After an eight-year study, scientist Jonas Salk finally developed a vaccine that prevented the crippling disease known as polio. Though he was hailed as a miracle worker and a national hero, Salk remained shy of the public eye. He declined to apply for a patent for the vaccine, saying that he was more concerned with people having access to it than the money it would bring him. His next project, one that lasted up until his death in 1995, was to find a cure for AIDS.
The 1952 Olympic games took place in Helsinki reflecting the attitudes of "East versus West" that had been spawned by the Cold War. The Soviet Union decided to rejoin the competition for the first time since 1912, although from a distance. Instead of joining the other athletes in the Olympic Village, the Soviets set up their own camp strictly for Eastern bloc countries near the Soviet naval base at Porkkala. All Russian athletes were then chaperoned by Soviet officials everywhere they went in an effort to prevent communication with athletes from the West.
On April 30 th , renamed "Ted Williams Day" at Boston's Fenway Park, "Teddy Baseball" played in his final game of the season before going overseas to serve in the Korean War as a Marine fighter pilot. Fittingly, in his last at-bat, the Red Sox slugger hit a game-winning, two-run home run off Detroit's Dizzy Trout for a 5-3 victory over the Tigers.
Seven players including members of the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians were turned in by American League umpire Bill Summers for apparently "fraternizing" before a game. Although the players remained nameless, they were fined $5 each for violating the 1951 rule that strictly prohibited socializing between players from two competing teams.
Washington Senators' owner Clark Griffith dispelled any chance of being accused of practicing preferential treatment after he sold his own nephew, catcher Sherry Robertson, to the Philadelphia Athletics. Robertson later returned to his uncle's front office and served as director of their farm system from 1958-1970.
Boston Braves ace Warren Spahn tied a National League record (set by Jim Whitney) after posting eighteen strikeouts against the Chicago Cubs in a ffiteen inning, 3-1 loss. Spahn also added a home run as the only score in support of his own efforts. June 14 th has also been remembered as a winning day in Braves history after team scout Dewey Griggs signed an up and coming rookie named Henry Aaron to his first Major League contract.
The Brooklyn Dodgers set a National League mark after completing double plays in twenty-three consecutive games.
On September 29 th , Stan Musial shocked the Cubs by making his first (and only) Major League pitching appearance. After beating Chicago's Frank Baumholtz for his sixth batting title, the St. Louis Cardinal's slugger decided to face his adversary from the mound. Baumholtz responded to the challenge with a clutch hit and managed to reach base on a fielding error en route to a 3-0 victory.
The Celler committee announced that legislation for government control of Major League Baseball was unnecessary. The committee stated that the sport was obviously "competent and trustworthy" enough to solve its own problems. They also opposed all legislation exempting the reserve clause from antitrust laws.
Russia openly criticized the American game of baseball by citing their own version called "lapka" as being the original concept for the game. The State Department quickly came to the defense of the National Pastime by accusing the Soviet's claim as the founders of baseball to be part of its "Hate America" Cold War campaign.
Major League attendance plummeted for the second season in a row as National League ticket sales dropped a staggering 904,854 and American League sales went down 588,788.
Hitting Statistics League Leaderboard
Base on Balls
Pittsburgh
110
Batting Average
St. Louis
.336
Doubles
St. Louis
42
Hits
St. Louis
194
Home Runs
Pittsburgh
37
Chicago
On Base Percentage
Brooklyn
.440
RBI
Chicago
121
Runs
St. Louis
105
St. Louis
Slugging Average
St. Louis
.538
Stolen Bases
Brooklyn
30
Total Bases
St. Louis
311
Triples
New York
14
Pitching Statistics League Leaderboard
Complete Games
Philadelphia
30
ERA
New York
2.43
Games
New York
71
Saves
St. Louis
16
Shutouts
Cincinnati
6
Philadelphia
Strikeouts
Boston
183
Winning Percentage
New York
.833
Wins
Philadelphia
28
1952 National League Team Standings |
||||
Team [Click for roster] | Wins | Losses | WP | GB |
96 | 57 | .627 | 0 | |
92 | 62 | .597 | 4½ | |
88 | 66 | .571 | 8½ | |
87 | 67 | .565 | 9½ | |
77 | 77 | .500 | 19½ | |
69 | 85 | .448 | 27½ | |
64 | 89 | .418 | 32 | |
42 | 112 | .273 | 54½ |
Hitting Statistics League Leaderboard
Base on Balls
Brooklyn
663
Batting Average
St. Louis
.267
Doubles
St. Louis
247
Hits
Chicago
1,408
Home Runs
Brooklyn
153
On Base Percentage
Brooklyn
.348
Runs
Brooklyn
775
Slugging Average
Brooklyn
.399
Stolen Bases
Brooklyn
90
Triples
New York
56
Pitching Statistics League Leaderboard
Complete Games
Philadelphia
80
ERA
Philadelphia
3.07
Fewest Hits Allowed
Chicago
1,265
Fewest Home Runs Allowed
Philadelphia
96
Fewest Walks Allowed
Philadelphia
373
Saves
New York
31
Shutouts
Philadelphia
17
Strikeouts
Brooklyn
773
The "good purchase of the year award" must be given to the Boston Braves who were wise enough to obtain an 18-year-old Hank Aaron from the Indianapolis Clowns for $2,500 (plus $7,500 if he remained with the franchise for 30 days).
On June 15, 1952, the St. Louis Cardinals were losing 11-0 versus the New York Giants at The Polo Grounds. Five innings later the score was 14-12 and the Cardinals were victorious in the greatest comeback game of the season.
Trivia alert: The pitcher who got the last win for the Boston Braves was Virgil Jester and it took place on September 27, 1952 at Ebbets Field.