49's Fastball

Colt .45s Opener by Larry Dierker

In 1950, an unusual and tragic event took place at Buff Stadium in Houston, Texas. A man took his life with a dramatic explosion. The instance was even caught on television. It was a promotion team president, Allen Russell, certainly did not intend.For more information visit www.49sfastball.com

During the summer of 1957, the Brooklyn Dodgers were being openly courted by the city of Los Angeles, but on August 19, the Giants beat the Dodgers to the punch in moving west. Their move to San Francisco was the fourth franchise shift in the 1950s after the Braves, Browns, and Athletics.For more information visit www.49sfastball.com

Curt Flood is best known as the player who challenged baseball’s reserve system, which laid the groundwork that led to free agency. His fondest memories however, are of playing the game, particularly the day he got 8 hits in his home state of California at Dodger Stadium front of his family.For more information visit www.49sfastball.com

There’s an old idea in sports that when you’re winning, you don’t change a thing, but on July 30, 1982, the Atlanta Braves threw superstition to the wind. Braves’ owner, Ted Turner, removed mascot, Chief Noc-A-Homa’s Tee from the stands to sell the seat that it had been covering. The Braves lost 19 of 21 games while the Chief was homeless, leading the team to believe they may be under an Indian curse. Turner soon restored the Tee Pee, and as if by magic, the team started winning again.

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Rudy York's Big August by Larry Dierker

Kirby Puckett Six Hits by Larry Dierker

Fred Hutchinson Steals Home by Larry Dierker

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