Baseball in the Pythagorean Universe 1871-Present

Garrett Garlits · Jun 18, 2017

Now it's time for Game 2 of the 1930 World Series from Griffith Stadium in Washington. The date is Thursday, October 2:

Before we begin, let's acknowledge the broadcasters. Graham McNamee is doing the games from Washington for NBC, while Ted Husing is the voice of the games from St. Louis for CBS.

Lineup Changes:

Cardinals- George Watkins replaces Ray Blades in right field and is batting sixth.

Senators- Jackie Hayes replaces Ossie Bluege at third base and is batting seventh.

Cardinals 1st: Taylor Douthit led off the game by dropping a base hit into left center, but Sparky Adams hit into a 5-4-3 double play and Frankie Frisch grounded out to third to end the inning. After a half, it's Cardinals nothing, Senators ready to hit.

Senators 1st: With one out, right fielder Sam Rice beat out an infield hit. After Heinie Manush flew out to deep right center for out number two, Joe Cronin got another infield hit when his tapper to Jim Bottomley at first stayed fair rather than rolling foul as Bottomley had expected. But Cardinals starter Flint Rhem struck out Joe Judge swinging to end the inning. After one, we're still scoreless.

Cardinals 2nd: Watkins' two-out single to right was wasted when Mancuso grounded out to short. After an inning and a half, there's no score.

Senators 2nd: Dave Harris drew a leadoff walk, then stole second after one out. But Roy Spencer grounded to second, and starter Bump Hadley ended the inning by tapping to first. After two, it's Cards 0, Sens 0.

Cardinals 3rd: Rhem blooped a single into left with one out. He was forced at second by Douthit, but Adams singled to left to extend the inning. Frisch grounded to third to end the threat and keep the game scoreless after two and a half.

Senators 3rd: Buddy Myer led off with a bloop single to right and moved to second on Rice's grounder to third. Manush then lined a base hit to right which scored Myer and gave the Sens a 1-0 lead. Cronin flew to center and Judge flew to right, retiring the side. But the Sens have grabbed a 1-0 lead after three.

Cardinals 4th: Bottomley led off by lining a single to right center. Chick Hafey then socked a line drive to center that went for a double. Bottomley stumbled going around second, and thus had to stop at third. A walk to Watkins loaded the bases, but Hadley rebounded to catch Mancuso looking for out number one and induce a liner to short from Charlie Gelbert for out number two. That left things up to Rhem, who poked a soft line drive into center that managed to elude both an incoming Harris and an outgoing Myer. Bottomley and Hafey scored, and the Cardinals took a 2-1 lead, and Watkins moved to third. Douthit grounded to third to end the inning, but the Redbirds are out in front 2-1 after three and a half in Game 2.

Senators 4th: Harris lined a leadoff single to left, then stole second. But Hayes grounded to short, Spencer grounded to third, and Hadley was frozen stiff on strike three to end the inning. After four, it's St. Louis 2, Washington 1.

Cardinals 5th: With one out, Frisch launched a fly ball that landed on the right field warning track and hopped over the wall for a ground-rule double. Bottomley's base hit to left brought the Fordham Flash home and extended the St. Louis lead to 3-1. Hafey then singled to left to put two on, but Hadley struck out both Watkins and Mancuso swinging to retire the side. Halfway through Game 2, the Redbirds lead the Sens 3-1.

Senators 5th: Myer led off with a base hit to left center. Rice's line drive hit Gelbert's glove and popped up like a piece of toast, and by the time it came down runners were at first and second. Manush's fly to right center moved Myer to third despite a strong throw from Douthit, but Cronin's fly to almost the same spot couldn't bring him home, and Judge's grounder to second ended the inning. After five, the Sens still trailed by two.

Cardinals 6th: Gelbert led off with a double to center. Rhem's fly to left center moved him to third, and Douthit's base hit to left brought him home to make it 4-1 Cardinals. Adams forced Douthit at second, and Frisch's grounder to first ended the inning, but not before the Cards had tacked on a big insurance run. After five and a half, their lead over the Sens is now three.

Senators 6th: After one out, Hayes and Spencer each singled to left. With the tying run coming to the plate, Sens manager Walter Johnson sent Sam West up to bat for Hadley, but all West could do was force Spencer at second. Hayes moved to third on the play, but the inning ended when Myer grounded to third. A golden opportunity was thus lost for the Sens, who still trailed 4-1 after six.

Cardinals 7th: New Washington pitcher General Braxton set the Cards down in order. As we stretch at Griffith Stadium, it's still Cardinals 4, Senators 1.

Senators 7th: With one out, Manush singled to center, but he was forced at second by Cronin. Judge's tapper to first ended the inning. After seven, it's NL Champs 4, AL Champs 1.

Cardinals 8th: Mancuso drew a leadoff walk, but Gelbert erased him immediately by grounding into a 6-4-3 double play. Steamboat Fisher then batted for Rhem, and his routine fly to center was dropped by Manush for an error. Douthit's base hit to left center put runners on the corners, but Adams' grounder to first ended the inning. After seven and a half, it's still Cardinals 4, Senators 1.

Senators 8th: Harris drew a leadoff walk against new Cardinal pitcher Hi Bell. After Hayes flew out to left center, a wild pitch moved Harris to second. Spencer then smacked a triple far over Douthit's head in center to score Harris and cut the St. Louis lead to 4-2. Bluege then batted for Braxton and lined a double into the left center power alley to score Spencer and make it a one-run game. Hal Haid was quickly summoned from the St. Louis pen to replace Bell, and he got Myer to fly to right center and Rice to fly to right, ending the inning. But the Sens have scored twice to cut the Cardinal lead to 4-3 after eight.

Cardinals 9th: New Washington pitcher Ad Liska gave up a leadoff walk to Frisch, who promptly stole second and moved to third when Spencer airmailed his attempted caught-stealing throw into center field. Bottomley then ripped a double into the left field corner to score Frisch and pad the Cards' lead to two. Johnson came out with the quick hook for Liska, and new pitcher Bobby Burke got Hafey to ground to third and Watkins to fly to center on his first two pitches. Mancuso drew a walk to put two men on, but Gelbert's fly down the left field line was caught by Manush for the third out. The Cardinals have added one, which means that the Sens need two to tie and three to win in the bottom of the ninth.

Senators 9th: Haid hit Manush in the knee with his first pitch, and Cronin beat out an infield hit to put the tying run on base. Judge's grounder to short moved everyone up ninety feet, and Harris' tapper to first scored Manush to bring the Sens within 5-4. The pitcher's spot was up next due to a double switch (Bluege for Hayes at third), and Goose Goslin came up to bat for Burke. Haid got him to ground to short on the first pitch, and the game was over. Final score: Cardinals 5, Senators 4, and this series is tied at a game apiece.

Bottomley was the consensus choice for Player of the Game after going three for five and driving in a pair of runs, but a case was also made for Rhem, who not only pitched seven strong innings for the win, but went two for two at the plate and drove in the eventual winning run.

Final totals: Cardinals 5-14-0, Senators 4-13-2.

W- Rhem (1-0)
L- Hadley (0-1)

Game 3 of this series will be at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis on Sunday. Alvin "General" Crowder will start for the visitors, while the home squad turns to Bill Hallahan.

Next: We look at Game 3.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jun 19, 2017

Now it's time for Game 3 of the 1930 World Series from Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The date is Saturday, October 4:

Senators- Art Shires will start at first base in place of an ailing Joe Judge and bat fifth. Judge is fit for pinch-hitting duty.

Cardinals- Ray Blades is back in right field in place of George Watkins, and he'll bat sixth. Also, Jimmie Wilson makes his first start of the series behind the plate. He'll bat seventh.

Senators 1st: Cardinals starter Wild Bill Hallahan set the visitors down one-two-three. After a half, it's Senators nothing, Cardinals coming to bat.

Cardinals 1st: Sens starter General Crowder returned the favor. After one, it's goose eggs across the board.

Senators 2nd: Joe Cronin drew a leadoff walk. After two out, Jackie Hayes' base hit to right put runners on the corners. Hallahan then walked Roy Spencer on a 3-2 pitch, and both he and Wilson gave earfuls to home plate umpire Harry Geisel, to no avail. All the tumult was for nothing, as Crowder's weak grounder to first ended the inning with no damage done. We're still scoreless after an inning and a half.

Cardinals 2nd: Bottomley led off with a single to center, moved to second on Chick Hafey's grounder to first, and moved to third on Blades' grounder to second. But Wilson's grounder to third retired the side. After two, it's Sens 0, Redbirds 0.

Senators 3rd: Buddy Myer led off with a fly ball to medium center. Douthit started in, went back, started in again, then watched as the ball skipped off of his outstretched glove. By the time he gathered himself and threw it back into the infield, Myer was at second. Rice's infield single to short put Sens at the lines, and Heinie Manush walked on five pitches to load the bases. Cronin then grounded one between second and third and into left center for a base hit. Myer and Rice both scored, and the Sens took a 2-0 lead.

Shires walked to load the bases for a second time in the inning, and there was still nobody out. As Hi Bell began to stir in the Cardinal bullpen, Hallahan rebounded to strike out Dave Harris swinging. Hayes grounded to third, and Adams threw home to nail Manush at the plate for the second out. Spencer then grounded to short to end the inning. The Sens had scored twice, but they'd also left the bases loaded for the second consecutive inning. After two and a half, it was Washington 2, St. Louis 0.

Cardinals 3rd: Hallahan's one-out single to left was wasted when Douthit flew to left and Adams grounded to short. Through three, the Sens still led 2-0.

Senators 4th: The visitors went down in order for the second time in the game. Through three and a half, it was Sens 2, Cards 0.

Cardinals 4th: With one out, Bottomley singled to left. Crowder then struck out Hafey swinging for out number two, but Blades' bloop single to right center put runners at first and third. Wilson then singled to right to bring home Bottomley and cut the Washington lead to 2-1. Charlie Gelbert was next, and he lined the fourth base hit of the inning into right center to bring home Blades and tie the game at two. Hallahan's fly to right ended the inning, but the Redbirds had fought back to even Game 3 after four.

Senators 5th: Manush led off the inning by beating out an infield single. After Cronin flew to Hafey at the warning track in left for the first out, Shires blooped a single to right to put runners at first and third. Harris became the second batter of the inning to chase Hafey back to the fence in left, and this time Manush scored just ahead of Chick's throw home to put the Sens in the lead 3-2. Hayes grounded to first to retire the side, but the Sens had manufactured the go-ahead run at the halfway point of Game 3.

Cardinals 5th: With one out, Adams singled up the middle. Frisch walked, and Bottomley sent a fly to deep right that looked like a home run until Rice made a leaping catch at the wall, with Adams moving to third. Hafey's grounder to short ended the inning. After five, it's Sens 3, Cardinals 2.

Senators 6th: Another one-two-three inning for Hallahan: Spencer popped to third, Crowder grounded to second, and Myer grounded to first. The Sens still led by one through five and a half.

Cardinals 6th: Another one-two-three inning for Crowder: Wilson grounded to third in between Blades' and Gelbert's grounders to short. Through six, the Cards still trailed by one.

Senators 7th: Rice worked a leadoff walk, but Hallahan retired the next three batters on just six pitches: Manush flew to right center, Cronin popped to second, and Shires grounded to first. As we stretch at Sportsman's Park, the AL champs maintain their 3-2 lead.

Cardinals 7th: Crowder shut the Cards down in order again, and he's now retired eight St. Louis hitters in a row, After seven, it's AL Champs 3, NL Champs 2.

Senators 8th: Hayes lined a one-out single to left off of new Cardinals pitcher Bell, but Spencer struck out swinging and Judge (batting for Crowder) grounded to first. After seven and a half, the Sens still lead by one.

Cardinals 8th: Frisch greeted new Sens pitcher Garland Braxton with a sharp single to left center, then stole second. Braxton then clipped Bottomley in the knee with a pitch, and a walk to Hafey loaded the bases. Sens manage Walter Johnson wasted no time going back to his pen, and new pitcher Ad Liska mowed down the next three Cardinal hitters with dispatch: Blades flew to left, Gelbert's foul pop behind third was caught by Hayes, and Gelbert struck out swinging. The Redbirds had loaded the bases with nobody out and hadn't scored, and they still trailed by one after eight.

Senators 9th: Bell set the Sens down in order, and his teammates had one last chance in the bottom of the ninth trailing by a run.

Cardinals 9th: After one out, Liska gave up back-to-back walks to Douthit and Adams, but Frisch grounded into a 6-4-3 game-ending double play. Final score: Senators 3, Cardinals 2, and the Sens lead the series two games to one.

Crowder's performance on the hill was enough to net him the unofficial Player of the Game award: two runs and seven hits given up in seven innings of work.

Final totals: Senators 3-6-0, Cardinals 2-8-1.

W- Crowder (1-0)
L- Hallahan (0-1)

Game 4 will be played tomorrow here at Sportsman's Park. Jesse Haines will take the mound for the home squad, while the Sens' starter will be Sad Sam Jones.

