WEBVTT 00:00:01.159 --> 00:00:04.459 This is Retro Sports Radio. Visit RetroSeasons 00:00:04.459 --> 00:00:36.570 .com for more sports history. Get them Braves. 00:00:36.770 --> 00:00:39.750 This is Earl Gillespie, along with my smiling 00:00:39.750 --> 00:00:42.390 sidekick, Blaine Walsh, inviting you to join 00:00:42.390 --> 00:00:44.649 us in recapturing the spine -tingling excitement 00:00:44.649 --> 00:00:47.549 of Milwaukee Braves baseball, the many memorable 00:00:47.549 --> 00:00:50.270 moments which have provided thrill after thrill 00:00:50.270 --> 00:00:53.270 for you fans. And it is to you, the loyal Milwaukee 00:00:53.270 --> 00:00:56.070 Braves fans, that this nostalgia -packed album 00:00:56.070 --> 00:00:59.609 is enthusiastically dedicated. Without your tremendous 00:00:59.609 --> 00:01:02.429 and consistent support, our Braves might never 00:01:02.429 --> 00:01:05.120 have risen to the great heights. Herein highlighted 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:18.340 and brought back for you to keep forever. The 00:01:18.340 --> 00:01:22.159 Big Red Letter Day came on March 8th, 1953. The 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:24.900 news spread like wildfire. Milwaukee had become 00:01:24.900 --> 00:01:29.109 Major League. Enthusiasm ran high. Civic celebrations, 00:01:29.629 --> 00:01:31.950 parades, and welcome demonstrations were the 00:01:31.950 --> 00:01:34.670 order of the day as impatient fans waited for 00:01:34.670 --> 00:01:39.010 their big moment. And what a moment it was. Milwaukee's 00:01:39.010 --> 00:01:42.109 first official Major League game. A tightly fought 00:01:42.109 --> 00:01:44.450 duel between the Cardinals and Braves in jam 00:01:44.450 --> 00:01:47.510 -packed Milwaukee County Stadium. An extra inning 00:01:47.510 --> 00:01:50.310 affair that saw the score tied at 2 -all as the 00:01:50.310 --> 00:01:52.329 Braves came up to bat on the last of the 10th. 00:01:52.349 --> 00:01:56.799 Do you remember? Will you ever forget? Here's 00:01:56.799 --> 00:01:58.939 Billy Bruton leading off for the Braves. Bullet 00:01:58.939 --> 00:02:01.000 Bill, outstanding young rookie center fielder. 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:02.879 Jerry Staley on the mound for the Cardinals. 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:05.819 Gets his side. Starts it on the windup. Here's 00:02:05.819 --> 00:02:08.080 the pitch. Billy cracks a long drive to deep 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:10.900 right field. Back, back. Enos Slaughter racing 00:02:10.900 --> 00:02:13.280 back. Leaps high at the wall. The ball's off 00:02:13.280 --> 00:02:15.740 Slaughter's glove. Out of the ballpark. Bruton 00:02:15.740 --> 00:02:18.900 slides in the third. No, wait a minute. He's 00:02:18.900 --> 00:02:21.400 being waved back to second. It's a ground rule 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:24.580 double. Whoops, here comes manager Charlie Grimm, 00:02:24.599 --> 00:02:27.520 waving his arms, arguing with umpire Lon Warnicke. 00:02:27.740 --> 00:02:30.719 Now the umpires are talking it over. Now Billy 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:34.439 is being waved around. And it's a homer. Home 00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:41.740 run for Billy Bruton. The Braves win 3 -2. And 00:02:41.740 --> 00:02:44.520 that fantastic beginning keynoted a season of 00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:47.139 tremendous thrills and excitement. Spearheaded 00:02:47.139 --> 00:02:50.069 by unbelievable fan support. The charging Braves 00:02:50.069 --> 00:02:52.069 were thick in the pennant pursuit, along with 00:02:52.069 --> 00:02:54.590 the Dodgers, Cards, and believe it or not, the 00:02:54.590 --> 00:02:57.669 Philadelphia Phils. By June 3rd, the Braves led 00:02:57.669 --> 00:03:00.229 the league by a game and a half. Warren Spahn 00:03:00.229 --> 00:03:02.189 was enjoying a great year, which was to bring 00:03:02.189 --> 00:03:05.969 him 21 victories. But the big surprise was roly 00:03:05.969 --> 00:03:08.129 -poly Max Sirkant, who wrote a new record on 00:03:08.129 --> 00:03:11.189 May 25th. Remember that cold and rainy night? 00:03:11.610 --> 00:03:14.729 Max the Yaks really mowed down the Redlegs, fanning 00:03:14.729 --> 00:03:17.150 seven Reds in a row when play was halted for 00:03:17.150 --> 00:03:19.849 nearly 40 minutes. The delay failed to bother 00:03:19.849 --> 00:03:22.949 Big Max. When the game resumed, he promptly proceeded 00:03:22.949 --> 00:03:26.069 to strike out Andy Semenik to rack up a new record 00:03:26.069 --> 00:03:29.629 of eight strikeouts in a row. A big night to 00:03:29.629 --> 00:03:32.729 remember. Another big sensation was the buster 00:03:32.729 --> 00:03:36.030 from Santa Barbara, 21 -year -old Eddie Matthews. 00:03:36.050 --> 00:03:39.310 Off to a red -hot start, Matthews had 26 four 00:03:39.310 --> 00:03:41.750 -baggers halfway through the season, but he was 00:03:41.750 --> 00:03:44.189 still looking for a big first in the long ball 00:03:44.189 --> 00:03:47.310 department. Then, on July 12th, at Busch Stadium 00:03:47.310 --> 00:03:52.530 in St. Louis, it happened. Left -handed batter 00:03:52.530 --> 00:03:54.449 Eddie Matthews. Bases are loaded and one out. 00:03:54.490 --> 00:03:59.069 The pitch to Eddie, a ball that's outside. Ball 00:03:59.069 --> 00:04:04.050 one and no strike. Hal White. A right -hander 00:04:04.050 --> 00:04:05.710 warming up is going to be joined now by another 00:04:05.710 --> 00:04:11.229 right -hander. Ed Herod, I believe. Ed Herod. 00:04:12.389 --> 00:04:14.229 Two right -handers warming up for the Cardinals. 00:04:30.139 --> 00:04:32.939 The first edition of the Milwaukee Braves was 00:04:32.939 --> 00:04:35.379 a power -packed wrecking crew, and they put on 00:04:35.379 --> 00:04:37.560 one of the greatest blasting exhibitions in baseball 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:40.819 history on August 20th in a Sunday doubleheader 00:04:40.819 --> 00:04:43.199 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The Milwaukee 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:46.600 Maulers belted 12 home runs to set a new National 00:04:46.600 --> 00:04:49.199 League record for homers in two consecutive games. 00:04:49.560 --> 00:04:52.480 Were you listening? Do you remember? Don't want 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:54.420 to count on Adcock. Joe has nothing for three. 00:04:55.100 --> 00:04:56.860 The pitch is swing and drive back in the deep 00:04:56.860 --> 00:04:59.620 center field. Going back is Frank Thomas. Back 00:04:59.620 --> 00:05:03.040 on this ball. Back, back. Against the wall. 436 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:05.920 feet. Here's the run scoring as Adcock runs second 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:08.100 base on his way to third. And he is going to 00:05:08.100 --> 00:05:10.459 try to score. Here's the pipe coming in the home 00:05:10.459 --> 00:05:15.600 plate. He scores standing up. Holy cow. They're 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:20.680 calling it a home run inside the park. And then 00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:23.160 came that record -breaking blow by our old friend, 00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:45.879 Sid Gordon. Besides Adcox and Gordon's blasts, 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:48.040 Jim Pendleton and Eddie Matthews each hit for 00:05:48.040 --> 00:05:50.550 the circuit three times. Johnny Logan twice, 00:05:50.649 --> 00:05:53.209 and Jack Dittmer and Del Crandall once each. 00:05:53.389 --> 00:05:55.730 There were a lot of holy cows that day, Blainer. 