Week 24 Results (09/22/1941 - 09/28/1941)

Monday, September 22, 1941 

Transactions:

 

Brooklyn pitcher Johnny Allen made his Season Finale on 09/21/1941

 

St. Louis (NL) pitcher Bill Crouch made his Major League Finale on 09/21/1941. St. Louis (NL) third baseman Whitey Kurowski was acquired from Rochester (IL) before 09/23/1941 (Major League Debut)

 

Chicago (NL) pitcher Hank Gornicki (Team Finale 09/16/1941) was returned to St. Louis (NL) (DNP) when the purchase deal of 09/02/1941 was voided on 09/22/1941

 

Chicago (AL) pitcher Ted Lyons made his Season Finale on 09/21/1941

 

New York (NL) pitcher Bill McGee made his Season Finale on 09/21/1941. New York (NL) outfielder Jo-Jo Moore made his Major League Finale on 09/21/1941

 

Rudy York

Detroit 3 Chicago (AL) (H) 1

The White Sox scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth, but first baseman Rudy York came through when he doubled home the tying run in the top of the sixth and then singled home an insurance run in the eighth. Al Benton (10-6, 2.26) went all the way for the win.

 

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

 

St. Louis scored twice in the top of the first after Bob Feller left because of an injury, but couldn’t add on from there as Chubby Dean (5-7, 4.19) held them right there. Cleveland finally came through and regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh and Joe Krakauskas closed out the ninth with no further damage.

 

New York (NL) (H) 11 Boston (NL) 2 (GM 1)

 

New York only had thirteen hits to go along with their eleven runs, but they also accrued nine walks and always had men on base when those hits came along. Shortstop Billy Jurges had the big bat as he went 3-for-5 and drove in four runs, allowing Carl Hubbell (11-11, 2.94) to get the Game One win.

 

New York (NL) (H) 8 Boston (NL) 2 (GM 2)

 

New York finished their third consecutive doubleheader with Boston by winning both games, meaning they won 5-of-6 games. Dave Koslo (2-0, 1.89) went all the way for the win.

 

Brooklyn 7 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 2

 

A three-run fourth blew open a tight game and Curt Davis (11-5, 3.01) and a host of Brooklyn relievers kept the Phillies bats quiet and picked up the win.

 

Tuesday, September 23, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

New York (NL) catcher Rae Blaemire made his Major League Finale on 09/23/1941

 

Chicago (AL) pitcher Bill Dietrich made his Season Finale on 09/22/1941. Chicago (AL) infielder Dario Lodigiani made his Season Finale on 09/22/1941. Chicago (AL) infielder Skeeter Webb made his Season Finale on 09/22/1941

 

Washington pitcher Dick Mulligan was acquired from Trenton (ISLG) before 09/24/1941 (Major League Debut)

 

Chicago (NL) first baseman Eddie Waitkus was acquired from Tulsa (TL) before 09/24/1941

 

New York (AL) (H) 15 Philadelphia (AL) 1 (Grand Slam!)

 

New York led 5-0 after the third and then scored seven runs in the fifth, the big hit being a grand slam homerun off the bat of Joe DiMaggio (#26). DiMaggio added a second homerun (#27) later in the game, but this game was all Yankees as Red Ruffing (16-5, 2.54) picked up the win.

 

St. Louis (AL) (H) 10 Detroit 2

 

St. Louis scored three times in the first, but Detroit came right back with two in the second, and there the score stayed until the Browns exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fifth. No big hits, just a bunch of walks as the Tigers pitcher were strike zone averse, giving up nine walks in the game. Bob Muncrief (19-7, 2.79) got the win.

 

Washington (H) 10 Boston (AL) 6

 

Washington led 4-3 after the fourth, but then the Nationals scored five times in the fifth and Sid Hudson (17-10, 3.99) went all the way for the win. Shortstop Cecil Travis went 3-for-4 (.354) and drove in three runs and right fielder Roberto Ortiz went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and hit a double and triple to lead the offense.

