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Willie Mays
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Willie Mays from the Chronology
Jun 10, 2006 - The Devil Rays beat the Royals, 9-5. KC OF Reggie Sanders hits his 300th career HR to become the 5th player in ML history with 300 homers and 300 stolen bases. The others are Barry and Bobby Bonds, Willie Mays, and Andre Dawson.
Jul 15, 2005 - The Orioles beat the Mariners‚ 6-3. Baltimore's Rafael Palmeiro doubles in the 5th inning for the 3‚000th hit of his ML career. Palmeiro is the 26th player to reach he milestone‚ and just the 4th to have 3‚000 hits and 500 HRs. Hank Aaron‚ Willie Mays‚ and Eddie Murray are the only others to have done so.
Jul 16, 2004 - The Phillies defeat the Mets‚ 5-1. Bobby Abreu becomes just the 4th player in ML history to record at least 20 HRs and 20 steals in 6 consecutive seasons. Willie Mays‚ Bobby Bonds‚ and Barry Bonds are the others.
Jun 13, 2004 - The Giants defeat the Orioles‚ 7-3‚ as Barry Bonds hits the 676th HR of his career. The blast makes the Giants the first franchise in baseball history to have three players hit 500 homers with the club. Willie Mays had 646 and Mel Ott hit 511.
Jun 12, 2004 - The Giants knock off the Orioles‚ 9-6. Barry Bonds hits the 675th HR of his career for SF‚ and Rafael Palmeiro hits his 537th for Baltimore. It is only the 3rd time in history that two players with 500 homers connect in the same game. Willie Mays and Ernie Banks did so in 1970‚ and Mays and Hank Aaron the following year.
Apr 13, 2004 - The Giants beat the Astros‚ 4-2‚ behind a pair of HRs by Marquis Grissom‚ and the 661st of Barry Bonds' ML career. The homer moves Bonds ahead of his godfather‚ Willie Mays‚ into third place on the all-time list.
Sep 15, 2002 - The Cubs shut out the Reds‚ 6-0‚ as OF Sammy Sosa drives in his 100th run of the season on a 3-run HR in the 8th inning. In doing so‚ he joins Mel Ott and Willie Mays as the only NL players to post 8 consecutive 100-RBI seasons.
Aug 9, 2002 - Barry Bonds hits the 600th HR of his career‚ but the Giants still fall to the Pirates by a score of 4-3. Bonds joins Hank Aaron‚ Babe Ruth‚ and Willie Mays (his godfather) in the exclusive club.
Aug 28, 2001 - Thanks to Cubs miscues‚ the Marlins defeat the Cubs‚ 4-3‚ in 14 innings‚ despite Sammy Sosa's 52nd HR. The blast gives Sosa a share of the NL record for HRs in August (17)‚ tying the mark set by Willie Mays in 1965. He also ties Babe Ruth for the most homers in 7 consecutive seasons: the Babe hit 343 between 1926-32. Mark McGwire has hit 338 homers from 1995 through this year. Cliff Floyd‚ playing RF‚ pulls off an unassisted double play in the 10th inning with Cubs on 1B and 3B and no outs. LF Delino DeShields drops Dave Berg's fly to open the 14th and he will come around to score on a hit.
Dec 10, 1999 - Babe Ruth is voted Player of the Century by an Associated Press panel. Willie Mays comes in second.
Sep 16, 1998 - Ken Griffey Jr. steals his 20th base of the season in a 4-1 victory over Oakland. He becomes just the 3rd player in history to record at least 50 HRs and at least 20 stolen bases in the same season. Willie Mays and Brady Anderson are the others.
Aug 31, 1998 - Oakland OF Rickey Henderson scores the 2‚000th run of his career in the Athletics' 15-6 loss to Cleveland. He joins Ty Cobb‚ Hank Aaron‚ Babe Ruth‚ Pete Rose‚ and Willie Mays as the only players to reach the milestone.
Apr 4, 1998 - Cardinals 1B Mark McGwire homers in his 4th straight game to tie the NL record set by Willie Mays in 1971 for HRs in consecutive games at the beginning of the season. The Cardinals defeat the Padres by an 8-6 score.
Sep 16, 1996 - In their 5-2 loss to the Braves‚ Mets OF Lance Johnson hits his 20th triple. He's the first NLer to reach that plateau since Willie Mays in 1957.
Sep 6, 1996 - The O's Eddie Murray hits his 500th career HR‚ and his 21st of the year‚ off Felipe Lira of the Tigers in Detroit's 5-4‚ 12-inning win. The game is delayed 2 hours and 20 minutes because of the remnants of a hurricane. Murray becomes the 15th player to reach the magic number. He also becomes just the 3rd player with 500 HRs and 3‚000 hits‚ joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron.
Apr 27, 1996 - Barry Bonds hits two homers‚ the 300th and 301st of his career‚ then with the Giants leading 6-1‚ he is tossed out of the game for disputing a 6th-inning‚ 3rd-strike call. Bonds is only the 4th major leaguer to hit 300 homers and steal 300 bases‚ joining his father‚ his godfather Willie Mays‚ and Andre Dawson. Bonds Sr. is the first base coach today‚ filling in for Jim Davenport‚ while Dawson‚ playing left field for the Marlins‚ has the best view of the two homers. Mark Leiter (2-3) allows 6 hits for the 6-3 win‚ with Rod Beck getting the final out.
Feb 8, 1996 - Dave Winfield announces his retirement after 23 seasons. The 12-time All Star joins Hank Aaron‚ Willie Mays and Stan Musial as the only players with 3‚000 hits and 400 home runs.
Jun 11, 1995 - Cincinnati defeats Houston‚ 3-2‚ in 10 innings on Ron Gant's HR. It is Gant's 4th extra-inning homer of the season‚ tying him with Willie Mays for the NL record. Charlie Maxwell hit 5 for the Tigers in 1960.
Aug 17, 1994 - Former major league 1B Willie Mays Aikens is convicted by a federal jury on four counts of distributing crack cocaine and one count of using a gun in a drug transaction. He could face at least 15 years in prison.
Aug 29, 1993 - KC's George Brett steals a base in the Royals' 5-4 win over the Red Sox‚ making him only the 3rd player in history with 3‚000 hits‚ 300 HRs‚ and 200 SBs. Willie Mays and Hank Aaron are the others to accomplish the feat.
Sep 18, 1992 - Pittsburgh's Barry Bonds hits his 30th HR of the season off Philadelphia's Terry Mulholland in the Pirates' 5-2 win over the Phillies. Bonds thus becomes the 5th player in history to have a pair of 30-HR‚ 30-stolen bases seasons. The others include his father‚ Willie Mays‚ Howard Johnson‚ and Ron Gant.
