Saturday, March 29, 2008

October 1st, 1934 - Book Review - Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms

Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms

Eldon Auker

pp. 212 + index

Former (and recently late) Tiger pitcher Elden Auker promises his reader a chance to "turn off you cellular phone, remove the battery from your beeper, inform your personal trainer you won't be making it in this week, put on your slippers, settle back into a recliner, don your reading glasses and take a trip back in time..."

Auker's book provides many great tales about the best and worst in baseball. Auker himself is no romantic: "you can go on believing that we didn't care about money and played only for the romance of it..." he says. Instead, Auker shares stories about the famous shortstop who was blackballed in the AL after being caught stealing from the Babe, and other sordid stories, as well as inspiring ones, such as as his recollections of Lou Gehrig. Auker is also free with his opinions - Pete Rose should never be allowed anywhere near the game, he says, but "Shoeless Joe" get a raw deal in Auker's book. Auker also paints a vivid portrait of his favorite, Mickey Cochrane (the "perfect player and perfect manager in the perfect situation").

The book contains stories about players that I have yet to see in other books. More importantly, he explains how the Tigers transfored from a middle of the pack team in 1933 to pennant winners in 1934 and world champions in 1935. Obviously, getting new talent in Cochrane and Goslin helped, but as a Tigers' pitcher, Auker shares how Cochrane's catching raised their pitching staff to the next level as well. Also interesting is a portrait of Dizzy Dean very different than his traditional depiction (Dean's "Rube" persona was a calculated act).

One nice touch are the occassional historic side notes, presumably thrown in by Auker's co-author Tom Keegan. They cover topics such as nicknames and sportswriting during the era Auker covers. More of these would have been great. In short, the only thing that this book lacks is more of what it already has.


Rating: **** (buy it new) for Tigers' fans and *** (buy it used) for all others.

A promotional video for the book can be found here. It has some great footage of Auker's submarine pitching style.

October 6th, 1934 - World Series Game Four

Tigers Win in Dramatic 9th Inning Comeback to Knot Series! Walker doubles home game winner with two outs!

Detroit Outfielder Gee Walker hasn't been a household name this year. But, today every schoolboy in Detroit knows the Tigers reserve outfielder now. With two out and the Cards appearing to be set to take a 3-1 Series lead, the Tigers managed to get Marv Owen and Pete Fox aboard. Walker was then sent in to pinch hit for pitcher Chief Hogsett. With a 2-1 count, Walker laced a Tex Carlton curve into the corner to plate two runs. Carl Fischer then set the Cards down in the 9th.



