Week 23 Results (September 19, 1938 - September 25, 1938)

Monday, September 19, 1938 

Transactions:

 

St. Louis (AL) catcher Tommy Heath made his Major League Finale on 09/18/1938. St. Louis (AL) pitcher Oral Hildebrand made his Season Finale on 09/18/1938

 

Philadelphia (NL) pitcher Syl Johnson made his Season Finale on 09/18/1938

 

Note: A major hurricane has been pounding the East Coast of the United States, impacting, among other things, train travel. There are no NL games on the docket for today or tomorrow as localities are still digging out.

 

Philadelphia (AL) 12 Cleveland (H) 0

 

The A's led 3-0 after the sixth, and Bud Thomas (11-17, 4.74) was shutting out the hometown Indians. Philadelphia then jumped on the Cleveland bullpen and scored three runs in each of the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings for the runaway win.

 

Detroit (H) 1 Washington 0

 

Two powerful offenses combined to score one run, with third baseman Mark Christman singling home Pete Fox in the bottom of the eighth to break the scoreless tie. Vern Kennedy (16-11, 5.67) held the Nationals to only three hits, with Pete Appleton (8-7, 5.07) getting the hard-luck loss.

 

New York (AL) 4 St. Louis (AL) (H) 1

 

The Yankees broke open a 1-1 tie with three runs in the top of the sixth, the big hit being a two-out two-run single by Wes Ferrell (13-10, 4.65).  Ferrell scattered six hits and went all the way for the win over Howard Mills (8-11, 5.35).

 

Tuesday, September 20, 1938

 

Transactions:

 

New York (AL) pitcher Wes Ferrell made his Season Finale on 09/19/1938

 

Detroit pitcher Vern Kennedy made his Season Finale on 09/19/1938

 

St. Louis (NL) infielder Don Gutteridge returned to play on 09/21/1938

 

Chicago (AL) (H) 3 New York (AL) 2

 

The White Sox broke open a scoreless tie when a two-out grounder to third baseman Red Rolfe rolled up his arm for an E-5 and allowed the first run of the game to score. In the top of the ninth, Bill Dickey gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead with a two-run homerun (27, 115), but in the bottom of the ninth Tony Rensa got Chicago the lead and then win when he hit a two-run homerun (3) of his own, Monty Stratton (11-8, 3.96) went all the way for the win over Bump Hadley (11-5, 5.16).

 

Washington 13 Cleveland (H) 0 (Grand Slam!)

 

The Washington hit machine that carried them through most of the summer had recently gone dormant, but it aroused its head today and powered the Nationals to an easy win. Dutch Leonard (19-5, 2.75) held the Indians to two hits, right fielder Taffy Wright slammed a Grand Slam homerun (4), and Washington collected seventeen hits on the day..

 

Boston (AL) 6 St. Louis (AL) (H) 3 (GM 1)

 

The Browns led 3-1 after the second, but Boston added three runs in the top of the third to take a 4-3 lead, and Bill Harris (7-2, 3.40) proceeded to shut down the Browns' attack from there. In the top of the ninth, Joe Vosmik wrangled a two-out walk, and Jimmie Foxx followed that up with a two-run homerun (53, 173) to give the Red Sox some breathing room.

Boston (AL) 10 St. Louis (AL) (H) 9 (GM 2)

 

There were multiple lead changes throughout the game, but Joe Cronin doubled home Jimmie Foxx in the top of the ninth to break a 9-9 tie, and Joe Heving (5-4, 4.61) and the Red Sox held on for the Game Two win and the doubleheader sweep.

 

Wednesday, September 21, 1938

 

Transactions:

 

Cincinnati infielder Don Lang returned to play on 09/22/1938

 

St. Louis (NL) pitcher Max Lanier was recalled from Columbus (AA) before 09/22/1938

 

New York (AL) 4 Chicago (AL) (H) 3

 

After the score had moved back and forth several times already, left fielder George Selkirk tripled home Lou Gehrig with a run in the top of the ninth to put New York ahead by the score of 4-3. Johnny Murphy (4-2, 5.00) blew his save opportunity in the eighth inning but came back with a 1-2-3 ninth to secure the win and end Chicago's win streak at seven games.

