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- ⚾ 19 men reach base in a row
⚾ 19 men reach base in a row
The Brooklyn Dodgers with 1 out in first reach base 19 straight times vs Reds
May 21, 1952, fans tuning in to see the Dodgers face the Reds got far more than they expected. Cincinnati starter Ewell Blackwell, a 6'6" sidearmer nicknamed “The Whip,” entered with a 1–5 record. Dodgers lefty Chris Van Cuyk, seeking to establish himself, got the ball for Brooklyn.
The bottom of the first began modestly, but after a Pee Wee Reese walk and a Duke Snider homer, the floodgates opened. Blackwell exited after facing just seven batters. When the dust settled, the Dodgers had sent 21 men to the plate, scored 15 runs, and set six modern MLB records in the inning alone—including most runs in an inning and most consecutive batters to reach safely (19). Four Reds pitchers couldn’t stop the bleeding.
Van Cuyk pitched a complete-game five-hitter and added four hits and two RBIs at the plate. Bobby Morgan replaced Billy Cox in the second and hit two home runs. The final: Dodgers 19, Reds 1.
Brooklyn took over first place and held it nearly the rest of the season, earning a World Series date with the Yankees. That night at Ebbets Field remains one of the most remarkable innings in baseball history.
In the first inning alone, the Dodgers set six modern major-league records:
Most runs scored in one inning, 15 (old record 14, by the 1920 Yankees, 1922 Cubs, 1948 Red Sox, 1950 Indians).
Most runs scored in first inning, 15 (old record 14, by the 1950 Indians).
Most runs scored with two outs, 12 (old record 11, by the 1942 Pirates).
Most batters to face pitcher in one inning, 21 (old record 19, by the 1922 Cubs and 1948 Red Sox).
Most RBIs in one inning, 15 (old record 14, by the 1948 Red Sox).
Most batters to reach base safely in a row, 19
Game of the Day
May 21, 1967 Detroit Tigers (Earl Wilson) vs Whitey Ford and New York Yankees
Today’s line up: Click to Listen
May 21, 1961 Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees Game 1
May 21, 1962 New York Mets at Houston Colt 45s
May 21, 1965 New York Mets at St Louis Cardinals
May 21, 1968 New York Yankees at Washington Senators
Did you know?
May 21, 1963, Jim Maloney of the Cincinnati Reds ties the National League record for most consecutive strikeouts in a game. Maloney fans eight Milwaukee Braves in a row and finishes with a total of 16 strikeouts. His eight consecutive strikeouts, spanned from the 1st to the 4th innings, Maloney picks up a 2 – 0 win, but needs relief help from Bill Henry, who retires the last two batters. "I never saw anyone throw harder," said Milwaukee slugger Eddie Mathews, who struck out three times against Maloney."Certainly, no one has ever thrown harder, and believe me. that fastball was moving. It tailed away from me."
TRIVIA:
Who hit the first, second, third and fourth most home runs in any season for the Montreal Expos? He is also the only Expo with a hitting streak of at least thirty games. Despite his success he didn’t win an MVP until he changed leagues.
Hint: Answer below
May 21, 1919, the New York Giants sell two-sport star Jim Thorpe to the Boston Braves for the waiver price of $1,500. Thorpe, a 32-year-old Native American and standout football player, will bat .327 for the Braves, but will retire from baseball after the season Learn more!
May 21, 1930, at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth slams three home runs consecutive home runs in the first game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia A’s. Ruth will hit his 3rd home run in the 8th off future Hall of Famer, Lefty Grove. Ruth Calls his shot
May 21, 1940, at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, future Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx of the Boston Red Sox hits a grand slam home run for the second consecutive day. Foxx’s grand slam proves decisive, as the Red Sox defeat the Detroit Tigers, 11-8. Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr and Doc Cramer also homer for Boston. Hank Greenberg and Rudy York homer for the Bengals, while Wally Moses has a pair of triples and two singles. May 20, Foxx hit his grand slam off Tommy Bridges in a 10-7 Boston Loss to Detroit, and on May 21 he hit his 11th home run of the young season and grand slam off Dizzy Trout. Foxx Interview
May 21, 1947 -- Joe DiMaggio and five other Yankees are slapped with $100 fines for not fulfilling contract requirements to do promotional duties for the Bronx Bombers.
May 21, 1981 -- In what is billed as the greatest college pitching duel ever, in the first round of the NCAA, Yale's Ron Darling and St. John's Frank Viola match zeroes through 11 innings. Darling allows no hits while striking out 16. In the 12th, St. John's Steve Scafa hits an opposite-field scratch single, then steals second base and third base. The next batter reaches on an error and, when he tries to steal second, Scafa breaks for home, scoring the only run. St. John's wins, 1 - 0.
May 21, 1996 -- At Fenway Park, Seattle pounds out 19 hits to beat Boston, 13 - 7. Ken Griffey, Jr. becomes the 7th-youngest player to collect 200 homers when he connects in the M's six-run 4th inning. Jay Buhner hits a two-run shot in the inning, the 5th game in a row he's connected, and Edgar Martinez adds four hits in the game. Watch it here!
May 21, 2000, a major league record six grand slams are hit on the same day. Anaheim Angels outfielder Garret Anderson hits the record-breaker, connecting in the Angels’ 10-6 loss to the Kansas City Royals vs Chris Fussell. The previous record of five grand slams had been set just one year earlier. The four-hit in the National League also sets a record for the NL.
Quote of the day:
“If this had been a boxing match, the referee would have stopped the fight at the opening bell,” Press Box Ebbets Field
Milestones
Birthdays:Highlights: Bobby Cox | Debuts:Notable: Mace Brown |
Final Games:Highlights: Whitey Ford | Passings:Notable: Fred Gladding |
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