Bobby Thomson from the Chronology

Mar 22, 1962 - A former Giant-requesting anonymity-reveals that Bobby Thomson's HR in the 1951 playoffs against the Dodgers was helped by a sign-stealing clubhouse spy. The spying is claimed to have gone on for the last 3 months of the season. Thomson‚ along with former manager Leo Durocher‚ vehemently deny that he received help‚ but a source close to the team confirms the spy operation.

Apr 3, 1958 - The Cubs send OF Bob Speake and cash to San Francisco for veteran Bobby Thomson.

Jul 14, 1957 - In a game featuring 6 home runs‚ Willie Mays hits a 3-run shot in the 12th to give the Giants an 8-6 win over the visiting Cubs. Lockman has a pair‚ along with a solo by Bobby Thomson‚ while Dale Long and PH Bob Speake go deep for the Cubs.

Jun 15, 1957 - The Giants send 2B Red Schoendienst to the Braves and receive OF Bobby Thomson‚ infielder Danny O'Connell‚ and P Ray Crone. A fine trade for Milwaukee‚ as Schoendienst will lead the NL in hits while anchoring the infield.

May 28, 1957 - Reds pitcher Don Gross has his no-hitter snapped in the 8th inning when Milwaukee's Bobby Thomson triples. Frank Torre singles home Thomson and the Braves win‚ 1-0.

Sep 12, 1956 - In Brooklyn‚ the Braves edge the Dodgers‚ 8-7‚ to break a first-place tie. Bob Buhl gets the decision in relief‚ his club-record 8th win over the Dodgers this year and the first National Leaguer since Tex Carleton in 1936 (vs. Boston) to accomplish the feat. Buhl's mark is a ML record for season wins against the pennant winner. Joe Adcock belts his 13th homer against the Dodgers this season‚ tying a ML mark set by Jimmie Foxx and tied by Hank Sauer‚ in 1954 of homers against one club. Billy Bruton's single is the game winner. Bobby Thomson‚ who is unsuccessful on a steal of home is fined $100 for the unauthorized attempt.

May 30, 1956 - The wind is still blowing out at Wrigley as Braves Eddie Mathews‚ Hank Aaron and Bobby Thomson hit consecutive first-inning HRs against the Cubs Russ Meyer. Meyer then hits the next batter‚ Billy Bruton‚ with a pitch‚ and when Bruton charges the mound‚ both he and Meyer are ejected in the ensuing fight. The Cubs plate 3 in the 1st and reliever Turk Lown homers in the 2nd for his first ML roundtripper. Thomson adds another HR‚ but the Braves lose the first game 10-9. They hold on to win the 2nd‚ 11-9. Fifteen HRs in the 2 games‚ including four by Thomson‚ sets a ML-record in a doubleheader. All but 3 of the homers are solo.

Mar 13, 1954 - Newly acquired Bobby Thomson of the Braves breaks his ankle sliding into 2B under Woodie Held in a 3-2 exhibition loss to the Yankees at Al Lang Field. The injury‚ a trimalleor fracture‚ will keep Thomson out of action until July 14th‚ but it will open the way for Henry Aaron to start in the left field. Ironically‚ Aaron will suffer a fracture in September.

Feb 1, 1954 - The Milwaukee Braves send pitchers Johnny Antonelli‚ Don Liddle‚ infielder Billy Klaus‚ and C Ebba St. Claire to the New York Giants for OF Bobby Thomson and C Sam Calderone. Giant fans will howl in protest at the loss of Thomson‚ but will quiet down when Antonelli posts a sparkling 21-7 record.

Jul 18, 1953 - 1B Whitey Lockman‚ 3B Hank Thompson‚ and CF Bobby Thomson hit first inning HRs‚ as the Giants beat the Cubs 12-7 to move into 4th place.

