MLB: 1958 and Beyond...

[kenyan_cheena]

Coming up in the next 24 hours...

A preview of the 1958 World Series between the New York Yankees and Milwaukee Braves!

[kenyan_cheena]

BASEBALL WEEKLY

Monday 20 September 1958

VOLUME 24, ISSUE 39

YANKEES TO WIN SERIES IN SIX

World Series preview by Howard Notts, as it appears
in the 20 September 1958 issue of BASEBALL WEEKLY

After one of the more extraordinary regular seasons of recent years, we now sit just two days away from the start of the 55th contesting of Major League Baseball's World Series. It's been an exciting road we've taken to get to this point, a journey full of surprises, triumph and misery. But it now comes down to two teams and (possibly) seven games.

I have to say, it's one World Series that I didn't expect and didn't predict. Back in the late days of March I said it right here, said that the Yankees would be taking on the Pirates in the Fall Classic. Yes, I came pretty close with my prediction, but I was wrong. Like so many others, I didn't believe that the Braves would be able to make it back. Really, I didn't. I looked at their '57 campaign as one of those seasons that comes along for an average organisation once every thirty years. But they've proven me wrong, I'll give them that.

And so we have a rematch, the third World Series rematch of the '50s, making the decade unique in that sense. Let's take a look inside the numbers these two Champion ballclubs have produced this year, because they make for some interesting reading.

New York Yankees (American League Champions): 101-53

Team Batting AVG: .285 (1st in MLB)
Team Runs scored: 869 (2nd)
Team Homeruns: 203 (2nd)

Team Pitching ERA: 3.97 (5th)
Team Opponents AVG: .250 (3rd)
Team Runs Allowed: 688 (T-4th)
Team HR Allowed: 119 (2nd)

Team Fielding %: .981
Team Fielding Errors: 119

Milwaukee Braves (National League Champions): 93-61

Team Batting AVG: .283 (3rd in MLB)
Team Runs scored: 883 (1st)
Team Homeruns: 222 (1st)

Team Pitching ERA: 4.16 (10th)
Team Opponents AVG: .255 (6th)
Team Runs Allowed: 704 (8th)
Team HR Allowed: 137 (6th)

Team Fielding %: .981
Team Fielding Errors: 120

A cursory glance shows that the Braves enjoy only the slightest of edges in offense while the New Yorkers possess what is clearly a superior pitching staff. As far as defense is concerned, the two rosters cancel each other out.

There was much talk during the season of Milwaukee's vaunted offense, and a look at the NL leaders confirms that they dominated. But to say it's superior to that of the Yankees is an incorrect assessment. One only has to look at the ERAs of the two leagues to see this.

American League ERA: 4.00
National League ERA: 4.27

The fact is that the Yankees produced a better batting average against pitching that was superior to that which the Braves faced. Taking that into account it's no surprise that the Braves scored more runs and hit more home runs, and from that we can conclude that their offense was not as "explosive" as it first appears.

Here's each ballclub's premier hitters:

New York Yankees

Yogi Berra: .343, 169 hits, 37 home runs, 126 RBI
Mickey Mantle: .326, 159 hits, 57 home runs, 120 RBI
Norm Siebern: .307, 158 hits, 14 home runs, 75 RBI

Milwaukee Braves

Hank Aaron: .366, 208 hits, 45 home runs, 135 RBI
Joe Adcock: .339, 191 hits, 56 home runs, 150 RBI
Eddie Mathews: .297, 154 hits, 47 home runs, 136 RBI

Let's take a look at the pitching matchups, because as is always the case they'll be vital in determining who claims the Championship. Both teams have confirmed that they'll be going with a three-man starter rotation.

Game 1 @ Milwaukee (22/09): Bobby Shants (Yankees, 16-10, 3.28) vs Joey Jay (Braves, 16-11, 4.24) (matchup to be repeated in game 4 and game 7 (if required))
Game 2 @ Milwaukee (23/09): Ryne Duren (Yankees, 20-8, 3.73) vs Carl Willey (Braves, 7-2, 3.52) (matchup to be repeated in game 5 (if required))
Game 3 @ New York (25/09): Bob Turley (Yankees, 16-4, 3.62) vs Bob Rush (Braves) 17-10, 4.21) (matchup to be repeated in game 6 (if required))

The Yankees look to have the edge in all three matchups, so it's clear that the Braves will need their batters to be performing at the peak of their powers if they want to emerge victorious.

Personally, I think the Yankees will win it in six. It's the matchup of their offense against the Braves pitching that convinces me, although I would advise everyone to look out for one of the most exciting Fall Classics for some time.

After that unprecedented, golden run from '49 through to '53 the Bronx Bombers have found it much more difficult during these past four seasons, winning just one World Series in three attempts over that period. I'm confident that they'll make it two from four and claim their 18th World Series Championship...

[kenyan_cheena]

The New York Age

WEDNESDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER, 1958

*** Late Edition ***

YANKEES COME FROM BEHIND
TO WIN WORLD SERIES OPENER!

World Series coverage from Louis Greenberg in Milwaukee

The New York Yankees have scored a pair of runs in the 7th inning and then again in the 9th, rallying from a 3-1 deficit to steal game one of the World Series with a 5-3 victory over the Milwaukee Braves. In front of a near capacity crowd of 43,367 at Milwaukee's County Stadium, the Bronx Bombers received a great performance from starting pitcher Bobby Shantz, who recovered from giving up three hits and two runs in the 1st inning to hold the Braves to just a single run and three more hits during the next six.

The County Stadium crowd were in loud voice during the lead-up to the opening pitch, singing along heartily with Virginia's world famous jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald as she delivered a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. They had even more reason for excitement in the bottom of the 1st when, after leadoff hitter Del Crandall singled to left, Wes Covington put the home team up 2-0 with a blast over the right field wall. National League batting champion Hank Aaron singled in the next at-bat before Shantz was able to get out of the inning without any further damage.

After the Yankees manufactured a run in the 3rd the game remained a tense affair until Aaron pushed the lead back out to two in the bottom of the 6th, a leadoff home run bringing the crowd to their feet. But New York answered back immediately, Hank Bauer's two-out double bringing McDougald home before Bauer himself crossed home plate two batters later, Yogi Berra's single into the gap between 1st and 2nd tieing the scores at 3-3. The rally knocked Braves starter Joey Jay out of the game and pulled a blanket of consternation over the hometown supporters.