 

Detroit (H) 15 Philadelphia (AL) 1 (GM 1)

 

The offense returned to the Tigers today, powered by a pair of three-run homeruns (52, 177) from Hank Greenberg. George Coffman (8-7, 6.20) went seven innings and picked up the Game One win over Randy Gumpert (0-2, 11.42).

 

Philadelphia (AL) 8 Detroit (H) 7 (GM 2)

 

The Tigers were up 5-2 after the fourth, but then it was the A's turn to take the lead, and by the end of the seventh, Philadelphia was ahead 8-6. In the first five innings, Hank Greenberg came to bat four times, each time with a pair of runners on base, but all he got out of these four at-bats was one RBI double in the first. Buck Ross (10-13, 6.87) not only got the win but led the A's rally with four RBI's in the game.

 

St. Louis (AL) (H) 5 Boston (AL) 4 (10)

 

The Browns scored three times in the first, thanks in part to a two-run single by catcher Billy Sullivan, but the Red Sox answered back with a four-run third, thanks in part to a three-run homerun (11) off the bat of left fielder Joe Vosmik. The game went quiet for several innings after this, but in the bottom of the eighth St. Louis was able to tie the score at 4-4, and soon the game went into extra-innings. In the bottom of the tenth, second baseman Don Heffner singled home Harlond Clift with the game-winner, giving the win for Bobo Newsom (22-12).

 

Boston (NL) (H) 3 St. Louis (NL) 2

 

The Bees scored a run in the first to take a 1-0 lead, but the Cardinals came back with single runs in the fourth and seventh to take a 2-1 lead. Paul Dean (0-2, 7.98) started off the bottom of the ninth by giving up a single to Al Lopez, and then he got pinch-hitter Max West to pop up. Pinch-hitter Harl Maggert then delivered a two-run homerun (3) to give Boston a sudden come-from-behind victory.

 

Thursday, September 22, 1938

 

Transactions:

 

Boston (NL) pitcher Bobby Reis made his Major League Finale on 09/21/1938

 

Philadelphia (AL) infielder Bill Werber made his Season Finale on 09/21/1938

 

Chicago (NL) infielder Steve Mesner made his Major League Debut on 09/23/1938. Mesner had previously been recalled from Indianapolis (AA)

 

Chicago (AL) (H) 8 New York (AL) 7

 

Chicago rookie phenom Merv Connors walloped a three-run homerun (2) in the bottom of the first, but by the end of the top of the sixth, the Yankees had tied the score at 3-3. The White Sox offense came alive and scored five times in the bottom of the sixth to take an 8-3 lead, but the Yankees weren't done yet, and they cut the lead to 8-7 with four runs in the top of the eighth. Johnny Rigney (5-7, 4.11) got through the ninth with no further damage to pick up the complete-game victory.

 

Boston (NL) (H) 5 St. Louis (NL) 3 (GM 1)

 

With the score tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh, catcher Al Lopez singled to right to bring home a run, and then an errant throw from right fielder Pepper Martin allowed a second run to score. Denny MacFayden (10-15, 2.67) shut down the Cardinals the rest of the way to take home the Game One win.

 

Boston (NL) (H) 1 St. Louis (NL) 0 (GM 2)

 

Second baseman Tony Cuccinello singled home Vince DiMaggio in the bottom of the first with which turned out to be the only score in the game, and Dick Errickson (5-8, 4.22) made the run stand up as he went all the way for the Game Two victory and the doubleheader sweep. Mort Cooper (0-2, 1.20) was the hard-luck loser for the Cardinals.

