Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio — Dodgers vs. Reds (07/28/1957)

Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Announcers: Vin Scully, Jerry Doggett
Original Air Date: July 28, 1957
Podcast Release: March 20, 2026

Episode Overview

This classic radio broadcast delivers the play-by-play of a pivotal 1957 National League matchup between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cincinnati Redlegs (now known as the Reds). Legendary announcers Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett recount the drama at Crosley Field, where the Dodgers aim to win the rubber match of a three-game series during a fierce pennant race. Besides lively baseball action, the episode features period culture, player profiles, and a slice of mid-century Americana, bringing listeners back to baseball’s golden era.

Key Discussion Points and Game Highlights

1. Pre-Game Context and Lineups (00:33–07:23)

• Teams Evenly Matched:
  Both teams had split the first 16 games of the season, setting up an exciting "as even as you can be" contest.
  • "Each side having won eight of the preceding 16...as even as you can be in today's ball game." — Vin Scully (00:37)
• Pitching Match-Up:
  • Dodgers: Johnny Padres (exceptional on the road, coming in with a 34-inning scoreless road streak)
  • Reds: Brooks Lawrence (11–6, tough against Dodgers)
• Dodgers Starting Nine:
  Notable mentions: Duke Snider returns after injury, Gil Hodges playing through ailments, Pee Wee Reese replaces injured Randy Jackson at third.
• Reds Starting Nine:
  Johnny Temple, Gus Bell, Don Hoak, George Crowe, Frank Robinson, Ed Bailey, Wally Post, Roy McMillan, Brooks Lawrence (P).

2. Early Game Drama and Ejections (12:18–14:20)

• Disputed Strike:
  Junior Gilliam disagrees with a strike call, sparking tension.
• Manager & Player Ejected:
  • “Walter Austin out in defense of his first base coach, has been given the boot...Don Newcombe who has a very loud voice...chased.” — Vin Scully (12:18)
  • Notably, both the Dodgers’ manager (Walter Alston) and pitcher Don Newcombe are ejected before the end of the first inning.

3. Game Progression — Inning by Inning

First Inning

• Top (Dodgers): Three quick fly-outs, no runs (07:23–09:47).
• Bottom (Reds):
  • Johnny Temple doubles; singles by Don Hoak and Frank Robinson break Padres' road scoreless streak.
  • “Frank Robinson’s ground ball single up the middle...Red Legs lead one to nothing.” — Jerry Doggett (19:49)
  • End 1st: Cincinnati 1, Brooklyn 0

Second Inning

• Dodgers:
  • Hodges singles, but a double play ends the inning.
• Reds:
  • Redlegs threaten but fail to score—Padres pitches around trouble.

Third Inning

• Dodgers:
  • Campanella walks, Pee Wee Reese bunts for a surprise single.
  • Padres sacrifices; Charlie Neal’s RBI groundout ties the game.
  • "Campanella scores...brand new one going as Charlie Neal bounces out to second baseman Johnny Temple." — Jerry Doggett (43:14)
  • End 3rd: 1–1

Fourth Inning — Game's Turning Point (52:11–63:22)

• Dodgers’ Batting:

  • Bases loaded (Snider walks, error, bunt single).
  • Carl Furillo hits a grand slam:
    • "It's in there for a home run for Furillo with a bas. Carl Furillo hitting one to the deepest part of the ballpark...390 feet over the string wire." — Jerry Doggett (58:44)
    • Eighth grand slam of Furillo’s career.
  • Dodgers lead 5–1 after the fourth.

• Reds:

  • Double play stifles their answer in the bottom half.

4. Mid-to-Late Game Developments

Dodgers Extend Lead (Eighth Inning)

• Key Play:
  • Duke Snider doubles off the center field wall; Jim Gilliam speeds home from first, ignoring the stop sign:
    • “Gilliam just kept on coming...scored all the way.” — Vin Scully (112:52)
  • Gill Hodges walks; Sandy Amoros sacrifices.
  • Campanella's Sac Fly: Schneider scores; Dodgers now up 7–1 (121:11).

Reds Rally Attempt — Eighth and Ninth (125:07–144:31)

• Pinch-hitter Ted Kluszewski homers (bottom 8):

  • “Kluszewski comes walking off the bench and drills one of his faculties. A low, line drive home run.” — Vin Scully (125:10)

• Temple singles (his 9th hit of series), but Padres escapes inning.