 

Cincinnati (H) 7 Chicago (NL) 6

 

Chicago led 4-0 after the second, but Cincinnati scored four times in the fourth to tie the score at 4-4. The Cubs edged back ahead, but the Reds scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to tie the score back up at 6-6. In the ninth right fielder Eddie Lukon singled, advanced to second on an infield out, and then scored the game-winner when second baseman Lou Stringer mishandled a ground ball that would have likely been the third out. Chicago pitcher Bill Lee hit his sixth homerun of the season early in this game.

 

New York (NL) 9 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 2 (GM 1)

 

Three Philadelphia errors led to four unearned runs on the day and gave New York the breaks they needed to get ahead and stay there for the Game One win. Cliff Melton (8-10, 3.04) kept the Phillies scoreless until the bottom of the eighth and got the win.

 

Philadelphia (NL) (H) 11 New York (NL) 10 (GM 2)

 

New York scored four runs in the top of the fifth but could only come out of the fifth inning with a 7-6 lead. The Giants scored twice in the eighth to take a 9-6 lead, but the Phillies came right back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the score at 9-9. New York scored a run in the top of the ninth but couldn’t hold that lead when with two outs Johnny Rizzo hit a pinch-hit homerun to tie the score a 10-10, and then Johnnie Wittig (3-4, 6.14) gave up two walks and a single to load the bases and then walked first baseman Nick Etten to bring home the winning run for the Phillies.

 

Note: It would appear that at the end of their fourth consecutive doubleheader the Giants' pitching staff has worn down. They have one more doubleheader tomorrow though.

 

St. Louis (NL) 7 Pittsburgh (H) 1 (GM 1)

 

Left fielder Coaker Triplett got the St. Louis offense started with a three-run homerun (#5) in the top of the first and the Cardinals ran away with it from there. Mort Cooper (13-9, 2.82) allowed an unearned run in the second but that was all as he held the Pirates to two hits on the day.

 

Pittsburgh (H) 6 St. Louis (NL) 5 (GM 2)

 

St. Louis led 3-2 after the fifth, and there the score stayed until left fielder Maurice Van Robays hit a solo homerun (#5) in the bottom of the eighth to tie the score at 3-3, and then Pittsburgh scored two more to take a 5-3 lead. Then it was the Cardinals' turn to tie the score at 5-5 in the top of the ninth, but then the Pirates did it again when Van Robays lined a bases-loaded single to grab the win and the doubleheader split.

 

Wednesday, September 24, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

Philadelphia (AL) infielder Fred Chapman made his Major League Finale on 09/23/1941.

 

Philadelphia (NL) pitcher Dale Jones made his Major League Finale on 09/23/1941

 

Pittsburgh pitcher Joe Sullivan made his Major League Finale on 09/23/1941

 

Chicago (NL) infielder Billy Myers was acquired from Milwaukee (AA) before 09/25/1941

 

Cleveland 13 Chicago (AL) (H) 5

 

The Indians jumped on Thornton Lee (21-11, 1.82) for five runs in the top of the first, the big hit being a three-run homerun from second baseman Ray Mack (#12). The White Sox tried to climb back into it but it was too much Mack for them to overcome as Mack went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, five RBI's, two doubles, and a homerun.

 

Phil Marchildon

Philadelphia (AL) 6 New York (AL) (H) 5

Philadelphia scored four runs in the top of the third to knock out Atley Donald (12-7, 2.41) and then barely held on for a tough road win. The Yankees stayed close and scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to make it close but had a runner thrown out at home to end the game. Phil Marchildon (15-11, 3.46) got the win.

 

St. Louis (AL) (H) 8 Detroit 4

 

The Browns scored five times in the bottom of the fourth and forced Bobo Newsom (6-28, 6.90) out of the game. Bob Harris (11-9, 5.61) had some shaky innings afterward but was able to go all the way for the win.

 

Boston (AL) 4 Washington (H) 0 (GM 1)

 

Charlie Wagner (16-5, 2.72) threw his fifth shutout of the season as he blanked the nationals for the Game One win.

 

Boston (AL) 8 Washington (H) 0 (GM 2)

 

Boston won by shutout in both ends of the doubleheader, with Dick Newsome (17-8, 3.54) doing the honors in Game Two. The Red Sox scored five runs in the top of the fourth, the big hit being a bases-loaded three-run triple by Ted Williams, his first triple of the season and giving him 154 RBI's to go along with that .472 batting average.