Sep 9, 1992 - Milwaukee OF Robin Yount gets the 3‚000th hit of his career in his team's 5-4 loss to the Indians. He also becomes only the 2nd player in history to record 200 HRs‚ 200 SBs and 100 triples‚ duplicating Willie Mays' feat.
Aug 20, 1989 - Howard Johnson hits his 30th home run of the season in the Mets 5-4 loss to the Dodgers and joins Barry Bonds and Willie Mays as the only players to achieve 30 HRs and 30 SBs in 2 different seasons.
May 7, 1986 - Thirty-six-year-old Phillies OF Garry Maddox‚ an 8-time Gold Glove winner‚ retires. Only Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays have won more Gold Gloves in the outfield.
Mar 18, 1985 - Commissioner Ueberroth reinstates Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle‚ who had been banned from association with organized baseball by Bowie Kuhn due to their employment by Atlantic City casinos.
Feb 8, 1983 - One day after taking a job as director of sports promotions for Claridge Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City‚ NJ‚ Mickey Mantle is ordered to sever his ties with ML baseball by Commissioner Kuhn. Mantle joins fellow Hall of Famer Willie Mays as players banned from baseball by Kuhn for involvement with legalized gambling.
Oct 26, 1982 - Steve Carlton wins the NL Cy Young Award for the 4th time‚ a record unmatched by any pitcher. The Phils 37-year-old lefthander‚ who led the NL in wins (23)‚ innings (2952?3)‚ strikeouts (286)‚ and shutouts (6)‚ was a previous winner in 1972‚ 1977‚ and 1980. He joins Walter Johnson and Willie Mays as the only players to be voted MVP or Cy Young winner 10 or more years apart.
Oct 23, 1981 - Despite an uncharacteristic poor performance (9 hits‚ 7 walks) Fernando Valenzuela goes the distance in the Dodgers' 5-4 come-from-behind win. The deciding run scores on a double play. Starter Dave Righetti lasts just two innings‚ walking 2 and allowing 5 hits‚ but reliever George Frazier takes the loss. Ron Cey has a 3-run homer for LA. Starters Valenzuela and Righetti are the first two Rookies of the Year to oppose each other in the WS since Willie Mays and Gil McDougald in 1951.
Oct 26, 1979 - Commissioner Kuhn notifies Hall of Famer Willie Mays that if he accepts a position with Bally Manufacturing Corporation‚ owner of several gambling casinos‚ he must disassociate himself from ML baseball. Mays‚ a part-time coach and goodwill ambassador for the Mets‚ will relinquish his duties upon accepting Bally's job offer on October 29th.
Sep 17, 1979 - The Royals George Brett collects his 20th triple of the season in a 16-4 romp over the Angels. Brett becomes the 5th player ever, and the first since Willie Mays in 1957, to collect 20 doubles, 20 triples, and 20 HRs in the same season. He will finish with totals of 42, 20, and 23.
Aug 5, 1979 - Willie Mays‚ Warren Giles‚ and Hack Wilson are inducted into the Hall of Fame.
May 3, 1979 - Bobby Bonds hits his 300th HR‚ against Moose Haas‚ in a 6-1 loss to Milwaukee. He has 413 SBs at the time and becomes the 2nd player‚ after Willie Mays‚ to have 300 SBs and 300 HRs.
Jan 23, 1979 - Willie Mays receives 409 of 432 votes in the BBWAA election to earn enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.
May 30, 1974 - Sadaharu Oh becomes the first player in Japanese baseball to hit 600 HRs. Only Babe Ruth‚ Hank Aaron‚ and Willie Mays are ahead of Oh-and he will surpass them all.
Oct 14, 1973 - The Mets win game 2‚ 10-7‚ scoring 4 runs in an 11th inning featuring the last ML hit by Willie Mays and 2 errors by Oakland 2B Mike Andrews. Andrews is subsequently put on the "disabled list" by Finley.
Sep 25, 1973 - The Mets beat the Expos 2-1 on Willie Mays Night at Shea Stadium. "The 'Say Hey' Kid" had announced his retirement 5 days earlier.
Aug 17, 1973 - Willie Mays hits the 660th-and last-HR of his ML career off Don Gullett of Cincinnati‚ but the Reds win‚ 2-1 in 10 innings at Shea. Hal King's pinch homer‚ his 3rd pinch dinger of the year‚ in the 10th wins it.
Jul 24, 1973 - The NL wins the All-Star Game at Kansas City 7-1. A record 54 players are used‚ including Willie Mays‚ who strikes out in his final All-Star appearance‚ and Catfish Hunter‚ who sustains a fractured thumb that will sideline him for 4 weeks. The A's ace has a 15-3 record at the time.
Jun 9, 1973 - After the old timer's game at Shea‚ Willie Mays puts on his own show with a homer and circus catch and the Mets top the Dodgers‚ 4-2. Willie‚ older than a half dozen of the old Mets‚ hits #655 of his career. Rusty Staub drives in two runs to back Jon Matlack. In the old timers game‚ the Brooklyn Dodgers/Yankees lose to the Mets‚ 1-0‚ in two innings.
Jun 10, 1972 - Hank Aaron hits his 14th career grand slam‚ tying Gil Hodges's NL record‚ as the Braves defeat the Phillies 15-3. It is career HR 649 for Aaron‚ enabling him to pass Willie Mays for 2nd place on the all-time list.
Jun 2, 1972 - In a face off at Shea between Willie Mays and Hank Aaron‚ both with 648 career homers‚ each come up hitless as the Braves beat the Mets‚ 6-1. Aaron‚ who hit his 648th on May 31‚ will collect his next HR June 10.
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May 17, 1972 - Willie Mays‚ played CF for the Mets‚ coaxes a leadoff walk in the first and scores on a triple by Ted Martinez. Sliding home‚ he knocks the ball out of C John Boccabella's glove and into the dugout‚ allowing Martinez to score. Mets beat Montreal‚ 2-1.
May 14, 1972 - In front a Mother's Day crowd of 35‚000‚ Willie Mays‚ makes a triumphant return to New York with the Mets‚ hitting a game-winning HR against his old teammates. He scores in the 1st on Rusty Staub's grand slam and his solo in the 5th snaps a 4-4 tie. The final score is 5-4.
May 11, 1972 - The Giants trade future Hall of Famer Willie Mays to the Mets for minor league P Charlie Williams and cash.
Jun 6, 1971 - Willie Mays strokes a 12th-inning HR off Joe Hoerner of the Phillies in the 2nd game of a doubleheader‚ his 22nd-and last-career extra-inning belt‚ a ML mark. The Giants win‚ 4-3‚ after losing the opener to Rick Wise‚ 1-0. It's the first shutout over the giants this year.
