Thursday, October 18, Game One at the Polo Grounds
The Angels opened the scoring in the top of the second when Giant starter Johnny Antonelli walked three straight hitters to open the inning. A double play ball and a strikeout got him out the inning down 1-0. A one out single by Hank Sauer in the bottom of the second looked innocuous enough, but Gail Harris was then safe on shortstop Joe Koppe's error. Singles by Daryl Spencer and Valmy Thomas each drove home a run and then Danny O'Connell's single drove home two more. Don Mueller drove O'Connell home with a double and the Giants left the second leading 5-1. In the third Sauer was safe on second baseman Ken Aspromonte's error. He moved to third on Spencer's single and scored on a wild pitch. O'Connell walked with the bases loaded and Eli Grba's day was done. His team had not helped him much as 5 of the seven runs he gave up were unearned. Antonelli got the win (5-2, 3.33) and Grba took the loss (7-1, 2.79) Giants 8 Angels 2.Friday October 19 Game Two at the Polo Grounds.
In the bottom of the first, O'Connell walked and Mays singled. Rightfielder Albie Pearson misplayed the single and allowed O'Connell to reach third. From there, he scored on Mueller's ground out. The Giants added a run in the second on a solo homer by Valmy Thomas (3). In the sixth, Ken McBride led off with a walk. Two force outs at second later, Leon Wagner doubled home Rocky Bridges. Lee Thomas singled Wagner home and the game was tied. It remained that way until the 8th when Lee Thomas tripled and scored on Earl Averill's single. In the bottom of the 8th, pinch hitter Ray Jablonsky led off with a single. He moved to second on Red
Schoendienst's walk. O'Connell grounded out to move both runners up a base and cause Willie Mays to be intentionally walked. Mueller then drove a ball into medium deep right field and Jablonsky easily scored the tying run. In the bottom of the 10th, Willie Mays again walked. He stole second and came home on a two out double by Gail Harris. Al Worthington got the win (5-1, 2.51. Jack Spring took the loss (2-2, 0.61). The capacity crowd stood cheering for nearly twenty minutes after the game, wondering if they would ever see their beloved Giants play in the Polo Grounds as the home team again. Giants 4 Angels 3Sunday October 21 Game Three at LA Wrigley Field
The Angels returned home, hoping a change in scenery would mean a change in prospects. It was not to be. O'Connell doubled in the first, moved to third on Mays' single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jablonsky. In the bottom of the second, Mays was injured diving for a fly ball and had to be replaced by Bobby Thomson. Mays was hitting .306. Thomson entered the game batting .147. Nonetheless, when Thomson approached the plate with two on in the top of the third he must have thought it was 1951 because he erupted on a Tim Bowsfield pitch and hit his fourth homer in just 35 at bats (and six hits). Valmy Thomas later drove in a run with a single. Wagner doubled home a run in the bottom of the third to make the score 5-1. Wagner and Lee Thomas combined to drive in two more in the 7th but the angels could get no closer. Ruben Gomex took the win (4-3, 4.07) Bowsfield the loss (4-1, 2.78) Giants 7 Angels 3
Monday October 23, Game Four at LA Wrigley Field
The Angels struck first this time. Averill led off the second inning with a walk. After two were retired, pitcher Jim Donohue doubled him home. With two out in the top of the 4th, Mueller, Jablonsky and Sauer singled, producing a tying run. When Koppe bobbled Spencer's ground ball, the Giants took the lead. In the 6th, the Giants added two more when Valmy Thomas doubled home Sauer from first and took third on the throw home. He then scored on pitcher Ray Crone's groundout. Ken Hunt led off the 9th with his 6th homer but that was it for the Angels. Crone got the complete game win (4-2, 3.93) Ryne Duren took the loss (1-2, 3.32) Giants 4 Angels 2The Giants sweep through the playoffs and capture the KOD8 Championship.
--submitted by Tom Davis--
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