1933 in baseball history.... yawn..... Triple Crown winner takes MVP award.... wake me up..... new strike out record....sigh.... New York wins another World Series..... Gehrig sets record..... come on, give us something new!!
Well how about this for something new: a mid summer game held at Comisky Park, with one team comprised of starters like Pepper Martin, Frankie Frisch, Chuck Klein, Chick Hafey, Bill Terry, Wally Berger, Dick Bartell, Jimmie Wilson, Bill Hallahan and Carl Hubbell in relief, vs the likes of Ben Chapman, Charlie Gehringer, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Al Simmons, Jimmy Dykes, Joe Cronin, Rick Ferrell, and Lefty Gomez? And... the AL team didn't even play the league's ultimate triple crown winner that year! Let's call it... the All Star game!! Yep, the first ever, watched by nearly 48,000, won by the AL 4-2!
So what about this triple crown winner that didn't even play that day for the AL? The A's Jimmie Foxx, who ended the season hitting .356 with 48 HR and 163. Not only did he win the Triple Crown but took home the league MVP honors. His cross town rival in Philly, playing for the Phillies, Chuck Klein, also won the Triple Crown, hitting .368 with 28 round trippers and driving in 120. But Klein wasn't so lucky in the MVP voting, as King Carl Hubbell with his amazing 1.66 ERA and 23 wins (10 by shutout) took the MVP honors for the Giants.
Dizzy Dean broke the modern single game strike out record fanning 17 batters in an 8-2 win over the Cubs. The previous mark was held by four other pitchers, but fell short of the all time record of 19 set by Charlie Sweeney of Providence in 1884.
Gehrig played in his 1,308th consecutive game on August 17, topping Everett Scott's previous endurance record. And NY won the World Series.... oh, not THAT NY team.... the Giants make quick work of Washington, 4 games to 1 to take the fall classic, with Carl Hubbell picking up the victories in games one and four. In game four, Hubbell went all 11 innings and picked up the 2-1 decision.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Countdown to Christmas - 34 Days
Fall in northern Virginia, which means it's major leaf blowing, raking and bagging season. Mr. All Things Ed spent yesterday afternoon working in the yard, but cut the effort short and unfinished as Mrs. All Things Ed and I went to see Harry Potter VII(a), then did dinner and came home to watch FSU-MD. I have to finish the other half of my front yard today, as well as get the house together for our daughter and Junior, who are coming home for Thanksgiving break this week. But for my faithful readership of one, I didn't want to put off yet another blog post. A combined 35 and 34 days post. So, on with the countdown!!
The mid 30s, especially '34 and '35, were a dizzying time. No, really, a
Dizzying time. Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean won 58 games over those two seasons, with 53 complete games (oh, and another 28 in 1936). He boasted that in 1934, he and his brother Paul would win 45 games for the Gashouse Gang. Sure enough, on September 21, Dizzy pitched the front end of a double header, winning a 3 hit complete game shutout for win number 27, and Paul pitched a no hitter in the night cap for his 18th win. Dizzy said "If'n Paul had told me he was gonna pitch a no-hitter, I'd of throwed one too." They each won two more games before the end of the campaign. Dizzy was the NL MVP in 1934, and he and his brother lead the Cardinals to the World Series title, defeating the Tigers four games to three. I remember watching the Game of the Week and hearing Joe Garagiola recall a story about Dizzy. They were working a game, keeping score, and Garagiola looked down at Dean's scorecard and saw "WL", which is not a typical shortcut on a scorecard. Garagiola asked Dean what WL stood for, to which Dean replied "wasn't looking."
The '34 season saw Gehrig win the triple crown, with Lefty Gomez dominating the pitching side, going 26-5 with a 2.33 ERA and 158 K's. But in the All Star game, it was all Carl Hubbell of the Giants, who fanned (in order) Babe Ruth, Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx (to close out the first inning), then Al Simmons and Joe Cronin to lead off the second. He gave up a walk to Bill Dickey, but then stuck out Gomez to close the frame. Negro League ace Satchel Paige tossed a 4-0 no-hitter on July 4th against the Homestead Grays in Pittsburgh, and then drove to Chicago to shut out the Chicago American Giants 1-0 (in twelve innings) giving him two shutouts (in two different cities) on the same day.
In 1935, Ruth was released by the Yankees and signed with the Boston Braves. His final season was short lived, however. His final home run, number 714, came at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh on May 25. But after hitting just .181, he hung up his cleats for good on June 2. Ruth's final season was on par with the rest of the Braves, who finished with a 38-115 record, including an incredible 13-65 on the road. They compiled the most futile record in baseball, not equaled until the 1962 Mets lost 120! (sorry Ed.....)
