Cornwall on Hudson photo by Michael Nelson
March 28, 2024
Welcome! Click here to Login
News from Cornwall and Cornwall On Hudson, New York
News
Events
Donate
Our Town
Photos of Our Town
Education
Help Wanted
The Outdoors
Classifieds
Support Our Advertisers
About Us
Advertise with Us
Contact Us
Click to visit the
Official Village Site
Click to visit the
Official Town Site
Cornwall Public Library
Latest Newsletter

History: The Shot Heard Round the World and in Cornwall Too

Corwin played five seasons for the Giants
Corwin played five seasons for the Giants
Elmer Corwin was born in Newburgh
Elmer Corwin was born in Newburgh
February 12, 2007

By Warren Mumford
The news spread like wildfire through the Willow Avenue neighborhood. Al Corwin was pitching on the playground behind the school. By the time we arrived, the workout was in full swing. My buddies and I were then 7- and 8-year-olds and gathered in awe about 100 feet to the side. We could hardly believe these lightning bolts from Al's hand could be caught. But Al's major league friend with the catcher's mitt seemed to have no trouble handling the 90 m.p.h. pitches.

We knew that Al lived in the house next to the school on Willow Avenue and that he pitched for the New York Giants, but we rarely got a chance to see him throw in Cornwall. These workouts in the 1950's were a real treat to us aspiring little leaguers.

Although there have been some pretty good ballplayers from Cornwall, few, if any, have achieved fame on the field like Al Corwin. Called up by the NY Giants in July, 1951, in his first win he shut out the Cubs, 2-0, with Willie Mays, another rookie, playing the field.

Corwin was a central figure in the Giants famed drive for the pennant that year. Down by 13 and a half games in August, this team went on a tear to catch the Brooklyn Dodgers on the last day of the season. They beat the Dodgers in a dramatic playoff game via Bobby Thompson's ninth inning walk-off home run, the "shot heard round the world." As a rookie, Al was 5 and 1 during that phenomenal pennant drive.

Al Corwin played with the Giants from 1951 through 1955, compiling an overall major league record of 18 and 10 with a lifetime ERA of 3.98. He also achieved limited fame as a hitter, slamming the second of three consecutive home runs on September 4,1953, versus the Dodgers. Wes Westrum and Whitey Lockman hit the first and third homers.

These memories are quite personal. The Corwins lived around the corner from our home on Rose Hill Park during the 50's. Besides watching Al work out a few times at the Willow Avenue School, I remember that his sister, Dawn Marie, came over frequently to visit my older sister, Terry. I was too young back then to fully appreciate how good a ballplayer Al actually was. Now, however, I look back fondly and marvel at those memories of a major leaguer who lived in my Cornwall neighborhood.


For more info on Al Corwin visit www.baseball-reference.com and www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers.



Comments:

No comments have been posted.

Add a Comment:

Please signup or login to add a comment.



© 2024 by Cornwall Media, LLC . All Rights Reserved. | photo credit: Michael Nelson
Advertise with Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy