Minneapolis
Millers - Compiled by Stew Thornley |
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1955 - American Association, 92-62-2, 1st place (Junior World
Series champions) - Standings, statistics, and notes follow game-by-game
results |
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Manager:
Bill Rigney |
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*Scheduled
for seven innings |
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Date |
Opponent |
Outcome |
Record |
Notes |
|
Th 4/14 |
at Indianapolis Indians |
W 5-0 |
1-0 |
Winning pitcher-Al
Worthington 1-0. 4-hitter by
Worthington. Rance Pless and Gail
Harris. First home-opener loss for Indianapolis since
1942. |
|
F 4/15 |
at Indianapolis |
L 2-9 |
1-1 |
Losing pitcher-Bud
Byerly 0-1. Pless homers. Harris injured in a collision with
Indianapolis's Jim Dyck and suffers concussion. Indians score 8 runs in the 9th. |
|
Sa 4/16 |
at Indianapolis |
L 3-8 |
1-2 |
LP-Margoneri 0-1. |
|
Su 4/17-1 |
at Louisville Colonels |
W 6-4 |
2-2 |
WP-Ralph Branca
1-0. Bob Lennon reaches for a pitch on
the outside corner and lines a single to center to drive in Wayne Terwilliger
to break a 2-2 tie, the first run in a 4-run 8-th inning rally, when Jerry
Casale tries to intentionally walk him.
Intentional walks became more difficult in 1955 with the catcher's box
now 43 inches wide rather than extending out into a triangle form, as it had
previously been. |
|
Su 4/17-2 |
at Louisville Colonels |
L 5-8 |
2-3 |
LP-Jim Graves
0-1. Millers starting pitcher Jim
Constable inadvertently throws a strike while trying to intentionally walking
a batter. Louisville manager Red
Marion, unhappy over losing the first game by a botched intentional walk,
announced a $25 fine for any pitcher throwing a strike when trying to
intentionally walk a batter, and later had his pitchers report early before a
game to practice throwing intentional balls. |
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M 4/18 |
at Louisville Colonels |
W 15-14 |
3-3 |
WP-Harry Nicholas
1-0. Lennon hits a grand slam in a
7-run 2nd inning. Millers build leads
of 9-0 and 15-2. Pless and Carl
Sawatski also homer for the Millers. |
|
Tu 4/19 |
at Louisville Colonels |
L 2-14 |
3-4 |
LP-Worthington 1-1. |
|
Th 4/21 |
Toledo Sox |
W 5-4 |
4-4 |
WP-Whitey Konikowski
1-0. Wilson hits 2 home runs. Sawatski homers. Millers win in the 9th on Wilson's single
to score Terwilliger from second before 5,467 fans in the final opener at
Nicollet Park. |
|
F 4/22 |
Toledo |
L 6-8 |
4-5 |
LP-Nicholas 1-1. Lennon's second grand slam of the season
ties the game 5-5 in the 5th, but Toledo breaks a 6-6 tie with 2 runs in the
7th. |
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Sa 4/23 |
Toledo |
L 2-6 |
4-6 |
LP-Ramon Monzant 0-1. |
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Su 4/24-1 |
Charleston Senators, rain |
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*Su 4/24-2 |
Charleston, rain |
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M 4/25 |
Charleston |
W 5-4 |
5-6 |
WP-Worthington
2-1. Luke Easter of Charleston hits
his 5th home run, leads Association. |
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*Tu 4/26-1 |
Charleston |
W 12-1 |
6-6 |
WP-Jim Constable
1-0. HR-Harris, Sawatski, Wilson,
Pless. |
|
Tu 4/26-2 |
Charleston |
W 10-9 (12) |
7-6 |
WP-Byerly 1-1. HR-Harris, Lennon, Pless. Pless's homer, leading off the 12th, wins
the game. |
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W 4/27 |
Charleston |
W 6-1 |
8-6 |
WP-Monzant 1-1. Terwilliger's homer extends hitting streak
to 9 games. |
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Th 4/28 |
Toledo |
W 7-2 |
9-6 |
WP-Branca 2-0. |
|
F 4/29 |
Toledo |
W 9-1 |
10-6 |
WP-Worthington
3-1. 7-hitter by Worthington as
Millers move into first place. Pless
and Harris homer. |
|
Sa 4/30 |
Toledo |
W 17-3 |
11-6 |
WP-Constable
2-0. Harris hits 2 homers. Gip Dickens and Terwilliger also homer. |
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Su 5/1 |
at Charleston |
W 8-2 |
12-6 |
WP-Monzant 2-1. 9th straigh win. Lennon hits 4th home run. |
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M 5/2 |
at Charleston |
W 6-3 |
13-6 |
WP-Margoneri
1-1. Harris hits 2 home runs (8 for
the sesason). |
|
Tu 5/3 |
at Charleston |
L 6-7 (10) |
13-7 |
LP-Constable
2-1. Ed Bressoud drops a pop up with 2
out in the 10th, allowing Bobby Winkles to score from second with the winning
run. |
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W 5/4 |
at Charleston |
L 2-4 |
13-8 |
LP-Branca 2-1. |
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Th 5/5 |
Louisville |
W 10-1 |
14-8 |
WP-Monzant 3-1. Monzant strikes out 14. Bressoud and Lennon homer. |
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F 5/6 |
Louisville |
W 9-8 |
15-8 |
WP-Konikowski
2-0. Millers were down 7-0. Pless, Eric Rodin, and Lennon homer. Millers have 40 home runs, 18 at Nicollet
Park. Pless doubles home 2 runs in the
7th to provide the winning margin. |
|
Sa 5/7 |
Louisville |
W 8-1 |
16-8 |
WP-Worthington
4-1. Pless, Lennon, and Sawatski homer
on cold night (41 degrees at gametime with the temperature going down during
the game). |
|
Su 5/8 |
Louisville |
W 7-6 (10) |
17-8 |
WP-Byerly 2-1. Harris's 2-run homer ties the game in the
8th, and his 2-out homer in the 10th (his 10th homer of the season) wins the
game. Harris hitting .400 (with Pless
leading the league at .404). |
|
Tu 5/10 |
Indianapolis |
W 9-8 |
18-8 |
WP-Margoneri
2-1. All Minneapolis runs are on home
runs: Lennon 3 (10 for season), Harris (11), Wilson (3-run homer in the 7th
to put the Millers ahead to stay), Bressoud.
