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#5905C: BROOKLYN DODGERS VS NEW YORK GIANTS BASEBALL GAME (1950)

1950-04-22, MGM, min.

       Brooklyn Dodgers - 7 New York Giants 6  
From Ebbets Field the fourth game of the 1950 season, and the first regularly scheduled Brooklyn Dodger game to be Nationally broadcast.
Highlights include first Black Pitcher in Major League history, Dan Bankhead, starting the game for the Brooklyn Dodgers who hits a double in his first time at bat. Gil Hodges hits a home-run. 

Calling the play by play on this radio broadcast are Red Barber and Connie Desmond.

#5898B: NEW YORK GIANTS VS BROOKLYN DODGERS: GAME 3 PLAYOFFS (1951)

Order

1951-10-03, WMCA, 34 min.

Recorded coverage beginning in the last of the ninth inning, with the New York Giants Whitey Lockman at bat; the score 4 to 2 Brooklyn. Announcer Russ Hodges calls the play by play, as Bobby Thomson hits a homerun ("The Shot heard Round the World"), winning the best two out of three playoff series (the FIRST nationally televised baseball series ever broadcast, coast to coast).

Wrap up of the game is heard by Bob Prince (baseball announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates 1948-1975), who attended the game and sat along side best friend Russ Hodges in the booth.

Post game clubhouse (New York Giants) interviews begin with Steve Ellis, Ernie Harwell and Russ Hodges behind the mike. Those interviewed, in a emotional celeritous Giant clubhouse, are Herman Franks, Alvin Dark, Larry Jansen, Eddie Stanky, Charlie Dressen, Ford Frick, Horace Stoneham, Bill Rigney, Hank Sims, Walter O'Malley, Bobby Thomson, Charley Finney, Jim Hearn, Eddie Bracket, Art Flynn, Leo Durocher, Chris Durocher (son), Willie Mays, Whitey Lockman, Sal Maglie, Monte Irvin Paul Richards, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Sheldon Jones and Willard Marshall.

NOTE:
In addition to NBC's TV crew, six radio networks set up shop in the press box attached to the underside of the upper deck.

• Russ Hodges did the Giants' broadcast solo because NBC hired his partner, Ernie Harwell, to handle their telecast. Hodges's friend Bob Prince, the Pirates' announcer, sat next to him as a guest, and filled in for Hodges and Harwell in the celebratory New York Giant’s locker room after the game ended with a wrap up summary prior to the beginning of the many interviews that would follow and captured on audio.

• Red Barber and Connie Desmond would, as usual, call the game for the Dodgers (WMGM).

• The Liberty Broadcasting Network, which recreated most of its baseball and football broadcasts from its studio in Dallas, sent "The Old Scotsman" Gordon McLendon to call the game live. His broadcast is the only one that survives as complete, on audio tape.

• Al Helfer reported the action on the Mutual Broadcasting System, largest in the nation.

• Harry Caray of the Cardinals broadcast the game for a group of Midwest stations.

• Buck Canel and Felo Ramirez did the Spanish broadcast for Latin America.

Russ Hodges: “The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck of the left-field The Giants win the pennant! And they’re going crazy! They are going crazy! Oh-oh!”

“Everybody remembers it now,” said Bobby Thomson. “But you have to understand the feeling between those teams. I didn’t think of the pennant — only that we beat the Dodgers.”

Hodges: “I don’t believe it! I do not believe it! Bobby Thomson hit a line drive into the lower deck of the leftfield stands, and the whole place is going crazy! The Giants Horace Stoneham is now a winner. The Giants won it by a score of 5 to 4, and they’re picking Bobby Thomson up and carrying him off the field!”

