Baseball – 1938

Baseball in 1938

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January

January 10Before a gathering of writers‚ players and executives in Baltimore‚ Jimmie Foxx, representing the American League‚ National Leaguer Chuck Klein‚ and Charlie Keller, representing the International League, participate in an extended batting practice with new balls the major leagues plan to use in the upcoming season. Dick Thompson of The Sporting News reports, “. . . regarding the dead ball‚ as adopted by the National League‚ and the lively ball‚ as retained by the American and International Leagues . . .the NL ball has a distinctly ‘dead’ sound coming off the bat‚ compared to the livelier AL ball.”
January 18Grover Cleveland Alexander is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame‚ the only player to get the required 75 percent of the BBWAA votes.
January 19Larry MacPhail is announced as the new general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

February

February 22The Cardinals sign Texas Christian University All-American football star and Washington Redskins quarterback Sammy Baugh as an infielder. He will start off with the Cards in spring training‚ but be assigned first to Columbus and then Rochester.

March

March 6Brooklyn’s Larry MacPhail buys Dolph Camilli‚ slugging Phillie 1B‚ for $45‚000 and weak hitting Eddie Morgan.. Camilli hit .339 with 27 homers last season.
March 18Washington and Chicago trade first baseman‚ the White Sox adding slick-fielding Joe Kuhel and the Senators taking the easy-going hitter Zeke Bonura.
March 23Judge Landis frees 74 Cardinal minor leaguers‚ among them Pete Reiser‚ in yet another attempt to halt the cover-up he perceived the farm system caused. MacPhail makes a pact with Branch Rickey to take the unknown player and swap him back in the future‚ but Reiser’s ability is too great to hide.
March 27White Sox SS Luke Appling‚ sliding into 2nd in an exhibition game against the Cubs‚ fractures his right leg in 2 places and will miss almost half the season. He’ll return July 8.
March 30The Cardinals beat Columbus (AA)‚ 10-4‚ despite three errors by 3B Sammy Baugh. Slingin’ Sammy has been fielding well up till today. Yesterday the Cards lost 1-0 in 13 innings to their Rochester farm club‚ managing just 2 hits off 4 pitchers. Ted Wilks was the winner.

April

April 3Goose Goslin‚ released by Detroit‚ returns for his 3rd stint with the Senators.
April 14In an exhibition game‚ Holy Cross College beats the Red Sox‚ 3-2.
April 15The Dodgers buy OF Ernie Koy from the Yankees.
April 16Umpire Bill Stewart‚ fresh from coaching (“managing”) the Chicago Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup win over Toronto‚ is behind the plate in Boston. The Bees beat the Red Sox‚ 6-2‚ but the Sox will win tomorrow to even the Hub City series at 3 games apiece.

Sore-armed Dizzy Dean is sold by the Cardinals to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs pay a whopping $200‚000 and send P Curt Davis and Clyde Shoun to St. Louis. The Cardinals also buy Tuck Stainback from the Cubs for $15‚000.
April 18At Fenway Park‚ Jim Bagby‚ Jr. becomes the 7th pitcher this century to make his debut as an Opening Day pitcher. Bagby gives up 4 runs to the Yankees in 6 innings of work‚ leaving with a 4-2 deficit. But in the bottom of the 6th‚ the Sox pound Red Ruffing and reliever Joe Vance for six runs‚ all charged to Red‚ to win‚ 8-4. Bagby is given the win‚ with Ruffing the loser. Archie McKain pitches the last 3 innings allowing just one Yankee hit. Ben Chapman has the game’s only homer in the 2nd inning.

The Cards release vet Johnny Cooney acquired last October 4 in the Leo Durocher trade. Cooney will sign tomorrow with the Bees.
April 19At Opening Day at Baker Bowl‚ 2 rookies smash home runs in their first at bats. With 2 outs in the 1st inning‚ newly acquired Ernie Koy smashes a HR off Phils P Wayne LeMaster. Phils lead off hitter Emmett Mueller then hammers a Van Lingle Mungo offering for a HR to tie the game. Mueller is 2-for-3‚ while Koy‚ looking like a Hall of Famer‚ goes 3-for-5 in the Dodgers 12-5 win. Luke Hamlin is the victor over Wayne LeMaster.
April 20Bob Feller pitches the first of 12 career one-hitters‚ beating the Browns 9-0. The only hit is catcher Billy Sullivan’s 6th inning bunt single. After the game‚ Sullivan apologizes to Feller.
April 21The Dodgers Tot Pressnell shuts out the Phillies 9-0 in his first ML start. It’s the biggest margin for a debut shut out ever in the NL.
April 22At Chicago‚ the Cubs and St. Louis match bases-loaded triples to tie a ML record for most by 2 teams. It is the last time ths century that 2 NL teams will match sack-full triples in a game. The Cardinals win‚ 6-5.
April 23In the first of 2 at Batlimore’s Oriole Park‚ 2 Rochester (IL) pitchers hold the Orioles to 3 hits‚ but lose 5-3 (as noted by Al Kermisch). The three hits-all homers-are all by Pooch Puccinelli‚ who drives in 5 runs. It is the IL star’s third 3-homer game in the loop.
April 24Goose Goslin’s pinch-hit HR is the 5th of his career‚ for a new AL record‚ but the Yankees beat the Senators 4-3.

The Giants’ Hal Schumacher bests Brooklyn’s Van Lingo Mungo to give New York a 1-0 win. A leadoff scratch single by Goodie Rosen is the only hit for the Dodgers‚ while the Giants’ only score is a Mel Ott HR.

Pitching for the Cubs‚ Dizzy Dean beats the Cardinals‚ 5-0‚ limiting his old teammates to 4 hits. It’s Diz’s second win for Chicago.
April 26The Reds overcome a 7-0 deficit to defeat the visiting Cardinals‚ 8-7 in 10 innings. The Reds score 3 in the 7th‚ 4 in the 8th‚ and the winner in the 10th on a single by Lew Riggs. The Birds offense is headed by P Curt Davis‚ who hits a grand slam off Hollingsworth‚ the first slam by a Cards pitcher since Mike O’Neill hit a pinch slam in June 3‚ 1902.
April 28With 2 on and no out in the 9th‚ New York’s Joe Glenn lines into a 3-6-3 triple play to end the game. Red Sox pitcher Lefty Grove is the happy recipient‚ winning‚ 6-1‚ over Lefty Gomez.

The Sporting News reports that the Pirates lead the NL with 9 players who attended college. There are 51 players in the NL who attended college‚ with Frankie Frisch the only college man among the managers.
April 29Bob Ray‚ in his column in the LA Times‚ says that Phillie player-manager Jimmie Wilson has hung up his “tools of ignorance” and will just be a bench manager. In fact‚ Wilson will catch a few games over the next 3 years‚ finishing with 6 for the Reds in the 1940 World Series. This is one of the earliest uses of the term for catcher’s equipment. J.G. Taylor Spink column of April 1‚ 1937‚ said that was the term Bill Dickey used in referring to his catching gear. On August 8‚ 1940‚ The Sporting News will state that Jimmie Foxx was donning the ‘tools of ignorance’ for the Bosox.