Next: We look at Game 4.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jun 20, 2017

It's time now for Game 4 of the 1930 World Series from Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The date is Sunday, October 5:

Senators 1st: Cardinals starter Jesse Haines enjoyed a one-two-three inning. After a half, it's Senators nothing, Cardinals coming to bat.

Cardinals 1st: Sens starter Sad Sam Jones enjoyed a one-two-three inning as well, with all three outs being handled by shortstop Joe Cronin. After one, there's no score.

Senators 2nd: After two out (with the second out being a running catch of Art Shires' shallow fly to left center by Taylor Douthit), Dave Harris singled to center. Jackie Hayes followed with a single to left that put two men on, and Roy Spencer's fly to left center dropped between at least three Cardinal defenders and rolled all the way to the wall. Harris and Hayes both scored to give Washington a 2-0 lead, and Spencer ended up at second with a double. Jones struck out on three wild swings to end the inning, but the Sens have drawn first blood here in Game 4; they lead 2-0 after an inning and a half.

Cardinals 2nd: Another one-two-three inning for Sad Sam, who has retired the first six Cardinal hitters on just twenty pitches. The Sens still lead 2-0 after two.

Senators 3rd: Haines set the Sens down in order again: Buddy Myer grounded to third, Sam Rice grounded to first, and Heinie Manush popped to short. After two and a half, it's still Washington 2, St. Louis 0.

Cardinals 3rd: Jimmie Wilson drew a leadoff walk, but Charlie Gelbert erased him by grounding into an around-the-horn double play. Haines flew to left to retire the side. After three, the Cards still trail their visitors 2-0.

Senators 4th: Another three up-three down inning for Haines: Cronin popped to second, Shires grounded to second, and Harris fished in vain for a Haines curve and struck out. After three and a half, it's still Senators 2, Cardinals 0.

Cardinals 4th: With two out, Frisch singled to right center for the first St. Louis hit of the game, then stole second. But Jim Bottomley's grounder to short retired the side. Through four, the Sens maintain their 2-0 advantage.

Senators 5th: Hayes drew a leadoff walk, but was forced by Spencer. Jones was caught looking at strike three for the second out, and Myer's foul pop behind first was caught by Bottomley to end the inning. Halfway through Game 4, it's AL Champs 2, NL Champs 0.

Cardinals 5th: Jones set the Cards down in order yet again: Hafey went down swinging, and both Blades and Wilson grounded to short. Sad Sam's twirling a one-hitter through five, and his Sens still lead 2-0.

Senators 6th: Rice opened the inning by singling up the middle. Manush's base hit to right put two men on, and Cronin's infield out moved each of them up a base. Haines struck Shires out swinging for the second out, but a walk to Harris loaded the bases. Hayes then stroked a single to left, scoring Rice and Manush and extending the Sens' lead to 4-0. Spencer's grounder to second retired the side, but the Sens have added two and lead 4-0 after five and a half.

Cardinals 6th: Gelbert lined a leadoff base hit to center, but George Watkins (batting for Haines) grounded into a 3-6-3 double play. Douthit belted a triple high off the left field wall to keep the inning going, but Adams' weak fly to Manush in left retired the side. After six, the Sens still lead 4-0.

Senators 7th: After one out, Myer and Rice touched up new Cardinals pitcher Hi Bell for back-to-back base hits to right center. With runners thus at the lines, Manush grounded one to Frisch at second and raced to beat the Fordham Flash's throw to first. He made it by less than half a step, which allowed Myer to score the fifth Washington run.

That was all for Bell; he was replaced by Bill Sherdel. whose first pitch was stung into left by Cronin. Rice scored easily, and it was 6-0 Sens. Shires then smoked another line drive off of Adams' glove for a hit, scoring Manush with the Sens' seventh run. Harris flew to right center for the second out, and Hayes did the same to end the inning, but the Sens have struck for three more runs, and the dispirited Cardinal faithful get up to stretch with their team down 7-0.

Cardinals 7th: With two out, Hafey singled to right. Blades' base hit to left center put runners at the corners, but Wilson's fly to shallow right center retired the side. After seven, the Sens lead by seven.

Senators 8th: With one out, Jones reached when Adams muffed his routine grounder. Myer's base hit to right center put runners at first and third, and Rice's base hit to right center scored Sad Sam and made it 8-0. Manush fouled out to Bottomley for the second out, and Cronin's grounder to short retired the side. But the Sens have added another insurance run, and after seven and a half they're in total control of an 8-0 laugher.

Cardinals 8th: Gelbert led off with a base hit to center, but was forced by Sherdel, who was in turn forced by Douthit. Adams' grounder to short retired the side. After eight, the Sens still have an eight-run lead.

Senators 9th: After one out, Harris put the cherry on the sundae by whacking Sherdel's first pitch over the right field wall for a home run. Hayes followed up with a base hit to center, but Spencer grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. After eight and a half, the Sens now lead the Cards 9-0.

Cardinals 9th: The Cards made the second-greatest comeback in World Series history.

Frisch got things started by legging out a leadoff infield hit. Bottomley's grounder to third was dropped by Hayes, and by the time he picked it up there was no play at first. A single to right by Hafey loaded the bases. Blades sent Harris back to the warning track in center with a fly ball, but Dave made the catch just before the wall, with Frisch scoring to end Jones' shutout bid. Wilson's base hit to left scored Bottomley to make it a 9-2 game, The runners moved up on a wild pitch, then Gelbert rocketed a double into the left field corner to score Hafey and Wilson and cut the Sens' lead to 9-4. That was it for Jones; Garland Braxton was called on by Sens skipper Walter Johnson to restore order.

This he did not do. Steamboat Fisher came up to bat for Sherdel and singled to right center to put runners on the corners. Douthit's base hit to right center cashed in Gelbert to make it 9-5, and Adams sac fly to left made it 9-6. Still, all Braxton needed to put his team up three games to one was one more out. Instead, Frisch banged a double off the center field wall for his second hit of the inning. Only the fact that the ball rebounded off the wall quickly and cleanly enough for Harris to throw to the plate held Douthit at third. Bottomley went down two strikes, fouled off two pitches, then strafed one into the right center power alley. Douthit scored easily this time, and Frisch joined him. It was now 9-8, and the call went to the Washington pen for Ad Liska.

Ad wasn't the answer this time; he walked Hafey on five pitches, then Blades tied the game with a solid base hit to right center which scored Bottomley. Sportsman's Park was absolutely beside itself, and Wilson had the chance to complete the miracle, with Hafey just ninety feet away. Unfortunately, Jimmie was handcuffed and bounced weakly to second. Myer flipped to Cronin for the force on Blades, and that was that. The total damage: nine runs on nine hits, a walk, an error, and a wild pitch, with the winning run stranded at third. We've completed nine, and the score, unbelievably, is tied at nine. This comeback ranks only behind the Athletics' ten-run seventh in last year's Game 4 which erased a 8-0 Cubs lead.

Senators 10th: After one out, new Cardinals pitcher Al Grabowski gave up back-to-back walks to Myer and Rice. Manush blistered a base hit to center, and Myer chugged around third. Douthit's throw to the plate was on target, but Myer crashed into Wilson with a hard shoulder, and the ball trickled out of his glove without the tag being made. The Sens had thus regained the lead, and after Cronin grounded to first for the second out, Shires provided some much-needed insurance by lining one back through the box and into center. Rice and Manush scored, and the Sens now led 12-9. Harris' grounder to third ended the inning, but the Sens had erased the Redbirds' comeback for the ages. Did the home squad have another in them?

Cardinals 10th: The answer to the above question was no; the Cards went down in order against new Sens hurler Bobby Burke. Douthit's grounder to short was the last out. Final score in ten innings: Senators 12, Cardinals 9, and the Sens lead the series three games to one and can wrap up their second world championship tomorrow in Game 5.

Shires was the consensus choice for Player of the Game, mostly on the basis of his two-run single in the tenth which put the game away. He ended the day two for six with three RBIs.

Game 5 will be tomorrow here at Sportsman's Park. Bump Hadley will try to pitch the Sens to the world championship, while Burleigh Grimes will get the call for the Cards.

Final totals: Senators 12-17-1, Cardinals 9-15-1.

W- Liska (1-0)
L- Grabowski (0-1)

HR- WSH: Harris (1)

Next: We look at Game 5.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jun 21, 2017

Now it's time for Game 5 of the 1930 World Series from Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The date is Monday, October 6:

Lineup Changes:

Cardinals- George Watkins will start in right field in place of Ray Blades and bat sixth.

Senators 1st: After one out, Sam Rice beat out an infield single. Heinie Manush drew a walk to put two men on, and Joe Cronin's fly to the warning track in right moved Rice to third. Art Shires then spanked a spitball from Cardinals starter Burleigh Grimes (the last legal spitballer in Major League Baseball) down the right field line and into the corner. Rice and Manush both scored easily, and the Sens led 2-0. Harris walked to continue the inning, but Grimes made a barehanded stab of Jackie Hayes' screamer to retire the side. The Sens have struck first for two; now let's see how the Redbirds respond.

Cardinals 1st: After getting the first two outs on five pitches combined, Sens starter Bump Hadley issued back-to-back walks to Frankie Frisch and Jim Bottomley. Chick Hafey then hammered a fly ball to deep right center that looked like a three-run homer, but Rice played the ball expertly and leapt at the last split second to make the catch and end the inning. After one, the Sens lead the Cards 2-0.

Senators 2nd: With one out, Hadley lined a base hit to left center. Buddy Myer's infield out moved him to second, then Rice spanked a second double down the right field line to bring him home and make it 3-0 Sens. Manush's single to center scored Rice, and Washington led 4-0. Next up was Cronin, whose grounder to short would have ended the inning if only Cards shortstop Charlie Gelbert hadn't dropped it for an error. Shires grounded to Bottomley to end the inning, but the Sens had scored another pair of runs, and now led 4-0 after an inning and a half.

Cardinals 2nd: Gelbert's two-out single to left center came to nothing when Grimes bounced to second, ending the inning. After two, it's Sens 4, Redbirds 0.

Senators 3rd: A one-two-three inning for Grimes. After two and a half, the Sens still lead by four.

Cardinals 3rd: After two out, Frisch grounded a single to right, then stole second. Bottomley then popped one up behind short. Rice came in, Cronin went out, and they crashed into each other just as the ball nestled in Joe's glove. He went sprawling, but managed to hang on. After three, it's Washington 4, St. Louis 0.

Senators 4th: Hadley led off the inning by lining a double in front of Douthit in center. He had to hold while Myer flied to right, but was able to move to third on Rice's tapper to Bottomley at first. Manush's base hit to center brought him home, and it was now 5-0 Senators. That spelled the end of Grimes' day; he was replaced by yesterday's losing pitcher, Al Grabowski. Grabowski fared slightly better here, as he induced a fly to left from Cronin on his second pitch. But the Sens had tacked on another run, which made the Cardinal deficit five after three and a half.

Cardinals 4th: Watkins singled to right with one out, but Jimmie Wilson's line drive was gloved by Hayes for the second out and Gelbert's smash was speared by Cronin to end the inning. After four, it's AL Champs 5, NL Champs 0.

Senators 5th: A three-up-three-down inning for Grabowski: Shires flew to right center, Harris grounded to short, and Hayes grounded to second. Halfway through Game 5, the Sens enjoy a five-run lead.

Cardinals 5th: Douthit singled to right with one out, but Sparky Adams struck out swinging and Frisch lined to Myer at second. After five, it's Our Nation's Capital 5, Gateway to the West zip.

Senators 6th: Grabowski set the Sens down in order again; he's retired all seven batters he's faced so far. After five and a half, it's still 5-0 Sens.

Cardinals 6th: Hadley retired the Cards in order: Bottomley struck out swinging, Hafey lined to third, and Watkins grounded to short. Bump's pitching a four-hitter through six, and the Sens still have a five-run lead.

Senators 7th: Grabowski retired the Sens in order for the third inning in a row, and has set down all ten Washington hitters he's faced. But his team hasn't capitalized; they're still being shut out as we stretch at Sportsman's Park.

Cardinals 7th: Grabowski tried to help his own cause by singling to right with two out, but Douthit's grounder to second ended the inning. After seven, it's still five-zip Sens.

Senators 8th: After one out, Harris and Hayes drew back-to-back walks. But Spencer grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, and the side was retired. After seven and a half, it's still Senators 5, Cardinals 0.

Cardinals 8th: Adams spanked a leadoff double to center, moved to third on Frisch's grounder to first, and scored on Bottomley's double into the right-center power alley. But Hadley rebounded to strike out Hafey swinging and get Watkins to ground to second. The Redbirds have finally hit the board, but still trail 5-1 after eight.

