Harold’s Old Time Radio
Episode: 06/04/1957 Baseball – Cubs at Dodgers
Date Aired: March 22, 2026 (original radio broadcast from June 4, 1957)
Episode Overview
This episode of Harold’s Old Time Radio transports listeners back to the golden days of Major League Baseball on June 4th, 1957, for a classic matchup between the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs at Ebbets Field. Legendary voices Jerry Doggett and Vin Scully deliver the play-by-play and color commentary. This broadcast features not only top-tier pitching from Brooklyn's Sandy Koufax and Chicago’s Dick Drott, but also a dramatic late-game comeback attempt from the Cubs, memorable moments on and off the field, and a historical snapshot of baseball and American culture in the 1950s.
Key Discussion Points & Game Highlights
1. Setting the Stage and Historical Context
(00:31 – 06:12)
- Opening remarks from Vin Scully on the broadcast rights, club records, and lineups for both teams.
- Dodgers return home after a long road trip, eager to face western clubs; they enjoy a 3-0 record against the Cubs that season so far.
- Notable mention of Sandy Koufax’s recent 13-strikeout performance against Chicago.
- Starting pitchers: lefty Sandy Koufax (Dodgers) vs. righty Dick Drott (Cubs), both known for strikeout abilities.
- Quote:
“It ought to be a good game between two fine young pitchers.” – Vin Scully (07:12)
2. Early Innings – Pitchers Duel and Opening Runs
Top of the 1st: Koufax in Command
(07:12 – 15:02)
- Koufax matches the league leader in strikeouts with two Ks in the first inning, striking out Bobby Morgan and Ernie Banks.
- Quote:
“Koufax now ties Arroyo.” – Jerry Doggett (09:32)
Bottom of the 1st: Dodgers Pounce on Cubs' Mistakes
(19:30 – 37:22)
- Amorous pops out, Gilliam and Snider both draw walks.
- Simoli strikes out, but a double steal is botched by Cubs’ catcher Nieman, whose errant throw allows Gilliam to score.
- Roy Campanella hits a double high off the scoreboard in right, bringing in two more.
- Dodgers lead 3–0 after one inning.
- Memorable Moment:
“A double steal and a throwing error by catcher Cal Nieman...Brooklyn leads one to nothing.” – Jerry Doggett (31:33)
3. Strikeout Showcase & Defensive Gems
(39:18 – 54:54)
- Koufax continues to dominate hitters, notching five strikeouts in the first two innings.
- Notable defensive play: Barney Stein, official team photographer, catches a foul ball in the camera booth—prompting on-air banter.
- Dick Drott racks up four strikeouts through the second; both pitchers highlight their “strikeout artist” reputations.
4. Third Inning – Dodgers Break it Open
(62:27 – 79:03)
- Duke Snider hits a towering home run to center (his 10th of the year), extending the Dodgers’ lead to 4–0.
- Dodgers load the bases with no outs; Campanella is hit by a pitch and forced to exit the game.
- Charlie Neal singles through the drawn-in infield, scoring two (6–0).
- Dick Drott relieved by Jim Brosnan after giving up six runs on four hits and five walks in just over two innings.
- Quote:
"Dick Drot worked two innings plus, gave up six runs…walked five men. Of course, that was his undoing.” – Jerry Doggett (72:52)
5. Mid-Game: Changing Batteries & Bench Debuts
(80:20 – 91:55)
- Brooklyn’s Joe Pignatano, a Brooklyn native, makes his Major League catching debut after Campanella exits.
- Scully and Doggett enthusiastically welcome Pignatano, celebrating the all-Brooklyn battery (Koufax–Pignatano).
6. Cubs Struggle, Dodgers Add On
(101:38 – 122:06)
- Jim Brosnan helps steady the Cubs’ pitching, but allows back-to-back homers to Hodges (5th inning).
- Cubs remain hitless through the fifth; Koufax maintains a no-hitter with 9 Ks and 4 walks.
- Notable stats: At end of five, Dodgers lead 7–0, having scored in every odd inning.
7. Late-Game Drama – No-Hitter Broken & Cubs Rally
(126:20 – 173:06)
- Top 6th: Bob Speake breaks up Koufax's no-hitter with a 2-run home run, making it 7–2.
- Top 8th: Cubs mount a furious comeback—
- Bob Speak walks, Ernie Banks crushes a 3-run homer (his 6th of the season), narrowing the lead to 7–5.
- Cubs put runners in scoring position, forcing Brooklyn to bring in Clem Labine from the bullpen.
