The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-10-09
e. s-H~~~5Z9-0
A Baseball Play
To Be Remembered

StupendouS, colossal, tremendous, terrific.
Such would be the words that some Hollywood
press agent would use if he were to write the news
story describing the exciting end to the 1859 Ma
tonal League pennant chase.
Although two previous National League races
in l946 and e5l-aIso finished in . dead heat, prob
ably the latest was about as exciting as you'll ever see.
This most recent scrap for the flag was a three
cornered battle until San Francisco stumbled in the
last few days. Even so, the Giants weren't out Of it I'M
til the final day.
When it was all over, Los Angeles and Milwaukee
were even, requiring the playoff, which all fans know
was won by the Dodgers.
The Thinning classic which the Dodgers won to
clnch the pennant will be recalled years from now.
Also recalled will be the dramatic game-ending play.
Il won't be remembered as well as Bobby ThompsonS
clutch home run which gave the Giants the pennant
in the 1851 playoffs with the Dodgers. But it will be
Since this play will be recalled In later years,
IT seems appropriate TO point out here that all five
players involved in the play are Catholics. The five:
Bob Rush, Carl FurilIo. Gil Hodges, Felix MantiIIa and
Frank Tore.
Rush, the Milwaukee hurler, fired the fatal pitch
and became the losing pitcher; Dodger %outflelder
FurilIo raped out the big hit; the Braves shortstop
Mantila made the fatal error; and Dodger first base
man Gil Hodges scored the big run. Milwaukee first
baseman Tore fits into the picture since he was I'M
able to field Mantillas erratic throw.
1t should be explained that Mantilla is actually a
second baseman but was moved to ~Shortstop after
Johnny Logan was injured. He made a hurried, low
throw to first, although Furillo had his grounder beat
en- out for a hit. II was Mantilas biggest error, Hodges
biggest run and Furillos biggest hit. 1t was Rushs big
gest loss.
Hodges, incidentally, won the 1859 CYO "Most
Popular Dodger' trophy a couple of weeks ago. He
won the award in a popularity poll conducted by The
Tidings in Los Angeles. His big run probably made him
the "Most Popular DGdger"-period.
The 37-year-old Furillo, it might be noted, is the
only active Dodger who took part in the two previous
MI. ~playoffs. The Dodgers lost both of those-one to
the 81. Louis Cardinals, and as already mentioned, one
to the New York Giants.
While on the subject, we may as well mention
the other Catholic players on the Dodger team as well
as those on the American League champion Chicago
White Sox.
Those on The Dodger roster include: pitchers
Danny McDevitt, Glenn Labine and Johnny Podres;
catcher Joe Pignatsno; inFielder Norm Larker; and
coaches Joe Becker, Chuck Dresser and Greg
Mulleavey.
Catholics on the White Sox squad are: pitchers
Rudolfo Arias, Dick Donovan, and Bob Shaw; catchers
John Romano and Earl Battey; infielders Luis Aparicio
and Sam opposite; outfielderS Al Smith, jim Rivera
and Tim McAnany. Others are Manager Al Lopez, and
coaches Tony Cuccinello, Ray Berries and John Cooney.
Presidents of both clubs-Bill Veeck of the White
Sox and Walter F. 0Maley of the Dodgers-also are
Catholics.
Now to face the difficult task of recalling our
choices for the league championships.
At the start Of the season, this writer picked the
New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Braves. Exer-
cising our escape clause, we reviewed the choices at
mld-Season.
Unhappily, this writer decided TO stick with the
Yankees. However, in that July 10 article, we said that
n New York failed, the Cleveland indians would sue
coed. NO question about ii, we were way off base.
We were a bit more successful III our National
League review. However, this writer can't call it a
complete success.
Re-quoting the July 10th Sports of the Times"
we said sunless the Dodgers or Giants show a little
improvement, the Braves look like the winners. If the
Dodgers get a little more pitching, the pennant will
be theirs. Unless this happens, Milwaukee is the win
ner."
In that same article, we favored the Giants least
of all
Well, dear reader, you know the rest. The Dodger
pitching did improve and so did the hitting, especially
by Wally Moon. 1t was quite a dogfight to the very
end with the Dodgers finally emerging as the winners,
We resorted to a lot of ifs but looking at how
the hectic race ended, the reader probably wouldn't
take us TO sky