1957 Babe Ruth League World Series

Transcript (Download)

The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, host of the sixth annual Babe Ruth League World Series.

To the campus of this great university come the eight regional champions of the United States.

The 13 to 15 year old baseball stars of the country, winnowed from some 1 ,100 Babe Ruth Leagues with about a hundred thousand boys playing on standard -sized diamonds from coast to coast.

They represent 47 states, seven Canadian provinces, even one European country.

Charlie Geringer, one of the greatest second basemen who ever lived, delivers the first ball and the five -day championship is on.

Pensacola, Florida, southeastern champion versus New Orleans, Louisiana, southwest winner.

Glenn Danley cracks out a hit for the boys from the alligator state and drives Terry Jenkins home in a seventh inning game clinching assault.

Floyd Blackman, Pensacola third baseman, comes through with a bases -loaded single that brings in two more runs and climaxes the attack.

After allowing New Orleans the first run of the game, Lou Vickery, Pensacola left -hander, is airtight.

He bans the last New Orleans batter and the Florida team wins the opener six to one.

Vickery's the hero and he fits the entire game with an upset stomach that almost put him out of the series.

The same afternoon, Sherman Oaks, California carrying the Pacific Southwest banner against Lindhurst, New Jersey of the Middle Atlantic region.

Joe Tita pitching for Lindhurst and this game would be a thriller in any big league world series.

Inning after inning, the batters are mowed down in a scoreless duel.

Gary Graham going for Sherman Oaks.

Just watch the sharp fielding of these young fellows.

Tita still has a shutout going in the seventh.

Then it happens.

Dennis Monahan belts one to left far over Tom Lungo's head.

His cap flies off as he chases it madly while Monahan races around the races.

It's a home run.

The whole Sherman Oaks team mobs him.

One run looks like a mountain in this pitching battle.

It's a happy Oaks team that trots out for the last half inning and Graham marches out to protect that run.

Jim Fanchina punches a single to right.

Tom Lungo connects for another hit.

Say, maybe this Lindhurst team isn't out of it yet.

Ed Wasick bunt.

The only play is to first and Wasick beats it out.

The bases are full and nobody out.

That Lindhurst bench is really up now.

Pat Honey cracks one past third, a clean hit.

Fanchina and Lungo come charging over the plate and Honey crashes right into our cameraman.

Lindhurst has pulled it out of the fire two to one and they don't come more exciting than this one in any league.

Pat Honey is the hero of the hour, but if you ask me, they're all heroes in that rally.

Next afternoon on Perry Field and two more eliminations coming up.

Stamford, Connecticut, New England winner versus Wallace, Idaho from the Pacific Northwest.

It starts out like a knockdown drag out affair.

Each team scoring four runs in the first inning.

Then Powerpacks Stamford takes over.

Jim Masurak drives one deep to right.

It's all the way out to the tennis courts and a home run for Masurak.

Masurak comes up again in the sixth with a runner on.

The big first baseman hits another screamer down the right field line.

It bounds past the right fielder for his second homer of the game.

Tradition Steve Stamford, winner of the first three Babe Ruth World Titles, overpowers the Idaho team 16 to 6, setting a new series record of 18 hits in one game.

Another game the same day as the series grinds towards its climax.

Mount Healthy, Ohio is coached by a gritty survivor of polio, Don Hazelbush.

This game sees the most enthusiastic routers of the competition.

Parents and friends from West Des Moines, Iowa, back their Midwest Plains champions against Mount Healthy from the Ohio Valley.

But Mount Healthy isn't entirely without support.

Willard Havlin of Mount Healthy in trouble in the third.

Bill Cooper tries to squeeze a run home.

Johnny Nesham is trapped.

In the rundown, Johnny tags him and drops the ball and Nesham scores.

Now Havlin's really in a jam.

Tom Bell pounds one out to right.

It's down the line for extra bases.

The hit drives in two more West Des Moines runs and Bell winds up with a three -bagger.

That's more than enough runs for Nesham.

He wraps up a six to one victory for West Des Moines over Mount Healthy and now the semi -final lineup is complete.

Two days later they're at it again.

The excitement is mounting with every contest and it's further heightened when Bob Feller, the greatest pitcher of his era, drops in to show the boys how a master does it.

First semi -final Pensacola, Florida versus Lindhurst, New Jersey.

Don Griffey going for Pensacola.

Bill Montesara connects.

Jim Bankers trying to cut it off kicks it over the line and Lindhurst is in the lead.

For Lindhurst it's John Schaber.

Lloyd Blackman paced one and that Lindhurst lead doesn't last very long.

The hit is good for a double driving in two runs for Pensacola.

Blue Victory who pitched Pensacola's first victory playing first base in this one slashes out a single that drives in two more runs.

It's all Pensacola and the Florida team goes into the final with a nine to two victory over Lindhurst.

Feller takes part in a special attraction, something new added this time a beauty contest.