Millers are on a record-setting pace with 52 homers in 26 games. |
|
*W 5/11-1 |
Indianapolis |
W 9-4 |
19-8 |
WP-Nicholas 2-1. Lennon breaks 4-4 tie in the 5th with his
third grand slam of the season.
Sawatski and Chico Ibanez also homer. |
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W 5/11-2 |
Indianapolis |
L 1-11 |
19-9 |
LP-Worthington
4-2. Dave Hoskins pitches a 1-hitter
for Indianapolis, allowing only a home run by Pless in the 5th inning (17th
straight game in which the Millers have homered). |
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Th 5/12 |
at St. Paul Saints |
L 0-9 |
19-10 |
LP-Branca 2-2. Millers stopped by Ron Negray's 2-hitter. |
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F 5/13 |
St. Paul |
W 8-3 |
20-10 |
WP-Margoneri
3-1. HR-Bressoud, Terwilliger, Harris. |
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Sa 5/14 |
at St. Paul |
W 6-3 |
21-10 |
WP-Monzant 4-1. |
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Su 5/15 |
St. Paul |
W 6-5 |
22-10 |
WP-Nicholas 3-1. Sawatski homers. St. Paul manager Max Macon listed Tim
Thompson on his lineup card as catcher but started Ernie Yelen at catcher. Thompson pinch hit for Yelen in the
8th. Though the situation called for
intentionally walking Thompson, Bill Rigney let him hit, knowing he could be
called out if he got a hit (because he had already been in the game when
listed on the lineup card). Thompson
grounded out. Rigney waited until
Thompson took the field in the last of the 8th and then asked umpire Einar
Sorenson to check the lineup card.
Thompson was not allowed to continue, leaving the Saints without a
regular catcher. Pitcher Don Bessent
had to catch. With the score tied in
the last of the 9th, the Millers had the bases loaded with 1 out. Lennon singled home Terwilliger with the
winning run. |
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M 5/16 |
at Denver Bears |
L 2-8 |
22-11 |
LP-Worthington
4-3. (Denver moved from Kansas City.) |
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Tu 5/17 |
at Denver |
W 8-4 |
23-11 |
WP-Margoneri
4-1. Lennon hits 12th home run, adds
single and double, and now has 43 RBIs. |
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W 5/18 |
at Denver, rain |
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Th 5/19 |
at Omaha Cardinals |
W 5-2 |
24-11 |
WP-Monzant 5-1. (Omaha moved from Columbus.) |
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F 5/20 |
at Omaha Cardinals |
L 1-9 |
24-12 |
LP-Constable 2-2. |
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Sa 5/21 |
at Omaha Cardinals |
L 2-5 |
24-13 |
LP-Worthington 4-4. |
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Su 5/22 |
at Omaha Cardinals |
W 6-3 |
25-13 |
WP-Margoneri 5-1. |
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M 5/23 |
Denver |
W 6-5 (10) |
26-13 |
WP-Monzant 6-1. |
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Tu 5/24 |
Denver |
W 3-2 |
27-13 |
WP-Constable
3-2. Bressoud hits 2-run homer. In his first game back with the Millers,
Foster Castleman hits a bad-hop single with 1 out in the 9th to score Ray
Dabek with the winning run. |
|
W 5/25 |
Denver |
W 12-4 |
28-13 |
WP-Worthington
5-4. Sawatski homers, and Harris hits
2 three-run homers. |
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Th 5/26 |
Omaha, rain |
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F 5/27 |
Omaha |
W 17-6 |
29-13 |
WP-Margoneri
6-1. Margoneri strikes out 14. Harris hits another three-run homer (16th
home run of the season to lead the league).
Joe Bracchitta hits 2 home runs.
