Week 3 Results (04/28/1941 - 05/04/1941)

Monday, April 28, 1941

Bump Hadley

New York (NL) pitcher Bump Hadley (Team Finale 04/27/1941) was returned to New York (AL) (DNP) on 04/28/1941 following his previous purchase

Philadelphia (NL) outfielder Johnny Rizzo was injured (?) on 04/27/1941

 

Note: It's a slow start to the week as it is a travel day. In the NL it is the teams of the Midwest that are moving eastward, while in the AL it is the opposite as the eastern teams are beginning their first western swing.

 

Cleveland (H) 21 Detroit 5

 

The Indians delighted their home fans by delivering a severe thrashing to their neighbors to the north, scoring eleven runs in the third and then adding eight more runs in the bottom of the eighth.  Every Indians player scored a run and had an RBI, although not all had a hit. The key was the inability of the Detroit pitchers to consistently throw strikes as the Indians gathered a total of fifteen walks on the day. Al Milnar (1-1, 5.40) happily picked up the win.

 

St. Louis (AL) (H) 8 Chicago (AL) 7

 

A tale of two games as the White Sox built an early 7-2 lead and looked to be on the way to handing St. Louis their eighth consecutive loss, but then the Browns suddenly came awake. A surprise five-run seventh tied the score, the big hit being a two-out pinch-hit three-run homerun by Roy Cullenbine. The game ended when left fielder Rip Radcliff singled home catcher Bob Swift with the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth.

 

Brooklyn (H) 1 Cincinnati 0

 

Whit Wyatt (4-0, 0.50) threw his third shutout of the season and got the tough win over Paul Derringer (1-3, 3.00). The Dodgers run came in the bottom of the seventh when first baseman Dolph Camilli doubled (#5) and then scored on second baseman Alex Kampouris two-out single.

 

Tuesday, April 29, 1941

 

Transactions: N/A

 

Chicago (AL) (H) 5 Washington 0

 

Chicago starter Thornton Lee (3-0, 0.00) has now started his season off with three consecutive shutouts as he limited the Nationals to only three hits today. Right fielder Larry Rosenthal has already provided several timely hits for the White Sox this season and he did it again today with two big RBI's and he hit his fourth triple of the young season.

 

Cleveland (H) 5 Philadelphia (AL) 4

 

The A's took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth but the Indians offense suddenly kicked it into gear as all five batters successfully reached base and then first baseman Hal Trosky unloaded a bases-loaded triple to drive home the tying and winning runs.

 

Boston (AL) 3 Detroit (H) 0

 

41-year-old Lefty Grove (1-1, 3.52) started the 1941 season with 293 career wins and was hopeful of attaining the 300 mark this season and his shutout today in Detroit was a good start. Johnny Gorsica (1-2, 5.48) intentionally walked Ted Williams with two on and two outs in the top of the third, confident he could retire Jimmie Foxx, but Foxx made him pay with a two-run single and Grove did the west.

 

Note: This was not Williams' first start of the season, but it does mark his return to the starting lineup. Williams had injured his ankle during a spring training game, but Pete Fox was unable to take the field today so Williams was put in the lineup.

 

New York (AL) 13 St. Louis (AL) (H) 4 (Grand Slam!)

 

The Browns scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the Yankees lead to 6-4, but then the visitors exploded for six runs in the top of the eighth to put this one away, the big hit being a grand slam homerun by left fielder Charlie Keller. Keller now has nine homeruns and 28 RBI's and Joe DiMaggio, who hit two homeruns in today's game, now has seven homeruns and 21 RBI's.

 

Chicago (NL) 5 Boston (NL) (H) 0

 

Another shutout as Clause Passeau (2-1, 1.13) scattered five hits and got the win in Boston. Right fielder Bill "Swish" Nicholson hit his first homerun of the season and had three RBI's to lead the Cubs offense.

 

Cincinnati 3 Brooklyn (H) 2

 

A two-out two-run single in the top of the eighth off the bat of shortstop Eddie Joost was just was the Reds needed to take the late lead and Jim Turner (1-0, 3.68) held off the powerful Dodgers offense for the complete-game victory.

