Opening Day 1951
A Comeback, a wash-out and a blow-out
Tuesday, May 1, 1951
As the days grow longer and warmer the day all baseball players and fans have been waiting for finally arrived. Yesterday the National Baseball League ushered in the 1951 season with the excitement and drama we became accustom to last year.
In Liverpool the lead was back and forth throughout the game. Leeds White Sox took the lead in the top of the 1st, a 2-run home run from Jack Kennedy gave the Giants the lead in the bottom half. After adding a run to this lead in the 5th, Leeds pulled back 2 in the 7th and 1 in the 8th to lead the game 4-3. 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th, assisted by an error from the Leeds defence was enough for the Giants to win 4-6.
Over 6,000 flooded into Belle Vue Stadium for opening day in Manchester and heavy rain flooded the field... Not before a good 3 innings of action though, a double from Jack Findlay was followed shortly after by a double from Phil Cooper to open the scoring for the Elephants. A sacrifice fly-ball from the bat of Scanlon Ellis of the Steelmen saw the game tied as the umpires called it a day in the 3rd. The game will resume today (Tuesday 1st), weather permitting.
In Nottingham it was an assured defensive performance that limited the Sheriffs to 1 run, despite racking up 10 hits. Athletics pitching ace George Jones took the win and Player of the Game plaudits, throwing the whole game only allowing the 1 run despite 10 hits, and sitting down the Nottingham batters swinging 5 times.
Two solo home-runs in the top of the 9th secured a comfortable win for the London Monarchs. Bristol opened solidly with an error in their favour and 4 singles to take a 2 run lead in the 1st. However the Pirates had no answer to Gael Keith's bat, he tallied 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 RBI, and 1 base on balls in his 5 plate apperances.
From the Baseball Review's archive