Friday, July 10, 2015

Johnny Blanchard homered in four consecutive at bats in three games over six days.

Johnny Blanchard

Baseball Digest back cover, Feb. 1959 via Wikimedia Commons
Positions: Pinch Hitter, Outfielder and Catcher 
Bats: Left, Throws: Right 
Height: 6' 1", Weight: 193 lb.
Born: February 26, 1933 in Minneapolis, MN 
High School: Central HS (Minneapolis , MN)
Signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1951.
Debut: September 25, 1955 (Age 22, 8,921st in MLB history)
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1960 season [*] 
Teams (by GP): Yankees/Athletics/Braves 1955-1965
Last Game: September 27, 1965 (Age 32)

Died: March 25, 2009 in Robbinsdale, MN (Aged 76)

Friday, July 21, 1961, Fenway Park
Attendance: 32,186, Time of Game: 3:39

Yankees 11, Red Sox 8

Top of the 9th, Yankees Batting, Behind 6-8, Red Sox' Arnold Earley facing 2-3-4
Tony Kubek Groundout: 2B-1B
Roger Maris Walk
Mickey Mantle Walk
Yogi Berra Single to RF (Line Drive); Maris Scores; Mantle to 3B/Adv on E9; Berra to 2B
Mike Fornieles replaces Arnold Earley pitching
Bill Skowron Intentional Walk
Elston Howard Flyball: SS
Johnny Blanchard pinch hits for Clete Boyer (3B) batting 8th
Johnny Blanchard Home Run (Deep RF); Mantle Scores; Berra Scores; Skowron Scores
Luis Arroyo Single to LF (Ground Ball)
Bobby Richardson Flyball: CF
5 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. Yankees 11, Red Sox 8.

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Saturday, July 22, 1961, Fenway Park
Attendance: 25,089, Time of Game: 3:27
Yankees 11, Red Sox 9

Top of the 9th, Yankees Batting, Behind 8-9, Red Sox' Gene Conley facing 6-7-8
Bill Skowron Groundout: P-1B
Elston Howard Strikeout
Johnny Blanchard pinch hits for Clete Boyer (3B) batting 8th
Johnny Blanchard Home Run (Deep RF Line)

Luis Arroyo Double to LF (Deep LF)
Bobby Richardson Single to CF (Ground Ball); Arroyo Scores
Tony Kubek Double to CF (Deep LF-CF); Richardson Scores
Roger Maris Flyball: 2B
3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. Yankees 11, Red Sox 9.
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Sunday, July 23, 1961, Fenway Park Red Sox 5, Yankees 4, Blanchard did not play

Monday, July 24, 1961 no game

Tuesday, July 25, 1961, Yankee Stadium Yanks swept doubleheader from White Sox 5-1, 12-0, Blanchard did not play

Wednesday, July 26, 1961, 2:03PM, Yankee Stadium I
Attendance: 22,366, Time of Game: 2:06
Yankees 5, White Sox 2
Blanchard started at catcher batting fifth behind Mantle.

Bottom of the 1st, Yankees Batting, Tied 0-0, White Sox' Ray Herbert facing 1-2-3
two out
Mantle Home Run (Deep CF-RF); Richardson Scores
Blanchard Home Run (Deep RF)

Bottom of the 4th, Yankees Batting, Ahead 3-0, White Sox' Ray Herbert facing 5-6-7
Blanchard Home Run (Deep RF) leading off
two out
Boyer Home Run (Deep LF)


Bottom of the 6th, Yankees Batting, Ahead 5-0, White Sox' Ray Herbert facing 4-5-6
one out
Blanchard Flyball: RF (Deep RF)

Bottom of the 8th, Yankees Batting, Ahead 5-2, White Sox' Turk Lown facing 3-4-5
one out, one on
Blanchard Ground Ball Double Play: 1B-SS-1B
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In 1961 the Yankees played one tie game and so played 163.  Here are the number of games started by the catchers with their age:
Howard (32) 106 games
Blanchard (28) 42 games
Berra (36) 15 
games.

It was said facetiously that the Yankee catchers combined for over 60 home runs. Here are their total HR, then AB and HR playing catcher:
Howard 21; 395;17
Blanchard 21; 170;11
Berra 22; 51;2

So as catchers the three hit 17+11+2=30 HR in 395+170+51=616 AB. 616/30=20.5. Not bad. Maris had 590/61=9.7.

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