 

St. Louis (NL) 10 New York (NL) (H) 6

 

The Giants scored four runs in the bottom of the second to take the early lead, but by the end of the fourth, the Cardinals had knotted the score at 4-4. New York then took a 5-4 lead, but that didn’t last as Johnny Mize hit a three-run homerun (#2) and then Enos Slaughter hit a two-run homerun (#1) to put the game out of reach.

 

Philadelphia (NL) (H) 6 Pittsburgh 5

 

In a game of back-and-forth's, it was the Phillies who used their last at-bat to their advantage when they loaded the bases and then a two-out two-run single from catcher Mickey Livingston gave the hometown fans something to cheer about with a walk-off win.

 

Wednesday, April 30, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

St. Louis (NL) outfielder Estel Crabtree was injured (?) on 04/29/1941

 

New York (NL) pitcher Paul Dean (Season Finale 04/29/1941) and Harry Gumbert were traded to St. Louis (NL) on 05/14/1941 in return for Pitcher Bill McGee

 

Cincinnati pitcher Bob Logan was sent out to Indianapolis (AA) after 04/29/1941 (Season Finale)

 

Cleveland infielder Rusty Peters was injured (?) on 04/29/1941

 

Philadelphia (AL) pitcher Buck Ross (Team Finale 04/21/1941) was sold to Chicago (AL) on 04/30/1941. Philadelphia (AL) catcher John Leovich made his Major League Debut on 05/01/1941

 

Washington outfielder Sam West made his Season Debut on 05/01/1941

 

Taffy Wright

Chicago (AL) outfielder Taffy Wright made his Season Debut on 05/01/1941

Philadelphia (NL) infielder George Jumonville made his season debut on 05/01/1941

 

Chicago (AL) (H) 5 Washington 4

 

The Nationals took an early 4-1 lead but the White Sox responded with a four-run fifth, the big hit being a two-out two-run single by starting pitcher Eddie Smith (3-0, 2.25). Now with the lead, Smith mowed down the remaining Washington batters for the win.

 

Cleveland (H) 3 Philadelphia (AL) 1

 

First baseman Hal Trosky proved the difference again as he drove home the lead run in the third and then drove home an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, clearing the way for Jim Bagby (3-1, 2.08) to claim the complete-game victory.

 

Boston (AL) 4 Detroit (H) 0

 

Charlie Wagner (2-1, 1.38) scattered five hits and defeated the hometown Tigers in another shutout victory. Ted Williams hit his first two homeruns of the season and drove in three runs in support of his roommate.

 

New York (AL) 4 St. Louis (AL) (H) 3 (19)

 

The Yankees had multiple opportunities to win this one in regulation or in overtime but just couldn't connect when they needed it. They finally took a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventeenth when Charlie Keller hit homerun #10, but in the bottom half of the inning, the Browns tied the score on a two-out wild pitch. In the top of the nineteenth Keller led off with a double and scored on a Jerry Priddy single, one of Priddy's three RBI's on the day. Johnny Murphy pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the nineteenth to secure the win for Spud Chandler (2-0, 1.89), both of Chandler's wins now having come in a long-relief role.

 

Note: I am pretty sure this is the longest BBW game I have played. Joe DiMaggio went 0-for-8 with a walk for New York, while the Browns middle infield combo of shortstop Johnny Berardino and second baseman Don Heffner both went 0-for-9 for the day.

 

Chicago (NL) 7 Boston (NL) (H) 5

 

After a disastrous 1-9 start the Cubs have now won two in a row, today scoring five runs in the top of the third to build enough of a lead to be able to hold off a Braves comeback. The big hit was a three-run homerun from catcher Clyde McCullough.

 

Cincinnati 3 Brooklyn (H) 1

 

The Reds are off to a good start, but the Dodgers are off to a better start, so two consecutive wins in Ebbets Field should serve notice to the rest of the league that Cincinnati wants to repeat as NL champs. Johnny Vander Meer (4-0, 1.95) was behind 1-0 after only two batters, but he allowed only two more hits the rest of the game. Cincinnati responded with a three-run second, the big hit being a two-run homerun from center Fielder Mike McCormick.

 

St. Louis (NL) 4 New York (NL) (H) 0

 

St. Louis starter Sam Nahem (2-0, 0.00) gave up a first-inning single to New York catcher Harry Danning in the bottom of the first and then he shut down the Giants offense the rest of the way, Nahem's second shutout in two starts. Johnny Mize went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple and accounted for two of the Cardinals runs.

