December 30, 2011

Mueller Passes

Don Mueller died on Wednesday at 84:

In the 1951 playoff game between the Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers, which ended with Bobby Thomson’s famous homer, Mueller played a key role. After Alvin Dark led off the ninth with a single, Mueller singled to right, advancing Dark to third. Whitey Lockman then doubled to score Dark and cut the Dodgers’ lead to 4-2, but Mueller slid badly and injured an ankle. He was taken from the field by stretcher. It was during that delay that the Dodgers called for Ralph Branca to pitch to Thomson, who homered in what became known as the “shot heard ’round the world.”


He was an all-star twice
, leading the National League in hitting in 1954, the year of last New York Giants World Championship, and the penultimate one for the franchise. He was a successful hacker; he seldom struck out or walk, but managed a high batting average, .296 for his career, but a low OBP, .322.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

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