00:05:55.810 --> 00:05:58.949 And how the fans loved their Braves. As the season 00:05:58.949 --> 00:06:01.629 drew to a close, Milwaukee and Wisconsin fans 00:06:01.629 --> 00:06:03.910 set a new all -time National League attendance 00:06:03.910 --> 00:06:10.529 mark of 1 ,826 ,397 patrons. So what if the Brooklyn 00:06:10.529 --> 00:06:13.110 Bums copped the pennant? Milwaukee had a special 00:06:13.110 --> 00:06:16.209 championship of its own. According to most baseball 00:06:16.209 --> 00:06:18.810 experts, without the enthusiasm of the fans, 00:06:19.050 --> 00:06:21.029 the Braves would not have achieved their fantastic 00:06:21.029 --> 00:06:24.670 climb from 7th place in 52 to their strong 2nd 00:06:24.670 --> 00:06:27.850 place finish in 53. Their first year in the beer 00:06:27.850 --> 00:06:40.750 and baseball capital of the world. The following 00:06:40.750 --> 00:06:43.110 year provided more and even bigger thrills for 00:06:43.110 --> 00:06:45.449 Braves fans who continue to jam County Stadium 00:06:45.449 --> 00:06:48.670 in unprecedented fashion. Well, the second chapter 00:06:48.670 --> 00:06:51.269 of the Milwaukee story was primarily one of injuries. 00:06:51.730 --> 00:06:53.790 Bobby Thompson, obtained in a big trade with 00:06:53.790 --> 00:06:55.910 the Giants, suffered a broken leg in a spring 00:06:55.910 --> 00:06:59.170 exhibition game. And popular Andy Pafko was beamed 00:06:59.170 --> 00:07:02.170 on opening day. And so it went all season long. 00:07:02.620 --> 00:07:04.740 Despite their miseries, the Braves put up a terrific 00:07:04.740 --> 00:07:07.079 battle and furnished some new and spectacular 00:07:07.079 --> 00:07:10.100 thrills, like this one, which took place on June 00:07:10.100 --> 00:07:13.600 12th. Remember? Here's the wind -up, and the 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:15.819 3 -2 pitch, a swing, a line drive down the left 00:07:15.819 --> 00:07:20.579 field line, and it's a foul ball! Holy cow! That 00:07:20.579 --> 00:07:26.220 ball was fouled by about a foot. Willie Jones, 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:32.430 lines one foul, just outside the line. And Jim 00:07:32.430 --> 00:07:34.470 Wilson is still standing on the threshold of 00:07:34.470 --> 00:07:36.370 a Hall of Fame. It's ball three and strike two. 00:07:36.410 --> 00:07:38.730 Two outs. ...on base here in the top half of 00:07:38.730 --> 00:07:47.490 the ninth inning. Milwaukee leading 2 -0. Jones 00:07:47.490 --> 00:07:49.610 takes his time coming back. That ball was fouled 00:07:49.610 --> 00:07:51.949 only by about a foot. A liner down the left field 00:07:51.949 --> 00:07:57.449 line. Ball three, strike two. Pendle gets down 00:07:57.449 --> 00:07:59.569 behind the plate, giving out a very important 00:07:59.569 --> 00:08:02.139 signal right now. Wilson wants a new baseball. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:06.019 Infield is set. The outfield is set. Playing 00:08:06.019 --> 00:08:08.620 Jones for a pull hitter. Ball three and strike 00:08:08.620 --> 00:08:11.680 two on Willie. Right -handed batter lifts his 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:13.220 bat up over his head, loosening up his shoulders. 00:08:14.740 --> 00:08:17.259 Now Jim goes down to the rosin sack. Gives it 00:08:17.259 --> 00:08:19.120 a squeeze. Throws it down. Ball three and strike 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:26.300 two. Two outs. Here's the windup. And the big 00:08:26.300 --> 00:08:28.740 pitch. A swing and a foul going upstairs to our 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:33.190 right. And it's still 3 -2 on Willie Jones. Dan 00:08:33.190 --> 00:08:39.029 Schell is due to come up next. Jones backs out 00:08:39.029 --> 00:08:40.769 of the batter's box momentarily. Leans over to 00:08:40.769 --> 00:08:42.889 pick up a handful of dirt. Drives off his hand. 00:08:43.750 --> 00:08:47.970 It's been a hot day here on June the 12th. Temperature 00:08:47.970 --> 00:08:51.649 is 81 degrees. Here's the windup. And the 3 -2 00:08:51.649 --> 00:08:53.110 pitch. A swing and a grovels hit to the second 00:08:53.110 --> 00:08:55.029 baseman. Picks it up. There's the play. The first. 00:08:55.190 --> 00:09:00.559 And Jim Wilson pitches a no -hit. Jimmy Wilson 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:04.340 has just entered the Hall of Fame with a no -hit 00:09:04.340 --> 00:09:06.820 game against the tough Philadelphia Phillies. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:11.620 Another memorable moment of 54 came on July 31st 00:09:11.620 --> 00:09:14.399 at historic Ebbets Field. Joe Adcock provided 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:16.820 the thrills as he won on a batting binge, the 00:09:16.820 --> 00:09:19.440 like of which had never been seen. Was your set 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:22.659 turned on when... Three home runs, a double, 00:09:22.779 --> 00:09:24.960 four runs scored, and six runs batted in for 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:27.580 Joe. First pitch by Padres, the curveball is 00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:29.899 high and outside for the ball. Ball one and no 00:09:29.899 --> 00:09:31.399 strikes. The top half of the ninth inning is 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:38.379 12 -6. Into the windup. The fastball swung on 00:09:38.379 --> 00:09:39.879 and drives back into the deep left center field. 00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:42.840 It's going back towards the wall. It's a home 00:09:42.840 --> 00:09:46.919 run. Joe Adcock has just tied a real major league 00:09:46.919 --> 00:09:49.960 record with his fourth home run today. What a 00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:53.200 one -man show by Jolton Joe. Adcock had also 00:09:53.200 --> 00:09:55.830 homered and doubled the day before. then maintained 00:09:55.830 --> 00:09:58.009 his extra base barrage by doubling the first 00:09:58.009 --> 00:10:01.049 time up the following day. And then came the 00:10:01.049 --> 00:10:03.330 beanball that sidelined the Cushota clubber for 00:10:03.330 --> 00:10:06.230 a number of days. And that was another in a string 00:10:06.230 --> 00:10:08.350 of injuries which included Eddie Matthews' split 00:10:08.350 --> 00:10:10.990 finger. Despite this run of hard luck, the Braves 00:10:10.990 --> 00:10:13.169 finished a creditable third, just seven and a 00:10:13.169 --> 00:10:15.110 half lengths behind the pennant -winning New 00:10:15.110 --> 00:10:18.110 York Giants. And again, Earl, it was the Braves 00:10:18.110 --> 00:10:20.210 fans themselves who accounted for one of the 00:10:20.210 --> 00:10:22.909 season's big highlights, breaking their own attendance 00:10:22.909 --> 00:10:25.669 record and showing up two million strong at County 00:10:25.669 --> 00:10:28.230 Stadium, the first time ever that a National 00:10:28.230 --> 00:10:30.629 League team clicked the turnstiles to the tune 00:10:30.629 --> 00:10:47.600 of two million. The 55 flag chase really started 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:50.059 with a flourish. Were you a fan in the stands 00:10:50.059 --> 00:10:52.080 on that opening day which provided one of our 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:55.320 greatest thrills? Remember how it went? The Braves 00:10:55.320 --> 00:10:57.580 trailed 2 -1 in the eighth, and the situation 00:10:57.580 --> 00:11:00.700 called for a pinch hitter for Warren Spahn. And 00:11:00.700 --> 00:11:03.000 thus it was that young Chuck Tanner made his 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:06.320 Major League debut. Now let's see if Warren Spahn 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:08.440 is coming out. I believe here comes Chuck Tanner. 00:11:10.539 --> 00:11:13.549 Chuck Tanner is going to bat. For the pitcher, 00:11:13.629 --> 00:11:23.710 Warren Spahn. A rookie up from Atlanta. Of the 00:11:23.710 --> 00:11:25.309 Southern Association, where he had a tremendous 00:11:25.309 --> 00:11:28.889 year. Chuck Tanner is making his first appearance 00:11:28.889 --> 00:11:32.330 in a major league ball game. He's an awfully 00:11:32.330 --> 00:11:37.649 nice shot. And a good hitter. He had a good spring. 