Banks, Thomas Belt Homers as Cubs Blank Dodgers, 4–0
Hobbie Fires Five‑Hitter; Sherry Tagged for Two Long Blows in Coliseum Night Game
LOS ANGELES, April 13 — The Chicago Cubs broke into the win column Wednesday night with a display of timely power and steady pitching, defeating the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, 4–0, before 24,475 chilled but enthusiastic spectators at the Coliseum.
Glen Hobbie, Chicago’s top winner a year ago, scattered five hits and worked out of repeated trouble to become the first Cubs righthander ever to pitch a shutout in the sprawling stadium. Though he walked six — one in each of the final six innings — Hobbie held firm whenever the Dodgers threatened, and Los Angeles never managed more than a single baserunner in any late inning.
The Cubs’ offense came from two swings: a solo home run by Ernie Banks in the fourth inning, and a three‑run blast by Frank Thomas in the eighth. Remarkably, they were the first hits of the season for both men.
Banks Breaks Through First
Dodgers starter Larry Sherry, the hero of last fall’s World Series, had kept Chicago quiet through the early innings, but Banks jumped on his first pitch of the fourth and drove it into the left‑field seats for a 1–0 lead.
Moments earlier, the Cubs had put runners aboard when Richie Ashburn and Tony Taylor opened the inning with singles. But Sherry retired Bob Will and Banks’ infield pop before the Chicago shortstop delivered his decisive blow.
Thomas Connects After Long Slump
Thomas, who had struck out five times in the first two games of the season and looked lost at the plate Tuesday night, finally broke through in the eighth. After running the count to 2–2 and shaking his head at a wild swing on a high pitch, he stayed back on a low breaking ball and drove it over the fence in left.
Ashburn and Taylor, who again had singled to start the inning, scored ahead of him to give Chicago its final margin.
Hobbie Works Out of Early Trouble
The Dodgers mounted their best threats in the first three innings, collecting four singles, a walk, and a hit batsman. But Hobbie, though not overpowering, induced key outs when needed. His only strikeouts came against Don Demeter, whom he fanned twice.
From the fourth inning on, Hobbie allowed only one hit — a single by Wally Moon — and that was erased by Chicago’s lone double play of the night.
Despite perspiring heavily in the cool air, Hobbie insisted afterward that he felt strong throughout.
Dodgers’ Offense Stalled
Los Angeles, which had not lost a game at the Coliseum since last October 6 — also a shutout, delivered by the White Sox in the World Series — could not solve Hobbie’s mixture of fastballs and sliders. Moon, Maury Wills, and Charlie Neal accounted for the Dodgers’ hits, but none came in succession.
Sherry worked seven innings for Los Angeles, allowing all four runs. Bob Dalkowski pitched the eighth.
Notes and Next Game
- Banks played his 500th game for the Cubs, having joined the club in September 1953.
- A scoring change earlier in the day removed an error charged to Banks in Tuesday’s opener, ruling Wally Moon’s grounder a hit due to a bad hop on the hard infield.
- The Cubs now travel north to face the San Francisco Giants in their first appearance at the new Candlestick Park. Jack Sanford is scheduled to pitch for the Giants. If Dick Drott cannot go for Chicago, Seth Morehead will start.
- National League umpire Chris Pelekoudas, working this series, is a 42‑year‑old Californian and graduate of Chicago’s Crane Tech High School.
Courtesy of The Chicago Tribune April 14, 1960 via Newspapers.com