The Billy Goodman Game

Athletics at Red Sox, May 30, 1949, Game 2

The Billy Goodman Game

Since the title basically gives this one away, we’ll just jump into it.

The Red Sox lost the first game of this double header, but came close to winning it. Billy Goodman, who has been on fire early in the season, did his part to try to come back in the bottom of the 9th:

Sadly, it just wasn’t meant to be. Philadelphia won, 4-2, and Boston’s dream of using the double header to establish a sizeable lead faded away.

In the second game, however, Goodman had another chance. This one was tied at 1 going into the bottom of the 9th:

It was an unusually great day for Goodman, who went 4 for 4, drove in both Red Sox runs, and provided the big hit to win it.

Amazingly, Boston had 11 hits and Dick Fowler gave up 7 walks, and yet the Red Sox still had to wait until the bottom of the 9th to win it. Of course, it doesn’t help when the wind is blowing in from center field at 30 miles per hour.