 

Brooklyn 6 Boston (NL) (H) 3

 

Left fielder Joe Medwick drove in two runs with a double in the first and then he added two more RBI's with a single in the eighth to give the Dodgers some late-inning insurance and Kirby Higbe (21-15, 2.13) got the win.

 

Cincinnati (H) 5 Chicago (NL) 4

 

Bucky Walters (20-10, 2.61) had allowed no runs and only one hit through the first six innings but Chicago scored four runs to take a 4-3 lead, the big hit being a two-out two-run homerun from rookie shortstop Lennie Merullo (#1). The Reds came right back with two in the bottom half of the inning and Walters was able to finish what he started.

 

New York (NL) 5 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 3 (GM 1)

 

Right fielder Babe Barna hit a three-run homerun (#1) in the first and then the Giants added two more runs in the second to take a 5-0 lead. Hal Schumacher (17-7, 2.84) went all the way for the Game One win.

 

New York (NL) 8 Philadelphia (NL) (H) 4 (GM 2)

 

The Phillis took the early lead but by mid-game the Giants were back ahead and complete the doubleheader sweep, meaning they went 8-2 over the past five days. Tom Sunkel (1-1, 2.02) got the victory as both teams committed multiple errors that led to multiple unearned runs allowed by both teams.

 

Pittsburgh (H) 4 St. Louis (NL) 2

 

Pittsburgh scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to take a 3-1 lead and Johnny Lanning (13-7, 3.07) made that slender lead stand up for the win. Stan Musial got his first career homerun (#1) early in this game.

 

Thursday, September 25, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

Washington pitcher Red Anderson made his Major League Finale on 09/24/1941. Washington catcher Cliff Bolton made his Major League Finale on 09/24/1941. Washington infielder Buddy Myer made his Major League Finale on 09/24/1941

 

Philadelphia (NL) pitcher Lee Grissom made his Major League Finale on 09/24/1941

 

New York (NL) catcher Gabby Hartnett made his Major League Finale on 09/24/1941

 

Chicago (AL) pitcher Joe Haynes returned to the mound on 09/26/1941

 

New York (AL) third baseman Red Rolfe returned to play on 09/26/1941

 

Brooklyn 6 Boston (NL) (H) 1

 

Whit Wyatt (25-6, 1.99) had a shutout until two outs in the ninth but the Dodgers were able to easily cruise to another victory. First baseman Dolph Camilli hit a three-run homerun (#28) in the first and then center fielder Pete Reiser hit a two-run shot (#17) in the fourth to give Wyatt the runs he needed.

 

Chicago (NL) 1 Cincinnati (H) 0

 

Second baseman Billy Myers singled home Frank Jelincich with the game's only run in the top of the seventh and Johnny Schmitz (3-0, 0.93) completed another great start.

 

Philadelphia (NL) (H) 6 New York (NL) 4

 

The Phillies scored three times in the fifth to take a 6-1 lead and then Johnny Podgajny (6-15, 5.22) held off a furious Giants' rally to get the complete game victory.

 

Pittsburgh (H) 7 St. Louis (NL) 1

 

The Cardinals turned out to be their own worst enemy today as they hit into five double plays and squelched multiple rally attempts, allowing Pittsburgh to run away to an easy win. Max Butcher (14-13, 2.98) and the Pirates bullpen effectively shut down the St. Louis attack.

 

Friday, September 26, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

Boston (NL) infielder John Dudra made his Major League Finale on 09/25/1941

 

Chicago (NL) outfielder Frank Jelincich made his Major League Finale on 09/25/1941. Chicago (NL) infielder Billy Myers made his Major League Finale on 09/25/1941. Chicago (NL) pitcher Wimpy Quinn made his Major League Finale on 09/25/1941

 

Cleveland first baseman Les Fleming was acquired from Nashville (SOUA) before 09/27/1941 (Season Debut). Cleveland outfielder Oris Hockett was acquired from Nashville (SA) before 09/27/1941 (Season Debut)

 

New York (AL) outfielder Charlie Keller returned from injury on 09/27/1941

 

Brooklyn catcher George Pfister was acquired from Durham (PIED) before 09/27/1941 (Major League Debut)

 

Virgil Trucks

Detroit pitcher Virgil Trucks was acquired from Buffalo (IL) before 09/27/1941 (Major League Debut). Detroit pitcher Hal White was acquired from Buffalo (IL) before 09/27/1941

Note: As we head into the final weekend of the season all of the teams have arrived ready to play their final season series. There are two doubleheaders today and one on Sunday, so those will all be behind shortly as well.  That also means that all teams have now played at least 150 games, so everyone is trying to rotate players in and out of the lineup to try and give players that one last look-see before the season's end. Ted Williams is hitting .472 and continuing to power his way through everybody along the way.