Just nine days before Ruth's announcement came another milestone in major league baseball, this time in Cincinnati. The first night game was played with the Reds defeating the Phillies 2-1. The owners granted permission for a total of seven night games that season, and only if the Red's opponents agreed.
Just so this doesn't drag on.... here are some other quick highlights. Hank Greenberg won the AL MVP award, the Tigers downed the Cubs to win their first fall classic (after the Tigers had lost series in 1907, 1908, 1909 and 1934), and on August 31,White Sox ace Vern Kennedy tossed the first no-hitter (5-0) ever at Comiskey Park as well as the first no-no since the Senators' Bobby Burke's 5-0 gem on August 8, 1931 against the Red Sox. That drought between no hitters is the longest in modern day history. As a point of reference, there were four no-nos thrown in 2010 alone, not including Armando Galarraga's gem that should have been a perfect game. The most thrown in one season is seven, happening in both 1990 and 1991.
The mid 30s, especially '34 and '35, were a dizzying time. No, really, a
Dizzying time. Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean won 58 games over those two seasons, with 53 complete games (oh, and another 28 in 1936). He boasted that in 1934, he and his brother Paul would win 45 games for the Gashouse Gang. Sure enough, on September 21, Dizzy pitched the front end of a double header, winning a 3 hit complete game shutout for win number 27, and Paul pitched a no hitter in the night cap for his 18th win. Dizzy said "If'n Paul had told me he was gonna pitch a no-hitter, I'd of throwed one too." They each won two more games before the end of the campaign. Dizzy was the NL MVP in 1934, and he and his brother lead the Cardinals to the World Series title, defeating the Tigers four games to three. I remember watching the Game of the Week and hearing Joe Garagiola recall a story about Dizzy. They were working a game, keeping score, and Garagiola looked down at Dean's scorecard and saw "WL", which is not a typical shortcut on a scorecard. Garagiola asked Dean what WL stood for, to which Dean replied "wasn't looking."The '34 season saw Gehrig win the triple crown, with Lefty Gomez dominating the pitching side, going 26-5 with a 2.33 ERA and 158 K's. But in the All Star game, it was all Carl Hubbell of the Giants, who fanned (in order) Babe Ruth, Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx (to close out the first inning), then Al Simmons and Joe Cronin to lead off the second. He gave up a walk to Bill Dickey, but then stuck out Gomez to close the frame. Negro League ace Satchel Paige tossed a 4-0 no-hitter on July 4th against the Homestead Grays in Pittsburgh, and then drove to Chicago to shut out the Chicago American Giants 1-0 (in twelve innings) giving him two shutouts (in two different cities) on the same day.
In 1935, Ruth was released by the Yankees and signed with the Boston Braves. His final season was short lived, however. His final home run, number 714, came at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh on May 25. But after hitting just .181, he hung up his cleats for good on June 2. Ruth's final season was on par with the rest of the Braves, who finished with a 38-115 record, including an incredible 13-65 on the road. They compiled the most futile record in baseball, not equaled until the 1962 Mets lost 120! (sorry Ed.....)
Just nine days before Ruth's announcement came another milestone in major league baseball, this time in Cincinnati. The first night game was played with the Reds defeating the Phillies 2-1. The owners granted permission for a total of seven night games that season, and only if the Red's opponents agreed.
Just so this doesn't drag on.... here are some other quick highlights. Hank Greenberg won the AL MVP award, the Tigers downed the Cubs to win their first fall classic (after the Tigers had lost series in 1907, 1908, 1909 and 1934), and on August 31,White Sox ace Vern Kennedy tossed the first no-hitter (5-0) ever at Comiskey Park as well as the first no-no since the Senators' Bobby Burke's 5-0 gem on August 8, 1931 against the Red Sox. That drought between no hitters is the longest in modern day history. As a point of reference, there were four no-nos thrown in 2010 alone, not including Armando Galarraga's gem that should have been a perfect game. The most thrown in one season is seven, happening in both 1990 and 1991.
Greenberg accepts the MVP award from Judge Landis
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Countdown to Christmas - 35 Days Pt. 1
Not sure if I will have time for a complete blog on 1935 as Harry Potter is this afternoon, then FSU-MD game tonight. Besides, nothing of importance happened in 1935.......
Just......
....legendary player calls it quits....
....let's shed some light on the subject.....
....Braves are an exercise in futility......
....a Hanky gets the MVP.....
....an all animal world series.....
....the first no-no since 1931 (and how many were thrown in 2010 alone??)
OK, so maybe SOME things happened. Stay tuned!
Just......
....legendary player calls it quits....
....let's shed some light on the subject.....