Six girls chosen by six Michigan -Babe Ruth leagues are the entrants.

Nice work when you can get it but sometimes even tougher than pitching a tight game.

They reach a decision and Bob announces the winner and is she surprised.

It's Carol Kaiser of Ypsilanti, Michigan the first beauty queen of the Babe Ruth World Series.

The second semi -final brings together Stamford, Connecticut and West Des Moines, Iowa.

Stamford goes to work in the second inning.

Raleigh Wall hits one out to center field.

Bill Cooper can't quite catch up to it.

And there's a tough break.

These kids are just trying too hard.

Two Stamford runs check in.

Stamford not out yet.

Jim Sabia cracks out another hit.

Ted Frith charges this and cuts a fine throw home.

It's close on the second runner but two more Stamford runs score and those West Des Moines routers aren't doing much cheering.

The Stamford attack still going in the fourth.

Sabia pulls one far out to left with the bases full.

Frith chases it hard but it's a three bagger driving three more runs home.

A happy day for the New England boys.

Stamford's heavy hitters crush West Des Moines 13 -7 and they look like strong favorites for the championship again.

So now the day of decision.

The final game for the Babe Ruth League World Championship with the eyes of television, the press and newsreels on them.

It's slugging Stamford, Connecticut versus Pensacola, Florida.

For Stamford, southpaw Bill Sabia.

Floyd Blackman hammers one over right fielder Ed Blum's head in the fourth inning for three bases.

This boy is the batting king of the series setting a new record with eight hits in three games.

His twin brother Lloyd Blackman delivers a single that scores Floyd.

Pensacola is pulling out front.

It's Pensacola packing the power this time.

Jim Backus crashes one over Blum's head and Lloyd Blackman scampers around the bases ahead of him.

It's gonna be close.

A home run for Backus and Pensacola's lead is piling up.

What happened to those Stamford sluggers? We'll show you what happened to them.

Lou Vickery, a southpaw with speed, control and savvy.

He has a shutout within grasp as he fans Jim Sabia in the seventh.

Pensacola leading nine to nothing.

Heading for the last wind up.

Bill Sabia lifts a fly to left.

Al Grimes closes in on it and squeezes it for the final out.

Lou Vickery throttled Stamford's heavy hitters with two hits and wraps up the title for Pensacola with a nine to nothing shutout for his second victory of the series.

Lou Vickery, outstanding star of the 1957 Babe Ruth League World Series.

So ends the sixth annual championship.

The title heads south to Florida after a week of hard fought but friendly competition.

From thousands of Babe Ruth teams all over the country emerges one, Pensacola, Florida.

Identifier

F.2012-03-0022

Date Of Production

August 1957

Abstract

The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor hosts the 6th annual Babe Ruth League World Series, which is a 5-day championship between 8 regional U.S. teams.

Description

The film's highlights include former Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame second basemen, Charlie Gehringer, throwing the first pitch; Game One: Pensacola, Florida vs. New Orleans, Louisiana; Game Two: Sherman Oaks, California vs. Lyndhurst, New Jersey; Game Three: Stamford, Connecticut vs. Wallace, Idaho; Game Four: West Des Moines, Iowa vs. Mt. Healthy, Ohio; First Semi-Final: Pensacola, Florida vs. Lyndhurst, New Jersey; Second Semi-Final: West Des Moines, Iowa vs. Stamford, Connecticut: Final Game: Pensacola, Florida vs. Stamford, Connecticut.

In between Semi-Finals, a beauty contest ensues comprising 6 young women chosen by 6 Michigan Babe Ruth leagues. Former Cleveland Indian Hall of Fame pitcher, Bob Feller, announces Kerrill Kaiser of Ypsilanti, Michigan as the first Babe Ruth League Beauty Queen.

Other notable moments include a player scoring a run and running into the cameraman in the Sherman Oaks vs. Lyndhurst game, and a series record of 8 base hits set by Pensacola’s Floyd Blackmon in the final game of the series.

The film ends with Pensacola winning the championship game 9-0 vs. Stamford, and the winning pitcher for Pensacola, Lou Vickery, is declared outstanding star of the series.

Run Time

0:12:37

Format

16mm

Extent

400 feet

Color

B&W

Sound

Optical

Reel/Tape Number

1/1

Has Been Digitized?

Yes

Language Of Materials

English

Element

Print

Genre

Sports

Form

Newsreels

Subject

Baseball
Athletes
Sports

Related Collections

SUBSERIES II: Sports

Related Places

North America ➜ United States ➜ Michigan ➜ Ann Arbor

Distributor

Telenews (Firm)

Sponsor/client

Coca-Cola Company

Main Credits

Robert, Harry (is director)

Additional Credits

Koza, Frank (camera)

Koza, Ronnie (camera)

Forman, Jerry (is editor)

Participants And Performers

Scully, Vin (is narrator)

Do you know more about this item?

If you have more information about this item please contact us at info@chicagofilmarchives.com.