Wilson also homers. |
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Sa 5/28 |
Omaha |
W 5-2 |
30-13 |
WP-Monzant 7-1. Harris and Wilson homer. Millers have hit 73 home runs. |
|
Su 5/29-1 |
Omaha |
W 8-7 |
31-13 |
WP-Worthington 6-4. |
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*Su 5/29-2 |
Omaha |
W 5-1 |
32-13 |
WP-Constable
4-2. Pless hits grand slam. |
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M 5/30
a.m. |
St. Paul |
W 14-12 |
33-13 |
WP-Konikowski
3-0. 9th straight win. Bressoud, Rodin, Lennon, and Harris homer. |
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M 5/30
p.m. |
at St. Paul |
L 5-9 (13) |
33-14 |
LP-Worthington
6-5. Roy Hartsfield hits a grand slam
with 1 out in the last of the 13th. |
|
Tu 5/31 |
at St. Paul |
L 1-3 |
33-15 |
LP-Margoneri
6-2. Giants call up Monzant and send
Al Corwin to the Millers. |
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W 6/1 |
St. Paul |
W 8-3 |
34-15 |
WP-Constable
5-2. Giants recall Harris. Millers get infielder Billy Gardner to
replace Harris. Lennon hits 3 homers,
giving him 17 to tie with Harris, wh left after the game. Pless, Wilson, and Bressoud also homer. |
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F 6/3 |
at Indianapolis |
L 5-6 (13) |
34-16 |
LP-Byerly 2-2. HR-Wilson, Lennon, Terwilliger. |
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Sa 6/4 |
at Indianapolis |
W 7-5 |
35-16 |
WP-Margoneri
7-2. HR-Castleman, Pless. |
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Su 6/5-1 |
at Indianapolis |
W 10-8 |
36-16 |
WP-Byerly 3-2. Lennon separates shoulder after falling
during pre-game workouts. |
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*Su 6/5-2 |
at Indianapolis |
L 7-9 |
36-17 |
LP-Constable 5-3. |
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M 6/6 |
at Louisville |
W 3-0 |
37-17 |
WP-Konikowski 4-0. |
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Tu 6/7 |
at Louisville, wet grounds |
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*W 6/8-1 |
at Louisville |
W 2-1 |
38-17 |
WP-Al Corwin 1-0. |
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W 6/8-2 |
at Louisville |
W 6-5 (11) |
39-17 |
WP-Nicholas 4-1. |
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Th 6/9 |
at Louisville |
L 0-4 |
39-18 |
LP-Worthington 6-6. |
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F 6/10 |
Indianapolis, rain |
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*Sa
6/11-1 |
Indianapolis |
L 2-3 (10) |
39-19 |
LP-Byerly 3-3. First home loss since May 11. |
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Sa 6/11-2 |
Indianapolis |
L 2-10 |
39-20 |
LP-Constable 5-4. |
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Su 6/12-1 |
Indianapolis |
W 6-5 |
40-20 |
WP-Nicholas 5-1. |
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*Su 6/12-2 |
Indianapolis |
L 2-4 |
40-21 |
LP-Margoneri 7-3. |
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M 6/13 |
Louisville |
L 6-8 |
40-22 |
LP-Byerly 3-4. |
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Tu 6/14 |
Louisville |
L 5-6 |
40-23 |
LP-Konikowski 4-1. |
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W 6/15 |
Louisville |
L 7-8 |
40-24 |
LP-Nicholas 5-2. Manager Bill Rigney pinch-hits after being
activated because of injuries to several players. Gardner hits 2 home runs. |
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Th 6/16 |
Louisville |
L 5-8 |
40-25 |
LP-Corwin 1-1. First-place lead over Toledo cut to 2-1/2
games. Gardner homers again but makes 2 errors in the 8th that lead to 4
unearned runs. |
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F 6/17 |
at Toledo |
L 2-4 |
40-26 |
LP-Constable
5-5. |
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Sa 6/18 |
at Toledo |
W 7-5 |
41-26 |
WP-Worthington 7-6. |
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Su 6/19-1 |
at Toledo |
L 1-2 |
41-27 |
LP-Konikowski 4-2. |
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*Su 6/19-2 |
at Toledo |
L 1-5 |
41-28 |
LP-Branca 2-3. |
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M 6/20 |
at Charleston |
W 8-3 (12) |
42-28 |
WP-Branca 3-3. Bressoud breaks 3-3 tie in the 12th with a
three-run homer. Gardner adds
inside-the-park homer. |
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Tu 6/21 |
at Charleston |
W 9-3 |
43-28 |
WP-Constable 6-5. |
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*W 6/22-1 |
at Charleston |
W 9-2 |
44-28 |
WP-Corwin 2-1. Rigney doubles home 2 runs with his first
hit of the season. |
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W 6/22-2 |
at Charleston |
W 5-2 |
45-28 |
WP-Worthington
8-6. Worthington also homers. |
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Th 6/23 |
New York Giants (ex.) |
W 9-5 |
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WP-Branca. Willie Mays homers in the first inning for
the Giants, who are in fourth place, 17 games behind first-place Brooklyn,
creating rumors that Rigney will replace Giants manager Leo Durocher. Giants leave Monte Irvin with the Millers
and call up Terwilliger. |
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F 6/24 |
Toledo |
W 6-4 |
46-28 |
WP-Konikowski
5-2. In Millers debut, Irvin gets 2
hits. |
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Sa 6/25 |
Toledo |
W 8-4 |
47-28 |
WP-Constable
7-5. Irvin gets 4 hits. |
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Su 6/26-1 |
Toledo |
L 1-4 |
47-29 |
LP-Worthington
8-7. Irvin gets 3 hits, giving him 7
hits in 7 at bats as part of a streak in which he reached base 11 straight
times. |
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*Su 6/26-2 |
Toledo |
W 11-3 |
48-29 |
WP-Corwin 3-1. |
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M 6/27 |
Charleston |
W 11-9 |
49-29 |
WP-Bobby Hogue 1-0. |
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*Tu 6/28-1 |
Charleston |
L 2-4 |
49-30 |
LP-Nicholas 5-3. |
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Tu 6/28-2 |
