Atlanta Braves History: Joe Adcock and Al Sprangler help Phillie lose 20 in a row (August 17, 1961)

This is not the kind of record you want. On August 17, 1961, Philadelphia lost 20 in a row, a Major League record. It took 11 innings at County Stadium but they lost to the Milwaukee Braves 7-6. Al Sprangler singled home the winner.

This had to be discouraging since they had a 6-4 lead in the 8th when Joe Adcock slams a 2-run homer off Art Mahaffey to tie.

Related articles

• Atlanta Braves History: Dave Bancroft argues with his manager (May 20, 1920) (mww1954.wordpress.com)
• Atlanta Braves History: Joe Adcock sets new record for total bases (1954) (mww1954.wordpress.com)
• Atlanta Braves History: Joe Morgan goes 6-6 against the Braves (July 9, 1965) (mww1954.wordpress.com)

Atlanta Braves History: Joe Adcock sets new record for total bases (1954)

In the afternoon game on May 30, 1894‚ Boston 2B Bobby (Link) Lowe hits HRs in 4 consecutive at bats‚ including 2 in the 3rd inning‚ to lead his team to a 20-11 first-game conquest of Cincinnati and a sweep of the doubleheader. The homers came off Iceberg Chamberlain‚ and all were lofted over the 250-foot LF wall of Boston’s Congress Street Grounds‚ the Beaneater’s temporary home. Lowe also adds a single to total 17 bases for the game‚ a record tied but not beaten until Joe Adcock in 1954. After Lowe’s 4th homer‚ the crowd showers him with $160 in coins. There are 9 homers hit in the opener with Bug Holliday hitting 2. In the two games‚ Lowe’s teammate Herman Long sets a ML record by scoring 9 runs (5 runs in game 1)‚ which has since been tied only once. Lowe‚ who used the time between games of the twinbill to help himself to the shore dinner at the North Boston Railroad Station‚ will try the same meal tomorrow‚ but will go hitless.

Atlanta Braves History: Joe Adcock hits a blast to center field at the Polo Grounds (1953)

Some things aren’t easy. This was one of them. On April 29, 1953, Joe Adcock becomes the first ML player to homer into the Center Field bleacher seats in the Polo Grounds‚ over 475 feet away. His homer in the 3rd‚ with Pafko on‚ came off a Jim Hearn fast ball. Luke Easter‚ in a 1948 Negro League game‚ and Schoolboy Rowe‚ in batting practice before a 1933 exhibition game‚ also accomplished the feat.

Lou Brock and Hank Aaron will match it is as well in 1962. The Braves won the game 3-2 on a 9th-inning knuckler by Hoyt Wilhelm that eludes Sal Yvars for a wild pitch. Billy Bruton’s perfect throw cuts down Monte Irvin for the final out. After the game‚ manager Charlie Grimm buys Adcock’s homer for $25 from the fan who caught it. I wonder how much that is worth today?

Atlanta Braves History: Joe Adcock gets beaned (1954)

You have to love Joe Adcock. On August 1, 1954,  Dodgers Clem Labine beans Joe Adcock in the 4th. His helmet apparently saves him from a serious injury‚ but he is taken out of the game as a precautionary measure. He will appear in the starting line-up the next day. Gene Conley reciprocates by knocking down Jackie Robinson in the 6th and Robinson ends up scrapping with Eddie Mathews. The Braves win 14-6‚ their 10th win in a row‚ as Conley runs his record to 10-5. The Braves set a ML mark for extra bases on long hits in 2 consecutive games (44).

1954 was a great year for the Braves. It was tough for Joe when you play with the likes of Hank Aaron and Eddie Matthews.

Overshadowed but a great home run hitter nonetheless (Joe Adcock)

There is a lot to the Braves history and we have had our share of home run hitters. Joe Adcock was one of the Braves best and one of the best in all of baseball history. He retired in 1966. At the time he was 20th on the all-time list of home run hitters. He was seventh of all right handed hitters with 336 home runs.

It is probably fair to say that he was overshadowed by a few other Braves greats. He played with Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews. Imagine the team that had all three of them. That would have been the Milwaukee Braves now residing in Atlanta.