May 17th, 1934 - NL Game Summaries

Cards Hold on in Wild 10 Inning Game
Cards Score 4, and then hold on against Boston rally

Cardinals....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 4 - 8 12 0
Braves........... 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 - 6 14 1

Left fielder Joe Medwick (pictured) had 4 hits and 3 RBI as the St. Louis Cardinals beatthe Boston Braves in 10 innings by a score of 8 to 6. The score was tied at 4 after nine. St. Louis won the hard fought contest inthe 10th inning. The key offensive moment was provided by Medwick whosilenced the crowd when he blasted a two-run home run (his 2nd of theseason). St. Louis banged out 12 on the afternoon. Paul Dean(3-2) picked up the victory, allowing 6 runs in 9 innings. JesseHaines recorded the save, his 3rd. Huck Betts(1-4) took the loss. He gaveup 9 hits and 1 walk in 9 innings. 'He gutted it out' Frankie Frisch said of Dean. 'I was very impressed by histenacity.'

http://www.dickperez.com/

Brooklyn Wins in Ebbets Pitching Duel
Mungo two hits might Buc batters to preserve win

Pirates......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 2 1

Dodgers........ 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 x - 2 11 0

Pittsburgh pitcher Bob Swift had a fine day in Brooklyn, allowing only two runs. But, his opponent, Van Lingle Mungo had an even better one, allowing only two hits and a single walk against one of the most feared lineups in the league. Len Koenecke had 4 hits in Brooklyn's win. Mungo went to 3-5 and lowered his ERA from 4.86 to 4.16. Brooklyn had a total of 11 hits for the game. Bill Swift pitched 8 innings allowing 11 hits and no walks.

When asked about rumors that Brooklyn manager Casey Stengel doesn't get along with his ace, Mungo, Stengel told reporters, 'Mungo and I get along fine. I just tell him I won't stand for no nonsense, and then I duck.'

Giants Pound Reds as Batters Hear Terry's Message

Terry shows way with 5 for 5 performance

Reds............ 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 - 2 8 0
Giants.......... 1 0 2 0 1 0 2 5 x - 11 14 1

After yesterday's comments about his batters needing to do a better job of supporting Giants pitching, Bill Terry showed the way with 5 hits and 6 RBI at Polo Grounds as the New York Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds by the count of 11 to 2.

Terry enjoyed a great day at the plate. Every time he came up in the latter innings, the crowd was on their feet cheering. He cracked a solo home run(his 2nd of the season) in the 1st inning, laced a base-hit plating two runs in the 3rd inning, laced a base-knock in the 5th inning, stroked another bringing in a run in the 7th inning and then doubled, which was good for two runs in the 8th inning. Overall New York out-hit Cincinnati 14 to 8. Fred Fitzsimmons(3-3) picked up the victory, allowing 2 runs in 8 innings. Si Johnson(1-6) took the loss. 'I had good swings today,' Terry said,'Everything felt right'.

http://www.dickperez.com/

Cubs Hold on Against Furius Philly Finale in 7-6 Win
Jurges leads Cubs with a pair of doubles

Cubs............ 0 3 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 - 7 13 3
Phillies........ 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 - 6 9 3

Bill Lee was able to finish what he started and was credited with a complete game as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 7 to 6 at the Baker Bowl. Lee went 9 innings, allowing 9 hits and 6 walks. Cubs shortstop Billy Jurges came through with a pair of doubles to help left the Cubs' offense. Philadelphia threatened in the 9th but their rally came up short. Curt Davis(2-3) was the loser. He was unable to control the Chicago offense and allowed 12 hits and 2 walks in 6 and 1/3 innings. 'I just wanted to give my team a chance to win,' said Lee. 'I got burned on a couple of pitches. But we won the game, and that's all that matters.'