 

Note: On this date in 1938, following their two games in Boston today, the Cardinals set a first by flying to New York aboard two TWA planes. From there, St. Louis was able to catch an overnight train to Chicago. The airline flight was necessitated by the recent hurricane that had wiped out much of the rail lines on the northeast coast.

 

Pittsburgh 10 Brooklyn (H) 4 (GM 1) (18)

 

Backup third baseman Bill Brubaker, given a spot start today, hit a homerun (9) in the top of the ninth to tie the score at 4-4, and there the score stayed until the eighteenth inning. Finally, the Pirates broke through when Johnny Rizzo tripled home Paul Waner, and then Pittsburgh poured it on, scoring six runs in the top of the eighteenth. Joe Bowman (3-2, 4.13) got the win in relief, plus he added an RBI triple and scored a run in the eighteenth as well.

Brooklyn (H) 6 Pittsburgh 5 (GM 2)

 

The Dodgers led 3-2 heading into the ninth, and Pittsburgh took the lead when they scored three runs, when a Pep Young double and an E-7 scoring three runs. Brooklyn wasn't done, though, as center fielder Oris Hockett tripled home two runs to tie the score, and then Hockett scored on a sacrifice fly to center to give the Dodgers the Game Two win and the doubleheader split.

 

Note: On this date in 1938, Pittsburgh swept a doubleheader in Brooklyn and remained in first place with a 3.5 game lead.

 

Cincinnati 5 New York (NL) (H) 3 (GM 1)

 

In a battle between the two teams fighting it out for third place in the NL, the Reds scored first with three runs in the third. In the bottom of the fourth, New York center fielder Bob Seeds popped a three-run homerun (9) to tie the score at 3-3, and that was it for the scoring until the ninth. Cincinnati scored twice in the top of the ninth, and then Gene Schott came out of the bullpen to throw a 1-2-3 ninth to secure the Game One win.

 

Cincinnati 3 New York (NL) (H) 2 (GM 2)

 

Cincinnati led 2-1 after the third, added on a run in the sixth, and then held off a New York rally by holding the Giants to one run in the bottom of the eighth. Paul Derringer (25-7, 2.31) got the Game Two win, with Joe Cascarella successfully closing things out in the bottom of the ninth.

 

Philadelphia (NL) (H) 1 Chicago (NL) 0 (GM 1)

 

The Phillies scored a run in the bottom of the third when shortstop Del Young scored on a sacrifice fly, and Max Butcher (10-7, 3.90) threw a one-hit shutout to get the Game One win over Bill Lee (21-10, 1.66), who also threw a one-hitter.

 

Note: On this date in 1938, Chicago hurler Bill Lee threw his fourth consecutive shutout, matching the feat of Ed Reulbach (1908) and Grover Alexander (1911). This was Lee's ninth shutout of the season.

 

Chicago (NL) 8 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 6 (GM 2)

 

The Cubs scored four runs in the third and then added three more in the sixth to take an 8-2 lead. Clay Bryant (20-10, 2.61) lightened up a bit late, and the Phillies scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth, but they could get no closer.

 

Friday, September 23, 1938

 

Transactions:

 

Cincinnati infielder Lonny Frey made his Season Finale on 09/22/1938

 

Brooklyn pitcher Jim Winford made his Major League Finale on 09/22/1938

 

Philadelphia (AL) infielder Wayne Ambler returned to play on 09/24/1938

 

St. Louis (AL) outfielder Joe Grace made his Major League Debut on 09/24/1938. Grace had previously been recalled from Memphis (SOUA). St. Louis (AL) infielder Johnny Lucadello made his Major League Debut on 09/24/1938. Lucadello had previously been recalled from Johnstown (MATL)

 

Boston (NL) catcher Ray Mueller returned to play on 09/24/1938

 

Cleveland 7 Detroit (H) 5 (GM 1)

 

The Indians led 5-0 after the fifth inning, but in the bottom of the sixth, Hank Greenberg swatted a three-run homerun (53, 181) and all of a sudden it was a brand new game. Bob Feller (13-12, 4.37) stiffened from there, and the Indians rolled on to the Game One win.