To the delight of the first Ladies Day crowd ever at Yankee Stadium (according to reports, 4903 women attended) the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox, 6-4. Bill Dickey drives in three runs and Lou Gehrig Lou Gehrig, with two singles, enjoys his first two-hit game of the season. He consecutive-game streak reaches 1977.

To the delight of the first Ladies Day crowd ever at Yankee Stadium (according to reports, 4903 women attended) the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox, 6-4. Bill Dickey drives in three runs and Lou Gehrig, with two singles, enjoys his first two-hit game of the season. He consecutive-game streak reaches 1977.

To the delight of the first Ladies Day crowd ever at Yankee Stadium (according to reports, 4903 women attended) the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox, 6-4. Bill Dickey drives in three runs and Lou Gehrig, with two singles, enjoys his first two-hit game of the season. Gehrig’s consecutive-game streak reaches 1977.

The Philadelphia Athletics nip the Washington Senators, 7-6, when Bill Werber steals home in the 9th inning with Bill Phebus on the mound for Washington.
April 30Aided by grand slams by Gene Moore and Harl Maggert‚ the Bees beat the Phillies 16-11.

Pittsburgh 3B Bill Brubaker sets a modern ML record with 4 errors in a 2-0 loss to Cincinnati.

After holding out through the spring and the first 12 games of the regular season‚ Joe DiMaggio makes his first appearance for the Yankees. In the 8-4 win over Washington‚ he singles and crashes into Joe Gordon‚ knocking himself and the second baseman out‚ and sending both men to the hospital. They’ll be back the next day.

May

May 1Why play the second game? In the PCL San Diego sweeps a doubleheader against San Francisco winning both games by a 16-1 score
May 2Pinky Higgins equals the 2-day-old ML mark for errors by a 3B‚ making 4 for Boston against Philadelphia. But Pinky knocks in 2 as the Sox route the A’s‚ 13-1‚ behind Johnny Marcum.

University of California All-American football star Sam Chapman signs with the Athletics for a $8‚500 bonus.

The Giants announce that 2B Burgess Whitehead is out for the season following a nervous breakdown.

With Gehrig batting 6th and DiMaggio at the cleanup spot for the 2nd game in a row‚ the Yankees edge the host Senators‚ 3-2. DiMag homers while Gehrig has a single.

The Indians score 10 runs in 4th inning and beat the Tigers‚ 11-3. Averill has the lone HR in the game.
May 3Lefty Grove defeats the Tigers 4-3 in 10 innings for the first of a record 20 consecutive victories at his home field‚ Fenway Park in Boston. He will not lose there until May 12‚ 1941.
May 4At Washington‚ the Indians and Senators match zeroes for 12 innings before the Zeke Bonura scores in the bottom of the 13th to win‚ 1-0. Dutch Leonard goes all the way for Washington and walks none while allowing 6 hits. Feller pitches the first 10 innings for the Tribe.
May 5Hal Kelleher of the Phillies faces 16 batters in the 8th inning‚ as the Cubs score 12 runs. Both marks are NL records off one hurler in a single inning. The Cubs win 21-2 with Joe Marty tallying 4 runs‚ 4 RBI‚ and 4 hits and Augie Galan adding a homer and triple and another 4 ribbies. The loss goes to Wayne LeMaster who throws just 3 pitches to leadoff batter Stan Hack before leaving the game with a pain in his throwing arm. Tommy Reis relieved and allows 4 runs to score‚ but the first is charged to LeMaster. Al Epperly wins the laugher.
May 6OF Bob Seeds of the Newark Bears (IL) hits 4 HRs in 4 successive innings and drives in 12 runs against Buffalo. Tomorrow he will slam 3 more. His 7 HRs in the 2-day barrage account for 17 RBIs and 30 total bases. In his first 59 games‚ Seeds will clout 28 HRs and drive in 95 runs. His reward? The Yanks decide he won’t break into their lineup and will sell him to the Giants for $40‚000 on June 24th.
May 9At Boston‚ Jimmie Foxx drives in 5 runs on a pair of homers to pace the Red Sox to a 15-3 drubbing of Cleveland. Jim Bagby is the winner.
May 12Cleveland manages jut 4 hits off New York’s Lefty Gomez but they win‚ 3-2‚ behind Bob Feller‘s 5 hitter. Gehrig drives in both runs on a 2-run HR.
May 14After a 7-6 ten-inning loss to the Cardinals‚ the Reds file a protest regarding a disputed hit by the Reds Dusty Cooke. Cooke hits a ball that bounced off the part of the RF pavilion at Sportsman’s Park that juts out over the playing field. The ball bounces back in play and Cooke reaches 3B. Reds manager Bill McKechnie contends it should be a HR‚ stating that if it had been hit lower it would miss the pavilion and been a homer. On June 3‚ Ford Frick rules the game should be replayed as part of a August 20 twinbill. The Reds will win the first game‚ 4-2‚ then lose the nitecap‚ 5-4.
May 18After Bobo Newsom equals the AL record with 6 consecutive strikeouts‚ Joe DiMaggio hits his 2nd HR of the game‚ and Newsom and the Browns lose to New York 11-7. DiMag drives in 5 runs and WP Lefty Gomez knocks in 3.

At Detroit‚ Wes Ferrell pitches and bats the Senators to a 5-1 win. Ferrell hits a solo homer‚ while his batterymate‚ brother Rick‚ goes hitless.
May 19Cubs pitcher Bill Lee shuts out the Giants on 5 hits to win‚ 1-0‚ in 10 innings. Lee scores the winning run to beat starter Harry Gumbert.
May 21The power-laden Yankees give little support to P Spud Chandler‚ but he hits a HR in the 8th to gain a 1-0 victory over Thornton Lee and the White Sox.
May 22The Dodgers announce contracts to install lights at Ebbets Field. The first night game will be played there on June 15th.

Chicago P Ted Lyons tops the host Senators‚ 9-2‚ for his 200th win.
May 23The Cubs Bill Lee tops the Braves‚ 4-1‚ as the Braves score their only tally in the 4th when pitcher Lou Fette drives in the run. This is the only run that Lee will allow in 47 straight innings going back to the 19th‚ when he tossed a shutout. He will shut out Pirates‚ 5-0‚ on May 27‚ the Reds‚ 3-0 on May 30‚ and the Braves‚ 4-0‚ on June 3.
May 25The Tigers use the long ball to defeat the Yankees‚ 7-3‚ at Detroit. Rudy York and Hank Greenberg hit back-to-back homers twice in the game.
May 27Detroit’s Hank Greenberg hammers a Frank Gabler pitch into the centerfield seats at Comiskey Park‚ the first slugger to reach the bleachers there. The Tigers win‚ 5-2‚ behind Kennedy’s 6-hitter.
May 28Carl Hubbell allows just a walk and a single to Tuck Stainback and the Giants pile on the Phillies‚ 11-0.
May 30The largest crowd in Yankee Stadium history‚ 83‚533‚ sees Red Ruffing end Lefty Grove‘s 8-game winning streak in a 10-0 victory over the Red Sox. Six thousand fans are turned away‚ and 511 are given refunds because there is no place to sit. The Yankees also took the 2nd game of the doubleheader‚ 5-4‚ in a game made famous for a fight between Yankee OF Jake Powell and Boston player-manager Joe Cronin. The brawl starts when Boston P Archie McKain hits Powell with a pitch in the stomach. Powell’s charge to the mound is intercepted by Cronin and the two pummel each other for 2-3 minutes. Cronin and Powell are ejected but continue the fight in the area beneath the stands‚ until they are separated by Yankee players. Both players are fined and suspended for 10 days.

