rd in the top of the 5^th. Hatten reached base after Max Lanier struck him out to open the 5^th, but catcher Walker Cooper dropped the ball and didn’t pick it up until it rolled all the way to the backstop. In the top of the 6^th Brooklyn would get a lead off hit by Arky Vaughn and a clean single by catcher Bruce Edwards to put runners on 1^st and 2^nd. Cookie Lovagetto flew out to left and the second out was made when Hatten bunted the runners up 90 feet. After Carl Furillo walked on 5 pitches, “the Bratt” Eddie Stanky lined a double into left center to score Vaughn and Edwards. Furillo was given the green light to head home, but was pegged by a great throw by left fielder Danny Litwhiler for out number 3. Furillo would lead off the 9^th against reliever Mury Dickson with a double down the left field line. Stanky would bunt Skoonj over to third where he scored on a ground out by Pee Wee Reese. Litwhiler would lead off the bottom of the 9^th with a walk. Stan Musial and White Kurowski would follow with singles to load the bases. Hatten would get Walker Cooper to line out to first for out number 1. Hugh Casey would come in from the pen to get Ray Sanders to line out to third and Walker to ground out to short to end it.

Brooklyn leads series 1-0

1996 Atlanta Braves vs 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers

1943 StL Cardinals vs 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers

GAME 1 - Sportsman Park - STL 6, PIT 1
Lee Meadows vs Al Brazle
Al Braze was nursing a 2-1 lead, courtesy of a 2 run blast by Walker Cooper in the 2nd, until the troops rallied for 3 runs in the home half of the 7th to chase Meadows from the hill.  With two out, that man...Stan Musial, knocked in 2 with a triple then scored on Kurowski's clean single to right.  Marty Marion would shoot an RBI single to right in the 8th to make it 6-1.  Brazle went the distance by scattering 7 hits and fanning 3 without walking a batter.
Cardinals lead series 1-0

GAME 2 - Sportsman Park - STL 4, PIT 3
Carmen Hill vs Max Lanier
The Redbirds struck for 2 runs in both the first and the  third to give Max Lanier a 4-1 lead.  Once again it was Stan Musial doing the damage.  This time "the man" hit a 2 run shot in the 1st and an RBI single in the 3rd.  Clyde Barnhardt's solo shot with one out in the 6th made it 4-2 and Glenn Wright's RBI single in the 9th cut it to a 1 run Cardinal lead.  Lanier was facing a man on 1st with 1 out was able to get the next two batters to ground out weakly to second to close out the complete game performance.
Cardinals lead series 2-0

GAME 3 - Forbes Field - PIT 9, STL 2
Mort Cooper vs Ray Kremer
Cooper who for years was one of the stalwarts of the Cardinal staff had nothing as evidenced by the 6 run outburst by the Bucs in the bottom of the 2nd.  Pittsburgh needed this game to stay alive in the series and won this one in convincing style.  Ray Kremer would go the distance and give up just 2 runs  He threw just 97 pitches in a very tidy outing.  Buc second sacker George Grantham hit two homers and knocked in 3 to pace the Steeltown offense.  Glenn Wright was also big going 3 for 3 with 2 RBI's.
Cardinals lead series 2-1

GAME 4 - Forbes Field - PIT 4, STL 3 (13 inn)
Howie Pollet vs Vic Aldridge
Vic Aldridge had little margin for error as he gamely protected a 3-2 lead until the Cards tied it up in the 8th on a double by guess who...Yes, Stan Musial.  Once again, "the Man" put a crip in Pittsburgh's plans to extend the series.  Thankfully Johnny Miljus was able to come on board and get the final 2 outs of the inning and at least preserve the tie.  Miljus would weave his magic for 5 1/3 scoreless innings of relief until his mates could finally push across the game winning run in the bottom of the 13th.  With one out Lloyd "little poison" Waner singled to right.  Barnhart followed with a knock of his own.  That set the stage for "Big Poison" Paul Waner to win it with a clean single to center to score his brother and tie the series.
Series tied 2-2