Detroit (H) 3 Cleveland 2 (GM 2) (10)

 

With the score tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the tenth, the first two Tigers batters reached base, so Al Benton (4-3, 2.29) was allowed the opportunity to attempt to bunt them along. Cleveland third baseman Ken Keltner fielded the bunt cleanly, but he then airmailed his throw down the right field line, allowing Billy Rogell to dash home from second with the game-winner.

 

Chicago (NL) 6 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 1 (GM 1)

 

The Phillies led 1-0 early, and the Cubs didn’t get on the board until they plated three runs in the top of the seventh. Chicago then added three more runs in the eighth as they finally had a few clutch hits. Kirby Higbe (1-0, 3.86) went six innings for the Game One win.

 

Chicago (NL) 11 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 1 (GM 2)

 

The Phillies scored first with a run in the bottom of the first, but Gabby Hartnett swatted a two-run homerun (9) in the second to put Chicago ahead 2-1. The game stayed quiet until the Cubs exploded for seven runs in the top of the fifth, and the visitors ran away with it from there. Tex Carleton (11-9, 5.35) went all the way for the Game Two win and the doubleheader sweep.

 

Cincinnati 6 Pittsburgh (H) 1

 

The Reds started off quick with three runs in the top of the first, the big hit being a two-run homerun (9) by left fielder Wally Berger. Bucky Walters (18-12, 3.32) went eight innings and never really let the Pirates off the mat. Cy Blanton (14-10, 2.50) took the loss.

 

Saturday, September 24, 1938

 

Transactions:

 

Detroit pitcher Joe Rogalski made his Major League Finale on 09/23/1938

 

New York (NL) outfielder Hank Leiber returned to play on 09/25/1938

 

Cleveland 16 Detroit (H) 4

 

For the first three innings, Cleveland couldn’t score a run, but after that, the Indians couldn’t stop scoring. Center fielder Roy Weatherly led the way by going 4-for-6 (.278) with four runs scored, five RBI's, with a double and a homerun (7). Hank Greenberg hit a pair of late homeruns (54 & 55, 185), but Mel Harder (18-8, 3.13) was well ahead at that point and was able to go all the way for the win.

 

New York (AL) (H) 6 Boston (AL) 3

 

A three-run homerun (23, 106) by Tommy Henrich and then a follow-up homerun (32, 147) by Joe DiMaggio gave the Yankees a 4-0 lead after the third inning, and they rolled on from there. Red Ruffing (21-6, 3.37) withstood a late Red Sox rally but went all the way for the complete-game victory. Jimmie Foxx stayed in the homerun race when he hit a solo homerun (54, 175) to get the belated Red Sox rally started.

 

Washington 9 Philadelphia (AL) (H) 5

 

The Nationals scored two runs in each of the first two innings and then added two more in the fourth inning, to take a big lead right out of the chute. The A's put up a four-spot in the bottom of the eighth to make it look respectable, but Joe Krakauskas (5-4, 3.47) was able to come away with the easy win.

 

St. Louis (AL) (H) 5 Chicago (AL) 2 (GM 1)

 

Browns Third baseman Harlond Clift broke up a 1-1 tie with a three-run homerun (27, 124) in the bottom of the fifth, and Howard Mills (9-11, 5.20) was able to go all the way for the Game One win over Ted Lyons (11-10, 3.73).

 

St. Louis (AL) (H) 5 Chicago (AL)  0 (GM 2)

 

Ed Cole (5-4, 6.89) got a spot start in today's doubleheader and responded by shutting out the visiting White Sox to complete the doubleheader sweep. Left fielder Mel Mazzera pumped out a three-run homerun (6) in the bottom of the seventh to ensure the win for Cole.