May 30, 1971 - Willie Mays hits his 638th career HR for the Giants‚ adding in the process his NL record 1‚950th run scored. Stan Musial had been the record holder with 1‚949 runs. The Giants beat Montreal‚ 5-4.
May 13, 1971 - The Reds swap OF Angel Bravo to the Padres for OF Al Ferrara‚ who (as noted by Reds historians Greg Rhodes and John Snyder) once played solo piano at Carnegie Hall at age 12. After Ferrara hits .182 for the season‚ he'll pose the question: "what did you expect for Angel Bravo-Willie Mays?"
Apr 27, 1971 - Hank Aaron becomes the 3rd member of the 600-HR club‚ but one of the other 2 members-the Giants Willie Mays-hits a 10th-inning single to beat Aaron's Braves.
Apr 6, 1971 - Willie Mays‚ a month shy of his 40th birthday‚ homers (his 629th) on the first pitch he sees in a 4-0 Opening Day Giants win over the Padres. He also laces a double. Mays will go on to hit homers in each of the Giants first 4 games of the season‚ a ML record. Juan Marichal wins on a 5-hitter.
Mar 1, 1971 - Willie Mays signs a 2-year contract with the Giants for $165‚000 per year.
Jul 18, 1970 - San Francisco's Willie Mays‚ at the age of 39‚ strokes a single off Montreal's Mike Wegener for his 3‚000th hit. Mays' safety comes in his 2‚639th game and he joins Aaron‚ who stroked his 3‚000th a month earlier. Aaron's was hit in his 2‚460th game. The Giants coast to a 10-1 victory.
May 7, 1970 - The Expos loose their biggest scoring burst in their 2-year history‚ topping the Giants‚ 15-8‚ on 15 hits. Jim Fairey has a homer and 4 RBIs‚ while Willie Mays homers for the Giants. In the first inning‚ RF Rusty Staub throws out the Giants Ron Hunt‚ 9-3.
Apr 26, 1970 - Willie McCovey and Dick Dietz each hit grand slams as the Giants beat the Expos 11-1 in the first game of a doubleheader. This is a first in Giants history. McCovey adds another homer to back McCormick's win. The Expos take the 2nd game‚ 3-2. Bobby Wine chips in by catching Willie Mays with the hidden ball trick (as noted by Bill Deane).
Jan 17, 1970 - The Sporting News names Willie Mays as Player of the Decade for the 1960s.
Sep 22, 1969 - Willie Mays joins Babe Ruth in the 600-homer club with a blast off Mike Corkins‚ while batting for rookie George Foster. Bobby Bonds sets a ML record with his 176th strikeout‚ as San Francisco beats San Diego 4-2.
Sep 13, 1969 - Bobby Bonds becomes the 4th 30-homer‚ 30-steal player in ML history‚ but the Reds beat the Giants 6-4. His 32nd steal‚ on August 13th‚ erased Willie Mays's SF record of 31.
Sep 24, 1968 - The Giants beat the Astros‚ 5-4 with Willie Mays driving in 3 runs. Mays hits a solo homer in the 1st and drives in the tying and winning runs in the 8th with a perfect bunt. With runners on 2B and 3B‚ Mays bunts and Doug Rader attempts a barehand pickup but misses the ball.
Jul 20, 1968 - At San Francisco‚ aging speedster Willie Mays scores from 1B on a Jim Ray Hart single. It's the only tally as the Giants beat Houston‚ 1-0.
Jul 9, 1968 - Appropriately‚ pitching dominates the All-Star Game. Willie Mays‚ playing in place of injured Pete Rose‚ tallies an unearned run in the first inning against AL starter Luis Tiant to complete the scoring for the day-the first All-Star effort to end 1-0. Don Drysdale‚ Juan Marichal‚ Steve Carlton‚ Tom Seaver‚ Ron Reed‚ and Jerry Koosman hold the AL to 3 hits.
Jun 13, 1967 - Willie Mays‚ the all-time leader in extra inning homers‚ belts a grand slam off Astros P Barry Latman in the 10th to power the Giants to a 6-2 win. For Willie‚ it is his 19th in extra frames‚ and his first grand slam.
Jun 7, 1967 - At Crosley Field‚ Reds P Gary Nolan strikes out 15 Giants‚ including Willie Mays 4 times. But her still loses‚ 4-3. Willie McCovey belts a 3-run homer in the 8th to tie the game‚ and reliever Bob Lee allows the last run to score to pin the loss on Nolan. This is the 11th one-run game in a row that for the Reds‚ a ML record. They won 7 of them. The closest any team has vome to matching the Reds is Brooklyn‚ in 1927‚ the Cardinals in 1920‚ and the Giants of 1910.
Jun 3, 1967 - At Candlestick Park, the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants split a pair. The Giants take the opener, 11-2, behind Juan Marichal, who gives up 13 hits and one earned run. The Giants also make 13 hits, including HRs by Ollie Brown and Willie Mays, as the Mets Jack Fisher pitches 4 2/3 innings and allows 11 runs (9 earned); not till 2006 will any Mets pitcher allow as many runs. The Mets win game 2 in 11 innings, 2-1, as Bob Shaw allows 4 hits and goes the distance. Tom Haller'sHR is the Giants only score.
Aug 17, 1966 - Willie Mays takes 2nd place on the all-time HR list with a 4th-inning blast off Ray Washburn. San Francisco is one-half game out of first place after beating the Cards 4-3.
Aug 16, 1966 - Willie Mays hits his 534th HR‚ matching Jimmie Foxx's record for right-handed batters‚ as Gaylord Perry beats the Cardinals 3-1.
Aug 12, 1966 - Willie Mays hits a game-ending HR to give Juan Marichal and Giants a 1-0 win over Houston. Mike Cuellar serves up the 9th inning homer.
May 4, 1966 - Willie Mays hits a NL record 512th HR-topping another Giant‚ Mel Ott-and the Giants beat the Dodgers 6-1.
Nov 30, 1965 - The Red Sox trade Ed Bressoud to the Mets for Joe Christopher. Bressoud will be the only former New York Giant to play for the Mets besides Willie Mays‚ who will close out his years there.
Nov 10, 1965 - Willie Mays is named NL MVP‚ receiving 224 votes to 177 for Sandy Koufax.
Oct 2, 1965 - Willie Mays sets a Giants record with his 52nd HR‚ as Ron Herbel beats the Reds 3-2. Johnny Mize had hit 51 for the Giants in 1947.
Sep 28, 1965 - The Giants lose to St. Louis 8-6‚ even though Willie Mays‚ in his 2‚000th career game‚ hits his 51st HR of the year.
Sep 25, 1965 - The first-place Giants top the Braves‚ 7-5‚ led by Willie Mays's 50th HR of the year.