Jul 5, 1953 - The Giants overwhelm the Dodgers with 16 hits‚ including 5 homers‚ to win‚ 20-6. Hank Thompson clouts two homers‚ good for 7 runs‚ Alvin Dark hits a 3-run homer in the 2nd‚ and Bobby Thomson legs out an inside-the-park homer. Spencer's homer in the 7th‚ his team-high 14th‚ completes the scoring‚ and Maglie coasts home the winner over Clem Labine. The loss leaves the Dodgers a game and a half ahead of Milwaukee.

Apr 30, 1953 - At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants Sal Maglie stops the Braves‚ 1-0‚ as Bobby Thomson's 9th inning 280-foot homer off Vern Bickford is the only score. Thomson's clout hits the screen on the LF foul pole.

Sep 5, 1952 - Clint Hartung's 2-run pinch blast in the 8th lifts the Giants to a 5-4 win over the Phils. Bobby Thomson also connects to back Al Corwin's win. The Giants are 6 games in back of the Dodgers as the two teams start their series.

Jun 18, 1952 - At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants Jim Hearn beats Pirates for the 10th straight time‚ winning 5-2. His record against Pitt is 15-2. Hank Thompson hits an IPHR that hits the top of the RF bull pen wall‚ 450 feet away‚ and caroms towards CF. Bobby Thomson hits his 4th HR in 3 days.

Jun 16, 1952 - In New York‚ Bobby Thomson greets reliever Willard Schmidt by hitting his first pitch for a ultimate grand slam to give the Giants an 8-7 9th inning win over the Cardinals. It is the Jints 4th homer in the game.

May 14, 1952 - Despite 8 interruptions by Reds manager Sewell asking the umps to examine the ball‚ Sal Maglie records his 6th straight win‚ 6-3‚ at the Polo Grounds. After the last play stoppage‚ an angry Maglie heaves the ball over the umps head‚ but manager Durocher calms the sizzling Sal down. Bobby Thomson starts the scoring with a triple and a steal of home in the 1st.

May 13, 1952 - Bobby Thomson has a HR and double to drive in 5 runs to power the Giants to a 7-4 win over the Reds. Elliott and Mays also homer as Larry Jansen wins his 10th straight over the Reds going back to August 29‚ 1948.

Oct 3, 1951 - The Giants' Bobby Thomson hits the most famous home run in history‚ off Ralph Branca. His "shot heard round the world" with 2 runners on and trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the 9th defeats Brooklyn 5-4 and sends the jubilant Giants into the WS. For Branca‚ it is his 6th loss of the season against the Giants‚ who have now hit 11 HRs off him this year. Whitey Lockman sets up Thomson's blast by hitting a double off Newcombe with Al Dark on 3B and Don Mueller on 1B. Mueller breaks his ankle sliding into 3B and is carried off the field.

Oct 1, 1951 - In the NL's first best-of-three play-off since 1946‚ Ralph Branca of the Dodgers loses to Jim Hearn and the Giants 3-1. Branca serves up HRs to Bobby Thomson and Monte Irvin. It is the first game ever to be broadcast live coast-to-coast. With both the Dodgers and Giants tied 96-58 at the end of regulation‚ Brooklyn wins the coin toss and elects to play the first game of the playoffs at home. The next 2 games will be played at the Polo Grounds.

Sep 30, 1951 - Larry Jansen of the Giants holds on to defeat the Braves 3-2 in Boston as Bobby Thomson hits his 30th HR of the year‚ and Don Mueller and Monte Irvin each drive home a run.

Sep 11, 1951 - In St. Louis‚ New York's Dave Koslo wins the opener of a twinbill‚ 10-5‚ ending the Cards' 7-game win streak. Bobby Thomson has three hits and Monte Irvin has a double and his 5th steal of home this year. He has 13 steals overall. Leading 6-4 in the 9th‚ Wes Westrum breaks an 0-for-20 skein and delivers a grand slam. The Cards win the nitecap‚ 4-3‚ behind Cliff Chambers to leave the Giants 6 games in back of the Dodgers.