 

New York (NL) 15 Boston (NL) (H) 13 (GM 1)

 

Thanks to a six-run inning, the Giants jumped off to an 8-3 lead after the second inning. The Boston pitchers then shut down the Giants' offense and gave their offense the opportunity to come back. The Bees had come back to within 8-6 after the fifth inning, and then they came alive with a five-run sixth to take a 10-8 lead. Boston added on three more in the eighth to make it 13-8, but then it was New York's turn to come alive in the top of the ninth. After scoring two runs, Mel Ott slugged a three-run homerun (34, 113) to tie the score at 13-13, and then center fielder Bob Seeds hit his second homerun (10 & 11) of the game to put New York ahead to stay for the Game One win.

 

Boston (NL) (H) 7 New York (NL) 1 (GM 2)

 

Boston wore their hitting shows in Game Two as well, but this time Lou Fette (13-17, 3.16) was able to shut down the Giants to get the Game Two win and the doubleheader split. Catcher Ray Mueller had a two-out three-run triple in the bottom of the fourth that put the Bees up 4-0, and they never looked back.

 

Brooklyn (H) 12 Philadelphia (NL) 1

 

The Dodgers pounded multiple Philadelphia pitchers to get the easy runaway win. The big hit in the game was a surprise three-run homerun (1) from catcher Charles "Greek" George in the bottom of the third. Vito Tamulis (14-7, 4.54) was able to cruise all the way for the complete-game victory.

 

St. Louis (NL) 10 Chicago (NL) (H) 0

 

The Cubs returned from their East Coast swing in first place, with a 1.0 game lead over second-place Pittsburgh. A three-run homerun (32, 105) by Johnny Mize put St. Louis ahead 6-0 in the fifth inning, and Lon Warneke (14-6, 3.54) was able to shut out the Cubs, scattering seven hits and going all the way.

Pittsburgh (H) 7 Cincinnati 1

 

The Reds opened the day in third place, but only 3.0 games behind the Pirates. Pittsburgh scored three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead, and then Lloyd Waner added a two-run homerun (7) in the fourth. Russ Bauers (20-5, 2.43) got his twentieth win of the season, with Johnny Vander Meer (16-4, 3.16) taking the loss. This win, combined with the Cubs loss, has Pittsburgh and Chicago knotted atop the NL, with the Pirates having a oh-so-slight lead by percentage points only.

 

Sunday, September 25, 1938

 

Transactions:

 

New York (NL) pitcher Tom Baker made his Major League Finale on 09/24/1938

 

Note: On this date in 1938, St. Louis Browns manager Gabby Street was replaced by Oscar Melillo.

 

Detroit (H) 12 Cleveland 2 (Grand Slam!)

 

The Indians scored two runs in the top of the first, but then Hank Greenberg led the Tigers comeback with a Grand Slam homerun, then he hit a solo homerun in the third. He later added a two-run single, going 4-for-5 (.354) on the day with three runs scored, seven RBI's, and two homeruns (56 & 57, 192). Boots Poffenberger (9-6, 4.70) shut out the Indians after the first inning and went all the way for the win.

 

New York (AL) (H) 9 Boston (AL) 6 (GM 1) (Grand Slam!)

 

Boston scored three times in the top of the first, but in the bottom half of the inning, little-used Jake Powell connected for a Grand Slam Homerun (1) to put New York up 4-3. The Red Sox soon tied the game up, and then took a 6-4 lead after the sixth, but in the bottom of the eighth Lou Gehrig smacked a three-run triple to put the Yankees ahead. Bump Hadley (12-5, 5.25) got the Game One win for New York.

Boston (AL) 2 New York (AL) (H) 2 (6) (GM 2) (Tie Game!)

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1938.shtml

 

Washington 19 Philadelphia (AL) (H) 6 (GM 1)

 

Washington blew open a relatively close game when they scored five runs in the eighth and then added on six more runs in the ninth as they pounded the A's bullpen mercilessly. The Nationals ended the game with twenty-six hits, with Buddy Lewis, Taffy Wright, and Cecil Travis collecting four hits in the massacre. Pete Appleton (9-7, 5.34) didn’t necessarily pitch well when he was in there, but his offense bailed him out for the Game One win.

