Hall of Fame Game History: 1950-1959

Red Sox Rally for 8-5 Win Over Giants, July 24, 1950

The 1950 Hall of Fame Game featured two managers who had skippered in Cooperstown before. New York's Leo Durocher had led his 1943 Brooklyn club to a 7-5 win, and Boston's Steve O'Neill had lost in 1946 with the Tigers, to the New York's Giants. O'Neill's Red Sox would get the best of "The Lip," and a measure of revenge, in his second go-round at the Hall of Fame Game, as Boston rallied for an 8-5 win. A see-saw contest, New York built a 5-2 lead after five, on a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth by starting pitcher Clint Hartung. Down a run in the top of the eighth, Boston's Johnny Pesky evened the books at 5-5 with a solo shot. Vern Stephens' home run later in the inning would open a three-run cushion for Boston. Dick Littlefield earned the win in a complete game outing. Future Hall of Famer Monte Irvin collected an RBI double for the Giants.

Brooklyn Makes Final Game Appearance Meaningful, July 23, 1951

The Brooklyn Dodgers entered the 1951 Hall of Fame Game looking for their second victory as they faced the Philadelphia Athletics. Jimmy Dykes, manager of the Athletics, was looking for a win to even his Hall of Fame game record. With five runs in the top of the ninth, Brooklyn would emerge with a 9-4 win in their final appearance in the Hall of Fame Game. Philadelphia jumped out to an early lead in the first, only to fall behind, 3-1, as Brooklyn scored three runs in their half of the second inning. Gus Zernial's three-run moon-shot to dead centerfield cleared the bleachers, giving the Athletics a 4-3 lead. Not to be out done, Brooklyn's Duke Snider hit a tremendous clout of his own, tying the game at 4-4 after five. Still knotted entering the ninth, the Dodgers broke through with five, as Carl Furillo drilled a two-run homer to take the lead. Cal Abrams followed with another two-run homer in the inning, and Gil Hodges added an RBI double. Other stars appearing for the Dodgers, who would go on to earn a Hall of Fame spot of their own, included Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese and Roy Campanella.

"Seņor" Lopez Skippers Tribe to Victory, 4-2, July 21, 1952

Johnny Berardino's solo home run in the top of the seventh inning propelled the Cleveland Indians to a 4-2 victory over the Cubs in Al Lopez's Hall of Fame Game managerial debut. Four home runs accounted for five of the six runs scored in the game, as Harry Simpson and Joe Tipton connected on successive pitches in the top of the fourth inning to give the Indians a 2-0 lead. Chicago's Tommy Brown connected on a two-run blast in the bottom of the fifth, before Berardino's tie-breaking shot led Cleveland to victory. Sam Jones earned the victory for the Indians, as Larry Doby was the lone future Hall of Famer in the lineup.

Ten-Run Frame Propels Reds to Victory, July 27, 1953

The game was billed as a slugfest from the beginning. Rogers Hornsby, whose offensive-mindset had already earned him election to the Hall of Fame in 1942, skippered the high-octane Reds to a 16-6 victory over the White Sox, as Cincinnati scored 10 times in the top of the sixth to break a 4-4 tie. Cincinnati collected eight singles, a double and a three-run home run from Willard Marshall off White Sox pitchers Luis Aloma and Saul Rogovin in the sixth inning. Aloma would homer in the bottom of the inning, but the damage was too great for Paul Richards' Chicago team to overcome. The Reds totaled 17 hits in the game. Chicago's Nellie Fox appeared in the game for the White Sox.

