Essegian, a member of Stanford's 1952 Rose Bowl team, is one of two players to hit
two pinch hit home runs in a World Series. In the 1959 WS, his sixth-inning pinch
homer tied Game Two for Los Angeles and the Dodgers went on to win. With the Dodgers
safely ahead in the sixth and final game, he batted for Duke Snider in the ninth
inning and homered again. Essegian added a postscript by pinch-homering on Opening
Day in 1960.
(RTM)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»October 8, 1959:
The Los Angeles Dodgers win 9-3 to take the series
in Chicago, again behind Sherry in relief of Johnny
Podres. The Dodgers have an 8-0 lead after 4
innings and hold on despite Ted Kluszewski's 3-run
HR. The round-tripper gives the slugger a new 6-game
RBI record of 10. Chuck Essegian hits his 2nd pinch
HR to establish a new record, later equalled by Bernie
Carbo of the Red Sox in 1975. Each Dodger receives
a record $11,231 winning share. The White Sox get
a record $7,275 for losing.
»April 12, 1960:
Chuck Essegian's 11th-inning pinch-hit home run beats the Cubs, 3–2, before a record Opening Day crowd (67,550) at Los Angeles. The home run is Essegian's 3rd straight as a pinch hitter, including two in the 1959 World Series. Don Drysdale pitches all the way, striking out 14, for the win over Bob Elston.
»June 25, 1961: Vic Power is the base runner on 1B in the bottom of the 9th, when Chuck Essegian pinch-hits a single. Power, thinking it is a home run, waits to shake hands with Essegian, and is forced at 2B. Detroit and Jim Bunning win, 6–3, then Cleveland takes the nitecap, 4–3.
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