Senators 9th: Hadley smacked a leadoff double to left for his third hit of the game, and after Myer grounded to short, Rice walked. Manush forced Rice, with Hadley heading to third. Cronin's base hit to right center sent Bump across the plate for the third time in the game, and the Sens led 6-1. Shires' popup to third retired the side, but Washington's insurance run meant that the Cards will need another ninth-inning miracle to keep their season alive.

Cardinals 9th: Wilson walked to start, and Gelbert's single to left center put two men on. Blades then came up to bat for Grabowski, but he could only force Gelbert while Wilson moved to third. Douthit's infield hit to third scored Wilson to cut the Washington lead to 6-2, and Bobby Burke was ready to go in the Senators bullpen. But manager Walter Johnson decided to stay with Hadley for one more batter, and Bump got Adams to ground into an around-the-horn, world-title winning double play. Final score: Senators 6, Cardinals 2, and the Senators have taken the series four games to one.

Hadley was the only choice for unofficial Player of the Game, with his complete game on the mound and his three-for-four day at the plate, not to mention his three runs scored, but Shires was the consensus choice for unofficial MVP with his game-clinching hit in Game 4 and his first-inning double that gave the Sens the lead for good today.

Final totals: Senators 6-9-0, Cardinals 2-9-1.

W- Hadley (1-1)
L- Grimes (0-1)

The American League now trails the National League by just one in the all-time Pythagorean world title race, 14-13. Also, the Sens have become the second Pythagorean pennant winner to knock off a real-life World Series participant in order to win a Pythagorean world championship, the other being the Giants ten years ago.

Next: We look at 1931.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jun 21, 2017

Now for our look at 1931:

National League- It's four pennants in six years for the Gashouse Gang, as they overcome a four-game slide (101-53 to 97-57) to beat the second-place Giants by three games. The G-Men take second with a league-leading six-game spurt (87-65 to 93-59), while the Cubs find their four-game hike (84-70 to 88-66) good enough only for third.

The Buccos and Braves tie for the league's biggest falloff at four games apiece; Pittsburgh maintains fifth despite dropping from 75-79 to 71-83, twenty-six games out of first. The Braves, however, tumble from seventh back into the basement as a result of both their losses (64-90 to 60-94) and the Reds' three-game improvement (58-96 to 61-93). The Braves have now finished last in the NL a startling twelve times in their history.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Cardinals: 97-57 (-4)
2. Giants: 93-59- 3 GB (+6)
3. Cubs: 88-66- 9 GB (+4)
4. Robins: 77-75- 19 GB (-2)
5. Pirates: 71-83- 26 GB (-4)
6. Phillies: 64-90- 33 GB (-2)
7. Reds: 61-93- 36 GB (+3)
8. Braves: 60-94- 37 GB (-4)

American League- Yet another change on top; the Athletics top last year's debacle by a game, dropping an astounding ten contests (107-45 to 97-55). This year's beneficiaries are the New York Yankees who improve by a league-best six (94-59 to 100-53) and take the franchise's fourth pennant by two and a half games over the A's. The defending world champion Senators drop a game (92-62 to 91-63) and finish third, while the Tribe stays fourth with a three-game bump (78-76 to 81-73).

There's good news in Boston, as the Red Sox finally escape the cellar. They move up to sixth for the year, although they drop three games (62-90 to 59-93) and give up their fifth-place tie with the Browns in exchange for a sixth-place deadlock with the Tigers (60-94, one-game slip). Speaking of the Brownies, their one-game improvement (63-91 to 64-90) assures them of sole possession of fifth. There are still Sox in the AL basement, though; the Pale Hose finish 57-96 (a one-game improvement), forty-three games back of the Pinstripes.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Yankees: 100-53 (+6)
2. Athletics: 97-55- 2.5 GB (-10)
3. Senators: 91-63- 9.5 GB (-1)
4. Indians: 81-73- 19.5 GB (+3)
5. Browns: 64-90- 36.5 GB (+1)
6. (tie) Red Sox: 59-93- 40.5 GB (-3)
(tie) Tigers: 60-94- 40.5 GB (-1)
8. White Sox: 57-96- 43 GB (+1)

The Yanks will meet the defending National League champion Cardinals in the World Series, with the Cardinals having home field advantage as the National League champions.

Next: We look at Game 1 of the 1931 World Series from Sportsman's Park. Gordon Rhodes will get the start for the Yanks, to be opposed by the Redbirds' Paul Derringer.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jun 22, 2017

Now it's time for Game 1 of the 1931 World Series from Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The date is Thursday, October 1.

Before we get started, a shoutout to our broadcasters. NBC will be doing the odd-numbered games, with Graham McNamee, Tom Manning, and George Hicks on the call. CBS will be handling the even-numbered games, with Ted Husing calling the action.

Yankees 1st: Center fielder Earle Combs drew a leadoff walk, but third baseman Joe Sewell popped out to first and right fielder Babe Ruth grounded into a 3-6-3 inning-ending double play. After a half, it's Yankees nothing, Cardinals coming up.

Cardinals 1st: Third baseman Andy High grounded Yankee starter Gordon Rhodes' first pitch into right for a base hit, but right fielder Wally Roettger grounded into a 4-6-3 double play and second baseman Frankie Frisch flew to right to retire the side. There's no score after one.

Yankees 2nd: First baseman Lou Gehrig led off with a base hit to right center, but was thrown out trying to steal second. Left fielder Ben Chapman was caught looking at strike three for the second out, and shortstop Lyn Lary flew to center. After one and a half, we're still scoreless.

Cardinals 2nd: With one out, left fielder Chick Hafey reached base when Lary misplayed his grounder to short. Hafey then stole second, and center fielder Pepper Martin walked to put two men on. After catcher Jimmie Wilson popped to short for the second out, shortstop Charlie Gelbert hit a fly ball to medium right. Ruth had the ball in his glove momentarily, but it popped out like it had a mind of its own. Hafey scored on the play to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead, Martin moved to third, and Gelbert ended up at second on The Bambino's error. Starter Paul Derringer flew to Combs in shallow left center to retire the side, but the Redbirds have drawn first blood in the series. After two, they lead the Yanks 1-0.

Yankees 3rd: Catcher Bill Dickey pulled the Yanks even almost immediately by smacking Derringer's second pitch down the right field line and over the fence for a home run. Next up was shortstop Tony Lazzeri, whose counterpart Gelbert muffed his easy grounder. Rhodes bunted Lazzeri over to second, and Combs' grounder to Bottomley at first moved him to third. Sewell then uncorked a deep fly to center, but Martin caught the ball just in front of the warning track to retire the side. After two and a half, we're tied at one thanks to Dickey's longball.

Cardinals 3rd: High drew a leadoff walk. After one out, Frisch's grounder to second moved him to second. That brought up Bottomley, who got a hold of a hanging Rhodes curve and blasted it far over the center field wall and halfway to Arkansas. Based on archival film footage and the fact that dead center field at Sportsman's Park was 420 feet away from home plate, the ball has been estimated to have traveled close to five hundred feet. Next up was Hafey, who timed a fastball perfectly and smashed it at least five rows deep into the left field bleachers. All of a sudden, the Cardinals had a 4-1 lead. Martin's grounder to second retired the side, but the Redbirds had emphatically broken the tie thanks to the power of Bottomley and Hafey. After three, it's Cards 4, Yanks 1.

Yankees 4th: Chapman drew a two-out walk, then scored when Lary cracked a double into the left center power alley. Dickey struck out swinging to end the inning, but the Yanks had begun their road back with a run. They still trailed 4-2 after three and a half.

Cardinals 4th: Wilson's leadoff single to left was erased when Gelbert grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Derringer bounced to short to end the inning. After four, it's NL Champs 4, AL Champs 2.

Yankees 5th: Lazzeri walked to lead things off. Rhodes laid down a sacrifice bunt, but ended up safe when Derringer couldn't come up with the handle. Combs' double off the wall in right scored Lazzeri to cut the Cardinal lead to 4-3. Sewell then served a bloop over Bottomley's head and into right that scored Rhodes and Combs and put the Pinstripes up 5-4. Ruth continued the inning with a base hit to center, and Gehrig walked to load the bases. Chapman was next, and his seeing-eye single to left center was enough to bring home Sewell and Ruth; the Yanks now led 7-4, and Derringer's day was over.

Jesse Haines came in from the Cardinal pen, and his first pitch was driven deep to right by Lary. Roettger made the catch, with Gehrig tagging in the play and moving to third. Dickey ended the inning by grounding into a 4-6-3 twin killing, but the Yanks had exploded for five runs on four hits, two walks, and an error. Halfway through Game 1, the score reads Pinstripes 7, Redbirds 4.

Cardinals 5th: A one-two-three inning for Rhodes. After five, it's New York 7, St. Louis 4.

Yankees 6th: Combs' two-out base hit to left center was negated when Sewell grounded to first to end the inning. After five and a half, the Yanks still lead by three.

Cardinals 6th: Bottomley drew a leadoff walk and moved to second after one out on Martin's grounder to third, but Wilson also grounded to third to end the inning. After six, it's still 7-4 New York.

Yankees 7th: Haines set the Yanks down in order. As we stretch at Sportsman's Park, the home team trails by three.

Cardinals 7th: High's two out double to right center was wasted when Sewell gloved Roettger's hot smash to end the inning. After seven, it's still Yankees 7, Cardinals 4.

Yankees 8th: Dickey doubled to right with one out, but both Lazzeri and pinch hitter Sammy Byrd (batting for Rhodes) grounded to third to retire the side. The Yanks maintain their three-run advantage through seven and a half.

Cardinals 8th: New Yankee pitcher Ed Wells got the first two outs with ease, but Hafey smacked a triple off the top of the left field wall; it missed being a home run by no more than three inches. Wells compounded the mess by walking Martin and Wilson to load the bases. Gelbert then poked a base hit to left to bring home Hafey and Martin, and all of a sudden the Yankee lead was down to 7-6. Ray Blades then came up to bat for Haines, but Wells struck him out on three pitches to end the inning. The Cards have notched a pair, but still trail 7-6 as we head to the ninth.

Yankees 9th: Ruth singled to right center with two out, but was stranded when Gehrig lined to Frisch at second. We're heading to the bottom of the ninth with the Yanks clinging to a 7-6 lead.

Cardinals 9th: With one out, Roettger singled to right, but was forced by Frisch. Bottomley grounded to third to end the game. Final score: Yankees 7, Cardinals 6, and the Yanks lead the series one game to none.

Sewell was the consensus choice for Player of the Game; it was his fifth-inning single that gave the Yanks the lead for good. Some consideration was also given to Rhodes, who held the Cardinals to four runs on five hits in seven innings of work.

Final totals: Yankees 7-10-2, Cardinals 6-8-2.

W- Rhodes (1-0)
L- Derringer (0-1)

HR- NYY: Dickey (1)
STL: Bottomley (1), Hafey (1)

Game 2 will be tomorrow afternoon here at Sportsman's Park. Red Ruffing will be the Yankees' starter, while Wild Bill Hallahan takes the mound for the Cardinals.

Next: We look at Game 2.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jun 23, 2017

Now it's time for Game 2 of the 1931 World Series from Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The date is Friday, October 2:

Lineup Changes:

Cardinals- Jake Flowers replaces Andy High both in the leadoff spot and at third base. Also, George Watkins will start in place of Wally Roettger in right field and bat second.

Yankees 1st: Cardinals starter Bill Hallahan set the Yanks down in order, taking just eight pitches. After a half, it's Yankees nothing, Cardinals heading to the plate.

Cardinals 1st: Flowers greeted Yanks starter Red Ruffing with a base hit up the middle, but he was thrown out trying to steal second. Watkins drew a walk and moved to second on Frankie Frisch's infield out, but Jim Bottomley's slow roller to Lou Gehrig at first ended the inning. There's no score after one.

Yankees 2nd: Another perfect inning for Callahan, this time on just seven pitches, three of which were used to strike out Ben Chapman. After an inning and a half, we're still scoreless.

Cardinals 2nd: Chick Hafey led off the inning by whacking a 1-2 Ruffing pitch over the right field wall for his second home run of the series. After Pepper Martin popped out to short, Jimmie Wilson restarted the rally by lining a double to center. Charlie Gelbert then singled to left center, and Wilson was waved around third by Cards manager Bill McKechnie. Chapman fielded the ball and threw a perfect strike to Dickey at the plate, and Bill was waiting with the tag for his counterpart when he (Wilson) got there. Hallahan went down swinging to retire the side, but Hafey's home run has given the Redbirds a 1-0 lead after two.

Yankees 3rd: After one out, Tony Lazzeri's walk made him the first Yankee baserunner of the day. Ruffing then helped his cause with a double to left, which brought Lazzeri home and tied the game at one. Earle Combs was caught looking for the second out, but a wild pitch from Hallahan moved the Yankee hurler to third. Wild Bill made up for his error by executing a picture perfect pickoff play. Ruffing was trapped at least ten feet off the third base bag, and he merely trotted back to the base so Flowers could tag him to end the inning. The Yanks thus settle for one, and we're tied at one after two and a half.

