Books and articles about Hugh Casey

Hugh Casey was on the mound in the ninth inning of Game Four of the 1941 Yankee-Dodger World Series. Brooklyn led, 4-3, with two out, nobody on, and Tommy Henrich at bat. Henrich swung and missed Casey's 3-2 pitch, but the third strike eluded catcher Mickey Owen, and Henrich reached base, beginning a game-winning rally. Owen became a famous goat, and baseball historians since have differed as to whether the elusive pitch was a spitball.

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Casey, who relieved in 287 of his 343 games, led the NL in saves twice and relief wins three times. A loner, a tough competitor, and a heavy drinker, Casey became friends with Ernest Hemingway. At Hemingway's house during spring training in Cuba, the drunken pair once put on boxing gloves. Teammate Kirby Higbe later recalled, "Ernest would belt Case one, and down he would go. Case would belt old Ernest, and down he would go...The furniture [really took] a beating." At age 37, allegedly despondent over the breakup of his marriage, Casey committed suicide. (TJ)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 1, 1940: The Reds Bill Werber has just two hits, but his homer and double come in an 8-run 4th inning. The Reds beat Hugh Casey and Brooklyn, 9–2. » May 19, 1941: Cubs pitcher Claude Passeau hits a grand slam off Hugh Casey as the Cubs score nine runs in the 2nd inning. Chicago coast to a 14–1 win at home. Brooklyn manager Leo Durocher protests the game claiming the Cubs are over the 25-man limit, but the protest is tossed out. The Cubs will be fined $500 for the infraction. Brooklyn also protests that the mound is several inches over the 15 inch height allowed: at the suggestion of the umps, Casey pitches from several inches in front of the rubber, but it doesn't help. » September 15, 1941: After 16 scoreless innings, the Dodgers score 5 in the top of the 17th and beat the Reds 5-1. Johnny Allen pitches 15 innings for Brooklyn, and Hugh Casey wins in relief. » May 24, 1947: At Brooklyn, Carl Furillo pinch-hits for LF Gene Hermanski—in the 1st inning—and clouts a 3-run homer to give the Brooks the lead over the Phillies. Skeeter Newsome's 3rd career homer in five years ties the game in the 8th and the Phils win it in 10 innings, 4–3. Freddy Schmidt wins over Hugh Casey. Furillo's pinch homer sets a ML record—it is the only pinch home run to come in the first inning. As noted by Lyle Spatz, Phils manager Ben Chapman starts righty Al Jurisch just to pitch to Brooklyn's first two hitters: Reese and Robinson. Lefty Oscar Judd, warming up from the start, then comes in to pitch to the next three lefty hitters: Reiser, Walker, and Hermanski. Reiser and Walker bat and then Furillo hits for Hermanski, though he is not listed in the box score as a PH. » October 6, 1947: The New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 5-2 to win the WS in 7 games. Relief P Hugh Casey of the Dodgers appears in 6 games, winning 2 while notching an 0.87 ERA. Series heroes Bevens, Gionfriddo, and Lavagetto will not play another ML game. » May 7, 1948: At Chicago, the Dodgers use eight hits, three errors and one four walks to subdue to Cubs, 9–5. Preston Ward's bases loaded triple off Ralph Hamner following three walks is the key blow. Hugh Casey wins with five innings of shutout relief. » July 3, 1951: Former Dodger pitcher Hugh Casey, 37, kills himself with a shotgun blast to the neck.