Week 23 Results (09/15/1941 - 09/21/1941)

Monday, September 15, 1941

Transactions:

 

Cleveland pitcher Harry Eisenstadt made his Season Finale on 09/14/1941

 

Philadelphia (AL) pitcher Tom Ferrick made his Season Finale on 09/14/1941. Cleveland claimed Ferrick (DNP) off Waivers on 09/22/1941. Philadelphia (AL) infielder Don Richmond was acquired from Williamsport (EL) before 09/16/1941 (Major League Debut)

 

Chicago (AL) outfielder Dave Philley made his Season Finale on 09/14/1941

 

Detroit outfielder Hoot Evers was acquired from Winston-Salem (PIED) before 09/16/1941 (Major League Debut)

 

Washington pitcher Hillis Layne was acquired from Chattanooga (SOUA) before 09/16/1951 (Major League Debut)

 

Chicago (NL) pitcher Wimpy Quinn was acquired from Madison (IIIL) before 09/16/1941

 

St. Louis (NL) pitcher Clyde Shoun returned to the mound on 09/16/1941

 

Chicago (AL) 5 Boston (AL) (H) 1

 

Chicago scored three times in the second to take a 3-0 lead and Johnny Rigney (11-13, 4.76) did the rest. Rigney also chipped in with a 2-for-3 day with a walk and an RBI to help his own cause.

 

Jim Hegan

Cleveland 5 New York (AL) (H) 2

 It was a close game until rookie catcher Jim Hegan hit a two-run homerun (#x) to give the Indians a 4-1 lead and they held on for the win from there. Al Smith (12-10, 3.89) got the win with some ninth-inning help from Steve Gromek.

 

Philadelphia (AL) (H) 10 St. Louis (AL) 0

 

Fred Caligiuri (2-1,1.13) did allow nine hits on the day, but the Browns never offered a serious challenge in his shutout victory. Second baseman Benny McCoy, right fielder Wally Moses, and catcher Frankie Hayes - the 1-2-3 batters in the A's batting order - all had three RBI's in the game.

 

Detroit 2 Washington (H) 0

 

After sputtering for most of the season Hal Newhouser (6-19, 7.51) pitched a beautiful three-hit shutout and was abetted by two solo homeruns from first baseman Rudy York (#16, #17).

 

Boston (NL) 2 Chicago (NL) (H) 1

 

The Braves scored single runs in each of the first two innings and Al Javery (12-8, 3.51) didn’t allow a Chicago run until the eighth inning and got the win over Claude Passeau (14-14, 2.87).

 

Note: This game was actually played on Tuesday (09/16/1941), but ATMgr had it scheduled for today. Rather than try to correct the schedule in mid-season I left it as is and after tomorrow the season totals will be back to whole.

 

Brooklyn 7 Cincinnati (H) 0

 

Late-season acquisition Johnny Allen (3-9, 5.61) held the Cincinnati offense to five hits and got the shutout victory. Allen also contributed with a two-run single in the Dodgers' four-run sixth that helped put the game out of reach.

 

Note: On this date in 1941 Allen pitched fifteen scoreless innings before being lifted. The Dodgers eventually won the game 5-1 in seventeen innings

 

Tuesday, September 16, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

Cleveland first baseman Vern Freiburger made his Major League Finale on 09/15/19415. Cleveland outfielder Buck Frierson made his Major League Finale on 09/15/1941. Cleveland pitcher Steve Gromek made his Season Finale on 09/15/1941. Cleveland infielder Bob Lemon made his Season Finale on 09/15/1941

 

Philadelphia (AL) outfielder Wally Moses made his Season Finale on 09/15/1941. Philadelphia (AL) infielder Al Rubeling made his Season Finale on 09/15/1941

 

Detroit pitcher Hal Newhouser made his Season Finale on 09/15/1941. Detroit outfielder Dick Wakefield made his Season Finale on 09/15/1941

 

Cincinnati infielder Chuck Aleno returned to play on 09/17/1941

 

St. Louis (NL) outfielder Stan Musial was acquired from Rochester (IL) before 09/17/1941 (Major League Debut)

 

Pittsburgh shortstop Arky Vaughan returned to play on 09/17/1941

 

St. Louis (AL) 7 Philadelphia (AL) (H) 4

 

St. Louis jumped on Herman Besse (1-2, 7.62) with three homeruns in the first three innings and with a 6-1 lead in place were able to cruise to an easy win. Johnny Niggeling (9-8, 4.33) went all the way for the victory.

