Posted on 07/07/2008 5:39:54 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
It was only the Nationals’ second victory in the six classics played, but to the 27,067 who paid to jam every available inch of Crosley Field, it was a struggle long to be remembered.
For the gathering, strictly National League and bursting with civic pride at the spectacle of four of its amazing Reds in the starting line-up of the victors, roared and roared every step of the way as first Johnny Vander Meer, Cincinnati’s sensational rookie left-hander, then Bill Lee of the Cubs and finally Mace Brown of the Pirates held the dreaded sluggers of the American League to seven hits and a lone tally, which did not make its appearance until one was out in the ninth.
There was even a fourth pitching great of the National League hovering in the background. Although he never got into the struggle, his very presence tuning up in the bull pen seemed to weigh down upon the straining foe. For he was the lean Carl Hubbell, whom the adroit Terry held in reserve from the fouth inning on.
It was a tight, nerve-wracking battle which the American Leaguers, with Lefty Gomez, Johnny Allen and Bob Grove on the firing line, did not relish at all to the end that they finally bogged down under a mess of four errors that made three of the four runs the Nationals rolled up unearned.
A grievous misplay by Joe Cronin, the Red Sox pilot, set Gomez back for a tally in the first inning and two errors on one play, a wild heave by Jimmy Foxx to an uncovered base and another wild toss by Joe DiMaggio, sent two runs scurrying across the plate in the seventh against the venerable Grove.
The lone earned tally for the National Leaguers was struck in the fourth and so far as the crowd was concerned the making of it provided the finest sight of the day. For, though a triple by Melvin Ott of the Giants paved the way, the mighty Ernie Lombardi, ponderous catcher of the Reds, followed with a blazing single to left to send Master Melvin home.
Vander Meer, recent hero of the two successive no-hit games, allowed the American Leaguers one hit, a single by Cronin, in his three innings, a performance also without precedent when it is considered that up to today the 22-year-old Dutchman never had seen an All-Star game.
The tall, strapping right-handed Lee pitched equally well, also allowing one hit and that a very fluky one. It was a pop fly over the infield by Bill Dickey that Leo Durocher lost in the sun for a double.
In the closing three rounds the American Leaguers began to rumble and there were moments when it looked as if Brown, regarded as the weakest of the National League’s pitching trio, surely would go under.
Indeed, one almost could have heard a pin drop in the seventh when, with the bases full and two out, Marse Joe pulled what he doubtless deemed his master stroke when he called upon the sensational Rudy York of the Tigers to pinch hit for Allen. But with the count three and two, the Pirate right-hander fanned Detroit’s renowned home-run clouter and the noise that followed was positively ear-splitting.
This seemed to remove the final pressure from the shoulders of the National Leaguers, who in the same inning doubled their earlier output of runs, so that when a DiMaggio single and a Cronin double gave the McCarthy forces their tally in the ninth it caused no great concern. For the Terry troops still had left a margin of three and good old Hub was still toiling in the bull pen, ready for the emergency call which never came.
It was, indeed, in sharp contrast to the battle of a year ago in Washington when the might of the world champion Yankees literally tore the National Leaguers apart. For this time the Yanks had only two of their stars, DiMaggio and Dickey, in the line-up for the entire game and each contributed only one hit.
Two others toiled part time. Gomez pitched the first three innings, allowed only two hits and yet was charged with the defeat, for the run scored in the first inning kept his side behind for the remainder of the game. As a result, Lucky Lefty, five times victorious in world series competition and winner of three previous All-Star games, lost his first decision to a National League rival.
The other Yankee part-timer was Lou Gehrig. Sidetracked at the start for Foxx as the American League’s first baseman, Lou finally got into the struggle in the fifth, when he batted for Third Baseman Buddy Lewis. Lou then continued at first while Foxx replaced Lewis at third in the game.
While this kept the Iron Horse’s record intact in having appeared in all six All-Star games to date, he contributed no thundering blows. His best in three tries at the plate was an infield hit which helped fill the bases in that memorable seventh.
It was clear, sunny and insufferably hot as the rival forces gathered for baseball’s midsummer classic and there was a grimness about the Nationals not to be mistaken. Taunts that they were the “inferior league” by reason of their numerous All-Star and world series defeats in recent years apparently had found a mark and they were out for vindication.
It started coming their way as early as the first when Stan Hack, Cub third sacker, slapped Gomez for a single to left. His team-mate, Billy Herman, bounced a tantalizing grounder to short which hopped through Cronin’s legs for the first error and Hack was on third.
There was an expectant roar as Ival Goodman, the Reds home run clouter came up, but Gomez fanned Ival and the crowd groaned. However, Joe Medwick, lone entry of the once mighty Cardinals in this struggle, came along with a long fly to Earl Averill in center and Hack scored after the catch.
The National Leaguers were one up and so far as Vander Meer was concerned the margin was all he needed. He retired the first six men to face him with only one of them, Mike Kreevich of the White Sox as lead-off hitter, lifting a fly to the outfield.