Rudy York hits his 3rd grand slam of the month‚ as the Tigers beat the Browns 10-9 in the first game of a holiday pair. York will slam 5 this year.
May 31At New York‚ Jimmie Foxx hits a grand slam off Yankee P Joe Beggs‚ the first of three he’ll hit off Beggs this season‚ but the Yanks prevail‚ 12-5. Lou Gehrig plays his 2‚000th consecutive game and has an RBI single.

June

June 3NL President Ford Frick orders the May 14th game at Sportsman’s Park replayed‚ upholding the Reds protest of the Cardinals’ 7-6‚ 10-inning win. Dusty Cooke‘s disputed triple is ruled a HR for the Reds OF. One umpire had signaled Cooke’s hit a HR‚ and Cooke slowed down‚ only to be tagged out.

Bill Lee of the Cubs blanks the Boston Bees‚ 4-0‚ for his 3rd straight shutout‚ and Chicago moves to within 1 1?2 games of the Giants‚ who lose their 4th straight to the Pirates. Lee will run his string to 32 scoreless innings‚ and pitch 47 straight innings in which he allows one unearned run and one extra base hits.

Washington’s Rick and Wes Ferrell each double in runs as Wes beats the White Sox‚ 5-1. Simmons adds a double and HR for the Nats.
June 5The Cubs take first place‚ beating the Phillies‚ 7-1‚ behind Tex Carleton. Meanwhile‚ the Reds top the Giants.
June 6The Reds get Wally Berger from the Giants for Alex Kampouris.
June 7At Fenway‚ umpire Bill McGowan-who had tossed Johnny Allen on Opening Day-orders the Cleveland pitcher to cut off part of a shirt sleeve which is dangling as he pitches‚ distracting the batter. Allen refuses and walks off the mound. He is fined $250 by Cleveland manager Oscar Vitt‚ who makes a pitching change to avoid a forfeit. The Indians win the game‚ 7-5. Tribe owner Alva Bradley hurries to Boston and buys the shirt for $250; the shirt is then displayed at Higbee’s Department Store‚ owned by Bradley’s brother. The shirt later makes its way to the Hall of Fame museum in Cooperstown‚ NY.
June 8New York regains the lead with a double win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field‚ winning 4-2 in 10 innings‚ then taking the nightcap‚ 4-1. Harry Gumbert beats Larry French in the first game while Carl Hubbell is the victor in game 2‚ beating Bryant. French will lose 19 games for the Cubs‚ one shy of the league leader in the category.
June 10Red Sox rookie pitcher Bill Lefebvre homers in his first ML at bat‚ on the first pitch and only plate appearance for the season‚ off Monty Stratton of the White Sox. But Lefebvre is hammered by Chicago in a 15-2 loss. He is the first AL player to homer in his only season at bat‚ and it will be his only ML homer‚ though he will finish with a .276 career average and lead the AL in pinch-hits in 1944. Stratton‚ the winning pitcher‚ gets his revenge in the 2nd inning when he connects for a grand slam off Lefebvre‚ who gives up 6 runs in 4 innings .
June 11Cincinnati lefthander Johnny Vander Meer pitches a no-hitter against Boston‚ winning 3-0. Vander Meer‚ in his first full season‚ strikes out 4 to increase his league-leading total to 56. Danny MacFayden is the losing pitcher.

Cardinals OF Terry Moore sustains a concussion after crashing into a wall at Sportsman’s Park. The game with the Giants ends in a rained out 8-inning 2-2 tie.
June 12The A’s beat the Browns 8-3‚ as Bob Johnson bats in all the runs with 3 HRs‚ one a grand slam‚ and a single. This tied a ML mark set by George Kelly in 1924. It’s Johnson 2nd grand slam this month: before today’s performance‚ Johnson had hit 8 homers in his last 14 games‚ and had gone 7-for-9 in the first two games of the series with St. Louis. By knocking in all 8 runs for his team‚ “Indian Bob” ties a ML record of George Kelly (1924). Buck Ross is the winning pitcher.

The Yankees spot the Indians six runs‚ then score 7 runs in the 6th inning to win‚ 7-6.

The Senators jump in front of the Tigers‚ 11-1‚ a seemingly insurmountable lead with Wes Ferrell in the mound. But after a long rain delay‚ Gehringer leads off the 6th with a HR for the Tigers‚ and they knock out Ferrell enroute to an 18-12 win.
June 13In a stellar move for Cincinnati‚ Philadelphia’s Bucky Walters is sold to the Reds for $55‚000 plus players Virgil Davis and Al Hollingsworth.
June 15Johnny Vander Meer stuns baseball by pitching his 2nd successive no-hitter‚ defeating the Dodgers and Max Butcher‚ 6-0. Brooklyn plays the first night game ever at Ebbets Field. In front of 38‚748 fans‚ including spectators Babe Ruth and several hundred fans from Vandy’s home town of Midland Park‚ NJ. Vandy strikes out 7 and walks 8‚ including three one-out walks in the 9th. A force out at home on a grounder by Ernie Koy and a ?y ball by Leo Durocher ends the game. In a pregame event‚ Koy‚ with a 10-yard start but running in his Reds’ uniform‚ beats Olympic champion Jesse Owens in the 100-yard dash.
June 16R-E-S-P-E-C-T. After hitting number 19 yesterday‚ Jimmie Foxx is walked a ML record 6 consecutive times by four Browns pitchers. One is intentional and one semi-intentional. But the visiting Red Sox win anyway‚ 12-8‚ before 1‚028 paying customers. Johnny Marcum wins over Ed Linke. Foxx is the first player this century to walk 6 times in a game; Walt Wilmot‚ in 1891‚ first did it and Andre Thornton‚ in 1984 will the next.
June 18Babe Ruth is signed as a Dodgers coach for the rest of the season. He is in uniform for batting demonstrations the following day.

White Sox P Ted Lyons makes his first error since 1934. The streak covers 84 games‚ 32 putouts and 140 assists. He also loses to Boston‚ 4-3.
June 19After walking the leadoff hitter‚ Elbie Fletcher‚ on 4 pitches‚ the Reds Johnny Vander Meer extends his string of hitless innings to 21 2/3 (including the final out in the game before Vandy’s 1st no-hitter) before Debs Garms singles for Boston in the 4th. Vandy coasts home‚ 14-1‚ allowing 3 hits. Vandy falls short of the record of 23 scoreless innings set by Cy Young in 1908. Young is one of 34‚511‚ on hand for today’s game at Brave’s Field.
June 21Red Sox 3B Pinky Higgins extends his consecutive-hit string to 12‚ with 8 hits in a doubleheader split with Detroit. He is 4-for-4 in each game‚ a Boston win in the opener‚ 8-3. Detroit wins the nitecap‚ 5-4. with Rudy York catching both games. Tomorrow‚ Pinky will strike out against Vern Kennedy in his first at bat ending the streak.
June 22Chicago’s Hank Steinbacher gets 6 hits-five singles and a double-in 6 at bats as the White Sox pound Washington 16-3.
June 23The Cubs sweep two at home against the Giants‚ winning 7-4 and 3-1. Bill Lee is the victor in the opener‚ topping Harry Gumbert‚ while Dizzy Dean bests Hal Schumacher in game 2.
June 25The Reds Lonny Frey collects 8 hits in a doubleheader split with the Phillies. Frey has 3 hits in the 10-3 Phils win in the lidlifter‚ then adds 5 in the nitecap‚ an 8-5 win. All told‚ Lonny has 5 singles‚ a double‚ and 2 triples.
June 26Carl Hubbell wins his 200th game‚ as the Giants beat the visiting Cubs 5-1 and stretch their lead over the 2nd-place Reds to 2 games. Larry French takes the loss. Newly acquired Bob Seeds‚ up from Newark‚ leads the way with a 470-foot inside the park homer to the Eddie Grant memorial in dead center.