Cardinals 3rd: Flowers stroked a leadoff single to left, stole second, and moved to third on Watkins' grounder to first. Ruffing then walked Frisch on four pitches. Bottomley's fly to right center was caught by Combs for the second out, but Hafey put the home squad in front by spanking a double into the left center power alley. Flowers and Frisch both scored, and the Cards moved out in front 3-1. Martin walked to put two men on again, but Wilson's comebacker to Ruffing ended the inning. After three, the Cards now lead the Yanks 3-1.

Yankees 4th: Hallahan set the Yanks down in order for the third time in four innings, with the highlight of the inning being his three-pitch strikeout of Ruth. After three and a half, it's Redbirds 3, Pinstripes 1.

Cardinals 4th: Gelbert led off the inning with a double down the line in right. Hallahan sacrificed him to third, but he had to hold while Flowers grounded to second. That brought up Watkins, who poked a base hit to right to bring Charlie home with the fourth St. Louis run. Watkins stole second, then came home on Frisch's base hit to left to give the Redbirds a 5-1 lead. Dickey caught Frisch stealing second to end the inning, but the damage was already done in the form of two more Cardinal runs. After four, they now lead the Yanks 5-1.

Yankees 5th: Lyn Lary drew a one-out walk. Dickey's single to center put two on, and Lary moved to third when Lazzeri forced Dickey at second. Ruffing's grounder to short retired the side. Halfway through Game 2, it's St. Louis 5, New York 1.

Cardinals 5th: Bottomley drew a leadoff walk, then scored on Hafey's double to left center. That was all for Ruffing; Yankee skipped Joe McCarthy called on Ivy Andrews out the Yankee pen to keep the National League champs in check. All went as planned: Martin grounded to second (with Hafey moving to third), Wilson flew to left center, and Gelbert grounded to shirt to end the inning. But the Cards have still added an insurance run, and after five they lead the Bronx Bombers 6-1.

Yankees 6th: Ruth tried to start a two-out rally by doubling to right center, and Gehrig followed by drawing a walk. But Chapman was caught looking to retire the side. After five and a half, the Yankees trail by five.

Cardinals 6th: Watkins' two-out double to right was wasted when Frisch grounded to first to end the inning. After six, the Cards maintain their 6-1 lead.

Yankees 7th: Lary led off the inning by legging out an infield hit. He was forced by Dickey, but Lazzeri beat out another infield hit to keep the inning alive. But Hallahan struck out pinch hitter Sammy Byrd (batting for Andrews) looking, and Combs' fly to the warning track in right center was gloved by Martin for the final out. As we stretch at Sportsman's Park, the home squad is enjoying a five-run lead.

Cardinals 7th: New Yankee pitcher George Pipgras found himself in hot water right away when he bobbled Bottomley's comebacker for an error. Hafey then lined a ball into the right field corner. Bottomley scored with ease to make it 7-1 Cardinals, and by the time Ruth could find the ball and throw it back toward the infield, Chick was standing at third with a triple.

Martin went down swinging for the second out of the inning, but the New York defense went further to pot when Wilson's fly to left bounced out of Chapman's glove after Ben thought that he'd made the catch. Hafey scored on the error, and the Cardinals now led by seven. Pipgras recovered enough to get Gelbert to fly to right center for the second out and strike out Hallahan swinging to end the inning, but the Redbirds had added two runs on just one hit, thanks to two Yankee errors. After seven, the Cardinals now led by seven.

Yankees 8th: Ruth drew a one-out walk. Gehrig then lashed a double to right, with Ruth stopping at third. A tiring Hallahan then walked Chapman to load the bases. After a conference at the mound, McKechnie decided to leave his starter in. The decision promptly backfired, as Wild Bill lived up to his nickname in the worst way, walking Lary to force in Ruth, then Dickey to force in Gehrig. Four walks were enough for McKechnie, and Hallahan finally got the hot water, but not before getting a standing ovation from the fans at Sportsman's Park.

New Cardinal pitcher Jim Lindsey rook care of business quickly, getting Lazzeri to fly to left (Chapman scored to make it 8-4) and pinch hitter Art Jorgens (batting for Pipgras) to ground to second, ending the inning. The Yanks had scored three times on just one hit thanks to no less than four walks by Hallahan, and after seven and a half, they were only down by four.

Cardinals 8th: Flowers led off with a base hit to left, but was caught trying to steal second by Dickey. Watkins grounded to second, and Frisch's fly to right center was caught by The Sultan of Swat to end the inning. After eight, it's NL Champs 8, AL Champs 4.

Yankees 9th: Combs' leadoff walk came to nothing; Sewell popped up to first, Ruth flew to right center, and Gehrig lined to Frisch at second to close things out. Final score: Cardinals 8, Yankees 4, and this series is tied at a game apiece.

Hafey was the overwhelming choice for Player of the Game; he finished his day four for four, with a home run, five RBI, and two runs scored. He also finished just a single short of the cycle.

Final totals: Cardinals 8-13-0, Yankees 4-6-2.

W- Hallahan (1-0)
L- Ruffing (0-1)

HR- STL: Hafey (2)

The series now shifts to Yankee Stadium in New York for Game 3 on Sunday. Lefty Gomez will start for the Yanks, while the Cards will answer with Burleigh Grimes.

Next: We look at Game 3.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jun 24, 2017

Now it's time for Game 3 of the 1931 World Series from Yankee Stadium in New York. The date is Sunday, October 4:

Lineup Changes:

Cardinals- The Redbirds will start their third different third baseman in the series, as Sparky Adams will play third and lead off. Also, Wally Roettger is back in right field and batting second.

Cardinals 1st: Yankee starter Lefty Gomez got two quick outs, but Frankie Frisch singled to center. Next up was Jim Bottomley, who got all of a Gomez high fastball and parked it over the fence in right center field for a two-run homer, his second of the series and the fourth overall for the Cardinals. Chick Hafey, the Redbirds' hero in Game 2, went down swinging to end the inning, but Bottomley's blast has laid down the gauntlet for the Bombers. Let's see how they meet the challenge.

Yankees 1st: The Yanks came out swinging against Cardinal starter Burleigh Grimes. Earle Combs belted the third pitch he saw deep into the left center power alley for a leadoff triple. Joe Sewell worked a walk, then Babe Ruth slapped a base hit into left to score Combs and cut the St. Louis lead in half. Lou Gehrig's single to right loaded the bases. Next, Ben Chapman grounded one down to third. Adams decided to lay back and let the ball play him, then changed his mind and decided to charge when he saw how slowly it was hit. But the ball nicked his glove and bounced by him for an error, which allowed Sewell to score and tie the game at two. With Jesse Haines already warming in the Cardinal pen, Grimes came back to strike Lyn Lary out swinging, then get Bill Dickey to bounce into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. But the Yanks had tied the score after one, and it promised to be a slugfest today at the Stadium.

Cardinals 2nd: Charlie Gelbert's two-out single to center was wasted when Grimes grounded to short to end the inning. After an inning and a half, we're still tied at two.

Yankees 2nd: Tony Lazzeri led off by lining a base hit up the middle. Gomez followed up with a slightly softer single to center which put runners at the corners. Combs forced Gomez, with Lazzeri holding at third. Sewell then grounded a third base hit to center, which scored Lazzeri and put the Yanks up 3-2. Ruth got Combs home with a fly to deep left that was caught by Hafey at the warning track. Gehrig followed that up with another fly to deep left that was caught by Hafey near the foul line to end the inning. The Yanks have regained the lead with another pair of runs, and lead 4-2 after two.

Cardinals 3rd: Gomez retired the Redbirds in order. After two and a half, it's still Pinstripes 4, Redbirds 2.

Yankees 3rd: After one out, Lary singled to center, then stole second. Dickey hit one down to Gelbert at short, but the ball took a bad hop that Charlie ended up bobbling, and everyone was safe. Lazzeri forced Dickey, but Lary scored on the play to give the Yanks a 5-2 lead. Lazzeri stole second, but ended up stranded there when Gomeaz flew to right to end the inning. The Yanks settled for one, but led 5-2 after three.

Cardinals 4th: Hafey singled to left center with one out, then stole second. He had to stay there when Pepper Martin's liner was caught by Adams for out number two, but came home on Jimmie Wilson's base hit to center to cut the New York lead to 5-3. Gelbert popped to third to end the inning, but the Cards had cut into the Yankee lead a little; it was just two after four.

Yankees 4th: Combs drew a leadoff walk, but was forced by Sewell. Ruth rapped a base hit to right center to put pinstripes on the corners, and Gehrig walked on four pitches to load the bases. That brought up Chapman, who also got a free pass from Grimes. Sewell crossed the plate, and it was 6-3 Yanks.

Grimes departed at that point in favor of Haines, and Jesse got Lary to fly to shallow left center. The ball was caught by Martin for the second out, and no one on the bases moved. That wasn't true for long, though; Dickey's base hit to right scored both Ruth and Gehrig, and the Yanks now led 8-3. Lazzeri's liner found Haines' glove, and the side was retired. The Yanks had scored three runs on two hits and three walks, and after four they now enjoyed a comfortable five-run lead.

Cardinals 5th: With two out, Roettger doubled to left. Lary muffed Frisch's slow roller for an error, and there were runners at the corners. But Bottomley's fly to right center was caught by Combs to end the inning. Halfway through Game 3, it's New York 8, St. Louis 3.

Yankees 5th: Sewell singled to left with two out, but got too greedy for his own good and tried to stretch it into a double, for which he was thrown out easily by Hafey to end the inning. After five, the Yanks still lead by five.

Cardinals 6th: A one-two-three inning for Gomez. After five and a half, it's AL Champs 8, NL Champs 3.

Yankees 6th: The Sultan of Swat led off the inning by going deep for the first time in this series; his blast didn't clear the right center field wall by more than a couple of inches, but it still counted. Gehrig followed up by clubbing a double to right, and Chapman's base hit to left scored The Iron Horse and put the Yanks in double digits. Lary walked to put two on, and Dickey brought them both home with a double off the wall in center, thus driving in his third and fourth runs of the game. Dickey got himself picked off for the first out, and Lazzeri grounded to short for out number two, but Gomez restarted the rally with a base hit to left center.

That was all for Haines; he was replaced by Tony Kaufmann, who began by walking Combs. Gelbert muffed another grounder, this one off the bat of Sewell, and the bases were loaded again. But Ruth got too far under Kaufmann's first pitch and lifted a routine fly to center that was caught by Martin for the final out. But the Yanks had blown this one open for good, sending ten men to the plate and scoring four runs on five hits, two walks, and an error. After six, it was now Yankees 12, Cardinals 3.

Cardinals 7th: With one out, pinch hitter Ernie Orsatti, batting for Kaufmann, singled to right. But he was forced by Adams, and Roettger tapped to first to retire the side. As we stretch in the Bronx, the home squad enjoys a nine-run advantage.

Yankees 7th: Lary worked a walk with two out against new Cardinals pitcher Jim Lindsey, but Dickey flew to right, ending the inning. After seven, the Bombers still lead the Cards 12-3.

Cardinals 8th: Gomez retired the Cardinals in order: Frisch grounded to third, Bottomley struck out swinging, and Hafey lined to Sewell at third. Heading to the bottom of the eighth, the Cards are looking up out of a nine-run hole.

Yankees 8th: Lazzeri drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a passed ball from Wilson with one out, and moved to third on Combs' grounder to first. But Sewell's fly to Martin in right center ended the inning. After eight. It's still Yanks 12, Redbirds 3.

Cardinals 9th: Gomez retired the Cards in order again, ending the game on a streak of seven Cardinals in a row retired. Lary got the last out in style, making a diving stop of Gelbert's grounder, then throwing to first from his knees to nab Charlie by half a step. Final score: Yankees 12, Cardinals 3, and the Yanks lead the series two games to one.

Dickey's big day at the plate earned him the unofficial Player of the Game honors, but special mention should be made of Gomez, who pitched a complete game, giving up three runs on seven hits and striking out four in a hundred and nine pitches.

Final totals: Yankees 12-15-1, Cardinals 3-7-3.

W- Gomez (1-0)
L- Grimes (0-1)

HR- STL: Bottomley (2)
NYY: Ruth (1)

Game 4 will be tomorrow here at Yankee Stadium. Syl Johnson will start for the Cards, while Herb Pennock takes the ball for the Yanks.

Next: We look at Game 4.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jun 25, 2017

Now it's time for Game 4 of the 1931 World Series from Yankee Stadium in New York. The date is Monday, October 5:

Lineup Changes:

Cardinals- The Redbirds change third basemen for the fourth time in four games, as Jake Flowers gets the start and bats leadoff. George Watkins also returns to right field and will be batting second.

Yankees- Bill Dickey and Lyn Lary will switch places in the batting order; Dickey will bat sixth, Lary seventh.

Cardinals 1st: Yankee starter Herb Pennock enjoyed a one-two-three inning. After a half, it's Cardinals nothing, Yankees ready to hit.