 

Detroit 4 Washington (H) 3

 

First baseman Rudy York slammed his third homerun (#18) in the last two days, a two-run shot in the fourth, and Schoolboy Rowe (6-8, 4.58) and Bobo Newsom held off a furious Nationals comeback attempt for the win.

 

Brooklyn 4 Cincinnati (H) 2

 

First baseman Frank McCormick gave the Reds a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth with a solo homerun (#20), but the Reds bullpen couldn’t hold the lead in the ninth and the Dodgers came back to grab the win. Joe Medwick drove home a run in the ninth to tie the score, and then Medwick scored on an E-6. Manager Leo Durocher took the opportunity to pinch-hit himself for the pitcher and came through with an RBI single.

 

New York (NL) 1 St. Louis (NL) (H) 1 (10) (Tie Game)

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN194109160.shtml

 

Wednesday, September 17, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

Detroit outfielder Hoot Evers made his Season Finale on 09/16/1941

 

Philadelphia (AL) pitcher Bump Hadley made his Major League Finale on 09/16/1941. Philadelphia (AL) pitcher Lum Harris made his Season Finale on 09/16/1941. Philadelphia (AL) outfielder Ray Poole made his Season Finale on 09/16/1941

 

Brooklyn pitcher Newt Kimball made his Season Finale on 09/16/1941

 

Cincinnati outfielder Ernie Koy made his Season Finale on 09/16/1941

 

St. Louis (NL) infielder Erv Dusak was acquired from Mobile (SEAL) before 09/18/1941 (Major League Debut). St. Louis (NL) outfielder Walter Sessi was acquired from Houston (TL) before 09/18/1941 (Major League Debut)

 

New York (NL) pitcher Tom Sunkel was acquired from Syracuse (IL) before 09/18/1941 (Season Debut)

 

Boston (AL) (H) 4 Cleveland 1

 

Both teams scored a run in the first but then Joe Dobson (11-6, 4.41) shut down the Indians after that while the Red Sox finally got to Jim Bagby (8-18, 4.95). Dobson had a two-run single in the third to put Boston ahead to stay and Ted Williams added on a solo homerun (#44) in the fifth.

 

Dario Lodigiani

Chicago (AL) 6 New York (AL) (H) 2

Chicago started quickly with four runs in the top of the first, a two-run single from third baseman Dario Lodigiani being the big hit. The Yankees came back with two runs in the bottom of the second, but then both pitchers settled down and Eddie Smith (21-10, 2.92) got the win over Spud Chandler (14-3, 2.25).

 

Philadelphia (AL) (H) 2 Detroit 0

 

A pair of three-hitters today as a pair of run-scoring singles in the bottom of the fifth was all the A's needed to make the difference. Phil Marchildon (14-11, 3.47) came out on top over Al Benton (9-6, 2.42).

 

St. Louis (AL) 3 Washington (H) 2

 

Washington took a 2-0 lead with two runs in the fifth, but Early Wynn (1-2, 1.95) couldn’t hold back the Browns forever as St. Louis scored a run in the seventh and then plated two runs in the top of the ninth for the win.

 

New York (NL) 6 Chicago (NL) (H) 2

 

Dave Koslo (1-0, 1.80) made his first major league start and had a shutout going until two outs in the bottom of the ninth when right fielder Bill Nicholson hit a two-out two-run homerun (#16) to otherwise spoil Koslo's debut. Koslo's two-run single in the bottom of the first helped get the Giants' offense going.