With the scoreboard untroubled through the 7th and 8th the game appeared destined for extra innings but, having been the hero back in the 1st inning, Braves leftfielder Wes Covington spilled a difficult but catchable Elston Howard flyball in the top of the 9th. The error opened the door for the Yankees and after Gil McDougald singled to bring Howard home, centrefielder Mickey Mantle scored McDougald with a line drive into left, his one and only hit of the game after reaching base on balls three times earlier. The Yankees were now leading 5-3 and what had been consternation from the Milwaukee crowd was now stunned silence.

It only took a matter of five minutes for the New Yorkers to finish the job, Milwaukee going down in order in the bottom of the 9th. The Yankees' celebration was restrained, knowing that this was only the first of what could very well be seven hard-fought matchups.

"I'm really proud of the way they stayed in the game," said Yankees manager Casey Stengel. "There's a lot of experienced heads in this team and I think that really came in handy today. They never panicked, never felt they were out of it. Yeah, it's just one game but it's nice to start the series with a win."

Braves manager "Pudge" Haney was clearly disappointed by his ballclub's late collapse.

"Not the way we should have started the series," he said, shaking his head. "Surrendering homefield in the first game, that's a blow. We'll need to come back strong tomorrow, no doubt."

New York 2nd baseman Gil McDougald was named Player of the Game, batting 1-for-4 with two runs scored, a walk and an RBI...

***

1958 World Series, Game One Summary

New York Yankees
0 0 1, 0 0 0, 2 0 2 - 5 / 10 / 0
MILWAUKEE BRAVES
2 0 0, 0 0 1, 0 0 0 - 3 / 7 / 1

Top performing batters...

Gil McDougald (Yankees): 1-for-4, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 RBI
Hank Bauer (Yankees): 2-for-4, 1 RBI
Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 1-for-2, 3 BB, 1 RBI
Wes Covington (Braves): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Hank Aaron (Braves): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Starting pitcher's lines...

Bobby Shantz (Yankees): 7.2 IP, 6 hits, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 139 pitches
Joey Jay (Braves): 6.2 IP, 5 hits, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 106 pitches

Team batting...

New York Yankees: 10-for-34 (.294), 5 R, 5 BB
Milwaukee Braves: 7-for-32 (.219), 3 R, 4 BB

Time: 3:52
Attendance: 43,367 (County Stadium)

[mikehoudini]

A two sport man, at the least!! I followed baseball and played many board games and collected many cards, including a young Rocko Colavito, many of which I still have! It'll be interesting to see how this unfolds.

I haven't gone into the OOTP baseball (was an APBA and then a Strat-o-matic fan), but would like to create a mini universe of teams from fictional writers such as Joe Archibald, John Tunis and Duane Decker (did, once upon a time, create teams from Strat-o-matic for 1954 before that year became available).

Keep up the great work on both sports!

A fellow enthusiast,
mikehoudini

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by mikehoudini

A two sport man, at the least!! I followed baseball and played many board games and collected many cards, including a young Rocko Colavito, many of which I still have! It'll be interesting to see how this unfolds.

I haven't gone into the OOTP baseball (was an APBA and then a Strat-o-matic fan), but would like to create a mini universe of teams from fictional writers such as Joe Archibald, John Tunis and Duane Decker (did, once upon a time, create teams from Strat-o-matic for 1954 before that year became available).

Keep up the great work on both sports!

A fellow enthusiast,
mikehoudini

Thanks, Mike. I'm very interested in seeing what happens with Colavito in the coming seasons. He has achieved the seemingly impossible by breaking the home run record, now I'd like to see if the Blues can build a lineup around him that can compete for the pennant.

Glad you're enjoying my work.

[kenyan_cheena]

MILWAUKEE * WISCONSIN
JOURNAL SENTINEL

Friday 24 September 1958

AARON AND WILLEY EXCEL
AS BRAVES LEVEL SERIES

Story by Lomas Robertson

Interviewed before yesterday afternoon's second game of the 1958 World Series, Milwaukee Braves manager Fred Haney spoke of how vital a win was to his ballclub's chances of repeating as World Champions after having gone down in Wednesday's opener.

"I don't fancy our chances at all if we go to Yankee Stadium down by two," Haney said. "Not at all. But 1-1, that's entirely different. If we can win tonight I think this group of guys are good enough to pinch at least one in New York and bring it back here."

Well, Haney's hopes came true as the Braves won a tense game two, 4-3. Thanks largely to the pitching of right-handed starter Carl Willey and the hitting of Hank Aaron (2-for-4, 2 RBI) the Braves were able to take advantage of the few chances they had to eek out a nail-biting victory. The Yankees actually outhit the Wisconsin team 8-6.

As they did in game one the Braves were able to get on the scoreboard in the 1st inning, Aaron's two-out double scoring leadoff hitter Bill Bruton. But New York tied it up in the 3rd on a one-out solo home run from Mickey Mantle. The pitchers dominated through the next two innings, Yankees starter Ryne Duren retiring eight consecutive Milwaukee batters at one stage.

In the 6th the New York pitcher contributed with the bat, bringing 3rd baseman Andy Carey home with a single into left field to give the Bronx Bombers a 2-1 lead. The Braves answered back in the bottom of the frame, scoring twice to get their noses back in front. 3rd baseman Eddie Mathews walked to lead off the inning, then stole 2nd before Aaron had his second RBI of the game with a single through the gap between 2nd and 3rd. 1st baseman Joe Adcock was then walked before, after Aaron was forced out at 3rd catcher Del Crandall singled. On the throw to home Yankees catcher Yogi Berra dropped the ball, allowing 37 year-old pinch runner Andy Pafko to score to the delight of the County Stadium crowd.

The Yankees drew level once again in the top of the 8th, Bill Skowron's double into the right field corner bringing Carey home for his second run of the game. But as they'd done in the 6th Milwaukee took the lead back immediately, Red Schoendienst's second hit of the game scoring shortstop Johnny Logan.

Braves starter Carl Willey was replaced by Gene Conley at the start of the final inning and after loading the bases on a one-out Yogi Berra single and two walks, he was able to finish off the Yankees by striking out Carey, allowing the County Stadium crowd to exhale in relief.

