Today in 1959 - Chicago Cubs vs San Francisco Giants

September 2, 1959 – Today in 1959, the Chicago Cubs visited the San Francisco Giants at Seals Stadium in San Francisco.

Felipe Alou got things going for the Giants by hitting a sacrifice fly in 2^nd inning and a solo homerun in the 4^th.  San Francisco led 2-0.

The Cubs responded with a leadoff homerun by Bobby Thomson in the 5^th.  Willie McCovey added to San Francisco’s lead by hitting a leadoff homerun.  The Giants now led 3-1.

In the top of the 9^th, Chicago came back.  Ernie Banks hit in Tony Taylor and punch hitter Walt Moryn hit in George Altman.  The game was now tied 3-3.

In the bottom of the 9^th, Don Elston was on the mound for Chicago.  Orlando Cepeda was first up was out on a fly ball to right field.  One out and Jackie Brandt came to bat.  Brandt hit a solo homerun.  Game over.  The San Francisco Giants beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3.

Giants’ relief pitcher Sam Jones got his third blown save and went to 18-12 with the win.  Jones struck out two and had no at bat.  Cubs’ relief pitcher Don Elston went to 6-7 with the loss.  He had no strikeouts and no at bats.

The Giants went to 74-58.  They led the National League, a game and a half ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The Cubs dropped to 62-68.  They trailed the Giants by 11 games and were in 6^th place in the National League.

Notables

• There were 3 Hall of Famers playing in this game; Ernie Banks for the Cubs, and Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, and Willie McCovey for the Giants.
  
• This was Bob Scheffing’s last season managing the Cubs.  He was featured in the Notables section of Baltimore Orioles vs Detroit Tigers - August 15, 1961.
  
• This was Bill Rigney’s second year managing the Giants.  He would be replaced in the middle of the 1960 season by Tom Sheehan, who would only finish that season.  Rigney went on to manage the Los Angeles/California Angels from 1961-69.
  
• Cubs player Jim Marshall went on to manage the Cubs from 1974-76.  He managed the Oakland A’s in 1979, the season before Billy Martin took over.
  
• LSU alum and Cub 3rd baseman Al Dark took over managing the San Francisco Giants from Tom Sheehan and led the team from 1961-64.  He led the Giants to the NL Pennant in 1962 and a World Series loss to the New York Yankees.  He went on to manage the Oakland A’s to a World Series victory in 1974.
  
• The Giants’ Jim Davenport managed the team for half a season in 1985.
  
• Cubs’ starting pitcher Art Ceccarelli pitched for eight innings.  He struck out 8 and batted 0-2. 
  
• Giants starting pitcher Mike McCormick pitched for 8 and a third innings.  He struck out 6 and batted 0-3.

Game stats and other data can be found on Baseball-Reference.com at Chicago Cubs vs San Francisco Giants - September 2, 1959.