NOTE:
Before videotape (1956/1957), to reproduce a television broadcasts, as it aired live, a film camera had to film (usually on black & white 16mm Kodak reversal film stock) a TV screen to monitor and record a copy of a broadcast, a process called kinescoping. “Kinescopes were fuzzy and extremely bulky, a costly to accomplish, so the networks of the 1950s saved almost nothing. Few professionals and lay persons even had a radio reel-to-reel recorder (sold commercially only a few years before) which were hard to carry around, expensive to purchase as well as the cost incurred to purchase audio tape 1/4" reels, so the average person didn’t have one.
However, In Brooklyn, a restaurant waiter Laurence Goldberg did own one. Goldberg was a New York Giant fan from the time he was 8 years old. Having to leave for work in Manhattan, he instructed his mother, Sylvia, who knew little about baseball, to hit the “record” button in the bottom of the ninth which she did, with one out and Whitey Lockman at bat, the score now 4 to 2 Brooklyn.
Lockman doubles. The Giants now have men on second and third base. Bobby Thomson comes to the plate, and the rest is history!

The next day, Larry Goldberg wrote a letter to Russ Hodges about his tape recording, which was not recorded my WMCA radio, or it turns out to be by anyone else (similar to the scenario of Phil Gries' solo home audio tape recording of Don Pardo announcing, over NBC TV, the first bulletins of the JFK assassination, eight years later). Russ Hodges sent Goldberg $10 to use his borrowed copy to record a 1951 Christmas gift for friends. During the fall of 1952 sponsor Chesterfield cigarettes released a record of “the most exciting moment in baseball history, including that famous Bobby Thomson homerun.”

NOTE:
The National Recording Registry chose announcer Russ Hodges’ call of the 1951 National League tiebreaker between the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers for inclusion in their archive of iconic American sounds.
Courtesy National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Why so memorable:
Russ Hodges’ “The Shot Heard ’Round the World?”

At the time, Dodgers-Giants forged sport’s greatest rivalry, yearly playing 22 games against each other, radio, and TV broadcasting through The City. America was the world’s post-war colossus, perhaps baseball never meaning more. What made the moment wonderwork was the Giants announcer’s call.
On August 13, Brooklyn led the National League by 13 and 1/2 games. By September 20 the Giants trailed by 6 with 7 left. The Dodgers fell behind, 6-1, rallying to win, 9-8, in 14 innings. Next day the best-of-three NL playoff began: “a world,” said Russ, “focused on our rivalry.” Even the Voice of the American League Yankees was transfixed. “Think of it,” said Voice Mel Allen. “Three New York teams out of the big leagues’ 16 remain. One’s already in the Series [his], the other two tied.” For years a red-blooded American could recite the script by rote. It is easy to see why.

The NL playoff became the then most widely aired event in radio and TV history. Seven networks, five of them radio, did at least one game: the Mutual and Liberty Broadcasting system with announcer Gordon McClendon, Dodgers’ radio WMGM and Brooklyn Dodgers’ Re-created Network(s); Giants’ WMCA Radio; and CBS TV—the latter airing the first coast-to-coast network sports telecast for game one of the playoffs (October 1st), with Red Barber doing the play by play. With the playoff series moving the following day to the Giants’ home park, the Polo Grounds, NBC TV moved in to pick up the rights, negotiating directly with WPIX, New York, which had carried the Giant’s home schedule all year. CBS TV held on to westbound relay until 3 pm and NBC broadcast the game from 3:00pm to conclusion. It was necessary for the two networks to swap time each day to permit their carrying the full game which started at 1:30pm.

On October 3, 1951 Ernie Harwell did play by play on NBC TV which to this day has never been archived in any manner.

Only four years earlier Americans had owned 17,000 TV sets v. 58 million radios. By 1951 video had become an irresistible object. Radio was the immovable object, some feeling TV cursory. Such a schism towered as Russ and Ernie “tossed a coin [about a possible Game Three],” Harwell laughed. When Ernie got TV, he joked, “I felt sympathy for ‘Ole’ Russ. All these radio networks and I was gonna’ be on TV, and I thought that I had the plum assignment.” New York won the opener, 3-1. Next day changed place (Polo Grounds) and outcome (Dodgers win 10-0). His plum then spoiled.
The night before the final, Hodges stayed awake gargling. Worse, to test his voice, he kept talking into a microphone at home, hurting his throat. Next day, at 3:48 P.M., Ralph Branca threw a two-on one-out ninth-inning 0 & 1 pitch with Brooklyn up, 4-2.