"Can't tell you how proud I am of them," said Haney. "This was one of our gutsiest wins of the season, without a doubt. It gives me a lot of confidence going to New York."

Willey was announced as the Player of the Game and also picked up the win after he threw 125 pitches through eight innings, allowing seven hits, striking out six and walking five...

***

1958 World Series, Game Two Summary

New York Yankees
0 0 1, 0 0 1, 0 1 0 - 3 / 8 / 2
MILWAUKEE BRAVES
1 0 0, 0 0 2, 0 1 X - 4 / 6 / 1

Top performing batters...

Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 BB, 1 RBI
Yogi Berra (Yankees): 2-for-5
Andy Carey (Yankees): 0-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB
Hank Aaron (Braves): 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Del Crandall (Braves): 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB
Red Schoendienst (Braves): 2-for-4, 1 RBI

Starting pitcher's lines...

Ryne Duren (Yankees): 6.1 IP, 4 hits, 2 ER, 5 BB, 8 K, 125 pitches
Carl Willey (Braves): 8 IP, 7 hits, 3 ER, 5 BB, 6 K, 125 pitches

Team batting...

New York Yankees: 8-for-33 (.242), 3 R, 7 BB
Milwaukee Braves: 6-for-29 (.207), 4 R, 6 BB

Time: 3:40
Attendance: 43,369 (County Stadium)

[kenyan_cheena]

The New York Age

SATURDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER, 1958

***Late Edition***

BRONX THRILLER:
YANKEES TAKE 2-1 SERIES LEAD
AFTER EXTRA INNINGS VICTORY

Story by Louis Greenberg

Following this afternoon's third game, it would be safe to say that the 1958 World Series is well on the way to classic status. After the tension of the opening two games in Milwaukee the drama went to another level at an all but sold-out Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers winning 5-4 in ten innings.

A fiercely parochial crowd was on hand, eager to see their Yankees go up 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. They looked well on their way to achieving that goal after back-to-back home runs from Hank Bauer and Mickey Mantle in the bottom of the 1st put the home team up 2-0. But the Braves responded immediately when catcher Del Crandall smoked a leadoff homer to start the 2nd, the line drive over the leftfield wall travelling 150 yards according to some estimates.

The Yankees pushed the lead back out to two in the 4th, Tony Kubek's two-out solo homer making it 3-1. That's how the score stayed for the next three innings, New York taking that two-run lead into the 8th. They'd received a great pitching performance from starter Bob Turley, the 28 year-old having given up just four hits to that point. Braves outfielder Wes Covington singled to lead off the inning before Eddie Mathews struck out for the second time in the game. Moments later the Yankee Stadium crowd was shocked into silence as Hank Aaron smacked his second homer of the World Series, the two-run blast to deep centrefield leveling the scores at 3-3.

Milwaukee were right back in the game but New York regained the lead in the bottom of the inning when Bill Skowron's single brought Norm Siebern home from 2nd after the leftfielder had stolen the base a couple of pitches earlier. The top of the 9th had arrived and the Yankees were up 4-3, but that lead proved to be short lived. After Milwaukee's 2nd baseman Red Schoendienst's leadoff double a pair of sacrifice flys brought home pinch runner Andy Pafko, the scores once again tied up at 4-4. With the Bronx team going down in order in the bottom of the 9th, the game headed to extra innings.

The Braves couldn't trouble the scorers in the top of the 10th but when shortstop Johnny Logan's throw to 1st on a Yogi Berra grounder was wide of the mark the Yankees catcher was on base for the first time in the game. Tony Kubek's two-out single scored Berra, the Yankee Stadium crowd errupting jubilantly at the conclusion of the four-hour epic.

"It doesn't get much better than this," said New York centrefielder Mickey Mantle. "It's been an incredible series so far, really. We could have lost all three games and we could have won all three, it's been that close. Pulling this one out will give us a lot of confidence going into tomorrow's game."

He may be one of the favourites to take out the National League MVP but Braves 1st baseman Joe Adcock has really struggled through the World Series' first three games. After collecting just one hit in Milwaukee he was 0-for-5 this afternoon, striking out twice. He's batting just .083 for the series with no home runs or RBIs. Compare that to the defending NL MVP Hank Aaron, who is batting .417 with two home runs and five RBI...

1958 World Series, Game Three Summary

Milwaukee Braves
0 1 0, 0 0 0, 0 2 1 (0) - 4 / 9 / 1
NEW YORK YANKEES
2 0 0, 1 0 0, 0 1 0 (1) - 5 / 11 / 1

Top performing batters...

Wes Covington (Braves): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB
Hank Aaron (Braves): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 RBI
Del Crandall (Braves): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 RBI
Red Schoendienst (Braves): 2-for-4
Hank Bauer (Yankees): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 1-for-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Norm Siebern (Yankees): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB
Tony Kubek (Yankees): 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Starting pitcher's lines...

Bob Rush (Braves): 8 IP, 7 hits, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 129 pitches
Bob Turley (Yankees): 8 IP, 6 hits, 4 ER, 5 BB, 2 K, 138 pitches

Team batting...

Milwaukee Braves: 9-for-36 (.250), 4 R, 6 BB
New York Yankees: 11-for-38 (.289), 5 R, 4 BB

Time: 4:03
Attendance: 66,985 (Yankee Stadium)

[kenyan_cheena]

The New York Age

SUNDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER, 1958

***Late Edition***

SHANTZ SUBDUES BRAVES BATTERS,
PUTS YANKEES UP 3-1

Story by Louis Greenberg

Pitching on his 33rd birthday, New York Yankees starter Bobby Shantz produced one of the best performances of his career this afternoon in holding the Milwaukee Braves to just three hits in game four of the World Series. The Yankees won the game 5-3 to move to within one victory of their 18th Fall Classic triumph.

Shantz also started in New York's game one victory last Wednesday in Milwaukee. He pitched eight innings today, giving up three runs, three hits, striking out six and walking just one on 108 pitches. He was perfect through the first five innings before ironically surrendering his first hit to Braves pitcher Joey Jay in the top of the 6th.

