January 20th, 1934 - Transactions

Pennock a Red Sox Once More

Recently released Yankees pitcher rejoins old team

Herb Pennock, recently released from the New York Yankees, has signed on to play with the Boston Red Sox for the 1934 baseball season, team officials said today. Pennock, known as the "Knight of Kennett Square," after his birthplace in Kennett Square, PA, pitched for Boston from 1915 to 1922 after being traded from Philadelphia. Pennock has been mostly a starter, but only saw limited action, much of it in relief, during the Yankees's 1933 campaign.

January 19, 1934

"How Are they Going to Stop Us?" asks Cardinals Pitching Ace

Dean predicts Pennant for St. Louis

Cardinals pitcher Dizzy Dean turned heads at an interview yesterday when he made bold predictions for himself, his brother, and his team. The Cardinals WILL win the Pennant, he promised. His brother Paul would play a key part in making that happen, said Dean. "Paul's going to be a sensation. He'll win 18-20 games. I'll count 20 to 25 for myself. I won 20 last season and I know I'll pass that figure," said a confident Dean.

Editors Note: IRL, Dean made good on his prediction. The Cardinals, of course, did win the NL pennant. Dizzy won 30, and his rookie brother Paul (known as "Daffy") won 19. Dizzy is known for making the observation "It ain't braggin if you can do it."

January 16, 1934 - Transactions

Yankees Re-sign the Babe

Bambino Takes Cut in Pay Despite 34 HRs Last Year

The Yankees announced that they have resigned their star slugger, Babe Ruth, for $35,000. Despite the large sum, it represents a large decrease in pay from his 1933 salary of $52,000. Ruth had also discussed signing on as player-manager with Detroit for 1934, so the announcement of his re-signing resulted in a collective sigh of relief from Yankee fans.

January 15th, 1934 - The 1934 Boston Braves

Boston had a team in each league until the Braves moved to Milwaukee after the 1952 season. The Braves were one of the dominant teams in early National League history (the period prior to the formation of the American League in 1901). Boston's 1934 National League team, however, would finish fourth with a 78-73 record. Wally Berger (of) was their big slugger, but not their only accomplished batsman. Similarly, Fred Frankhouse anchored a fairly solid starting rotation. Boston's lack of a competent reliever, however, will make it difficult to win the close ones in late innings. The Braves slid to the bottom of the league in 1935, and experienced near last finishes for the rest of the decade. In 1938, Casey Stengel took the reins, but will not be able to accomplish anything before his departure after the 1942 season.

January 14th, 1934 - The 1934 Boston Red Sox

The 1934 Boston Red Sox finished fourth with a record of 76 and 76. Roy Johnson (of) and Bill Werber (3b) were their best hitters 1934. Wes Ferrell and Fritz Ostermuller were their star starting pitchers with Herb Pennock and Joe Mulligan the leaders of a strong bullpen. One note of interest is Lefty Grove. One of the all time greatest pitchers in baseball, Grove has had a terrific career prior to 1934, and will have a terrific career after it. During 1934, however, he was playing injured, the result of letting a bad toothache go untended long enough for it to effect his pitching. Other than his first year in the league and his last, Grove had an incredible ERA for every year EXCEPT 1934. The Beantowners manager is Bucky Harris, who had just left the managing job in Detroit. Their fourth place finish will be the best for Boston until 1938. In 1935, Joe Cronin will be sold to Boston by his father in law, Washington Nationals owner Clark Griffith, and he'll play shortstop and replace Harris (who will move to Washington to manage) managing from 1935 through 1948.