Preacher Roe from the Chronology

Feb 17, 1955 - The Orioles get P Erv Palica from the Dodgers for 1B Frank Kellert and cash. This replaces the Preacher Roe deal‚ which fell through when the Brooklyn lefty announced his retirement.

Dec 13, 1954 - The Dodgers shed part of an era‚ sending P Preacher Roe and 3B Billy Cox to Baltimore for 2 unknowns and cash. The Orioles will complete this deal next March by sending OF Frank Kellert to Brooklyn for P Erv Palica.

Aug 5, 1954 - At Brooklyn‚ Stan Musial smashes 2 homers and a sac fly to drive in 7 runs and pace the Cards to a 13-4 rout of the 2nd place Dodgers. The Man's first HR‚ with 2 on‚ is off Preacher Roe‚ who takes his first loss to the Cards at Ebbets in 4 years. Musial now has 101 RBIs‚ the highest in the ML.

Oct 1, 1953 - The Yankees go 2 up as Eddie Lopat beats Preacher Roe 4-2‚ despite the Dodgers' 9-5 edge in hits. Mantle's 2-run shot in the 8th inning breaks a 2-2 tie.

Sep 1, 1953 - The Cards hit 5 HRs‚ all of them solo shots‚ but lose to the Dodgers' Preacher Roe‚ 12-5. The Dodgers collect 17 hits in the win. The 5 solo HRs-one each by Musial‚ Harry Elliot‚ and Rip Repulski‚ and 2 by Steve Bilko-tie a NL record.

Jul 7, 1953 - The Dodgers establish a new NL record by hitting a HR in their 21st consecutive game‚ sweeping a pair from the Pirates‚ 5-4 and 9-5. Hodges‚ Snider and Robinson go deep in the opener‚ while game 2 features a pair of HRs by Billy Cox and a dinger from Preacher Roe. It is Roe's only homer in his O.B. career. Preston Ward has a game 1 homer‚ a grand slam‚ while Frank Thomas hit a 3-run HR in game 2‚ both coming in the 9th.

May 18, 1953 - Redlegs P Bud Podbielan walks 13 batters in 10 innings against Brooklyn‚ but holds on to win 2-1 on a Ted Kluszewski homer off starter Preacher Roe. No one has walked 13 in the NL since 1918. The Dodgers strand 18 against the former Dodger pitcher‚ tying the NL mark.

Oct 3, 1952 - Brooklyn's Preacher Roe wins in Yankee Stadium 5-3. Brooklyn scores 2 runs in the 9th on Yogi Berra's passed ball.

Aug 24, 1952 - Before 34‚709‚ the largest single-game crowd at Sportsman's Park since 1937‚ Preacher Roe and the Dodgers stop the Cards' 8-game win streak‚ 10-4. Roe registers his 10th straight win over the 2nd-place Birds going back to May 7‚ 195. Joe Presko is the loser‚ exiting in the 2nd inning.

Apr 15, 1952 - In the last home opener in Braves Field in Boston‚ 4‚694 fans watch Warren Spahn lose 3-2 to Brooklyn's Preacher Roe. Campanella's bases-loaded single in the 5th gives the Dodgers the go-ahead run.

Sep 27, 1951 - Trying for his 23rd win‚ Preacher Roe loses just his 3rd game‚ 4-3‚ to Chet Nichols and the Braves. The Dodgers now lead New York by 1/2 game. Future Hall of Fame NBA basketball player Bill Sharman becomes the only man in history to be thrown out of a ML baseball game without ever having played in one. With the score tied at 3-3 in the 8th inning‚ umpire Frank Dascoli clears the entire Brooklyn bench after a home plate call by him results in a violent protest. Sharman‚ up from St. Paul (AA) at the end of the season‚ is one of the players thrown out. Dascoli's safe call at home on Bob Addie's score results in the winning run.

Sep 23, 1951 - Roy Campanella has 4 hits‚ including a homer off 15-game winner Bubba Church‚ and the Dodgers top the Phillies 6-3. Preacher Roe is the winner‚ his record going to an amazing 22-2.

Sep 19, 1951 - In St. Louis‚ Preacher Roe is given a Cadillac by his neighbors from the Ozarks‚ then pitches a 3-0 five hitter over the Cards. Roe is now 21-2. Filling in for the ailing Campanella‚ backup catcher Mickey Livingston has 2 RBI.

Sep 14, 1951 - Preacher Roe wins his 20th game against just 2 losses‚ as the Dodgers edge the Pirates‚ 3-1. Andy Pafko hits his 14th homer for Brooklyn‚ still 6 games ahead of the Giants.

