Pitching to the Pennant Joseph Wancho
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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln University of Nebraska Press -- Sample Books and University of Nebraska Press Chapters 2014 Pitching to the Pennant Joseph Wancho Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/unpresssamples Wancho, Joseph, "Pitching to the Pennant" (2014). University of Nebraska Press -- Sample Books and Chapters. 260. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/unpresssamples/260 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University of Nebraska Press at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Nebraska Press -- Sample Books and Chapters by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Pitching to the Pennant Buy the Book Memorable Teams in Baseball History Buy the Book Pitching to the Pennant The 1954 Cleveland Indians Edited by Joseph Wancho Associate Editors: Rick Huhn, Leonard Levin, Bill Nowlin, and Steve Johnson Published by the University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln and London, and the Society for American Baseball Research Buy the Book © 2014 by the Society for American Baseball Research All photographs are courtesy of the Cleveland Public Library Photo- graph Collection unless otherwise indicated. Player statistics courtesy of Baseball- Reference.com and Retrosheet. All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data Pitching to the pennant : the 1954 Cleveland Indians / edited by Joseph Wancho ; associate editors, Rick Huhn, Leonard Levin, Bill Nowlin, and Steve Johnson. pages cm. — (Memorable teams in baseball history) isbn 978- 0- 8032- 4587- 7 (pbk.)— isbn 978- 0- 8032- 5472- 5 (epub)— isbn 978- 0- 8032- 5473- 2 (mobi) 1. Cleveland Indians (Baseball team)— History— 20th century. 2. World Series (Baseball) (1954) I. Wancho, Joseph. gv875.c7p568 2014 796.357'64097713209045— dc23 2013041972 Set in Sabon by Laura Wellington. Buy the Book Contents Acknowledgments . vii 16. Larry Doby . 78 Introduction . ix John McMurray Joseph Wancho 17. George Strickland . 83 1. Hank Greenberg . 1 Mel Marmer Ralph Berger 18. Cleveland Stadium (1932– 96) . 88 2. Al Lopez . 11 Tom Wancho Maxwell Kates 19. Jim Hegan . 92 3. Tony Cuccinello . 18 Rick Balazs Barb Mantegani 20. Timeline, May 17– May 31 . 97 4. Mel Harder . 21 Joseph Wancho Mark Stewart 21. Dave Philley . 99 5. Red Kress . 29 Cort Vitty Chris Rainey 22. Bob Lemon . 103 Jon Barnes 6. Bill Lobe . 35 23. Rudy Regalado . 110 Joseph Wancho Steve Johnson 7. A Seven- Year- Old’s Perspective 24. Ray Narleski . 116 on the 1954 Indians . 37 Joseph Wancho David Bohmer 25. Timeline, June 1– June 15 . 121 8. Timeline, April 13– April 30 . 39 Joseph Wancho Joseph Wancho 26. Sam Dente . 123 9. Bob Feller . 41 Jack Morris C. Paul Rogers III 27. 1954 Cleveland Indians 10. Dave Hoskins . 51 by the Numbers . 130 John Watkins Dan Fields 11. Don Mossi . 55 28. Jim Dyck . 134 Mark Stewart Greg Erion 12. Hank Majeski . 62 29. Bob Chakales . 141 Mark Hodermarsky Bill Nowlin 13. Dale Mitchell . 65 30. Timeline, June 16– June 30 . 152 Scott Longert Joseph Wancho 14. Mike Garcia . 71 31. Al Rosen . 154 Warren Corbett Ralph Berger 15. Timeline, May 1– May 16 . 76 32. Wally Westlake . 159 Joseph Wancho Bob Hurte Buy the Book 33. Dick Tomanek . 166 49. Bobby Avila . 239 Thomas Ayers John Stahl 34. Dave Pope . 170 50. Joe Ginsberg . 244 Tom Heinlein Mel Marmer 35. Timeline, July 1– July 13 . 175 51. Timeline, August 17– August 31 . 248 Joseph Wancho Joseph Wancho 36. Luke Easter . 177 52. Cleveland Indians World Championships, Justin Murphy 1920 and 1948 . 250 37. Early Wynn . 185 Joseph Wancho David L. Fleitz 53. Rocky Nelson . 257 38. Hal Naragon . 189 David L. Fleitz Tracy J. R. Collins 54. Art Houtteman . 262 39. 1954 All- Star Game . 194 Warren Corbett Rick Huhn 55. Bob Hooper . 267 40. Timeline, July 15– July 31 . 200 Joseph Wancho Joseph Wancho 56. Timeline, September 1– September 14 . 270 41. Al Smith . 202 Joseph Wancho Gary Livacari 57. Ken Coleman . 272 42. Vic Wertz . 206 Curt Smith Mark Armour 58. Jim Britt . 279 43. Hal Newhouser . 211 Mort Bloomberg Mark Stewart 44. Bill Glynn . 221 59. Jimmy Dudley . 283 Richard Marsh Joseph Wancho 45. Timeline, August 1– August 15 . 225 60. Timeline, September 17– September 26 . 286 Joseph Wancho Joseph Wancho 46. José G. Santiago Guzmán . 227 61. 1954 World Series . 287 Edwin Fernández Jeanne M. Mallett 47. Bob Kennedy . 230 62. A Day in the Grandstand . 297 Philip A. Cola Matthew Silverman 48. Mickey Grasso . 234 Notes and References . 303 Cort Vitty Contributors . 