Charleston |
L 3-12 |
49-31 |
LP-Konikowski 5-3. |
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W 6/29 |
Charleston |
L 2-9 |
49-32 |
LP-Constable 7-6. |
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Th 6/30 |
at Omaha, rain |
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F 7/1 |
at Omaha |
L 7-11 |
49-33 |
LP-Corwin 3-2. Stu Miller wins 11th game for Omaha, which
trails Minneapolis by 1 game. |
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Sa 7/2 |
at Omaha |
L 5-9 |
49-34 |
LP-Konikowski
5-4. Cardinals tie Millers for first. |
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Su 7/3 |
at St. Paul |
W 4-1 |
50-34 |
WP-Worthington 9-7. |
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M 7/4 a.m. |
at St. Paul |
W 4-1 |
51-34 |
WP-Corwin 4-2. |
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M 7/4 p.m. |
St. Paul |
L 1-2 |
51-35 |
LP-Constable 7-7. |
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Tu 7/5 |
St. Paul |
L 6-13 |
51-36 |
LP-Konikowski 5-5. |
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Th 7/7 |
at Denver |
L 10-13 |
51-37 |
LP-Byerly 3-5. Millers tied for first with Toledo and
Omaha. |
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F 7/8 |
at Denver |
L 3-6 |
51-38 |
LP-Corwin 4-3. |
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Sa 7/9 |
at Denver |
L 4-8 |
51-39 |
LP-Nicholas 5-4. Lennon returns after being sidelined with a
shoulder separation since June 5. |
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*Su 7/10-1 |
at Denver |
W 3-2 |
52-39 |
WP-Worthington
10-7. First game a twilight game,
scheduled for 7 innings. HR-George
Wilson 2, Sawatski. |
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Su 7/10-2 |
at Denver |
W 10-6 |
53-39 |
WP-Konikowski
6-5. Bressoud hits grand slam and
Pless homers twice. Sweep puts Millers
into first-place tie with Toledo. The
next morning, Minneapolis wins the coin flip to host the All-Star Game. |
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M 7/11 |
Omaha |
W 7-5 |
54-39 |
WP-Constable
8-7. Wilson's homer onto Nicollet
Avenue leading off the 7th breaks 5-5 tie. |
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Tu 7/12 |
Omaha |
L 8-12 |
54-40 |
LP-Corwin 4-4. |
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*W 7/13-1 |
Omaha |
L 5-7 |
54-41 |
LP-Byerly 3-6. |
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W 7/13-2 |
Omaha |
L 5-10 |
54-42 |
LP-Margoneri 7-4. |
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Th 7/14 |
Denver |
L 3-5 |
54-43 |
LP-Worthington
10-8. Millers drop to third place. |
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F 7/15 |
Denver |
W 8-7 (11) |
55-43 |
WP-Byerly 4-6. Millers score twice off Don Larsen to tie
the game in the 9th. Bears take the
lead in the 11th on a squeeze bunt by Bobby Richardson. With one out and one on in the bottom of
the inning, Wilson hit his second homer of the game, giving him 21 homers,
tops in the league. Earlier in the
game, Lennon had hit his 20th home run. Millers trade Gip Dickens to
Charleston for Ron Northey and Floyd Melliere. |
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Sa 7/16 |
Denver |
W 5-3 |
56-43 |
WP-Nicholas 6-4. Northey gets 4 hits, including a 2-run
homer in the 8th inning. |
|
Su 7/17-1 |
Denver |
L 2-8 |
56-44 |
LP-Konikowski
6-6. Denver player-manager Ralph Houk
and Sawatski get into a fight and are ejected after Houk, trying to score
from second, lowered his shoulder and charges into Sawatski at the plate. Lennon hits his 21st home run to tie Wilson
for the league lead. |
|
*Su 7/17-2 |
Denver |
W 5-3 |
57-44 |
WP-Floyd Melliere
1-0. Sawatski hits grand slam, his
20th homer of the season, in the 4th inning to give the Millers a 4-3 lead. |
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M 7/18 |
at St. Paul |
L 6-8 |
57-45 |
LP-Worthington
10-9. Millers get Don Bollweg from
Indianapolis. Bollweg, then with
Kansas City, had been the American Association Most Valuable Player in 1952. Seven Millers - Lennon, Sawatski,
Worthington, Margoneri, Pless, Gardner, and Wilson - get voted to the
All-Star team (even though they won't play for the All-Stars since
Minneapolis is hosting the game. |
|
Tu 7/19 |
St. Paul |
L 3-5 |
57-46 |
LP-Constable 8-8. |
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W 7/20 |
at St. Paul |
L 2-4 |
57-47 |
LP-Nicholas 6-5. |
|
Th 7/21 |
American Association All-Star
Game at Nicollet Park |
L 6-16 |
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LP-Branca. Trailing 5-2 after 6, the All-Stars score
11 runs in the 7th. Don Larsen of
Denver is the winning pitcher (Larsen was 8-1, with his only loss coming
against the Millers July 10). Larsen
also hits a 2-run homer in the 9th.
Northey, Lennon, and Gardner of the Millers homer. Branca was released from the Millers the
next day. |
|
S 7/23 |
at Indianapolis |
L 4-10 |
57-48 |
LP-Corwin 4-5. Rocky Colavito hits 2 home runs for
Indianapolis. Millers fall to fourth
place. |
|
*Su 7/24-1 |
at Indianapolis |
W 2-1 |
58-48 |
WP-Worthington 11-9. |
|
Su 7/24-2 |
at Indianapolis |
L 2-16 |
58-49 |
LP-Constable 8-9. |
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M 7/25 |
at Indianapolis |
W 9-6 |
59-49 |
WP-Melliere 2-0. Down 5-1, Millers score 7 in the 6th, a
rally that includes 2-run homers by Northey and Lennon. |
|
Tu 7/26 |
at Louisville |
L 3-5 |
59-50 |
LP-Konikowski 6-7. |
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W 7/27 |
at Louisville, rain |
|
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Millers drop to 5th
place. |
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*Th 7/28-1 |
at Louisville |
W 3-0 |
60-50 |
WP-Worthington 12-9. |
|
Th 7/28-2 |
at Louisville |
W 5-2 |
61-50 |
WP-Corwin 5-5. Doubleheader sweep puts Millers into tie
for second, 2 games out of first. |
|
F 7/29 |
Indianapolis |
W 7-2 |
62-50 |
WP-Constable
9-9. Lennon hits 24th home run to tie
Charleston's Luke Easter for the league lead.