 

Pittsburgh 9 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 8

 

The first seven Pirates batters all reached successfully, giving them a very quick 6-0 lead and knocking Cy Blanton out of the box. Walter "Boom-Boom" Beck (0-1, 6.43) came into the game in  long relief spot and not only cooled down the Pittsburgh bats but when first baseman Nick Etten hit a three-run homerun in the bottom of the fourth had a chance to take the win when the Phillies took an 8-7 lead. The Pirates tied it at 8-8 in the sixth, and then finally retook the lead when first baseman Elbie Fletcher singled home pinch-hitter Stu Martin in the top of the ninth.

 

Thursday, May 1, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

Cleveland infielder Oscar Grimes was injured (?) on 04/30/1941

 

Boston (AL) pitcher Herb Hash was sent out to Louisville (AA) after 04/30/1941 (Major League Finale). Boston (AL) pitcher Tex Hughson was sent out to Louisville (AA) after 04/30/1941

 

Washington 4 Chicago (AL) (H) 2

 

The Nationals had thirteen hits and seven walks but could only score four runs as Chicago starter Bill Dietrich (2-2, 3.38) kept pitching himself into and then out of trouble. Four runs were enough for Dutch Leonard (1-2, 4.55) though as Leonard went all the way for the tough road win.

 

Cleveland (H) 4 Philadelphia (AL) 0

 

Bob Feller (4-0, 1.63) struck out eleven and only allowed three hits and picked up the shutout victory. The Indians only had five hits, but two sacrifice flies helped the offense.

 

Detroit (H) 4 Boston (AL) 3

 

The Red Sox had the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the eighth, but could only come away with two runs, enough to close up Detroit's lead but Tommy Bridges (2-1, 3.38) and the Tiger's bullpen held off Boston's late charge and got the victory.

 

St. Louis (AL) (H) 4 New York (AL) 3

 

Left fielder Rip Radcliff hit a two-run homerun in the Browns three-run first and for most of the game it looked like three runs would be enough to capture the win. The Yankees did come back eventually to tie the score at 3-3, but in their next at-bat, St. Louis recaptured the lead when New York right fielder George Selkirk misplayed a ground ball and let a run score. The Browns' bullpen can sometimes be porous, but today they held off the mighty Yankees to secure the win.

 

Brooklyn (H) 3 Cincinnati 2

 

A close one but the Dodgers pulled it out by scoring a run in the bottom of the eighth to tie the score at 2-2 and then in the ninth Pee Wee Reese drove in pinch-runner Lew Riggs with the game-winner.

 

St. Louis (NL) 4 New York (NL) (H) 3

 

Both teams scored twice in the second and then the Cardinals crept ahead, taking a 4-2 lead after the fifth. The Giants cut the score to 4-3 in the sixth, but Lon Warneke (2-2, 2.30) induced inning-ending double plays in two of the last three innings to get the win.

 

Pittsburgh 8 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 6

 

No ninth-inning magic for the Phillies this time as Pirates left fielder Debs Garms hit a two-run homerun in the top of the eighth to give Pittsburgh its lead and Russ Bauers (2-1, 4.91) was able to take advantage of three double plays behind him to get the complete-game victory.

 

Friday, May 2, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

St. Louis (AL) pitcher Emil Bildilli was sent out to Toledo (IL) after 05/01/1941 (Major League Finale). St. Louis (AL) pitcher Fritz Ostermueller was injured (?) on 05/01/1941

 

Brooklyn pitcher Curt Davis was injured (?) on 05/01/1941

 

Philadelphia (AL) pitcher Herman Besse was sent out to Toronto (IL) after 05/01/1941. Philadelphia (AL) catcher John Leovich was sent out to Toronto (IL) after 05/01/1941 (Major League Finale). Philadelphia (AL) pitcher Phil Marchildon made his Season Debut on 05/03/1941

 

Detroit pitcher Hal White was sent out to Buffalo (IL) after 05/01/1941

 

Chicago (AL) catcher George Dickey made his Season Debut on 05/03/1941. Chicago (AL) outfielder Myril Hoag (Team Debut 05/02/1941) was acquired from St. Louis (AL) on 04/30/1941. Chicago (AL) pitcher Johnny Rigney made his Season Debut on 05/03/1941

 

New York (AL) 3 Chicago (AL) (H) 0

 

The first-place Yankees were looking to put a little distance between themselves and the second-place White Sox and Red Ruffing (4-0, 1.50) had just the answer by throwing a two-hit shutout in the first game of their weekend series. Ruffing also had two doubles and drove in a key insurance run in the sixth.