May 17th, 1934 - AL Game Summaries

Tigers win at Navin Field in Strong Outing over NY
Bridges earns first win in 8-2 victory


Yankees......... 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 - 2 9 1
Tigers............. 0 0 2 0 0 6 0 0 - 8 8 0


Tommy Bridges went the distance as the Detroit Tigers defeated the New York Yankees by a score of 8 to 2 at Navin Field. Detroit jumped on top to stay in the 3rd inning scoring 2 runners on 1 hit. Detroit had a total of 8 hits for the game. Bridges(1-4) got the victory, allowing 2 runs for the game. The loss was charged to Russ Van Atta (1-3). Detroit scored big getting 8 runs off him in 5 and 2/3 innings.





Nationals Win Big in Cleveland, Tribe 2-8 in last 10
Whitehill wins 6th; Manush has 5 RBIs


Nationals....... 1 0 2 1 0 5 1 0 2 - 12 17 0
Indians......... 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 3 6 1


Earl Whitehill went the distance and left fielder Heinie Manush (pictured) had 4 hits and 5 RBI at League Park as the Washington Nationals beat the Cleveland Indians 12 to 3. Manush provided the offensive punch. He stroked a single scoring a run in the1st inning, smashed a two-run homer (his 2nd of the season) in the 3rd inning, lashed a one-base hit resulting in a run in the 6th inning and ripped a base-knock in the 7th inning. Washington dominated offensively as they scored in 6 different innings. Whitehill(6-1) picked up the complete game victory, allowing 3 runs. Monte Pearson(2-3) absorbed the loss. He was unable to control the Washington offense and allowed 8 hits and 6 walks in 5 innings.

Washington now has a record of 16-10. Still in a bad slump, with this loss, Cleveland is 2-8 lately and 8-13 on the year.




A's Thrash Sox at Commiskey, Take League Lead
Johnson hits two homers, Foxx and Finney also go yard for A's


Athletics.......... 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 2 2 - 8 14 2
White Sox....... 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 2 4 3

Bob Johnson (pictured) launched 2 home runs and had 3 RBI and Sugar Cain tossed a complete game at Comiskey Park where the Philadelphia Athletics beat the Chicago WhiteSox by the score of 8 to 2. Johnson was a thorn in the side of the hometown fans as he enjoyed a fine day at their team's expense. He delivered a solo blast in the 3rd inning and popped a two-run clout over the fence (his 9th of the season) in the 9th inning. Philadelphia totaled 14 on the afternoon. The winning pitcher was Cain (4-2) who allowed 2 runs for the game. Sam Jones(1-4) was charged with the loss. He was touched for 3 home runs in his 7 and 1/3 innings of work. Philadelphia continued their winnings ways improving their record to a league leading 15-9. They are 8-2 in their last ten games. With the loss, Chicago now has a record of 11-11.



Browns Defeat League Leading Red Sox

Home team plays skillful, disciplined ball

Red Sox......... 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 - 4 6 1
Browns.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 x - 5 7 0

Sammy West had 2 base hits and Bump Hadley pitched a complete game at Sportsman's Park where the St. Louis Browns beat the Boston Red Sox by the score of 5 to 4.


Browns' manager skillfully deployed his players, delaying his own entry until the truly crucial moment in the Browns' 8th inning two run rally, which followed a 7th inning three run rally to complete their come back.

St. Louis came through with the game-winning runs in the bottom of the 8th inning with 2 runs on 3 hits. Harlond Clift led off and started the attack as he doubled. West stepped into the batter's box and he lined a single, resulting in a run. West took second on the throw. Rogers Hornsby (pictured) then doubled scoring the final run of the inning. St. Louis rapped out 7 hits for the afternoon. The win went to Hadley(2-3) who allowed 4 runs in the game. Fritz Ostermueller (1-2) was the losing pitcher. He surrendered 7 hits and 3 walks in 7 innings.

