1952-05-07 Al Rosen

My first favorite player - #7. When I would tell people my favorite number was 7 they would think it was for Mickey Mantle, but it was for Al Rosen.

U.S. Navy veteran Al Rosen (who navigated an assault boat in the Battle of Okinawa) hit 37 home runs two years ago for the Indians, setting a rookie record. Last year his numbers took a dip, although they were still respectable (.265, 24 HR, 102 RBI). This past offseason, PGA legend Sam Snead advised Rosen to give up golf to help with his baseball, telling Rosen, "You don't see me swinging a baseball bat." The advice seems to have helped as Rosen is hitting .355 with 7 homers through his first 20 games.

The Indians became the first team in the American League to integrate in 1947, and since then, they've been one of the most consistent winners in baseball, including the 1948 World Championship. Unfortunately, they've been living in the shadows of the Yankees, who've won every other championship since then. The Indians are off to a good start this year, 13-7, second place, one game behind the Boston Red Sox. Meanwhile, the Yankees, trying to become only the second team to win four World Series in row (they did it from 1936-39) are struggling out of the gate with an 8-9 record, with Joe DiMaggio having retired this past offseason.

In the first inning, Rosen singled home Bobby Avila for the game's first run, then scored himself on Dale Mitchell's sacrifice fly to give the Indians the early 2-0 lead.

This clip takes place with one out and nobody on in the top of the 3rd. The Indians now lead 3-0.

The Yankees answered in the bottom of the third as pitcher Vic Raschi, who doubled, scored on Gil McDougald's sacrifice fly. 3-1 Indians.

Avila singled home Birdie Tebbetts in the top of the fourth, and Mitchell doubled home Luke Easter in the fifth to make it 5-1. In the bottom of the fifth Yogi Berra doubled home Irv Noren (filling in at CF today for Mickey Mantle) making it 5-2. The Indians added two more in the ninth, as, according to Retrosheet, both Harry Simpson and Avila scored on bases loaded second to short force play off the bat of Easter, must have been a heck of a hustle play for Avila to score from second. The Indians won 7-2, they remain in second place, as the Red Sox also won over the White Sox.

POSTSCRIPT: While it is sad that Mantle's father passed away, at the age of 20, Mickey proved he belonged, taking over for DiMaggio in center field, making his first All-Star team, and finishing third in MVP balloting, as the Yankees bounced back and won that fourth straight World Championship, then broke the record the following year with their fifth straight.

Rosen didn't keep up the home run pace, finishing with 28, but he did hit a career high .302 with a league leading 105 RBI and, like Mantle, made his first All-Star team. The following year would be his career year, as he missed a Triple Crown by a controversial out call trying to beat out an infield hit in his last at bat, giving the batting title to the Senators Mickey Vernon. His 43 HR and 145 RBI led the league. He would have 5 straight 100 RBI seasons, but he retired at the age of 32 due to chronic injuries. After 20 years completely away from the game, Rosen became a notable executive for the Yankees, Astros and Giants in the late 70s through the 80s.

That clip wasn’t even two , I ‘m sorry I didn’t get to enjoy watching him play. Didn’t start following the Indians till 59.