The Yankees had built a 3-0 lead going into the 6th and after Jay's one-out single, Shantz then walked Del Crandall before Wes Covington grounded to shortstop for the second out of the inning. Milwaukee's one-man band Hank Aaron then stepped to the plate and for the second game in a row tied the scores and stunned the Yankee Stadium crowd with a home run, the three-run shot clearing the fence in rightfield. It was his third of the World Series and the three runs scored increased his RBI count to eight, meaning he has personally knocked in more than half of the runs Milwaukee has scored in the series (14).

New York were able to take the lead back in the bottom of the inning and extended it to two in the 7th, the Braves never getting close to scoring another run. Reliever Tom Sturdivant fanned Joe Adcock for the 27th and final Milwaukee out, securing a 5-3 Yankees victory and an imposing 3-1 series lead.

As has been the case throughout this World Series two of Milwaukee's most important players failed to fire once again. Adcock was 0-for-4, striking out three times while 3rd baseman Eddie Mathews was 0-for-3 and is yet to record a hit in the series (although he has walked five times). Inexplicably the two are a combined 1-for-27 with thirteen strikeouts, six walks and one run scored.

Shortstop Tony Kubek continued his fantastic series for the Yankees, hitting 3-for-4 with two RBI. He's batting .545 for the series.

"Shantz shut us down," said Braves manager Fred Haney. "It was as simple as that. The guy has pitched some great games this season and through his whole career. We were just unlucky that he came up with one of them today."

"We have to win," was Haney's reply when asked what his team had to do in game five. "We have to dig deep and play well enough to get this series back to Milwaukee. I don't want to see these guys celebrate another Championship on their own field. We have to make them earn it and to do that we have got to win tomorrow."

1958 World Series, Game Four Summary

Milwaukee Braves
0 0 0, 0 0 3, 0 0 0 - 3 / 3 / 0
NEW YORK YANKEES
1 0 0, 2 0 1, 1 0 X - 5 / 10 / 0

Top performing batters...

Hank Aaron (Braves): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Yogi Berra (Yankees): 1-for-4, 2 RBI
Norm Siebern (Yankees): 2-for-4, 2 R
Tony Kubek (Yankees): 3-for-4, 2 RBI

Starting pitcher's lines...

Joey Jay (Braves): 6.1 IP, 9 hits, 5 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 111 pitches
Bobby Shantz (Yankees): 8 IP, 3 hits, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 108 pitches

Team batting...

Milwaukee Braves: 3-for-30 (.100), 3 R, 1 BB
New York Yankees: 10-for-31 (.323), 5 R, 5 BB

Time: 3:06
Attendance: 66,951 (Yankee Stadium)

[kenyan_cheena]

MILWAUKEE * WISCONSIN
JOURNAL SENTINEL

Monday 27 September 1958

***Late Edition***

BRAVES STILL BREATHING
FOLLOWING GAME FIVE VICTORY

Story by Matthew Jenkins in New York

Fans and staff of the New York Yankees will have to keep the champagne on ice for at least two more days after the Milwaukee Braves stayed alive in the 1958 World Series this afternoon. The Braves won game five by a score of 6-3, reducing New York's lead in the best-of-seven series to just a single game at 3-2. In doing so they achieved their goal of returning the series to Milwaukee, where it will continue with game six on Wednesday.

66,959 spectators had packed Yankee Stadium hoping to celebrate a 4-1 series victory and an 18th World Championship for their Bronx Bombers. Instead the Braves spoiled the party, souring the jovial atmosphere in the game's very first inning. It started nicely for the Yankees, with twenty-game winner Ryne Duren sending Bill Bruton and Wes Covington back to the dugout in quick time. But the inning went down hill quickly as Duren walked Eddie Mathews, gave up a single to Hank Aaron and then walked Joe Adcock in succession, loading the bases. Braves catcher Del Crandall then cleared them, smoking a groundball up the leftfield line and into the corner for a double to make it 3-0. It got worse in the next at-bat with 2nd baseman Red Scheondienst singling to bring Crandall home, the score now 4-0 before the game was even fifteen minutes old. Duren struck out Johnny Logan to end the frame but the damage had been done and the crowd could only sit in shocked silence.

It remained 4-0 through until the end of the 6th inning, the Yankees registering the occasional hit but never threatening to score. As had been the case in Milwaukee's game two victory the pitching matchup was wildly in the Yankees' favour, their 29 year-old gunslinger Ryne Duren up against the Milwaukee rookie Carl Willey. Duren had been one of the standouts in the American League, starting 35 games and going 20-8 with an ERA of 3.73 while Willey had only been inserted into the starting rotation on the 30th of August. Nevertheless, as was the case in game two the Braves rookie was outduelling his more fancied foe.

Milwaukee extended their lead to 5-0 when Willey singled and then scored on an error by Yankees leftfielder Norm Siebern in the 7th, sending a collective sigh around Yankee Stadium. Hope was somewhat restored in the bottom of the inning when Mickey Mantle smoked a leadoff home run. Two batters later Andy Carey walked before "Moose" Skowron cut Milwaukee's lead in half with a two-run homer to deep centrefield, the score now 5-3.

However, having been in a slumber through the first four games, Braves National League MVP favourite Joe Adcock homered to lead off the 8th, pushing the lead back out to three. Despite getting three hits off Milwaukee reliever Humberto Robinson the Yankees were unable to score again.

"It's a huge relief," said Braves outfielder Hank Aaron. "Now it's just two games at home. Nothing else matters now but going home and getting the job done on our own field."

Aaron heaped praise upon Willey, who pitched eight innings and gave up five hits and three runs on 106 pitches, striking out five. He was also 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored.

"Carl has just been incredible for us," said Aaron. "We needed someone to fill Lew's shoes and I have to admit, I didn't expect Carl to be the man for the job. But he's come through for us when it counts. Two starts and two wins in the World Series. What more can you ask for?"

"We just didn't have it today," lamented Yankees manager Casey Stengel. "The tone was set in the 1st inning and no matter what we did, we just couldn't peg back that deficit. All credit to them for coming through when they had to."

The teams will now travel back to Milwaukee for game six on Wednesday and, if required, game seven on Thursday...

***

1958 World Series, Game Five Summary

Milwaukee Braves
4 0 0, 0 0 0, 1 1 0 - 6 / 7 / 0
NEW YORK YANKEES
0 0 0, 0 0 0, 3 0 0 - 3 / 8 / 2

Top performing batters...