Sep 9, 1951 - Sal Maglie wins his 20th game to give the Giants a 2-1 win over the Dodgers' Ralph Branca. Monte Irvin's two-run homer in the 4th gives New York all its scoring‚ The Dodgers score in the 8th on a double by Snider and a triple by Jackie Robinson. But 3B Bobby Thomson snags a ground‚ tags Robby‚ and throws to first for a DP. The Dodgers still lead the Giants by 5 1/2 games.

Sep 7, 1951 - Bobby Thomson goes 5-for-5 against the host Braves‚ as the Giants win 7-3. Larry Jansen is the winner‚ scattering 10 hits‚ over Max Surkont. Monte Irvin drives in the first three runs‚ hitting a homer estimated at 500 feet. He now has 101 RBIs.

Sep 2, 1951 - Don Mueller hits 2 more HRs‚ giving him 5 in 2 days‚ to tie an ML mark. His 2nd homer‚ again off Phil Haugstad‚ comes a minute after he learns he is a new father. Bobby Thomson adds his 25th homer and Jim Hearn beats the Dodgers 11-2. After Mueller's 2nd homer‚ Haugstad decks Thomson and hits Mays with a pitch‚ evoking a warning from Al Barlick. Barlick had earlier thumbed Branca and Dick Williams in the 5th inning‚ Newcombe in the 6th when he objected to a call‚ and Jackie Robinson and rookie Clem Labine. Dressen then clears his bench to avoid any more thumbings. The Giants move to 5 games behind Brooklyn. The Dodgers are suspicious of the losses at the Polo Grounds‚ and later there are revelations about signs being flashed to Giant batters from the CF scoreboard. Did it happen? Sal Yvars later said‚ "yes‚" while Mueller remarked‚ "as for my home runs and the sign stealing‚ this has been much talked about and I would prefer not to comment." On the Dodgers side‚ Buzzie Bavasi denied it occurred‚ but Clyde Walker concluded‚ "it did happen."

Aug 24, 1951 - At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants tie the Cards in the 9th on 3 singles‚ and with the bases loaded‚ Bobby Thomson scores the winner on a fielder's choice play at the plate. New York wins‚ 6-5‚ its 12th in a row and 4th in a row in coming from behind.

Aug 19, 1951 - In Philadelphia‚ the Giants overcome a 4-run deficit to win‚ 5-4‚ and cut Brooklyn's lead to 8 games. Al Corwin wins in relief‚ after Bobby Thomson's 2-run homer gets the Giants on the board. The Giants have won 9 in a row‚ with tomorrow a day off.

Aug 16, 1951 - Sal Maglie outpitches Don Newcombe‚ 2-1‚ to cut the Dodger lead over the Giants to 9 1/2 games. Maglie allows 4 hits‚ including Billy Cox's 300-foot homer‚ in winning his 17th. The Giants score the winner in the 7th when Bobby Thomson scores on a wild pitch. Reese goes hitless‚ ending his 22-game streak.

Aug 7, 1951 - In a day-night doubleheader the Dodgers sweep a pair from the Giants‚ taking the first game 7-2 behind the solid relief of Carl Erskine. Hodges‚ Snider and Furillo homer. Brooklyn takes the nitecap‚ 6-5‚ in 10 innings after jumping on Maglie for a 5-1 lead. Snider and Furillo homer again‚ while Bobby Thomson goes deep for the Giants. Cox's RBI single wins it‚ giving the Dodgers an 11 1/2 game margin‚ the greatest lead in Brooklyn history.

Jul 20, 1951 - In a move that will aid their pennant drive‚ the Giants put OF Bobby Thomson at 3B to replace the slumping Hank Thompson‚ out with a spike injury. Thomson‚ who's been riding the bench since losing his starting job to the rookie Mays‚ will hit .357 for the rest of the season.