Yankees 1st: Cardinal starter Syl Johnson got the first two outs with ease, then up stepped Babe Ruth, who lined a mortar shot into the bleachers in right center field for his second home run in as many games. Before the crowd could stop cheering The Bambino, they had another reason to cheer even louder, as Lou Gehrig got every bit of Johnson's very next pitch and hit it over five hundred feet to deep right center, only about two rows of seats away from leaving the park completely. To make matters even worse, Ben Chapman proceeded to miss a third straight home run, this one to left center, by less than a foot; he settled for a triple. Bill Dickey's fly to left ended the inning, but the Yanks had hit the ball all over the place and had two big runs to show for it. After one, it's Yanks 2, Cards 0.

Cardinals 2nd: With one out, Chick Hafey legged out an infield single, then moved to second on Pepper Martin's grounder to third. But Jimmie Wilson's fly to shallow left (actually, just behind third base) ended the inning. After one and a half, the boys in pinstripes still led 2-0.

Yankees 2nd: Cardinals shortstop Charlie Gelbert put his team in trouble right off the bat when he misplayed Lary's leadoff grounder, thus committing his fourth error of the series. Lazzeri flew to left for the first out of the inning, then Pennock forced Lary for out number two. but Earle Combs' single to right extended the rally, and Joe Sewell's single to right center scored Pennock to make it 3-0 New York, with Combs going to third. Ruth grounded to short to retire the side, but the Yanks had added another run to lead the Cards 3-0 after two.

Cardinals 3rd: The Cards got a run back in a hurry. Gelbert led off the inning by lining a triple into the right field corner, then scored on Johnson's sacrifice fly to Chapman in left. After Flowers popped out to short, Watkins' bloop fell in right center for a double. But Frankie Frisch's pop to short ended the inning. Still, the Redbirds have gotten on the board, and they only trail the Yankees by two after two and a half.

Yankees 3rd: The Bombers' three-run lead was restored on the very first pitch of the inning, as Columbia Lou went yard for the second time in the game, this time to left center, a mere 457 feet from home plate. Johnson retired the next three batters in order, but after three, it's now New York 4, St. Louis 1.

Cardinals 4th: Hafey singled to left center with one out, but was nailed at second right after Pepper Martin went down swinging. After three and a half, the Yankees still lead 4-1.

Yankees 4th: Finally, a one-two-three inning for Johnson. The Cards still trail by three after four.

Cardinals 5th: Pennock set the Cards down in order. Halfway through Game 4, it's AL Champs 4, NL Champs 1.

Yankees 5th: Ruth walked with one out, but was forced by Gehrig. Chapman's grounder to third ended the inning. After five, the Bronx Bombers still held a 4-1 lead.

Cardinals 6th: Another three-up-three-down inning for Pennock: Flowers' fly to left was caught on the line by Chapman, Watkins popped to second, and Frisch flew to Combs in right center. After five and a half, the Yanks still hold a three-run lead, and Pennock has retired eight St. Louis hitters in a row.

Yankees 6th: Johnson got the Yanks out in order, although Dickey came within inches of the Yanks' fourth home run of the day with a fly to deep right; Watkins made the catch at the warning track. After six, it's still 4-1 Yankees.

Cardinals 7th: Bottomley led off with a base hit to right center, and Hafey followed by lining a double to right. With the tying run coming to the plate, Yankee manager Joe McCarthy made the call to the bullpen for George Pipgras, who induced grounders to first from Martin (with Bottomley scoring) and Wilson (with Hafey scoring). It was now 4-3, but the bases were clear, and Gelbert's routine fly to Ruth in right ended the inning. It's stretch time at the House That Ruth Built, and the Babe's squad is holding on to a one-run lead.

Yankees 7th: Johnson had his third one-two-three inning in the last four; he's only allowed one base runner since Gehrig's homer in the third. After seven, it's still Bombers 4, Cards 3.

Cardinals 8th: Ernie Orsatti led off the inning by pinch hitting for Johnson, and he singled to right. Flowers bunted him over to second, then Wally Roettger came up to bat for Watkins and was retired on a fly to center. Frisch's grounder to third ended the inning. After seven and a half, the Yanks maintain a 4-3 lead.

Yankees 8th: New Cardinal pitcher Jim Lindsey gets the Yanks out in order yet again. Cardinal pitching has thus retired the last ten Yankee hitters in a row. We head to the top of the ninth with the home team still leading 4-3.

Cardinals 9th: Bottomley drew a leadoff walk, and Pipgras nailed Hafey in the arm with a pitch to put two men on. But Martin struck out swinging, and Wilson grounded into a 6-4-3 game-ending double play. Final score: Yankees 4, Cardinals 3, and the Yanks lead the series three games to one and can win their third world championship with a victory in Game 5 tomorrow,

Gehrig was the obvious choice for Player of the Game honors, with his two homers in four at-bats. Special kudos to Hafey, who went three for three at the plate in a losing cause for the Cardinals.

Final totals: Yankees 4-6-0, Cardinals 3-7-1.

W- Pennock (1-0)
L- Johnson (0-1)

HR- NYY: Ruth (2), Gehrig 2 (2)

As I just mentioned, Game 5 will be tomorrow here at Yankee Stadium. Gordon Rhodes will take the mound looking to pitch the Yanks to the world title, while the Cards counter with Bill Hallahan.

Next: We look at Game 5.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jun 26, 2017

Now it's time for Game 5 of the 1931 World Series from Yankee Stadium in New York. The date is Tuesday, October 6:

Lineup Changes:

Cardinals- The Redbirds are changing third basemen for the fifth time, as Sparky Adams will get the start at the hot corner and lead off. Also, Pepper Martin and Jim Bottomley are flipping spots in the batting order; Martin will bat cleanup, while Bottomley will hit sixth.

Cardinals 1st: George Watkins belted a one-out triple over Ben Chapman's head in left, but was stranded at third when Frankie Frisch tapped to Lou Gehrig at first and Pepper Martin grounded to second. After a half, it's Cardinals nothing, Yankees coming to bat.

Yankees 1st: Cardinals starter Bill Hallahan got two quick outs, then gave up back-to-back walks to Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Chapman ended the inning by grounding to Adams, who stepped on third to force an incoming Ruth and end the inning. After one, we have no score.

Cardinals 2nd: Chick Hafey led off the inning by taking Yankee starter Gordon Rhodes deep to right center for his third home run of the series. After one out, Jimmie Wilson walked. But Charlie Gelbert bounced into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play. After one and a half, the Cards lead the Yanks 1-0 thanks to Hafey's homer.

Yankees 2nd: Lyn Lary singled to center with one out, but Tony Lazzeri's fly to left center was caught in the power alley by Hafey, and Rhodes stared at three straight called strikes to end the inning. After two, the Cards still lead 1-0.

Cardinals 3rd: A one-two-three inning for Rhodes. After two and a half, it's still Cards 1, Yanks 0.

Yankees 3rd: Hallahan returned the favor. The Redbirds still lead 1-0 after three.

Cardinals 4th: Frisch led off the inning with a base hit to right. Martin singled to right center to put runners on the corners, and Hafey brought Frisch home with a sacrifice fly to Chapman in left. Martin moved to second on the play, but he stayed there, as Bottomley flew to center and Wilson grounded to third. After four chapters, our story now reads Redbirds 2, Pinstripes 0.

Yankees 4th: Gehrig drew a leadoff walk, but was forced by Chapman. That brought up Dickey, who tied the game with one majestic swing which sent the ball five rows into the bleachers in right center field. It was Dickey's second home run of the series. Lary continued the inning with a single to left, but Lazzeri grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. Thanks to Dickey's longball, we're tied at two after four.

Cardinals 5th: Rhodes retired the Cards in order: Gelbert and Hallahan grounded to short and Adams grounded to third. Halfway through Game 5, we're all square at two.

Yankees 5th: Hallahan retired the Yanks on just seven pitches: Rhodes flew to left, Combs' liner to third was speared by Adams, and Joe Sewell popped out to second. Through five, it's still Cards 2, Yanks 2.

Cardinals 6th: Watkins drew a leadoff walk, but was caught trying to steal second by Dickey. After Frisch grounded out to second, Martin gave the Cards the lead with a tape-measure home run that cleared the wall in left center and went all the way out into the parking lot. The exact distance was never known, but the homer is generally accepted as one of the ten longest in the history of the original Yankee Stadium. Hafey grounded to second to end the inning, but The Wild Horse of the Osage has given his Cardinals a 3-2 lead after five and a half.

Yankees 6th: Ruth stroked a leadoff double to right, but had to hold at second on Gehrig's comebacker to Hallahan. Chapman singled off of Adams' glove to put runners on the corners, but Dickey grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to retire the side. After six, it's St. Louis 3, New York 2.

Cardinals 7th: A three-up-three-down inning for Rhodes: Bottomley lined to Gehrig at first, Wilson popped to third, and Gelbert's hot smash was speared by Lazzeri. As we stretch at the Stadium, the visitors cling to a 3-2 advantage.

Yankees 7th: With one out, Lazzeri singled to left, but pinch hitter Sammy Byrd (batting for Rhodes) grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning, the third twin killing by the Cards today. After seven, the Yanks still trail 3-2.

Cardinals 8th: New Yankee pitcher Ed Wells retired the Cards in order on just seven pitches. The Yankee staff has now retired the last seven St. Louis hitters in a row, After seven and a half, it's still Cardinals 3, Yankees 2.

Yankees 8th: Ruth singled to right with two out, but Gehrig's pop to Frisch at second ended the inning. After eight, it's NL Champs 3, AL Champs 2.

Cardinals 9th: Martin walked with one out. Hafey then reached when Lary muffed his slow roller to short. But Wells got Bottomley to ground into a 3-6-3 double play to retire the side. The Yanks have one last chance to win the world title today, but they'll need two runs to do it.

Yankees 9th: Chapman led off by singling up the middle. Dickey's single to right moved the tying run to third with nobody out. That was the end for an exhausted Hallahan; Jim Lindsey came out of the Cardinal pen to try to finish this one off. He got Lary to pop to Frisch for the first out, but then walked Lazzeri to load the bases. A single could now win the game, and Art Jorgens was sent up to bat for Wells. He could only manage a grounder to Gelbert at short, but that was enough to score Chapman with the tying run and move everyone else up ninety feet. Combs flew to Martin in left center to end the inning, which means that we're going extras in the Bronx. After nine, we're tied at three.

Cardinals 10th: New Yankee hurler George Pipgras retired the Redbirds in order: Wilson grounded to first, Gelbert grounded to short, and Lindsey popped to short. Through nine and a half, we're still deadlocked at three.

Yankees 10th: New Cardinal pitcher Allyn Stout had a one-two-three inning of his own, with Gelbert's diving stop of Sewell's grounder for out number one being the defensive gem of the day so far. Through ten, it's still Cards 3, Yanks 3.

Cardinals 11th: Another one-two-three inning for Pipgras. Yankee pitching has now retired the last eight St. Louis hitters in a row and fifteen of the last seventeen. After ten and a half, it's still a 3-3 tie.

Yankees 11th: Lary singled to left with two out, but was forced by Lazzeri to end the inning. Eleven innings are now in the books, and we still have a 3-3 tie.

Cardinals 12th: The Cards mounted the first serious threat of extra innings against new Yankee hurler Jim Weaver. Hafey drew a one-out walk, then moved to third on Bottomley's single to right center. Wilson had a chance to get the go-ahead run home, but his fly to center was too shallow for Hafey to try to score. Gelbert's soft liner to short ended the inning. After eleven and a half, we still have a 3-3 tie.

Yankees 12th: As darkness started to descend over Yankee Stadium, it was decided by home plate umpire Bill Klem that this half-inning would be the last played today; if necessary, the game would resume on Thursday in St. Louis before the regularly scheduled Game 6.

New Cardinal pitcher Tony Kaufmann got the first two outs with ease, which made Sewell the Yanks' last hope for winning the series in front of their fans. Here's what happened, courtesy of a recreation by Mel Allen taken from a record celebrating Yankee Stadium's history upon its reopening in 1976:

"One ball, one strike to Sewell, last half of the twelfth inning, and the last inning to be played today. If the Yanks don't score, the game will be resumed Thursday afternoon in St. Louis with the Cardinals batting in the top of the thirteenth. Kaufmann gets the sign from Wilson, winds up, the pitch.........HIGH FLY BALL DEEP TO LEFT, BACK GOES HAFEY, IT'S GOING, GOING, GONE!!!!!!!.........Joe Sewell has won the 1931 World Series for the New York Yankees with a home run into the left field bullpen, and Yankee Stadium is rocking like it seldom has before. Listen to this crowd go crazy!......... There was never any doubt that this was a home run from the second it left Sewell's bat, and his home run has made the Yankees world champions of baseball for the third time here in 1931. The final score in twelve innings: the New York Yankees 4, the St. Louis Cardinals 3. How about that!"

Sewell was, of course, considered both Player of the Game and series MVP by almost everyone in attendance.

