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Haystacks · 01-16-2025, 11:01 AM

1951 British Baseball Championship Series

The regular season had wrapped up in an incredible fashion. Baseball had spread like a fever in London as their Monarchs mounted an incredible run to take the National League South pennant. On the 1st of August the London club was 10 games behind the Birmingham Athletics, a run of 24 victories in 31 games would see the Monarchs take the pennant, 2 and a half games ahead. An run of good form so notable, the comeback would still be talked about in modern times as one of the greatest.

In the North League the complete collapse of Sheffield Steelmen, last year’s pennant winners, finishing with a record of 44-67, created the novel circumstance where the 1951 standings were the exact opposite of 1950. The Giants turnaround had been impressive, but not a certainty, out of all 8 teams combined the Liverpool club sat average in both offence and defence, they had not been stand out in any area, but their consistency had carried them to the northern pennant, they were going into the Championship Series without pressure, as outsiders.

Game 1; a 1 on, 1 out, home run from Monarchs’ star man Oscar Cookson, in the bottom of the first got the scoring open for the series. London added two more in the third, but a defensive and pitching collapse in the fifth and sixth allowed the Giants victory. Jack White was on the mound for the Monarchs, formerly of the Giants. In 5.2 innings he allowed 7 hits, 6 runs, 3 earned runs. The game was really about his former comrade in arms, Liverpool pitcher Edward Johnson, although giving up 4 early runs, Johnson pitched the complete game, fanning 5 hitters along the way. But it was his performance at the bat that really caught the eye, in 4 at bats, he got 2 hits and 2 RBIs for his efforts, playing his part in the Liverpool comeback.

Player of the Game: Edward Johnson, Liverpool Giants

Game 2; Cove, Cookson and Keith, came to life. A run in the batting order that had been terrifying the South League for a month were asleep in game one, but their bats cracked in game 2. In the top of the third the Giants took a 1 run lead, a Keith solo-home run in the fourth tied it up. 4 more for the Monarchs in the sixth, with a two-run home run from Cookson, gave the Monarchs a comfortable 1-5 victory, to the delight of the expecting London fans. There were some whispers of concern however, the fifth man in London’s deadly order, right fielder Pallett had an average of .307 for the regular season with 77 RBIs. He’d been hitless so far in the series.

Player of the Game: Gael Keith, London Monarchs

Game 3; the Monarchs travelled to Liverpool with the series tied. Cookson opened the scoring with a solo-home run, his third home run in three games. The Giants put up 3 in the second but inning by inning the Monarchs clawed back runs, with the game tied in the fifth, Liverpool favourite Kennedy hit a 2 run-home run to give the Giants a lead they would not give up this time. Another run in the seventh and a solid showing from Liverpool’s relief pitchers, Wiles and D’Arcy secured a 3-6 victory and have the Liverpool club a 2-1 lead in the series.

Player of the Game: James Walker, Liverpool

Game 4; double, double, double. Liverpool’s James Walker in 5 at bats, got 3 hits, all of which were doubles, to do his part in securing a third win in the series for the Giants. The Liverpool club took the lead in the second and did not look back, a solo-home run from second-baseman Duncan added to the lead. London’s Keith hit a solo-home run in the fourth, which would be a solitary consolation. Liverpool continued to add to their lead in the fifth, and sixth. A 3 run-home run Liverpool’s right fielder, Jude Loughran, secured a 1-7 win for the Giants.

Player of the Game: Edward Johnson

Walker’s 3 doubles sets the record for doubles in a play of game.

Game 5; Liverpool pitcher Brian Haynes, put on quite the up and down display, he allowed 10 walks, but only 2 hits, London failing to make him pay for his poor control. The Championship was all but confirmed to be Liverpool’s by the fifth inning, as they scored 2 in the second, 1 in the third and 5 in the fourth, with no answer from London until the eighth. After the final out, the sellout crowd in Sefton Park erupted into the field to celebrate with their heroes.

Player of the Game: Nicky Aldridge, Liverpool.

Brian Haynes sets playoff record for walks allowed with 10.

Liverpool Giants win series, 4 to 1.

Player of the Series: James Walker, LF, Liverpool Giants.