Eddie Mathews (Braves): 0-for-2, 1 R, 3 BB
Joe Adcock (Braves): 1-for-3, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 RBI
Del Crandall (Braves): 1-for-4, 1 R, 3 RBI
Carl Willey (Braves): 2-for-4, 1 R
Hank Bauer (Yankees): 3-for-4
Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Bill Skowron (Yankees): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI

Starting pitcher's lines...

Carl Willey (Braves): 8 IP, 5 hits, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 106 pitches
Ryne Duren (Yankees): 6.1 IP, 5 hits, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 110 pitches

Team batting...

Milwaukee Braves: 7-for-34 (.206), 6 R, 5 BB
New York Yankees: 8-for-34 (.235), 3 R, 1 BB

Time: 3:36
Attendance: 66,959 (Yankee Stadium)

[kenyan_cheena]

MILWAUKEE * WISCONSIN
JOURNAL SENTINEL

Wednesday 29 September 1958

***Late Edition***

RECORD-BREAKING BRAVES RALLY
SENDS SERIES TO GAME SEVEN DECIDER!

Story by Lomas Robertson

In one of the most extraordinary World Series games ever the Milwaukee Braves fought back from a 6th inning 6-1 deficit to defeat the New York Yankees 13-6 this afternoon at County Stadium. Along the way the Braves became the first ballclub to hit three home runs in a single inning of a World Series game and fell one run short of the record for most runs in an inning when they put on nine, both achievements occuring in the 7th.

The dramatic nature of their rally was made all the more exciting by what had preceded it as the New Yorkers looked to be on course to secure their 18th Fall Classic with a dominant showing through the first five-plus frames. The game actually started well for the Braves with Joe Adcock smashing a solo home run in the bottom of the 2nd. It was his second homer in as many at-bats following his 8th inning effort in game five on Monday. But the Yankees then seized control with a four-run 4th inning, Andy Carey's double bringing home Yogi Berra and Norm Siebern. Tony Kubek's single then brought Carey home before leadoff hitter Gil McDougald scored Kubek with a single of his own.

Adding a run in the 5th (another Carey double bringing Mantle home) and then one more in the 6th (a two-out solo home run for McDougald) New York were in complete control as the bottom of the 6th inning arrived. Even so, the County Stadium crowd did not give up hope. Their Braves gave them reason to believe when Del Crandall's two-out double brought home Eddie Mathews and Joe Adcock. Starting pitcher Bob Rush then reduced the New York lead to just two when he singled to score Crandall. It was now 6-4 going into the 7th and if the crowd was already excited, nothing could have prepared them for what was to come in the 7th.

After the Yankees were retired in order Braves centrefielder Bill Bruton struck out leading off before Wes Covington singled and Eddie Mathews walked, bringing up Hank Aaron. For a remarkable third time in the series Aaron produced a home run that tied the scores, but this one did even more than that. His three-run line drive over the fence in left field made it 7-6, the Braves suddenly in the lead and very much in the game. Yankees pitcher Bob Turley was relieved by Johnny James. The crowd was absolutely buzzing now but when Joe Adcock smoked a 2-1 fastball into the rightfield stands the score was 8-6 and the level of excitement reached fever pitch. Crandall singled to continue the rally but when Red Schoendienst flied out to leftfield for the second out it looked like it might be over.

It wasn't. Pinch hitter Frank Torre walked and after Rush reached and Crandall scored on an error by 3rd baseman Andy Carey it was 9-6. Back at the top of the order, Bruton singled to score Torre, the Braves now up by four and the game slipping quickly out of the Yankees' grasp. Then came a moment that has never occured in the history of the World Series. With Rush on 3rd and Bruton 1st Wes Covington blasted the third home run of the inning, the shot clearing the wall in deep centrefield to make the score an incomprehensible 13-6. Eddie Mathews struck out to end the incredible inning and as the Braves took the field in the top of the 8th the crowd gave them a standing ovation that lasted a good three minutes. The game reached it's conclusion quickly, the final inning-and-a-half lasting all of fifteen minutes.

Braves manager Fred Haney had been on the verge of pulling his starter Bob Rush in the 7th but once the scores became close he kept him in, allowing him to record a complete game victory. He gave up twelve hits, six runs and struck out seven on 141 pitches. With the final out the Braves players celebrated like they'd already won the series, not just the sixth game. Considering the magnitude of their comeback, it was understandable.

"I'm just speechless," said Haney. "Absolutely speechless. Proud is probably not enough of a word to express how I'm feeling right now. In all my years as a player or manager I've never been involved in a game like this one. I think it might take me until we're back out here tomorrow afternoon to realise that we're still alive in the series."

Having been a non-factor through the first four games of the series, Braves 1st baseman Joe Adcock has hit three home runs in the last two games. He was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two homers this afternoon. If the Braves are able to win it all then Hank Aaron must surely be a favourite for World Series MVP. His 7th inning homer was his fourth of the series and he now has eleven RBI. Two of those homers (including today's one) have been three-run shots while another was a two-run effort. In each case the Braves have either tied the Yankees or taken the lead.

"I have nothing to say about it," said a perturbed Yankees manager Casey Stengel. "This is what can happen in baseball sometimes. It's why it's the greatest sport in the world. We just have to regroup and get it done tomorrow. They've earned everyone's admiration for the way they've never given up bit now it just comes down to one game. I have to make sure that our guys are ready for the challenge."

Without a doubt this has been one of the most exciting Fall Classics in recent memory and we can only wait and see what the final chapter of it will bring...

***

1958 World Series, Game Six Summary

New York Yankees
0 0 0, 4 1 1, 0 0 0 - 6 / 12 / 1
MILWAUKEE BRAVES
0 1 0, 0 0 3, 9 0 X - 13 / 14 / 1

Top performing batters...

Gil McDougald (Yankees): 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 RBI
Andy Carey (Yankees): 3-for-3, 1 R, 3 RBI
Tony Kubek (Yankees): 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI
Bill Bruton (Braves): 2-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI
Wes Covington (Braves): 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI
Eddie Mathews (Braves): 1-for-4, 2 R, 1 BB
Hank Aaron (Braves): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 BB, 3 RBI
Joe Adcock (Braves): 3-for-5, 3 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI
Del Crandall (Braves): 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 RBI

Starting pitcher's lines...