Cronin broke the spell momentarily with a single that opened the third, but the youngster quickly regained his poise and three more easy outs were recorded. Vander Meer received a thunderous ovation as he walked off the field at the close of his stint and fittingly enough, as his team remained ahead to the end, the victory was awarded to him.
There was a slight flurry at the start of the fourth as Lee opened with a pass to Charlie Gehringer who, besides Gehrig, was the only player on the field making his sixth All-Star appearance.
Although Hubbell at once was ordered to warm up in the bull pen, Lee never needed assistance. During his three rounds only one other rival got on base; Dickey on his scratch double in the fifth.
Allen, like Gomez, allowed only two hits for his middle three rounds but they were costly to the extent of giving the Nationals another tally in the fourth when Ott slammed into the Indians’ star right-hander for a triple against the center field fence and Lombardi followed with his eye-filling single. After that, Allen held matters in a tight grip while his comrades still sought in vain for a run.
Grove’s appearance in the seventh was met with almost immediate disaster. Frank McCormick, the fourth Redleg in the game, opened with a single to center. Durocher then attempted a sacrifice, but what followed looked more like a mild jam in a six-day bike race.
Foxx, now playing third, tore in for the ball and fired it to first only to find neither Gehrig nor Gehringer there. As the ball bounded into the right-field bull pen, McCormick scored while Leo also kept going. From a scramble of American League players, DiMaggio retrieved the ball and back to the plate the ball sped, only to sail yards beyond Dickey’s reach.
So the Dodger shortstop, who at this moment must have thought he was back in Brooklyn, also counted to give the National Leaguers two runs for the inning before the veteran Grove had retired a man.
These tallies made it decisive, especially since in the upper half of this same seventh the American Leaguers had had their big moment to put themselves back in the ball game and missed.
Foxx opened against Brown with an infield hit to Durocher. Then Jimmy was forced by DiMaggio, who stole second. Dickey was retired on a high infield fly, but Cronin drew a pass and when Gehrig outgalloped an infield hit to Durocher the bases were full.
The sweltering crowd scarcely dared to move while Brown matched wits with the robust York, but when Rudy swung and missed for the third strike the gathering really went to town.
What followed was all anti-climax. DiMaggio, hitless in his first three tries, finally drove a single to left to open the ninth. Dickey followed with a wallop to left center that looked like more trouble as Medwick and Ott, the latter playing the strange role of center field for the National Leaguers, tore in pursuit. Medwick finally caught up with it, speared the ball in his outstretched glove and went down in a heap. But he held the white pill and there was one out.
Cronin then came along with a drive to the same sector and this time it went beyond Medwick’s reach for a double that sent DiMaggio over the plate.
But the tally merely enabled the American Leaguers to squirm out of a shut-out. Gehrig’s best was to drive Goodman back to the right-field bleachers for the second out and Marse Joe then played his last card. He called upon Bob Johnson, the Athletics’ clouting outfielder, to bat for Grove. But Bob, after keeping the tension going as long as he could, took a third strike and the conflict was over.
The gate receipts were $38,469, with taxes deducted. After the further deduction of about $10,000 expenses, the remainder of the proceeds will go to the Ball Players’ Benevolent Fund.
Acting Police Chief William C. Adams had a picked squad of plain-clothes men patroling all public places, particularly hotels, the Union Terminal, and bus and street car terminals.
At Crosley Field 200 policemen maintained order and kept traffic moving smoothly.
SYRACUSE, N. Y., July 6 (AP).-The Brooklyn Dodgers, with Babe Ruth in the line-up, scored a 9-0 victory over the Chiefs and a jayvee club tonight before 11,000 fans, a capacity house. Ruth had a single in three times at bat.
It was a tight, nerve-wracking battle which the American Leaguers, with Lefty Gomez, Johnny Allen and Bob Grove on the firing line, did not relish at all to the end that they finally bogged down under a mess of four errors that made three of the four runs the Nationals rolled up unearned.
Anybody want to try to diagram this sentence? I think John Drebinger bogged down under a mess of factoids vying for simultaneous expression.
I would not have enjoyed watching this game in Cincinnati heat & humidity; it was a day game. Even though many major league parks were installing lights at the time, the All Star Game was still played during the day. Probably on a weekend.
I would really have enjoyed watching the game for the players involved. Look at the Hall of Famers:
AL:
Cronin
Gehrig
Gehringer
Foxx
DiMaggio
Greenberg
Gomez
Grove
Feller was on the roster but did not pitch, and Ferrell did not play
Williams was one year away from joining the Red Sox.
NL
Durocher
Hermann
Hartnett (did not play)
Hubbell (did not pitch)
Lombardi
Medwick
Ott
VanDer Meer did not go to the HOF, but that season had previously pitched back to back no-hitters.
I would have enjoyed watching those guys in their prime.
On another sad note, I believe this was Gehrig’s last All-Star appearance.
Here is a story about another All-Star game.
There is a short article about Ruth as a Dodger in this post from back in July at All-Star time.
Thanks!
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