SLIDING SCOREBill Rigney, of the N.Y. Giants, slides safely home on Whitey Lockman's single to left field during the 6th inning of the second game at the Polo Grounds today. Catcher Andy Lopata of the Phils takes the late throw. Westrum (9) and Gilbert (15) observe the play. The New York and Philadelphia teams split a double-header, the Phils taking the first half 5 to 2 and the Giants teh second, 3 to 1.
DATE: 5-28-1950
ORIGINAL or REPRINT: Type 1 Original - Printed from the original negative within about 2 years of when it was shot
TEAM: New York Giants
SUBJECTS: Bill Rigney, Stan Lopata, Wes Westrum, Tookie Gilbert
ISSUER: International News Photos
PHOTOGRAPHER: Frank Jurkoski
APPROXIMATE SIZE: 9"x7-1/8"
MARKS / STAMPING: Original paper caption remains affixed to the verso.
NUMBER OF PHOTOS: 1
COMMENTS / CONDITION: This is one of a number of photos to be offered which hail from the personal collection of All-Star player and manager Eddie Stanky. Wear on these, if any, is mostly confined to minor corner and edge wear, but see scans for further details including condition. We do not deal in stock images or modern reprints, and all scans shown are of the actual vintage photograph, slide or negative being sold. If you have any questions about a particular piece, please ask before the auction ends.
BIO: William Joseph Rigney (Specs, The Cricket) was born in 1918 in Alameda, CA and died in 2001 in Walnut Creek, CA. He played major league baseball from 1946 to 1953 as infielder for the New York Giants, appeared in the 1951 World Series, and was selected in 1948 as an All-Star. He was also was a broadcaster for the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics, and scouted and was briefly in the front office for the A's. He was managing the Giants by the time he was age 38, and went with them to San Francisco. Later, he managed the expansion Los Angeles Angels for their first nine years.
Stanley Edward Lopata (Stash) was born in 1925 in Delray, MI and died in 2013 in Philadelphia, PA. He played major league baseball from 1948 to 1960 as catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Braves, appeared in the 1950 World Series, and was selected in 1955 and 1956 as an All-Star. In 1986, Lopata was the first Chairman of the Endowment Committee of the National Association for Corrosion Education (NACE). He was named to the National Polish-American Hall of Fame in 1997.
Wesley Noreen Westrum was born in 1922 in Clearbrook, MN and died in 2002 in Clearbrook, MN of cancer at the age of 79. He played major league baseball from 1947 to 1957 as catcher for the New York Giants, appeared in the 1951 and 1954 World Series, and was selected in 1952 and 1953 as an All-Star. Signed by the Giants in 1941, Westrum missed three seasons (1943-1945) seasons while still in the minors due to military service during World War II. He reached the majors late in the 1947 season after hitting 22 homers with the Minneapolis Millers that year and spent most of the next two years as a backup catcher with the team. He also was with the Jersey City Giants for part of the 1949 campaign and hit an International League record 5 grands slams in just 51 games with the club. Westrum became the Giants regular catcher in 1950 and had an excellent year at the plate, hitting 23 home runs and driving in 71 runs. He went on to catch every game for the Giants in the 1951 and 1954 World Series and was a National League All-Star in 1952 and 1953. After finishing his playing career in 1957, Westrum remained with the Giants as a coach when they moved to San Francisco the next year. After six seasons on their staff, he was a part of one of the more unusual swaps in baseball history: he was "traded" to the New York Mets for coach Cookie Lavagetto. He eventually replaced Casey Stengel as the Mets manager in 1965 when Stengel, 76, broke his hip and was forced to retire. He remained at the helm of the team for just over two seasons, stepping down late in the 1967 campaign. Westrum returned to the Giants coaching staff from 1968 to 1971 and replaced Charlie Fox as the team's skipper in 1974. Under his leadership, the club improved from fifth place to third in 1975, but he was replaced by Bill Rigney after the season. Westrum stayed in the game as a scout for the Atlanta Braves for many years. Wes Westrum appeared on the first Sports Illustrated cover in August 1954. He was the catcher, Eddie Mathews was the batter, and Augie Donatelli was the umpire.
Harold Joseph Gilbert was born in 1929 in New Orleans, LA and died in 1967 in New Orleans, LA of an apparent heart attack while at the wheel of his car at the age of 38. He played major league baseball from 1950 to 1953 as 1st baseman for the New York Giants. He was the son of former major league outfielder and longtime minor league manager Larry Gilbert, and the brother of Charlie Gilbert. Gilbert was a formidable slugger during his minor league career in the Class AA Southern Association, where he played for the Nashville Vols, and led the American Association in homers with 29 in 1951 while a member of the Minneapolis Millers. After his retirement from baseball, Gilbert was elected civil sheriff of Orleans Parish, Louisiana in 1962.
SKU: XP12623
Item: XP12623