GAME 5 - Sportsman Park - STL 7, PIT 0
Lee Meadows vs Al Brazle
So far the home team had won all 4 games played.  Would this pattern repeat ?  It sure would and in a very big way.  St. Louis did not disappoint the hometown fans who must have thought that a game 5 would never have been played being the Redbirds left St. Louis up 2-0.  The Cards would score their first run in the bottom of the first on a ground out by Whitey Kurowski.  Starting in the 3rd inning the Cards would score 2 runs in each of the next 3 innings to go up 7-0.  If they had TV broadcasts back then the few fans that owned a Dumont console would have been shutting them off in Pittsburgh knowing their boys were going down for the count.  Kurowksi would  knock in 3 runs on the day including a 2 run blast in the 3rd.  Tablesetters Marty Marion and Harry "the Hat" Walker each had 2 hits and scored runs.  Musial took the collar for the first time in the series, but his team didn't need his output at all as Al Brazle kept the Bucs off stride all day and cruised to a 5 hit shutout even though he walked 4 and did not fan even a single batter.
Cardinals win series 3-2

GAME 1 - Polo Grounds - ATL 8, NYG 4
Greg Maddux vs Sheldon Jones
On paper this pitching matchup looked to be completely one sided.  The numbers didn't lie on bit as the Braves knocked around Jones for 7 runs in less than 6 innings of work.  The game was actually scoreless until the 4th when both teams exchanged 2 run half innings.  After that it was all Braves all the time.  Back to back RBI singles by Marquis Grissom and Jermaine Dye put the Braves up 4-2 in the 5th.  A 3 run homer by pinch hitter Mark Whiten made it 7-2 and a RBI single by Fred McGriff in the 7th made it 8-2.  Maddux was done for he day after 7, which brings up an issue for the Braves in this tournament.  Can their bullpen protect the leads that their starting pitching hands off to them ?  "Bad" Clontz (all puns intended) gave 2 runs back in the 8th to give the Giants some sort of hope.  Don "Mandrake" Mueller tripled home Bobby Thomson who led the inning off with a walk.  "The Brat", Eddie Stanky doubled home Mueller.  The 9th inning was uneventful as Greg McMichael replaced Clontz and didn't allow a run.
Braves lead series 1-0

GAME 2 - Polo Grounds - NYG 3, ATL 1
Tom Glavine vs Sal Maglie
”The Barber”, Sal Maglie was brilliant on the afternoon  giving up just 2 hits on the day, with one being a Chipper Jones solo blast in the 4th.  Maglie would go the distance fanning 8 Braves along the way.  Glavine, for his troubles, went 6 and gave up only 1 earned (2 total) runs during his tenure.  A Mark Lemke error in the 4th led to New York's first run.  A solo shot by catcher Wes Westrum made it 2-1 in the 5ht and after reliever Wade walked 3 consecutive batters in the 7th Alvin Dark scored New York's 3rd run of the day on a Westrum ground out to short for his second RBI of the day.  New York would leave 8 runners on base, but Maglie's stellar performance negated that awful stat.
Series tied 1-1

GAME 3 - Fulton County Stadium - ATL 6, NYG 2
Jim Hearn vs John Smoltz
After tossing shutout ball for 7 innings Smoltzie took an early exit and left the game in the hands of the Atlanta pen.  Leading 6-0 that seemed to be the safe thing to do.  McMichael had a bumpy 8th inning where he allowed 2 hits, but he was able to survive it.  Wohlers could only get 2 outs in the 9th before yielding 2 runs and making it a game.  Pedro Borbon Jr. had to be called upon to get Wes Westrum for the final out after Bobby Thomson's 2 out 2 run single.  "The Crime Dog", Fred McGriff, paced Atlanta's offense going 4 for 4 with and RBI and a double.  Chipper Jones was 2 for 2 with 2 runs scored and 3 walks.  Apparently Chipper victimizes any team that represents the city of New York and not just the Metropolitians.  New York had 9 hits on the day, but could not come up with the big one until it was too late.
Braves lead series 2-1