Sep 7, 1951 - Preacher Roe walks six Phils‚ but pushes his record to 19-2‚ as the Dodgers win 11-6 over Robin Roberts. Carl Furillo hits two homers‚ Andy Pafko adds #22‚ and Billy Cox drives in 4 runs with a bases loaded triple and two doubles.

Aug 30, 1951 - Brooklyn's Preacher Roe‚ with relief help from Clyde King‚ stops the Reds‚ 3-1‚ for his 18th win.

Aug 26, 1951 - The Pirates club the Dodgers‚ 12-11 to win the opener of two with the league leaders. Brooklyn chases Howie Pollet and takes a 9-2 lead but the Bucs roar back with 8 runs in the 7th inning. Light-hitting Pete Castiglione does the early damage with a 2-run homer and solo shot before the 8-run 7th. Clyde King‚ unscored on in his last 8 games‚ is the loser. The Dodgers load the bases in the 9th‚ and Murry Dickson walks PH Cal Abrams to force in a run and make the score 12-11. But Furillo and Reese fail to deliver. Brooklyn wins the second game‚ 4-3‚ when Jackie Robinson homers in the 10th‚ off Ted Wilks. Andy Pafko homers in the 8th‚ off Bob Friend‚ and Preacher Roe (17-2) goes all the way.

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.

Jun 26, 1951 - Fresh from a doubleheader loss on the 24th at Forbes Field‚ the Dodgers get further bad news at the Polo Grounds. Sal Maglie shuts out Brooklyn on three hits‚ and Preacher Roe takes his first loss after ten wins. Eddie Stanky and Whitey Lockman hit homers.

Jun 18, 1951 - Preacher Roe (16-2) returns after a 10-day absence and subdues the Braves‚ 5-3. Jackie Robinson snaps a 2-2 tie with a homer in the 8th off Chet Nichols.

Oct 6, 1949 - Another 1-0 game‚ and Preacher Roe wins this one for Brooklyn to knot the Series. Gil Hodges' single drives in Jackie Robinson in the 2nd for the winner.

Sep 29, 1949 - The visiting Dodgers take 2 from the Braves‚ 9-2 and 8-0‚ and stay in front with a half-game lead. In the 5th and last inning of game two‚ Braves infielder Connie Ryan protests against playing in the rain by kneeling on the on-deck circle with his raincoat on. Umpire George Barr ejects Ryan from the game. Meanwhile‚ his teammates kindle a fire in the dugout as a guiding beacon for returning batsmen. Preacher Roe wins the opener and Newcombe coasts in game 2. Spahn is tagged with the loss in game 1 when the Brooks pound out 5 runs in the 4th‚ featuring a 3-run homer by Snider. Furillo hits a 3-run homer in the 6th. In the nitecap‚ the Dodgers route Sain with 5 runs in the 1st inning.

Sep 21, 1949 - In the first of a day-night twinbill‚ Hal Lanier twirls a 5-hitter as the Cards beat the Dodgers‚ 1-0‚ with a run in the 9th to increase their lead to 2 1/2 games in the NL. Enos Slaughter‚ with 3 hits‚ scores the only run‚ and takes over the batting lead from Robinson. Robby gets tossed by ump Stewart for arguing a strike call. Preacher Roe stops the Cards in game 2‚ 5-0‚ as Brooklyn uses a 5-run 4th to move to 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis. The Cards draw 63‚877 for the 2 games.

Jul 4, 1949 - The Dodgers increase their lead to 2 games over the Cardinals by winning 2 from the Phillies. Brooklyn takes the morning game‚ 7-1‚ behind Preacher Roe‚ then win the afternoon encounter‚ 8-4‚ behind Newcombe. Robinson's triple in the opener kayoes Simmons and Hodges greets Konstanty with his 12th homer. Da Bums score a pair in the 7th on Cox's homer and Hodge's RBI single with Robinson scoring from 1st. Jones homers in the 9th for the Phils. Reese‚ Edwards‚ and Furillo homer in the nitecap.

Apr 26, 1949 - With the help of a triple play‚ Preacher Roe pitches the Dodgers into 1st place with a 5-2 win over the Braves and Johnny Sain. LF Gene Hermanski homers in the 1st and starts the 7-4-3 TP in the 3rd after catching Al Dark's short fly.