In the Phils-Reds split‚ Reds leadoff hitter Lonnie Frey bangs out 8 hits‚ just the 3rd Red player to collect 8 hits in a twinbill (Miller‚ 10/9/98: Cuyler‚ 7/30/36). Frey is 5-for-5 in game 2 as the Reds win 8-5 behind Derringer. Claude Passeau wins the opener‚ 10-3 for the Phils. Jordan has 4 hits and Weintraub and Klein hit homers.
June 30The Phillies play their final game in the Baker Bowl‚ losing 14-1 to the Giants. They will play future games in A’s-owned Shibe Park. Hank Lieber hits the last homer in the park‚ while Slick Castleman is the last winning pitcher.

July

July 1Dodgers C Babe Phelps fractures the thumb on his throwing hand for the 2nd time this year‚ and he’s replaced by Shea. The Giants win at Brooklyn‚ 3-1.

Bill Dickey drives in 7 of the Yankees 8 runs‚ all off starter Harry Kelley‚ to lead New York to an 8-0 shut out of the Senators. Bill’s big blow is a grand slam. The Yanks add an 8th run on a homer by Frank Crosetti.
July 3The Yankees pound out four homers-three off loser Wes Ferrell-to whip the Senators 12-2‚ for their 7th straight win. Joe DiMaggio leads the attack with a triple‚ two singles and a homer to drive in 4 runs. New York now trails the Indians by two games.
July 4In a game interrupted by a deluge of bottles following an unpopular call‚ the visiting Yankees outpoll the Senators‚ 10-5 behind Red Ruffing Gehrig drives in three runs for the New Yorkers. Yanks SS Frank Crosetti nabs George Case with the hidden ball trick. Game 2 ends in a 4-4 tie.

In their first appearance at Shibe Park‚ the Phillies split with the Boston Bees‚ losing 10-5‚ then winning 10-2.

In the second of a pair‚ Dodger Luke Hamlin has the dubious distinction of serving up two grand slams to the Giants. Dick Bartell and Gus Mancuso do the honors‚ the second time in two months that teammates have slammed in a game. New York rolls 16-1‚ after winning the opener‚ 3-0 behind Hal Schumacher.
July 6The NL wins the 6th All-Star Game 4-1‚ with the aid of fine pitching and 4 AL errors. Starter Johnny Vander Meer gets the win before his hometown Cincinnati crowd with 3 shutout innings. In the 7th Brooklyn’s Leo Durocher has a “bunt home run” when he lays down a sac bunt to move Frank McCormick. Third sacker Jimmie Foxx fields it and throws it into RF. where it is retrieved by Joe DiMaggio. Joe D throws wildly trying to nab McCormick‚ allowing Leo to circle the bases.
July 9New York’s Carl Hubbell is routed when Boston’s Tony Cuccinello‚ Max West‚ and Elbie Fletcher sting successive 3rd-inning HRs. Boston wins‚ 7-0 behind Lou Fette.

The Reds Bucky Walters scatters 6 hits in beating the 3rd-place Cubs at Wrigley Field‚ 11-0. Wally Berger has 4 hits including a HR‚ while Ernie Lombardi drives home 4.
July 11In St. Louis‚ the Reds score 8 runs in the 1st inning and coast to a 9-5 win over the Cards.

The Dodgers buy former ML hurler Whitlow Wyatt from Milwaukee (American Association).
July 12Behind Ed Brandt‚ the Pirates take their 13th straight win‚ 14-6 over the Cubs’ Tex Carleton. With their 40th victory in their last 54 games‚ the Pirates take the NL lead for the first time.

At Brooklyn‚ the Dodgers beat the Giants‚ 13-5‚ but the real beating occurs in the stands. Dodger fan Robert Joyce is teased by Giants’ supporter Frank Krug about the Dodgers and in retaliation he kills Krug.

Cleveland’s Odell Hale hits for the cycle against Washington‚ but the Senators win‚ 9-8.
July 14Red Sox pitcher Lefty Grove seriously injures his arm fielding a bunt and throwing to 1B against the Tigers. He leaves after 4 innings and is given the win as the Sox roll‚ 12-1. Grove has 14 victories but will not win again this year.
July 15Terry Moore returns to the Cardinal lineup following his June 11th concussion. He gets 3 hits and scores 3 to help St. Louis snap an 8-game losing streak with a 10-6 win over the Bees.
July 19In game 1‚ Harl Maggert drives in 2 runs in the 8th‚ and Whitey Moore pitches a 2-hitter to lead the Reds to a 2-0 win over the visiting Braves. In the nitecap‚ Boston pitchers nail 4 Reds batters to tie a NL record for the 20th century as the Reds win‚ 7-2. Hutchinson plunks one and Bobby Reis pops 3 in 7 2/3 innings.

Prior to the Giants 7-6 win in St. Louis‚ Babe Ruth tops all competitors in a hitting competition with a drive of 430 feet‚ the ball landing in the second car tracks of Grand Avenue. Medwick is second with a clout of 425 feet over the left field barrier into Sullivan Avenue. Ruth receives $50 and Medwick $25. The US Army measures the drives.
July 20Johnny Mize of the Cardinals has 3 HRs in a game for the 2nd time this season‚ in a 7-1 win against the Giants. In game 1‚ the Cards take it‚ 7-2.

Catcher Gabby Hartnett replaces Charlie Grimm as manager of the 3rd-place Cubs. The Cubs are off today and are 5 1/2 games behind the Pirates and Giants‚ as Hartnett takes over. Grimm goes to the radio booth.
July 21Linus “Skeeter” Ebnet‚ 23 years old shortstop of the Winnipeg club of the Northern League‚ dies in a hospital as the result of injuries received when he was struck by a pitched ball on July 16. (as noted by Joey Beretta)
July 22Pitching for the last place St. Louis Browns‚ Fred “Cactus” Johnson makes his first appearance in the majors since chucking for the Giants 1922-1923. The long-time minor leaguer gives up 5 hits and 3 runs in 2 2/3 innings to finish a 9-7 Browns win over Washington. Cactus will go 3-7 this year for the Browns.
July 23Chicago’s Dizzy Dean outpitches Hal Schumacher to give the Cubs a 3-1 win over the Giants. In a rundown play‚ Cubs SS Billy Jurges crashes into 2B Dick Bartell and the two roll around kicking and punching.
July 25Cleveland’s Johnny Allen has his 12-game win streak snapped by the Red Sox‚ as Boston wins‚ 1-0‚ behind Dickman. Jimmie Foxx‘s homer is the only score. Cleveland takes the nitecap‚ 3-0‚ behind Mel Harder.
July 27Hank Greenberg of the Tigers‚ who had hit HRs his last 2 at bats the day before‚ a 6-1 win over the Senators at home‚ homers his first 2 times up to tie the ML record of 4 in a row. Detroit whips the Nats‚ 9-4.