Sep 13, 1965 - Willie Mays's 500th HR (off Don Nottebart) and Juan Marichal's 22nd victory beat Houston 5-1. The win is the Giants 11th straight and gives them a 2 1?2 game lead.
Sep 2, 1965 - The Cubs beat St. Louis 5-3 at Wrigley Field‚ as Ernie Banks hits his 400th home run‚ a three-run shot off Curt Simmons‚ in the 3rd. Simmons teed up the 400th HR of Willie Mays in 1963. Banks will end the season with 28 HRs and 106 RBI. Ron Santo and Billy Williams will also knock in over 100 runs‚ the only team with 3 such sluggers‚ but the Cubs will finish 8th.
Aug 29, 1965 - Willie Mays sets a NL record for HRs in one month with his 17th of August‚ 41st overall‚ as San Francisco beats the Mets‚ 8-3. Mays tops Ralph Kiner‚ who slugged 16 for Pittsburgh in September‚ 1949.
Aug 22, 1965 - San Francisco's Juan Marichal‚ batting against LA's Sandy Koufax‚ complains that C John Roseboro's return throws are too close. He then turns and attacks Roseboro with his bat. A 14-minute brawl ensues before Koufax‚ Willie Mays‚ and other peacemakers can restore order. Roseboro suffers a considerable cut on the head. Marichal is suspended 8 playing days and levied a NL-record $1‚750 fine.
Jul 13, 1965 - Willie Mays's HR‚ 2 walks‚ and 2 runs scored pace the NL to a 6-5 All-Star Game victory in Minnesota. Juan Marichal pitches 3 scoreless innings to earn game MVP.
Jul 31, 1964 - The Giants take advantage of 3 errors by Bill Mazeroski and 2 by Bob Bailey to tip the bumbling Bucs‚ 8-6. Maz's last error‚ on a potential DP ball in the 9th‚ helps the Giants score 3 runs. Willie Mays has 3 singles and 3 runs to lead the attack. The Giants remain 1 1/2 games in back of the Phils‚ but learn that Juan Marichal has back spasms and will not pitch again until August 25th.
Apr 24, 1964 - Willie Mays paces the Giants attack hitting a HR and scoring 5 runs as the Giants down the Reds‚ 15-5. Juan Marichal is the winner.
Jan 15, 1964 - Willie Mays‚ the highest-paid player in baseball‚ signs for $105‚000.
Sep 22, 1963 - For the first time‚ all three Alou brothers share the outfield. In the seventh inning‚ Matty is in LF‚ Felipe replaces Willie Mays in CF‚ and Jesus is in RF. In the 8th‚ the three are retired‚ 1‚ 2‚ 3. But the offense comes from Willie McCovey who hits three homers as the Giants whip the Mets‚ 13-4.
Aug 27, 1963 - Willie Mays‚ Orlando Cepeda‚ and Felipe Alou hit consecutive round-trippers in the 3rd inning of San Francisco's 7-2 win against St. Louis.
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Jul 9, 1963 - Willie Mays is held to a single‚ but dominates a 5-3 NL win in the All-Star Game. He also walks‚ steals twice‚ scores twice‚ bats in a pair‚ and makes a great catch. It is Stan Musial's 24th All-Star appearance‚ a record. Musial's teammates comprise the starting infield for the NL: 1B Bill White‚ 2B Julian Javier‚ SS Dick Groat‚ and 3B Ken Boyer. Javier was chosen as the replacement for Pittsburgh's injured 2B‚ Bill Mazeroski.
Jul 2, 1963 - In a classic pitching matchup in San Francisco between the 2 Hall of Famers‚ the Braves Warren Spahn gives up 9 hits in 15 1/3 innings‚ while Juan Marichal allows 8 hits in 16 innings while striking out 10. With the score tied at the end of 15‚ When asked by his manager at then end of 15 if he could go another inning Juan Marichal said‚ "If that old guy in the Braves dugout can do it‚ so can I." Willie Mays's round-tripper off Spahn at 12:31 A.M. in the bottom of the 16th gives Marichal a 1-0 win‚ the NL's longest win ended by a HR. Both pitchers go the distance in one of the greatest matchups ever.
Jun 13, 1963 - At Candlestick‚ Willie Mays breaks up a pitching duel between Dick Ellsworth and Bill O'Dell by belting a one-out 10th inning HR to give San Francisco a 2-1 win over Chicago. Felip Alou accounts for the other Giant run with a homer‚ as the two collect all 4 of their team's hits. The Giants leave one on base.
Jun 6, 1963 - With the bases loaded and one out in the 12th‚ Cubs reliever Lindy McDaniel picks Willie Mays off 2B and then strikes out Ed Bailey. McDaniel then hits a leadoff HR in the bottom of the 10th‚ off reliever Billy Pierce‚ to win 3-2. It was Lindy's first hit of the season. Chicago moves into a 3-way‚ first-place tie with St. Louis and San Francisco‚ its first taste of the lead since May 1958.
Oct 16, 1962 - New York scores the game's only run‚ as Tony Kubek grounds into a 5th-inning DP. In the 9th‚ with 2 outs and Matty Alou on 1B‚ Willie Mays rips a double to right off Ralph Terry‚ but great fielding by Roger Maris keeps Alou from scoring. Willie McCovey then hits a screaming liner toward right‚ but 2B Bobby Richardson gloves it‚ giving the Yankees a 1-0 win and a 2nd straight WS victory. Terry is named WS MVP.
Oct 4, 1962 - At Candlestick Park‚ in game one of the WS‚ Roger Maris stakes Whitey Ford to a 2-run lead with a first-inning‚ 2-run double. Only RF Felipe Alou's leaping effort keeps Maris' drive in the park. Whitey Ford's record consecutive-shutout-inning streak ends at 332?3 innings when a surprise bunt by Jose Pagan brings Willie Mays home. Clete Boyer's 7th-inning HR gives the Yankees a 6-2 win‚ the last of a record 10 WS victories for Ford.
Oct 1, 1962 - San Francisco wins the first of the best-of-3 NL playoff games as Billy Pierce takes his 12th straight at Candlestick Park‚ a three-hit‚ 8-0 victory. Willie Mays hits 2 HRs‚ giving him 49 in 1962‚ one more than AL leader Harmon Killebrew. Koufax‚ making just his 3rd start since returning from his hand injury‚ is the loser.
Sep 30, 1962 - Willie Mays's 47th HR‚ an 8th-inning blast off Dick Farrell (10-20)‚ leads the Giants to a critical 2-1 win. They then stay in the clubhouse to hear results of the Dodger game.
Sep 12, 1962 - In the dugout in Cincinnati‚ Willie Mays collapses from nervous exhaustion. He is taken to the hospital and will miss 4 games. The Giants lose 4-1 and will lose their next 6 to take them apparently out of the race.
