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JIM BRITT |
ON THIS DATE (July 20, 1959)
... There were many old Boston Braves fans on hand to see
the 2nd Jimmy Fund benefit game between the Sox and the Milwaukee
Braves at Fenway Park. Former Braves and Red Sox radio announcer, Jim
Britt, one of the originators of the Jimmy Fund, took some bows for
the progress the charity had made.
In section 14, the loudest fans sat rooting still for their Braves.
Number #1, rooter, Lolly Hopkins, was back to chat with Warren Spahn,
Johnny Logan, Del Crandall, Lew Burdette and Eddie Mathews.
There were over 24 gals in the group that Lolly used to lead at
Braves Field and they distributed their trademark lollipops to the
girls and Tootsie Rolls to the players back then. Not only were the
lollipops their symbol, but they all tried to out-do each other
coming up with different dresses to symbolize their Braves. Anything
from a teepee to a tomahawk was acceptable as a symbol.
American League president, Joe Cronin visited to chat with manager
Fred Haney in the visitor's clubhouse before the game. Tommy
Ferguson, the Braves visitors clubhouse manager came back along with
the popular Donald Davidson, the Braves press secretary.
The game however had to be called after five innings because of rain.
The big smash was Del Crandall's three-run homer, which broke a
scoreless game in the fourth inning.
Two Sox errors helped the Braves push their lead up to 7-0, in the
fifth inning. Two runners were on base with two outs when Gene
Stephens dropped a pop fly for a two base error, allowing one run to
score. Then Hank Aaron hit a chopper to Frank Malzone, that he threw
into the Sox dugout, allowing two more runs to cross. Joe Adcock's
double off the wall scored Aaron with the final run.
As the rain started to fall,
Pete Runnels laced a bases-loaded single that produced two Sox runs
in the fifth inning. Dick Gernert knocked in another run when Andy
Pafko misjudged his fly ball into a double. Billy Bruton's leaping
catch against the centerfield flag pole on Malzone's liner,
ended the rally and the game.
Warren Spahn started the game and pitched one inning. Bob Buhl
pitched the second and Joey Jay pitched the remainder of the game for
Milwaukee. Jack Harshman pitched all five innings for the Sox.
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LOLLY HOPKINS AND FRIENDS |
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