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:42.580 Chuck, who last year hit .323 at Atlanta with 00:11:42.580 --> 00:11:46.679 20 home runs and 101 runs batted in. A lieutenant 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:50.740 swinger with one out of nobody on base. Jerry 00:11:50.740 --> 00:11:53.379 Staley, the right -hander, is ready. Here comes 00:11:53.379 --> 00:11:54.919 the first pitch, and Chuck swings at the line 00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:56.539 drive down the right field line, back towards 00:11:56.539 --> 00:11:59.639 the wall. Home run, his first time up in the 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:05.279 Major League. How dramatic can things get? In 00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:08.340 55, Milwaukee was all agog over hosting his first 00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:11.100 All -Star game. And the Braves were well represented 00:12:11.100 --> 00:12:14.139 by Del Crandall, Warren Spahn, Johnny Logan, 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:18.179 Ed Matthews, Henry Aaron, and lean, lanky Gene 00:12:18.179 --> 00:12:21.399 Conley. Do you recall Conley's memorable mound 00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:24.600 stint in the 12th inning? Two outs and nobody 00:12:24.600 --> 00:12:27.019 on base. Conley's first pitch to Al Rosen. Swung 00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:29.399 on and lane foul down the third baseline at strike 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:32.779 one. The National League outfield playing deep 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:36.580 and towards left for Al Rosen. Al was hampered 00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:38.860 quite a bit last year by an injury to one of 00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:47.840 his fingers. A strike one count. Five to five 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:52.960 in the top half of the 12th inning. Conley leaning 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:54.899 way over, getting his sign from Lopata. Strike 00:12:54.899 --> 00:12:57.659 one count. The pitch to Rosen. Curve misses inside. 00:12:57.779 --> 00:13:02.240 It's even up at ball one and strike one. Ball 00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:04.429 one, strike one. Shadows lengthening out here 00:13:04.429 --> 00:13:06.269 at Milwaukee County Stadium have now practically 00:13:06.269 --> 00:13:11.669 obliterated the infield. The wind -up on the 00:13:11.669 --> 00:13:14.090 one -and -one pitch. Rosen's trying to hold up 00:13:14.090 --> 00:13:16.009 on his swing. It's a strike, and it's one -and 00:13:16.009 --> 00:13:20.029 -two. Conley looks like he has that good curveball 00:13:20.029 --> 00:13:23.629 breaking for him this afternoon. As the American 00:13:23.629 --> 00:13:25.210 leaguers, the first three to face him here, have 00:13:25.210 --> 00:13:29.090 been reaching out for the pitch. Ball one, strike 00:13:29.090 --> 00:13:35.419 two. Two outs. Nobody on base. Rosen set on the 00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:38.559 batter's box. Straightaway stance. The pitch. 00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:41.759 Fastball is high and it's even up. Ball two, 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:53.580 strike two. 5 -5 ball game. Ball two and a strike 00:13:53.580 --> 00:13:56.379 two counter. Now Rosen. Conley delivers. There's 00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:58.059 a swing and a miss and he's stuck out the side. 00:14:13.710 --> 00:14:15.629 There was no stopping the Dodgers that year, 00:14:15.769 --> 00:14:18.370 and they won going away by 13 and a half games. 00:14:18.769 --> 00:14:21.669 A significant note occurred at season's end with 00:14:21.669 --> 00:14:23.710 the signing of Fred Haney as coach for the coming 00:14:23.710 --> 00:14:27.230 year, a year which was to be marked by fun, frenzy, 00:14:27.230 --> 00:14:30.870 and finally, frustration. The big moment of 56 00:14:30.870 --> 00:14:34.730 came on June 17th when popular Jolly Chelly Grimm 00:14:34.730 --> 00:14:37.350 resigned and Fred Haney took over the managerial 00:14:37.350 --> 00:14:40.610 reins. Haney's debut was a dramatic one as the 00:14:40.610 --> 00:14:42.350 Braves dumped the Dodgers in a doubleheader. 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:45.440 Again, Joe Adcock sets the pace with three homers, 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:50.860 one of them a real tape measure job. Adcock. 00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:55.259 Big, powerfully built right -handed batter, and 00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:59.039 Ed Roebuck's first pitch is way inside, comes 00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:02.539 back to the screen, it's a ball. Ball one and 00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:13.059 no strike. Oh, one of no strikes to come on Joe 00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:21.440 Adcock. Outfield deep to the left. There's a 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:23.960 swing and a long one. That was way, way up there 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:27.700 and maybe on the roof. It's on the top of the 00:15:27.700 --> 00:15:31.600 roof here at Ebbets Field. Up over the roof at 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:34.940 Ebbets Field, a double -deck. Boy, what a slam 00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:39.629 by Joe Adcock, and it's 5 -4. And I think that's 00:15:39.629 --> 00:15:42.409 the first time that's ever been done in the history 00:15:42.409 --> 00:15:46.009 of Ebbets Field. The Braves went on to take 11 00:15:46.009 --> 00:15:48.970 straight and became king of the hill. Bulwark 00:15:48.970 --> 00:15:51.129 of the Braves' surge was ageless Warren Spahn, 00:15:51.309 --> 00:15:54.009 who marked a major milestone midway in the final 00:15:54.009 --> 00:15:57.769 month of the campaign. Warren Spahn, the left 00:15:57.769 --> 00:16:01.830 -hander, stretches. The one -and -two pitch, 00:16:01.950 --> 00:16:03.490 a swing and a ground ball to the third baseman. 00:16:03.629 --> 00:16:05.889 The Pegas second base out. Over to first base, 00:16:05.950 --> 00:16:09.220 double play, and there are two out. A double 00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:12.320 play. Teddy Matthews to Danny O 'Connell to Joe 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:18.299 Adcock. And that's the gamble a manager will 00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:22.340 take with his power hitter up there. And having 00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:24.259 him cut away, there's the danger of the double 00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:26.139 play ball, and then a hit into the double play. 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:29.679 Third to second to first. Now here is right fielder 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:32.759 Jim Greengrass, who homered in the second. Has 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:53.169 ground it out twice and walked. The 56th race 00:16:53.169 --> 00:16:55.450 went right down to the wire, and on the second 00:16:55.450 --> 00:16:57.990 last day of the season, the Braves met the Cardinals 00:16:57.990 --> 00:17:01.970 in a must game. We came close. Oh, how we came 00:17:01.970 --> 00:17:05.200 close. But it was not to be. Remember how you 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:35.990 felt the night of September 29th? At a very opportune 00:17:35.990 --> 00:17:38.750 time for the St. Louis Cardinals. As he lines 00:17:38.750 --> 00:17:40.410 a double to deep right center field. And that 00:17:40.410 --> 00:17:42.549 is only the fourth base hit off Warren Spahn. 00:17:45.210 --> 00:17:47.430 So St. Louis now has the winning run on second 00:17:47.430 --> 00:17:49.109 base. It only went away. The batter is third 00:17:49.109 --> 00:17:51.829 baseman Ken Boyer. And he is going to receive 00:17:51.829 --> 00:17:56.109 an intentional walk. A time is called. By the 00:17:56.109 --> 00:18:04.019 home plate umpire Frank Descoli. Boyer who. as 00:18:04.019 --> 00:18:06.440 one for four is receiving an intentional walk. 00:18:07.140 --> 00:18:09.940 It'll bring up the left fielder, Rip Rapolsky. 