GAME 4 - Fulton County Stadium - ATL 8, NYG 7
Larry Jansen vs Mike Bielecki
Do or die for the 'Jints.  A win here sends the series back to Gotham tied a 2.  A loss sends the Braves on to the next round.  New York came out swinging and knocked Bielecki out of the box by the 2nd inning.  A 3 run top of the 1st was marred by an opening error by left fielder Ryan "lead glove" Klesko and 4 walks by the wild Bielecki.  In fact the only hit of the inning was an RBI single by Willie Mays, who had been otherwise quiet for the first 3 games of the series.  Jansen had his own control problems in the 3rd as he walked Jones and McGriff with 2 outs to load the bases for Klesko who showed why he plays ever day with a 2 run single to cut New York's lead to 3-2.  By the 5th inning Atlanta had Wade on the hill and once again he ran into trouble.  With 2 out Wes Westrum  launched a blast to left center that narrowly missed being a grand slam, but turned into a bases clearing double.  Stanky followed that with a single to push across the Giants 4th run of the inning to make it 7-2.  Even after Javy Lopez singled home Chipper in the 5th to make it 7-3 most folks had this sinking feeling that the series would be headed to a 5th game.  That empty feeling would evaporate in the 7th when Atlanta victimized a duo of New York relievers (Kennedy & Koslo) for 5 runs.  A lead off walk to Chipper was followed by McGriff fanning.  19 year old Andruw Jones was called off the bench to pinch hit for Klesko to get the lefty righty matchup.  Jones slammed a double, the first of 3 consecutive doubles by the Braves.  Lopez and Walton would follow with their two baggers.  Dye would pinch hit for Blauser and single.  Even reliever Steve Avery got into the mix with a double of his own.  Marquis Grissom closed out the scoring by lifting a sac fly to right.  When the dust settled New York's 7-3 lead was now and 8-7 deficit.  Now the spotlight would shine squarely on Greg McMichael who had to get throught the heart of the Giants order.  McMichael came through like a champion by pitching 2 perfect innings of relief to notch the save and close out the Giants.  Avery was awarded the win even though his 2 2/3 innings of relief featured 3 earned runs on 4 hits.  He earned the win more with his RBI double than with his left arm.
Braves win series 3-1

GAME 1 - Ebbets Field - BKN 4, CUB 3
Charley Root vs Ralph Branca
Player Manager Charlie Grimm doubled home Johnny Moore in the top of the 2nd to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead.  Brooklyn would answer right back with a 3 run explosion in the bottom of the frame which helped hasten Charley Root's departure.  With 1 out Spider Jorgensen singled home "the People's Cherse" Dixie Walker to tie the score at 1-1.  Two batters later Ralph Branca hit a dibbler between first and second for a seeing eyed single to score Carl Furillo.  Pee Wee Reese's RBI double made it 3-1.  A 2 run homer by backstop Gabby Hartnett momentarily tied the game at 3-3 in the 6th, but the Dodgers would score a solo run thanks to another RBI single by Jorgensen to go back up by 1.  Branca would protect his 1 run lead by fanning 8 and going the distance to close out the game.  Jorgensen was the hitting star going 3 for 4 with 2 RBI's.
The Dodgers lead the series 1-0

GAME 2 - Ebbets Field - BKN 5, CUB 0
Lon Warneke vs Joe Hatten
Don't for second let the final score confuse you into thinking that this was a one sided blow out in favor of the Boys of Summer.  In fact the fans on Bedford Ave were treated to a scoreless pitcher's duel for 6 1/2 innings of play until the Dodgers plated 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th off of Lon Warneke, who was victimized by bad fielding from right fielder Kiki Cuyler.  With runners on 1st (Edwards) & 2nd (Walker) Spider Jorgensen singled to right.  Walker made a mad dash coming around third and drew an ill advised throw from Cuyler which skipped passed Hartnett and allowed Walker to score and Jorgensen to sneak into 3rd where he would score on a ground out by "the Brat" Eddie Stanky.  A 3 run homer by Gene Hermanski off of Bob Smith in the bottom of the 8th sealed the deal.  Joe Hatten, who was pitching shutout ball, was replaced by Hugh Casey in the 9th even thought Brooklyn's lefty starter felt he deserved the right to finish up and defend his 5 run lead.
The Dodgers lead the series 2-0

