Evening star., 1954-01-20

1947 World Series usual Brooklyn succeeded in losing
the whole Series but for wild night of revey the good
Fatbushers celebrated the temporary hubng OF the high
and mighty Yankees.
1t game-winning pinch hit which, for nearly "a
hours seemed symbolic The forces of good had umphed
against all Odds The poor folks had put crmp in the rich
folks And of all people, Cookie Lavageto just about to be
released because he wasn't capable enough for the
Dodgers, turned the trick.
IF YOU WILL RECALL, Yankee pitcher named Floyd
Bevens out from pitching the only no-h game
World Series history. He mad been wild drunken
dervsh and Brooklyn had scored but with two out
in the bottom of the ninth inning 1t Yankees, g.
Dodgers /.
There were two Dodgers on base both as result Of
walks and Eddie Stanky due at the plate With total
disregard Of Stankys tabled ntangibes Manager Burt
shoon lifted the of the Cardinals and sent
up Lavagetto.
recapture the situation 1t must be remembered
that Lavageto was washed up When the war came along
wearing the Brooklyn third stretch
in the Navy did the rest Branch Hickey who bossng
the Dodgers determined send Cookie out to pasture
when the player begged to remain in uniform for
year.
all OF his wdness Bevens still had his no-hitter
when Lavagetto bated for Sanky rghhanded batsman
not especially noted for power Cookie somehow reached out
the tin WALL with its multicoored advertisements just above
Tommy Henrich's outstretched glove. for double.
X THE TWO BASE-RUNNERS having nothing else to do
with except the dugou the
ton of touching the bases in legal fashion Both scored and
the Dodgers won, So.
It is now as it was then difcut to sell to the nom
present public the orgy which followed Thousands Of people
spilled from the old bueandorange seats at Ebbets Field
to- touch possible piece Of Cookies uniform. Hundreds
right field to stare at what they believed to be the
historic dent in the tin WALL already pockmarked by tens
of thousands Of similar dents.
Grown from home plate to second base that
they might tell their children and grandchildren that they
followed the path OF the hero Many not most resoutely
would have refused any free aexpense offer Of trip to
Polos instead Of Cookie Lavagett0s trail
Polo?" they probably would have snorted who
did that bum ever lick especially the Yankees. yet9"
FLATBUsHs FOND REGARD for Lavagetto quickly faded
the surface after he made two attempts
in the Series striking out and grounding out But as those
things will OCCASION Cookies failures eventually for
gotten and the big thing his spelling of Yankee no-htter
and even, winning game hit, triumphed.
Incidentally it Lavagettos last hit Of his
While his unforgettable blow, Lavageto wasn't
and isn't listed p-hight pinch hitter. That
in Brooklyn just sort Of happened But Cookies smash
did point up the Importance to club Of having man in
the dugou who handy at bashng pitch and
then.
this connection the Senators may be improved
An odd and not particularly ateng observation is that Mr.
Grifth's two best pinch hitters may be ptchers-Bob
Portereld who hit grand-slam homer last and the
newly acquired Maury McDermott Pitchers not supposed
to hit, according to legend but this is pure bunk
Red Lucas could hit During the of IS years with
various clubs Lucas made good lot times in 440 trips
pinch hitter Wes Ferrell and Red Rufng and Walter
johnson and able when it to batting for
regular Johnson could hit ball far Ruth IT, In the
words of Teammae Joe Judge "the pitcher threw where
Walter swinging"
Now, here in town, it's likely to be Porterfeld Nc
Dermott than occasion. With ofense meant
toward the other gentlemen they might be improvement
well, Jerry Snyder and Mel Hoderlein.