May 24th, 1934 - Tiger of the Week - "Schoolboy Rowe"

Tiger of the Week

Lynwood "Schoolboy" Rowe

Rowe was a key part of the Tigers 1934 and 35 pennant winners, appearing in more games than any other pitcher (45) as both a starter (30) and reliever. That year he posted a 24-8 record with a 3.45 ERA. At one point he won 16 straight games.

A fan favorite (particularly of youngsters for whom he never seem to tire of signing autographs), Rowe was among the game's better hitting pitchers. He is tied at 15th place for home runs among pitchers with 16. His lifetime OPS+ was 87 - very respectable for a pitcher. He actually was above average in 1934 (102) and 1935 (119). He led the NL in pinch hits in 1943.

"Beaten by a schoolboy"

Rowe, a strapping 6'4", 220 pounder, excelled at not only baseball, but football, track, boxing, golf and shooting. He supposedly acquired his nickname when he was pitching for a semipro team in his hometown of El Dorado, Arkansas. With a 15 year old Rowe on the mound, the team defeated a team composed of retired major leaguers. The visitors were taunted by shouts that they had been beaten by "a schoolboy" by the delighted local fans.

"Gimme the Ball"

Rowe was dominant in 1934, at one point winning 16 straight games. One of his most important wins came in the second game of a double header in New York. Rowe had already pitched the first game of a double header the day before. The Tigers had lost the second game that day, and had lost the first game of this double header. Needing to break even in the series to maintain their slim lead over the Yanks for first place, Tigers manager challenged his pitching staff. "Can't anyone beat these baboons?" he shouted. Rowe replied "If no one else wants it, I'll take. Gimme the Ball." Cochrane hurled the ball at Rowe. Rowe responded, "A word of advice to you Mike. You better put some extra sponges in your glove because I'm gonna burn off your hands." Rowe shutout the Yankees 3-0 for his second win in as many days.

"How am I doin' Edna?"

Rowe was teased by other players throughout the 1934 season when, during a radio broadcast, he asked his high school sweetheart (and future wife), Edna Skinner , (see photo) "How am I doin, Edna, honey?" The phrase became famous and was parroted back to him by amused players on opposing teams throughout the season.

A superstitious man, Rowe may have preceeded Mark Fydrych as the first Tigers to talk to the ball. When asked to explain his success during his 16 game winning streak (a mark that put him in a league with Walter Johnson, Lefty Grove and Smokey Joe Wood), he answered "I eat a lot of vittles, climb that mound, wrap my fingers around the old baseball and say to it 'Edna honey, let's go.'"

Rowe pitched for the Tigers between 1933 and 1942 when he was traded to Brooklyn. He spent the remainder of 1942 with the Dodgers, and was then traded to the Phillies, where he pitched in 1943 and then 1946-1949. Rowe was injured for several seasons, and spent time in the minors, but always managed to come back for another solid season.

Rowe had some very solid seasons with the Tigers in the beginning of his career (1933-1935) but also had limited playing time later in the decade. He appeared in three All Star games, and was in the top 10 in the league in WHIP (walks and hits per inning) 5 times. After retiring, Rowe rejoined the Tigers organization, serving as manager of their minor league team in Williamsport, a scout, and ultimately the Tigers' pitching coach.

Rowe was elected to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1961.

www.baseball-reference.com
Zacharias, "Schoolboy Rowe, the Tigers' Southern Gentleman," Detroit News
Detroit Tigers Encyclopedia

May 16th, 1934 - AL Player of the Week: Lou Gehrig

Editor's note: there were no games in the AL on May 16th, so we bring you a special edition of "Player of the Week."

American League Player of the Week: Lou Gehrig

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth."

-Lou Gehrig's farewell speech

Lou Gehrig (HA1) is probably the best known of the 1930s era ball players. Although a great player in the 1920s as well, it was in the 1930s that he emerged from the shadow of The Babe and became the unquestioned star of the New York Yankees, bridging the team's first dynasty of the 1920s (American League pennants 1921-1928 except in 1924 and 1925) with its second dynsasty of the 1930s and early 1940s (pennants in 1932, 1936-1943 except 1940).

