Bobby Thomson Traded by the Giants
Home Run Hero Goes to Milwaukee Braves for Pitching Help
In need of pitching for 1954, the Giants traded the player who hit the "shot heard 'round the world" for Johnny Antonelli, who helped lead New York to the World Series.
Bobby Thomson hit "the shot heard 'round the world" in 1951. Fifty six years later, it remains the most famous home run in baseball history. Thomson did fairly well the next season, batting .270 with 24 home runs and 108 RBIs, as the Giants finished second, 4 1/2 games behind Brooklyn. In 1953, Bobby did better, hitting .288 with 26 home runs and 106 RBIs, but he and Giants' manager Leo Durocher were not seeing eye to eye. When Durocher was given a two year contract extension in mid season, there was speculation that Thomson would be traded in the off season, and he was.
The Giants Needed Pitching Help
Giants' owner Horace Stoneham realized that his team needed pitching help. Milwaukee, a team that wanted more offense, offered the Giants young lefthander Johnny Antonelli as the main part of a package in return for Thomson. Stoneham expressed deep regret when he traded Thomson, stating that "Thomson always played fine ball for us and always will be remembered as the hero of the Giants' 1951 pennant victory. But the Giants had to strengthen their pitching staff and we had to include Thomson in the deal to do it." No one in 1954 realized how much the magnitude of Thomson's home run would increase, but even if they had, the past is the past and baseball is an excellent example of "what have you done for me lately?"
Willie Mays Was Returning From the Army
The Giants could afford to trade Thomson because Willie Mays was returning from the army after missing most of the 1952 and all of 1953 seasons. Adding Thomson to the lineup would give the Braves, who had young slugger Eddie Mathews at third base and the power hitting Joe Adcock at first, three solid hitters. They hoped that rookie outfielder Hank Aaron would contribute as well. Mays was re-joining the Giants, and Aaron was joining the Braves. The defending National League champion Brooklyn Dodgers would be facing quite a challenge.
Bobby Thomson and Hank Aaron Suffer Broken Ankles
Bobby Thomson went to spring training with the Braves. There is an old "Twilight Zone" episode from 1959, "Mr. Denton on Doomsday," with a character named Henry J. Fate, In his first exhibition game as a Milwaukee Brave, Thomson slide into third base and broke his ankle. In the ninth inning rally against Brooklyn, Don Mueller had broken his ankle sliding into third base just before Thomson hit the pennant winning home run. And when Thomson finally returned to the Braves' lineup, Henry Aaron pinch ran for him and, sliding into third base, broke his ankle.
Johnny Antonelli and Willie Mays Lead the Giants to the World Series
Johnny Antonelli had a great 1954 season, going 21-7 with a league leading 2.30 ERA. The returning Willie Mays won the batting title with a .345 average, hit 41 home runs, and had 110 RBIs. The Giants won the pennant by 5 games over second place Brooklyn and 8 games over the third place Braves. The trade turned out beautifully for the Giants but cost the Braves dearly. It once again demonstrates that sometimes a beloved home town hero can help the team in different ways.
References:
- Drebinger, John. "Giants Trade Thomson to Braves; '51 Pennant Hero in 6-Player Deal to Milwaukee." The New York Times. 2 February 1954, p.1.
- Bobby Thomson at Baseball Library
