Books and articles about Erv Palica

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Clem Labine said, "Erv probably had the best stuff of any pitcher that I've ever seen....But [manager] Charley [Dressen] challenged his guts once in the clubhouse in front of everybody...and he lost confidence entirely." (TG)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » August 1, 1950: The Dodgers complete a suspended game of June 24th with the Pirates, by scoring 2 more runs in the eighth to post a 21–12 win, outhitting the Pirates 25 to 8. Roe is the winner over Bill Werle. 12 extra base hits are made by the 2 teams, including 5 HRs. Jackie Robinson hits his second career grand slam as the Dodgers score 7 runs in both the third and eighth innings. In the regular contest, Erv Palica gives the Brooks a 3–1 win. » September 14, 1950: Pinch-hitter Ted Tappe homers in his first major-league at bat, off Erv Palica, but the Reds lose 6–2 to Brooklyn. Reds also drop the second game, 5–2. » September 16, 1950: At Ebbets Field, Reds rookie Ted Tappe pinch hits in the eighth and homers in his first major league at bat. The round tripper, off Erv Palica, helps cement a 6–3 win over Brooklyn. Tappe will hit four more homers, all as a member of the Cubs. » September 24, 1950: P Erv Palica of the Dodgers is the star today pitching a 2-hitter in an 11-0 win over Philadelphia, and hitting a fifth inning grand slam off Bubba Church of the Phils. The win cuts the Phillies’ lead to five games. The Phils will win two out of three in Boston to put the Braves out of the race. » September 30, 1950: Before 23,879 at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn pulls within one game of the lead, as Erv Palica wins 7–3 over the Phillies. The Brooks rout rookie Bob Miller and then Duke Snider and Roy Campanella pound homers off Jim Konstanty. It is the Phillies fifth loss in a row, their eighth in 10 games. The red-hot Dodgers have now won 13 of their last 16 games. For the second year in a row, the pennant race will come down to the last game. If the Dodgers win tomorrow, the race will end in a three-way tie. » May 13, 1951: The Dodgers spot the Braves six runs, then roar back to win, 12–6 and take over the National League lead. Erv Palica gives up just two hits over the last seven innings for his first win. Brooklyn scores five runs off Max Surkont in the 3rd and 4th innings, and Carl Furillo adds a three-run homer in the 5th off Dave Cole. » July 18, 1951: The Pirates Ralph Kiner drives in seven runs hitting three HRs, including his 10th grand slam, in a 13–12 slugfest win over the Dodgers. His final homer, a solo shot of Erv Palica in the eighth, breaks a 12–12 tie. Manager Chuck Dressen berates Palica, publicly questioning the pitcher's courage by clutching his throat in a choke signal. In Kiner's final at bat, in the ninth, Carl Furillo pulls down the sluggers long drive near the CF gate. Garagiola and Bell also homer for the Bucs, while Campanella and Robinson homer for Brooklyn. » August 14, 1951: In a night game at the Polo Grounds—the last of 14 night games this year—the Giants righty George Spencer beats the Dodgers, 4–2. Erv Palica takes the loss, as the Giants jump on him early. Al Dark doubles and comes home on Don Mueller's homer. An out later, Whitey Lockman homers and Palica doesn't make the 2nd inning. The Dodgers score in the 8th on successive homers by Cox and Snider. » August 27, 1951: "The two fine Italian arms of Branca and Furillo had a no-hitter running for eight innings" writes columnist Dick Young; in the 3rd inning Ralph Branca's no-hitter seems broken by a one-hop shot to RF by pitcher Mel Queen, but Carl Furillo guns him out at first. Branca, pitching on two days rest, finally gives up two Pirate hits in the 9th before winning, 5–0. In the nitecap the Pirates jump on Erv Palica for three runs in the first inning and hold on for a 5–3 win behind Bill Werle and Vern Law. Clyde McCullough is the "Big Un" with a two-run double and a two-run homer. The Pirates continue to be the only team with a season edge on the Dodgers. » December 13, 1954: The Dodgers shed part of an era, sending P Preacher Roe and 3B Billy Cox to Baltimore for two unknowns and cash. The O's will complete this deal next March by sending OF Frank Kellert to Brooklyn for P Erv Palica. » February 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.