Books and articles about Howie Pollet

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Pollet came up through the Cardinals' farm system, going 20-3 for Houston (Texas League) in his final minor league season. He was 8-4 after 14 starts in 1943, then departed for WWII, but his 1.75 ERA that year still led the league. Pollett returned in 1946 and picked up where he had left off. He led the NL with 21 wins and a 2.10 ERA, helping the Cardinals to the pennant. In the WS against the Red Sox he got no decision in two starts, but St. Louis won in seven games. Pollett faltered in 1947-48, but rebounded in 1949 with a 20-9 record and a 2.77 ERA, and he led the NL with five shutouts. His effectiveness diminished thereafter, and from 1951 to 1956 he changed teams four times. He pitched mostly in relief in his final two seasons. (SOM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 18, 1943: The Cardinals clinch the NL pennant. Howie Pollet, Max Lanier, and Mort Cooper will rank 1-2-3 in NL ERA, and Al Brazle at 1.53 and Harry Brecheen at 2.27 are near the same level. For hitting, Redbirds prime with George Kurowski, Walker Cooper, and Stan Musial, who in his 2nd season hits .357 and has 220 hits, 347 total bases, 48 doubles, 20 triples. » May 15, 1946: Fireworks occur as Brooklyn starter Les Webber brushes back Enos Slaughter in the first inning, but the Cardinal outfielder retaliates by bunting up the 1B line and flattening Webber as he tries to field the bunt. Slaughter then silences the fans with two catches in the first inning and a throw to double off Furillo. The Cards move into first place by edging the Dodgers, 1–0, behind Howie Pollet. » October 1, 1946: In the first ever National League playoff before 26,012 at Ebbets Field the Dodgers manage just three hits off Howie Pollet and lose 4–2. Joe Garagiola's three hits pace the Cardinals as they beat Ralph Branca. » October 6, 1946: The World Series opens with a Red Sox 3–2 win as Rudy York hits a 10th-inning home run off Howie Pollet. The Sox tie the game in the 9th when an easy grounder to Marty Marion takes a freak bounce and goes through his legs. » April 20, 1947: At St. Louis, Bill Nicholson clubs two homers, including a slam, and drives in six runs to lead the Cubs, 7–4, over the Cards. Swish's first RBI comes in the first inning when he's hit by a Howie Pollet pitch with the bases loaded. His slam in the 5th finishes Pollet's pitching. Johnny Schmitz is the winner. » May 20, 1948: Stan Musial and the Cards continue slugging the Dodgers, winning 13–4, as The Man has four hits, including a home run and two doubles. Musial is 11-for-15 in the series. Enos Slaughter chips in three hits as Howie Pollet wins over Joe Hatten. » May 7, 1950: The Cards humble the Braves 15–0 behind Howie Pollet's 4-hitter. Enos Slaughter had a triple and three singles to drive in four runs. » June 15, 1951: Pittsburgh sends Cliff "no hit" Chambers and OF Wally Westlake to the Cards for C Joe Garagiola, P Howie Pollet, P Ted Wilks, OF Bill Howerton, and 2B Dick Cole. » August 26, 1951: The Pirates club the Dodgers, 12–11 to win the opener of two with the league leaders. Brooklyn chases Howie Pollet and takes a 9–2 lead but the Bucs roar back with eight runs in the 7th inning. Clyde King, unscored on in his last eight games, is the loser. The Dodgers load the bases in the 9th, and Murry Dickson walks pinch-hitter Cal Abrams to force in a run and make the score 12–11. But Carl Furillo and Pee Wee Reese fail to deliver. Pete Castiglione has two homers for the Pirates. Brooklyn wins the second game, 4–3, when Jackie Robinson homers in the 10th, off Ted Wilks. Andy Pafko homers in the 8th, off Bob Friend, and Preacher Roe (17-2) goes all the way. » August 28, 1951: At the Polo Grounds, the Pirates Howie Pollet (5-14) shuts out the Giants 2–0 on six hits—3 by Thomson—to end New York's 16-game winning streak, best in the National League since 1935. Errors in the 8th by Stanky and Mueller do in Sheldon Jones. » September 16, 1951: The visiting—and rampaging—Giants sweep the Pirates, 7–1 and 6–4. Larry Jansen wins his 19th and Sal Maglie collects his 23rd. It is Maglie's 11th straight win over the Bucs. The Giants collect 29 hits in the two games, including six by Al Dark, in handing losses to Howie Pollet and reliever Murry Dickson. The Dodger lead of four 1/2 is their slimmest since July 4th. » June 4, 1953: Pittsburgh trades OF Ralph Kiner, along with C Joe Garagiola, P Howie Pollet, and OF Catfish Metkovich to Chicago (NL) for C Toby Atwell, P Bob Schultz, 1B Preston Ward, 3B George Freese, OF Bob Addis, OF Gene Hermanski, and $150,000. » May 30, 1955: Cubs rookie slugger Bob Speake homers in both games of a doubleheader against the Cards to finish the month with 10 homers. His homer breaks a 3-3 tie in the 11th inning of the nightcap to help the Cubs sweep in St. Louis, 9–5 (10) and 4–3 (11). Paul Minner and Howie Pollet are the winners for Chicago, while Brooks Lawrence and Bobby Tiefenauer take the losses. Speake will hit just two more homers the rest of the season. In game 2, the Cards get stopped in the 9th by an interference call. Wally Moon attempts to steal 3B but C Harry Chiti's throw hits the bat of Red Schoendienst. Red is called out and Moon must return to 2B. Stan Musial then grounds out.