New Jersey hosted its first major-league baseball game, 62 years ago today.
The Brooklyn Dodgers played 15 regular-season games at Jersey City’s Roosevelt Stadium during the 1956 and 1957 seasons, but none of them were no-hitters. The first N.J. Dodgers game was on April 19, 1956, and the displaced Brooklyn squad topped the Philadelphia Phillies for a 10-inning 5-4 win in an error-filled game (5 errors for the Dodgers, 3 for the Phillies). More than 12,000 fans watched the contest.
The Dodgers actually went 6-1 at Roosevelt Stadium in 1956 and clinched the National League pennant, but the team lost the World Series to the New York Yankees, thanks in part to Don Larsen’s perfect game in Game 5. Brooklyn posted a 5-3 record at Roosevelt Stadium in 1957.
Although Roosevelt Stadium never got to host an MLB no-hitter before Brooklyn packed up for Los Angeles in 1958, it did host two standout pitching performances during the 15 games played in Jersey City.
On Wednesday, August 15, 1956, the New York Giants’ Johnny Antonelli tossed a complete game two-hitter against the Dodgers for a 1-0 victory. The Dodgers’ Don Newcome (8 innings) and Clem Labine (1 inning) allowed only four hits. On the night of Tuesday, September 3, 1957, the Philadelphia Phillies’ Jack Sanford (7 innings), Turk Farrel (4 innings) and Bob Miller (1 inning) combined to throw a 12-inning, 3-hitter against the Dodgers for a 3-2 win.
