9/30-10/6/51

Sept 30 Sunday In a tremendous game the Dodgers stayed in the pennant race by defeating the Phillies on the last day of the season 9-8 in 14 innings. The Dodgers came from 4-0, 6-1, 8-5. Jackie Robinson saved the game in the 13th with a diving catch and homered in the 14th to win. The Dodgers had frittered away a 13 1/2 game lead and collapsed entirely the final week. The Giants beat the Braves earlier in the day and must play off with the Dodgers for the pennant. They have won 37 out of the last 44 and seven straight. Played Eugene a chess game and he was out of practice.

October 1 Rosh Hashonah Sanitation workers are slowing down in a drive for better wages and 40 hour week. We had Mike's, Sam's and Milton's family over for dinner. Seth as usual played the piano and led the applause. Sylvia played "The Elf and the Fairy", Eugene "The Wild Rider" and Isabel "The Spinning Song". Eugene and Isabel played the "Parker" baseball game. Eugene Plotnikoff is dead.

A picture, scanned in below, was pasted in the middle of this entry, with the title "Eugene and Sylvia in September 1951". 

Oct 2 We went over to Mom's for lunch. Rochel, Mayer and Sadie also in adition to the usual. Peggy said "I pledge Allegiance" and improvised some songs. We saw the Dodgers with Labine trounce the Giants 10-0 to tie the playoff. Eugene and pop played a chess game.

I remember that disappointing game very well. A month earlier, on 9/3, Dad wrote "Harry "hexed" the Giants as usual", Harry being our uncle; Dad's brother-in-law. I assume he was actually a Dodger fan; he certainly seemed to take pleasure in Dad's and my disappointment!

Oct 3 Lil had xrays at Dr Robbins. British technicians pulled out of Iran under pressure. Jansen opened a new "Red" quiz against three H.S. teachers - Terry Rosenbaum, Max Gilgoff and Sam Wallach.

Oct 4 In a miracle finish, Bobby Thomson homered in ninth with two on to win the pennant for the Giants 5-4 to climax the greatest comeback ever. Truman reported that Russia has set off another A-bomb.

At school, for some reason we were lined up outside a school office and the game was on the radio, and I heard the first Dodger run score. Hurried home as quickly as I could after school, but stopped outside a TV store where lots of people were watching the game in the window, and saw the Giants tie the game. Then got home in time to see the Dodgers score three in the top of the eighth. And, of course, the exciting bottom of the ninth. Most memorable to me, when Thomson came up, Mom, who was laying on the couch watching the game with me, said "Oooh, oooh, hit a home run!" To which I exasperatedly said "No, no, just a single"; a single would tie the game, and the baseball gods don't like it if you ask them for a home run if you only need a single. But Mom knew best. 

As soon as the game was over, our downstairs neighbor, Madeline Gallins, came running upstairs and we danced around the room. You can be assured that the dancing was not my idea.    

Oct 5 The Giants took the 1st 5-1. Dark homered with 2 on. Irvin stole home and got 4 hits - tying two records. Racketeer Willy Moretti was killed by four men to stop him from talking.

Oct 6 The Yanks take 2ND 3-1. The UN reported that the "Red"s winter line has been broken. Pop fell two stories when a wooden horse on which his ladder was resting broke a leg. Xrays were negative though pop hurt his back, wrist and elbow. 

"Pop", meaning our grandfather, was an ironworker.