Yogi Berra Advised Bill Skowron Not to Stop, Look or Listen Before the 1958 WS

The New York Yankees lost the opening game of the 1958 World Series to the defending World Champion Milwaukee Braves in 10 innings at County Stadium.

Before the Series, everyone wondered how the Braves would fare against Yankees' fire-balling relief pitcher,right-hander Ryne Duren, who had struck out 87 hitters in 75 and two-thirds innings.

Duren led the league with 20 saves, but no one knew it.

The Braves did fine against Duren, who relieved Whitey Ford in the eighth inning.

In those days, a team's best relief pitcher's job was to get his team out of jams with a minimum amount of damage, not start the ninth inning with the goal of retiring three batters before the opposition tied or won the game.

Eddie Mathews worked Ford for a walk leading off. Hank Aaron doubled him to third. Duren entered to protect the Yankees tenuous 3-2 lead.

He started out by doing what he did best. He struck out Joe Adcock, but Wes Covington, a left-handed batter, managed to hit a fly ball to Mickey Mantle that tied the game. Duren struck out Del Crandall to end the inning.

In the Braves' 10th, Billy Bruton hit a deep drive to deep right center field that scored Joe Adcock, who had singled and moved to second on Crandall's single. Duren was charged with the loss.

Warren Spahn went the distance for the win. After the game, Spahn told the baseball writers that he was ready to pitch in relief the next day if Lew Burdette needed help.

"I'd be quite willing to go in relief if Fred Haney wanted me to, but I hope Lew doesn't need any relief."

How different it was.

Pitchers were expected to finish what they started. A 37-year-old pitcher who had worked 10 innings thought that he could pitch in relief the next day. The Yankees best relief pitcher worked two and two-thirds innings, which was not unusual.

Bill "Moose" Skowron, an outstanding Yankees' first baseman who has been almost forgotten in the 21st century because he was overshadowed by Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra and others, was rattled by County Stadium.

Before the game, he explained.

"The trouble with this ball park," said Skowron as he pointed to the wire outfield fences, is that you can't tell when you've hit one over them." The fences were chain-linked, which made it difficult to see from home plate.

Yogi Berra had an answer for Skowron, an answer which graphically illustrates what many athletes have become.

"Just stick your head down and run Moose. Don't do no stoppin', lookin' or listenin'. The man in the blue suit will tell you if you made it."

Hank Bauer, who has become just as forgotten as Moose Skowron and who would hit two home runs to win the third game, almost didn't play in the opener.

"Your wrist is gonna keep you from playin', ain't it?" Casey Stengel asked Bauer before the opener. The tough ex-marine responded belligerently.

"There ain't nothing wrong with my wrist. I can play."

Of course Bauer played. He singled in the first to extend his World Series consecutive game hitting streak to 15.. Then, he hit a two-run home run fifth inning to give the Yankees the lead.

Lew Burdette, who had beaten the Yankees three times in the 1957 World Series, would get the start in the second game. He had allowed two runs in Game 2 and then shut out the Yankees in Game 5 and again in Game 7. The latter was on two days rest.

Things didn't seem too bright for the Yankees, who looked as if they might suffer their second consecutive World Series defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Braves. They lost the opener, the Braves had beaten Duren and they had to beat Burdette or go down two games to none to the Braves.

Fear not. The Yankees had Bob Turley and Don Larsen.

References:

By, A. D. (1958, Oct 02). Sports of the times. New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. 46. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/114529962?accountid=46260

By ROSCOE McGOWENSpecial to The New,York Times. (1958, Oct 02). Spahn ready to pitch in relief of burdette in second series game today. New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. 46-46. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/114529847?accountid=46260