Books and articles about Ziggy Sears

Thousands of youngsters were admitted free to the Polo Grounds on September 26, 1942, for making a scrap-metal contribution to the war effort. In the bottom of the eighth inning of the second game between the Braves and Giants, the kids overran the field. When order could not be restored, Sears forfeited the game to the Braves although the Giants were winning 5-2. As a result, Hall of Famer Warren Spahn's 1942 record shows no wins, no losses, but a complete game. Sears's son Ken caught for the Yankees and Browns in the 1940s. (RTM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 26, 1942: Youngsters, admitted free for bringing scrap metal to aid the war effort, get restless and invade the field at the Polo Grounds in the 8th inning of the 2nd game with the Giants leading 5-2. Umpire Ziggy Sears forfeits the game 9-0 to the Braves. Boston P Warren Spahn is not charged with a loss, although he was losing at the time of the forfeit. But he is given credit for a complete game, his only one in 4 appearances for the year. » April 17, 1945: Cincinnati opens the season with an 11-inning, 7–6 victory over the Pirates. The Reds offense was sparked by CF Dain Clay, who cracks a 5th inning grand slam: it will be his only home run this year in 645 at bats. Also in the 5th, with the Pirates leading 2–0 with two runners on, the Bucs runner at 2B, Frankie Zak, calls time to tie his shoe lace. The ump Ziggy Sears waves his arms, but Reds pitcher Bucky Walters doesn't see him and fires a pitch that Jim Russell hits for an apparent home run. The hit is disallowed, and the Bucs fail to score in the frame. Forty-six year old Hod Lisenbee, who had not appeared in the majors in nine years, works two innings of hitless relief to earn the win, the 37th and last of his career.