The American League is now even with the National League at fourteen world titles apiece, and the Yankees are just the third team in the Pythagorean universe to defeat a real-life World Series team in order to win a Pythagorean world championship (1920 Giants, 1930 Senators).

Final totals: Yankees 4-11-1, Cardinals 3-6-0.

W- Weaver (1-0)
L- Kaufmann (0-1)

HR- STL: Hafey (3), Martin (1)
NYY: Dickey (2), Sewell (1)

Next: We look at 1932.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jun 26, 2017

Now for our look at 1932:

National League- It's the Cubs' turn at the top, as they claim pennant number twelve despite a four-game drop (90-64 to 86-68). Their runner-up has one of the most astonishing reversals of fortune in baseball history; in real life, the Giants were 72-82 and eighteen games out in seventh place; in this universe, they improve by ten games and finish just four back in second. Meanwhile, the real-life second-place Bucs do a ten-game freefall from the top of Mount Washington, going from 86-68 to 76-78 and falling into a tie for fifth with the Braves (one-game slip).

Other than those two extremes, movement is more incremental. The Phils wake up and take third with a three-game hike (78-76 to 81-73), while the newly-renamed Dodgers drop four games from 81-73 to .500 even at 77-77 and come up fourth. The defending champion Redbirds can only manage seventh at 74-80 (two-game increase) and the Reds are in the basement for the second time in three years despite a two-game bump (60-94 to 62-92).

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Cubs: 86-68 (-4)
2. Giants: 82-72- 4 GB (+10)
3. Phillies: 81-73- 5 GB (+3)
4. Dodgers: 77-77- 9 GB (-4)
5. (tie) Pirates: 76-78- 10 GB (-10)
(tie) Braves: 76-78- 10 GB (-1)
7. Cardinals: 74-80- 12 GB (+2)
8. Reds: 62-92- 24 GB (+2)

Name Change: Brooklyn (Robins to Dodgers)

American League- Just like the A's did the previous two years, the Yankees try their best to give the pennant away, dropping a league-high eight games (107-47 to 99-55). But their efforts are in vain, as the second-place Swingins fall four games short despite a one-game bump (94-60 to 95-59). This is the Yanks' fifth pennant. The Sens still finish third despite a five-game skid of their own (93-61 to 88-66) and the Indians hold on to fourth despite a two-game slip (87-65 to 85-67).

The Tigers lead the second division (77-74, one-game improvement). The bottom four also houses the league's most improved squad, as the seventh-place White Sox spike by seven games (49-102 to 56-95). In somewhat sadder news, it's back to the basement for the denizens of the River Charles; despite a two-game improvement (43-111 to 45-109), the Bosox finish last for the seventh time in eight seasons, and do so with at least a hundred losses for the fourth time. They end up fifty-four games behind the Yankees.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Yankees: 99-55 (-8)
2. Athletics: 95-59- 4 GB (+1)
3. Senators: 88-66- 11 GB (-5)
4. Indians: 85-67- 13 GB (-2)
5. Tigers: 77-74- 21.5 GB (+1)
6. Browns: 63-91- 36 GB (0)
7. White Sox: 56-95- 41.5 GB (+7)
8. Red Sox: 45-109- 54 GB (+2)

The Yankees sweep the National League champion Cubs four games to none in the World Series to win the franchise's fourth world championship and second in a row. This gives the AL an 15-14 advantage in terms of Pythagorean world titles so far.

Next: We look at 1933.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jun 27, 2017

Now for our look at 1933:

National League-The Giants take their first flag in nine years and their record sixteenth overall, finishing with a record of 90-62 and holding off the Cubs by a game despite the North Siders' four-game improvement (86-68 to 90-64). The Bucs fall out of second place again with a five-game spill (87-67 to 82-72) that lands them in fourth, nine games off the pace. The Cardinals take third with a three-game improvement (82-71 to 85-68).

The only movement in the second division comes because the Braves fall into it, tumbling from fourth to fifth with a three-game slide (83-71 to 80-74). Meanwhile, there's bewilderment in Cincinnati, as the Reds stay at 58-94 and thus finish last for the third time in the last four seasons.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Giants: 90-62 (-1)
2. Cubs: 90-64- 1 GB (+4)
3. Cardinals: 85-68- 5.5 GB (+3)
4. Pirates: 82-72- 9 GB (-5)
5. Braves: 80-74- 11 GB (-3)
6. Dodgers: 68-85- 22.5 GB (+3)
7. Phillies: 61-91- 29 GB (+1)
8. Reds: 58-94- 32 GB (0)

Note: This race is unfinished. The Giants still have two games to play at the end of the year, and if they lose them both, they and the Cubs will be tied for first at 90-64, which means there will be a playoff to see which team goes to the World Series.

The Giants have road dates left in Philadelphia and Cincinnati, and they've been given the option of which city to visit first and have chosen Philadelphia. That game will take place on Monday, October 2. If they lose that game, they will play the Reds at Crosley Field on Wednesday, October 4.

As far as a potential playoff goes, the Giants have home field advantage over the Cubs by virtue of winning the season series thirteen games to nine, and have chosen to play Games 2 and 3 at the Polo Grounds. This means that the playoff would begin on Friday, October 6 at Wrigley Field and continue at the Polo Grounds on Sunday, October 8, with Game 3 scheduled for Monday, October 9.

American League- The Sens take their second flag in four years and their fourth overall, holding off the Yanks by four games despite a six-game plunge (99-53 to 93-59). The Pinstripes take a three-game tumble themselves (91-59 to 88-62) but still finish eleven and a half games in front of the third-place A's, who fall by two (79-72 to 77-74). The Tigers round out the first division (76-78, one-game bump).

The league's two most improved teams come out of the bottom four, as the Red Sox improve by six (63-86 to 69-80) to finish sixth instead of seventh, while the last-place Browns top them with a seven-game spike (55-96 to 62-89). The White Sox are the least improved squad, dropping four games (67-83 to 63-87) and falling from sixth to seventh.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Senators: 93-59 (-6)
2. Yankees: 88-62- 4 GB (-3)
3. Athletics: 77-74- 15.5 GB (-2)
4. Tigers: 76-78- 18 GB (+1)
5. Indians: 74-77- 18.5 GB (-1)
6. Red Sox: 69-80- 22.5 GB (+6)
7. White Sox: 63-87- 29 GB (-4)
8. Browns: 62-89- 30.5 GB (+7)

Next: We finish the 1933 National League pennant race.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jun 28, 2017

Here's the action for Monday, October 2:

Giants 17, Phillies 0

The Giants clinched the National League pennant in dominating fashion before a sparse crowd at Baker Bowl. Second baseman Hughie Critz and canter fielder Kiddo Davis homered in the first inning to set the pace, and the rout proceeded from there. Future Dodger manager Chuck Dressen started at third and led the New York offense, going three for five and driving in four runs, Davis ended his day with three hits, three runs batted in, and four runs scored, and Critz went three for six, scored twice, and drove in three. Young first baseman Joe Malay started in place of manager Bill terry and went three for six with three runs scored and an RBI, and right fielder Mel Ott scored three runs despite going hitless in three official at bats with three walks. In all, the Giants totaled seventeen runs on nineteen hits. Starter Roy Parmelee went eight strong innings to get the win, plus contributed a three-for-three day at the plate.

The Phils were shut out on seven hits by Parmelee and reliever Glenn Spencer. No Philly hitter had more than one hit, and their bullpen collapsed in the final two innings, giving up five runs in the eighth and five more in the ninth. Starter Jumbo Elliott took the loss, giving up six earned runs on six hits in just three innings.

W- Parmelee (14-8)
L- Elliott (6-11)

HR- NYG: Davis (8), Critz (3)

The final National League standings:

Giants: 91-62
Cubs: 90-64- 1.5 GB

The Giants went on to capture their sixth world championship, defeating the Senators in five games in the World Series. The all-time Pythagorean world title count is now even at fifteen apiece.

Next: We look at 1934.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jun 28, 2017

Now here's our look at 1934:

National League- The National League sees its first outright title change since 1909, as the New York Giants improve by two games (93-60 to 95-58) and take the pennant by five games over the Cardinals, who fall off by five (95-58 to 90-63) and finish second. This is the New Yorkers' seventeenth pennant. The Cubs drop by four games (86-65 to 82-69) but still hang on to third.

The league's biggest fall doesn't come from St. Louis, though; it comes from Boston, where the Braves drop six (78-73 to 72-79) and fall from fourth place to fifth, just a half-game ahead of the sixth-place Dodgers. The biggest improvement comes from a familiar address, as the Phils shoot up from 56-93 to 64-85, a gain of eight games that still leaves them in seventh place but increases their lead over the cellar-dwelling Reds to ten. The Reds improve by three games (52-99 to 55-96), but that's not enough to keep them out of the basement for the fourth time in five years.

The hometown squad improves by three (74-76 to 77-73) and moves from fifth place to fourth, still sixteen and a half games behind the Giants.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Giants: 95-58 (+2)
2. Cardinals: 90-63- 5 GB (-5)
3. Cubs: 82-69- 12 GB (-4)
4. Pirates: 77-73- 16.5 GB (+3)
5. Braves: 72-79- 22 GB (-6)
6. Dodgers: 72-80- 22.5 GB (+1)
7. Phillies: 64-85- 29 GB (+8)
8. Reds: 55-96- 39 GB (+3)

American League- The Tigers take their second overall pennant and their first since 1907, finishing with a mark of 98-56 (a three-game drop) and defeating the second-place Yankees by five games. The Bronx Bombers drop a game (94-60 to 93-61) but still finish a whopping eleven games ahead of the third-place Indians, who fall by three (85-69 to 82-72). The Red Sox have their first winning season in fifteen years (80-72, four-game improvement) to finish fourth.

The only team of the bottom four to regress is the Browns, who fall from sixth place to seventh after a three-game slide (67-85 to 64-88). The defending champion Sens (66-86 to 69-83) and last-place Chisox (53-99 to 56-96) each improve by three.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Tigers: 98-56 (-3)
2. Yankees: 93-61- 5 GB (-1)
3. Indians: 82-72- 16 GB (-3)
4. Red Sox: 80-72- 17 GB (+4)
5. Athletics: 69-81- 27 GB (+1)
6. Senators: 69-83- 28 GB (+3)
7. Browns: 64-88- 33 GB (-3)
8. White Sox: 56-96- 41 GB (+3)

The Tigers will take on the National League champion Giants in the World Series, and will have home field advantage as the American League champions.

Next: We look at Game 1 of the 1934 World Series. Alvin "General" Crowder will start for the Tigers, while Hal Schumacher will pitch for the G-Men.

Thoughts?

Don Corleone · Jun 28, 2017

Garrett Garlits said:
Now it's time for Game 5 of the 1931 World Series from Yankee Stadium in New York. The date is Tuesday, October 6:

New Cardinal pitcher Tony Kaufmann got the first two outs with ease, which made Sewell the Yanks' last hope for winning the series in front of their fans. Here's what happened, courtesy of a recreation by Mel Allen taken from a record celebrating Yankee Stadium's history upon its reopening in 1976:

"One ball, one strike to Sewell, last half of the twelfth inning, and the last inning to be played today. If the Yanks don't score, the game will be resumed Thursday afternoon in St. Louis with the Cardinals batting in the top of the thirteenth. Kaufmann gets the sign from Wilson, winds up, the pitch.........HIGH FLY BALL DEEP TO LEFT, BACK GOES HAFEY, IT'S GOING, GOING, GONE!!!!!!!.........Joe Sewell has won the 1931 World Series for the New York Yankees with a home run into the left field bullpen, and Yankee Stadium is rocking like it seldom has before. Listen to this crowd go crazy!......... There was never any doubt that this was a home run from the second it left Sewell's bat, and his home run has made the Yankees world champions of baseball for the third time here in 1931. The final score in twelve innings: the New York Yankees 4, the St. Louis Cardinals 3. How about that!"

Sewell was, of course, considered both Player of the Game and series MVP by almost everyone in attendance.

The American League is now even with the National League at fourteen world titles apiece, and the Yankees are just the third team in the Pythagorean universe to defeat a real-life World Series team in order to win a Pythagorean world championship (1920 Giants, 1930 Senators).

Final totals: Yankees 4-11-1, Cardinals 3-6-0.

W- Weaver (1-0)
L- Kaufmann (0-1)

HR- STL: Hafey (3), Martin (1)
NYY: Dickey (2), Sewell (1)

Next: We look at 1932.

Thoughts?

That sucks. Now Maz isn't the first.

Garrett Garlits · Jun 28, 2017

Take heart, LW. He's still the first to hit a Series-winning homer in Game 7 (at least for now).

Garrett Garlits · Jun 29, 2017

Now it's time for Game 1 of the 1934 World Series from Navin Field in Detroit. The date is Wednesday, October 3:

Giants 1st: Left fielder Jo Jo Moore opened the game with a bloop double to right center. After two out, right fielder Mel Ott walked to put two men on. Center fielder Hank Leiber's grounder to short retired the side. After a half, it's Giants nothing, Tigers coming to bat.