Jul 4, 1951 - In a wild doubleheader featuring a double ejection of manager Charlie Dressen‚ the first-place Dodgers sweep the Giants‚ winning 6-5 in 11 innings‚ and 4-2. The Dodgers drive out Sal Maglie in the opener after the Giants built a lead on homers by Mueller and Mays. Brooklyn counters in the 8th with a pinch homer by Campanella‚ a homer by Reese‚ and a tying single from Hodges. Bobby Thomson's homer in the 11th puts the Giants ahead by one‚ but Preacher Roe wins it with a squeeze bunt. Ralph Branca wins the nitecap with homer help from Hodges and Snider. Dressen is tossed in the 2nd inning of game 2 for protesting pitch calls; after he takes a seat behind the dugout umpire Robb tosses him a 2nd time. The victories put Brooklyn 6 1/2 games up.

Sep 27, 1950 - The Phils rally for 5 runs in the 8th to tie‚ but the Giants win in 10 innings 8-7. Monte Irvin‚ sliding across the plate with the winning run‚ injures catcher Andy Seminick‚ limiting his effectiveness. He will play the next day and all through the WS‚ later to find out that he has a bone separation. In the nitecap‚ Bobby Thomson 1st inning inside-the-park grand slam is all the Giants need as Jim Hearn wins 5-0. The Dodgers split with the Braves cutting the Phillies lead to 2 games.

Aug 26, 1949 - The Giants Larry Jansen wins his 14th‚ stopping the league-leading Cards‚ 4-2‚ on five hits. Bobby Thomson and Marty Marion match homers‚ but the fireworks come when Durocher‚ Fitzsimmons‚ Hank Behrman‚ and Wes Westrum are ejected for various arguments in the 2nd and 3rd.

Jul 21, 1949 - Walker Cooper's grand slam against his old teammates is overshadowed by Bobby Thomson who has a pair of homers good for 6 runs. The Giants whip the Reds‚ 9-5.

Jul 17, 1948 - At Pittsburgh‚ a Bobby Thomson pinch single drives home the winning run in the Giants' managerial debut of Leo Durocher. The Giants win‚ 6-5‚ overcoming a three-run homer by Ralph Kiner.

Jun 7, 1948 - The Giants take over first place‚ pounding the Pirates for 13 hits‚ 9 for extra bases‚ to win‚ 9-5. The Giants score 2 runs in each of the 8th and 9th innings to win. Wes Westrum and Bobby Thomson homer‚ while Whitey Lockman adds a pair of triples. Larry Jansen (7-0) starts‚ but is not around for a decision.

Sep 1, 1947 - Jack Lohrke hits a homer against the Braves‚ number 183 for the season for the Giants‚ breaking the 1936 ML record held by the Yankees. Mel Ott's club had hit 5 HRs in a doubleheader against the Cubs August 24 to break Chicago's 1929 NL record. The Giants will finish with 221 HRs‚ led by Johnny Mize‚ Walker Cooper‚ Willard Marshall‚ and rookie Bobby Thomson.

Aug 2, 1947 - The Giants hit 5 homers and set a club record of 144 in a split with the Pirates. The Ottmen take the lidlifter‚ 10-2‚ then lose‚ 5-4. Bobby Thomson has a pair of homers. The Pirates also tie a club record for homers with 86 as Greenberg and Gustine go deep.

May 30, 1947 - The Giants cop a pair from the Phils‚ 7-1 and 5-3. Monty Kennedy allows just 4 hits in the first game‚ while Dave Koslo is the winner in game 2. Koslo‚ backed by two-run homers from Bobby Thomson and Joe Lafata‚ hands Schoolboy Rowe his first loss after 6 wins.

Apr 18, 1947 - The Giants shell the Dodgers‚ 10-4‚ with Jackie Robinson hitting his first home run‚ off Dave Koslo‚ in the loss. In a sign of things to come this year‚ the Giants counter with 6 homers-2 apiece by Bobby Thomson and Bill Rigney‚ and one apiece by Johnny Mize and Willard Marshall. Scout Burt Shotton is the surprise choice to replace Leo Durocher: he participates in the pre game flag raising and then manages the team.

Sep 9, 1946 - The Giants lose to Phils 5-4 as Bobby Thomson debuts with 2 hits. Del Ennis' 3-run HR is the big blow for the Phils.