Strat-O-Matic Report

















BOXSCORE: 1934 Detroit Tigers At 1934 St. Louis Cardinals 10/6/1934







Tigers AB R H RBI AVG Cardinals AB R H RBI AVG



J.White CF 3 0 0 0 .071 P.Martin 3B 3 1 2 0 .333



M.Cochrane C 3 0 0 1 .067 A-B.Whitehead 3B 1 0 0 0 .000



C.Gehringer 2B 5 0 2 1 .294 J.Rothrock RF 3 0 1 0 .133



G.Goslin LF 4 0 0 0 .235 F.Frisch 2B 5 1 1 0 .278



B.Rogell SS 4 0 0 0 .125 J.Medwick LF 5 1 2 1 .389



H.Greenberg 1B 4 0 0 0 .250 R.Collins 1B 5 0 4 1 .625



M.Owen 3B 3 2 3 0 .231 B.Delancey C 4 0 0 0 .071



P.Fox RF 4 2 2 0 .308 C-S.Davis PH 1 0 0 0 .000



E.Auker P 2 0 0 0 .000 E.Orsatti CF 3 0 1 0 .400



C.Hogsett P 1 0 0 0 .000 L.Durocher SS 4 0 1 0 .125



B-G.Walker PH 1 0 1 21.000 T.Carleton P 4 0 1 0 .250



C.Fischer P 0 0 0 0 ---- J.Mooney P 0 0 0 0 ----



-- -- -- --- -- -- -- ---



Totals 34 4 8 4 Totals 38 3 13 2







A-Subbed Defensively (3B) For Martin In 8th Inning



B-Pinch Hit For Hogsett In 9th Inning



C-Pinch Hit For Delancey In 9th Inning







Tigers.......... 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 - 4 8 1



Cardinals....... 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 - 3 13 0







Tigers (2-2) IP H R ER BB SO HR PC ERA SCORESHEET



E.Auker 5 8 1 1 1 2 0 93 1.69 A1 C5



C.Hogsett W(1-0) BS(1st) 3 4 2 1 2 2 0 52 2.70 C6 E2



C.Fischer SAVE(1st) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 0.00 E3



Totals 9 13 3 2 3 4 0







Cardinals (2-2) IP H R ER BB SO HR PC ERA SCORESHEET



T.Carleton LOSS(0-1) 8 2/3 8 4 4 1 4 0 125 4.15 A1 D9



J.Mooney 0 1/3 0 0 0 2 0 0 13 0.00 E1



Totals 9 8 4 4 3 4 0







ATTENDANCE- 9,234 DATE- Saturday, October 6th 1934 TIME- Day WEATHER- Bad



T- 2:26



LEFT ON BASE- Tigers: 8 Cardinals:12



DOUBLE PLAYS- Tigers: 1 Cardinals: 0



ERRORS- M.Owen



DOUBLES- C.Gehringer(2nd), M.Owen-2(2nd), G.Walker(1st), P.Martin(2nd)



CAUGHT STEALING- J.Rothrock



SACRIFICE HITS- J.Rothrock



SACRIFICE FLIES- M.Cochrane



WALKS- J.White-2, M.Cochrane, P.Martin, J.Rothrock, E.Orsatti



HIT BY PITCH- M.Owen



STRIKE OUTS- H.Greenberg-2, E.Auker-2, B.Delancey-2, T.Carleton-2



GIDP- B.Delancey



WILD PITCHES- T.Carleton



WEB GEMS- Bot 2nd: Charlie Gehringer robbed Rip Collins of a base hit.



Top 8th: Joe Medwick robbed Mickey Cochrane of an extra base hit.







In a thriller the Detroit Tigers staged a dramatic comeback then held on to



win over the St. Louis Cardinals by a score of 4 to 3 at Sportsman's



Park.







Detroit won the game with a rally in the 9th inning with 2 runs on 3 hits.



After two outs Marv Owen started the attack as he slapped a one-base hit.



Pete Fox next to the plate and he slapped a single. Gee Walker then doubled



driving home two runs. Detroit won despite being out-hit by St. Louis 13



hits to 8.







Chief Hogsett(1-0) was the winner allowing 2 runs in 3 innings. Hogsett got



help from Carl Fischer who was credited with his 1st save. Tex Carleton(0-1)



took the loss. He pitched 8 and 2/3 innings giving up 8 hits and 1



walk.







Carleton was feeling apologetic in the locker room, 'I sure let that one get



away. What a miserable feeling to let the guys down; and our fans. One



minute things are looking great, then. BOOM, it's over with! I just hope I



get a chance to redeem myself real soon!'