Bressoud, Gardner, and Irvin also homer. |
|
Sa 7/30 |
Indianapolis |
L 5-6 |
62-51 |
LP-Byerly 4-7. |
|
Su 7/31-1 |
Indianapolis |
W 5-2 |
63-51 |
WP-Nicholas 7-5. |
|
Su 7/31-2 |
Indianapolis |
W 5-2 |
64-51 |
WP-Worthington 13-9. |
|
M 8/1 |
Louisville |
W 5-2 |
65-51 |
WP-Corwin 6-5. |
|
Tu 8/2 |
Louisville |
W 10-1 |
66-51 |
WP-Constable
10-9. Lennon hits 26th homer to take
over league lead. Millers move into
first by .001 percentage points over Denver. |
|
W 8/3 |
Louisville |
L 3-12 |
66-52 |
LP-Melliere 2-1. Millers drop to third, 1 game behind
Denver, and 1/2 behind Toledo. |
|
Th 8/4 |
at Toledo |
W 6-3 |
67-52 |
WP-Worthington
14-9. Millers move past Toledo and
also past Denver, into first by .001 point. |
|
F 8/5 |
at Toledo |
W 5-2 |
68-52 |
WP-Corwin 7-5. Irvin homers twice. |
|
Sa 8/6 |
at Toledo, rain |
|
|
Idle by the rainout,
Millers fall out of first by 1/2 game. |
|
*Su 8/7-1 |
at Toledo |
W 3-2 |
69-52 |
WP-Constable 11-9. |
|
Su 8/7-2 |
at Toledo |
W 3-2 |
70-52 |
WP-Konikowski
7-7. Sweep puts Millers back into
first, by 1 game over Denver. |
|
M 8/8 |
at Charleston |
W 5-3 |
71-52 |
WP-Worthington 15-9. |
|
Tu 8/9 |
at Charleston |
W 9-8 |
72-52 |
WP-Byerly 5-7. Wilson and Sawatski homer. |
|
W 8/10 |
at Charleston |
W 4-0 |
73-52 |
WP-Nicholas 8-5. |
|
Th 8/11 |
Toledo |
W 4-2 |
74-52 |
WP-Melliere 3-1. With 2 out in the 9th, Bollweg doubles to
bring in Pless with the tying run.
Rigney bats for Melliere and, on the first pitch, homers to right to
win the game. Millers now lead Denver
by 3 games and are 4-1/2 ahead of Toledo and Omaha. |
|
F 8/12 |
Toledo |
W 4-2 |
75-52 |
WP-Konikowski 8-7. |
|
Sa 8/13 |
Toledo |
W 2-1 |
76-52 |
WP-Worthington
16-9. Worthington carries shutout in
the 9th. |
|
Su 8/14 |
Toledo |
W 10-5 |
77-52 |
WP-Margoneri
8-4. Gardner and Irvin each hit 2
homers. Bollweg and Northey also
homer. |
|
M 8/15 |
Charleston |
W 11-10 |
78-52 |
WP-Corwin 8-5. Down 8-3, Millers score 8 unearned runs in
the 8th and hold on for their 12th straight win, surviving one-out homers in
the ninth by Gip Dickens and Earl Battey (the second home run of the game for
Battey). Wilson, Gardner, and Irvin
homer for the Millers. Gardner is
recalled by the Giants to replace the shortstop Alvin Dark, who has broken
ribs. Millers get Lou Ortiz from
Richmond of the International League to replace Gardner. |
|
Millers' 8-run 8th: With one out Pless struck out but reached
first when the pitch from Vito Valentinetti was wild. (In 1955 and 1956 pitchers were charged
with an error but no wild pitch when a batter reached base after a
strikeout.) Lennon hit a liner to
left that Dickens dropped for another error.
Sawatski singled off first-baseman Luke Easter's glove, loading the
bases. Bressoud doubled to right for
two runs. Loren Myers relieved
Valentinetti. Bracchitta hit a sinking
liner to left that dropped for a single.
However, Sawatski held up at third in case the ball was caught, then
took off, and Dickens was able to throw to Battey at the plate to retire
Sawatski. Gardner, in what became his
last at-bat for the Millers, singled to score Bressoud and send Bracchitta to
third. Bollweg doubled, his fourth hit
of the game, to drive in Bracchitta and Bollweg and tie the game. Moe Savransky relieved. Wilson grounded to second-baseman Gerry
Jacobs, who misplayed the ball, allowing Wilson to reach base and Bollweg to
come home with the go-ahead run. Irvin
homered. |
|
Tu 8/16 |
Charleston |
W 10-4 |
79-52 |
WP-Konikowski
9-7. Ortiz homers in Millers
debut. Lennon (27) and Wilson (26)
also homer. |
|
W 8/17 |
Charleston |
W 7-2 |
80-52 |
WP-Worthington
17-9. Pless hits 22nd homer. |
|
Th 8/18 |
St. Paul |
W 5-4 |
81-52 |
WP-Byerly 6-7. Wilson and Lennon homer, giving the Millers
199 for the season. Lennon's homer,
with 2 out in the 9th, wins the game.