Bob Turley (Yankees): 6.1 IP, 9 hits, 6 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 112 pitches
Bob Rush (Braves): 9 IP, 12 hits, 6 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 141 pitches

Team batting...

New York Yankees: 12-for-39 (.307), 6 R, 1 BB
Milwaukee Braves: 14-for-38 (.368), 13 R, 5 BB

Time: 3:47
Attendance: 43,386 (County Stadium)

[Kelric]

Go Braves. Anyone is better than the Yankees.

[kenyan_cheena]

MILWAUKEE * WISCONSIN
JOURNAL SENTINEL

Thursday 30 September 1958

***Late Edition***

BRAVES WIN!!!

Story by Lomas Robertson

All of Wisconsin is celebrating tonight following the events of this afternoon when the Milwaukee Braves completed an incredible comeback to win their second consecutive World Series Championship. The Braves defeated the New York Yankees 5-4 in ten innings in the seventh and deciding game of the series. Having fallen behind three games to one after Monday's game four they reeled off three straight wins, taking game five 6-3 and game six 13-6 before this afternoon's four hour epic secured one of the most astonishing victories in World Series history.

As was the case in yesterday's extraordinary game six the Braves came from behind to secure the win, tieing it up in the bottom of the 9th and then scoring the winning run in the 10th. The Yankees actually outhit the Braves in six of the seven games but were unable to make the most of their chances and unable to earn revenge for last year's Fall Classic loss to the Wisconsin ballclub, which also went the distance. Having won an unprecedented five consecutive World Championships from '49 through '53, the last five seasons have been frustrating ones for the New Yorkers with a 2nd place finish in '54 followed by four consecutive pennants but just the single World Championship in 1956.

The Yankees took a 2-0 lead in the 3rd, shortstop Tony Kubek continuing his fantastic form with a single to lead off the inning. Pitcher Bobby Shantz walked before Gil McDougald's flyball single into left scored Kubek. Two batters later Mickey Mantle brought Shantz home with a grounder through the gap between 1st and 2nd.

Milwaukee answered back in the bottom of the 4th, scoring three to take the lead. Joe Adcock kicked off the inning with a single before Eddie Mathews recorded his first RBI of the series, a double bringing Adcock home. After Red Schoendienst walked Mathews was forced out at 3rd on a hard hit Johnny Logan grounder, Logan gunned down at 1st by Andy Carey in a spectacular double play. But back-to-back singles from Bill Bruton and pitcher Joey Jay added two more runs, Schoendienst and Bruton scoring to give the Braves a 3-2 lead.

New York's reply was immediate, Yogi Berra batting Mantle in after the centrefielder's second hit of the game lead off the 5th. And so the game remained an unbearably tense affair until the top of the 8th, the Yankees taking a 4-3 lead when, after 1st baseman Bill Skowron singled, pinch runner Ted Beard stole 2nd and then came home courtesy of Harry Simpson's single in his first at-bat after replacing Tony Kubek in the lineup.

When the bottom of the 9th arrived the Yankees still held that one run lead and were just three outs from victory. But Red Schoendienst doubled leading off, bringing a thunderous round of applause from the crowd. He was replaced by pinch runner Andy Pafko but when both Frank Torre and Bill Bruton grounded out the Braves were on the verge of defeat. Felix Mantilla kept them alive when he walked before Del Crandall came up with what must be the most important hit of his career, his single into the gap between 1st and 2nd scoring Pafko and tieing the score at 4-4. The crowd were on their feet, delirious with excitement.

New York was able to end the Braves rally before it spiralled into complete disaster for them and then, despite getting two walks and a hit off Braves reliever Don McMahon they couldn't score in the top of the 10th.

Ten minutes later the moment finally arrived, the moment so many experts and observers had said was impossible throughout this 1958 Major League Baseball season: the moment when the Milwaukee Braves retained their World Championship. After Wes Covington grounded out to start the inning Hank Aaron had his second hit of the game. Joe Adcock flied out to centrefield and then, having gone through the first six games without a single hit Eddie Mathews had his second of game seven and second RBI. His flyball into right field dropped safely in open ground and after getting a great jump from 1st Aaron was able to slide into home, beating Nick Siebern's desperation throw.

It was all over and the Braves were World Champions once again! The entire team flooded the field, embracing Aaron and Mathews and celebrating jubilantly, the crowd on their feet applauding.

"I just cannot believe it," said an emotional Fred Haney afterwards. "I can't believe we've climbed this mountain again, can't believe we've won it this way. After yesterday's win and now this ... I don't know what to say."

Yankees manager Casey Stengel gave all credit to the Braves for their fighting effort.

"They just wanted it more than us," he said, shaking his head. "Take out game five and we had chances to win every one of them but we just didn't take them. We outhit them but they scored more runs. They came through when it mattered and they have to be congratulated for it. But I can't lie. This one really hurts and it will for some time. Our organisation has had an incredibly successful run during the last decade but that doesn't soften the blow of losing like this. This'll take some time to get over, I think."

Milwaukee rightfielder Hank Aaron was named World Series MVP, batting .367 for the series with four home runs and eleven RBI. He was clearly overwhelmed by the honor.

"I just can't believe that we've done it again!" he exclaimed. "For me personally, I'm only 24 years old and I feel like I've just started my career but I've already experienced two Championships. It's unbelieveable."

Aaron made special mention of Braves pitcher Lew Burdette, who was the MVP of the '57 series but whose season and, as it has turned out, career was ended by an elbow injury back in July. Burdette had spent time in the Braves dugout during the games at County Stadium and in Aaron's words, had been an "inspiration" to his teammates.

"We talked about it a lot leading into the series and during it," said Aaron. "And it was something that we really wanted to achieve, to win this Championship as a tribute to him and what he contributed to our team."

In winning the 1958 World Series, Milwaukee has become the first ballclub besides the Yankees to repeat as Champions since the Philadelphia Athletics in '29 and '30. To have defeated in consecutive years the team regarded as the greatest in the 56 year history of Major League Baseball is a marvellous achievement, to say the least...

***

1958 World Series, Game Seven Summary

New York Yankees
0 0 2, 0 1 0, 0 1 0 (0) - 4 / 12 / 0
MILWAUKEE BRAVES
0 0 0, 3 0 0, 0 0 1 (1) - 5 / 11 / 2

Top performing batters...

