Evening star., 1951-10-04
Victory Criipp|es
Giants for Test
Against Yanks
Pitching Stoff Shot
And OutfieIder Hurt
In AII-Out Struggle
Later Story on Page ALL
By Burton Howkins
Stor Stoff Correspondent

Tor the flrSt time in baseball his.
tory it may become an anti
climactic event.
! The splendid second it required
for Bobby Thomson's dramatic
ninth-inning homer to soar from
his bat into the left-f1 stand.
yesterday at the Polo Grounds
delivering the National League
pennant to the New York Giants
seemingly had drained all emo
ton from fans.
Perhaps a situation could de.
Evelop in the World Series which
will recharge the emotional bat
teries, but with his tremendous
hit Thomson may have relegated
the series to an anti-climax. It
would strain the imagination OF
fine fiction writers to produce a
more exciting moment.
Team of Destiny.
The Giants are stamped as a
team uf destiny regardless of their
conduct in the series. They came
from 13Ha games back of the
Dodgers or August II to force
Brooklyn Into three-game play
off. And entering the ninth in
ming yesterday they apparently
were whipped, Al.
But they rebounded gloriously
to score four runs in the ninth,
with Thomson's three-run homer
providing an electrifying end to
possibly the most magnificent
comeback in sports annals. To
the 34.320 present and the mil
lions who heard it on radio or
saw j. on television, it will rank
as an unforgettable moment.
Still Thcmson's clout sent a
crippled club into the World
Series Only a moment before
he crashed the payoff blow of
Ralpl, Branca, Don Mueller was
carried from the field on a
stretcher with a sprained left
ankle and will be laid up at least
two o. three days.
Plan to Use Thompson.
So in rightfield today in the
opening game of the series at
Yankee Stadium. the Giants
planned to employ Hank Thomp-
son. an excellent defensive player
but a .235 hitter who would have
to improve on that average to be-
come a suitable replacement for
Mueller.
And. due to the all-out struggle
for the National League pennant,
the Giants pitching was shot.
Their top pitcher. Sal Maglie,
travelled eight innings yesterday.
Their second best, Larry Jansen,
came in for an inning - long
enough to be the winning pitcher.
Their third best, Jim Hearn,
warmed up in the bullpen for what
might have been his first relief
appearance of the season.
So the Giants today were re-
duced to starting Dave Koslo, a
left-hander with a 1919 record,
against the Yankees capable Allie
Reynolds. who pitched no-hit
games against the Indians and
Red Sox this year.
Sentiment With Giants.
The Yankees were favorites.
but sentiment will be riding with
the never-say-die Giants. The
Yankees are fresh. sitting it out
while the Giants and Dodgers
struggled down to the wire in a
dead heat, then clashed in a STIR
ring three-game playoff.
The Yankees clinched the Ameri-
can League pennant last Friday
and since have been concerned
only with. staying at their peak.
They have superb pitchers in
Reynolds, Vic Raschi and Ed Lo-
pat rested and ready to throw at
the gallant but handicapped
Giants.
The Giants rushed from an
emotional upheaval to a date with
what is supposed to be their big
moment. They weren't prepared.
BY all rights they should be weary.
Their pitching staff is not at top
form due to overwork and Mueller
will be missed.
But the Nations fans and the
Yankees-who sat behind the
press box upstairs-will not be in
clined to underestimate the Giants.
Even if they lose the series in four
straight they will have provided
a. moment which will be remem-
bered as long as baseball is played
"a moment which will be second
guessed into eternity.
Final Game Tense Affair.
That final game of the playoff
series was tense affair for seven
innings. The Giants had scored
run in the seventh to tie the
score at ii. Then, in the eighth,
the Dodgers erupted for three
runs and the fans who gave the
Giants a chance at that point
are the incurable optimists.
Don Newcombe, withs a four
hitter in his grasp and World
Series money almost tucked in his
wallet, seemingly got stronger
after that outburst. He set the
Giants down in order in the
eighth and he did it with a con-
vincing swiftness which seemed to
spell doom for Leo Durocher's
gang.
Then it happened. Alvin Dark
opened the last of the ninth with
a single off Gil Hodges glove at
first base. Mueller followed with
a single to right, sending Dark to
third. Giants rooters perked UP,
but groaned again when danger
GUS Monte Irwin lifted a meek
foul to Hodges.
Whitley Lockman revived the
rally with a double to left which
scored Dark and sent Mueller slid
ing into third, the slide that
Snrained Mlln1lnr'S onkIa Ton x,-o g