In a raucous game in Brooklyn‚ pop bottles fly as the Cubs shell the Dodgers‚ 10-8‚ scoring twice in the 9th. Manager Burleigh Grimes and captain Leo Durocher are tossed after protesting an out call at 2B that would have loaded the sacks for the Dodgers. When Billy Jurges appears to muff a DP ball at the keystone sack‚ umpire Bill Klem‚ who is close to the action‚ calls him out on a signal from 3B ump Ziggy Sears. That results in the pop bottles flying‚ and Sears tossing the 2 protesting Dodgers. It also results in Larry MacPhail complaining after the game that Klem missed a call 10 feet away and he was demanding a meeting with the umps and Ford Frick. Catcher Gilly Campbell has 3 hits but allows Hack (who will lead the NL with 16) and Galan to steal a base while he argues with umpire Ballanfant that a pitch should have been strike 3 and not ball 4. It was strike 3. Rip Collins has 4 hits and 3 RBI for Chicago.

At Boston‚ Reds pitcher Paul Derringer and Wally Berger homer in the 3rd inning‚ off Jim Turner‚ to help beat the Boston Bees‚ 6-2. For Derringer‚ who allows 5 hits‚ it is his first ML homer. His 2nd and last will come this year.
July 28After taking the first 3 games in St. Louis‚ the Yankees are stopped by Browns P Oral Hildebrand‚ who tops New York 4-3. All three Yankee scores come on solo home runs‚‚ by DiMaggio‚ Selkirk‚ and Gehrig. New York now leads the Indians by a game‚ and the Red Sox by three.
July 30In the Tigers 9-2 win over the A’s‚ Greenberg hits his 9th HR in a week‚ tying the mark set by Babe Ruth in 1930. Greenberg started the week with a grand slam on the 24th.
July 31After New York wins the opener‚ 5-1 behind Monte Pearson‚ New York’s Spud Chandler pitches all 15 innings as the visiting Yankees beat the White Sox 7-3. In a postgame radio interview with Bob Elson‚ Jake Powell of the Yankees will make headlines with remarks about “beating up niggers and then throwing them in jail” as part of his off-season duties as a policeman. For the statements‚ Judge Landis suspends Powell for 10 days. According to historians Dan Okrent and Steve Wulf‚ after Powell’s suspension‚ the outfielder went to Harlem and worked his way south stopping in every bar to buy drinks and apologize for his remarks.

August

August 1Al Munro Elias‚ founder of the Elias Sports Bureau and for many years the official statistician of the NL and IL‚ dies in New York City at age 67.
August 2Larry MacPhail has official baseballs dyed dandelion yellow‚ and they are used in the first game of a doubleheader between the Dodgers and Cardinals at Ebbets Field. The Dodgers win 6-2‚ but Johnny Mize hits one of Freddie Fitzsimmons‘ knuckleballs for the first “yellow” HR. Fat Freddie complains that the dye comes off and the balls are too slick. The Dodgers will use up their yellow balls in 3 more games in 1939 (Cards over Dodgers‚ 12-0 and 5-2; Dodgers over Cubs‚ 10-4). In the 2nd game today‚ a white ball is used and the Dodgers tattoo that for a 9-3 win. Yellow balls were used in an August 1928 game between Milwaukee and Louisville.

Cubs P Clay Bryant‚ who will lead the NL in walks (125) and strikeouts (135)‚ shuts out the Giants‚ 7-0‚ at the Polo Grounds. Hubbell takes the loss.

Two players act as umpires in a game in St. Louis. In a game being worked by only two umpires‚ Browns’ catcher Billy Sullivan tries to score on Orel Hildebrand’s single in the second inning‚ and smashes into umpire Harry Geisel‚ knocking him cold. Geisel is carried from the field‚ and regains consciousness in the clubhouse‚ where Dr. R. F. Hyland discovers that the umpire’s left wrist has been fractured. Steve Basil‚ the other umpire‚ goes behind the plate while Buck Newsom (Browns) and Oscar Bluege (Nats)‚ both active players‚ became umpires in the field. Washington wins‚ 5-3.
August 3Following an 8-3 loss to the Giants‚ Cubs manager Gabby Hartnett explodes‚ chastising the team for not playing harder.
August 5Forty-year-old Browns P Fred “Cactus” Johnson wins his first ML game since 1923‚ when he won a pair for the Giants. Cactus goes 9 innings and gives up 9 hits in beating the Indians‚ 9-2. He won 252 minor leagues games in his career‚ and will win two more this year for the Brownies.
August 6Ailing Mickey Cochrane is fired as Detroit manager and replaced by Del Baker.

Former AL pitcher George Pipgras joins the league’s umpiring staff.

Cincinnati has only one assist in a game with the Dodgers‚ tying the ML record held by 4 clubs. Harry Craft assists with a grand slam for Cincy as they win‚ 11-6 at Brooklyn.

Behind Lou Fette‚ the Bees edge the Cubs‚ 1-0. Vance Page is the loser.
August 7New York’s Red Ruffing loses his no hitter when Cleveland’s Roy Weatherly doubles in the 9th with one out. The Yankees and Ruffing win easily‚ 7-0.
August 12The Giants pitcher Harry Gumbert beats the Phillies 1-0 at Shibe Park. The Phillies abandoned ancient Baker Bowl a month earlier.

The Senators release Wes Ferrell‚ who despite struggling with shoulder problems‚ leads the Nats staff with a 13-8 record. Clark Griffith‚ who has had differences with Ferrell over money‚ says Wes wasn’t helping the club. The Yankees will sign him in 2 days.
August 15A bad day for Chicago as the Cards Lon Warneke stops his old teammates‚ 8-4. Clay Bryant is the loser. Worse than their 2nd loss in a row is losing player-manager Hartnett‚ who fractures his thumb when struck by a Joe Medwick. foul tip. Gabby will be sidelined for three weeks.
August 18Carl Hubbell is forced to leave the mound in a 5-3 loss to the Dodgers when he experiences sharp elbow pains in his pitching arm.

Pitching against the team that released‚ new Yankee Wes Ferrell whips the Senators‚ 5-4 in 11 innings. As Dick Thompson points out‚ the Senators gave Ferrell a 10-day severance package
August 19When Detroit’s Billy Rogell walks his first time up‚ it is his 7th consecutive base on balls‚ a new AL record. Jose Canseco‚ Mel Ott and Eddie Stanky will tie Rogell’s patience in this century. Rogell is 0-for-3 in game 1‚ an 8-7 win over the Browns‚ then goes 0-for-5 in game 2‚ a 7-4 Tiger win. Hank Greenberg hits 3 homers in the doubleheader.