Gil McDougald (Yankees): 1-for-4, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 RBI
Mickey Mantle (Yankees): 2-for-3, 1 BB, 1 RBI
Tony Kubek (Yankees): 2-for-3, 1 R
Harry Simpson (Yankees): 2-for-2, 1 RBI
Hank Aaron (Braves): 2-for-5, 1 R
Joe Adcock (Braves): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB
Eddie Mathews (Braves): 2-for-5, 2 RBI
Red Schoendienst (Braves): 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI
Bill Bruton (Braves): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI

Starting pitcher's lines...

Bobby Shantz (Yankees): 7.2 IP, 7 hits, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 136 pitches
Joey Jay (Braves): 7.2 IP, 9 hits, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 106 pitches

Team batting...

New York Yankees: 12-for-38 (.316), 4 R, 7 BB
Milwaukee Braves: 11-for-39 (.282), 5 R, 2 BB

Time: 4:05
Attendance: 43,360 (County Stadium)

[kenyan_cheena]

That's the first season of my dynasty completed!!

I hope you all enjoyed reading my review of the World Series as much as I enjoyed writing it. I was lucky that the game gave me such an exciting series to write about.

Up next will be some stats from the World Series and then a report on the award winners (Cy Young, MVP, etc.) from the 1958 season.

[kenyan_cheena]

1958 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES

TEAM STATISTICS

TEAM BATTING

New York Yankees: 71-for-247 (.287), 31 R, 30 BB
Milwaukee Braves: 57-for-238 (.239), 38 R, 29 BB

Top performers...

New York Yankees

Tony Kubek (SS): .455 (10-for-22), 3 R, 1 HR, 1 BB, 4 RBI
Andy Carey (3B): .364 (8-for-22), 5 R, 0 HR, 6 BB, 3 RBI
Hank Bauer (RF): .310 (9-for-29), 1 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI
Mickey Mantle (CF): .250 (6-for-24), 5 R, 3 HR, 8 BB, 5 RBI

Milwaukee Braves

Hank Aaron (RF): .367 (11-for-30), 6 R, 4 HR, 2 BB, 11 RBI (World Series MVP)
Red Schoendienst (2B): .320 (8-for-25), 1 R, 0 HR, 3 BB, 2 RBI, 2 SB
Del Crandall (C): .308 (8-for-26), 6 R, 1 HR, 5 BB, 7 RBI
Joe Adcock (1B): .214 (6-for-28), 6 R, 3 HR, 3 BB, 3 RBI

TEAM PITCHING

New York Yankees ERA: 5.05
Milwaukee Braves ERA: 4.12

Starting pitchers...

New York Yankees

Bobby Shantz (3 games), 1-0, ERA 3.47, 23.1 IP, 16 hits, 9 ER, 5 BB, 16 K
Ryne Duren (2 games), 0-1, ERA 4.26, 12.2 IP, 9 hits, 6 ER, 8 BB, 14 K
Bob Turley (2 games), 0-1, ERA 5.65, 14.1 IP, 15 hits, 9 ER, 7 BB, 9 K

Milwaukee Braves

Joey Jay (3 games), 0-1, ERA 4.35, 20.2 IP, 23 hits, 10 ER, 12 BB, 10 K
Carl Willey (2 games), 2-0, ERA 3.38, 16.0 IP, 12 hits, 6 ER, 6 BB, 11 K
Bob Rush (2 games), 1-0, ERA 4.76, 17.0 IP, 19 hits, 9 ER, 4 BB, 11 K, 1 CG

[kenyan_cheena]

BASEBALL WEEKLY

Monday 4 October 1958

VOLUME 24, ISSUE 41

COLAVITO AND ADCOCK
CLAIM MVP AWARDS

Story by Michael Jones,
published in the 4 October 1958 issue of BASEBALL WEEKLY

The final chapter in an extraordinary year of baseball was written this past Friday with Major League Baseball announcing the winners of their annual season awards.

As expected Cleveland Blues rightfielder Rocky Colavito was named American League MVP after a campaign in which he obliterated Babe Ruth's thirty-year home run record. Colavito set a standard that in the minds of many may never be bettered and his efforts will surely be regarded as the greatest individual season of power hitting in the history of the sport for many years to come.

The MVP race was closer in the National League with Braves 1st baseman Joe Adcock beating out his teammate, World Series MVP and defending NL MVP Hank Aaron for the honor. Aaron topped the league in batting average, on-base percentage and hits, Adcock being in the top five in two of those categories but also finishing 1st in home runs (56) and RBIs (150).

Boston righthander Frank Sullivan was something of a surprise pick for the American League Cy Young Award, the 28 year-old edging fellow Red Sox hurler Tom Brewer and Cleveland's Herb Score, who led the league in ERA (2.98). Sullivan recorded an ERA of 3.63 and was 1st in the AL in wins with 22 and 2nd in innings pitched at 322.1.

The National League Cy Young Award was given to Chicago Cubs starter Jim Brosnan who finished tied for the most wins in all of baseball with 23. In forty games he was 23-8 with an ERA of 3.59.

19 year-old Orioles pitcher Milt Pappas was named American League Rookie of the Year, the teenager's ERA of 3.05 the 3rd best in the AL. He started 41 games, going 14-13 and striking out 158 batters. No doubt he has a great future ahead of him and will learn much from fellow Baltimore pitcher Billy O'Dell (2nd in AL ERA with 3.04).

The first year in San Francisco was pretty successful for the Giants and it ended with one of their players winning National League Rookie of the Year. Puerto Rican 1st baseman Orlando Cepeda had a great season, appearing in 148 games and batting .323. He hit thirty home runs and had 122 RBI in a fantastic debut season.

Summary of Award Winners...