 

Cincinnati (H) 7 Philadelphia (NL) 3 (GM 1)

 

The Phillies scored two runs in the first but then Johnny Vander Meer (14-13, 2.98) took over and let the Reds offense come back to grab the Game One win.

 

Philadelphia (NL) 10 Cincinnati (H) 7 (GM 2)

 

It was an ugly game as the Reds were up 3-0 after the fifth, but then the Phillies unloaded with ten runs in the next three innings. Now with the game supposedly in the bag, the Philadelphia bullpen started giving up hits and runs, with Cy Blanton (4-15, 5.59) finally getting the win in relief.

 

Brooklyn 5 Pittsburgh (H) 4 (10)

 

Pittsburgh tied the score at 3-3 with three runs in the fifth, and then both teams scored a single run in the eighth, and the game eventually moved into extra innings. Once again, the Dodgers took the lead, but this time Curt Davis (10-5, 3.07) got the final two outs while leaving a runner stranded at third.

 

St. Louis (NL) (H) 5 Boston (NL) 2 (GM 1)

 

St. Louis led 3-0 after the third and 4-1 after the fifth, but the Braves kept putting on runners, but a cadre of Cardinals relievers held them off. Howie Pollet (3-3, 2.09) got the win, and left fielder Johnny Hopp's two-run homerun (#5) in the third was the big hit in this game.

 

Note: With this win, St. Louis has clinched the NL Pennant for 1941

 

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

 

Jim Tobin (14-9, 2.56) came up lame in the eighth inning but got the win, although he had bullpen help to close things out and complete the shutout. Future Hall-of-Famer Stan Musial made his first major league appearance today and he singled in his first at-bat, finishing the day going 1-for-4.

 

Thursday, September 18, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

Chicago (AL) catcher George Dickey made his Season Finale on 09/17/1941

 

Boston (NL) catcher Al Montgomery made his Major League Finale on 09/17/1941

 

St. Louis (AL) pitcher Maury Newlin made his Major League Finale on 09/17/1941

 

Cincinnati pitcher Gene Thompson made his Season Finale on 09/17/1941

 

Boston (AL) (H) 4 Cleveland 1

 

The Red Sox bunched their hits and scored three runs in the first and Dick Newsome (16-7, 3.50) only allowed one first-inning single and got the win over the Indians. Bob Feller (20-15, 3.55) only allowed five hits but took the loss.

 

Washington (H) 8 St. Louis (AL) 1

 

Washington scored twice in the first and then added three in the third and Sid Hudson (16-10, 4.11) shut down St. Louis to grab the win.

 

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

 

The Giants led 3-0 after the sixth but the Cubs came back with a run in the seventh and then two in the eighth to tie the score at 3-3. Second baseman Lou Stringer led off the bottom of the ninth with a double and then scored when an E-4 allowed the winning run to cross the plate.

 

Cincinnati (H) 5 Philadelphia (NL) 2 (GM 1)

 

The Phillies led 2-0 after the top of the third but then the Reds offense came alive, scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth, and Cincinnati and Ray Starr (2-0, 3.10) rolled to the Game One win from there.

 

Cincinnati (H) 5 Philadelphia (NL) 2 (GM 2)

 

Lead-off hitter and shortstop Eddie Joost scored three runs and led the Reds to a doubleheader sweep over Philadelphia. Jim Turner (6-2, 2.40) got the Game Two win.

 

Pittsburgh (H) 6 Brooklyn 2

 

The Pirates tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh and then in the eighth first baseman Elbie Fletcher and center fielder Vince DiMaggio both hit two-run homeruns and that was the game. Johnny Lanning (12-7, 3.14) went all the way for the win.

 

St. Louis (NL) (H) 7 Boston (NL) 0

 

St. Louis scored six unearned runs in the bottom of the second and cruised to an easy shutout victory with Mort Cooper (12-9, 2.96) getting the win.

