The 5'6" Gionfriddo pressed the best accomplishments of his career into the 1947 Dodger-Yankee World Series. In Game Four, he walked and scored on Cookie Lavagetto's two-run, ninth-inning single, the only hit off the Yankees' Bill Bevens. In Game Six, Gionfriddo went "back, back, back" (as called by announcer Red Barber) to make a crucial, one-handed catch of Joe DiMaggio's 415-foot shot. After the Series, neither Gionfriddo, Bevens, nor Lavagetto played another ML game. (ME)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»May 3, 1947:
The Dodgers ship pitchers Hank Behrman, Cal McLish and Kirby Higbe, and minor leaguers Gene Mauch and C Dixie Howell to the Pirates for OF Al Gionfriddo and $100,000. Behrman, with no appearances for Brooklyn this year will go 0-2 before the Bucs send him back to Brooklyn on June 14.
»June 22, 1947:
Ewell Blackwell just misses pitching back-to-back no-hitters when Eddie Stanky of the Brooklyn Dodgers singles with one out in the ninth inning. Blackwell then gets Al Gionfriddo before Jackie Robinson bangs out a second single. Blackwell wins 4-0, his ninth straight win to improve to 11-2. Stanky's hit ends Blackwell's hitless-inning skein at 19.
»October 5, 1947:
CF Al Gionfriddo's magnificent catch takes
a HR away from Joe DiMaggio, which would have tied
the 6th game of the WS at Yankee Stadium. The Brooklyn
Dodgers go on to win 8-6. There is another WS
attendance record, with a crowd of 74,065 on hand
to watch the game.
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