1949 All Star Game

July 12. Ebbets Field American League 7 National League 6

A.L. WINS NAIL BITER AS RASCHI SURVIVES 9TH INNING DRAMA

Vic Raschi survived a tension filled, bottom of the ninth, retiring Sid Gordon with the bases loaded, as the American League held on to win the 1949 All Star game, 7-6.

Mel Parnell started for the American League, Warren Spahn for the National.

Spahn retired the first batter of the game, Dom DiMaggio, but things quickly fell apart. George Kell doubled, then Ted Williams hit a two run home run. Joe DiMaggio and Eddie Joost both singled, then Spahn hit Eddie Robinson with a pitch, loading the bases.

Bob Lemon took over for Spahn and issued a single to Cass Michaels for the third run of the inning. Birdie Tebbetts hit a sacrifice fly, which made it 4-0 A.L, all runs charged to Spahn. Parnell reached on an error, then DiMaggio, who began the inning struck out to end it.

Each club burned through pitchers early on. Parnell only lasted one inning, hitting Jackie Robinson and walking Stan Musial and Ralph Kiner, but allowing no runs.

The National League answered in the bottom of the third inning. Musial and Kiner hit back to back homers off Virgil Trucks, the third A.L. pitcher of the day, to make it 4-3. Musial’s homer was a two run shot, as Jackie Robinson was aboard with a single.

Ralph Branca was on the hill for the National League in the top of the fifth. He fanned Joe DiMaggio, but then walked Joost and gave up a single to Eddie Robinson. Cass Michaels then doubled, plating Joost.

Yogi Berra, who had replaced starting catcher, Birdie Tebbetts, stroked a two run single, to put the American League up, 7-3.

The National League would not go quietly, however. In the last of the fifth, Musial singled off Allie Reynolds, the fifth A.L. pitcher of the game, and after Kiner flew out, Gil Hodges also singled. Williard Marshall walked, then Sid Gordon hit a two run single, making the score 7-5 American League.

Reynolds was lifted, but who would replace him?

The American League was down to just two pitchers, Raschi and Lou Brissie, of the Athletics, with a good deal of the game to go.

Raschi got the call and got the last two outs of the inning. He then set down the next 11 batters in a row, before Bobby Thomson singled in the bottom of the ninth. Kiner and Hodges each singled, loading the bases with two out in bottom of the ninth.

Raschi then walked Andy Pafko, forcing in a run and pulling the Nationals to within one run. Brissie was held back in case of a tie, but Raschi buckled down and got Gordon to ground out, ending the ballgame.

WP-Alex Kellner LP-Ralph Branca HR-Stan Musial, Ralph Kiner, Ted Williams

The Boston Red Sox had five players in the game. Parnell, DiMaggio, Williams, Tebbetts and Billy Goodman. Parnell had a rough game, as did Dom, who was 0-2, with a strikeout. Goodman singled and scored, to go along with Williams’ homer and Tebbetts sacrifice fly.