Baseball 1942-1960

[Wolf Hopper]

What are the most significant baseball stories - on the field and off - regular season, post-season, and off-season - for this period, in your opinion?

[sarichef]

It has to be the Brooklyn Dogers. The perennial disappointments, to the Yankees (post season) and the Giants and Phillies (regular season), Ebbets Field, the personalities of the players, the signings of Robinson, Campy, Newk and Black, 1955!!!! and the ultimate disaster (to a 12 year old fan) --- leaving Brooklyn forever.

[zoste]

Hard to argue with that - Robinson

[sweaver]

1. Breaking of the color line--black players remake the game.
2. WW II
3. Dodgers' dynasty begins.
4. Browns win the pennant!
5. Yankees win five in a row.
6. Willie, Mickey and the Duke.
7. New York the center of the baseball world--and for awhile, nothing else much going on.
8. Braves emerge, but can't rise to the level of dynasty
9. Maz!

[pwdennis]

1. WW2
2. Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby break the color line
3. Bill Veeck
4. Migrating frannchises - the Braves to Milwaukee, the Browns to Baltimore
5. Baseball becomes national - teams on the west coast
6. The return of the running game - Aparicio and the Go-Go White Sox, a harbinger of the deadball 60s

[manny tortolero]

1.- Breaking the barrier of color
2.- Baseball in California
3.- Three of a perfect pair: Dodgers, Giants and Yankees.
4.- Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Ted Williams

[KCBOOMER]

1. Breaking the Color Barrier
2. The War Years
3. The Relocation of Franchises

[Wolf Hopper]

Here's my list - but, I keep thinking that I'm missing a lot:

Two All-Star Games
The Integration of the Game
The Mexican League
Game 7 1946 World Series
Pennant Races of 1949
Eddie Gaedel
Shot Heard Round The World
MLBPA Established
Mays Catch 1954 World Series
Amoros Catch 1955 World Series
Don Larsen Perfect Game
Dodgers and Giants Move West
The Continental League
Maz HR - Game 7 of 1960 World Series

[manny tortolero]

» May 26, 1959: In a singular performance, Harvey Haddix of the Pirates pitches a perfect game against Milwaukee for 12 innings, only to lose in the 13th. Felix Mantilla opens the last inning by reaching base on an error. A sacrifice and an intentional walk to Hank Aaron brings up Joe Adcock, who hits one out of the park in right-CF for an apparent 3–0 victory. Aaron pulls a "Merkle," leaving the field, and Adcock passes him on the basepaths. Both are called out as Mantilla scores. Lew Burdette goes all 13 innings for his 8th win, scattering 12 hits. As a consequence of the baserunning in the 13th, the Braves leave an National League-record one runner on base. Haddix's gem makes him the 9th pitcher to lose a no-hitter in extra innings; A combined effort of three Reds pitcher, on May 26, 1956, was the last. Making Haddix's effort even more remarkable is the fact that the Braves hitter knew what was coming. In 1993, Bob Buhl admitted that the Braves pitchers were stealing the signs from Smoky Burgess, who could not crouch down all the way. They would place a towel on the bullpen fence in such a way to signal fastball or breaking ball.

[Wolf Hopper]

Agrred Manny - I missed that one!

[pwdennis]

Not sure that I agree with this as being of any particular significance.

I will say that the Kitten was a pretty good pitcher, often for undistinguished teams - I saw him a few times when he was with the O's in 64 & 65. I'veno idea why he didn't reach the bigs until he was 26

[LargeBill]

Ruth passes 16 August 1948
Larry Doby breaks AL color barrier. Less heralded but equally important.