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“The Thrill of Victory”…and “The Agony of Defeat!” Photo Gallery
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Baseball’s Version of:
“The Thrill of Victory”…and “The Agony of Defeat!”
As October baseball gets closer, it might be a good time to reflect on what I call baseball’s version of “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” Probably the quintessential example of this is Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard Round the World” at the Polo Grounds. As we all know, the home run gave the Giants the 1951 pennant, and etched into our baseball consciousness the immortal rantings of broadcaster Russ Hodges as he screamed into his microphone: “The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!”
While an immense celebration erupted for the Giants on their home field, things were not quite the same for the Dodgers in the visiting team clubhouse. Over there, the reality of what had just happened gradually settled in: Ralph Branca had just thrown a “gopher ball” at the worst possible, a “shot” that cost the Dodgers the 1951 pennant.
In the classic photo above, we see a shocked Branca lying prone on the clubhouse steps with his head buried in his arms, and the weight of the world on his shoulders. He knows he let his team down, and will now have to live with the burden. Coach Cookie Lavagetto, having apparently given up trying to console Branca, sits nearby, equally dejected.
That’s baseball! One hit thrusts one team soaring to unimaginable heights…while the same hit sinks another into the deep depths of depression.
What’s ironic about this photo is that just four years earlier, Cookie Lavagetto had been on the other side of the fence, when he was the hero in another unforgettable World Series moment. He came off the bench in the ninth inning in Game Four of the 1947 World Series and hit a double off the right field wall. The hit not only broke up Bill Bevens’ bid for a no-hitter – something which had never happened before – but it drove in two runs to give the Dodgers a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 walk-off victory. Lavagetto was at the very tail end of his major league career. As a matter of fact, this was his last game. And was his only hit of the series – eventually won by the Yankees in seven games – and was his last as a major leaguer. What a way to go out!
There’s nothing like post-season wins and losses to bring out the entire gamut of emotions. Check out the photo gallery to see a sampling of baseball’s version of incredible highs and lows, as I mix in “The Thrill of Victory” with the “Agony of Defeat!” Be sure to check out the photo of Cookie Lavagetto’s moment in the sun, as he’s hoisted onto the shoulders of his teammates.
Gary Livacari
Photo Credits: All from Google search
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Great recollection of the Bobby Thompson 1951 HR, Gary. I’ve read numerous accounts of the Giants’ alleged pitch-tipping during that game; making it possible for Thompson to know what type of pitch Branca was going to throw. Supposedly, a coach positioned beyond CF; with a hand-held telescope, pressed a buzzer heard in the bullpen, where a player there gave a signal seen by the batter. Do you believe that ? Or do you have any other source of either the authenticity {or dismissal} of this allegation ? Also, in the previous “Double Plays” post by Mr. Jankoski, I am a bit confused by the photo that depicts Nellie Fox NOT with his traditional #2 on his jersey. To my knowledge, he never wore any other number during his tenure with the WSox. To find out, I researched the possibility of that on Baseball Almanac, but couldn’t find a definitive answer. Although it sure does look like Fox {bulging left cheek and all}, could it possibly be a WSox infielder that resembled him ? Or, on that particular day, he had to wear a different number for some reason ? Always enjoy these great BHCA entries. “PLAY BALL” !!
Well, Bless my Beechnut!
I had the same reaction to the photo, given that Nellie Fox (my favorite big league player who wasn’t a Cleveland Indian) always wore No. 2. Then I thought I must be mistaken and maybe it was that he always batted second, after leadoff hitter Luis Aparicio.
Thanks Tom. Nice knowing I’m not losing all my marbles, although I did notice a small hole in the bag I keep my marbles in.
Well Tom, growing up 17 miles from Comiskey Park, {saw my Palehose there for the first time in 1956}, I like to think I know the team well. As kids, Nellie was a guy a lot us emulated while playing in the alley, or any sparse empty lot we could find. And no, I wouldn’t lose any sleep over “losing your marbles” if I was you. That hole in the bag you mentioned is probably only a small, little pin hole…hahaha.
Great catch you guys on the Nellie Fox pic! It easily got past this Cub fan, but not you guys! Ill have my resident Sox expert Bill Cunniff check it out and see if he can solve the mystery!
Signs no problem, Tom. Thomson hit game winner at Ebbets 2 days earlier. Giants played .800 ball on the road
down the stretch with no help. Branca great guy but yielded big hits late. LEO THE BEST mgr in his prime.
And not only was that Cookie Lavagetto’s last at-bat in the big leagues, it was also the last pitch Bill Bevens ever threw in the majors.
Back to Mr. Marshall, briefly. I grew up 12 or so miles from Municipal Stadium and saw my first game in 1957 as a birthday present. My favorite Indian was Minnie Minoso, a player we both know well. In ’59 I was in the upper deck along the third base line and was heartsick to see the Tribe eliminated from the pennant race during a four game, late September series with the ChiSox. A memory that stands out as clear as any in my life was seeing Fox lift a high foul popup behind third, maybe 120 feet from the plate, and upon it being caught (probably by Bubba Phillips or Woodie Held) Luis Aparicio tagged and scored. Aaarrrgh!
I love the blog and photos. The ’45 Tigers is a new one for me and I was able to spot Newhouser and Richards, along with Trucks, Swift, Mayo, and (I think) Greenberg.
Lavagetto’s last game was actually the following day, Game 5, when he pinch hit and fanned vs. Page. I saw this game, Shea bested Barney, Joe homered after K-ing with 3 on in the 1st. There was no place quite like Ebbets Field.
Bob
According to the great baseball book, “Baseball by the Numbers” by Mark Stang and Linda Harkness, Nellie Fox wore #26 with the White Sox 1950-52.
Awesome ! Thnx for that info ! When I first saw the BHCA photo of Fox, it sure did look like a “6” on his back. I’ve admired Fox ever since I was about 6 years old, but never knew that he wore a different number than #2. I tried to determine that by looking in the “Baseball Almanac” website {usually pretty accurate}, but couldn’t verify for sure. Wow, there’s always something new to learn in this game ! Thnx again for this update, Mr. Barwin.
Further to Mr. Hine’s comment that neither Lavagetto nor Bevens ever appeared in another major-league game after the ’47 Series, the same was true for Al Gionfriddo after his memorable catch of Joe DiMaggio’s long fly in Game 6. Curious and somehow spooky, don’t you think?