Sal Maglie captured the attention of many baseball fans when he jumped to the Mexican Baseball League in 1946. Here’s the baseball story, as a rookie with the old New York Giants in 1945 Sal ‘the Barber’ Maglie had a 5-4 record with a resounding 2.35 earned run average completed 7 of 10 starts and had 3 relief appearances. Upon returning to the New York Giants from Mexico in 1950 he posted a splendid 18-5 record and led the majors with a .818 winning percentage and in shutouts with 5 and was second in the NL with a 2.71 ERA. And, to top that, in 1951 he went 23-6, a .793 pct, led the majors in wins, had a 2.92 ERA in 298 innings, completing a career best 22 of 37 games. In the 1951 World Series against the cross town rivals, the Yankees, Sal Maglie started Game 4 and pitched 5 innings and lost 6-2 as Joe DiMaggio led Yankees attack with 2 home runs and a single. The Yankees won the Series in 6 games. In the 1954 World Series in which the Giants swept the Cleveland Indians, Sal Maglie started Game 1 yield 2 runs in 7 innings but was not the pitcher of record. Story from Microsoft Baseball: ‘When it comes to choosing baseball’s most intimidating pitcher, the name Sal ‘the Barber’ always makes the list. He looked the part with his dour expression and heavy stumble beard, his picture seemed to belong on a posdt office wall instead of on a baseball card. And he didn’t get his nickname because he always looked like he needed a shave either. It referred to close shaves he gave hitters with the baseball.’ ‘When I joined the New York Giants from Jersey City in 1945,’ recalled Sal Maglie, ‘Mel Ott told me, if you want to make money, you got to beat the Dodgers. Pitch high and tight and low and away.’ Maglie seemed to prefer high and tight.’ |