Chain reaction in North Philly

Casey Stengel

Not thrilled with how his starting pitcher is faring, Brooklyn Dodgers manager Casey Stengel ambles to the mound to replace Boom-Boom Beck with two outs in the bottom of the first inning 88 years ago today at Philadelphia’s Baker Bowl.

Beck, already trailing 3-0, clearly is not thrilled about Stengel’s decision to take him out of a game, which is the second game of a doubleheader the Phillies eventually win 11-2 in North Philly.

Rather than simply giving the baseball to Stengel, Beck – in front of the Wednesday afternoon crowd of 12,000 – heaves the ball off Baker Bowl’s tall, tin-covered wall in right field.

Dodgers right fielder Hack Wilson, clearly not giving much thought to anything at the moment, hears the ball rocket off the tin wall, chases after it and makes a perfect throw to second base in an attempt to hold an imaginary baserunner to an equally imaginary single.

The 34-year-old Wilson, in the last season of a Hall of Fame career derailed by alcohol, does not start another game for Brooklyn before he is released on Aug. 8.

Two days later, the Phillies – perhaps enamored by his throw from right field – sign Wilson, who plays seven games for them before returning to the minors in 1935 for a 15th and final season as a pro.