Jul 29, 1962 - Don Drysdale pushes his record to 19-4 as he completes a three-game Dodger sweep over the Giants‚ winning 111. Howard has a HR and 3 singles to drive home 5 runs. Willie Mays accounts for the only Giants run with a HR. Los Angeles now leads the Giants by 4 games.
Feb 7, 1962 - Lawyer Melvin Belli obtains a writ laying claim to Willie Mays-among other assets-unless the Giants pay him the judgment awarded by a jury in January. Belli claims the club failed to file a motion for a new trial before the deadline.
Jan 31, 1962 - Willie Mays signs the biggest contract in baseball‚ a reported $90‚000 for 1962. They also sing another slugger-Ralph Kiner joins Lindsey Nelson and Bob Murphy in the announcing booth.
Sep 19, 1961 - The Giants clobber Warren Spahn for 4 home runs‚ one of them a grand slam by Willie Mays‚ and then rally in the 8th and 9th to top the Braves‚ 11-10. The two teams combine for 8 home runs and 57 total bases‚ but the short ball wins it-Kuenn's tie breaking single in the 8th‚ and Ed Bailey's sacks full single in the 9th.
Jul 24, 1961 - At Yankee Stadium‚ 50‚000 fans‚ on hand for the Yankees exhibition game with the Giants‚ save their biggest cheer for Willie Mays. Willie delivers a 2-run single in the 4-1 victory. The only score for the Yanks is a Mickey Mantle homer.
Jul 4, 1961 - At Chicago‚ the Giants close out their road trip by rolling to a 19-3 win in game 1‚ collecting 22 hits including a homer by Orlando Cepeda that is one of the longest in Wrigley history. The Cubs come back in the nitecap to win‚ 3-2‚ overcoming Willie Mays' 300th homer. At the half way mark‚ the Giants are in 3rd place‚ 5 1/2 games in back of the first-place Reds.
Jun 29, 1961 - With 3 round-trippers at Philadelphia-one a 10th-inning shot to win 8-7-Willie Mays becomes the 4th ML player with 3 or more HRs twice in one season. Manager Gene Mauch's efforts to conceal his starting pitcher and force Al Dark's hand has a Phillie lineup including hurlers Don Ferrarese (batting leadoff‚ playing CF)‚ Jim Owens (3rd‚ RF)‚ Chris Short (7th‚ C)‚ and Ken Lehman (9th‚ P) against San Francisco. When Dark sends lefty Billy O'Dell to the mound for one batter‚ Mauch replaces Ferrarese‚ Short and Owen. Dark then replaces Billy O'Dell with Sam Jones. Mauch replaces Lehman with Dallas Green after 2 batters. All the maneuvering takes 3 hours and 20 minutes. The Giants then take the nitecap‚ 4-1‚ as Mays triples and doubles home 2 runs and completes a DP with a throw home.
May 13, 1961 - Wondrous Willie Mays clouts 2 HRs‚ one a grand slam‚ to drive in 6 runs as the Giants whip the Braves‚ 8-5.
Apr 30, 1961 - Using Joey Amalfitano's bat‚ Willie Mays becomes the 9th player in ML history to enjoy a 4-HR game‚ and his 8 RBI pace the Giants to a 14-4 win at Milwaukee's County Stadium. Led by Willie's 4‚ the Giants total a record tying 8 homers (and 13 in 2 games) as Orlando Cepeda (2)‚ Felipe Alou‚ and Jose Pagan also homer. Willie's 6th inning homer clears the LF bleachers at County Stadium. Hank Aaron collects a pair for the Braves for all the scoring. Billy Loes is the winning pitcher‚ and it marks the 4th time he has been in uniform at a game where a player has hit 4 homers: Loes was with the Dodgers in '50 and '54 when Gil Hodges and the Braves Joe Adcock connected‚ and with the Orioles in '59 when Rocky Colavito collected four.
Feb 9, 1961 - Willie Mays signs for $85‚000‚ currently the biggest contract in ML baseball.
Sep 15, 1960 - Willie Mays ties the modern ML record with 3 triples in a game against the Phillies. His 3-bagger off Turk Farrell gives the Giants an 8-6 win in 11 innings. Mays also strokes a double and single. The last National Leaguer to hit 3 treys in a game was Roberto Clemente‚ in 1958.
Jul 13, 1960 - Vern Law becomes the 2nd Pirate to win a 1960 All-Star Game‚ working 2 scoreless innings. Stan Musial comes off the NL bench and hits his record 6th and last All-Star Game HR. Willie Mays‚ Ken Boyer‚ and Eddie Mathews also homer in the 6-0 NL win‚ the 3rd shutout in All-Star Game history.
Jun 24, 1960 - Willie Mays hits 2 HRs‚ singles‚ steals home‚ and makes 10 putouts to lead the Giants in a 5-3 win at Cincinnati. Mays has 3 RBI and 3 runs scored.
Sep 26, 1959 - At St. Louis‚ Sam Jones keeps the Giants in the race by pitching a 7-inning no-hitter‚ but NL President Warren Giles will rule it unofficial after rain wipes out the last 2 innings. But Jones gets credit for his 21st win 4-0 as Willie Mays and Willie McCovey HRs account for the runs.
Sep 15, 1959 - The Giants whip Warren Spahn and the Braves 13-6 behind Jack Sanford. Willie Mays has 4 hits and 5 RBI. The Giants are now 2 games in front with 8 to play.
Aug 28, 1959 - Before a crowd of 66.068 in LA‚ Sam Jones pitches a 3-hitter to give the Giants a 5-0 win over the Dodgers. Willie Mays hits a 3-run HR for SF.
Jul 7, 1959 - The NL defeats the AL 5-4 in the All-Star Game at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Willie Mays knocks in Henry Aaron with the deciding run. Don Drysdale pitches perfect ball the first 3 innings.
Jun 30, 1959 - The Giants Sam Jones throws a 2-0 one-hitter against the Dodgers‚ allowing only Jim Gilliam's controversial single in the 8th‚ a grounder SS Andre Rodgers has difficulty picking up. Willie Mays's 2-run HR against Don Drysdale accounts for all the scoring.
Nov 25, 1958 - The BBWAA names Chicago Cubs slugger Ernie Banks the 1958 MVP. Willie Mays is the runner-up.
Sep 20, 1958 - The Giants Ruben Gomez gives up 3 hits‚ all to Bobby Gene Smith‚ as the Giants beat St. Louis 5-1. Willie Mays's 3 hits raises his average to .340‚ and he steals his 30th base‚ the first to steal 30 three times since Kiki Cuyler in 1930.