00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:19.000 Now we're ready to go. Time back in. First pitch 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:22.099 high outside, ball one, as Moyer is receiving 00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:25.319 the intentional walk with first place open. Ball 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:37.920 two. And ball four. So Spahn for the first time 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:45.519 since the sixth inning is in real trouble. That's 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:48.960 his second walk of the ball game. An 11 -1 third 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:53.160 inning. That's an intentional walk. Musial's 00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:56.980 double forcing the walk. With Boyer up there. 00:18:57.000 --> 00:19:00.319 Now here is Rip Rapolsky. And Rapolsky has nothing 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:03.960 for four. He has slide to right. Popped to the 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:05.880 first baseman, grounded his short, and was safe 00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:10.380 on a fielder's choice. St. Louis runners at first 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:13.640 and second base with one man out. The first pitch 00:19:13.640 --> 00:19:17.460 to Rapulski is high outside, a ball. 1 -1 in 00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:24.920 the last half of the 12th inning. Ball one and 00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:30.039 no strikes on Rapulski, Wally Moon on deck. New 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:33.109 Zealand second base. Ken Boyer on first base. 00:19:34.390 --> 00:19:36.250 Spahn looks back over the left shoulder. The 00:19:36.250 --> 00:19:38.009 1 -0 pitch is swinging a ground ball at deep 00:19:38.009 --> 00:19:40.390 third. Gets off the leg of Eddie Matthews. Rolls 00:19:40.390 --> 00:19:42.569 in a foul territory. Here is the winning run 00:19:42.569 --> 00:19:47.769 scoring. And the ball game is over. And women 00:19:47.769 --> 00:19:49.809 might go to National League credit for 1956. 00:19:51.069 --> 00:19:53.630 Again, you fans showed your loyalty, turning 00:19:53.630 --> 00:19:56.309 up 20 ,000 strong to welcome back the boys from 00:19:56.309 --> 00:19:59.509 their ill -fated St. Louis jaunt. And on everyone's 00:19:59.509 --> 00:20:14.230 lips were the words, Wait till next year. The 00:20:14.230 --> 00:20:16.269 Hot Stove League blazed brightly that winter 00:20:16.269 --> 00:20:18.670 as both the Braves and U fans champed to the 00:20:18.670 --> 00:20:21.470 bit, waiting for the 57 season to roll around. 00:20:21.890 --> 00:20:24.529 The Braves started off in typical fashion behind 00:20:24.529 --> 00:20:27.490 the mound mastery of Lou Burdette. Burdett stretches, 00:20:27.890 --> 00:20:29.890 delivers a swing, a ground ball to the shortstop. 00:20:29.930 --> 00:20:31.509 Johnny Logan picks it up over to second base. 00:20:31.569 --> 00:20:34.589 The ball game is over. And Burdett just hurled 00:20:34.589 --> 00:20:37.829 a magnificent shutoff, duplicating his feat of 00:20:37.829 --> 00:20:41.529 1956 when he shut off the Chicago Cubs. Here 00:20:41.529 --> 00:20:44.789 in the ninth inning, for the Redlegs, no runs, 00:20:44.809 --> 00:20:49.710 one hit, no errors, and one man was left on base. 00:20:50.029 --> 00:20:53.210 As Wally Post forces Pete... wasn't it at second 00:20:53.210 --> 00:20:56.029 base, Logan to Danny O 'Connell. So the final 00:20:56.029 --> 00:20:59.849 score, Milwaukee won, Cincinnati nothing. The 00:20:59.849 --> 00:21:02.490 57 race was a real dogfight with no less than 00:21:02.490 --> 00:21:05.309 five teams hanging tough and tight. Again, the 00:21:05.309 --> 00:21:07.410 Braves were hard hit by injuries, but they had 00:21:07.410 --> 00:21:09.789 a golden touch in coming up with replacements. 00:21:10.069 --> 00:21:12.289 Hero of the year was an unknown from Wichita 00:21:12.289 --> 00:21:14.710 whose fabulous hitting spree kept the Braves 00:21:14.710 --> 00:21:17.750 pen and hopes alive. Remember him? Remember a 00:21:17.750 --> 00:21:22.910 guy called Hurricane Bob Hazel? Ball two, strike 00:21:22.910 --> 00:21:27.670 one. And he's been doing just that. And, of course, 00:21:27.710 --> 00:21:30.230 he has brought a smile and a big, wide smile 00:21:30.230 --> 00:21:32.210 to the face of our general manager, John Quinn. 00:21:34.230 --> 00:21:36.309 What is on first and second base with one out? 00:21:37.869 --> 00:21:40.150 The 2 -1 pitch, a swing and a drive back in the 00:21:40.150 --> 00:21:42.049 deep right center field, going back towards the 00:21:42.049 --> 00:21:46.450 wall. Back, back it is. A home run for Bob Hazel. 00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:02.859 to the right of it over the fence, a tremendous 00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:06.880 drive. He now has six runs batted in today, and 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:10.500 Milwaukee has a 7 -0 lead. The hurricane continued 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:13.400 to howl in fantastic fashion. Bob Hazel, left 00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:14.920 -handed batter, facing the right -handed Turk 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:22.319 Lown. A one -and -two pitch, and it's just outside, 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:27.180 ball two, at the end of. Six innings, Cincinnati 00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:29.740 four, and the Cardinals one at the end of six. 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:38.720 Ball two, strike two. The pitch, a swing and 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:40.400 a drive, back in the right field, going back 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:42.839 towards the wall, is Wally Moore, and it's a 00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:53.700 home run! Bobby Hazel just hit one out to give 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:56.480 the Braves the lead, eight to seven. With the 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:58.980 hurricane blowing up a mighty storm, the Braves 00:22:58.980 --> 00:23:01.420 cyclone their way to a five -game lead late in 00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:04.180 the season. Now it became a matter of magic numbers, 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:08.299 a matter of not if, but when. Now the date is 00:23:08.299 --> 00:23:11.400 September 23rd, and the Cards are in town. What 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:14.759 a spot for sweet revenge. The game hand -sweats 00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:16.960 its way into the 11th inning, and the hitter 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:20.019 is hammering Hank Aaron. The pitch to Henry Aaron, 00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:22.220 a swing and a drive back into center field, going 00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:25.059 back towards the wall. It's back at that fence. 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:28.559 And is it caught or not? It's a home run! The 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:30.900 Braves are the champions of the National League! 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:34.359 Henry Aaron just hit his 43rd home run of the 00:23:34.359 --> 00:24:17.410 year! Holy cow! It was happy days for the Braves 00:24:17.410 --> 00:24:20.430 and their legions of loyal fans. And now the 00:24:20.430 --> 00:24:23.250 most delicious deal of all, the dream come true. 00:24:23.410 --> 00:24:25.710 The Braves playing in the World Series against 00:24:25.710 --> 00:24:28.390 the highly favored New York Yankees. Remember 00:24:28.390 --> 00:24:30.890 how the Yankees called us Bush and how we made 00:24:30.890 --> 00:24:33.109 them eat their words? The hated Yanks took a 00:24:33.109 --> 00:24:35.069 one -game lead over the first three tussles. 00:24:35.109 --> 00:24:37.589 And then came that dramatic fourth game at County 00:24:37.589 --> 00:24:40.509 Stadium. The Yankees held a 5 -4 lead in the 00:24:40.509 --> 00:24:43.910 10th inning. Bob Grimm checks with Yogi Berra. 