 

Boston (AL) 3 Cleveland (H) 2

 

Solo homeruns by Ted Williams (#3) and Bobby Doerr (#1) supported Dick Newsome (1-1, 3.38) despite Cleveland outhitting Boston 11-10 for the game.

 

Detroit (H) 15 Philadelphia (AL) 3

 

A nine-run fourth blew this game open and Schoolboy Rowe (1-2, 6.52) and the Tigers cruised to an easy win. Left fielder Hank Greenberg went 5-for-5 (.294), scored two runs, drove in six, and hit a triple and a homerun (#1).

 

St. Louis (AL) (H) 5 Washington 1

 

The Nationals scored a run in the top of the first but Elden Auker (2-1, 3.30) shut them down thereafter and went all the way for the win. Right fielder Chet Laabs hit a two-run homerun and Auker did the rest.

 

Whit Wyatt

Brooklyn (H) 2 Chicago (NL) 1

 In a pitcher's duel Whit Wyatt (5-0, 0.60) came out on top over Bill Lee (0-3, 2.88). Wyatt also drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh. Dodgers center fielder Pete Reiser returned to the starting lineup following having been beaned this past weekend and returned with a 3-for-4 day that included an RBI triple in the bottom of the third.

 

Pittsburgh 7 New York (NL) (H) 7 (13) (Tie Game)

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NY1/NY1194105020.shtml

 

St. Louis (NL) 6 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 3

 

Left fielder Don Padgett has gotten a couple of starts this week and came through today with a 3-for-4 day and scored two runs as well as drove in two to spark the Cardinals offense. Howie Krist (1-0, 2.70) got a spot start for St. Louis and made the best of the opportunity, giving the Cardinals their sixth consecutive win and keeping them within one game of the first-place Dodgers.

 

Saturday, May 3, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

New York (NL) infielder Mickey Witek was sent out to Jersey City (IL) after 05/02/1941

 

Chicago (AL) pitcher Joe Haynes made his Season Debut on 05/04/1941

 

St. Louis (AL) pitcher Maury Newlin made his Season Debut on 05/04/1941

 

Brooklyn pitcher Bill Swift returned to the mound on 05/04/1941

 

New York (AL) pitcher George Washburn made his Major League Debut on 05/04/1941

 

Chicago (AL) (H) 4 New York (AL) 3 (10)

 

In the bottom of the sixth the Yankees opted to pitch to Mike Tresh with two outs and runners on second and third instead of walking him to bring up the pitcher and Tresh immediately smoked a two-run double that tied the score at 3-3. There the score stayed until veteran first baseman Joe Kuhel homered to lead off the bottom of the tenth and to give the White Sox a come-from-behind extra-inning victory.

 

Boston (AL) 28 Cleveland (H) 1

 

The Red Sox accumulated 29 hits and ten walks on the day as they pounded every pitcher the Indians threw at them. The Red Sox scored eight runs in the second and five in the fourth to build a 2-1 lead after the fifth, and then they added a seven-run eighth as an exclamation point. The first five batters in the Boston lineup all scored four runs on the day, including Ted Williams who went 3-for-3 with two walks before he was lifted for a pinch-runner in the fifth. Joe Cronin knocked in six runs to lead the offense.

 

Philadelphia (AL) 12 Detroit (H) 0

 

Phil Marchildon (1-0, 0.00) made his first appearance of the season and limited the Tigers to only two hits and picked up the easy win. Center fielder Sam Chapman went 2-for-5 with two doubles and knocked in five runs on the day.

 

Washington 7 St. Louis (AL) (H) 5

 

The Nationals took the early lead but could never quite put the Browns away and it came back to bite them as St. Louis scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth, both runs scoring after two outs. Washington responded with two runs in the top of the tenth, making a winner of Steve Sundra (3-0, 4.50) with some help from Alex Carrasquel.