AMERICAN LEAGUE

MVP

Rocky Colavito (RF, Cleveland Blues)
148 games, 525 AB, 173 H, 72 HR, 161 RBI, 144 R, 102 BB, .330 AVG, .438 OBP, .808 SLG

CY YOUNG

Frank Sullivan (SP, Boston Red Sox)
41 games, 22-12, 3.63 ERA, 322.1 IP, 314 H, 130 ER, 98 BB, 160 K

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Milt Pappas (SP, Baltimore Orioles)
41 games, 14-13, 3.05 ERA, 283.1 IP, 254 H, 96 ER, 88 BB, 158 K

GOLD GLOVE WINNERS

P Hal Brown (Kansas City Athletics)
C Russ Nixon (Cleveland Blues)
1B Bob Boyd (Baltimore Orioles)
2B Bobby Avila (Cleveland Blues)
3B Andy Carey (New York Yankees)
SS Rocky Bridges (Washington Senators)
LF Charlie Maxwell (Detroit Tigers)
CF Jim Piersall (Boston Red Sox)
RF Al Kaline (Detroit Tigers)


NATIONAL LEAGUE

MVP

Joe Adcock (1B, Milwaukee Braves)
149 games, 563 AB, 191 H, 56 HR, 150 RBI, 111 R, 44 BB, .339 AVG, .385 OBP, .689 SLG

CY YOUNG

Jim Brosnan (SP, Chicago Cubs)
40 games, 23-8, 3.59 ERA, 313.0 IP, 309 H, 125 ER, 96 BB, 135 K

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Orlando Cepeda (1B, San Francisco Giants)
148 games, 576 AB, 186 H, 30 HR, 122 RBI, 91 R, 27 BB, .323 AVG, .351 OBP, .557 SLG

GOLD GLOVE WINNERS

P Curt Simmons (Philadelphia Phillies)
C Del Crandall (Milwaukee Braves)
1B Ted Kluszewski (Pittsburgh Pirates)
2B Danny O'Connell (San Francisco Giants)
3B Frank Thomas (Pittsburgh Pirates)
SS Johnny Logan (Milwaukee Braves)
LF Frank Robinson (Cincinnati Reds)
CF Bobby Thomson (Chicago Cubs)
RF Lee Walls (Chicago Cubs)

[kenyan_cheena]

MILWAUKEE * WISCONSIN
JOURNAL SENTINEL

Thursday 7 October 1958

BRAVES AWARD HANEY WITH
TWO-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION

Story by Lomas Robertson

The Milwaukee Braves front office announced yesterday that they have extended the contract of manager Fred "Pudge" Haney through until the end of the 1962 season following the ballclub's back-to-back World Series triumphs. The news was revealed during a ticker-tape parade through the streets of Milwaukee, Haney and most of the playing staff on hand for the celebration of their victory. Haney's original contract was set to expire with the completion of the 1960 season, Braves owner Lou Perini speaking of his admiration and respect for the Albuquerque native.

"Our ballclub has just concluded two seasons that are unprecedented in its entire history," Perini said at the parade. "It's true that our playing staff is particularly strong right now, but the hard work and determination that Fred has shown in his time here has been a large reason for our success. I'm looking forward to having him guide the team through these coming years."

Considering his previous managerial tenures, Haney's record with the Braves is an extraordinary one. Managing the Cardinals from 1939 through to early '41 he accumulated a 125-227 record (.355) before taking the reins in Pittsburgh some twelve years later. His time there was no happier as he guided the club to a 163-299 mark (.353) in three complete seasons, the Pirates finishing last in the National League in all three campaigns.

Some would say that the ownerships of both ballclubs never gave him the players to work with, therefore significantly reducing his chances of success. But in Milwaukee Haney has struck gold, so to speak. The Braves finished just a single game behind the Champion Dodgers in his first season at the helm in '56 and to have followed that up with back-to-back pennants and World Championships is remarkable, to say the least. His record with the club currently sits at 256-160 (.615).

"It's great to know that Lou and the others have so much confidence in me," said 62 year-old Haney yesterday. "I think that will make it easier for me to do my job, knowing I have their support. It's been an amazing, unbelievable couple of years so far and I'm confident that we can continue to contend into the future."

[kenyan_cheena]

LOS ANGELES DAILY MAIL

Monday, 22 November, 1958

VEGAS CASINO KING EXPRESSES
INTEREST IN L.A. FRANCHISE

Story by Keith Silverman

Prominent Las Vegas businessman Kelvin Molk has thrown his hat into the ring of Major League Baseball expansion, stating his intentions to finance a Los Angeles-based ballclub at a press conference held yesterday. Molk has been a major player in the Las Vegas hotel and casino scene for the past decade and is regarded as one of the wealthiest individuals in the United States.

MLB is set to expand to twenty teams in 1962 and the league's front office wants one of the four new franchises to be located in Los Angeles. In recent months Kansas City Athletics owner Arnold Johnson has shown a deal of eagerness to relocate his ballclub to the City of Angels but following last year's Brooklyn Dodgers debacle the Los Angeles city council has made it clear that their preference favours an expansion team over one choosing to relocate.

Born and raised in rural Tennessee, Molk left his hometown of Sweetwater in his mid-teens and settled in St. Louis for a number of years. While there he played minor league ball but also took the first steps towards what is now a business empire when he operated a successful jazz club. Molk arrived in Vegas in '46 and it wasn't long before he was an entreprenuer on the rise in "Sin City". Yesterday he spoke of his excitement over the possibility of owning and running a professional ballclub.

"Baseball has been a passion of mine since a young age," said Molk. "I'm not one to blow my own horn but I know that if the Los Angeles council and MLB decides I'm the man for the job, I will not disappoint them. The success of the Giants this past season shows how popular baseball is in California and the sooner more teams are calling the state home, the better. I've got the drive, ambition and, importantly, the financial resources to build a successful franchise in Los Angeles."

[Romdawg88]

GO BRAVES!!!

Great stuff KC, I decided to give this a look due to your post in the IBL thread and I'm looking forward to following it. Like others in the thread I'm shocked that Ruth's record fell so quickly.

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

GO BRAVES!!!

Great stuff KC, I decided to give this a look due to your post in the IBL thread and I'm looking forward to following it. Like others in the thread I'm shocked that Ruth's record fell so quickly.

Thanks, Romy. It surprised the hell out of me when I realised the record had fallen. I actually simmed the season before making any posts and it was only when I was looking at the stats that I discovered it.

It will be interesting to see if anyone can get close to the record for the duration of the dynasty.

[Jeff1787]

I have been following this...very cool!!

What version of the game are you using? Is it hard to set up a historic year?

Baseball is my favorite sport. I belong in some leagues using Diamond Mind Baseball. I may give OOTP a try.