May 21, 1958 - At Cincinnati‚ Willie Mays belts a 10th inning HR off Hal Jeffcoat to give the Giants a 5-4 win.
May 13, 1958 - Willie Mays goes 5-for-5 against the Dodgers‚ as the Giants win 16-9. Mays has another 2 HRs‚ plus 2 triples‚ and 4 RBIs to compete with Daryl Spencer's 2 HRs‚ triple‚ double‚ and 6 RBIs. The Giants pound out 26 hits‚ while the Dodgers collect 11‚ the longest being Charlie Neal's HR over the distant RF fence at the Coliseum. The Giants set a ML-record (since 1900) as 5 players collect 4 hits apiece.
May 12, 1958 - Willie Mays hits the first grand slam in the history of the San Francisco Giants and adds another HR as Los Angeles loses 12-3.
Jan 6, 1958 - Willie Mays's $65‚000 contract is a record high for the Giants.
Aug 11, 1957 - At the Polo Grounds, the Giants and Phils trade shutouts. New York takes the opener, 5-0, behind Curt Barclay's 3-hitter. Danny O’Connell hits a three-run homer off Harvey Haddix, and Willie Mays bangs two triples. Willie has 15 so far and will top the 20 mark this year in doubles, triples and homers, just the 4th player in history to accomplish that. George Brett will join the list in 1979, the last 20th century player to do so. In second game, Mays has two of the three hits off Jack Sanford, who stops the Giants, 2-0.
Aug 4, 1957 - For the second consecutive game, Willie Mays hits two homers, and adds a triple, as the Giants down the Cincinnati Reds, 7-6 in 14 innings. Ray Katt's DP grounder in the 14th scores the go ahead run. Mays’s second homer of the game comes in the 12th inning, but Reds catcher Ed Bailey matches him. Frank Robinson and Wally Post hit back-to-back homers in the 5th. The Reds take the second game of the doubleheader, 3-2.
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 28, 1957 - By stuffing the ballot box‚ Cincinnati fans elect 8 Redlegs as starters in the All-Star Game. Over protests from Reds fans‚ Commissioner Ford Frick names Stan Musial‚ Willie Mays‚ and Hank Aaron to replace Reds Gus Bell‚ George Crowe‚ and Wally Post in the starting lineup. In the final vote tally‚ Musial is the only non-Redleg who would have started. Bell will be added as a substitute.
Apr 22, 1957 - At the Polo Grounds‚ Willie Mays has a 3-run homer and Ruben Gomez has his 2nd CG win as the Giants beat the Pirates‚ 3-1. Hank Foiles has a 425-ft triple and a 258-ft homer which hits the RF foul pole.
Mar 23, 1957 - At LA's Wrigley Field‚ Willie Mays belts two homers to lead the Giants to a 9-3 Cactus League win over the Indians. Bill Rigney fines Hank Thompson $150 for missing last night's exhibition win over the Indians in San Diego.
Sep 7, 1956 - The Giants and Dodgers split a pair with New York winning the opener‚ 6-2‚ on a pair of home runs by Willie Mays. Brooklyn takes the nitecap‚ 3-1‚ on Carl Furillo's 2-out homer in the 11th. Don Newcombe wins his 23rd‚ the most by a Dodger since Dazzy Vance in 1924. The win gives Brooklyn a tie for 2nd with the Reds.
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Aug 15, 1956 - The Dodgers and Giants draw 26‚385 for a night-game record at Jersey City. A 4th inning Willie Mays HR‚ the only ball hit out of Roosevelt Stadium‚ is the only scoring as Johnny Antonelli shuts out the Dodgers‚ 1-0. He strikes out 11 and allows 2 hits. The loss goes to Don Newcombe who had pitched three straight shutouts and won 9 straight. The loss is the Brooks first at Jersey City after 6 straight wins.
Jul 10, 1956 - In the All-Star Game‚ the first-place Reds vote five starters on the team-and three runner-ups-all the result of an enthusiastic get-out-the vote campaign by Cincy radio stations and newspapers. Next year the issue will come to a head. In the game‚ Ken Boyer of the Cardinals makes 3 sparkling plays at 3B and gets 3 hits as the NL defeats the AL 7-3. Willie Mays‚ Mickey Mantle‚ Ted Williams‚ and Stan Musial all homer. Mays's pinch-hit 2-run HR off Whitey Ford is his 7th straight hit against the Yankee lefty.
Jul 8, 1956 - The Giants connect for a team-record 7 HRs in a 11-1 home win over the Pirates. Willie Mays‚ Daryl Spencer‚ and Wes Westrum each connect for 2. Hank Thompson‚ Westrum‚ and Spencer hit consecutive HRs in the 4th inning and Westrum and Spencer repeat the back-to-back homers to tie a ML record.
May 6, 1956 - Led By Willie Mays's 4 stolen bases‚ the Giants edge the Cards‚ 5-4.
May 2, 1956 - Twenty-five Giants and 23 Cubs appear-a ML record-in a 17-inning marathon finally won by the visiting Giants 6-5. The two teams combined to intentionally walk 11 batters‚ a ML record‚ with the Cubs contributing 7 of the free passes. Losing pitcher Jim Brosnan chipped in with 4 walks‚ all intentional. Cub 3B Don Hoak was not one of the strollers‚ whiffing a NL record 6 times-all against different pitchers‚ (Carl Weilman in 1913 set the ML record with 6 strikeouts in a 15-inning AL game) while Ernie Banks‚ Willie Mays and Wes Westrum are twice walked intentionally. There are 8 unintentional walks for a total of 19. Whitey Lockman starts in LF‚ goes to 1B‚ returns to LF‚ and finishes at 1B. Ex-Giant Monte Irvin is 0-for-5 against 5 pitchers. The game is 6 minutes shy of the 5:19 record set by the Dodgers-Braves in 20 innings in 1940.
Apr 22, 1956 - In Philadelphia‚ The Phils manage just 3 hits in the opener‚ but one is a 3-run homer by Ted Kazanski as Robin Roberts wins‚ 3-1‚ over Johnny Antonelli. New York takes the nitecap‚ 9-7‚ when Willie Mays belts a 9th inning 3-run homer. When the Phillies bat in the bottom of the 9th‚ fans start throwing bottles and cans on the field. RF Whitey Lockman calls time‚ and returns with a helmet. ""I wouldn't mind getting hit by a regular bottle‚ but when they break off the tops and throw them at you‚ that's too much‚" he says later. Outside police are called in to stop to bottle tossers. Beer is not sold at Connie Mack Stadium‚ but fans can bring bottles and cans into the park.
Apr 17, 1956 - Despite 2 HRs by Dale Long‚ Pittsburgh loses to New York 4-3 when Willie Mays scores from 2B in the 8th inning on Daryl Spencer's groundout to 2B. Bob Friend loses to Johnny Antonelli‚ who also clubs a HR.