00:24:46.250 --> 00:24:47.829 Up on the rubber, goes into the stretch, arms 00:24:47.829 --> 00:24:51.450 down. The 2 -0 pitch, a swing and a line drive 00:24:51.450 --> 00:25:08.910 to left field. And now it's up to Eddie Matthews. 00:25:17.069 --> 00:25:19.009 Here's the 2 -2 pitch. They swing and they drive 00:25:19.009 --> 00:25:21.150 back into right field. Going back towards that 00:25:21.150 --> 00:25:25.650 wall. It may be. It is a home run for Eddie Matthews. 00:25:26.049 --> 00:25:28.750 The series seesawed to the seventh game and all 00:25:28.750 --> 00:25:31.349 the chips were down. With only two days rest 00:25:31.349 --> 00:25:33.930 and the winner of two big victories, Lou Burdette 00:25:33.930 --> 00:25:36.009 took the mound in place of flu -stricken Warren 00:25:36.009 --> 00:25:38.849 Spahn. And again, Burdette was nothing less than 00:25:38.849 --> 00:25:41.849 brilliant. The Braves forged ahead. Carson's 00:25:41.849 --> 00:25:45.730 ready. He fires and they swing a line drive to 00:25:45.730 --> 00:25:52.180 right field. and is being waved around third 00:25:52.180 --> 00:26:20.380 base. And then, Blainer, came that nerve -wracking 00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:23.480 ninth inning. The Braves led 5 -0, but the ever 00:26:23.480 --> 00:26:26.380 -dangerous Yankees staged a big threat. Faces 00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:28.960 are loaded. Bill Skowron, the batter, 5 -0. The 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.839 Braves lead. There's a swing and a foul back. 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:34.099 One strike. Skowron, who just returned to the 00:26:34.099 --> 00:26:41.400 lineup today, came on as a pinch hitter in the 00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:43.640 fifth inning, and he's remained in the ballgame 00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:46.740 at first base. He's 0 -2. The outfield around 00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:48.819 to the left. McDougal is on at third. Coleman 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:51.119 is on at second. Tommy Byrne, the base runner 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:53.559 at first. Hank Aaron is pulled around in left 00:26:53.559 --> 00:26:55.480 center field. The breeze is blowing across from 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:57.619 left to right. Burdett's pitch swung on. Line 00:26:57.619 --> 00:27:00.180 grabbed by Matthews. It's set from third. And 00:27:00.180 --> 00:27:02.640 the World Series is over and the Milwaukee Braves 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:05.819 are the new world champions of baseball. And 00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:08.380 that was it. Baseball had a new world's champion 00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:11.099 and Bedlam broke loose in Milwaukee. There was 00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:13.339 dancing in the streets, and our town had the 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:16.319 world's happiest hangover. The Milwaukee Braves, 00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:24.660 champions of the world. World champions. And 00:27:24.660 --> 00:27:27.200 like Alexander of old, the Braves had no more 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:29.720 worlds to conquer. But in the great game of baseball, 00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:32.819 each pennant chase is a brand new race. And your 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:35.940 Milwaukee Braves return to the wars in 58, determined 00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:39.329 to make it two in a row. And once again, right 00:27:39.329 --> 00:27:41.529 up in the front ranks was a young southpaw by 00:27:41.529 --> 00:27:44.450 the name of Warren Spahn. Corner all the cliches 00:27:44.450 --> 00:27:48.029 you can think of. Meal ticket, bellwether, stopper, 00:27:48.069 --> 00:27:51.130 you name it, and Spahn -y is the answer. Take 00:27:51.130 --> 00:27:53.329 the early part of the season, for example, when 00:27:53.329 --> 00:27:55.190 Warren got the green light against his longtime 00:27:55.190 --> 00:27:58.789 nemesis, those transported Dodgers. Count is 00:27:58.789 --> 00:28:01.549 even now on the rookie outfielder, Chuck Esigian. 00:28:02.230 --> 00:28:10.250 Ball two and strike two. One out here in the 00:28:10.250 --> 00:28:11.769 last half of the ninth inning. Runners on first 00:28:11.769 --> 00:28:13.509 and third. A swing and a ground ball to the third 00:28:13.509 --> 00:28:15.690 baseman. Here's the peg to second base out. Over 00:28:15.690 --> 00:28:17.630 to first base. Double play and Warren Spahn's 00:28:17.630 --> 00:28:20.190 got his shutout. A double play in the last half 00:28:20.190 --> 00:28:23.210 of the ninth inning. And Warren Spahn just registered 00:28:23.210 --> 00:28:26.529 his 42nd shutout in a brilliant Major League 00:28:26.529 --> 00:28:30.029 career. Another repeat in the 58 pattern. The 00:28:30.029 --> 00:28:32.369 Braves' penchant for powdering the ball to kingdom 00:28:32.369 --> 00:28:35.210 come. Few thrills can match the excitement of 00:28:35.210 --> 00:28:37.640 a clutch hit. And the Braves provided many a 00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:40.579 thrill on many an occasion. Do you recall this 00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:42.880 one when Del Crandall climbed off the bench in 00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:45.220 a 3 -3 battle with the Redlegs? It's been an 00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:47.000 uphill battle for the Braves. They reached it 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:49.720 now as they've tied the Redlegs. A swing, a line 00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:51.279 drive down the left field line, back towards 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:54.779 the wall. It is a full run over the left field 00:28:54.779 --> 00:29:00.200 fence. Or here's that man again, Joe Adcock, 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:04.140 coming up as a pinch hitter. Tying run at first 00:29:04.140 --> 00:29:07.160 base. Here comes the next pitch to Joe. A swing 00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:09.420 and a drive back into left center field. Going 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:12.559 back towards the wall. Back, back. Who ran for 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:16.700 Joe at second of all. Game is over. And when 00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:19.039 the big guns weren't bombarding, one of the lesser 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:21.180 lights often came through to keep the pot a -boiling. 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:24.299 Remember a young fellow named Hannah Brink? This 00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:26.960 one happened in St. Louis. Small wonder they 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:30.019 called him Hairbreadth Harry. Come on, Harry. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:32.819 Straighten it out. Ball went in. Boy, he hit 00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:35.910 that ball. on top of the double -deck and right 00:29:35.910 --> 00:29:42.309 about 15 feet foul. Braves now have two runs 00:29:42.309 --> 00:29:44.509 on seven hits. The Cardinals only two runs and 00:29:44.509 --> 00:29:50.450 three hits. Score is tied at two and two. Ball 00:29:50.450 --> 00:29:52.990 one strike, one count on Hannabrink. Pitch to 00:29:52.990 --> 00:29:55.230 Harry. A swing and a high drive back in the right 00:29:55.230 --> 00:29:58.329 center field. Right back towards the wall. Hold 00:29:58.329 --> 00:30:04.130 on. And so it went throughout the 58th season. 