 

Detroit (H) 10 Chicago (AL) 6

 

Detroit got a quick start and let 8-1 after the fifth, but Chicago came back to make it close but could quite catch up and the Tigers won their fiftieth game of the season. Al Benton (11-6, 2.14) got the win and right fielder Bruce Campbell provided the big bat by going 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored, three RBI's, and a homerun (#16).

 

New York (AL) (H) 9 Washington 4 (GM 1)

 

Washington led 4-2 after the fourth, but then New York scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-4 lead, the big hit being a two-run pinch-hit single by Bill Dickey. Spud Chandler (15-3, 2.37) didn’t have his best day but had plenty of help from the Yankees bullpen.

 

New York (AL) (H) 5 Washington 2 (GM 2)

 

The Yankees played three runs in the second and Marius Russo (13-10, 3.46) made that lead stand up for the doubleheader sweep.

 

Cleveland 7 St. Louis (AL) (H) 4 (GM 1)

 

The Indians exploded for six runs in the top of the fourth but then had to hold off a furious St. Louis comeback attempt late in the game for the Game One win. Al Milnar (16-11, 5.32) went all the way for the win as every batter in the Cleveland lineup had at least one hit.

 

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

 

Denny Galehouse (14-4, 3.29) got the win over Bob Feller (20-16, 3.60) as Feller's wildness led to a three-run first inning for the Browns and Galehouse never looked back as he didn’t allow a run until two outs in the ninth inning.

 

Cincinnati 5 Pittsburgh (H) 4

 

A come-from-behind win for Cincinnati as Pittsburgh scored four times in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead but the Reds kept chiseling away and finally, with two runs in the eighth, took the lead for good. Catcher Dick West and left fielder Jim Gleeson both drove home a run during the fateful eighth inning for the Reds to grab the win.

 

Saturday, September 27, 1941

 

Transactions:

 

Chicago (AL) outfielder Stan Goletz made his Major League Finale on 09/26/1941

 

St. Louis (NL) pitcher Johnny Beazley was acquired from New Orleans (SOUA) before 09/28/1941 (Major League Debut)

 

Brooklyn pitcher Bob Chipman, along with Lester Burge (DNP), were acquired from Atlanta (SA) on 08/05/1941. Chipman made his ML debut on 09/28/1941

 

Boston (AL) pitcher Lefty Grove returned to play on 09/28/1941

 

Chicago (NL) pitcher Russ Meers (Major League Debut 09/28/1941) and Marv Felderman (DNP) were acquired from Nashville (SA) on 08/01/1941

 

Detroit (H) 6 Chicago (AL) 2

 

Detroit scored four runs in the second as Schoolboy Rowe had the big hit, a two-run single, and then Rowe and the Tigers bullpen took over from there. Virgil Trucks (1-0, 0.00), making his major league debut, picked up the win in relief for two innings of work.

 

New York (AL) (H) 8 Washington 3

 

A three-run homerun by third baseman Red Rolfe (#9) was the big hit in the Yankees four-run sixth and blew open a tight game. Lefty Gomez (14-7, 3.39) had a shaky start but was bailed out by his bullpen.

 

Philadelphia (AL) (H) 5 Boston (AL) 0

 

Roger Wolff (1-0, 0.00) held the powerful Boston Red Sox to two hits and went all the way for the complete game shutout. Third baseman Don Richmond hit a two-out two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth to give the A's a little extra padding heading into the ninth.

 

St. Louis (AL) (H) 4 Cleveland 2

 

The Browns scored three times in the first and led 4-0 after the third and Johnny Niggeling (10-9, 4.18) picked up the hard-fought home win.