335 Buy the Book Acknowledgments Pitching to the Pennant was created as the result of A big thanks goes to the respective photo depart- a discussion between Steve Johnson, Rick Huhn, ments of the Cleveland Public Library and Cleve- and me at the Seymour Medal Conference in April land State University Library. They were both very 2009. It was my good fortune that Steve and Rick helpful in the search for photos, pulling endless pho- joined me in this project, because their willingness to files of every player and coach. The Photo Dupli- to share the workload made the task so much eas- cation Department at cpl was very efficient plac- ier. Not only did they each contribute an article to ing the photos onto cds and explaining the billing the book, but they also undertook some of the ed- and crediting process. Special thanks to both Greg iting responsibilities. Steve also assisted with pho- Crouse and Patricia Rzonca. Greg jumped in and to identification and selection. They both helped lent a hand with the fact- checking when we need- fact- check, with Rick undertaking the majority of ed an extra eye. Patricia provided a pair of fresh the bios and articles. eyes, proofreading the manuscript as it made a fi- Bill Nowlin and Len Levin proofread every ar- nal pass. Finally, a tip of the Chief Wahoo cap goes ticle in the book, each offering sound editing cri- to Mark Armour, Chairman of sabr’s Bio Project tique. Bill, who has been at the helm of many sabr Committee. His advice and general support of the Bio Project books, was kind enough to draw from project was of great value. those experiences and share his ideas with me. He Last but not least, as the phrase goes, my thanks was always willing to help whenever I asked. Len to the many sabr members who contributed to is the most prolific editor for the Bio Project, with the project by writing a bio or an article. It is their more than 600 bios to his credit. His patience and work that makes this book such a wonderful final willingness to help at a moment’s notice was ap- product. To have so many talented authors come preciated. together between the covers of one book is truly It was good timing that the project was far enough amazing. They volunteered their time, and I am along when sabr and University of Nebraska Press indebted to them. It was my pleasure to work with (unp) announced their partnership to create the each individual. Memorable Teams in Baseball History series. Mark Armour and Bill Nowlin worked with unp on which books were to be included, and Pitching to the Pen- nant was accepted as one of the original six books for the series. Rob Taylor and Courtney Ochsner of unp made this first-time editor’s experience a rea- sonably enjoyable one. vii Buy the Book Buy the Book Introduction Joseph Wancho In Cleveland, Ohio, we have suffered mightily be- games, but after the lid- lifter, the Giants washed the cause of our sports teams. If one were to combine starch out of Cleveland. the city’s losing seasons from the last world cham- The Indians fielded a handful of competitive pionship (the Browns football team in 1964), the teams— a child’s handful—over the next three de- total would be 138 seasons. That’s a lot of inept- cades, and it would be forty- one years before a ness, bad luck, embarrassment, and just plain los- pennant- winning flag fluttered in the wind above ing. It always makes me wince when I hear Cubs the ballpark. They were forty- one long and almost fans bemoaning their team’s misfortune. Try a laughable years. “Stressful” would not even be a whole city losing and get back to me. proper adjective when describing these four decades, Because of this, we Clevelanders have taken to since after sellout crowds in cavernous Cleveland naming the failures of our sports teams. Most Cleve- Stadium for Opening Day, crowds rarely approached land sports fans can tell you where they were or twenty thousand unless there was a promotion like whom they were with when “The Drive,” “The Fum- Farmer’s Night or fireworks on the Fourth of July. ble,” “The Shot,” “Red Right 88,” “The Sweep,” Cleveland is a football town. Ohio is a football and “The Meltdown” occurred. That last reference state. That’s just the way things are. From high school is to Game Seven of the 1997 World Series. When football games on crisp, cool Friday nights to “Script asked how long it has taken him to get over that Ohio” and the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday af- loss, former Indians manager Mike Hargrove still ternoons, to the Cleveland Browns on Sundays. In replies, “I will let you know.” 1954, while the Indians’ hopes were squashed by the Before all of these heartbreaks occurred, a differ- Giants, the Browns claimed the nfl championship ent generation of fans suffered from the result of the with a 56– 10 victory over Detroit.