GAME 3 - West Side Grounds - CUB 9, BKN 0
Vic Lombardi vs Pat Malone
With the Chicago Bears hosting an NFL contest over at Wrigley the game was held in the dilapidated West Side Grounds.  What the old park doesn't offer in amenities it does offer in karma, since that is the place the Cubs last won a World Championship.  The story on the day was short and simple.  Pat Malone dominated Brooklyn by going the distance and tossing a neat 3 hitter with 8 k's.  Case closed nothing else to really say.  With the score 6-0 Cubs after 5 the only thing really on the line was the shutout.  When Pee Wee Reese led off the top of the 9th with a single there was a slight chance Brooklyn could get on the scoreboard.  Jackie Robinson's around the horn 5-4-3 DP erased all hope and Dixie Walker's grounder to short closed the book.  Hitting star for Chicago was Johnny Moore, who went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI's and 3 run homer in the 8th.
The Dodgers lead the series 2-1

GAME 4 - Wrigley Field - CUB 14, BKN 7
Harry Taylor vs Guy Bush
Moving north to Wrigley in no way shape of form hurt the Cubbies who banged out 16 hits and scored 14 runs.  Chicago actually trailed 4-3, but unloaded for 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th to make it 7-4 and they never looked back.  Johnny Moore once again paced the offense going 3 for 4 with 4 runs scored and 4 RBI's.  Moore also had a homer and a double.  Player-manager Charlie Grimm was 3 for 5 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored.  Grimm's 2 run double in the bottom of the first narrowly missed being a homer.  Cub starter Guy Bush was less than spectacular with 6 runs allowed in 5 innings of work.  Thankfully his offense came to do damage and bombarded Dodger starter Harry Taylor and reliever Clyde King.  The "People's Ch-er-ce" Dixie Walker had his 4 for 5 day go to waste as Brooklyn had no arms.  Judging by the score one would think the winds were blowing out, but that really wasn't the case with a slight 5mph breeze going from right to left.
Series tied 2-2

GAME 5 - Ebbets Field - BKN 6, CUB 1
Charley Root vs Ralph Branca
Cub manager Jim Walden was more than shocked to be taking the train into Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan.  After his charges went down 2-0 he figured he'd be one and done and heading home for dinner.  After shellacking Brooklyn in the Windy City the Cubs headed east with a lot of bravado.  The Dodgers on the other hand were a bit nervous and a lot apprehensive about facing another post season collapse.  Fans who walked 3 avenues from the IRT on Eastern Parkway were cheered up almost immediately when Spider Jorgensen slammed a two run homer over the fence into the middle of Bedford Avenue.  Thanks to a Billy Herman error at second Jackie Robinson took full advantage and immediately stole second and was singled home by the "Little Colonel" Pee Wee Reese to make it 3-0.  Kiki Cuyler would lead off the the 6th with a blast off of Ralph Branca to make it 3-1 as things began to tighten as time began running short.  Brooklyn blew the game open with 3 runs off of reliever Jakie May in the bottom of the 8th.  Reese led the inning off with a single and moved to second when Dixie Walker did the same.  A wild pitch left first base open, so Furillo was issued an intentional pass.  Another WP allowed Reese to score easily.  Bruce Edwards fanned for the first out, but not before Spider Jorgensen single pushed the runners up further.  A passed ball charged to the normally sure handed Gabby Hartnet allowed another run to score.  Branca had a huge safety net heading into the 9th, so nobody worried when Moore had himself a 1 out single.  Grimm and Koenig would each make infield outs to end the game and the series.
The Dodgers win the series 3-2