 

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

 

A two-run single by second baseman Skippy Roberge as the big hit in Boston's four-run third and Manny Salvo (8-17, 4.38) went all the way for the win.

 

Philadelphia (NL) 10 Brooklyn (H) 9

 

With nothing left to play for both teams took the opportunity to clear their benches and give everyone a chance on the field. The Dodgers led early, fell behind, went back ahead, fell behind again, and then made it close with two runs in the ninth, but Rube Melton was called upon to finally get that third out in the ninth.

 

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

 

Howie Pollet (5-3, 2.64) and the Cardinals bullpen held the Cubs to two hits and got a shutout victory. Left fielder Stan Musial (.512) went 4-for-5 and drove in four runs to spark the offense.

 

Cincinnati 7 Pittsburgh (H) 0

 

Elmer Riddle (15-6, 1.91) and the Reds bullpen held the Pirates to four hits and got a shutout victory. First baseman Frank McCormick hit a three-run homerun (#22) in the top of the seventh to blow open a tight game.

 

Sunday, September 28, 1941

 

Transactions: Major League Finales on this date (12): First baseman Al Flair (BSR), Pitcher Lefty Grove (BSR), Pitcher Tom Drake (BKN). Catcher George Pfister (BKN), Outfielder Barney Olsen (CHC), Outfielder Soup Campbell (CLE), Pitcher Bud Thomas (DET), Third baseman John Davis (NYG), First Baseman Johnny Sturm (NYY) (Played in 1941 World Series), Infielder Benny McCoy (PHA), outfielder Joe Marty (PHP), and Infielder Heinie Mueller (PHP).

 

Detroit (H) 3 Chicago (AL) 2

 

First baseman Rudy York hit a two-run homerun (#20) in the first and the Tigers took an early 3-0 lead and Tommy Bridges (6-12, 4.23) and the Tigers bullpen held off a late White Sox comeback for the win.

 

Washington 7 New York (AL) (H) 0

 

Sid Hudson (18-10, 3.85) shut out the Yankees and got the win over Marv Breuer (10-7, 4.85). This win ended the Nationals' five-game losing streak and allowed Washington to end the season with a 77-77 record.

 

Ted Williams

Boston (AL) 9 Philadelphia (AL) (H) 0 (GM 1)

Ted Williams hit a homerun (#47) in the sixth to start the Red Sox scoring and then Williams hit a three-run triple in the top of the ninth as the big hit in a six-run outburst. Williams went 2-for-5 and ended the game hitting .468.

 

Boston (AL) 9 Philadelphia (AL) (H) 2 (GM 2)

 

The A's led 2-1 after the fourth but then Red Sox scored five times in the top of the fifth and ran away to the easy win and the doubleheader sweep. Lefty Grove (8-7, 4.56) got the win in his final major league appearance and Ted Williams went 3-for-4 to end the season hitting .470. Williams also hit another homerun (#48), which gave him 160 RBI's for the season, all leading the league, and giving Williams the triple crown.

 

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

 

The Browns scored three runs in the first and won quite easily, handing Cleveland their third consecutive loss and preventing them from reaching the .500 mark. Bob Muncrief (20-7, 2.74) got the win as three Cleveland errors led to a total of five unearned runs.

 

Boston (NL) (H) 3 New York (NL) 0

 

The Braves scored single runs in the fifth, sixth, and eighth inning to close out their season with a win over New York. Art Johnson (4-10, 4.74) took home the win.

 

Philadelphia (NL) 5 Brooklyn (H) 4

 

The Phillies scored two runs in the top of the eighth and held on to finish their season with a win in Brooklyn. Rube Melton (3-6, 4.68) picked up the win in relief while Kirby Higbe (21-16, 2.19) was handed the loss.

 

Stan Musial

St. Louis (NL) 6 Chicago (NL) (H) 1

St. Louis won their finale as rookie left fielder Stan Musial went 4-for-5 (.542) with three runs scored, an RBI, and three doubles to end his inaugural season.

 

Pittsburgh (H) 3 Cincinnati 2 (11)

 

The Pirates snapped their two-game losing streak to finally grab a win and finish at .500. Pinch-hitter Rip Sewell's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eleventh brought home second baseman Stu Martin with the game-winner