Reynolds' Second No-Hitter
Allie's Gem Clinched the Yankees' Third Consecutive Flag
Allie Reynolds started the first game with the chance to clinch a tie for the pennant. The Yankees had an 8-0 lead in the ninth, but things were far from comfortable.
Mention the 1951 pennant race and the image produced is Bobby Thomson’s home run, but there was another pennant race that year. With 9 games remaining, the Yankees led the second place Indians, who had only 5 games left, by a mere ½ game. The Yankees were in Boston to play the third place Red Sox a three game set. The defending World Champs had lost every one of the previous 8 games they had played in Boston, but they managed to win two out of three, and a few days later were facing the Red Sox in a doubleheader at the Stadium, now with a 2-½ game lead over the Tribe.
Reynolds Went to the Ninth Inning With a No-Hitter
Allie Reynolds started the first game against Mel Parnell with the chance to clinch a tie for the pennant. The Yankees had a comfortable 8-0 lead going to the top of the ninth, but things were far from being comfortable. Reynolds had not allowed a Boston hit and if he were successful, he would become only the second pitcher in baseball history to pitch two no-hitters in the same season. Reynolds had no-hit the Indians on July 12 in Cleveland, beating Bob Feller, 1-0. In 1938, Johnny Vander Meer hurled consecutive no-hitters against the Braves and Dodgers.
Williams' First Foul Pop Up
Reynolds retired the first two Bosox batters in the ninth, bringing up Ted Williams. The first pitch was a called strike on a fast ball. Reynolds the peered in to Berra to get the signal, nodded assent, and fired another fast ball. Ted swung and hit a high, twisting foul pop fly behind home plate. Yogi went after it, waited, and when the ball hit his mitt, it fell out,
Williams Was Upset
The Yankees’ Super Chief patted Yogi on the back, telling him that they would get Williams out. Ted was almost upset as Yogi. "You sons of bitches put me in a hell of a spot. You blew it, and now I've got to bear down even harder even though the game is decided and your man has a no-hitter going."
Berra Didn't Let a Second Chance Go By
Williams swung at Reynolds’ first delivery, lifting another pop up behind home plate, but a little closer to the first base side. Berra caught the ball as Reynolds caught Berra. The Yankees had clinched a tie for the pennant and Reynolds had his second no-hitter. The Yankees, behind Vic Raschi and a three run Joe DiMaggio home run won the nightcap, 11-3, to clinch their third consecutive pennant.
The Indians and Red Sox Were Strong Teams
The Indians were a formidable team. Bob Feller led the pitching staff with 22 wins, while Early Wynn and Mike Garcia each won 20. Bob Lemon won 17. The Red Sox lacked the Indians’ pitching, but had Williams, Vern Stephens, Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky, and the great Dom DiMaggio. Winning the 1951 was not easy for the Yankees, and although the pennant race wasn’t as close as the one in the other league, it ended almost dramatically when Reynolds clinched a tie by tossing his second no hitter.
References:
Drebinger, John. "Yanks Clinch Flag, Aided by Reynolds’ No-Hitter; Berra Goes Sprawling; Some Anxious Moments." New York Times. 29 September 1951, p. 25.
Reynolds No-Hitter at Baseball Library
