1957 WS: Sal Maglie Makes Amends for Beating Whitey Ford in the 1956 WS
August 27, 2011 · Harold Friend · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
It was vintage Whitey Ford, although some didn’t think so.
The only run the Milwaukee Braves managed came in the seventh inning when Wes Covington doubled and came home on a Red Schoendient two-out single.
The Yankees game left-hander, who had suffered from arm problems during the 1957 season, demonstrated that he was quite healthy as he limited the former Boston team to five hits on his way to a complete game, 3-1 victory over the great Warren Spahn. It was Ford’s fifth career World Series win.
Mickey Mantle, who suffered a severe case of shin splints the last month of the season, not only played but beat out two infield hits and attempted to steal a base.
Bill Skowron, an integral member of the Yankees offense, was replaced at first base by Elston Howard after only two innings. The “Moose” had a bad sacroiliac and would bat only four times in the entire Series.
With the Yankees leading 1-0, Ford’s old bugaboo, the base-on-balls, reared its ugly head.
He walked Johnny Logan and Eddie Mathews to start the sixth inning, but then settled down by striking out Hank Aaron, and getting the powerful right-handed hitting Joe Adcock to hit a weak ground ball to first before striking out Andy Pafko to end the threat.
Stengel had no doubts about opening the 1957 World Series with Ford. He knew that the Braves had won their last eight games against lefties, but Casey also knew that Ford was no ordinarily left-hander.
In an interesting development, Sal Maglie pitched batting practice for the Yankees. The previous season, Maglie beat Ford in the 1956 World Series opener at Ebbets Field.
The Yankees had acquired Maglie on waivers from the Brooklyn Dodgers on Sept. 1, which made him ineligible to play in the World Series. The Yankees voted him one-half a World Series share.
But Sal “the Barber” Maglie still helped the Yankees.
The veteran National Leaguer was familiar with the Braves; and, to paraphrase Yogi Berra when a reporter asked him how catching Bill Dickey was helping him and the team, Maglie taught the Yankees pitchers and Berra his experience.
After his fine performance, Ford acknowledged Maglie’s contributions.
“Sal and I went over the Braves hitters time and time again the last couple of weeks. With his help and our scouting reports, which backed him up on every point, I really had something solid to build on.”
Despite limiting the powerful Braves offense to five hits and a single run, Ford wasn’t completely satisfied with his performance, which he categorized as “spotty.”
Stengel thought that Whitey was”off the beam a few times,” while Yogi Berra told reporters that he had “seen Whitey pitch better in the past.” Then, in typical Yogi fashion, he added, “He won the game, didn’t he? And that’s what counts.”
The days of a Yankees manager (Joe Girardi) telling the media that a Yankees starter (A.J. Burnett) pitched well except for giving up five runs in the third were far in the future.
Ford said he felt stronger in the ninth inning than at any other time. He acknowledged having “considerable trouble” with his control. “On some deliveries,” he said, “my curve hung high. On others, it broke too low.”
Stengel realized quickly that Ford was having some problems, which was revealed when he was asked who would start the second game.
“My pitcher for tomorrow will definitely be Bobby Shantz. I was going to start Bob Turley, but he pitched two or three innings in the bullpen today.”
References:
Anderson, D. (1980, Oct 13). World series of billiards. New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. C6. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/121135783?accountid=46260
Maglie helpful as an ineligible. (1957, Oct 03). New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. 36. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/114333763?accountid=46260
Ford’s performance receives faint praise from severest critic–himself. (1957, Oct 03). New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. 35. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/114344990?accountid=46260
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