In preparation for 1940 Olympic tournament in Tokyo‚ the U.S. Olympic Baseball team loses 5-3 to England in a rain-shortened 6-inning match in Leeds. The England side‚ consisting mostly of Canadians and other Commonwealth players‚ has now beaten the Americans in four of the five games‚ and the International Baseball Federation will crown the Brits as the Inaugural World Amateur Champions. The outbreak of the War will cancel the 1940 Olympic Games.
August 20Lou Gehrig hits a first-inning grand slam‚ the 23rd and last of his career for a still-standing record. It comes off Buck Ross in an 11-3 victory over the A’s. Larrupin’ Lou ends the day with 6 RBIs.

The Cubs commit 6 errors in losing to the league-leading Pirates‚ 5-2‚ at Wrigley Field.

The East-West Negro League all-star game at Comiskey Park draws 30‚000 fans. The East scores 3 in the first off Willie Cornelius‚ but Hilton Smith and Double Duty Radcliffe hold the East sluggers to one run after that. Neil Robinson hits a 3-run inside-the-park homer for the West as they win‚ 5-4.

Cleveland Indian catchers Frank Pytlak and Hank Helf break the all-time altitude mark by catching baseballs dropped from the 706-foot Cleveland Terminal Tower. In the afternoon game‚ Cleveland beats Chicago‚ 8-2‚ behind Mel Harder. Monty Stratton takes the loss as Jeff Heath scores 5 runs.

Detroit beats St. Louis 6-4 behind 2 homers by Rudy York. Don Heffner and George McQuillan homer for the Browns as McQuillan’s hit streak reaches 30 games.
August 21Before 40‚402 at Wrigley‚ the Cubs sweep the Pirates‚ winning 6-4 and 6-1‚ to cut the Bucs lead to 7 games. Bill Lee is the winner over Cy Blanton in the opener‚ while Tex Carleton tops Russ Bauers in the nitecap.
August 22Carl Hubbell has an arm operation for bone chips in his elbow and is finished for the season. He tells writers that for several years his elbow has hurt from throwing his screwball.
August 23At Fenway‚ the Red Sox roll over the Indians‚ 13-3 in the first of 2. Pinky Higgins leads the 21-hit attack with 5 hits to back Ostermueller’s pitching. In game 2‚ Jimmie Foxx has 6 RBIs‚ and connects for a 9th inning grand slam off Hudlin to lead Boston to a 14-12 win. Foxx will homer 9 times against the Tribe this year‚ an AL record for homers against one club.
August 24Virgil Trucks strikes out his 418th batter-the highest season total in organized ball-for Andalusia in an Alabama-Florida League game. On May 18th and June 4th‚ Trucks threw no-hitters and struck out 19 in the first no-hitter.

In a Florida State League game‚ Blix Donnelly of Daytona Beach strikes out 19 Gainsville G-Men in a 6-0 win.
August 25St. Louis Browns’ George McQuinn‘s 34-game hitting string is stopped 7 short of George Sisler‘s AL record. McQuinn has a single in the first game 8-5 win over the A’s‚ then is collared in the 4-1 nitecap loss. No one but Sisler and Cobb‚ both twice‚ have had longer hit streaks in 20th century so far.
August 26The last-place Phils take their 3rd straight game from the front-running Pirates‚ winning 6-4 at Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh now leads the Giants by 4 1/2 games.
August 27With 40‚959 fans at Yankee Stadium‚ Joe DiMaggio has 3 triples in the first game of a doubleheader with Cleveland‚ an 8-7 Yankee win. New York scores 4 in the 9th‚ the last 2 coming around on DiMaggio’s 3rd successive triple‚ to win it. In the 2nd game‚ Yankee Monte Pearson tosses a no-hitter-the first at Yankee Stadium-winning his 10th straight game‚ 13-0. He faces just 27 batters‚ striking out 7. The Yankees‚ playing their 6th successive doubleheader‚ increase their AL lead to 12 games.
August 28On Connie Mack Day at Shibe Park‚ the A’s win a doubleheader‚ 5-4 and 7-2‚ from the White Sox‚ setting a AL record by playing their 7th successive twin bill in 8 days.
August 30Red Sox center fielder Doc Cramer pitches 4 innings in relief against the Browns‚ giving up two runs in a 5-0 Boston loss. It is Doc’s only pitching appearance.

Pittsburgh’s Jim Tobin tops the Giants 7-1 to pad the Bucs lead over New York to 6 1/2 games. For pennant insurance‚ the Bucs purchase Heine Manush from Toronto (IL).

Dick Ward of San Diego (PCL) pitches a 12-inning no hitter against Los Angeles before allowing a hit in the 13th. Ward wins in 16 innings‚ 1-0.

Pitching for San Diego (PCL), Dick Ward throws no-hitter for 12 2/3 innings against Los Angeles before the first safety is made. Ward allows 2 hits total in pitching a 16-inning, 1-0 victory.

September

September 3Rudy York of the Tigers hits his 4th grand slam‚ tying the ML season record as he ties into a Jack Knott pitch. The Tigers roll‚ 11-4 behind Tommy Bridges. Knott was acquired in mid-season by the White Sox.
September 5C Babe Phelps of the Dodgers breaks a bone in his throwing hand for the 3rd time this season.

In Pittsburgh‚ the Cubs sweep a Labor Day doubleheader from the leading Pirates‚ winning 3-0 behind Bill Lee and 4-3 in back of Clay Bryant to move 4 games behind to the leaders. Brandt and Tobin take the losses for the Bucs.
September 7On Joe Cronin Day at Fenway‚ Jimmie Foxx leads the Red Sox to an 11-4 win over the Yankees. Double X has 8 RBIs‚ on 3 hits including a pair of homers-all in just 5 1/2 innings as the game is called on account of rain. Lou Gehrig has a pair of singles and each time steals second base. They are the last 2 steals of his career.
September 9Lou Gehrig plays his 2‚100th consecutive game and has four hits to bring his average over .300. The Yanks trip the Senators‚ 3-0‚ behind Bump Hadley.

In Cleveland‚ the Tigers top the Indians‚ 11-5‚ on Hank Greenberg‘s 47th homer of the year. Jeff Heath has a homer and 4 RBIs for Cleveland.
September 10Jimmie Foxx of the Red Sox hits 2 HRs in a game for the 9th time this season‚ breaking a record held by Babe Ruth and Hack Wilson. Lynn Nelson of the A’s serves up the homers in a 15-7 win at Fenway. The Sox have just a makeup game at Fenway left with all their remaining games on the road. Foxx has now hit 35 homers at home‚ the most ever hit at Fenway.

At Wrigley Field‚ Frank McCormick has 5 hits to lead the Reds to a 9-1 win over the Cubs.
September 11Frank Frisch is fired as Cardinals manager‚ and Cuban-born coach Mike Gonzalez takes charge. The Cards then manage four hits off Bill Lee‚ as the Cubs shut out the Cards.

