Tuesday, October 27, 2009

1951 Bowman #148 Granny Hamner

1950 World Series Game 3 - October 6
Yankees 3, Phillies 2

The Phillies dropped their third straight 1-run game as the 1950 World Series shifted to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Despite having won only three games all season, lefty Ken Heintzelman was selected to start Game 3 for the Whiz Kids. He pitched into the 8th inning, allowing one earned run. Unfortunately, and before it was fashionable to call it a "walk-off," Yankees second baseman Jerry Coleman drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th with a fly ball hit over the head of outfielder Richie Ashburn. Phillies pitcher Russ Meyer, normally a starter, took the loss in relief.

Granny Hamner showed the first signs of life within the Phillies' line-up, going 3 for 4 with a double and a run scored. However it was Granny's glove that was a crucial factor in this loss and not his bat. The Yankees tied the game in the bottom of the 8th when the Phillies shortstop couldn't handle an easy ground ball, allowing Jerry Coleman to score the tying run. Had Granny been able to make the play, the Phillies would have been out of the inning, maintaining a 1-run lead. As it was, the crucial error led to a 3-0 Yankees lead in the series.

Random Aside: In reading about the 1950 World Series, I'm seeing Jerry Coleman's name all over the place. On a Yankees team dominated by big-name players such as DiMaggio, Berra, Mize, Ford, Rizzuto and Bauer, it's Jerry Coleman whose name comes up time and time again in the game summaries.

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