Aerial photo of Game Two of the memorable 1951 Playoff Series between the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants. The day before the Giants won the first game 3-1 and today they cross over to the island of Manhattan and the Polo Grounds for game two where more than 38,000 crazed New York baseball fans awaited them, including many Yankees players were in attendance as well.
Here the Dodgers won it 10-0 on four home runs. Jackie Robinson started it off with a 2-run shot in the first inning off Giants pitcher Sheldon Jones, who had 6-10 record on the season, to give Brooklyn an early 2-0 lead.Gil Hodges would hit his 40th homer of the season in the 6th to extend the lead to 3-0. The next round-tripper would be a solo shot off the bat of Andy Pafko in the 7th inning and Rube Walker capped off the amazing display of Dodger power with a 2-run blast in the 8th inning extending the lead to 10-0, the eventual final score.
On the mound for Brooklyn was Clem Labine, who pitched a 6-hit shutout, a remarkable performance for a rookie who started just five games in the season.
But despite the win the Dodgers on the following day, still at the Polo Grounds, would have their hearts broken in historic fashion by a Bobby Thomson 3-run home run in the bottom of the ninth in a Giants 5-4 win. And win a trip to the World Series.