• Ninth:

  • Robinson singles (three hits on the day), Bailey (strikes out), Post (foul fly, caught with a running catch by Charlie Neal), McMillan (lines out).
  • “And the Dodgers have won a big one and have taken two out of three from Cincinnati.” — Vin Scully (144:31)

5. Pitching Brilliance: Johnny Padres

• Complete Game Victory:
  • 9 IP, 2 R, 9 H, 3 K, 0 BB.
  • “For Johnny, his sixth consecutive complete game road victory, allowing a total of three runs in 54 innings. And today, Johnny did it by allowing no walks. He struck out three and kept the base hits well, scattered.” — Jerry Doggett (146:21)
• Padres’ streaks and stats extensively discussed throughout.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the pressure of the pennant race:
  • “So the pressure of the pennant race has erupted. Before we can even get to the last of the first inning, the Dodgers have both manager Walter Olson and Don Newcombe kicked out of the ball game.” — Vin Scully (13:31)
• On Carl Furillo’s grand slam:
  • “Carl Furillo with his eighth grand slam home run, hit one into the corner at right center field, where the screen wire in front of the bleachers joins the center field fence 396ft away.” — Jerry Doggett (59:06)
• On Jim Gilliam’s daring dash home:
  • “Gilliam now comes to the plate and runs right through Herman's sign to score. Billy Herman had held Gilliam up. He was waving his hands at Junior. And Gilliam just kept on coming...” — Vin Scully (112:52)
• On the crowd and baseball’s draw:
  • “The Dodgers have drawn over 950,000 so far this year, not including today's attendance. So they will easily go over the million mark before this trip is over.” — Vin Scully (44:32)
• On the new air-conditioned dugouts:
  • “Anytime you read in the paper that someone mentions air conditioning in the dugout or foam rubber...old timers are the only people in the world did not want the business to be improved—the business of playing baseball.” — Vin Scully (93:01)

Important Timestamps

• 00:33: Game introduction and pitching matchups
• 12:18: Manager Walter Alston and Don Newcombe ejected before bottom of 1st
• 19:49: Frank Robinson gives Reds 1–0 lead; Padres’ road streak snapped
• 43:14: Dodgers tie the game, 1–1
• 58:44: Carl Furillo’s grand slam, Dodgers take 5–1 lead
• 112:52: Jim Gilliam scores from first on Snider’s double (8th inning)
• 121:11: Campanella’s sac fly, Dodgers expand lead to 7–1
• 125:10: Kluszewski’s pinch-hit home run for Reds, 7–2
• 144:31: Final out; Dodgers win 7–2

Additional Notes and Cultural Flavor

• Classic Ads and Period Promos: Frequent advertisements for Lucky Strike cigarettes, Schaefer Beer, and classic banter reflect the era’s style.
• Baseball as Family Experience: Announcers frequently reference the communal feeling of attending or listening to ballgames and the drawing power of the Dodgers, especially on the road.
• Dodger News/Events:
  Carl Furillo Night promotion (August 28th, Ebbets Field); discussion of upcoming schedules, attendance milestones, and fan events.
• Player Spotlights:
  • Jim Gilliam’s struggles as a #2 hitter
  • Pewee Reese’s successful bunts and hitting
  • Frank Robinson’s three-hit day for Cincinnati, including tales of his youthful star status

Final Summary

The Dodgers beat the Reds 7–2 in a decisive, eventful game that not only featured a classic grand slam by Carl Furillo but also demonstrated Johnny Padres’ road dominance. The win was significant in the context of the heated 1957 National League pennant race. Legendary voices, vivid descriptions, and storytelling immortalize this golden era of baseball, making this broadcast a time capsule of both sports and American culture.

For more golden-age radio baseball, tune in to Harold's Old Time Radio archive.

Listen For…

• Carl Furillo’s grand slam (58:45)
• Vin Scully and Jerry Doggett’s conversational style and historical anecdotes
• Ejections and early-game drama (12:18)
• Player strategy and classic play-by-play excitement

Podcast: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Episode: 07/28/1957 Baseball - Dodgers Vs Reds