Tigers 1st: Center fielder Jo Jo White led off by lining a base hit to left, but catcher Mickey Cochrane grounded into a 3-6-3 double play on the first pitch he saw from Giants starter Hal Schumacher. Second baseman Charlie Gehringer tapped to first to end the inning. After one, there's no score.

Giants 2nd: A one-two-three inning for Tigers starter Alvin Crowder. We're scoreless after an inning and a half.

Tigers 2nd: First baseman Hank Greenberg led off the inning with a home run into the visitors' bullpen in left field to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. After one out, shortstop Billy Rogell worked a walk. Schumacher was then called for a balk by home plate umpire Brick Owens while attempting a pickoff move, which meant that Rogell was awarded second. Hal recovered to strike third baseman Marv Owen out swinging and get right fielder Pete Fox to ground to third. After two, the Tigers lead the Giants 1-0 thanks to Greenberg's round tripper.

Giants 3rd: After one out, Moore beat out an infield single. Critz's double into the left field corner put runners at second and third. First baseman and manager Bill Terry then grounded to Greenberg at first. Hank fielded the ball cleanly but made a bad throw to Crowder as he attempted to cover the bag, which allowed Moore to score and tie the game at one and Critz to move to third. The threat stalled there, as Ott popped out to first and Leiber popped out to second. The Giants have to settle for one, but they've evened Game 1 after two and a half.

Tigers 3rd: With one out, White singled to short, stole second, and moved to third on Cochrane's infield out. But Gehringer's roller to Terry at first ended the inning. After three, it's G-Men 1, Bengals 1.

Giants 4th: Catcher Gus Mancuso drew a leadoff walk. Third baseman Johnny Vergez flew to White at the edge of the warning track in left center for out number one. That brought up shortstop Blondy Ryan, who singled to right center. Fox sprinted over into the power alley, cut the ball off, and threw a strike to Owen to nail Mancuso by half a step. Terry argued briefly with third base umpire Beans Reardon to no avail. Schumacher's single up the middle put runners at first and second, but Moore's comebacker to Crowder ended the inning. After three and a half, it's New York 1, Detroit 1.

Tigers 4th: Left fielder Goose Goslin lined a single to left center with one out, but was forced by Rogell. Owen looked at a called third strike to end the inning. After four, we're still tied at one.

Giants 5th: Terry singled to center with one out, and Ott walked to put two men on. But Leiber grounded into an around-the-horn double play to retire the side. Halfway through Game 1, we remain tied at one.

Tigers 5th: Schumacher got the first two outs with ease, but White drew a walk to extend the inning. Cochrane's base hit to right put runners on the corners, and Schumacher followed that up by walking Gehringer on five pitches to load the bases. With reliever Hi Bell warming up in the Giant bullpen, Schumacher had to deal with Greenberg, who whacked the first pitch he saw over Moore's head in left and off the wall. The bases cleared to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead, and Greenberg ended up at second with a double. Bell came in to retire Goslin on a deep fly to Leiber in left center, but for the second time in the game, a timely Greenberg hit has given the Tigers the lead. After five, it's Tigers 4, Giants 1.

Giants 6th: Crowder set the visitors down in order: Mancuso popped to short, Vergez grounded to short, and Ryan struck out swinging. After five and a half, the Giants still trailed by three.

Tigers 6th: Rogell led off with a double to right center. He held at second while Owen grounded to short, but scored when Fox lined a base hit to left. Crowder legged out an infield hit to put two men on, but was forced at second by White. Fox moved to third on the play, and scored on Cochrane's single to right center to give Detroit a five-run lead. Gehringer's popup to second ended the inning, but the Tigers had added two more runs to lead 6-1 after six.

Giants 7th: Another three up-three down inning for Crowder, who's retired eight in a row since walking Ott in the fifth. As we stretch in the Motor City, the home team enjoys a five-run lead.

Tigers 7th: Greenberg's double to left led off the inning, and new Giants pitcher Al Smith loaded the bases by walking Goslin and Rogell. But the Tigers couldn't take advantage. Owen grounded to Vergez, who quickly threw to the plate to get Greenberg for the first out. Fox popped to Terry in foul territory for out number two, and Crowder struck out swinging to end the inning. After seven, it's still AL Champs 6, NL Champs 1.

Giants 8th: Another inning-in-order for Crowder, who's now retired eleven in a row. Terry's fly to center looked like trouble off the bat, but White tracked it down just in front of the wall for out number one. After seven and a half, the Giants still trail by five.

Tigers 8th: After one out, new Giants pitcher Dolf Luque gave up back-to-back walks to Cochrane and Gehringer. But he cleaned things up by getting Greenberg to ground into an inning-ending around-the-horn double play. We head to the ninth with the home squad still up by five.

Giants 9th: Mancuso drew a leadoff walk, and Vergez followed that with a double into the left center power alley. With Elden Auker warming in the Detroit pen just in case, Crowder came back to strike Ryan out swinging, get pinch hitter Lefty O'Doul (batting for Luque) to fly to right, and get Moore to pop to Gehringer at second to end the game. Final score: Tigers 6, Giants 1, and the Tigers lead the series one game to none.

Greenberg's three-for-five, four-RBI day at the plate was enough for most observers to see him as the Player of the Game, although some favored Crowder's complete game on the mound, during which he gave up just one run on seven hits.

Game 2 will be tomorrow here at Navin Field. Schoolboy (Preacher) Rowe will take the mound for the home squad, while Roy Parmelee gets the ball for New York.

Final totals: Tigers 6-11-1, Giants 1-7-0.

W- Crowder (1-0)
L- Schumacher (0-1)

HR- DET: Greenberg (1)

Before I close, I'd like to correct an error I made in the '31 Series: Gabby Street was the Cardinals' manager that year, not Bill McKechnie as I'd thought. My apologies for the error.

Next: We look at Game 2 of this series.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jun 30, 2017

Now it's time for Game 2 of the 1934 World Series from Navin Field in Detroit. The date is Thursday, October 4:

Lineup Changes:

Giants- Travis Jackson is back in the lineup at third after sitting out Game 1. He'll be batting fifth, which means that Hank Leiber moves down to the six hole and Gus Mancuso moves down to seventh.

Giants 1st: After one out, second baseman Hughie Critz grounded a single to left, but was forced by Bill Terry. Mel Ott's liner was gloved by Hank Greenberg at first for the final out. After a half, it's Giants nothing, Tigers coming up.

Tigers 1st: With one out, Mickey Cochrane singled to right center, and Charlie Gehringer's subsequent single to center put two men on. Greenberg then drove in his fifth run in two games by singling back through the box and into center to score Cochrane and give the home team a 1-0 lead. Goslin's comebacker to the mound turned into a 1-6-3 double play, and the side was out. But the Tigers had taken a 1-0 lead after one in Game 2.

Giants 2nd: With one out, Hank Leiber singled to left center. After Gus Mancuso struck out, Blondy Ryan singled to center to put runners at first and third. Parmelee was next, and Rowe hung a curve on the outside part of the plate, which Parmelee smacked deep to left. The ball looked to be curving foul, but straightened out at the last minute and disappeared over the fence for a three-run homer. Jo Jo Moore chased the Tigers' Jo Jo White back to the fence in center with a fly ball two pitches later, but White made the catch to end the inning. Parmelee's unexpected power display has given the Giants a 3-1 lead after an inning and a half.

Tigers 2nd: With one out, Marv Owen grounded to third. Jackson fielded the ball on the second hop, but his throw to first was low and unable to be scooped by Terry. Pete Fox drew a walk, and after starter Schoolboy Rowe struck out swinging, White singled to right to load the bases. The table was thus set for Cochrane, but Mickey's routine grounder to short retired the side. The Tigers thus leave the bases loaded without scoring, and still trail 3-1 after two.

Giants 3rd: A one-two-three inning for Rowe. After two and a half, it's G-Men 3, Bless You Boys 1.

Tigers 3rd: Ditto for Parmelee. The Giants still lead 3-1 after three.

Giants 4th: Another three-up-three-down inning for the Schoolboy, with Rogell handling all three chances at short. Through three and a half, the Giants still lead 3-1.

Tigers 4th: Rogell continued his busy inning by stroking a leadoff single to center. He moved to second on Owen's infield out and to third on Fox's single to right. After Fox stole second, Rowe cashed his shortstop in with a sacrifice fly to left, which was caught against the fence by Moore. White took a called third strike to end the inning. The Tigers got a run back, but still trail 3-2 after four.

Giants 5th: Ryan grounded a leadoff single up the middle. Parmelee lined to his mound opponent Rowe, then Ryan was forced by Moore. Ott singled to left to put two men on, but Terry went down swinging to retire the side, Halfway through, it's New York 3, Detroit 2.

Tigers 5th: The home team went down in order once more: Cochrane flew to right center, Gehringer grounded to short, and Greenberg struck out on three pitches. After five, the Bengals still trail 3-2.

Giants 6th: It was the visitors' turn to go out in order: Ott lined to short, Jackson went down swinging, and Leiber flew to right. After five and a half, the men from Coogan's Bluff still cling to a one-run lead.

Tigers 6th: Goslin led off with a base hit to center. Rogell slapped a base hit of his own up the middle, and Owen singled to left to load the bases. That was all for Parmelee, as Al Smith came in from the New York pen. He cleaned up the mess in a flash, getting Fox to ground to Jackson, who threw to the plate to nail Goslin for out number one, then inducing a 5-2-3 double play from Rowe which ended the inning. Many observers wondered why manager Cochrane hadn't used a pinch hitter for Rowe under the circumstances, and almost everyone agreed that the Tigers would pay for this decision later. Right now, they trailed 3-2 after six.

Giants 7th: Mancuso drew a leadoff walk, remained at first while Ryan flied to right, and was then forced by new center fielder Lefty O'Doul, who had come into the game on a double switch for Leiber when Parmelee was removed. Moore fouled out to Owen at third to end the inning. It's stretch time in Detroit, and the visitors from Gotham still lead by one.

Tigers 7th: White smacked Smith's first pitch into the right center power alley for a leadoff double. That brought up Cochrane, who atoned for his managerial mistake by crushing a 2-0 Smith fastball into the second deck in left center for a two-run homer and a 4-3 Tiger lead. Gehringer then walked, which brought up Greenberg. After taking a strike, Greenberg guessed curve on the 0-1 and blasted the pitch into the center field upper deck for his second homer of the series and the Tigers' second of the inning. It was now 6-3 Detroit, and the Bless You Boys weren't finished.

Goslin greeted new Giants pitcher Hi Bell with a base hit to right center, and Rogell walked. Next was Owen, whose base hit to right scored Goslin with the fifth Detroit run of the inning; there was still nobody out. Finally, the Giants got an out when Fox forced Owen, then a second when Fox was caught trying to steal second. But Rogell was now at third, and he came home when Rowe helped his own cause by singling just out of Terry's reach and into right field. White was caught looking to end the inning, but the Tigers had sent ten men to the plate and scored six runs on six hits and two walks. After seven, it's now Tigers 8, Giants 3.

Giants 8th: Terry's one-out single to left center was wasted when Ott flew to center and Jackson lined to Gehringer at second. After seven and a half, it's AL Champs 8, NL Champs 3.

Tigers 8th: With one out, Gehringer singled to center. Greenberg banged a double off the wall in left to put runners at second and third, and Goslin repeated the feat to score both Gehringer and Greenberg and put the Tigers in double digits. Bell departed in favor of Nick Salveson, who walked Rogell to start, then caught Owen looking and got Fox to pop to short for the final out. The Tigers had added a pair of insurance runs, and after eight, they now lead the Giants 10-3.

Giants 9th: After one out, Mancuso singled to left. He was forced by Ryan, but O'Doul walked to put two men on. Moore was next, and his line drive was snagged by Rogell to end the game. Final score: Tigers 10, Giants 3, and the Tigers now lead the series two games to none.

Rowe and Greenberg split the unofficial Player of the Game award. Rowe went the distance on the mound, giving up three runs on eight hits in a hundred and thirteen pitches, while Greenberg went three for five for the second day in a row, with a home run and three RBIs. His total stats for the series so far: six for ten with two homers and seven RBIs.

Final totals; Tigers 10-18-0, Giants 3-8-1.

W- Rowe (1-0)
L- Smith (0-1)

HR- NYG: Parmelee (1)
DET: Greenberg (2), Cochrane (1)

Game 3 of the series will be at the Polo Grounds in New York on Saturday afternoon. Tommy Bridges will start for the Tigers against the Giants' Carl Hubbell.

Before we close, let's take a moment to recognize the broadcasters. For NBC, which has the odd games, we have Tom Manning, Ford Bond, and Graham McNamee. For CBS, which has the even games, it's France Laux, Pat Flanagan, and Ted Husing.