15th straight win for the Millers, breaking their record of 14, set in
June 1946. American Association record
is 21 straight wins, set by Milwaukee in 1921. |
|
F 8/19 |
at St. Paul |
L 2-3 |
81-53 |
LP-Corwin 8-6. |
|
S 8/20 |
St. Paul |
L 8-9 |
81-54 |
LP-Byerly 6-8. Bressoud homers to give the Millers 200 for
the season. Wilson and Irvin also
homer. Saints are down 8-7 with 2 out
and none on but put runners at second and third off Byerly. Norm Larker singles to right to score 2
runs, the winning run sliding in ahead of Wilson's throw and bringing an
argument from Sawatski that gets him ejected by umpire Walter Doyle. In the last of the ninth Wilson leads off
with a single. Irvin bunts and is
called out for interference with the catcher while starting to run to first,
causing another argument that gets Rigney kicked out of the game. |
|
Su 8/21 |
at St. Paul |
W 9-3 |
82-54 |
WP-Worthington
18-9. Irvin hits 2 home runs. Bressoud also homers. |
|
*M 8/22-1 |
at Omaha |
W 6-5 |
83-54 |
WP-Byerly 7-8. HR-Bressoud, Sawatsk. |
|
M 8/22-2 |
at Omaha |
W 4-2 |
84-54 |
WP-Konikowski
10-7. HR-Pless, Ortiz. |
|
Tu 8/23 |
at Omaha |
W 16-13 (protested) |
|
Down 13-8, the
Millers score 8 runs in the 9th for a 16-13 win. With the score tied 13-13 the Millers had
runners at first and second with no out.
Rigney pinch-hit for Melliere and flied out. Bressoud singled to drive in one run, and
Wilson later doubled two more runs home.
After the game, Omaha general manager Bill Bergesch protested the
game, claiming that Rigney was an ineligible player because he had been
removed and then reinstated to the active list more than once during the
season (in violation of a National Association regulation regarding
player-managers). League president Ed
Doherty took part of the blame for allowing Rigney back on the active list on
July 30 but upheld the protest and ordered the game replayed from the point
of protest. |
|
W 8/24 |
at Omaha |
L 6-10 |
84-55 |
LP-Margoneri
8-5. HR-Irvin, Ortiz, Northey. |
|
Th 8/25 |
at Omaha - completion of
protested game |
W 16-14 |
85-55 |
WP-Melliere 4-1. The protested game resumed with the score
13-13 with runners on first and second and no out. With two out Bollweg homered. (Irvin had homered earlier the game.) After Omaha's protest was upheld, Toledo
general manager Red Smith protested that Rigney’s home run to win the August
11 game for the Millers over Toledo should be disallowed. Doherty, however, pointed out that protest
papers must be filed within 24 hours after the game. |
|
Th 8/25 |
at Omaha |
L 6-7 |
85-56 |
LP-Al Olsen 0-1. Sawatski homers. |
|
F 8/26 |
at Denver |
T 4-4 (7, rain) |
85-56-2 |
Denver scores 4 runs
in the last of the 7th to tie the game and has runners on second and third
with two out when umpire-in-chief Bob Stewart calls the game. Bressoud homers. |
|
*Sa 8/27-1 |
at Denver, rain |
|
|
|
|
Sa 8/27-2 |
at Denver, rain |
|
|
Rained out games will
be made up at Nicollet Park when Denver comes to Minneapolis. |
|
*Su 8/28-1 |
at Denver |
W 9-3 |
86-56 |
WP-Constable
12-9. Wilson homers to give the
Millers 217 home runs for the season, tying the American Association record
set by the Millers in 1939. |
|
Su 8/28-2 |
at Denver |
L 9-22 |
86-57 |
LP-Nicholas 8-6. Sawatski's 25 home run gives the Millers
218, breaking the league record.
Ortiz, Bollweg, and Lennon also homers. Denver scores 10 in the 5th for a 15-7
lead. |
|
M 8/29 |
Omaha |
W 5-3 |
87-57 |
WP-Worthington
19-9. Bressoud hits 3-run homer with 1
out in the last of the 9th to give Worthington his 19th win of the
season. Bollweg also homers. |
|
Tu 8/30 |
Omaha |
W 5-3 |
88-57 |
WP-Konikowski
11-7. Wilson homers. After the game, the team listens past
midnight to hear St. Paul's 6-4 win at Denver, clinching the pennnant for the
Millers. |
|
W 8/31 |
Omaha |
L 7-9 |
88-58 |
LP-Corwin 8-7. Pless is named American Association Most
Valuable Player and hits 2 home runs.
Outfielder Willie Kirkland reports to Millers from Sioux City (where
he had hit 40 home runs) to replace Ron Northey, who was sent to the Chicago
White Sox on August 26. |
|
*Th 9/1-1 |
Denver |
W 6-5 (9) |
89-58 |
WP-Byerly 8-8. Millers score 3 in the 7th to tie the game
and send it into extra innings.
Irvin's sacrifice fly in the last of the 9th scores Byerly. Sawatski homers. |
|
Th 9/1-2 |
Denver |
T 6-6 (11) |
89-58-2 |
Pless homers. Lennon drives in his 100th run. Marv Throneberry hits his 35th home run of
the year for Denver. |
|
*F 9/2-1 |
Denver |
L 2-4 |
89-59 |
LP-Margoneri
8-6. HR-Bollweg. |
|
F 9/2-2 |
Denver |
L 2-4 |
89-60 |
LP-Worthington
19-10. HR-Ortiz. Worthington's 9-game winning streak is
stopped. |
|
*Sa 9/3-1 |
Denver |
W 4-0 |
90-60 |
WP-Melliere 5-1. HR-Bollweg. |
|
Sa 9/3-2 |
Denver |
W 9-4 |
91-60 |
WP-Nicholas 9-6. HR-Bracchitta, Dabek, Lennon. |
|
Su 9/4 |
St. Paul |
L 5-6 |
91-61 |
LP-Konikowski
11-8. Saints score 3 in the 9th to win
with 29-year-old player-manager Max Macon driving in the tying run with a
single. Bollweg and Lennon homer. |
|
M 9/5 a.m. |
St. Paul |
L 6-10 |
91-62 |
LP-Corwin 8-8. HR-Sawatski, Kirkland. |
|
M 9/5 p.m. |
at St. Paul |
W 5-1 |
92-62-1 |
WP-Margoneri
9-6. Lennon hits 31 home run to tie
Wilson for the team lead, 241st home run for the Millers. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Playoffs |
|
|
|
|
W 9/8 |
Denver |
W 9-8 |
1-0 |
WP-Nicholas. Worthington starts, and the Millers trail
8-5 going into the last of the 9th.