- Quote:
“Before you know it, the Cubs are right back in the ballgame now as Ernie Banks hits the three-run homer.” – Jerry Doggett (165:26)
- Koufax’s final line: 7 1/3 innings, 4 hits, 12 strikeouts, 5 walks, 5 earned runs – another strikeout masterclass, undone only by big home runs.
8. Nail-Biter Finish – The Dodgers Hang On
(179:27 – 197:32)
- Top 9th: Cubs load the bases with the tying run at first and go-ahead at the plate.
- Clem Labine bears down, striking out Bob Speake on a curveball with runners at first and second for the final out.
- Memorable Moment:
“Lebine is now one strike away from recording his seventh save of the year to give Koufax his fourth win. But that's a mighty big pitch. Well, let's just wait and see.” – Vince Scully (195:19)
9. Stats, Standings & Scene-Setting
Postgame Recap (198:07–End)
- Final score: Dodgers 7, Cubs 5. Dodgers’ fourth win over Chicago that year, now closing in on Cincinnati in National League standings.
- Koufax improves to 4–2; Drot drops to 3–6.
- Dodgers: 7 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors, 6 left.
- Cubs: 5 runs, 6 hits, 1 error, 6 left.
- Scully and Doggett highlight upcoming doubleheaders and promotional events at Ebbets Field (“take your dad for Father’s Day!”).
- Special attention to the all-Brooklyn battery and the historical context of the league's competitiveness and balance.
Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps
-
“It ought to be a good game between two fine young pitchers. Dick Grott for the Cubs and Sandy Koufax for the Brooklyn Dodgers.”
— Vin Scully (07:12) -
On Koufax’s strikeout pace:
“Koufax has now struck out five men in two innings. Remember the last time he faced the Cubs? He struck out 13…”
— Jerry Doggett (46:07) -
On the Pignatano debut:
“So welcome to the club, Joe, and lots of luck. Carl Erskine stopping to talk to him right now while Pignettano, a Brooklyn boy, finally plants his spikes back a home plate and takes a few warm ups.”
— Jerry Doggett (79:03) -
On the late-game comeback:
“Before you know it, the Cubs are right back in the ballgame now as Ernie Banks at the three run homer at seven to five.”
— Jerry Doggett (165:26) -
On the dramatic 9th inning finish:
“Lebine is now one strike away from recording his seventh save of the year to give Koufax his fourth win. But that's a mighty big pitch. Well, let's just wait and see.”
— Vince Scully (195:19) -
Final call:
“Down he goes. Strike three on a curveball into the hand. Speaketh out. The Dodgers win.”
— Vince Scully (197:31)
Memorable and Unique Aspects
- Superlative pitching duel in the first half; high number of strikeouts between Koufax (12) and Cubs pitchers (8).
- Cubs break up a no-hitter and mount a 7-run rally after trailing 7–0, punctuated by home runs from Bob Speak and Ernie Banks.
- Joe Pignatano’s Major League catching debut in his hometown; moments of Brooklyn pride and nostalgia.
- Signature Scully and Doggett style: friendly banter, father-son moments, descriptions of fans and the local crowd, and real-time scoreboard updates from around the baseball landscape.
Structural Summary with Timestamps
| Segment | Time Range | Highlights | |-----------------------------------|-------------|--------------------------------------------| | Setting the scene, lineups | 00:31–06:12 | Historical context, starting pitchers, lineups, local promotions | | 1st Inning | 07:12–37:22 | Koufax’s early dominance, Dodgers capitalize on walks/errors | | 2nd–3rd Innings | 39:18–54:54 | Pitchers’ duel, strikeout showcase, Dodgers break open lead | | 4th–5th Innings | 80:20–122:06 | Brooklyn battery debut (Pignatano), Dodger home runs | | 6th–7th Innings | 126:20–152:07| No-hitter broken, Cubs rally, high tension | | 8th–9th Innings | 163:27–197:32| Banks’ 3-run HR, Dodgers close with Labine, final out drama | | Postgame Recap | 198:07–End | Scores, stats, promotions, farewells |
Takeaways for Modern Listeners
- This episode captures both the intensity of mid-century baseball and the community/familial atmosphere at Ebbets Field.
- The vivid storytelling, sharp commentary, and historic performances make this more than just a ballgame—it’s a time capsule of 1950s American sports culture.
- The game is a masterclass in pitching, opportunism, and the unpredictability of baseball—a script only the sport itself could write.
For baseball history lovers, vintage radio fans, or anyone who wants a front-row seat to Brooklyn’s golden era, this episode is a must-listen and a stirring reminder of the timeless appeal of the national pastime.