Editor’s note: The 1950 Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur. For this tournament, the rules include a three-man pitching rotation using the best lineups available.
Carl Erskine tossed a complete game as the 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers posted an 8-2 victory over the 1950 New York Yankees in the opener of the 1950s Diamond Gems Tournament at Ebbets Field.
Erskine allowed seven hits, while walking three and fanning seven to lead the Dodgers.
New York grabbed an early advantage as Yogi Berra had a sacrifice fly in the first, but the Dodgers took advantage of control problems in the bottom of the frame as New York starter Vic Raschi walked Roy Campanella to force in a run and then surrendered a sacrifice fly to Gil Hodges to make it 2-1 Brooklyn.
Both teams added a run in the second as as Johnny Mize homer for the Yankees and Jim Gilliam knocked in the go-ahead run for Brooklyn with a ground out.
From that point, it was all Dodgers.
Carl Furillo had a two-run single in the fifth before Brooklyn added a run on a New York error, which brought an end to Raschi’s day.
The Dodgers picked up their final two runs in the seventh when New York pitcher Whitey Ford couldn’t handle grounder off the bat of Erskine.
1950s Diamond Gems Tournament
First Round Schedule and Results
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 8, 1950 New York Yankees 2
1954 Cleveland Indians at 1957 Milwaukee Braves
1956 New York Yankees at 1959 Chicago White Sox
1950 Philadelphia Phillies at 1954 New York Giants