00:30:04.269 --> 00:30:06.730 A continuing series of injuries failed to halt 00:30:06.730 --> 00:30:09.410 the Braves' pennant express. Bob Buell and Joey 00:30:09.410 --> 00:30:11.750 Jay were derailed, but young Carl Willey came 00:30:11.750 --> 00:30:14.029 up from Wichita to put the Braves back on the 00:30:14.029 --> 00:30:16.490 track. And of course, there was always Spani, 00:30:16.630 --> 00:30:19.869 who on September 13th racked up his 20th win 00:30:19.869 --> 00:30:23.170 for the ninth time in his career, a feat never 00:30:23.170 --> 00:30:25.829 before accomplished by a Southpaw in the entire 00:30:25.829 --> 00:30:28.880 history of our national pastime. Then on September 00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:31.920 21st, another memorable day for the Milwaukee 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:34.640 Braves and their rabid Rooters. Were you listening 00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:36.880 when it happened? Ed Bailey, the last chance 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:40.059 now for the Redlegs. Deep in the batter's box. 00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:42.319 Here's the 2 -2 pitch. There's a swing and a 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:44.400 drive in the right center field. Rooten going 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:47.539 over, so is Henry Aaron. Dilley is calling. The 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:49.799 ball game is over. The Braves win. The National 00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:52.559 League pen up there. Gathered around Don McMahon 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:55.200 in the mound now as he retired the side in order 00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:58.410 in the last half of the ninth inning. on a fly 00:30:58.410 --> 00:31:01.150 ball to Billy Bruton in right center field here 00:31:01.150 --> 00:31:02.789 in the last half of the night. Three up, three 00:31:02.789 --> 00:31:05.690 down. No runs, no hits, no errors. Nobody left 00:31:05.690 --> 00:31:07.710 on base, and our Milwaukee Braves, again, are 00:31:07.710 --> 00:31:10.029 champions in the National League. As they leave 00:31:10.029 --> 00:31:11.549 the playing area, they're getting a wonderful 00:31:11.549 --> 00:31:14.609 ovation from the Cincinnati fans who probably 00:31:14.609 --> 00:31:18.549 are yelling, go take those Yankees down. Yes, 00:31:18.609 --> 00:31:20.890 the Braves made it two in a row as Spahn notched 00:31:20.890 --> 00:31:23.849 his 21st win despite heading for an early shower. 00:31:24.089 --> 00:31:27.039 And now, once again, the cry was heard. Bring 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:29.859 on the Yankees. Milwaukee County Stadium was 00:31:29.859 --> 00:31:32.160 the scene of the series opener. And what a ding 00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:34.579 -dong battle it was. Remember that eighth -inning 00:31:34.579 --> 00:31:36.839 rally that put us back in the game? Runner on 00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:39.900 first, none out. 2 -1 pitch. A swing and a drive 00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:42.000 back into right field. Going back as Hank Fowler 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:44.539 towards the wall. He leaps! This one is out there 00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:46.819 for extra bases. Eddie Matthews on his second 00:31:46.819 --> 00:31:49.059 base, on his way to third. Aaron goes into second 00:31:49.059 --> 00:31:51.539 base. The throw gets away from the shortstop, 00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:56.630 Kubek, but it's picked up by Carey. Wes Covington 00:31:56.630 --> 00:31:58.970 then came through with a sacrifice fly to tie 00:31:58.970 --> 00:32:02.250 the game, and we headed for overtime. Then, in 00:32:02.250 --> 00:32:04.970 the 10th inning... Dern tugs at the cap, now 00:32:04.970 --> 00:32:07.089 digs in against the pitching rubber. There's 00:32:07.089 --> 00:32:09.670 a look back toward the runner at second. Joe 00:32:09.670 --> 00:32:12.089 Adcock, the stretch and the pause. A one -on 00:32:12.089 --> 00:32:23.730 -one pitch. Swung on with the right... The second 00:32:23.730 --> 00:32:26.309 game was a cakewalk for Lou Burdette, who aided 00:32:26.309 --> 00:32:29.089 his own cause with a long home run, as the Braves 00:32:29.089 --> 00:32:32.650 footballed their way to a 13 -5 margin. The scene 00:32:32.650 --> 00:32:34.910 then shifted to the house that Ruth built, and 00:32:34.910 --> 00:32:36.849 the Yanks bounced back to take the third game. 00:32:37.170 --> 00:32:39.829 In the fourth, manager Fred Haney led with his 00:32:39.829 --> 00:32:42.769 ace, and Warren Spahn was again the master of 00:32:42.769 --> 00:32:45.309 old, pitching a tremendous three -hitter to win 00:32:45.309 --> 00:32:48.190 2 -0. But the Braves got quite a scare in the 00:32:48.190 --> 00:32:50.579 fourth inning. Surely you remember that spine 00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:53.019 -tingling moment. Ball two and a strike one count. 00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:56.180 First baseman Bill Skowron due to hit next. Here's 00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:58.460 a swing and a drive deep left center field. That 00:32:58.460 --> 00:33:01.339 ball's going a long, long way. It is a off the 00:33:01.339 --> 00:33:04.079 wall. Here is Aaron chasing it down as Mantle 00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:06.700 on second base on his way to third. The peg into 00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:08.740 the infield. He goes in standing with a tremendous 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:12.859 triple. Mantle held third as the second out was 00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:16.619 made. Then, here is the windup. 2 -2 pitch. A 00:33:16.619 --> 00:33:19.910 swing and a line drive. It is knocked down by 00:33:19.910 --> 00:33:22.509 Shane East over to first. He is out of a great 00:33:22.509 --> 00:33:25.630 play. Holy cow, what a play by Red Shane East 00:33:25.630 --> 00:33:29.549 and Joe Adcock. Beautiful leaping try by Shane 00:33:29.549 --> 00:33:31.869 East. He knocks them all down. It fell to his 00:33:31.869 --> 00:33:34.670 feet. He picked it up. Adcock was coming over 00:33:34.670 --> 00:33:37.269 to cover first base. He went back into that bag, 00:33:37.349 --> 00:33:39.410 jabbed at the bag, made a scoop up of a low throw 00:33:39.410 --> 00:33:42.009 as Barrow went diving head first in the first 00:33:42.009 --> 00:33:46.099 base. On a great play to retire the side. Yes, 00:33:46.160 --> 00:33:48.599 the old redhead, one of baseball's all -time 00:33:48.599 --> 00:33:51.059 greats, and the man who helped make the Braves. 00:33:51.339 --> 00:33:55.000 The rest of that 1958 series, well, the news 00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:57.319 was sad, and there's no point in dwelling on 00:33:57.319 --> 00:33:59.140 the Yankees' sweep of the final three games. 00:33:59.599 --> 00:34:03.480 Time now to look ahead to 1959. And, Blainer, 00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:05.500 like the preceding years, this one had a full 00:34:05.500 --> 00:34:08.239 share of pages for the memory book. That night 00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:11.059 of May 26th, for example, when you fans of the 00:34:11.059 --> 00:34:13.119 stadium were treated to the greatest pitching 00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:15.440 performance in all of baseball's long history. 00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:17.980 Harvey Haddix was on the mound for the Pirates 00:34:17.980 --> 00:34:21.500 as inning after inning after inning went by with 00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:24.099 Nary a brave reaching base by any means or manner. 