 

Cincinnati 1 Boston (NL) (H) 0

 

Ernie Lombardi singled home first baseman Frank McCormick in the top of the fourth for the game's only run and Paul Derringer (2-3, 2.36) went all the way for the shutout victory over Jim Tobin (12-1, 1.05) and the Braves.

 

Chicago (NL) 3 Brooklyn (H) 1

 

Charlie Root (1-2, 2.89) controlled the powerful Dodgers offense today and went all the way for the win. Left fielder Augie Galan drove in all three of the Cubs' runs, including two with a double in the top of the fourth that put Chicago ahead to stay.

 

New York (NL) (H) 5 Pittsburgh 0

 

Bill Lohrman (1-0, 0.00) shut out the Pirates in his first start of the season, a two-run triple by right fielder Mel Ott the big hit in New York's four-run fourth.

 

Philadelphia (NL) (H) 8 St. Louis (NL) 3

 

First baseman Johnny Mize hit a two-run homerun in the top of the first to give St. Louis the early lead, but the Phillies came back with five runs in the bottom of the inning, all runs coming after two outs, the final three coming in on a homerun by catcher Bennie Warren. Bill Crouch (2-0, 4.05) gave up nine hits but went all the way for the win.

 

Sunday, May 4, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

Chicago (NL) pitcher Ken Raffensberger was sent out to St. Paul (AA) after 05/04/1941. Chicago (NL) pitcher Charlie Root was injured (?) on 05/03/1941

 

New York (AL) pitcher Norm Branch made his Major League Debut on 05/05/1941

 

Chicago (AL) infielder Bob Kennedy made his Season Debut on 05/05/1941. Chicago (AL) infielder Don Kolloway returned to play on 05/05/1941

 

Philadelphia (AL) 9 Chicago (AL) (H) 4

 

The score was knotted at 4-4 after both teams scored three runs in their third inning, but A's starter Bill Beckmann (1-1, 4.76) shut down the White Sox the rest of the way to pick up the win. Left fielder Bob Johnson hit a two-run homerun (#4) in the sixth to put the A's ahead and center fielder Sam Chapman picked up three more RBI's on the day and is now at 18 RBI's for the season.

 

Cleveland (H) 4 Washington 2

 

Washington third baseman Buddy Lewis hit two homeruns, but those were the only two runs that Al Smith (2-2, 4.26) gave up. Smith also chipped in with two RBI's of his own to help support his own cause.

 

New York (AL) 7 Detroit (H) 2

 

A five-run third put this one away for the Yankees as Bobo Newsom (1-4, 6.12) could not get that much-needed third out. George Washburn (1-0, 1,29) went seven innings and got the win for the visitors in what would be his only major league appearance.

 

George McQuinn

Boston (AL) 12 St. Louis (AL) (H) 9 (Three Homerun Game)

St. Louis first baseman George McQuinn went 4-for-5 on the day with three runs scored, seven RBI's, and three big homeruns that helped the Browns overcome a Boston six-run third to temporarily regain the lead. The Red Sox came back though with homeruns from Dom DiMaggio, Jimmie Foxx, and Joe Cronin leading the way.

 

St. Louis (NL) 9 Boston (NL) (H) 2

 

The Cardinals got on the scoreboard first with four runs in the top of the fifth, but the Braves quickly cut that lead to 4-2 when first baseman Babe Dahlgren hit a two-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth. Boston pitchers issued ten walks today and it came back to bite them when center fielder Terry Moore hit a two-run homerun in the eighth and that was followed by a three-run homerun from Enos Slaughter.

 

Brooklyn (H) 5 Pittsburgh 4

 

The Dodgers scored two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, which came in handy when the Pirates scored two runs against the Brooklyn bullpen in the top of the ninth to draw back to within one run. Lee Grissom finally settled the issue with no further harm to pick up the save.

 

Chicago (NL) 1 New York (NL) (H) 0 (12)

 

Chicago Left fielder Lou Novikoff led off the top of the twelfth with a solo homerun, the only run in the game, and Larry French (2-1, 2.45) stuck it out to the end to pick up the complete-game shutout. Cliff Melton (0-2, 3.55) was the hard-luck loser.

 

Cincinnati 5 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 3 (10)

 

Cincinnati first baseman Frank McCormick unloaded a two-run homerun in the top of the tenth and Elmer Riddle (1-0, 3.86) picked up the win in relief.