Week 6 Results (May 23, 1938 - May 29, 1938)

Monday, May 23, 1938 

Transactions:

 

Philadelphia (NL) first baseman Earl Browne (Major League Finale 05/22/1938) was sold to St. Louis (NL) (DNP) on 05/23/1938. Philadelphia (NL) pitcher Tommy Reis (Team Finale 05/20/1938) was sold to Boston (NL) on 05/23/1938. Philadelphia (NL) infielder Justin Stein (Major League Debut 05/28/1938) was claimed on waivers from St. Louis (NL) (DNP) on 05/23/1938. Philadelphia (NL) outfielder Ray Stoviak (Major League Debut 06/05/1938) was signed as an amateur free agent on 05/23/1938

 

Cincinnati outfielder Lee Gamble returned to play on 05/24/1938

 

Note: On Sunday, the Brooklyn Dodgers announced that contracts had been signed to install lights at Ebbets Field. The first night game is scheduled for June 15, 1938. In only three weeks. Wow.

 

Chicago (NL) 8 Boston (NL) (H) 1

 

The Cubs scored three times in the first and then light-hitting shortstop Billy Jurges smacked a surprise three-run homerun (1) in the sixth to essentially lock up the win for Bill Lee (5-1, 1.43).

 

Brooklyn (H) 10 Cincinnati 8

 

Bill Posedel

Brooklyn led 7-0 after the third and then 9-1 after the fourth, but they had to withstand a furious Reds rally to hold on for the win. Bill Posedel (1-3, 5.40) got the win, but required help from the Dodgers' bullpen.

Pittsburgh 4 New York (NL) (H) 0

 

Pittsburgh hurler Cy Blanton threw a five-hit shutout and allowed the Pirates to break their second-place tie with the Giants and assume sole possession of the second spot in the NL standings. Harry Gumbert (3-4, 2.64) pitched a strong game for New York, but was lacking the necessary offensive support today.

 

St. Louis (NL) 3 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 1

 

St. Louis starter Max Lanier (1-0, 6.23) made his first start of the season, and he limited the hometown Phillies to one unearned run and went all the way for the win. Hugh "Losing Pitcher" Mulcahy (1-6, 6.49) escaped out of several dangerous situations along the way but took the loss.

 

Tuesday, May 24, 1938

 

Transactions:

 

Pittsburgh pitcher Cy Blanton was ill (influenza) on 05/23/1938

 

Boston (NL) catcher Al Lopez was injured (?) on 05/23/1938

 

Chicago (AL) (H) 4 Washington 3

 

The Nationals led 3-1 after the third inning, but Monty Stratton (1-0, 2.70), making his first start of the season due arm issues, kept Washington close, and then in the bottom of the eighth, Stratton kicked off the White Sox rally when he slugged a solo homerun (1). Dutch Leonard (3-2, 3.22) limited Chicago to three hits, but the White Sox made each one of them count.

 

Cleveland (H) 4 New York (AL) 3

 

The Yankees jumped out quickly and led 3-0 after the top of the fourth, but the Indians then roared back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score at 3-3. The score stayed there until the bottom of the seventh when third baseman Ken Keltner popped a solo homerun (10) to give Johnny Allen (4-2, 3.54) the lead he would need to come away with the win.

 

Boston (AL) 15 Detroit (H) 1

 

Charlie Gehringer's solo homerun (5) in the fourth gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead, but then the slumbering Boston offense awoke and they pounded Tigers' pitchers for the remainder of the game. Three-run homeruns by Gene DeSautels (1) and Pinky Higgins (2) were the big hits in the Red Sox late-inning carnage, allowing Lefty Grove (8-1, 1.39) to continue his magical season.

 

Philadelphia (AL) 2 St. Louis (AL) (H) 0

 

A pair of well-pitched games today as Lynn Nelson (1-2, 6.03) outdueled Russ Van Atta (0-4, 8.31) in Sportsman Park. Philadelphia plated two runs in the top of the second, and that was all Nelson needed to bring home the win today.

 

Boston (NL) (H) 3 Cincinnati 2 (11)

 

Gil English

The Reds jumped out to a 2-0 lead with two runs in the top of the first, but that was the extent of their run-scoring today as Jim Turner and Johnny Lanning (1-1, 9.66) held them scoreless thereafter. The Bees slowly came back, with third baseman Gil English tying the game at 2-2 with a homerun (2) in the bottom of the eighth, and then in the bottom of the eleventh, veteran outfielder Johnny Cooney lined a soft single to right to bring home the game-winner.

