Atlanta Braves: Throwback Thursday
By Jeff Schafer
The Atlanta Braves weren’t always nicknamed the Braves nor were they always located in Atlanta. Prior to moving to Atlanta in 1966, their home was located in Milwaukee and before that they were stationed in Boston Massachusetts. Winning 10 Pennants, attending two World Series, winning one in 1914, wasn’t enough to keep them in Boston. The Braves were located in Boston 81 years but on September 28, 1952 they played their final game in Boston.
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Braves would face, eventually NL champions, the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson. The starting pitcher for the Dodgers would be a 22-year-old fellow who had zero previous career starts, Ron Negray. On the mound for the Braves was a 28-year-old war veteran, in his second professional season, Ernie Johnson. On the lineup card for the Braves were some of the great ballplayers for the Braves in their decade of Sid Gordon, Johnny Logan and Eddie Mathews. Braves great pitcher, Warren Spahn even got an at-bat during this game but was on the opposite side of a strikeout.
The game would go back and forth with the Braves not backing down from the fight. The Dodgers were, record wise (96-57), significantly better then the Braves (64-89) during the 1952 season and were certain for a playoff run.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first, the Braves, playing for the pride of Boston, would answer in the second. Earl Torgeson would lead off with a single and advance to second on a single by Paul Burris. With a double by Jack Daniels the Braves got a run on the scoreboard but still down 2-1. Then, would take the lead off the bat of Jack Dittmer hitting a single to center field that scored Daniels and Burris.
Later, the Dodgers would score a run in the 3rd and then again in the 5th taking the lead back from the Braves. Both teams would score another run in the 6th inning making the score 5-4, Dodgers lead. Going into the 9th inning still clinching to a 5-4 lead, the Dodgers would get two quick outs, almost securing another victory for Brooklyn. But then on a seven-pitch battle, Johnny Logan would take a walk. The next at the plate to try and extend a baseball team in Boston, would be Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews. He would shoot a line drive double between center and right field scoring Logan and making the game 5-5.
The baseball game would go into the 12th inning but neither team would put another run on the board. This game, the final game for the Boston Braves, would end in a tie. The Dodgers would make a run to the World Series while the Braves would venture to Wisconsin.