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.
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