Atlanta Braves History: Game delay due to dog on the field (July 5, 1953)

In their final season in Boston, on July 5, 1953, the Braves play in front of the largest home crowd of the season when 13,405 fans watch Brooklyn beat their team for the 12th consecutive time, a 5-3 complete-game victory by Carl Erskine. The most memorable moment of the contes

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Brooklyn Dodgers at Braves Field (Photo credit: Boston Public Library)[/caption]

t occurs in the second inning when the game is delayed because a small dog has to be escorted off the field by Dodger outfielders Carl Furillo and Duke Snider.

Related articles

• Atlanta Braves History: July 4, 1919 (mww1954.wordpress.com)

Atlanta Braves History: Joe Adcock hits a blast to center field at the Polo Grounds (1953)

Some things aren't easy. This was one of them. On April 29, 1953, Joe Adcock becomes the first ML player to homer into the Center Field bleacher seats in the Polo Grounds‚ over 475 feet away. His homer in the 3rd‚ with Pafko on‚ came off a Jim Hearn fast ball. Luke Easter‚ in a 1948 Negro League game‚ and Schoolboy Rowe‚ in batting practice before a 1933 exhibition game‚ also accomplished the feat.

Lou Brock and Hank Aaron will match it is as well in 1962. The Braves won the game 3-2 on a 9th-inning knuckler by Hoyt Wilhelm that eludes Sal Yvars for a wild pitch. Billy Bruton's perfect throw cuts down Monte Irvin for the final out. After the game‚ manager Charlie Grimm buys Adcock's homer for $25 from the fan who caught it. I wonder how much that is worth today?

They got Bobby (1954)

1954 was a good year for the Braves. Good but not great. Charlie Grimm was the manager. They ended up 89-65 and finished third, six games behind. They thought they needed some power. The year before Broklyn ran away with the pennant. They hit 52 more home runs than Milwaukee in 1953.

And so, it seemed like a good idea to get Bobby Thompson. In 1951 he hit the "shot heard 'round the world" to win the pennant for the Giants. He was a powerhouse for sure, scoring over 100 runs for his last four years with the Giants. It cost the Braves dearly to get him. In a six player deal they sent Johnny Antonelli to the Giants. And they got Bobbie.

During sprint training Thompson broke his ankle slidding into third base. He was out to mid season. Meanwhile, Antonelli pitched the Giants into the World Series. He won 21 games. He led the league in ERA and other pitching categories.

The Braves really helped the Giants that year but not themselves. So it goes with trades. It was not the "shot" they expected.