Brooklyn (H) 11 Chicago (NL) 5

 

Ripper Collins picked up three early RBI's to give the Cubs a quick lead, but it didn't last as the Dodgers exploded for eleven runs in the bottom of the third. Brooklyn batters connected for three triples in the inning, much to the delight of the hometown fans. Van Mungo (2-3, 4.79) got hit early, but with the benefit of a substantial lead, he settled down and mowed down the Chicago batters on his way to a complete game victory.

 

St. Louis (NL) 10 New York (NL) (H) 8

 

Mel Ott smacked a three-run homerun (11) in the first, but the Cardinals bounced back with a five-run third, and then they followed that up with a four-run fourth. Bob Weiland (4-3, 2.89) got the win, but needed plenty of bullpen help to hold off the charging Giants.

 

Wednesday, May 25, 1938

 

Transactions: N/A

 

Philadelphia (AL) 6 Chicago (AL) (H) 3

 

John Whitehead

The A's led 3-2 after the completion of the first inning, but then the pitchers got warmed up, and the scoring slowed down, and the game turned into a nail-biter. Philadelphia held on for the win, with Bud Thomas (2-3, 4.42) getting the decision over John Whitehead (0-5, 6.75).

Cleveland (H) 4 Boston (AL) 3

 

Jimmie Foxx cranked a game-tying two-run homerun (7) in the top of the eighth, but Cleveland came right back with a run in the bottom half of the inning to go back ahead. Mel Harder (4-1, 2.94)  went all the way for the win, with Archie McKain (2-1, 5.06) getting the loss in relief.

 

Detroit (H) 11 New York (AL) 6

 

George Gill (4-0, 2.02) gave up a two-run triple to Joe DiMaggio, a two-run homerun to Lou Gehrig, and finally a two-run homerun to DiMaggio, but his Tigers' offense never deserted him and kept Gill in the game and Gill got through the final five innings unscathed and picked up the win. Seven different Tigers had RBI's as it was a team effort to conquer the Yankees.

 

Washington 17 St. Louis (AL) (H) 6

 

The Nationals awoke this morning to find themselves in seventh place in the AL, just behind the White Sox. To atone, a Zeke Bonura three-run homerun (7) was the big hit in a five-run first. St. Louis didn’t roll over, and by the end of the fourth, they had tied the score at 5-5. Now facing the Browns bullpen, the Nationals went on a hitting spree, scoring three runs in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and ninth innings, and finishing the day with 27 hits. Bonura finished his day by going 6-for-7 (.360), with four runs scored, four RBI's, a double, and a homerun.

 

Cincinnati 3 Boston (NL) (H) 2

 

The Reds are still having trouble building up any kind of momentum, but solo homeruns today from Frank McCormick (2) and Lew Riggs (2) helped Paul Derringer (5-3, 3.38) get one in the win column. The Bees hit three triples in the game, but only two of them scored, with Danny MacFayden (1-6, 2.18) driving in one, but taking the loss regardless.

 

Chicago (NL) 5 Brooklyn (H) 0

 

Second baseman Billy Herman slapped a two-run double in Chicago's four-run sixth to blow open the scoreless tie and to give Larry French (5-5, 4.50) the lead he needed to pick up the complete-game victory. Tot Pressnell (1-5, 3.65) couldn’t get out of the fateful sixth inning and took the loss.

 

New York (NL) 7 St. Louis (NL) 1

 

Hal Schumacher (6-1, 3.34) gave up ten hits but held the Cardinals to a first-inning run, and his offense picked him up for the go-away win. Center fielder Wally Berger knocked a two-out two-run double in the bottom of the third, and the Giants never looked back.

 

Pittsburgh (H) 6 Philadelphia (NL) 2

 

In the first meeting of the season for these two interstate rivals, Pittsburgh left fielder Johnny Rizzo hit a two-run homerun (4) and a three-run double to spark the hometown Pirates to the victory. Jim Tobin (6-1, 1.35) got the win.

 

Thursday, May 26, 1938

 

Transactions:

 

Cincinnati catcher Virgil Davis returned to play on 05/27/1956

 

Philadelphia (NL) outfielder Tuck Stainback (Team Debut 05/28/1938) was claimed on waivers from St. Louis (NL) on 05/23/1938

 

Philadelphia (AL) 8 Chicago (AL) (H) 1

George Caster (1-5, 5.40) had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning, but White Sox center fielder Mike Kreevich spoiled the shutout and the no-hitter with a solo homerun (1). The A's offense was keyed by Sam Chapman, who went 3-for-4 (.289) with three runs scored, four RBI's, a homerun (3).

