Opening Day 1952

[tomsawyer-finn]

The Herman Franks League opened its 1952 season with good games across the board. After a lively post season that saw Los Angeles host an ''all LA'' World Series that was won by the LA SkyHawks over the Los Angeles Lemmings in four straight games.

There was a flurry of trades with the Kansas City Athletics being involved on four of the trades involving nine of their players. The A's s traded center fielder Rick Hale, catcher Javier Healy, second baseman Jim Flores, first baseman Bill Tuttle, acquired from Milwaukee and sent back to Milwaukee in a second trade with Milwaukee) among others and received a bevy of young talent; outfielder Bip Cash, relief pitcher Johnny Beasley, relief pitcher Perry Webster, catcher Chris Riley, relief pitcher Ed Benton, third baseman Mike Mulleavy and starting pitcher Larry Garriot.

Even some in the Kansas City organization were surprised at some of the players let go by the team.

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Boston Red Bulls 4 Washington 2

Jim Tarbert hit a two run homerun for Boston in the 5th inning to put the Red Bulls ahead 2-1.

Washington tied the game 2-2 in the 7th inning on a single by Bill Willis.

Washington went ahead in the bottom of that inning. Raphael Derry walked lead-off batter Mike Howell. Gene Hoiles doubled driving in Howell, advanced on an infield out and scored on another ground out by Zinn Leon.

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Los Angeles 2 Minnesota 1

12 Innings

Dick Clemensen hit a game winning walk off homerun off Earl Foytack.

Snipe Blume went one inning for the win in relief.

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Toronto 2 Tampa Bay 1

John Coffman went seven shutout innings allowed just two hits and one run for the win. Harry Messenger and Doyt Conti (save) pitched a pair of scoreless innings in the eight and ninth to finish it for Toronto.

Toronto trailed for most of the game, tied it in the 8th inning when Doug Blanco singled in Lance Mullen (reached on E6) with an unearned run.

Toronto went ahead in the top of the 9th on a Wayne Tallon single. He came around to score the winning run on a two out single by Mullen.

Doyt Conti struck out two of the three batters he faced in the 9th inning.

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Kansas City 8 Tampa Bay 0

Larry Barrett gave the Kansas City bullpen the day off pitching a complete game two hit shutout with three strikeouts.

Garrett retired the first thirteen batters in a row before allowing a one out single in the 5th inning to Greg Bloodworth, then retired eleven in a row before allowing a lead off double in the 9th inning to Chuck Hinzu. Garrett was equal to the task setting down the next three batters to finish the game.

The A's debuted several new players in the lineup including catcher Chris Riley and left fielder Bip Cash. Riley scored two runs in the game, stole a base, and caught a complete game shutout by the starting pitcher thus impressing the doubters who railed at the trade he came to Kansas City in.

Riley singled to center field in the 4th, stole second base, went to third on a soft single to left by John Mathews advanced on an infield out and scored on a slow roller to first by Bill McCall.

Bruce LaCock allowed a run scoring single to John Mathews (4th it of the game)and then walked Mike Jackson to load the bases, McCall broke the game open with a grand slam homerun.

Pinch hitter Greg Brock added a homerun in the 7th inning to cap off the scoring.