 

Philadelphia (AL) (H) 2 Washington 1 (GM 2)

 

After all the fireworks in Game One, this game was comparatively quiet. The Nationals scored a run in the top of the third, the A's scored twice in the bottom of the third, and that was it for the scoring. Bud Thomas (8-17, 5.42) went all the way for the Game Two win over Ken Chase (6-13, 6.45).

 

St. Louis (AL) (H) 4 Chicago (AL) 2 (GM 1)

 

Both teams scored a pair of runs in the first inning, and then St. Louis added to grab the lead in mid-game, and Bobo Newsom (23-12, 4.07) threw his thirtieth complete-game of the year to get the Game One win.

 

St. Louis (AL) (H) 16 Chicago (AL) 6 (GM 2)

 

The Browns led 3-0 after the fifth inning, but then Chicago finally got on the scoreboard with a four-run sixth. This spurred St. Louis into action as they scored seven times in the bottom of the inning and then pounded the White Sox for the remainder of the game. Right fielder Joe Grace, getting his first taste of major league action this week, had a 4-for-4 (.417) day that included two walks, two runs scored, and four RBI's. Emil Bildilli (1-1, 6.00) went all the way for his first major league win.

 

New York (NL) 3 Boston (NL) (H) 2 (10) (GM 1)

 

Neither offense could do much as both pitchers were on in this game, but the Giants finally pulled the victory when Mel Ott slugged a solo homerun (35, 114) in the top of the tenth. Cliff Melton (15-11, 3.68) picked up the win in relief for throwing two scoreless innings.

 

Boston (NL) (H) 3 New York (NL) 2 (GM 2)

 

Both teams scored two runs in the sixth, but then Boston scored again in the seventh to take a 3-2 lead. Milt Shoffner (3-12, 4.09) scattered five hits and went all the way for the Game Two win and the doubleheader split.

 

Philadelphia (NL) 9 Brooklyn (H) 3 (GM 1)

 

The Phillies scored five runs in the top of the first, the big hit being a three-run homerun (4) by left fielder Morrie Arnovich. George Scharein added a two-run homerun (2) in the third, and Max Butcher (11-7, 3.85) held the hometown Dodgers to only three hits in his Game One win.

 

Philadelphia (NL) 10 Brooklyn (H) 5 (GM 2)

 

Both teams scored two runs in the first, but then the Phillies jumped on Lee Rogers (0-4, 5.96) for four runs in the second. Now with a big lead, Claude Passeau (11-29, 4.74) was able to go all the way for the Game Two win and the doubleheader sweep.

 

Chicago (NL) (H) 10 St. Louis (NL) 6

 

The Cubs opened the day in second place in the NL, but only trailing Pittsburgh by percentage points. Both teams had their offense working early as Cardinals first baseman Johnny Mize had an RBI triple and then a two-run double to lead the early St. Louis attack, but the Cubs put up a four-spot in the bottom of the third to take a 5-3 lead, and they never looked back. Clay Bryant (21-10, 2.72) didn’t have his best start of the season, but he gutted it out to go all the way for the crucial win. Gabby Hartnett sparked the Cubs' offense with a 4-for-5 (.320) day that included four RBI’s, a double, and a triple.

 

Cincinnati 11 Pittsburgh (H_ 3

 

The Pirates started veteran hurler Red Lucas (3-8, 4.52) in the hope that he could provide an extra rest day for the remainder of the starting staff while holding off the Reds' attack, but it didn’t work out that way. The Reds pounded five homeruns, two each by Wally Berger (10, 11) and Ival Goodman (19, 20), and after having built a slight lead, they put up a six-spot in the top of the sixth to lock this game away. Paul Derringer (26-7, 2.33) went all the way for the win.