BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Historic ‘Shot’ Also a Lesson

Bobby Thomson’s home run in 1951 has it’s place in baseball lore, but it has an added significance for San Francisco Giant owner Peter Magowan.

Magowan went to a strict Catholic school in New York City, but the day Thomson’s home run sent the New York Giants to the playoffs instead of the Brooklyn Dodgers, his teacher let the class listen to the radio broadcast.

“I went home that day after school and my dad came home and he had been to the game, and he said, ‘You’ll never guess what happened?’ ” said Magowan, who was 9 at the time. “He said he was there with three other businessmen, and the other three all left at the top of the ninth inning. He said, ‘Don’t ever forget that. You should never give up.’

“I’ve thought of that a million times. Through this entire year and when we were trying to buy the team and we had all the obstacles, I thought about what he said, about never giving up. I wish I could have showed him this season.”

Magowan’s father, Robert, died several years ago. But Magowan has not forgotten the accomplishment of Thomson, whom he flew in for the Dodger series. If there is a playoff, Magowan will ask Thomson to throw out the first ball.

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The Giants, who won the coin toss with the Braves to play host to the playoff game if necessary, have scheduled it for Monday night at 7:30. . . . Manager Dusty Baker said he still is not sure who will pitch Sunday against the Dodgers. “I pray on it, and ask the Lord to make the right decision,” Baker said. “I wouldn’t mind if He would hurry up.” Salomon Torres is tentatively scheduled to start. . . . Willie McGee left Friday’s game in the second inning because of a rib cage injury after colliding in right field with Steve Scarsone. He was replaced by Dave Martinez.