Bollweg and Wilson homer (the third homer of the game for Wilson). Irvin doubles and Pless beats out bunt to
put runners at first and third.
Bressoud dumps a single to score the tying run and send Pless to
second. Dave Garcia (a recent addition
after having managed Mayfield in the Kitty League), hit for Nicholas and
bloops a single to short left. Dick
Tettlebach's thrown bounces to catcher Darrell Johnson, but Pless crashes
into Johnson, knocking the ball loose, to score the tying run. |
|
Th 9/9 |
Denver |
W 4-2 |
2-0 |
WP-Constable. Worthington pitches the final three
innings. Lennon, Ortiz, and Sawatski
homer. |
|
F 9/10 |
at Denver |
W 9-7 |
3-0 |
WP-Konikowski. HR-Bollweg, Irvin. Worthington pitches the final 2 innings. |
|
Sa 9/11 |
at Denver |
W 9-8 (13) |
4-0 |
WP-Byerly. Wilson hits a grand slam in the 9th to give
the Millers a 7-6 lead. Irvin follows
with his second home run of the game.
Whitey Herzog ties the game in the last of the 9th with a 2-run single
off Constable. Worthington relieves
and pitches through the 11th. Pless
wins the game with a home run in the top of the 13th. Millers hit 14 homers in the series. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Th 9/15 |
Omaha |
W 8-5 |
1-0 |
WP-Worthington. 7-hitter by Worthington. Bollweg homers. Frank Carswell hits a grand slam for Omaha. |
|
F 9/16 |
Omaha |
W 8-6 |
2-0 |
WP-Nicholas. 10 home runs by both teams account for all
the runs. Pless opens scoring in the
2nd with an inside-the-park home run when centerfielder Charlie Peete misses
a try for a shoestring catch. Ortiz,
Wilson, Lennon, Irvin, and Sawatski also homer for the Millers (Irvin's a
3-run homer in the 7th to put the Millers ahead 7-6). Don Blasingame, Dick Schofield, Carswell,
and Jerry Thomas homer for Omaha. |
|
Sa 9/17 |
at Omaha |
L 1-3 (protested) |
|
|
|
In a scoreless game, Stu Miller held the Millers hitless through
the first 6 innings. Leading off the
7th, Irvin took a half-swing at an 0-1 pitch, and third-base umpire Bob
Stewart, without waiting for a request for help from the plate umpire, Eddie
Taylor, signaled that Irvin had gone far enough with his swing for the pitch
to be called a strike. Taylor,
however, ruled the pitch a ball, bringing Miller off the mound to ask why he
refused to accept Stewart’s call.
Invoking a league rule calling for the automatic ejection of any
pitcher protesting a ball or strike decision, Taylor threw Miller out of the
game. The Omaha fans, seeing their
pitcher ejected while working on a no-hitter, began hurling seat cushions and
other debris on the field. The
umpires consulted with league president Ed Doherty, who overruled Taylor
and allowed Miller to stay in the
game. Rigney announced his intent to
protest the game should the Millers lose.
When the game resumed, Stu Miller retired Irvin and Pless, but lost
his no-hitter and shutout when Lennon hit a towering fly over the 380-foot
mark in left-center. In the last of
the eighth, Dick Rand homered with one out off Konikowski to tie the
game. One out later, Wally Lammers
singled and Blasingame homered to right.
Omaha won 3-1, but, in a midnight meeting in a downtown Omaha hotel,
Doherty upheld Rigney's protest (overturning his own decision), and ordered
the game replayed from the point of protest (top of the 7th with Irvin at bat
with a 1-1 count, the game scoreless, and Stu Miller - whose no-hitter was
resurrected by the protest - ejected from the game).
|
|
Su 9/18 |
at Omaha - completion of
protested game |
W 7-2 |
3-0 |
WP-Worthington. Bob Tiefenauer pitched for Omaha when the
game resumed and Irvin reached base on an error and was sacrificed to
second. Lennon (who had broken up the
game the previous night with a homer) narrowly missed another homer, tripling
off the center-field fence to break up the no-hitter again. Garcia squeezed Lennon home, and the
Millers added 5 in the 8th, 3 on a bases-loaded double by Worthington, who
had taken the mound for the Millers upon resumption of the game. Even though Konikowski was still officially
in the game when it resumed, Worthington was credited with the win. |
|
Su 9/18 |
at Omaha |
W 7-3 |
4-0 |
WP-Margoneri. Pless homers. Millers hit 8 home runs in the series and
become the first team to win 8 straight American Association playoff games. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Junior World Series |
|
|
|
|
W 9/21 |
at Rochester Red Wings |
W 8-3 |
1-0 |
WP-Worthington. 7-hitter by Worthington. Sawatski and Irvin each hit a 2-run homer. |
|
Th 9/22 |
at Rochester |
L 3-7 |
1-1 |
LP-Constable. 6-hitter by Cot Deal of Rochester. Kirkland homers for the Millers. Red Wings take a 3-0 lead in the 4th, all
unearned runs because of 2 errors by Bressoud. Rochester scores 4 in the 5th on a 3-run
homer by Jackie Brandt and a solo homer by Stan Jok. |
|
F 9/23 |
at Rochester, rain |
|
|
|
|
Sa 9/24 |
at Rochester |
L 1-11 |
1-2 |
LP-Konikowski. Gary Blaylock pitches a 3-hitter and drives
in 3 runs with a home run and single.