Jul 26, 1948 - Leo Durocher makes his 1st appearance at Ebbets Field since taking over the Giants‚ but a turnaway crowd is disappointed as the Dodgers lose‚ 13-4. Preacher Roe is the losing pitcher while Sheldon Jones takes the victory.

Dec 8, 1947 - In a move that will anchor The Boys of Summer‚ Brooklyn acquires SS Billy Cox‚ 33-year-old P Preacher Roe (34-47 in 4 years in Pittsburgh)‚ and little-used infielder Gene Mauch from Pittsburgh for pitchers Vic Lombardi‚ 25‚ Hal Gregg‚ 26‚ and former batting champ‚ 37-year-old Dixie Walker. In the spring Walker had requested in writing to be traded‚ but then changed his mind. Al Abrams‚ sports editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‚ opines‚ "I believe they [Pirates] got the better of it in the trade."

Apr 17, 1947 - Hank Greenberg belts his first NL homer in the 2nd‚ and the Pirates score 6 more in the 7th to beat the host Cubs‚ 7-1. Preacher Roe doesn't all0ow a hit until the 7th.

May 5, 1946 - In a Bucs' doubleheader sweep at Pittsburgh‚ the Dodgers attract an overflow crowd that spills onto the field and is held back by ropes. There are 9 "crowd doubles" as the Pirates win‚ 5-4 in 11 innings and 4-3. The double loss drops the Bums out of a first place tie with the Cards. In game 2‚ Preacher Roe relieves Nick Strincevich with 2 outs in the top of sixth with the score tied 3-3. With a 6 p.m. curfew looming‚ pinch runner Bob Ramazzotti tries to steal home on Roe's 1st pitch and is tagged out by C Bill Salkeld. In the bottom of the 6th‚ Frankie Gustine drives in the winning run with a crowd double‚ and the game is called‚ giving Roe a one-pitch win.

Feb 9, 1946 - Pirate southpaw Preacher Roe suffers a brain concussion in an altercation with a referee in an Arkansas basketball game.

Sep 23, 1945 - After being honored in a pre-game ceremony on Andy Pafko Day‚ Pafko hits his 2nd slam of the month‚ off Preacher Roe in 1st inning of game 1 in Chicago. Cubs beat the Pirates 7-3‚ with Hank Wyse winning over Roe. The nitecap is rained out. The win keeps the Cubs 1 1/2 games ahead of the Cards‚ winners over the Reds.

Sep 3, 1945 - In sweeping a pair from St. Louis‚ Pittsburgh edges the Cardinals‚ 6-5‚ beating starter Ted Wilks. Wilks will not lose another game until 1948-a total of 77 appearances‚ all but four in relief. Bill Salkeld has 2 of the Bucs 4 homers‚ and Frank Gustine steals home. In game 2‚ a 6-2 win‚ Preacher Roe fans 11 while his batterymate Al Lopez catches his 1‚793rd game‚ a ML record for catchers. He tops Hartnett.

Aug 30, 1945 - Stan Hack of the Cubs becomes No. 82 in the 2‚000-hit club when he collects a first inning single off Pirate pitcher Preacher Roe. Earlier in the season the Senators' Joe Kuhel and Red Sox OF Bob Johnson made the list. Hack scores after his safety‚ but the Pirates win‚ 6-4 over the first-place Cubs.

Aug 20, 1945 - At the age of 17‚ SS Tommy Brown of the Brooklyn Dodgers is the youngest player to hit a ML HR. Brown belts his homer off Pirates southpaw Preacher Roe into the upper LF section at Ebbets Field. Seven Dodger errors make it easy for Pittsburgh to win‚ 11-1.

May 20, 1945 - Before 51‚340 fans at the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants and Pirates split a doubleheader. Bill Voiselle wins his 8th straight to give the Giants a 5-1 win in the opener. Medwick and Lombardi homer for New York. Preacher Roe then shuts out the Giants in game 2. New York ends the day atop the NL by 3 1/2 games.

Aug 6, 1944 - The Cubs 11-game winning streak comes to an abrupt end as the host Pirates win twice‚ 13-5 and 5-4. Preacher Roe wins his 7th game in the opener with 1 1/3 innings of relief and pitches 2+ innings of hitless relief to finish the nitecap.

Jun 8, 1944 - At Pittsburgh‚ three runs score for the Cubs on one wild pitch by Pirates rookie Art "Cookie" Cuccurullo‚ as the Cubs win‚ 10-6. Hy Vandenberg wins over Preacher Roe.

Sep 29, 1943 - The Cards recall Preacher Roe from Columbus and sell him to the Pirates.