Next: We look at Game 3.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jul 1, 2017

Now it's time for Game 3 of the 1934 World Series from the Polo Grounds in New York. The date is Saturday, October 6:

Lineup Changes:

Giants- George Watkins will start in center field in place of Hank Leiber and bat sixth. Also, Harry Danning will start behind the plate in place of Gus Mancuso and bat seventh.

Tigers 1st: Giants starter Carl Hubbell got the side out in order, but had to make the play of the series on the very first pitch of the game by bellyflopping to smother Jo Jo White's screamer. After a half, it's Tigers nothing, Giants coming to bat.

Giants 1st: Jo Jo Moore led off by beating out an infield single. After Hughie Critz popped to Tiger catcher Mickey Cochrane behind home plate, Moore was forced by Bill Terry. Mel Ott's grounder to second ended the inning. After one, there's no score.

Tigers 2nd: After two outs, Billy Rogell and Marv Owen got back-to-back base hits to left center, which put runners at the corners. But Pete Fox's pop to Terry retired the side. After an inning and a half, we're still scoreless.

Giants 2nd: Watkins' one-out single to left center was wasted when Danning's fly was caught by Tiger left fielder Goose Goslin in foul territory and Blondy Ryan grounded out to short. There's still no score after two.

Tigers 3rd: After one out, White slapped a base hit to right center, then stole both second and third. He had to hold while Cochrane grounded to second, but scored on Charlie Gehringer's clean single to right to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Hank Greenberg's grounder to short ended the inning, but the Tigers have broken on top after two and a half.

Giants 3rd: Hubbell grounded a leadoff base hit up the middle. Moore doubled into the right field corner, with Hubbell holding at third. Critz then grounded to Rogell at short; Billy started to throw to third to try to nab Moore, saw he couldn't, and airmailed his throw to first, which allowed Hubbell to score the tying run. A walk to Terry loaded the bases, and Ott came within a foot of unloading them with a grand slam homer. As it was, Fox had to leap at the wall to make the grab, which allowed Moore to trot home from third and give the home team a 2-1 lead. Travis Jackson forced his skipper Terry at second, which scored Critz with the third New York run. Watkins' fly to left center ended the inning, but the Giants have plated three runs and taken a two-run lead after three.

Tigers 4th: Rogell's base hit to center came to nothing when Owen flew to right center and Fox popped to third. Through three and a half, it's Giants 3, Tigers 1.

Giants 4th: Danning led off with a double down the left field line, but was picked off of second for out number one. Ryan's base hit to left center rekindled the rally, and Hubbell sacrificed him to second. Tiger starter Tommy Bridges then issued back-to-back walks to Moore and Critz, thus loading the bases for Terry. But the Giants skipper could only tap weakly to first, which retired the side with the bases still loaded. After four, the Giants still hold a 3-1 lead.

Tigers 5th: Cochrane doubled to left center with two out, but Gehringer squelched the threat by popping to short. Halfway through Game 3, it's NL Champs 3, AL Champs 1.

Giants 5th: Ott drew a leadoff walk. After Jackson was caught looking, Watkins singled to right to put runners at the corners. Danning stroked another base hit to right to score Ott and make it a 4-1 game. Ryan then slashed a double into the left center power alley to bring home Watkins and Danning and make it 6-1 New York. Ryan stayed at second while Hubbell grounded to third, but Moore's base hit to left brought him home to make it 7-1 Giants. Bridges' day ended there; Firpo Marberry came out of the Detroit pen and ended the inning on one pitch, getting Critz to fly to center field. But the Giants have put up a four-spot on four hits plus a walk, and after five it's now G-Men 7, Tigers 1.

Tigers 6th: Greenberg led off by hitting his third homer in three games, a towering shot over the wall in right center 449 feet from home plate. After one out, Rogell restarted things by drawing a walk. After Owen lined out to third, Fox singled back through the box to put runners at first and third. Still down by five runs, Tiger skipper Cochrane decided to let Marberry hit for himself, and the decision paid off handsomely, as Firpo lined a double into the right center power alley to score Rogell and Fox and cut the New York lead to 7-4. White's grounder to short ended the inning, but the Tigers have fought back with three runs here in the sixth, and their deficit has thus been cut in half after five and a half.

Giants 6th: Terry led off with a base hit to left center. Ott's single to left put two on, and Jackson's single to left figured to score Terry. But Goslin caught the ball on a hop and fired to the plate, where Terry was out by a step and a half. Jackson ended up at second on the play. After Watkins grounded to short for the second out, Cochrane couldn't handle a Marberry curve and was charged with a passed ball when the ball went to the backstop. Ott scored, and the Giants led 8-4. Danning's comebacker to the mound ended the inning, but the Giants were gifted an insurance run, and as we head to the seventh they now lead by four.

Tigers 7th: A one-two-three inning for Hubbell. As we stretch on Coogan's Bluff, it's New York 8, Detroit 4.

Giants 7th: Hubbell walked with one out, and after two out Critz singled off of Owen's glove. But Terry's grounder to first ended the inning. After seven, the Giants still lead by four.

Tigers 8th: Goslin stroked a leadoff base hit to right, and Rogell's infield hit put two on. But Owen grounded into a 6-4-3 double play (with Goslin moving to third) and Fox grounded to third to end the inning. After seven and a half, the Tigers still trail by four.

Giants 8th: Ott spanked the first pitch he saw from Tiger reliever Luke Hamlin over the wall in left center on a hop for a ground-rule double. Jackson's base hit to left center brought him home and extended the Giants' lead to 9-4. But Hamlin settled down after that, as Watkins popped to Greenberg at first, Danning struck out swinging, and Ryan grounded to third. We head to the ninth with the homestanding Giants up by five.

Tigers 9th: Hubbell finished his complete game with a three-up-three-down inning: pinch hitter Gee Walker (batting for Hamlin) grounded to short, White grounded to third, and Cochrane flew to left. Final score: Giants 9, Tigers 4, and the Tigers' lead in the series is now two games to one.

Hubbell and Ott split the Player of the Game consensus about evenly; Hubbell went all the way on the mound, giving up four runs on eleven hits in a hundred and twenty pitches. Ott went two for three at the plate and scored three times while also driving in a run. Greenberg also got a few votes for homering for the third time in three games; he went just one for four today, but that still adds up to a .500 average (7 for 14) with three homers and eight RBIs so far in the series.

Final totals: Giants 9-16-0, Tigers 4-11-1.

W- Hubbell (1-0)
L- Bridges (0-1)

HR- DET: Greenberg (3)

Game 4 of this series will be tomorrow here at the Polo Grounds. Freddie Fitzsimmons will start for the home team, while the visitors counter with Vic Sorrell.

Next: We look at Game 4.

Thoughts?

Garrett Garlits · Jul 2, 2017

Now it's time for Game 4 of the 1934 World Series from the Polo Grounds in New York. The date is Sunday, October 7:

Lineup Changes:

Tigers- Despite his hot start in the series, Hank Greenberg is being moved down to sixth in the batting order, switching places with Goose Goslin.

Giants- Gus Mancuso is back behind the plate in place of Harry Danning and will bat seventh.

Tigers 1st: Jo Jo White led off the game with a base hit to right center then stole second. Mickey Cochrane's grounder to first moved him to third, and brought up Charlie Gehringer, who smacked a double to right to score him with the game's first run. Goslin's liner was gloved by Critz for the second out, but Giants starter Freddie Fitzsimmons turned wild, walking both Billy Rogell and Hank Greenberg to load the bases. That brought up Marv Owen, who cracked a base hit to left to score Gehringer and Rogell and give the Tigers a 3-0 lead. Pete Fox's fly to left ended the inning, but the Tigers had certainly drawn first blood with a three-spot. After a half, it's Tigers 3, Giants shell-shocked.

Giants 1st: Jo Jo Moore drew a leadoff walk, but had to stay at first when Critz's liner was speared by Gehringer. Terry shot a double down the right field line and into the corner. Fox retrieved the ball and got off an unbelievable throw to the plate. but Moore managed to slide around Mickey Cochrane's tag and score the Giants' first run. Terry moved the third in Mel Ott's deep fly to right center, but Travis Jackson's pop to short retired the side. The Giants settle for one, and the Tigers still lead 3-1 after one.

Tigers 2nd: Fitzsimmons set the visitors down in order. After an inning and a half, it's Tigers 3, Giants 1.

Giants 2nd: Sorrell did the same. After two, it's still 3-1 Tigers.

Tigers 3rd: Gehringer led off with a base hit to right. After one out, he moved to second on an infield out from Rogell. Terry decided to intentionally walk Greenberg to pitch to Owen, and Marv foiled the strategy with a base hit to left. Gehringer scored, and the Tigers led 4-1, with Owen having driven in three of the Detroit runs. Fox flew to left to end the inning, but after two and a half, the Tigers' three-run lead has been restored.

Giants 3rd: With one out, Moore socked a home run over the short (258 feet) right field wall at the Polo Grounds to bring the Giants back within 4-2. Critz and Terry each grounded to short to end the inning, but the Giants had gotten a run back and trailed 4-2 after three.

Tigers 4th: Another three-up-three-down inning for Fitzsimmons: Sorrell took a called third strike, White grounded to shirt, and Gehringer grounded to second. After three and a half, it's Bless You Boys 4, G-Men 2.

Giants 4th: Ott led off the inning by blasting Sorrell's second pitch into the third deck in right center field for the Giants' second home run of the game; the ball traveled almost five hundred feet. Later in the inning, Mancuso singled to right with two out, but Blandy Ryan's grounder to short ended the inning. Still, Ott's titanic home run has cut the Tiger lead to one after four.

Tigers 5th: Goslin doubled into the left center power alley with one out, but Rogell's fly to right failed to advance him. Terry again decided to walk Greenberg intentionally to pitch to Owen as he had in the third, and this time it worked, as Marv forced Greenberg at second to end the inning. Halfway through, it's Tigers 4, Giants 3.

Giants 5th: Sorrell got the Giants out in order in just seven pitches: Fitzsimmons and Critz each grounded to third, with Moore tapping to first in between. After five, the Bengals cling to a 4-3 lead.

Tigers 6th: White drew a two-out walk, but was stranded when Cochrane grounded to short. The Tigers still lead 4-3 after five and a half.

Giants 6th: Another efficient inning for Sorrell: three outs on just eight pitches. He's now retired seven in a row, and the Giants still trail 4-3 through six.

Tigers 7th: Gehringer led off the inning with a base hit to right center, but Terry made a diving stop of Goslin's grounder and fired to Jackson at short for the force. Rogell then forced Goslin, and Terry decided to pitch to Greenberg with one on and two out. Hank flew to right center on the first pitch, and the side was retired. As we stretch in Gotham City, it's still AL Champs 4, NL Champs 3.

Giants 7th: After one out, Mancuso singled to right. Ryan doubled to right to put runners at second and third, and Lefty O'Doul was sent up to bat for Fitzsimmons. His fly to right center was unproductive, and Moore was intentionally walked to set up an inning-ending double play. Instead, new Tigers pitcher Elden Auker walked Critz to force in Mancuso with the tying run. Terry was next, and the Giants skipper singled to left center to bring home Ryan and Moore and give the home squad a 6-4 lead. Luke Hamlin relieved Auker and promptly walked Ott to reload the bases, but managed to strike out Jackson to end the inning. The Giants have scored three runs on three hits and three walks here in the seventh to the delight of their partisans, and take a two-run lead to the eighth.

Tigers 8th: New Giants hurler Al Smith enjoyed a one-two-three inning: Owen popped to second, Fox grounded to second, and Gee Walker (batting for Hamlin) grounded to third. After seven and a half, it's still Giants 6, Tigers 4.

Giants 8th: New Tiger pitcher Chief Hogsett retired the G-Men in order: Watkins struck out swinging, Mancuso flew out to left center, and Ryan grounded to second. After eight, the home squad still leads by a pair.

Tigers 9th: White beat out a leadoff infield hit, but was forced by Cochrane. Gehringer flew to right, and Goslin grounded to third to end the game. Final score: Giants 6, Tigers 4, and this series is tied at two games apiece.

Terry's was the first name spoken by most observers when it came to Player of the Game honors, mostly because it was his two-run single in the seventh which won the game for New York. He ended the day two for four with three RBIs, as did Owen in a losing cause for Detroit. (By the way, for those keeping track, Greenberg was 0 for 1 plus three walks, two of them intentional.)

The series will continue tomorrow with Game 5 here at the Polo Grounds. Hal Schumacher will get the starter's call for the Giants, while the Tigers tentatively plan to bring back Tommy Bridges on just one day's rest.

Final totals: Giants 6-7-0, Tigers 4-8-0.

W- Fitzsimmons (1-0)
L- Sorrell (0-1)

HR- NYG: Moore (1), Ott (1)

Next: We look at Game 5.

Thoughts?

Baseball in the Pythagorean Universe 1871-Present

Recent threadmarks

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Don Corleone

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Garrett Garlits

Recent threadmarks