Lennon homers for Minneapolis.
New York Giants announce that Rigney will replace manager Leo Durocher
in 1956. |
|
Su 9/25 |
Rochester |
W 7-3 |
2-2 |
WP-Worthington. 8-hitter by Worthington, who strikes out 12
and walks 1. Pless and Lennon hit
back-to-back homers in the second.
Brandt ties game in the 3rd with a home run. With the score 3-3 in the 8th Irvin hits a
long homer to left. Millers add 3 more
runs in the inning. |
|
M 9/26 |
Rochester |
L 4-8 |
2-3 |
LP-Constable. Lennon and Ortiz hit 2-run homers off Deal,
who wins his 5th game of the playoffs without a loss. Red Wings get 14 hits off Constable,
Byerly, and Mellier. |
|
Tu 9/27 |
Rochester |
W 4-3 (10) |
3-3 |
WP-Worthington, who
relieves in the 8th and gives up only 1 hit in 3 innings. Wilson, 0 for 16 in the series coming into
the game, gets three hits, including an eighth-inning homer to tie the game
and a 10th-inning homer to win it.
Sawatski also homers for the Millers. |
|
W 9/28 |
Rochester |
W 9-4 |
4-3 |
WP-Melliere. With the Millers short on pitchers, Byerly
makes his first start of the season and gives up a leadoff home run to Howie
Phillips. Rochester scores another in
the inning, and Melliere relieves Byerly.
Lennon hits a 3-run homer off Deal in the 4th for a 3-2 lead, and
Sawatski follows with a home run.
Irvin adds a homer in the sixth for a 5-2 lead. Rochester scores 2 in the 7th, and
Worthington relieves Melliere, going the rest of the way. Millers make the score 9-4 in the 7th on a
2-run homer by Bollweg and 2-run double by Lennon. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
W |
L |
Manager |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minneapolis |
92 |
62 |
Bill Rigney |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Omaha |
84 |
70 |
John Keane |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Louisville |
83 |
71 |
John "Red"
Marion |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denver |
83 |
71 |
Ralph Houk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Toledo |
81 |
73 |
George Selkirk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
St. Paul |
75 |
78 |
Max Macon |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Indianapolis |
67 |
86 |
Kerby Farrell |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charleston |
50 |
104 |
Danny Murtaugh-Vern
Rapp |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statistics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Player |
Games |
Batting Average |
Home Runs |
Runs Batted In |
Position |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alex Cosmidis |
3 |
1.000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monte Irvin |
75 |
.352 |
14 |
52 |
of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ron Northey* |
98 |
.344 |
16 |
53 |
of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rance Pless |
156 |
.337 |
26 |
107 |
1b-3b |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Billy Gardner |
73 |
.310 |
17 |
48 |
2b-3b |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
George Wilson |
140 |
.307 |
31 |
99 |
of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gail Harris |
44 |
.303 |
17 |
43 |
1b |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foster Castleman |
43 |
.302 |
4 |
10 |
3b |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wayne Terwilliger |
72 |
.297 |
4 |
28 |
2b |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joe Bracchitta |
106 |
.297 |
7 |
32 |
1b-of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bob Lennon |
114 |
.280 |
31 |
104 |
of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Don Bollweg* |
77 |
.274 |
12 |
39 |
1b |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gip Dickens* |
118 |
.273 |
15 |
62 |
1b-of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Willie Kirkland |
9 |
.273 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Carl Sawatski |
142 |
.268 |
27 |
72 |
c |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lou Ortiz |
26 |
.267 |
6 |
15 |
2b |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ed Bressoud |
145 |
.251 |
19 |
74 |
ss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dave Garcia |
5 |
.250 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eric Rodin |
42 |
.246 |
3 |
16 |
of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chico Ibanez* |
34 |
.221 |
1 |
9 |
ss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ray Dabek |
52 |
.220 |
1 |
7 |
c |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fred Richards* |
79 |
.218 |
6 |
19 |
1b-of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bill Rigney |
12 |
.182 |
1 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dick Getter |
6 |
.176 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ray Mueller |
3 |
.000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pitcher |
G |
IP |
W |
L |
ERA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Al Worthington |
38 |
239 |
19 |
10 |
3.58 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jim Constable |
45 |
199 |
12 |
9 |
4.57 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whitey Konikowski |
38 |
157 |
11 |
8 |
4.76 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Floyd Melliere* |
38 |
163 |
10 |
7 |
4.91 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Harry Nicholas |
39 |
156 |
9 |
6 |
5.08 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ramon Monzant |
12 |
85 |
7 |
1 |
3.60 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bud Byerly |
50 |
80 |
8 |
8 |
3.60 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bobby Hogue |
18 |
33 |
1 |
0 |
4.64 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joe Margoneri |
26 |
119 |
9 |
6 |
5.14 |
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Al Corwin |
30 |
138 |
8 |
8 |
5.41 |
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Al Olsen |
11 |
19 |
0 |
1 |
7.11 |
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Ralph Branca |
25 |
66 |
3 |
3 |
7.36 |
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Charley Fowler |
3 |
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0 |
0 |
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Jim Graves |
4 |
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0 |
1 |
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*Northey, Dickens,
Ibanez, Richards, and Melliere’s statistics include games played with
Charleston in 1955, and Bollweg’s statistics include games with Indianapolis. |
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Rance Pless led the
American Association with a .337 batting average and 116 runs, and Al
Worthington led the Association with 19 wins.
Minneapolis set an Association record with 241 home runs. Pless was named the American Association
Most Valuable Player.
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