Hank Greenberg continues his hot hitting‚ banging two homers off Chicago’s Ted Lyons. The Tigers sweep the Sox‚ winning 10-1 and 5-3.
September 13A special committee names Alexander Cartwright to Baseball’s Hall of Fame for originating the sport’s basic concepts. Henry Chadwick‚ inventor of the box score and the first baseball writer‚ is also honored.
September 14In Boston‚ the Cubs win 6-3 on a disputed grand slam by Gabby Hartnett. Gabby hits a pitch from the Bees’ Lou Fette that curls past the LF foul pole and is called a homer by ump Tiny Parker. Chicago columnist John Carmichael writes that the ump made a mistake.

At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants sweep a doubleheader from the Pirates‚ winning 3-0 and 10-3. Hal Schumacher fires the shutout‚ with Gumbert taking the nitecap.
September 15At the Polo Grounds‚ Pirates P Jim Tobin puts Giants star Mel Ott in the record book‚ hitting him three times with pitches. Tobin wins‚ 7-2. Brothers Lloyd and Paul Waner of the Pirates hit consecutive HRs off Cliff Melton in the 5th inning. This is the 3rd time both will have HRs in the same game‚ but the first time off the same pitcher. It is also the only time in history that brothers hit back-to-back homers. For Lloyd‚ it is his last major-league homer.
September 17Bill Lee pitches the visiting Cubs to a 4-0 win over New York‚ allowing 13 Giants hits in the game‚ one short of the record number in a shut out. Lee’s performance‚ his 3rd straight shutout‚ combined with the Cubs’ 7-inning‚ 4-2 win behind Clay Bryant in the nitecap‚ leaves the Cubs 2 1/2 games behind the leading Pirates. General Lee topped the Pirates‚ 3-0 and the Reds‚ 2-0‚ and in between tossed 1 1/3 innings of shut out relief.

In the opener of a pair in Chicago‚ White Sox reserve Merv Connors hits 3 consecutive HRs and a double off A’s P Jim Renninger. The White Sox win 8-4 and 7-4. Connors will end up with eight homers for his career.

Hank Greenberg connects for his 52nd and 53rd homers‚ off Monte Pearson‚ to lead Detroit to a 7-3 win over the Yankees. Hank is now two games ahead of Ruth’s 1927 pace.
September 18Although they drop a Sunday doubleheader to the Browns‚ the Yankees clinch the pennant as second-place Boston is rained out. The Browns take the lidlifter‚ 4-3‚ the edge the Yanks‚ 8-7. Harland Clift has a triple and 2 homers in game 2‚ including a grand slam‚ to drive in 6 runs.

After pitching on the 16th‚ Pittsburgh’s Russ Bauers tops the host Phillies 1-0 on 4 hits as Paul Waner drives in the only run. The Pirates are now 3 1/2 games in front of the Cubs.

Brooklyn beats the Cubs‚ 4-1‚ in the opener of 2‚ with the 2nd game ending 3-3 as darkness descends. Billy Herman snags a line drive with the bases full to keep Brooklyn from scoring. Hartnett turns down MacPhail’s offer to return to Brooklyn next Friday to replay the tie game.
September 19The Cubs game in Philadelphia and the Pirates game at the Polo Grounds are canceled because of a devastating hurricane walloping the Northeast coast. Games on Tuesday and Wednesday will be washed out as well.
September 21In Boston‚ rain cuts short the Bees doubleheader. The Cards win the opener‚ 4-0‚ as Joe Medwick drives in all the runs for Paul Dean. The second game is called because of rain.
September 22Bill Lee of the Cubs pitches his 4th consecutive shutout‚ a 4-0 blanking of the Phils. He matches the feat of Ed Reulbach (1908) and Grover Alexander (1911). It is Lee’s 9th shut out of the season. Clay Bryant wins the nitecap for Chicago‚ 2-1‚ for his 18th victory.

The Pirates take two from the Dodgers‚ winning 6-0 behind Jim Tobin and 11-6‚ and remain in first place by 3 1?2 games.

The visiting Cardinals lose a pair to the Boston Bees‚ 6-5 and 4-1‚ then set a first by flying to New York aboard two TWA planes. In New York‚ the team catches an overnight train to Chicago.
September 23The Cubs take a pair from the host Phillies winning 3-2 and 7-6. Augie Galan‘s 8th inning dinger is key in the opener‚ while in the 2nd game Ripper Collins towering fly in the 9th with the bases loaded is misplayed by CF Gib Brack for a double. The Cubs catch an overnight train for their rendezvous with the Cardinals tomorrow.

The Reds trim the Pirates‚ 5-4‚ in 12 innings‚ cutting Pittsburgh’s lead to 2 games.

For the 10th time this season‚ Hank Greenberg homers twice in a game‚ hitting his 55th and 56th of the year‚ but the Tigers lose‚ 6-5‚ in 7 innings. Game one of the twinbill is also a loss‚ 8-1‚ to Bob Feller. Feller strikes out 10 and walks 1.
September 24At Wrigley Field‚ the Cubs clip the Cardinals‚ 9-3‚ beating Lon Warneke. Gabby Hartnett hits a homer as the Cubs win for the 15th time in 18 games.

Pittsburgh’s Russ Bauers whips the visiting Reds‚ 4-1‚ on six hits to keep the Bucs two games ahead. Johnny Vander Meer is the loser.
September 25Pitching on two days rest‚ Clay Bryant picks up his 19th win‚ as the Cubs beat the Cardinals‚ 7-2.

The Pirates maintain their two game lead with a 5-3 victory over the Reds. Red Lucas is the winner over Paul Derringer.
September 26With several players from the Pirates in the stands at Wrigley‚ Bill Lee wins his 21st game‚ stopping the Reds‚ 6-3. However‚ the Reds stop Lee’s streak of scoreless innings at 37 1/3.
September 27For the 11th time‚ Hank Greenberg hits two homers‚ # 57 and 58‚ in the nitecap of a doubleheader sweep of the Browns. His first HR was inside-the-park‚ though he later admits he was “out by a mile” as Brownie catcher Sam Hushaney seemingly nabs him. A friendly call by ump Bill McGowan saves the homer. The Tigers win 5-4 and 10-2‚ with the second game going just 5 innings. Greenberg will hit no more and end two short of Ruth’s record.

With the Pirates 1 1?2 game up on the Cubs‚ Dizzy Dean stops the Bucs for 8 innings with his “nothing ball.” In the 9th Bill Lee‚ who pitched a complete game win against the Cards yesterday‚ relieves Dean (7-1)‚ and the Cubs hold on to win‚ 2-1. The Pirate lead is down to a half game.

At Yankee Stadium‚ Lou Gehrig connects off Washington’s Dutch Leonard for his 29th homer of the year to pace New York to a 5-2 win. It is Lou’s 493rd and last career round tripper and it comes on the 15th anniversary of his first homer.

Bob Feller and the Indians beat the White Sox 6-1. Rapid Robert also reaches 201 bases on balls for the season‚ the first ML pitcher ever to top 200 passes. Ryan will be the next and only one.
September 28At Wrigley‚ 34‚465 fans show up for one of the most dramatic games in history. The Pirates take a 3-1 lead in the 6th on Johnny Rizzo‘s 2-run homer‚ his 21st of the year. Chicago ties it in the 6th‚ but the Bucs score twice again in the 8th for a 5-3 lead. A weary Bill Lee relieves‚ gives up a run‚ but gets starter Bob Klinger to hit into a DP. Klinger then gives up a single and is lifted for little-used Bill Swift‚ who gives up two runs‚ and the game is knotted at 5-5. Then‚ with two outs in the 9th inning‚ Cubs manager Gabby Hartnett hits the “homer in the gloaming” against Mace Brown to break the tie and put the Cubs in first place ahead of the Pirates. With 2 outs and none on base‚ the umpires intended to call the game because of darkness after Hartnett’s turn at bat. Rizzo ends the year with a ML record having homered in 9 parks‚ including Baker’s Bowl and Connie Mack Stadium.