 

Friday, September 19, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

Washington pitcher Alex Carrasquel made his Season Finale on 09/18/1941. Washington first baseman Jack Sanford made his Season Finale on 09/18/1941

 

Brooklyn pitcher Freddie Fitzsimmons made his Season Finale on 09/18/1941

 

St. Louis (NL) first baseman Johnny Mize made his Season Finale on 09/18/1941 (Torn ligaments in right arm)

 

New York (NL) acquired outfielder Babe Barna from Minneapolis (AA) before 09/20/1941 (Season Debut). New York (NL) infielder Joe Orengo returned to play on 09/20/1941

 

Pittsburgh pitcher Bill Brandt was acquired from Harrisburg (ISLG) before 09/20/1941 (Major League Debut). Pittsburgh infielder Billy Cox was acquired from Harrisburg (EL) before 09/20/1941 (Major League Debut). Pittsburgh outfielder Culley Rikard was acquired from Memphis (SOUA) before 09/20/1941 (Major League Debut)

 

Chicago (AL) pitcher Jake Jones was acquired from Shreveport (TL) on 08/22/1941 (Major League Debut 09/20/1941)

 

Detroit outfielder Bob Patrick was acquired from Buffalo (IL) before 09/20/1941 (Major League Debut)

 

Philadelphia (AL) pitcher Roger Wolff was acquired from Williamsport (EL) before 09/20/1941 (Major League Debut)

 

Note: It's a travel day so it's a light schedule as teams are on trains heading cross-country to their next destination. The AL eastern teams are leaving the Midwest to finish their season playing the other eastern teams while in the NL it is the Midwest teams that are leaving the east coast to return to the Midwest.

 

St. Louis (NL) (H) 5 Chicago (NL) 0

 

Harry Gumbert (15-5, 1.62) limited the visiting Cubs to only three hits and went all the way for the shutout victory. Stan Musial had a 3-for-4 day with a run scored, two RBI's, and two doubles to power the offense.

 

Saturday, September 20, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

Cleveland outfielder Fabian Gaffke was acquired from Minneapolis (AA) before 09/21/1941 (Season Debut)

 

Chicago (NL) pitcher Emil Kush was acquired from Los Angeles (PCL) before 09/21/1941 (Major League Debut)

 

Note: After yesterday's travel day we are heading into the next-to-last weekend of the season and many NL teams still have a ton of games remaining to be played. New York just played game #140, so starting today the Giants will have five consecutive doubleheaders. The other NL teams are doubleheader dependent as well, so there are three NL doubleheaders today and three NL doubleheaders tomorrow (the AL has two on Sunday).

 

Boston (AL) (H) 5 New York (AL) 4 (10)

 

With a comfortable 4-1 lead the Red Sox benched a couple of their starters and brought in Mike Ryba (5-4, 6.32) to relieve Charlie Wagner and the Yankees came alive, connecting on three consecutive doubles in the top of the ninth and tying the score at 4-4. In the bottom of the tenth third baseman Jim Tabor hit the third of his three doubles to lead off the inning and backup first baseman Al Flair promptly lined a bullet off the wall to score Tabor with the game-winner.

 

Chicago (AL) (H) 3 Detroit 1

 

Both teams scored a single run in the second inning but then the White Sox pushed across two runs in the sixth and Thornton Lee (21-10, 1.64) had what he needed to go all the way for the complete game victory.

 

St. Louis (AL) 6 Cleveland (H) 4 (10)

 

St. Louis scored three runs in the top of the first and would lead until two outs in the bottom of the ninth when center fielder Wally Judnich muffed what should have been the third out. Instead, Cleveland tied the game, and we were off to extra innings. The Browns started off the top of the tenth with four straight hits and held on for the win, with George Caster (5-4, 4.10) getting the infamous blown save/win combination.

 

Roger Wolff

Washington (H) 14 Philadelphia (AL) 1 (Grand Slam!)

The A's took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth, but the Nationals came right back to tie the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth. In the bottom of the seventh Washington scored twelve runs, the big hit being a grand slam by shortstop Cecil Travis. Dutch Leonard (12-14, 2.99) cruised all the way home with an easy win.