A baseball and football player at Columbia, Gehrig was signed by the Yankees in 1923 and played mainly in their farm system at Hartford. He replaced Wally Pipp as the Yankees' first baseman in 1925 and stayed there until 1939. He is, of course, best known for his streak of 2,130 consecutive games, earning him the moniker "The Iron Horse," a record that would stand until Cal Ripken broke it in 1995.

Gehrig was an All-Star every year the game was played during his career. He frequently led the league in runs, but perhaps most impressive was the five years he led the league in on-base percentage. Combined with his record of games played, Gehrig's career was marked by an impressive, low key disciplined style in contrast to Ruth's outsize lifestyle.

Gehrig, of course, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Scelrosis (ALS) at the beginning of the 1939 season, a disease that is now more commonly known simply as Lou Gehrig's Disease. He passed away in 1941. His number, 4, was the first ever retired by the Yankees.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939 in a special ceremony.

May 16th, 1934 - Background - Video Bio of Eldon Auker

I just discovered a short video bio of Tigers pitcher Eldon Auker here.

It's well worth the five minutes for fans of the era.

I'll be reviewing the book itself, Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms, later on in this blog.

May 16th, 1934 - Transactions

Reds Announce Trade With Phils



The Cincinnati Reds announced today that they had reached a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Reds will deal pitcher Syl Johnson (not to be confused with Si Johnson) and Johnny Moore (pictured) to the Phils in exchange for Phils pitcher Ted Kleinhans and outfielders Wes Schulmerich and Art Ruble.

Moore is currently batting .324 and Schmulmerich is hitting .347. Ruble is hitting .280. Kleinhans, a relief pitcher, has a 4.63 ERA and no decisions in four appearances. Johnson, also a reliever, has an ERA of 3.00.

May 15th, 1934 - NL Game Summaries

Giants Triumph in Tight Ball Game Against League Leading Cubs

Hubbell wins seventh in a row!!!

Giants.......... 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 - 4 7 1

Cubs............. 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 - 3 6 2

Carl Hubbell went the distance at Wrigley Field as the New York Giants beat the Chicago Cubs 4 to 3. It was Hubbell's 7th win and complete game in as many starts.

Chicago lost it in the 6th inning when New York did all their damage scoring 4 runners on 3 hits. The critical plate appearance was by Gus Mancuso, who disappointed the partisan crowd when he cleared the fences for a two-run home run (his 2nd of the season). Chicago threatened in the 9th but New York was able to put down the rally. Hubbell (7-0) finished the game allowing 3 runs in the victory. Charlie Root(2-1) was tagged with the loss. Giants manager Bill Terry was beaming after the game, 'I don't know when Carl's going to lose. Heck, I don't know if he's ever going to fail to complete a ball game! He's just awesome right now. We need to support him and our other pitchers the way they've supported us. If we do, there's no reason we can't win the pennant again this year.'

Dodgers Upend Cards at Sportsman's Park

Benge contains Cardinal lineup in 6-3 win

Dodgers......... 0 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 6 11 0

Cardinals....... 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 - 3 7 0

Ray Benge allowed Casey Stengel to rest his bullpen, tossing a complete gameas the Brooklyn Dodgers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals by the score of 6 to3 at Sportsman's Park. St. Louis was unable to claim the lead after Brooklyn went ahead in the top ofthe 2nd inning scoring 2 runs using 3 hits. Hack Wilson opened up the inning nicely when he hit a single. Sam Leslie stepped up to the plate and doubled. After an out was recorded, Al Lopez came up and would ground out, knocking in a run. Jimmy Jordan stepped in and he stroked a base-hit scoring the final run of the inning. Brooklyn totaled 11 on the afternoon. Benge (4-2) got the victory, allowing 3 runs for the game. Jim Mooney (1-1) suffered the loss. He got hit hard, allowing 9 hits and 3 walks in 5 innings.