Books and articles about Max Surkont

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Surkont was signed at age 15 by the Cardinals (his "bonus" was a hotel meal of beans and frankfurters), but it took him 12 seasons to reach the majors. A regular starter with the Braves in the early 1950s, he had his only winning record for a complete ML season in 1953, when he was 11-5. On the night of May 25, 1953, the burly fastballer set a ML record (since broken) by striking out eight Cincinnati batters in a row, the last one after a 35-minute rain delay. (JM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 17, 1923: The Giants' George Kelly sets a major-league record by homering in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th against the Cubs Vic Aldridge as New York rolls to a 13–6 win. Kelly adds a single and double to run his total bases to 15 for the game. Kelly has now hit a record six homers off cousin Aldridge this year, a mark off one pitcher that will be tied by Ted Williams (in 1941, off Johnny Rigney) and Ted Kluszewski (in 1954, off Max Surkont). Kelly is the first player to homer in three successive innings. » 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. » May 18, 1951: Catcher Walker Cooper of the Braves goes 5-for-5 in a 12–3 route of the Pirates. Max Surkont (5–1) is the winner, scattering 10 hits and giving up late inning home runs to Ralph Kiner and Wally Westlake. » August 11, 1951: The Dodgers take the 1st of two games against the Braves, winning 8–1 behind Ralph Branca. Brooklyn now leads the National League by 13 1/2 games with 49 games to play. The Braves take the nitecap, 8–4, behind Max Surkont and a home run by Sid Gordon. With Red Barber and Connie Desmond making the calls, the doubleheader is the first ML game to be telecast in color. » September 7, 1951: Bobby Thomson goes 5-for-5 against the host Braves, as the Giants win 7–3. Larry Jansen is the winner, scattering 10 hits, over Max Surkont. Monte Irvin drives in the first three runs, hitting a homer estimated at 500 feet. He now has 101 RBIs. » April 13, 1953: In Cincinnati, over 30,000 see the Milwaukee Braves win their first game 2-0 behind Max Surkont. » May 25, 1953: Max Surkont of the Braves fans eight Reds in a row, establishing a new ML mark, as the Braves win 10–3 in game two of a doubleheader. Surkont strikes out seven in a row before rain delays the game and then he strikes out Andy Seminick to start the 5th. Surkont fans 13 on the way to his 6th straight win. The Braves take the opener, 5–1, behind Don Liddle. » December 28, 1953: Pittsburgh sends flashy infielder Danny O'Connell to Milwaukee for 3B Sid Gordon, OF Sam Jethroe, P Max Surkont, and minor league pitchers, Fred Waters, Curt Raydon, and Larry Lasalle. They also get $100,000 from the Braves. According to historian Sean Lahman, this is the only six-for-one trade in major league history and surpassed only by the 7-for-1 deal that will send Vida Blue from Oakland to San Francisco in 1978. » April 27, 1954: In a slugfest featuring back-to-back homers three times, the Reds edge the Pirates, 8–7. Ted Kluszewski bangs a pair of 2-run homers, both off cousin Max Surkont. Jim Greengrass follows Klu's first homer with one of his own. Toby Atwell and Jerry Lynch go back-to-back in both the 6th and 8th innings for the Buccos, the only Pirates to accomplish the feat in the 20th century. Corky Valentine, with relief help from Smith, gains his first ML victory. » April 22, 1955: Though the Dodgers take a 3-0 lead into the 8th, their streak ends as the Braves' Max Surkont beats Johnny Podres 5-4. Don Zimmer is called out at home on a squeeze play by Jackie Robinson that would have tied the game. » May 5, 1956: Pittsburgh trades righthander Max Surkont to the Cards for lefty Luis Arroyo.