 

Note: After ~10 years in the minors, 30-year-old Roger Wolff started today's game for Philadelphia. In my replay game, after waiting ~10 years in the minors for his major league opportunity, Wolff said something to the umpire and got himself ejected in the third inning.

 

Pittsburgh 4 Cincinnati (H) 0 (GM 1)

 

Max Butcher (13-13, 3.06) held the Reds to only three hits and went all the way for the complete-game shutout victory.

 

Cincinnati (H) 12 Pittsburgh 7 (GM 2)

 

The Reds scored three in the first, the Pirates scored four in the second, the Reds came back to take the lead, and then the Pirates did the same. At the end of the sixth, the score was tied 6-6, but then in the seventh, the Reds scored six times, effectively locking this one up for Cincinnati. First baseman Frank McCormick went 5-for-6 with two runs scored, six RBI's, a double, and a homerun (#21) to lead the Cincinnati offense.

 

New York (NL) (H) 4 Boston (NL) 3 (GM 1)

 

Shortstop Billy Jurges hit a three-run homerun (#7) in the second, but the Braves came right back to tie the score at 3-3 after the top of the third. Left fielder Morrie Arnovich singled home the game-winner in the bottom of the third, although the game then turned into a pitcher's duel before Bob Carpenter (12-4, 2.81) could be declared the victor.

 

New York (NL) (H) 12 Boston (NL) 6 (GM 2)

 

Rube Fischer (1-0, 5.40) went all the way in his first major league start thanks to an abundant number of run support. Shortstop Joe Orengo swung the big bat today as he hit a three-run homerun (#4) in the fourth and then followed that up with a two-run triple in the fifth.

 

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

 

Whit Wyatt (24-6, 2.02) didn’t allow a run until the eighth inning as he scattered five hits and went all the way for the Game One win. The Dodgers only had six hits but got them when they needed them.

 

Brooklyn 10 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 0 (GM 2)

 

Kirby Higbe (20-15, 2.09) limited the Phillies to only two hits and shut out the Phillies for the doubleheader sweep. Right fielder Dixie Walker had two solo homeruns (#8, #9), but it was Brooklyn's nine-run fifth that cinched this game for the visitors.

 

Chicago (NL) 7 St. Louis (NL) (H) 0

 

First baseman Babe Dahlgren (#24) and catcher Clyde McCullough (#6) both hit two-run homeruns in the second inning and then Dahlgren added a second homerun (#25) in the sixth to lock this game up. Johnny Schmitz (2-0, 1.35) got the win over Lon Warneke (18-8, 2.95).

 

Sunday, September 21, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

Philadelphia (NL) pitcher Cy Blanton made his Season Finale on 09/20/1941

 

Cincinnati pitcher Paul Derringer made his Season Finale on 09/20/1941

 

New York (NL) pitcher Rube Fischer made his Season Finale on 09/20/1941

 

St. Louis (NL) pitcher Howie Krist made his Season Finale on 09/20/1941

 

Detroit infielder Boyd Perry made his Major League Finale on 09/20/1941. Detroit outfielder Ned Harris was acquired from Buffalo (IL) before 09/22/1941

 

Boston (AL) catcher Mike Ryba made his Season Finale on 09/20/1941

 

St. Louis (AL) infielder Alan Strange made his Season Finale on 09/21/1941. St. Louis (AL) pitcher Bill Trotter made his Season Finale on 09/20/1941

 

Chicago (AL) pitcher Bill Dietrich returned to the mound on 09/22/1941

 

New York (AL) 4 Boston (AL) (H) 0

 

Second baseman Joe Gordon hit a solo homerun (#17), doubled home the Yankees' second run, and then singled home a run to support Tiny Bonham (8-6, 3.22), who threw a two-hit shutout.

 

Chicago (AL) (H) 4 Detroit 2 (GM 1)

 

Detroit scored a run in the top of the third, but Chicago answered right back with four runs in their half of the third and Ted Lyons (9-13, 3.66) made that lead stand up for the Game One win.