....Braves are an exercise in futility......
....a Hanky gets the MVP.....
....an all animal world series.....
....the first no-no since 1931 (and how many were thrown in 2010 alone??)
OK, so maybe SOME things happened. Stay tuned!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Countdown to Christmas - Day 36 continued
1936 was an exciting year, with high profile rookies, another subway series, and the establishment of a shrine to our new found national pastime.
It was the year of the “Golden Rookies” in the Junior Circuit. On May 3, Joe DiMaggio made his debut in the Yankee pinstripes against the St. Louis Browns, bursting onto the scene with a triple, two singles, three runs scored and a home run as the Bronx Bombers won in a route, 14-5. DiMaggio hit .323 in 1936 with 29 home runs and 125 RBI. He was one of five Yankees to drive in 100 runs that year, with Lou Gehrig (152), Bill Dickey and George Selkirk (107 each) and Tony Lazzeri. And Bill Dickey’s .362 average was a record for a catcher that stood until Joe Mauer hit .365 in 2009.
Bob Feller was an Iowa farm boy playing sand lot baseball, and was signed to a contract for a $1 bonus and an autographed baseball. He made his debut at 17 years old in 1936, and in his first start, he fanned 15 St. Louis Browns hitters. A few weeks later he set an American League record by striking out 17 A’s. At the end of the season, he return to Iowa for his senior year of high school, and returned to play 17 more seasons (taking time out for 4 years of military service) and compiled a record of 266-162 and earned a spot in Cooperstown.
Speaking of Cooperstown, on February 2, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mattewson and Walter Johnson were named charter members of baseball’s new Hall of Fame. While the building itself would not open until 1939, these five were the first five voted in by the BBWA.
Philadelphia’s Chuck Klein joined one of baseball’s select circles when he hit four home runs in a 9-6 victory over Pittsburgh on July 10. Klein became only the second modern era player to hit four dingers in one game (the other was Gehrig) and joined Bobby Lowe (1894) and Ed Delahanty (1896) in the elite four HR club. He ended the season with 25 homers.
In the first all New York subway series since 1923, the Yankees beat the Giants four games to two, outscoring the Giants 43-23.
It was the year of the “Golden Rookies” in the Junior Circuit. On May 3, Joe DiMaggio made his debut in the Yankee pinstripes against the St. Louis Browns, bursting onto the scene with a triple, two singles, three runs scored and a home run as the Bronx Bombers won in a route, 14-5. DiMaggio hit .323 in 1936 with 29 home runs and 125 RBI. He was one of five Yankees to drive in 100 runs that year, with Lou Gehrig (152), Bill Dickey and George Selkirk (107 each) and Tony Lazzeri. And Bill Dickey’s .362 average was a record for a catcher that stood until Joe Mauer hit .365 in 2009.
Bob Feller was an Iowa farm boy playing sand lot baseball, and was signed to a contract for a $1 bonus and an autographed baseball. He made his debut at 17 years old in 1936, and in his first start, he fanned 15 St. Louis Browns hitters. A few weeks later he set an American League record by striking out 17 A’s. At the end of the season, he return to Iowa for his senior year of high school, and returned to play 17 more seasons (taking time out for 4 years of military service) and compiled a record of 266-162 and earned a spot in Cooperstown.Speaking of Cooperstown, on February 2, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mattewson and Walter Johnson were named charter members of baseball’s new Hall of Fame. While the building itself would not open until 1939, these five were the first five voted in by the BBWA.
Philadelphia’s Chuck Klein joined one of baseball’s select circles when he hit four home runs in a 9-6 victory over Pittsburgh on July 10. Klein became only the second modern era player to hit four dingers in one game (the other was Gehrig) and joined Bobby Lowe (1894) and Ed Delahanty (1896) in the elite four HR club. He ended the season with 25 homers.
In the first all New York subway series since 1923, the Yankees beat the Giants four games to two, outscoring the Giants 43-23.
Carl Hubbell and Lou Gehrig in the 1936 World Series.
Before the season began, the new owners of the Boston Braves polled fans for a new nickname for the team, settling on the “Bees.” The new nickname didn’t take off, and after the 1940 season, they changed back to the Braves.Future Hall of Famers born in 1936 include Bill Mazerowski, Don Drysdale and Harmon Killebrew.