Yankees, Reds Clash with a Rally for the Record Books, August 9, 1954

The Cincinnati Reds returned for a second consecutive year to the Hall of Fame Game in 1954 to battle the defending World Champion New York Yankees. While the Reds offense again performed extremely well, it was the explosive Yankees that erupted for nine runs in the final three innings to rally from a 9-1 deficit for a 10-9 victory. Mickey Mantle homered in the top of the first for New York, but the Reds reeled off nine runs in the third and fourth innings, tattooing Yankees starter Ralph Branca for nine runs. Without the benefit of a home run, Cincinnati created an eight-run cushion before the Yankees scored again in the seventh inning. In the eighth, Bob Cerv lined a single off Harry Perkowski to centerfield, scoring two, pulling New York within five, 9-4. Willy Miranda led off the top of the ninth with a double, which was followed by a Marlin Stuart walk. Bill "Moose" Skowron's single plated Miranda. Mantle singled, scoring Stuart. Skowron then scored on a dropped fly ball and Enos Slaughter walked to load the bases for Cerv who represented the go-ahead run. Cerv hit an RBI single, and a throwing error allowed Enos to hustle from first to home knotting the game at 9-9. Miranda's infield single would score Cerv, completing the comeback. All of the Hall of Famers in this game came from the Yankees, starting with manager Casey Stengel. Mantle, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto and Slaughter all appeared in the game.

Aaron, Mathews and Williams Take the Field, July 25, 1955

Ted Williams launched a two-run home run in his only at bat as Boston scored three runs in the top of the first inning to defeat the Milwaukee Braves, 4-2. Dick Brodowski hurled a complete game for Boston, allowing only a Bill Bruton home run in the bottom of the first inning and one ninth inning run en route to earning the victory. The Red Sox scored three in the first and added an insurance run on Ted Lepcio's solo home run in the top of the eighth. Henry Aaron, playing in just his second major league season, started for the Braves, along with teammate, and fellow future Hall of Famer, Eddie Mathews.

Giants Out-Slug Tigers in 12 innings, July 23, 1956

Three and a half hours after the first pitch of the 15th installment of the Hall of Fame Game, the 8,500 fans in attendance had witnessed a combined 22 runs, 32 hits, 10 doubles and seven errors. When the dust settled, the New York Giants had defeated the Detroit Tigers, 11-10, on a walk-off home run from Dusty Rhodes in the bottom of the 12th inning. Rhodes homered twice in the game, both coming in extra innings. He finished the game with five RBI and four hits. The offensive explosion produced runs in every inning except the ninth and 11th. Tied 8-8 after eight, the Tigers took a 9-8 lead in the 10th, only to have the Giants even the ledger again. Al Kaline and Willie Mays had early roles for each of their clubs, and future Hall of Fame reliever Hoyt Wilhelm earned the win for the Giants, working three innings in relief.

White Sox Explode Against Cardinals, July 22, 1957

The Chicago White Sox needed just the third inning to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals in the 16th annual Hall of Fame Game, scoring eight runs in the frame en route to a 13-4 victory. Jim Derrington held St. Louis scoreless through six, allowing two runs in the seventh inning before his departure earning the victory. Al Lopez managed the Sox to his second Hall of Fame Game victory. Jim Rivera and Walt Dropo each homered for the Sox, as future Hall of Famers Larry Doby, Nellie Fox, and Luis Aparicio played key roles for Chicago, while Stan Musial started for St. Louis.

Senators Clip Phillies, 5-4, in Less Than Two Hours, August 4, 1958

Norm Zauchin delivered a two-run, game-deciding single in the top of the fifth inning as the Washington Senators clipped the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4, in the 1958 Hall of Fame Game. Albie Pearson's two-run home run in the third inning gave Washington a 3-1 lead, but Richie Ashburn scored the tying run on an RBI single by Ed Bouchee. Zauchin's two-run single in the top of the fifth concluded the scoring, giving Vito Valentinetti the win in relief.

Rain Forces 5-5 Tie, July 20, 1959

Fortunately for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the rain fell just in time, ending the 1959 Game with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Game was tied at 5-5 at the time, with the Kansas City Athletics threatening to take the lead. Pittsburgh built a 5-2 lead through five innings on Bill Mazeroski's bat and Roberto Clemente's arm. Maz would end the day 3-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs and an RBI single. Clemente would save a run in the third inning with a rocket throw from right field to prevent a Kansas City score. Leading 5-2 entering the bottom of the sixth, Pirates pitcher Ron Blackburn walked four consecutive batters to even the ledger. But the Athletics would not get the chance to take the lead, as umpires halted the game with runners on base and the go-ahead run 90 feet away.