Sep 25, 1955 - In Durocher's last game as manager‚ Bobby Hofman underscores the tone of the season for the Giants as he lines into a 9th inning season-ending triple play against the Phillies in a 3-1 loss. Seemingly wanting to end the season quickly‚ the Giants hit into double plays in the 7th and 8th. The Giants win the opener‚ 5-2‚ as Willie Mays belts his 51st HR of the year. Mays ties John Mize for the team record.
Sep 20, 1955 - Giants slugger Willie Mays poles 2 HRs against the Pirates‚ giving him 50 for the year‚ making him only the 7th player in history to accomplish this. The Giants sweep the doubleheader‚ winning 11-1 and 14-8. Mays's HR in the 2nd game is his 7th in 6 consecutive games.
Sep 18, 1955 - In a 7-5 loss to Brooklyn‚ Willie Mays hits his 9th HR of the year at Ebbets Field to tie Joe Adcock's 1954 mark at Ebbets.
Jun 29, 1955 - Willie Mays hits the first grand slam of his career‚ off Clem Labine‚ and accounts for all the RBI in a 6-1 Giant win over Brooklyn. Roy Campanella has a broken spur in his knee and will miss 2 weeks.
Jun 20, 1955 - At Cincinnati‚ Willie Mays watches from the stands as his Giants lose to the Reds‚ 5-3. Mays was benched yesterday. Dusty Rhodes and Bill Taylor hits pinch homeruns for the Giants.
Jun 19, 1955 - Giants Leo Durocher benches Willie Mays for 2 days for a "rest" and starts Whitey Lockman. The Braves win‚ 8-7.
Jun 4, 1955 - For the 2nd time‚ Willie Mays blasts an extra inning homer off the Cub's Warren Hacker‚ this time in the 12th inning. But it's not enough as the Cubs win‚ 9-8. On April 30th of last year Willie hacked one in the 14th.
Feb 12, 1955 - Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente hit crucial HRs to lead Santurce (Puerto Rico) to a 4-2 win over Venezuela in the Caribbean Series. Mays's HR comes in the 11th.
Jan 11, 1955 - Before an exhibition game in San Juan‚ Puerto Rico‚ Willie Mays and teammate Ruben Gomez get into a brawl. It starts when Gomez slips into the batting catch ahead of Mays‚ and batting practice pitcher Milt Ralat then refuses to throw. The sulking Gomez sits down on the plate‚ and Mays then steps to the side and directs the pitcher to throw to him there. Ralat then throws an insulting slow pitch which Willie barehands and fires back. He and Ralat exchange words and when Mays walks towards the mound‚ Gomez‚ brandishing a bat‚ attempts to interfere. Mays drops him with a right. The two later apologize to each other.
Sep 29, 1954 - In Game 1 of the WS‚ Willie Mays of the Giants makes one of the greatest catches in history when he races back to deep CF in the Polo Grounds to make an over-the-head catch of Indian Vic Wertz's 462-foot drive in the 8th with the score tied at 2-2. Wertz drove in the 2 runs in the first with a triple‚ the first of his 4 hits. But in the 10th‚ Dusty Rhodes hits a pinch-hit‚ 3-run‚ 260-foot HR off Bob Lemon to give the Giants a 5-2 victory. With Mays in the Giants lineup‚ and Avila in Cleveland's‚ it marks just the 3rd time that the league batting champs have faced each other in the WS.
Sep 26, 1954 - Going into the last day of the NL season‚ Don Mueller leads in hitting with .3426; Duke Snider is 2nd at .3425‚ followed by Willie Mays at .3422. The Giants win‚ 3-2‚ in 11 innings over the Phillies Robin Roberts‚ as Mays garners a single‚ double‚ and triple in 4 ABs. He finishes at .345 while Mueller‚ going 2-for-6‚ slips to .341‚ the same as the hitless Snider. Richie Ashburn plays in his 730rd straight game‚ stretching back to June 7‚ 1950.
Sep 18, 1954 - The Giants Don Mueller collects his 200th hit an inside-the-park HR‚ making him the first Giant to get 200 hits since Joe Moore in 1936. Willie Mays also has an inside-the park-HR‚ as the Giants beat the Phils 8-1.
Sep 14, 1954 - Willie Mays hits a 1st inning double and scores the only run in a 1-0 win over the Cards. It is Johnny Antonelli's 21st win of the year. Mays's hit is his 82nd extra-base hit‚ breaking Mel Ott's team record.
Aug 20, 1954 - Giants lefty Don Liddle shuts out the Pirates to win‚ 4-0‚ with all the New York scoring coming on Don Mueller's grand slam in the 5th inning. Willie Mays hits safely in his 21st straight game‚ but he'll go hitless tomorrow.
Aug 16, 1954 - In a throwing contest between Jimmy Piersall and Willie Mays before a Red Sox-Giants charity game in Boston‚ Piersall hurts his arm. He starts the game but leaves midway. He wakes up the following morning with a sore arm that stays with him a year‚ and he will never throw quite as well again.
Jul 28, 1954 - Giants OF Dusty Rhodes hits 3 consecutive HRs at the Polo Grounds to back Johnny Antonelli's 10-0 whipping of St. Louis. It is Antonelli's 10th consecutive win. Willie Mays smacks his 36th HR‚ a 447 foot clout to LF.
Jul 8, 1954 - Behind Willie Mays' 29th and 30th HRs‚ good for 5 RBIs‚ the Giants win‚ 11-2‚ complete a 3-game sweep of the Dodgers in Ebbets Field to up their lead in the NL to 61?2 games. Preston Gomez allows 2 unearned runs.
Jun 3, 1954 - Henry Thompson of the Giants hits 3 HRs and knocks in 8 runs in a 13-8 win against the Cardinals. Willie Mays collects the other 5 RBI on 2 HRs as Alvin Dark scores 5 runs.
May 28, 1954 - At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants whip the Dodgers 17-6 with a 6-HR barrage. Four of the HRs come in the 8th as Davey Williams‚ Alvin Dark‚ Monte Irvin‚ and Billy Gardner connect off Ben Wade. Whitey Lockman‚ in the 1st‚ and Willie Mays‚ in the 2nd account for the other two. Brooklyn scores a run in the 6th when Giants P Marv Grissom balks home Rube Walker from 3B. Catcher Ray Katt is at fault‚ having called a time out when Grissom is in his windup.
May 25, 1954 - At New York‚ the Giants explode for 11 runs in the 8th inning to overwhelm the Pirates‚ 21-4. The Buccos score 3 in the top of the 8th for a NL record for the frame. Led by Lockman's grand slam‚ the Giants score 5 in the 7th‚ then collect 8 hits in the 8th‚ including 2 homers. Johnny Antonelli has his 6th win and hits his first ML HR. Davey Williams has a single and HR in the 8th. Willie Mays scores 5 runs.