 

Boston (AL) 11 Cleveland (H) 3

 

In the bottom of the third, with two outs in a 0-0 game, Boston right fielder Ben Chapman muffed a sure third out in right field, and then Jeff Heath came to the plate and gave the Indians the lead with a three-run homerun (6). This turned out to be the only Cleveland highlight as Boston tied the game up in their next at-bat, and then the Red Sox pounded the Indians' bullpen for the runaway victory. Jack Wilson (3-4, 3.38) went all the way for the win.

 

Detroit (H) 7 New York (AL) 5

 

The Yankees led 5-1 after the fourth inning, but then the Tigers began their comeback, drawing to within 5-4 after the sixth inning. Detroit then knocked out Red Ruffing (5-1, 4.11) with a three-run eighth and held on for the win.

 

St. Louis (AL) (H) 11 Washington 4

 

The Browns scored three times in the first to take the early lead, but it was their six-run third that put the game out of reach. All of the St. Louis batters chipped in offensively, including Bobo Newsom (6-1, 3.18), who was a 1-for-3 day with a run scored and an RBI.

 

Friday, May 27, 1938

 

Transactions:

 

Washington pitcher Joe Kohlman made his Major League Finale on 05/26/1938. Kohlman was later sent out to Greenville (SALL)

 

Detroit pitcher Schoolboy Rowe made his Season Finale on 05/26/1938. Rowe was later sent out to Beaumont (TL) after 05/26/1938. Detroit catcher Ray Hayworth made his Season Debut on 05/28/1938

 

Chicago (AL) catcher Norm Schlueter made his Major League Debut on 05/28/1938

 

Detroit 8 Chicago (AL) (H) 6 (Grand Slam!)

 

Hank Greenberg hit a Grand Slam homerun (12) in the Tigers' five-run sixth inning, which was just enough to hold off the White Sox, who scored six times in the bottom of the seventh, the big hit being Mike Kreevich hitting his second three-run homerun (2) of the week. Vern Kennedy (6-2, 4.03) got the win over Frank Gabler (0-2, 5.57), with all seven of the runs scored off Gabler being unearned.

 

Note: On this date in 1938, Hank Greenberg hit his eleventh homerun and drove in his twentieth run. In this replay so far, Greenberg has twelve homeruns and an amazing fifty-three RBI's.

 

Cincinnati (H) 5 St. Louis (NL) 4

 

The Reds scored two runs in both the first and second innings, and Johnny Vander Meer (3-1, 4.29) did his best to hold off the Cardinals, although St. Louis did eventually tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the eighth inning. Cincinnati came right back with a run in the bottom half of the inning, and Vander Meer was able to close things out for the win.

 

Bob Klinger

Note: Johnny Mize hit a triple (11) today, his third of the week and his sixth of the last week and a half.

Pittsburgh (H) 2 Chicago (NL) 0

 

The first-place Cubs rolled into second-place Pittsburgh in what should be an exciting weekend series. Game One did not disappoint as the Pirates finally broke open a scoreless game with two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Bob Klinger (1-1, 2.42) got the tough decision over Bill Lee (5-2, 1.53).

 

Saturday, May 28, 1938

 

Transactions:

 

Cincinnati infielder Lonny Frey was injured (?) on 05/27/1938. Cincinnati pitcher Lee Grissom returned to play on 05/29/1938

 

Lonny Frey

Detroit 11 Chicago (AL) (H) 5

Charlie Gehringer hit three-run homeruns (6, 7) in the first and third innings, and the Tigers pounded the White Sox for the win. Tommy Bridges (1-1, 2.81) gave up seven hits and walked seven White Sox batters but avoided any major rallies.

 

New York (AL) 4 Philadelphia (AL) (H) 1

 

The Athletics took a 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth, and the home team appeared to have things well in hand, but then the Yankees loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, and then third baseman Red Rolfe unloaded the bases with a three-run triple. Now safely ahead, Spud Chandler (3-0, 2.7) cruised to the complete game victory.

 

Washington (H) 5 Boston (AL) 4

 

Boston scored twice in the first and led 3-0 going into the sixth, but the Nationals struck back with five runs in the bottom of the sixth. The big hit in the inning was a two-run triple by Dutch Leonard (4-2, 3.32), who stayed in the game and finished what he started.

 

Boston (NL) (H) 5 Brooklyn 2

 

Milt Shoffner (1-6, 3.63) picked up his first win of the season as he held the visiting Dodgers to four hits and went all the way for the win. Second Baseman Tony Cuccinello's two-out two-run single in the bottom of the first was the Bees' big hit on this day.