01-16-2025, 11:01 AM	#34
Haystacks Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jan 2022 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 170	1951 - British Baseball Championship Series 1951 British Baseball Championship Series The regular season had wrapped up in an incredible fashion. Baseball had spread like a fever in London as their Monarchs mounted an incredible run to take the National League South pennant. On the 1st of August the London club was 10 games behind the Birmingham Athletics, a run of 24 victories in 31 games would see the Monarchs take the pennant, 2 and a half games ahead. An run of good form so notable, the comeback would still be talked about in modern times as one of the greatest. In the North League the complete collapse of Sheffield Steelmen, last year’s pennant winners, finishing with a record of 44-67, created the novel circumstance where the 1951 standings were the exact opposite of 1950. The Giants turnaround had been impressive, but not a certainty, out of all 8 teams combined the Liverpool club sat average in both offence and defence, they had not been stand out in any area, but their consistency had carried them to the northern pennant, they were going into the Championship Series without pressure, as outsiders. Game 1; a 1 on, 1 out, home run from Monarchs’ star man Oscar Cookson, in the bottom of the first got the scoring open for the series. London added two more in the third, but a defensive and pitching collapse in the fifth and sixth allowed the Giants victory. Jack White was on the mound for the Monarchs, formerly of the Giants. In 5.2 innings he allowed 7 hits, 6 runs, 3 earned runs. The game was really about his former comrade in arms, Liverpool pitcher Edward Johnson, although giving up 4 early runs, Johnson pitched the complete game, fanning 5 hitters along the way. But it was his performance at the bat that really caught the eye, in 4 at bats, he got 2 hits and 2 RBIs for his efforts, playing his part in the Liverpool comeback. Player of the Game: Edward Johnson, Liverpool Giants Game 2; Cove, Cookson and Keith, came to life. A run in the batting order that had been terrifying the South League for a month were asleep in game one, but their bats cracked in game 2. In the top of the third the Giants took a 1 run lead, a Keith solo-home run in the fourth tied it up. 4 more for the Monarchs in the sixth, with a two-run home run from Cookson, gave the Monarchs a comfortable 1-5 victory, to the delight of the expecting London fans. There were some whispers of concern however, the fifth man in London’s deadly order, right fielder Pallett had an average of .307 for the regular season with 77 RBIs. He’d been hitless so far in the series. Player of the Game: Gael Keith, London Monarchs Game 3; the Monarchs travelled to Liverpool with the series tied. Cookson opened the scoring with a solo-home run, his third home run in three games. The Giants put up 3 in the second but inning by inning the Monarchs clawed back runs, with the game tied in the fifth, Liverpool favourite Kennedy hit a 2 run-home run to give the Giants a lead they would not give up this time. Another run in the seventh and a solid showing from Liverpool’s relief pitchers, Wiles and D’Arcy secured a 3-6 victory and have the Liverpool club a 2-1 lead in the series. Player of the Game: James Walker, Liverpool Game 4; double, double, double. Liverpool’s James Walker in 5 at bats, got 3 hits, all of which were doubles, to do his part in securing a third win in the series for the Giants. The Liverpool club took the lead in the second and did not look back, a solo-home run from second-baseman Duncan added to the lead. London’s Keith hit a solo-home run in the fourth, which would be a solitary consolation. Liverpool continued to add to their lead in the fifth, and sixth. A 3 run-home run Liverpool’s right fielder, Jude Loughran, secured a 1-7 win for the Giants. Player of the Game: Edward Johnson Walker’s 3 doubles sets the record for doubles in a play of game. Game 5; Liverpool pitcher Brian Haynes, put on quite the up and down display, he allowed 10 walks, but only 2 hits, London failing to make him pay for his poor control. The Championship was all but confirmed to be Liverpool’s by the fifth inning, as they scored 2 in the second, 1 in the third and 5 in the fourth, with no answer from London until the eighth. After the final out, the sellout crowd in Sefton Park erupted into the field to celebrate with their heroes. Player of the Game: Nicky Aldridge, Liverpool. Brian Haynes sets playoff record for walks allowed with 10. Liverpool Giants win series, 4 to 1. Player of the Series: James Walker, LF, Liverpool Giants.