“There’s a long drive!” WMCA’s Russ began. “It’s going to be, I believe! … The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck of the leftfield stands! The Giants win the pennant! And they’re going crazy! They are going crazy! Oh-oh! The Giants . . . have won it by a score of 5 to 4, and they’re picking Bobby Thomson up and carrying him off the field. I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it! I do not believe it. Bobby Thomson hit a line drive into the lower deck of the leftfield stands, and the whole place is going crazy!”

NOTE: This broadcast moment is one of the greatest broadcasts ever aired on radio or television. And That's the Way it Was, October 3rd, 1951.

This remastered 34-minute retrospective was remastered by Phil Gries. It is the most complete audio extant and available representing this radio broadcast.

#5905B: BROOKLYN DODGERS VS NEW YORK GIANTS BASEBALL PLAYOFF GAME 3 (1951)

Order

1951-10-03, WCFL, 132 min.

The Liberty Network, WCFL, Chicago aircheck. 
The National League Championship game number three,  that included the famous game-ending home run by Bobby Thompson ("The Shot Heard Round the World"). 

This radio broadcast is actually a re-creation, using data about the game sent in by wire. The announcer is Gordon McLendon, who owned the Liberty Network.

#5898A: WORLD SERIES (1951) NEW YORK GIANTS VS NEW YORK YANKEES

Order

1951-10-04, MBS, 95 min.

The 1951 World Series matched the two-time defending champion New York Yankees against the New York Giants, who had won the National League pennant in a thrilling three-game playoff with the Brooklyn Dodgers on the legendary home run by Bobby Thomson (the Shot Heard 'Round the World).

In the Series, the Yankees showed some power of their own, including Gil McDougald's grand slam home run in Game 5, at the Polo Grounds. The Yankees won the Series in six games, for their third straight title and 14th overall. This would be the last World Series for Joe DiMaggio, who retired afterward, and the first for rookies Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle.

This was the last Subway Series the Giants played in. Both teams would meet again eleven years later after the Giants relocated to San Francisco. They have not played a World Series against each other since. This was the first World Series announced by Bob Sheppard, who was in his first year as Yankee Stadium's public address announcer. It was also the first World Series to be televised exclusively by one network (NBC) as well as the first to be televised nationwide, as coaxial cable had recently linked both coasts.

Rare highlights of game one, five, and six of the 1951 World Series broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System radio network.

Game One - The opening with commentator Al Helfer who for the first seven minutes mentions multiple times yesterday's historic Bobby Thomson winning home run against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Helfer states the opening line-up for both teams.

Mel Allen is heard doing the play-by-play during an historic first inning which includes Monte Irvin's steal of home, only the fourth time successfully executed in World Series history, last done by Bob Meusel thirty years ago in 1921. This game is notable for rookie Yankee Mickey Mantle who is lead-off hitter for the New York Yankees.
We hear highlights during the bottom of the Yankee second inning which includes Gil McDougald's first World Series hit (double).
Al Helfer does the play-by-play in the top of the Giant sixth inning which includes a home run by Alvin Dark and Monte Irvin's fourth consecutive hit in the game.

Highlights of game five. Al Helfer states the opening line-ups for both teams. Mel Allen does the play-by-play for the top of the Yankees' first inning, and top of the Yankees' third inning which includes Gil McDougald hitting only the third Grand Slam in World Series history. Also heard is Phil Rizzuto hitting a home run in the top of the fourth inning and Joe DiMaggio doubling in the top of the seventh inning, playing the next to last game in his career (1936-1951).
Mel Allen recaps game five's 13 to 1 Yankee massacre of the 1951 World Series.

Game six opening with Mel Allen stating the line-ups for both teams.
Al Helfer does the play-by-play for the bottom of the Yankee first inning. Brief play-by-play in the Giant top of the fifth inning with Willie Mays singling. Mel Allen calls the ninth inning which is a nail bitter as the New York Giants load the bases with no outs, trailing 4 to 1. After the Giants close within one run with the potential tying run on second base, a racing Hank Bauer makes a sensational sliding catch by pinch hitter Sal Yvars to end the game giving the New York Yankees their fourteenth World Championship.