SCORESHEET: 1934 Detroit Tigers at 1934 St. Louis Cardinals



J.White-A1 A1:G/3 B1:W>12 b C1:F/8 *8*:G/63 E1:W>b1



1







M.Cochra-A1 A2:G/43 B2:SF/7>3 C2:G/43 D2:F/7 E2:W>12 b



# 1







C.Gehrin-A1 A3:L/4 B3:Si>2# *6*:G/31 D3:Do E3:G/13



12







G.Goslin-A1 *2*:F/9 B4:F/9 C4:G/31 D4:WP>23



P/4







B.Rogell-A1 A5:P/6 *4*:G/31 C5:F/9 *9*:G/13











H.Greenb-A1 A6:K B6:G/63 *7*:G/63 D6:K











M.Owen-A1 *3*:HBP B7:Do C7:Do D7:Si











P.Fox-A1 A8:Si>13 B8:P/6 C8:G/53 D8:Si>12











E.Auker-A1 A9:K *5*:K C9:F/9 D9:Do>2#



C.Hogset-C6 1#



G.Walker-D9+







P.Martin-A1 A1:F/7 B1:Do C1:Si *7*:W>b1 E1:Force/



B.Whiteh-D8 64>1o b1







J.Rothro-A1 A2:Si B2:W>b1 C2:Force/ D2:Sac/34 E2:F/7



36>1o b1 >12







F.Frisch-A1 A3:CS/26> B3:G/13>2 C3:F/9 D3:E/5>23 *9*:F/8



1o Si 3 12







J.Medwic-A1 A4:F/9 B4:F/8 *6*:Si D4:Si>3# E4:F/7



13







R.Collin-A1 *2*:G/43 *4*:Si C5:Si>13 D5:Si>3# E5:Si



13







B.Delanc-A1 A6:L/4 B6:K C6:G-DP/6 D6:K E6:G/63



S.Davis-E6 43>3# 1o







E.Orsatt-A1 A7:Si B7:F/9 C7:W>b1 D7:G/43











L.Duroch-A1 A8:G/53 B8:P/6 C8:Si>13 *8*:L/6











T.Carlet-A1 *3*:K *5*:G/53 C9:K D9:Si



J.Mooney-E3















*** TOP OF INNING 1 ***



0 J.White 1- 9 3 Ground Out b-0



1 M.Cochrane 1- 5 3 Ground Out b-0



2 C.Gehringer 3- 7 14 3 Line Out b-0



*** BOTTOM OF INNING 1 ***



0 P.Martin 3- 7 5 Fly Out b-0



1 J.Rothrock 2- 7 5 Single b-1



1 1 1 Caught Stealing 1-o



2 F.Frisch 2- 5 4 Single b-1



2 1 J.Medwick 6- 6 5 Fly Out b-0



*** TOP OF INNING 2 ***



0 G.Goslin 5- 5 1 Fly Out b-0



1 B.Rogell 2- 4 1 Pop Out b-0



2 H.Greenberg 3- 7 3 Strike Out b-0



*** BOTTOM OF INNING 2 ***



0 R.Collins 5- 8 5 Ground Out b-0



1 B.Delancey 2- 6 18 5 Line Out b-0



2 E.Orsatti 6- 4 6 Single b-1



2 1 L.Durocher 5-11 3 Ground Out b-0



*** TOP OF INNING 3 ***



0 M.Owen 2- 3 3 HBP b-1



0 1 P.Fox 5 Single 1-3 b-1



0 1 3 E.Auker 1- 9 6 Strike Out b-0



1 1 3 J.White 2-10 5 Walk 1-2 b-1



1 123 M.Cochrane 6- 6 3 Sac Fly 3-H b-0



2 12 C.Gehringer 1- 7 17 3 Single 2-H 1-2 b-1



2 12 G.Goslin 1- 4 3 Fly Out b-0



*** BOTTOM OF INNING 3 ***



0 T.Carleton 3- 7 5 Strike Out b-0



1 P.Martin 1- 6 8 3 Double b-2



1 2 J.Rothrock 3- 6 4 Walk b-1



1 12 F.Frisch 5- 3 3 Ground Out 2-3 1-2 b-0



2 23 J.Medwick 6- 7 2 Fly Out b-0



*** TOP OF INNING 4 ***



0 B.Rogell 6- 9 3 Ground Out b-0



1 H.Greenberg 5- 7 1 Ground Out b-0



2 M.Owen 1- 8 18 4 Double b-2