Countdown to Christmas - 36 Days
Just a preview of tonight's blog post:
A new Yankee makes a splash in his debut
A post 1900 homerun record is tied... by an Athletic
First members of the Hall of Fame are voted in
A subway series
A farm boy makes a stunning pitching debut... then heads back to finish high school
Braves to Bees, but it doesn't last long
A new Yankee makes a splash in his debut
A post 1900 homerun record is tied... by an Athletic
First members of the Hall of Fame are voted in
A subway series
A farm boy makes a stunning pitching debut... then heads back to finish high school
Braves to Bees, but it doesn't last long
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Countdown to Christmas 2010 - 37 Days
After a few false starts back in September, the Countdown is back in full swing! Last year's countdown was a tribute to famous jersey numbers, and I tried to incorporate my old baseball cards as best I could. This year's Countdown is more of a history lesson than anything else. But you never know what surprises might be thrown in.
So, with 37 days to Christmas, let's talk about 1937. The season started off with a bang, as Tigers outfielder Gee Walker became the first player in history to hit for the cycle on Opening Day. Walker, who played 15 seasons with the Tigers, White Sox, Senators, Indians and Reds and had a lifetime batting average of .294, propelled the Tigers to a 4-3 victory over Cleveland. Walker ended up hitting .335 in 1937.
Ducky Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals won the triple crown in the Senior Circuit, and was named the league MVP. Medwick, whose real name was Joe, hit .374 with 154 RBI and tied Mel Ott for the league lead in home runs with 31. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, he was a one man show as the team finished in 4th place, 15 games behind the Giants. Leo “The Lip” Durocher said “He is the meanest roughest guy you could imagine. He just stands up there and whales everything within reach. Doubles, triples, home runs… he sprays them all over every park and if he has a weakness, it is a ball over the plate.”
Napoleon Lajoie, Tris Speaker and Cy Young become the sixth, seventh and eighth members of the Hall of Fame.
The Homestead Grays, led by Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, and Judy Johnson, won the first of nine straight Negro League championships in 1937. Gibson and Johnson had played for the famed Pittsburgh Crawfords but jumped to the Grays in 1937.
1937 also was the start of the end of the career of one Hall of Fame pitcher, and the promise of a
new beginning for an up and coming Hall of Famer. Dizzy Dean pitched the first three innings of the All Star game, and with two out in the third, Earl Averill cracked a low line drive that caught Dean on the front of his foot. Later in the clubhouse, they discovered that Dean’s toe was broken, but he and the Cardinals management put him back on the mound before it had completely healed. The injury caused him to change his delivery, ultimately injuring his arm and ending his glory days at age 26. And on December 6th the Boston Red Sox acquired the contract of an up and coming 19 year old named Ted Williams. Williams began his pro career with his hometown San Diego Padres of the PCL and improved enough at Minneapolis of the American Association to catch the eye of the Red Sox.
Hall of Famers born in 1937 include Brooks Robinson, Juan Marichal and Orlando Cepeda.
So, with 37 days to Christmas, let's talk about 1937. The season started off with a bang, as Tigers outfielder Gee Walker became the first player in history to hit for the cycle on Opening Day. Walker, who played 15 seasons with the Tigers, White Sox, Senators, Indians and Reds and had a lifetime batting average of .294, propelled the Tigers to a 4-3 victory over Cleveland. Walker ended up hitting .335 in 1937.
Ducky Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals won the triple crown in the Senior Circuit, and was named the league MVP. Medwick, whose real name was Joe, hit .374 with 154 RBI and tied Mel Ott for the league lead in home runs with 31. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, he was a one man show as the team finished in 4th place, 15 games behind the Giants. Leo “The Lip” Durocher said “He is the meanest roughest guy you could imagine. He just stands up there and whales everything within reach. Doubles, triples, home runs… he sprays them all over every park and if he has a weakness, it is a ball over the plate.”Napoleon Lajoie, Tris Speaker and Cy Young become the sixth, seventh and eighth members of the Hall of Fame.
The Homestead Grays, led by Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, and Judy Johnson, won the first of nine straight Negro League championships in 1937. Gibson and Johnson had played for the famed Pittsburgh Crawfords but jumped to the Grays in 1937.
1937 also was the start of the end of the career of one Hall of Fame pitcher, and the promise of a
new beginning for an up and coming Hall of Famer. Dizzy Dean pitched the first three innings of the All Star game, and with two out in the third, Earl Averill cracked a low line drive that caught Dean on the front of his foot. Later in the clubhouse, they discovered that Dean’s toe was broken, but he and the Cardinals management put him back on the mound before it had completely healed. The injury caused him to change his delivery, ultimately injuring his arm and ending his glory days at age 26. And on December 6th the Boston Red Sox acquired the contract of an up and coming 19 year old named Ted Williams. Williams began his pro career with his hometown San Diego Padres of the PCL and improved enough at Minneapolis of the American Association to catch the eye of the Red Sox.Hall of Famers born in 1937 include Brooks Robinson, Juan Marichal and Orlando Cepeda.
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