00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:27.480 Meantime, Lou Burnett was matching horse collars 00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:29.800 with Harvey the Kitten, and the game was a scoreless 00:34:29.800 --> 00:34:33.219 tie through 11 electrifying innings. And in the 00:34:33.219 --> 00:34:36.719 12th, Haddix in the motion. to two pitch. A swing 00:34:36.719 --> 00:34:38.480 of ground ball to the third baseman's left. He 00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:40.760 stabs it. Here's a throw to first base. He is 00:34:40.760 --> 00:34:44.039 out and that retires the side. And Harvey Haddix 00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:49.400 now has 12 perfect innings of brilliant, simply 00:34:49.400 --> 00:34:51.960 magnificent pitching performance. Another standing 00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:55.420 ovation. The tension mounted as Burdette blanked 00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:57.840 the Bucs in their half of the 13th. And then... 00:34:57.840 --> 00:35:00.019 Nobody on base, nobody out. Haddix delivers. 00:35:00.340 --> 00:35:01.980 A swing of ground ball to the third baseman. 00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:03.840 He's in fast. Big hop. The throw to first base. 00:35:04.219 --> 00:35:07.960 A low throw. There's the first base runner. With 00:35:07.960 --> 00:35:10.260 first base open, Aaron was purposely passed, 00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:13.840 and the stage was set for Jolton Joe. All one 00:35:13.840 --> 00:35:17.019 and no strikes to count on, Joe Adcock. The winning 00:35:17.019 --> 00:35:19.079 run on second base in the last half of the 13th 00:35:19.079 --> 00:35:21.780 inning. Into the stretch. Here is the pitch. 00:35:21.860 --> 00:35:24.079 A swing and a high fly ball. Driven deep into 00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:25.820 right center field. Going back towards the wall. 00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:29.679 Back, back. And it's a win for Joe Adcock, and 00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:32.760 the ball game is over. And Earl, that thrilling 00:35:32.760 --> 00:35:36.099 windup. had us all up in the air. That's right, 00:35:36.139 --> 00:35:37.920 Blaine. The situation didn't get straightened 00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:40.019 out until the next morning when it was decided 00:35:40.019 --> 00:35:42.760 that Adcock's home run was really a double and 00:35:42.760 --> 00:35:45.219 that the Braves won by a score of one to nothing. 00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:47.619 Well, in view of the immortal pitching performance 00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:50.280 by Harvey Haddix, the Braves were happy to settle 00:35:50.280 --> 00:35:53.559 for any kind of a win. The 59 season settled 00:35:53.559 --> 00:35:56.099 down to a three -way battle among the San Francisco 00:35:56.099 --> 00:35:58.820 Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Milwaukee 00:35:58.820 --> 00:36:01.579 Braves. The battles with the transplanted East 00:36:01.579 --> 00:36:04.460 Coast teams were always hard fought. And this 00:36:04.460 --> 00:36:07.019 June game with the Dodgers was a typical Donnybrook. 00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:11.119 Wise on third. Matthews on second, Aaron on first. 00:36:15.639 --> 00:36:19.159 Andy Papko in the batter's box. Batting at 209, 00:36:19.380 --> 00:36:22.199 Andy has nine hits and 43 at bats. One double 00:36:22.199 --> 00:36:24.659 and two runs batted in. He swings at the ground 00:36:24.659 --> 00:36:38.329 ball, a base hit! Braves management, always on 00:36:38.329 --> 00:36:40.369 the lookout to improve the club and please the 00:36:40.369 --> 00:36:43.269 fans, constantly maneuvered to bring in new players. 00:36:43.650 --> 00:36:47.469 You'll probably recall that 1959 saw Bobby Avila, 00:36:47.630 --> 00:36:50.389 Lee May, Ray Boone, and Country Slaughter appear 00:36:50.389 --> 00:36:53.610 as new faces at the stadium. Bobby Avila made 00:36:53.610 --> 00:36:55.909 a great debut, hitting a ninth -inning homer 00:36:55.909 --> 00:36:58.570 to whip the Red Legs and end a seven -game losing 00:36:58.570 --> 00:37:01.409 streak. But Bobby's biggest blow came later. 00:37:01.789 --> 00:37:08.039 Come on, Bobby. Drive down that right field line 00:37:08.039 --> 00:37:11.000 could win the ball game as it's wide open. Simoli's 00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:12.820 way over towards right center. Now Simoli's moving 00:37:12.820 --> 00:37:15.059 over to his left a couple of steps. Here's the 00:37:15.059 --> 00:37:20.460 0 -2 pitch. Low, a ball. 1 -2. Ball one and strike 00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:48.619 two on Avila. Ball one, strike two. A tremendously 00:37:48.619 --> 00:37:51.300 important blast because, as things turned out, 00:37:51.420 --> 00:37:54.880 every game was a must game. Every win a needed 00:37:54.880 --> 00:37:57.960 win. The season's end found the Braves and Dodgers 00:37:57.960 --> 00:38:00.840 deadlocked for first place. Here at home, the 00:38:00.840 --> 00:38:02.440 Braves dropped the first game of the pennant 00:38:02.440 --> 00:38:05.949 playoff 3 -2. And then came drama and disaster 00:38:05.949 --> 00:38:09.630 at the Coliseum in Los Angeles. The Braves put 00:38:09.630 --> 00:38:11.730 on a stirring rally in the late innings, and 00:38:11.730 --> 00:38:14.090 the score was knotted at 5 -all in the 12th inning. 00:38:14.550 --> 00:38:17.309 Bob Rush was on the hill. Rush out in front, 00:38:17.389 --> 00:38:23.010 ball one, strike two. Dodger runners on first 00:38:23.010 --> 00:38:24.730 and second, but the Dodger runner of importance, 00:38:24.829 --> 00:38:26.909 of course, is the guy on second base, Gil Hodges. 00:38:27.349 --> 00:38:29.309 He represents the winning run of the ball game. 00:38:30.329 --> 00:38:32.369 Five to five time, the last half of the 12th 00:38:32.369 --> 00:38:53.519 inning. And so the Braves bid for their third 00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:55.900 pennant in four years went by the boards, by 00:38:55.900 --> 00:38:58.780 a whisker. But hope springs eternal in the hearts 00:38:58.780 --> 00:39:01.219 of baseball fans, and a new season was coming 00:39:01.219 --> 00:39:03.559 up. And with a new leader at the helm, Blainer, 00:39:03.579 --> 00:39:06.360 astute Charlie Dressen became manager, and a 00:39:06.360 --> 00:39:08.239 fired -up team was thick in the pen and chase 00:39:08.239 --> 00:39:11.880 just about all season long. 1960 was the year 00:39:11.880 --> 00:39:13.780 when everything went perfect for the Pirates, 00:39:13.780 --> 00:39:16.019 but you Braves fans had some mighty exciting 00:39:16.019 --> 00:39:19.699 times. Remember August 18th, the day Lou Burdette 00:39:19.699 --> 00:39:22.840 joined the Hall of Fame? A strike to count on 00:39:22.840 --> 00:39:25.780 Bobby Gene Smith. Two outs. Burdette has retired 00:39:25.780 --> 00:39:37.829 26 consecutive batters. In the center of attraction 00:39:37.829 --> 00:39:45.090 right now. Holding a great spotlight out there 00:39:45.090 --> 00:39:49.489 in the mound. Strike two counts. Two outs on 00:39:49.489 --> 00:39:51.869 Bobby Gene Smith. Ninth inning, Braves lead one 00:39:51.869 --> 00:39:56.449 to nothing. Burdette has his sign. Here's the 00:39:56.449 --> 00:39:59.010 windup. And here's the 0 -2 pitch. There's a 00:39:59.010 --> 00:40:00.889 swing and a high fly ball to right. Come on, 00:40:00.889 --> 00:40:16.679 Henry. He's got his no -hitter. Talk about embarrassing 00:40:16.679 --> 00:40:19.519 moments. Lou's masterpiece was not a perfect 00:40:19.519 --> 00:40:22.179 no -hitter because one Philly runner did reach 00:40:22.179 --> 00:40:25.420 first. Chalk up an error for the Earl. So who 00:40:25.420 --> 00:40:28.059 feels a thousand, Earl? The excitement of Burdette's 00:40:28.059 --> 00:40:30.380 no -hitter had hardly died down when just a month 00:40:30.380 --> 00:40:33.059 later, Warren Spahn took the mound in quest of 00:40:33.059 --> 00:40:36.039 his 20th win. Again, it was the Phillies. And 00:40:36.039 --> 00:40:39.559 talk about lightning striking twice. Warren Spahn 00:40:39.559 --> 00:40:42.059 starts the motion. Here's the pitch. There's 00:40:42.059 --> 00:40:45.360 a swing and a miss. He struck him out. 15 strikeouts 00:40:45.360 --> 00:40:52.360 for Warren Spahn. 