2 2 P.Fox 6- 6 5 Pop Out b-0



*** BOTTOM OF INNING 4 ***



0 R.Collins 4- 8 3 Single b-1



0 1 B.Delancey 1- 8 3 Strike Out b-0



1 1 E.Orsatti 3- 7 2 Fly Out b-0



2 1 L.Durocher 6- 8 5 Pop Out b-0



*** TOP OF INNING 5 ***



0 E.Auker 2-11 5 Strike Out b-0



1 J.White 3- 7 1 Fly Out b-0



2 M.Cochrane 4- 5 4 Ground Out b-0



*** BOTTOM OF INNING 5 ***



0 T.Carleton 5-11 6 Ground Out b-0



1 P.Martin 2- 4 8 3 Single b-1



1 1 J.Rothrock 1- 8 3 Force Play 1-o b-1



2 1 F.Frisch 4-10 18 3 Fly Out b-0



*** TOP OF INNING 6 ***



0 C.Gehringer 2- 6 3 Ground Out b-0



1 G.Goslin 2- 9 2 Ground Out b-0



2 B.Rogell 1- 7 5 Fly Out b-0



*** BOTTOM OF INNING 6 ***



0 J.Medwick 6-10 3 Single b-1



0 1 R.Collins 3- 5 6 Single 1-3 b-1



SUBSTITUTE P - Chief Hogsett



0 1 3 B.Delancey 5-10 1 Ground Out Double Play 3-H 1-o b-0



2 E.Orsatti 4- 7 5 Walk b-1



2 1 L.Durocher 6- 8 6 Single 1-3 b-1



2 1 3 T.Carleton 4- 3 4 Strike Out b-0



*** TOP OF INNING 7 ***



0 H.Greenberg 6- 4 3 Ground Out b-0



1 M.Owen 5- 9 6 6 Double b-2



1 2 P.Fox 3- 6 1 Ground Out b-0



2 2 C.Hogsett 5- 5 2 Fly Out b-0



*** BOTTOM OF INNING 7 ***



0 P.Martin 3- 5 4 Walk b-1



0 1 J.Rothrock 3 Sac Bunt 1-2 b-0



1 2 F.Frisch 6- 4 4 1 Base Error - 3B 2-3 b-1



1 1 3 J.Medwick 1- 8 3 Single 3-H 1-3 b-1



1 1 3 R.Collins 2- 7 3 Single 3-H 1-3 b-1



1 1 3 B.Delancey 3- 9 3 Strike Out b-0



2 1 3 E.Orsatti 1- 4 3 Ground Out b-0



*** TOP OF INNING 8 ***



SUBSTITUTE 3B- Burgess Whitehead



0 J.White 6- 5 5 Ground Out b-0



1 M.Cochrane 6- 3 2 Fly Out b-0



2 C.Gehringer 5- 9 19 6 Double b-2



2 2 G.Goslin 1 Wild Pitch 2-3



2 3 G.Goslin 3- 6 6 Pop Out b-0



*** BOTTOM OF INNING 8 ***



0 L.Durocher 1- 4 20 3 Line Out b-0



1 T.Carleton 4- 6 3 3 Single b-1



1 1 B.Whitehead 2- 4 4 Force Play 1-o b-1



2 1 J.Rothrock 5-11 3 Fly Out b-0



*** TOP OF INNING 9 ***



0 B.Rogell 3- 9 5 Ground Out b-0



1 H.Greenberg 4- 7 4 Strike Out b-0



2 M.Owen 1- 5 1 Single b-1



2 1 P.Fox 4- 9 7 3 Single 1-2 b-1



SUBSTITUTE PH- Gee Walker



2 12 G.Walker 5- 9 7 5 Double 2-H 1-H b-3



SUBSTITUTE P - Jim Mooney



2 3 J.White 4- 5 4 Walk b-1



2 1 3 M.Cochrane 2- 6 6 Walk 1-2 b-1



2 123 C.Gehringer 2- 8 3 Ground Out b-0



*** BOTTOM OF INNING 9 ***



SUBSTITUTE P - Carl Fischer



0 F.Frisch 6- 6 3 Fly Out b-0



1 J.Medwick 4-10 2 Fly Out b-0



2 R.Collins 6- 8 7 1 Single b-1



SUBSTITUTE PH- Spud Davis



2 1 S.Davis 3- 7 3 Ground Out b-0