Apr 30, 1954 - Willie Mays homers in the 14th inning off Cubs lefty Warren Hacker to give Sal Maglie and the Giants a 4-2 victory.
Apr 13, 1954 - The Giants‚ fresh from a Cactus League season where they beat the Indians 13 out of 21 meetings‚ trip the Dodgers‚ 4-3. Back in CF after 2 years in the army‚ Willie Mays of the Giants hits a 2-run shot that beats Brooklyn.
May 29, 1952 - The Giants Willie Mays enters the army. Although Mays is hitting just .236‚ the Giants are 2 1/2 games in first place. They will lose 8 of their next 10 games.
May 28, 1952 - Willie Mays is 0-for-4 in his last game as a civilian‚ but the Giants top the Dodgers‚ 6-2‚ beating Billy Loes.
Oct 5, 1951 - The Yanks and Eddie Lopat even up the WS by winning 3-1 over Larry Jansen. Lopat scatters 5 hits‚ three by Monte Irvin. Irvin has now hit safely 7 straight times in two games. Mickey Mantle is injured in the 5th inning when he steps on an exposed water sprinkler while chasing a Willie Mays fly ball. Mantle is taken off the field on a stretcher and the injury to his knee will plague him throughout his career. He will undergo the first of 6 knee operations.
Oct 2, 1951 - The Dodgers bounce back as rookie Clem Labine evens the playoff with a 10-0 win‚ besting the Giants' Sheldon Jones. Home runs are smashed by Jackie Robinson‚ Gil Hodges‚ Andy Pafko‚ and Rube Walker. Willie Mays grounds into 3 DP.
Sep 3, 1951 - In a Labor Day doubleheader at the Polo Grounds‚ the Phils Robin Roberts stops New York‚ 6-3‚ in the opener. The Giants blow a 3-0 1st inning lead when homers by Ashburn and Swish Nicholson bring the Phils back. Dave Koslo salvages a 2nd game‚ winning 3-1 over Niles Jordan. Willie Mays makes another rookie error in the 2nd. After an apparent inside-the-park HR‚ Phils 3B Tommy Brown appeals‚ and Mays is called out for failing to touch 3B. He is credited with a double.
Aug 30, 1951 - The Giants move to an 8-1 lead after 5 inning over the Pirates behind two homers by Willie Mays. But George Spencer wilts in the heat and gives up homers to Frank Thomas-his first in the majors-and pinch hitter Gus Bell. After Pete Castiglione and Bill Rigney match homers‚ Ralph Kiner powers one in the 9th inning to give Pittsburgh a 10-9 victory. For Kiner‚ it is his 37th.
Aug 15, 1951 - Giants P Jim Hearn defeats the Dodgers 3-1 as Willie Mays makes a miraculous play in the 8th. With the score 1-1 and Billy Cox on 3rd‚ Mays makes a running catch of a Carl Furillo drive in deep right CF and whirls counterclockwise to throw out the astonished Cox at home. Wes Westrum's 2-run homer off Ralph Branca in the 8th provides the two-run margin. Hearn allows just six hits‚ all singles‚ as the Giants move to 10 1/2 behind Brooklyn.
Aug 1, 1951 - The Cubs' Eddie Miksis lines a ball to Willie Mays in CF‚ which caroms off his head for a double‚ as the Cubs nip the Giants‚ 3-2. Cal McLish wins over Larry Jansen. The Giants come back in game 2 behind the shut out pitching of Al Corwin to top the Cubs‚ 2-0. Bob Kelly is the losing pitcher‚ while Al Corwin wins his first ML game.
Jul 29, 1951 - In game 1 at Cincinnati‚ Willie Mays steals the first of 338 bases. Then P Willie Ramsdell picks him off 2B. But the Giants win‚ 3-1‚ behind Sal Maglie. New York takes the nitecap as well‚ 6-4‚ as Irvin (2) and Mays both swipe bases.
Jul 28, 1951 - The Giants go 7-0 at Crosley Field this year by defeating the Reds‚ 3-1. Willie Mays has his 3rd homer in 6 days and Larry Jansen wins to go 15-2 against the Rhinelanders.
Jul 17, 1951 - In the 8th inning at New York, with the Cubs ahead 5-0, Hal Jeffcoat of the Cubs swipes 3B and home on successive pitches. Willie Mays has a two-run homer in the eighth, but the Cubs win, 7-4. The Jeffcoat steals are ordered by Cubs manager Frankie Frisch (as noted by Retrosheet from a story in the New York Times regarding the tension between Frisch and Giants manager Leo Durocher).
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Jul 3, 1951 - Giants rookie Willie Mays hits a 13th inning solo homer off the Phillies’ Jocko Thompson to give New York a 9-8 win. It is Willie's 2nd extra inning homer in two weeks: he'll hit another on July 7th, against the Braves George Estock..
Jun 22, 1951 - Willie Mays‚ 20‚ hits a 10th-inning HR‚ the first of his 22 extra-innings HRs‚ off 42-year-old Dutch Leonard of the Cubs. It is a 3-run shot that gives the Giants a 9-6 win.
May 28, 1951 - After going 0-for-12‚ Willie Mays connects for his first ML hit‚ a HR off Braves P Warren Spahn. The Giants lose the game 4-1.
May 25, 1951 - Giants rookie Willie Mays‚ who was hitting .477 with Minneapolis‚ goes 0-for-5 in his ML debut against the Phils. He strikes out in his first at bat‚ against Bubba Church. New York wins‚ 8-5.
Jul 20, 1911 - Frank Schulte hits for the cycle to help the Cubs tip the Phils‚ 4-3. "Wildfire" will end the year as the first player ever to top the 20 mark in doubles‚ triples‚ homers‚ and stolen bases. Only Willie Mays in 1957 will match him.
Oct 8, 1909 - The Pirates‚ winners of 110 games‚ face Detroit in the WS‚ which pits the 2 leagues' top offensive stars‚ Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb. It is the first of three times that batting champs will face each other in the WS (Al Simmons and Chick Hafey in 1931: Bobby Avila and Willie Mays in 1954 are the others) Pittsburgh manager Fred Clarke starts 27-year-old rookie righthander Babe Adams against Tigers P George Mullin. There are only 11 hits in the game‚ but one is a HR by Clarke‚ and the Pirates win 4-1 before a crowd of 29‚264.
Apr 15, 1909 - In the Browns 4-1 win over visiting Cleveland‚ Brownie Danny Hoffman bangs the first homer ever hit at Sportsman's Park. In 1956‚ Willie Mays will collect the last.