In Detroit’s 12-0 win over St. Louis‚ Birdie Tebbetts clubs a grand slam for the Tigers‚ Detroit’s 10th of the year. Five of the grand slams have been hit by Rudy York‚ and the ten is a ML team record breaking the mark set by the 1929 Cubs. George Gill (12-9) is the winner. St. Louis will like what they see‚ acquiring Gill next spring in the Newsom trade.
September 29Bill Lee‚ pitching for the 4th straight day‚ gives the Cubs a 10-1 win over the faltering Pirates. The Cubs now lead by 1 1/2 games and have won ten games in a row.

In the Tigers 6-2 win over the Browns‚ Hank Greenberg is held to a single.
September 30In Cincinnati‚ Paul Derringer pitches the Reds to a 4-1 win in the opener of a twinbill. Jim Tobin takes the loss. In the 2nd game‚ Russ Bauers‚ who did not get out of the 2nd inning yesterday‚ wins‚ 4-1.

In St. Louis‚ the Cubs-Cards game ends in a 7-7 tie. Johnny Mize has a homer and 2 singles.

Jimmie Wilson resigns as manager of the Phillies. He will be replaced by Doc Prothro.

October

October 1The Cubs clinch the pennant‚ beating the Cards in the 2nd game of a twin bill‚ 10-3‚ after the Birds win the opener. The Reds beat the Pirates.

Against the Yankees Johnny Murphy‚ Jimmie Foxx unloads a grand slam in the 6th inning‚ his 3rd of the year.

At Cincinnati‚ the Reds collect 17 hits to beat the Pirates‚ 9-6. Ernie Lombardi is 4-for-5 and‚ with a hit tomorrow‚ will end the season with an NL high 342. Through September 28 he was hitting .337‚ second to Mize’s .339.
October 2Bob Feller breaks his own AL strikeout record and sets a ML strikeout mark by fanning 18 Tigers. At one point Feller has 6 straight strikeouts and yet loses 4-1 to Harry Eisenstat‘s 4-hitter. Harry strikes out three with his slow curves. Tiger outfielder Chet Laabs contributes 5 strike outs‚ including the last‚ to Feller’s total. Hank Greenberg has two long drives‚ one a double‚ and a walk-but no homers-against Rapid Robert‚ who allows seven hits and walks seven. Greenberg is 3-for-3-all singles. Detroit completes the sweep with a 10-8 win in game 2‚ finally called by ump George Moriarty after seven innings. Feller ends the season with 208 walks to set a ML record: the only other hurler to top 200 will be Nolan Ryan‚ in 1974 (204) and 1977 (202).

Bobo Newsom wins his 20th game for the 7th-place Browns‚ and strikes out 13‚ with his 226 K’s for the year just missing the league lead. His 192 walks also just misses the lead as well: it’ll be the highest total for any ML pitcher this century not named Feller or Ryan.
October 3In Chicago‚ 300‚000 turn out to cheer the Cubs motorcade through downtown.
October 5Bill Dickey ties a WS record with 4 hits‚ as Red Ruffing pitches the Yankees to a 3-1 win in the Series opener at Wrigley Field.
October 6Lefty Gomez sets a record with his 6th WS victory without a loss‚ defeating the Cubs 6-3‚ with relief help from Johnny Murphy. Dizzy Dean takes a 3-2 lead into the 8th but Frank Crosetti and Joe DiMaggio contribute two-run homers for the Yankee win.
October 8The Series moves to Yankee Stadium‚ and New York rolls to its 3rd straight win‚ with Monte Pearson beating Clay Bryant 5-2. Bill Dickey and Joe Gordon homer.
October 9The Yankees become the first team to win 3 successive World Championships‚ defeating the Cubs by a score of 8-3‚ as Red Ruffing wins his 2nd game and the Yankees sweep.
October 10Burleigh Grimes is dismissed as Dodgers manager. Leo Durocher will be named as his replacement in 2 days.
October 11Doc Prothro‚ the new Phils manager‚ retains Hans Lobert as coach.
October 12Durocher is named Dodger manager and adds Charlie Dressen and Bill Killifer as coaches.
October 26The Yankees trade Myril Hoag and Joe Glenn to the Browns for Oral Hildebrand and Buster Mills.

November

November 1NL batting champ Ernie Lombardi is named MVP by the BBWAA. Chicago P Bill Lee is runner-up.
November 2Jimmie Foxx is voted MVP of the AL for the 3rd time‚ with Yankees C Bill Dickey 2nd in the voting.
November 6The 3 DiMaggio brothers play together for the first time‚ making up an outfield for an all-star team in a West Coast charity game.

The St. Louis Cardinals hire Ray Blades to manage the team in 1939. Blades‚ manager of Rochester this past season‚ will be replaced by Billy Southworth.
November 7Fred Haney is signed to manage the St. Louis Browns.
November 28The White Sox 25-year-old pitching star Monty Stratton has his leg amputated following a hunting accident.

December

December 6In a trade of major names‚ the Giants send Dick Bartell‚ Hank Lieber‚ and Gus Mancuso to the Cubs for Billy Jurges‚ Frank Demaree‚ and Ken O’Dea. The trade works best for the Giants as the New York-born Jurges will anchor the infield for 7 years; Chicago-born Bartell lasts just a season at Wrigley.

Larry MacPhail ends an agreement with the Yankees and Giants to ban broadcasts in the New York area and sells the radio rights of the Dodgers games to Wheaties.
December 11The Giants get slugger Zeke Bonura from Washington for $20‚000 and 2 minor league players.
December 12The Tigers buy PCL pitching sensation Fred Hutchinson from Seattle for cash and four players.
December 13Fred Frankhouse returns to the Boston Bees‚ and Joe Stripp goes to Brooklyn in a player swap. In a separate transaction‚ the Dodgers send Buddy Hassett and Jimmy Outlaw to the Bees for Gene Moore and Ira Hutchinson.
December 14The major leagues agree on a standard ball but disagree on increasing rosters from 23 to 25 players. Judge Landis will decide on 25. The NL grants Cincinnati its season opener a day before the rest of the league in recognition of baseball’s 100th anniversary and the 1869 Red Stockings being the first professional team. The AL permits Cleveland and Philadelphia to play night games. Will Harridge is elected to a 10-year-term as AL president.
December 15The Red Sox send Pinky Higgins and P Archie McKain to the Tigers for pitchers Elden Auker and Jake Wade‚ and OF Ed Morgan. The Sox also ship OF Ben Chapman to the Indians in exchange for P Denny Galehouse and SS Tom Irwin.
December 20The White Sox sell veteran C Luke Sewell to Brooklyn.
December 29Al Simmons moves to the NL when Boston buys him for $3‚000 from Washington.