1950 Hall of Fame Game
The largest crowd to date trekked to Cooperstown to see the Boston Red Sox and the New York Giants square off at Doubleday Field for the ninth Hall of Fame Game on July 24, 1950. The 10,798 fans on hand witnessed an 8-5 Red Sox victory and a complete game by Boston starter Dick Littlefield.
With the victory, the American League claimed its third consecutive and fourth overall Hall of Fame Game win.
Littlefield pitched nine innings of seven-hit baseball for the Red Sox. He allowed two home runs that accounted for four of the Giants’ five runs, including a three-run shot from New York starting pitcher Clint Hartung.
The Giants struck early with a run in the bottom of the first inning when right fielder Don Mueller hit a one-out single and scored on a ground rule double by left fielder Monte Irvin.
Boston responded with two runs in the top of the fourth inning when Mueller committed an error on a Billy Goodman base hit with runners on first and second.
The Red Sox’s lead did not last, however. Down 2-1, the Giants pulled ahead on Hartung’s home run in the bottom of the fourth, scoring both Jack Lohrke and Jack Maguire, who had both singled to begin the rally for the Giants.
New York tacked on another run in their half of the fifth inning on a Stormy Weatherly solo shot.
Hartung gave up two more runs to the Red Sox in the top of the seventh inning on a two-run home run from Boston catcher Matt Batts. Reliever Andy Hansen replaced Hartung in the top of the eighth inning with the Giants ahead 5-4 and immediately surrendered four runs – including home runs from Johnny Pesky and Vern Stephens – as Boston took the lead for good.
Littlefield picked up the win for the Red Sox, allowing five runs on seven hits while striking out eight and walking three. Boston left 15 runners on base and committed two errors in the game.
Batts led the way offensively with three hits and three RBI for the Red Sox.
Hartung pitched seven innings, also allowing five runs on seven hits, walking six while striking out five. Hansen struggled, allowing four runs on five hits in two innings of work. In all, the Giants made eight substitutions where Boston made just one.
