Johnny Rizzo from the Chronology

Jul 23, 1947 - Ralph Kiner hits HRs 24 and 25‚ breaking the Pirate record of 23 by Johnny Rizzo in 1938 and tied by rookie Kiner last year. Behind HR king Johnny Mize 14 to 3 at the end of May‚ Kiner will have 25 to Mize's 31 by the end of July. The Pirates defeat the Phils‚ 6-2.

Jul 31, 1940 - The Phils beat up the Cubs‚ 7-3‚ at Shibe Park‚ as the Cubs lose Augie Galan as well. The veteran left fielder breaks his left kneecap in the 5th inning when he crashes into the concrete wall‚ and is out for the year. Galan injured the same knee three days before the end of the 1938 season. Earlier the Cubs lose Gabby Hartnett‚ when he is struck by Mel Mazzera's bat after the latter strikes out. Hugh Mulcahy‚ staked to a three-run lead in the 4th when Johnny Rizzo homers‚ keeps the Cubs scoreless till the 8th.

Jun 15, 1940 - The Reds send recently acquired Johnny Rizzo to the Phillies for OF Morrie Arnovich.

May 8, 1940 - The Waner brothers‚ Lloyd and Paul‚ lose their places in the Pittsburgh OF when new manager Frank Frisch acquires Vince DiMaggio for Johnny Rizzo‚ who hit 23 HRs as a rookie in 1938 with Cincinnati. Vince takes over CF‚ flanked by Maurice Van Robays and Bob Elliott‚ each playing their first full season. Yesterday the Bucs sold OF Fern Bell to Toronto.

May 30, 1939 - Pittsburgh's Johnny Rizzo drives in 9 runs‚ a Pirate record‚ to give the visiting Pirates a 14-8 victory over St. Louis in game 2. Rizzo includes homers in the 5th‚ off Clyde Shoun‚ and the 9th‚ off Bob Bowman‚ in the barrage. The Cardinals win the opener‚ 7-2.

Sep 28, 1938 - At Wrigley‚ 34‚465 fans show up for one of the most dramatic games in history. The Pirates take a 3-1 lead in the 6th on Johnny Rizzo's 2-run homer‚ his 21st of the year. Chicago ties it in the 6th‚ but the Bucs score twice again in the 8th for a 5-3 lead. A weary Bill Lee relieves‚ gives up a run‚ but gets starter Bob Klinger to hit into a DP. Klinger then gives up a single and is lifted for little-used Bill Swift‚ who gives up two runs‚ and the game is knotted at 5-5. Then‚ with two outs in the 9th inning‚ Cubs manager Gabby Hartnett hits the "homer in the gloaming" against Mace Brown to break the tie and put the Cubs in first place ahead of the Pirates. With 2 outs and none on base‚ the umpires intended to call the game because of darkness after Hartnett's turn at bat. Rizzo ends the year with a ML record having homered in 9 parks‚ including Baker's Bowl and Connie Mack Stadium.