Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview
Download the book in PDF, ePub, Kindle for a complete version.
Damn Yankees
Page 98
In the three years since winning the National League pennant, the Giants had deteriorated, most precipitously in 1953 with a substandard fifth place showing. Most experts sensed Leo Durocher’s team was handicapped with the year-long loss of Willie Mays, still doing time in the Army.
Mays returned in 1954 and tore apart the rest of the league with a breakout performance after a year’s worth of growing up from 1951-52. The 23 year old slammed 41 homers, knocked in 110 runs and won the batting title at .345 on the season’s last day when he overtook challengers in teammate Don Mueller - .342 and
Brooklyn’s Duke Snider - .341. Mays was as much a marvel on the field as he was at bat, patrolling the Polo Grounds’ vast center field with incredible range.
The Giants were re-ignited by Mays, grabbing first place in June, a month during which they would win 24 of 28 games. They sailed through the summer and never relinquished the lead.
There were key ingredients to the Giants’ success beyond Mays. Pitcher Johnny Antonelli was acquired in a preseason trade that sent the popular Bobby Thomson to Milwaukee. Though other players were involved, Giants fans initially didn’t see the value in giving up their beloved hero of 1951 for a pitcher whose 12-12 record the year before was the best of his career.