 

Jimmy Ripple

New York (NL) (H) 7 Philadelphia (NL) 1 (Grand Slam!) (GM 1)

The Phillies broke open a scoreless tie when they pushed across a run in the top of the sixth, but in the bottom of the sixth, little-used infielder Mickey Haslin stroked a two-out two-run single to give New York the lead. In the eighth, right fielder Jimmy Ripple slugged a two-out Grand Slam homerun (4) to ice the Game One win for Cliff Melton (4-5, 3.96).

 

New York (NL) (H) 6 Philadelphia (NL) 3 (GM 2)

 

The Phillies led 2-1 after the fourth inning, despite having committed four errors already. They committed three more errors before the game was over, seven in all, but still held on to the lead until the bottom of the eighth when New York scored five times. Twice previously, the Giants had loaded the bases but were unable to score, but finally, in the eighth, Mel Ott connected, driving in two runs with a clutch single. Carl Hubbell (6-1, 2.64) picked up the Game Two win.

 

Pittsburgh (H) 3 Chicago (NL) 1

 

Lee "Jeep" Handley and Lloyd Waner drove in runs in the bottom of the eighth to break up a 1-1 game, and Russ Bauers (6-1, 1.71) finished with a complete-game victory.

 

Sunday, May 29, 1938

 

Transactions:

 

Chicago (AL) pitcher Sugar Cain made his Major League Finale on 05/28/1938. Cain was later sent out to St. Paul (AA)

 

Philadelphia (AL) first baseman/pitcher Chubby Dean returned to play on 05/30/1938

 

St. Louis (NL) pitcher Roy Henshaw was reinstated to the St. Louis roster by commissioner decree

 

Philadelphia (NL) pitcher Syl Johnson returned to the mound on 05/30/1938. Philadelphia (NL) pitcher Wayne LaMaster returned to the mound on 05/30/1938

 

St. Louis (AL) pitcher Ed Linke returned to the mound on 05/30/1938

 

Chicago (AL) (H) 15 Detroit 2

 

The White Sox often have trouble scoring any runs at all, but runs were no problem today as they pounded out twenty-five hits and scored fifteen runs. Monty Stratton (2-0, 2.37) went all the way for the win, and along with right fielder Hank Steinbacher and left fielder Gee Walker, all drove in three runs in the game.

 

New York (AL) 10 Philadelphia (AL) (H) 6

 

The Yankees went ahead early, but the Athletics did not go away and kept trying to come back throughout the entire game. The New York offense finally overpowered the A's, and Monte Pearson (6-0, 3.50) picked up the win with plenty of help from the Yankees' bullpen.

 

St. Louis (AL) (H) 10 Cleveland 3

 

The Browns led 5-1 after the completion of the fourth inning, and they held on for the easy home win versus Cleveland. Bobo Newsom (7-1, 3.16) got the win as the Indians, winners of seven of their previous ten outings, had hoped to extend their good fortunes and continue climbing up the AL standings.

 

Washington (H) 14 Boston (AL) 4

 

Buddy Myer

The Nationals welcomed the Red Sox into Griffith Stadium and then promptly pummeled the visitors with a twenty-two-hit explosion. Light-hitting center fielder Mel Almada led the hitting extravaganza with a 5-for-5 day that included four runs scored, five RBI's, and two homeruns (1, 2). Second baseman Buddy Myer also had a two-homerun (2, 3) day, with Wes Perrell (5-4, 4.03) going all the way for the win.

Brooklyn 2 Boston (NL) (H) 0

 

The Dodgers scored a run in the top of the second, and then the game quickly evolved into a pitcher's duel, with Freddie Fitzsimmons (6-1, 1.22) eventually coming out ahead over Lou Fette (3-5, 3.02).

 

St. Louis (NL) 5 Cincinnati (H) 1

 

Two errors by Cincinnati shortstop Billy Myers led to three unearned runs for the Cardinals, and Bob Weiland (5-3, 2.61) took advantage and was able to go all the way for the win. Lee Grissom (0-2, 6.630 made his first appearance in almost a month and pitched well, but was let down by his defense.

 

Lee Grissom

New York (NL) (H) 18 Philadelphia (NL) 9

Having lost their previous six games, the Phillies were happy to get a good start when they scored three times in the top of the first, but when the Giants hit three homeruns and scored ten runs in the bottom half of the inning, it was back to that same losing feeling. The Phillies did get to Harry Gumbert (4-4, 3.66) for six runs in the top of the sixth, but the result of the game was a foregone conclusion at that point.

 

Pittsburgh (H) 5  Chicago (NL) 1

 

The Pirates strung together hits in the mid-game to build a lead, and Red Lucas (1-4, 4.54) and Rip Sewell held off the Cubs to secure the win and to keep the Pirates in first place in the NL with their sixth consecutive win..