15 strikeouts tonight. Two 00:40:52.360 --> 00:40:54.559 outs and nobody on base. We go down to the last 00:40:54.559 --> 00:40:57.840 man now, Bobby Malkmus. Malkmus has ground to 00:40:57.840 --> 00:40:59.380 the short, popped the short, and he's flied to 00:40:59.380 --> 00:41:02.179 center field. Tremendous strikeout total tonight 00:41:02.179 --> 00:41:04.679 for Spahn. But that's not the big story right 00:41:04.679 --> 00:41:07.739 now. Ninth inning, two outs, nobody on base. 00:41:08.800 --> 00:41:11.119 Malkmus 0 for 3, standing outside the batter's 00:41:11.119 --> 00:41:13.329 box. The outfield's playing him around to the 00:41:13.329 --> 00:41:15.969 left. So is the infield. Second baseman Chuck 00:41:15.969 --> 00:41:18.010 Cotty on the edge of the outfield grass, lined 00:41:18.010 --> 00:41:21.070 up with right center field. The veterans southpaw 00:41:21.070 --> 00:41:23.630 spawn into the motion. Here is the pitch to Bobby 00:41:23.630 --> 00:41:26.070 Malkmus. A swing and a drive. Hits off the glove. 00:41:26.329 --> 00:41:28.329 Logan in fast. Up on the ball. Throws the first. 00:41:28.429 --> 00:41:45.860 He is out. 16 years is a long time to wait for 00:41:45.860 --> 00:41:48.599 anything, but Spani finally got his no -hitter. 00:41:48.820 --> 00:41:51.480 Was anyone ever more deserving of such an honor? 00:41:51.719 --> 00:41:54.519 The big win marked Warren's 12th season of 20 00:41:54.519 --> 00:41:57.039 or more wins, another chapter for the record 00:41:57.039 --> 00:41:59.639 books. And so our march of memorable moments 00:41:59.639 --> 00:42:03.340 moves into 1961. As we record these highlights 00:42:03.340 --> 00:42:06.420 for posterity, the season is still young. Many 00:42:06.420 --> 00:42:09.059 things are yet to happen. Baseball takes many 00:42:09.059 --> 00:42:11.440 twists and turns, but it never erases what's 00:42:11.440 --> 00:42:14.619 in the records. And the early 61 season produced 00:42:14.619 --> 00:42:17.760 two fantastic and fabulous highlights. Remember 00:42:17.760 --> 00:42:20.500 the bitter cold night of April 28th? Perfect 00:42:20.500 --> 00:42:22.840 for polar bears, but hardly fit for the precious 00:42:22.840 --> 00:42:25.840 arm of a veteran southpaw. Spani's turn again, 00:42:26.079 --> 00:42:28.400 and his opponents are the hard -slugging, power 00:42:28.400 --> 00:42:31.300 -packed giants. Were you there? Were you listening? 00:42:31.820 --> 00:42:41.519 Batter is a pinch batter. Mateo Alou. Mateo Alou, 00:42:41.719 --> 00:42:46.179 brother of Felipe Alou, the Giants right fielder. 00:42:47.239 --> 00:42:49.099 Mateo's been up three times. He has two hits. 00:42:49.139 --> 00:42:54.380 He's batting at 667. And here is the first pitch. 00:42:54.559 --> 00:42:56.900 He bunts one. A drag bunt on the first base side. 00:42:56.960 --> 00:42:59.420 Spahn overthrows. He's out and a great play. 00:42:59.559 --> 00:43:02.059 Lawrence Spahn and Joe Adcock. And it's two away 00:43:02.059 --> 00:43:04.690 in the ninth inning. After that backhanded flip 00:43:04.690 --> 00:43:08.469 to nip a loo, Spahn had one big out to get. Then... 00:43:08.469 --> 00:43:14.969 This is Amal Fatano batting for Sam Jones. And 00:43:14.969 --> 00:43:19.090 he's out in front of Warren Spahn. Ball two, 00:43:19.210 --> 00:43:22.969 no strikes. Spahn, he starts his motion. 2 -0 00:43:22.969 --> 00:43:24.769 pitch, a swing and a hearty ball to Roy McMillan. 00:43:24.889 --> 00:43:27.010 He bobbles the ball, comes up, throws the first 00:43:27.010 --> 00:43:29.449 base, and he is out! And Warren Spahn has pitched 00:43:29.449 --> 00:43:32.449 another no -hitter! Warren Spahn has just picked 00:43:32.449 --> 00:43:34.869 his second no -hitter in his second consecutive 00:43:34.869 --> 00:43:37.869 year. And he's being mobbed out here behind the 00:43:37.869 --> 00:43:40.869 mound. Roy McMillan took that hard shot. It bounced 00:43:40.869 --> 00:43:43.090 off his chest. He picked it up and threw the 00:43:43.090 --> 00:43:45.550 guy out at first base. And Warren Spahn has done 00:43:45.550 --> 00:43:48.769 it again. As Mel Allen would say, how about that? 00:43:49.190 --> 00:43:52.210 After years of waiting, Wiley Warren turns the 00:43:52.210 --> 00:43:54.889 trick two seasons in a row. What more can be 00:43:54.889 --> 00:43:58.250 said about this man among men? You know, Blaine, 00:43:58.289 --> 00:44:00.230 it doesn't always happen that good pitching is 00:44:00.230 --> 00:44:02.369 combined with stout hitting. And when the two 00:44:02.369 --> 00:44:04.730 fail to click together, not even writing new 00:44:04.730 --> 00:44:07.469 records can win the game. Consider that Pier 00:44:07.469 --> 00:44:10.409 6 brawl against the Redlegs down Cincinnati way. 00:44:10.690 --> 00:44:13.369 How well I remember, Earl. Spani was off the 00:44:13.369 --> 00:44:15.369 mark that day, and when the Braves came to bat 00:44:15.369 --> 00:44:18.590 on the 7th, they trailed 10 -2. Frank Bowling 00:44:18.590 --> 00:44:20.630 continued his hot hitting with a line single 00:44:20.630 --> 00:44:25.829 to left, and the hitter was Eddie Matthews. 2 00:44:25.829 --> 00:44:28.409 -2 pitch. There's a swing, a long drive way back 00:44:28.409 --> 00:44:31.230 in the right field. There she goes. Home run 00:44:31.230 --> 00:44:34.650 for Eddie Matthews. Now it's Aaron at bat and 00:44:34.650 --> 00:44:40.369 on the second pitch. There's a swing and a drive 00:44:40.369 --> 00:44:42.050 to the left field line back towards the screen. 00:44:42.110 --> 00:44:47.130 And this one is a home run for Henry Aaron. Line 00:44:47.130 --> 00:44:50.590 drive up into the screen. And Aaron just picked 00:44:50.590 --> 00:44:53.679 up his 10th home run of the season. Strategy 00:44:53.679 --> 00:44:55.900 called for a pitching change, and in came Marshall 00:44:55.900 --> 00:44:58.239 Bridges to replace the shell -shocked Jim Maloney. 00:44:58.780 --> 00:45:01.219 Adcock at bat. There's a swing and a drive back 00:45:01.219 --> 00:45:03.179 into center field, going back towards the wall. 00:45:03.260 --> 00:45:09.179 It may be. It is a home run for Joe Adcock. Three 00:45:09.179 --> 00:45:11.500 home runs in a row tie a major league record. 00:45:12.239 --> 00:45:15.079 Wow, three in a row and more fireworks to come. 00:45:15.539 --> 00:45:17.780 Popular newcomer Frank Thomas strides to the 00:45:17.780 --> 00:45:29.000 plate. Never before in the annals of Major League 00:45:29.000 --> 00:45:31.440 Baseball had any team cracked four consecutive 00:45:31.440 --> 00:45:34.300 homers. And it was our battling Braves who did 00:45:34.300 --> 00:45:37.159 it. Sure, we lost the game, but the four back 00:45:37.159 --> 00:45:40.139 -to -back blasts typify the thrills and excitement 00:45:40.139 --> 00:45:42.980 of Braves baseball. Well, as the saying goes, 00:45:43.079 --> 00:45:46.260 Blainer, you win a few, lose a few, and a few 00:45:46.260 --> 00:45:48.429 are rained out. But ever since hitting town in 00:45:48.429 --> 00:45:51.489 53, the Braves have furnished the fans with untold 00:45:51.489 --> 00:45:54.170 thrills and have consistently been in contention. 00:45:54.309 --> 00:45:57.650 The passing parade sees stars come and go, but 00:45:57.650 --> 00:46:00.050 new faces keep the picture bright and exciting. 00:46:00.289 --> 00:46:02.750 A popular Andy Pathko reaches the end of the 00:46:02.750 --> 00:46:05.230 line, but along comes a young Joe Torre to replace 00:46:05.230 --> 00:46:08.329 him. Trades may see us say farewell to a Billy 00:46:08.329 --> 00:46:12.010 Bruton or Joey Jay or Johnny Logan, but in their 00:46:12.010 --> 00:46:15.429 places are stars like Frank Bowling and Roy McMillan. 00:46:15.820 --> 00:46:18.340 The turnover is terrific, but the fun and excitement 00:46:18.340 --> 00:46:21.400 go on and on, and it's always great to be at 00:46:21.400 --> 00:46:24.000 Connie Stadium to see what will happen next. 00:46:24.219 --> 00:46:26.460 Right you are, Earl, and in days and seasons 00:46:26.460 --> 00:46:29.519 to come, we'll experience new thrills, see new 00:46:29.519 --> 00:46:32.159 stars, and bask in the glory of more pennants 00:46:32.159 --> 00:46:34.960 and world championships. Earl and I will be seeing 00:46:34.960 --> 00:46:37.780 you and the Milwaukee Braves at beautiful Milwaukee 00:46:37.780 --> 00:46:38.860 County Stadium.