1949 Hall of Fame Game

A sold out crowd filled historic Doubleday Field on June 13, 1949, to see the Washington Senators face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The exhibition game was played as the eighth Hall of Fame game. In a high-scoring battle that featured three home runs between the two teams - the Senators would top the Pirates 8-7.

Runs were scored early and often in the game, as the Pirates broke out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a single by future Hall of Fame outfielder Ralph Kiner. The Senators responded quickly however, scoring three runs in the bottom of the frame off Pittsburgh starter Cliff Chambers, the latter two runs coming on a homer by Washington outfielder Clyde Vollmer.

The Pirates would retake the lead briefly thanks to four-run fifth inning off Senators righty Dick Welk. The rally included a home run by Eddie Bockman, who replaced Kiner earlier in the game.

The Pirates lead would be short-lived. The Senators would counter with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to jump back in front. The runs were scored on a barrage of Washington singles off Chambers, who would be tagged with the loss. Welk would throw a complete game picking up the win.

The game’s biggest highlight came late as Pirates outfielder Dixie Walker, who was acquired by the Pirates from the Dodgers after the 1947 season, hit a mammoth home run in the top of the seventh. The blast wasn’t enough however as the Pirates would fall a run short, marking just the third loss in the eight-game series for the Senior Circuit.