The 1951 season has been referred to as "The Season of Change" as it witnessed the departure of several of the games veteran superstars and the introduction of a new generation of talent. Several new rookies on the scene including a young 19-year-old switch hitter named Mickey Mantle and a phenomenal 20-year-old outfielder named Willie Mays begin their historic careers.

NOTE: These rare sound tracks were discovered at WOR radio station in the 1960's. They were on multiple 16" Electronic Transmission discs. Each side of one disc contained 15 minutes of audio. This 95-minute compilation of broadcast audio highlights of the 1951 World Series is all that exists of this classic World Series broadcast.

#11075: NEW YORK GIANTS VS PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Order

1957-09-29, WPIX, 22 min.

The final New York Giant Baseball Game played in New York at the Polo Grounds by the New York Giant baseball team.

The Giants moved into the Polo Grounds in 1891. After today's final game they will be leaving many memories, mourners and an empty baseball park behind.

Radio came to the Giants in 1939. Television's first full season came in 1948. Steve Ellis called the shots that first TV season over the NBC network. In 1949 WPIX, with Russ Hodges and Al Helfer, at the mikes took over the telecasting, providing memorable play by play moments including those by Willie Mays and the most audacious New York Giant recording of them all, by Hodges, of the National League Winning home run by Bobby Thomson in 1951.

In what is considered the only known WPIX TV video or audio opening of a regularly scheduled New York Giant game we hear the theme music and opening by broadcaster, in the booth, Jim Woods, who reminds the viewers that the ballgame is coming to them by Knickerbocker Beer and Pall Mall cigarettes. We hear George Levy New York Giant public address announcer naming today's line-up in the background.

Announcer, Jim Woods, states that manager Bill Rigney wants to pack the Giant line-up with as many 1954 New York Giant players as possible, including catcher Wes Westrum who hasn't started a game in quite some time.

NEW YORK GIANTS STARTING LINE-UP

1B - Danny O'Connell
RF - Don Mueller
CF - Willie Mays
LF - Dusty Rhodes

3B - Bobby Thomson (traded by the Giants in 1954 and returning
for one more half season in 1957)

1B - Whitey Lockman
SS - Daryl Spencer
C - Wes Westrum
P - Johnny Antonelli

After announcing the first lead off hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates we segue to the bottom of the ninth inning, Giants losing 9 to 1. Bob Delaney does play by play. Don Meuller flies out. Willie Mays gets a resounding standing ovation (banging on the roof of the Giant dugout can be heard. Willie makes out ending his 1957 season with a .333 batting average. The final New York Giant out at the Polo Grounds is made by Dusty Rhodes.

NOTE: In 2014 a version of this tape was presented in person by Phil Gries to the daughter of Dusty Rhodes and to a friend of Willie Mays, to be given to him.

We hear announcer Russ Hodges, from the center field New York Giant clubhouse reminiscing about past Giant teams who played at the Polo Grounds (1942, 1944, 1946, 1951, 1954).
Giant fans surround him and chant "Stay team stay."

Hodges interviews manager Bill Rigney from his New York Giant Clubhouse Office. He states that today is a sad day.
He discuses plans for managing the 1958 San Francisco Giants.

Russ Hodges interviews former NY Giant players, including Hans Lobert who began his baseball career in 1903 playing for the Giants from 1915-1917, Red Murray who played with the Giants from 1909-1914, Sid Gordon who retired as a Giant during the middle of last season, Buddy Kerr great short stop for the New York Giants over a period of six years during the 1940's, and Eddie Brannick who joined the New York Giant organization in 1905 as an office boy working his way up to Club Secretary / Office manager, remaining with the club for a total of 65 years.

Russ Hodges becomes poetic reading a verse he has written about the departure of the New York Giants form New York.

Russ Hodges and Bob Delaney sign off.
THE END OF AN ERA

Duplicate of #13222A.

#13222A: NEW YORK GIANTS VS PITTSBURGH PIRATES