 

Detroit 1 Chicago (AL) (H) 1 (GM 2) (14) (Tie Game)

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA194109212.shtml

 

Hank Edwards

Cleveland (H) 12 St. Louis (AL) 2 (GM 1)

Two critical errors opened the door for the Indians to have a four-run third and then a four-run fifth and to run away with the Game One win. Right fielder Hank Edwards led the Indians' hit parade with a 4-for-5 day that included three runs scored and two RBI's. Both teams took the opportunity to clear their benches and let some of their youngsters get some time on the field.

 

St. Louis (AL) 4 Cleveland (H) 1 (13) (GM 2)

 

With the score tied at 1-1 in the top of the thirteenth first baseman George Archie, recently acquired from Washington, led off the inning with a single, stole second, stole third, and then scored on third baseman Harlond Clift's single, effectively breaking the scoring drought and the Browns were able to add two more runs and get the doubleheader split.

 

Note: This win (#78) guarantees the Browns a winning season, their first since 1929 (79-63).

 

Washington (H) 5 Philadelphia (AL) 2 (GM 1)

 

The Nationals scored four runs in the bottom of the second, the big hit being a three-run homerun (#5) by second baseman Jimmy Bloodworth. Ken Chase (8-15, 5.36) went all the way for the Game One win.

 

Washington (H) 6 Philadelphia (AL) 1 (GM 2)

 

Early Wynn (2-2, 1.72) went all the way for the Game Two win plus he went 3-for-4 from the plate, with a run scored, an RBI, and a double. First baseman Mickey Vernon hit a homerun in the first game of the doubleheader and added a homerun (#8) in this game as well.

 

Johnny Vander Meer

Cincinnati (H) 8 Pittsburgh 0

A scoreless game until the bottom of the fifth when the Reds scored seven times, the big hits being a two-run double from first baseman Frank McCormick which was immediately followed by a two-run single from catcher Ernie Lombardi. Johnny Vander Meer (15-13, 2.88) allowed only six hits but only walked two and went all the way for the win.

 

New York (NL) (H) 1 Boston (NL) 0 (11) (GM 1)

 

A pitcher's duel as Harry Feldman (1-0, 1.72) came out victorious over Jim Tobin (14-10, 2.48). The Giants finally broke the scoreless tie when pinch-hitter Johnny McCarthy singled home Sid Gordon with the game-winner in the bottom of the eleventh.

 

Boston (NL) 5 New York (NL) (H) 3 (GM 2)

 

The Braves finally got on the scoreboard with a four-run third and Tom Earley (6-8, 3.74) held off a belated Giants rally attempt for the Game Two win.

 

Brooklyn 6 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 3 (GM 1)

 

A two-run double by second baseman Billy Herman was the big hit in the Dodgers four-run sixth inning and Johnny Allen (4-9, 5.52) got plenty of help from the Brooklyn bullpen to lock up the Game One win.

 

Brooklyn 4 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 2 (GM 2)

 

The Dodgers led 4-0 after the third and Luke Hamlin (9-9, 3.52) did the rest as he went all the way for the Game Two win and the doubleheader sweep.

 

Chicago (NL) 5 St. Louis (NL) (H) 4 (10) (GM 1)

 

St. Louis scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to tie the score at 3-3 and eventually send the game into extra innings, where Chicago promptly loaded the bases and catcher Clyde McCullough's two-run single put the Cubs back ahead. The Cardinals tried to come back, and did score a run, but left fielder Stan Musial flew out to end the threat.

 

St. Louis (NL) (H) 9 Chicago (NL) 7 (GM 2)

 

Left fielder Lou Novikoff hit his second homerun (#13) of the day and sparked the Cubs to an early 3-0 lead, but then St. Louis scored seven times in the bottom of the fifth, five of the runs having scored before an out was recorded. Chicago wasn't done though as the Cubs scored four times in the top of the eighth, but they could come no closer.