Stilley: 1955 footage of Yankees at Kansas City A’s
From SABR member Aaron Stilley at Royals Authority on May 8, 2015:
For a Kansas City baseball history nerd like me, this video is scrumtrulescent. Thanks to Brian Holland for bringing it to my attention. According to the description, “The film was shot by Volland, Kansas shopkeeper and photographer, Otto Kratzer.” Otto had an eye for documenting the entire stadium-going experience, from driving to the game, panoramic views of the park, to heading out afterwards. It is probably the closest we’ll get to going back in time to catch a game at Municipal Stadium after it was torn down in 1976. The stadium was bare-boned and probably not romanticized much by most while they were watching a game there. But Otto knew it was worth documenting. Thanks Otto.
The game was on July 23, 1955 (not July 25 as the description says) during the first season the A’s played in KC. Otto was treated to a doozy of a game. The Yankees waltzed to a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, but the A’s exploded for seven runs in that frame thanks to a New York error, two walks, and five hits. Enos Slaughter and Jim Finigan both doubled for the A’s. Reliever Alex Kelner was called on for the ninth, but promptly gave up a homer to first batter (and future A’s star) Bob Cerv. That was it for Kelner, but new pitcher Tom Gorman gave up a tying homer to his very first batter, Elston Howard (former star for both the Kansas City Monarchs and Blues). Gorman stayed in the game, and managed to get out of the ninth with the game still tied. It remained a deadlock until the bottom of the 11th when singles by Harry Simpson and Hector Lopez sent the home crowd home happy.
Watch the video here: http://www.royalsauthority.com/1955-footage-of-yankees-at-kc-as/
Originally published: May 8, 2015. Last Updated: May 8, 2015.