The series-deciding Game 5 between the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Athletics didn’t look like much of a game. Rube Walberg allowed Tiger runs in each of the 1st 3 innings, capped by a Goose Goslin 2-run homer. Meanwhile, Schoolboy Rowe was pitching well, holding Philadelphia to just 3 runs after 7 innings. When Hank Greenberg hit a leadoff solo shot in the 8th to chase Walberg, and the Tigers added 2 more runs on a Jo-Jo White single off reliever Eddie Rommel, Detroit seemed destined to take the series. Leading 8-3, Rowe retired the 1st two batters he faced in the 8th. That’s when things went wrong. Rowe walked the next 3 batters he faced before Detroit brought in Vic Sorrell. But Sorrell allowed an infield single for one run, walked in another run, uncorked a wild pitch to allow another to score, and allowed another RBI single. Roxie Lawson was brought in to save the inning, but Mule Haas hit an RBI double to tie things up before the inning ended with an 8-8 score. Mickey Cochrane, Charlie Gehringer, and Greenberg, the heart of the Tiger order, all flew out. Jimmie Foxx led off the Athletic 9th with a double in the gap. Lawson’s frustration came out as he hit Bing Miller with the next pitch. He was immediately ejected. Jimmy Dykes, already 3 for 3 on the day with two doubles and a walk, drilled a Chief Hogsett pitch into the gap for a walk-off single, as Philly came from behind to win it 9-8. They will advance to face the 1933 Washington Senators, as the Tigers drop to the Loser’s Bracket to face the 1939 New York Yankees.

’35 Tigers @ ’31 Athletics – 9/14/23

Rain could have given the Philadelphia Athletics a big advantage against the Detroit Tigers. After yesterday’s rainout, Lefty Grove was able to take the mound for the A’s against Tiger starter Tommy Bridges. Roy Mahaffey was initially slated to start for Philadelphia. Grove overcame a rough start where he allowed 3 runs in the 1st 2 innings. But the Athletics ace didn’t allow another hit until the 7th. Philadelphia hitters took Bridges deep 3 times. Jimmy Dykes and Eric McNair had solo shots in the 2nd and 3rd. Jimmie Foxx added a 2-run double to give the Athletics a 4-3 lead after 3 innings. Bridges pitched out of jams in the middle innings before Dib Williams hit a 3-run blast with 2 outs in the 7th to put Philadelphia up 7-3. Williams’ home run traveled an estimated 433 feet. Goose Goslin hit a homer of his own in the 8th to cut the lead to 7-4, but that’s as close as the Tigers would get, as Grove pitched a complete game, allowing 10 hits and 4 runs in 9 innings. The series is now tied heading back to Philadelphia tomorrow for the deciding Game 5. The winner will advance to face the 1933 Washington Nationals, while the loser gets the 1939 New York Yankees in the Loser’s Bracket.

’31 Athletics @ ’35 Tigers – 9/13/23

Paul Derringer and Roy Parmalee battled each other in a pitcher’s duel for 5 innings, as the St. Louis Cardinals topped the New York Giants 4-3 to even the series and force Game 5. Derringer struck out the side in the 3rd, but allowed 3 straight singles to lead off the 4th as the Giants took a 1-0 lead. But poor baserunning saved the Cardinals from worse. Lefty O’Doul hit a long flyball to the gap, but George Watkins was able to make a great catch. Watkins threw out Mel Ott trying to go to 3rd, and Sparky Adams threw to 2nd to get Travis Jackson for a triple-play. The Cardinals carried the momentum into the 6th, when Chick Hafey hit a 2-run home run to put St. Louis up 3-1. A Charlie Gelbert error led to 2 unearned runs in the 7th as the Giants tied it up. It was Hafey who came through again in the 8th with a clutch RBI single with 2 outs to give the Cardinals the lead. The GIants threated in the 9th when George Watkins doubled with one out, but Derringer struck out pinch-hitters Harry Danning and Phil Weintraub to end the game. The teams will have a day off as they travel back to St. Louis for Game 5.

’31 Cardinals @ ’34 Giants – 9/12/23

Washington starter Monte Weaver loaded the bases in the 1st inning with two outs, but escaped allowing just one run. That summed up the frustration in Game 3 for the New York Yankees, as they left 15 runners on base. The Senators put up a big 4th inning against Atley Donald, starting with a bases-loaded walk by Ossie Blueage. Buddy Myer hit a 2-run double a few batters later and scored on Heinie Manush’s triple to give Washington a 6-1 lead. But the Yankees weren’t done. Facing the sweep, Donald retired the next 11 batters he faced, and New York chipped away at Weaver and the lead. Babe Dahlgren hit a 2-run single after Joe Cronin’s 2-out error to make it 6-4, and Charlie Keller had another 2-out RBI in the 8th to cut the lead to one. Washington reliever Alex McColl walked Frankie Crosetti and George Selkirk with 2 outs in the 9th, but Red Rolfe flew out to Manush to end the game. Joe DiMaggio was 1 for 4 in the game, and is only hitting .167 so far in the Tournament. Myer finished 2 for 4. The loss drops the top-seeded Yankees down to the Loser’s Bracket as Washington waits for the winner of the 1931 Athletics and 1935 Tigers.

’39 Yankees @ ’33 Senators – 9/11/23

The Cardinals’ George Watkins hit a solo home run off Freddie Fitzsimmons in the 1st inning, but it didn’t take long for Giants slugger Mel Ott to put them back on top and make his mark on the game. St. Louis starter Flint Rhem faced Ott with 2 runners on in the 1st. That’s when Ott launched a 3-run homer to give New York the lead. But Ott wasn’t done there. After popping out in the 3rd, he hit an RBI double in the 4th, a single in the 7th, and another 2-run shot in the 8th. That homer traveled an estimated 468′ deep into the right-center field stands at the Polo Grounds. Ott finished 4 for 5 with his 2 homers and 6 RBI. Ott has now homered in each of the 3 games against St. Louis. Meanwhile, Fitzsimmons allowed just 7 hits, 3 of those to Ripper Collins, and 3 runs in a complete game 10-3 victory and a 2-1 series lead. The Giants will look to put the series away tomorrow to advance to play the 1935 Chicago Cubs in the Winner’s Bracket.

’31 Cardinals @ ’34 Giants – 9/11/23

Facing a 6-1 deficit in the 7th inning, and a sweep by the 1935 Chicago Cubs, the 1939 Cincinnati Reds seemed on the verge of another disappointing loss. But Lee Gamble, Billy Werber, and Lonny Frey notched 3 straight one-out base hits to score one run, and Ival Goodman grounded out to score another. That’s when Billy Herman bobbled an easy grounder. Billy Myers followed with a 2-run homer to tie the game at 6 against starter Larry French. In the 9th, Chuck Klein drilled what seemed to be a leadoff double, but after appeal was called out for missing first base. An argument ensued, and Klein was ejected. Gabby Hartnett finally singled in Herman for the go-ahead run off Milt Shoffner, pitching in his 4th inning of relief in the 11th. Meanwhile, Cubs reliever Tex Carleton pitched 4 perfect innings of relief to pick up the 7-6 win and send the Cincinnati Reds to the Loser’s Bracket. The Cubs will face the winner of the ’31 Cardinals and ’34 Giants.

’35 Cubs @ ’39 Reds – 9/11/23

At home at Navin Field, the Detroit Tigers took back the series lead against the Philadelphia Athletics, scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st before recording their 1st out. Pete Fox and Mickey Cochrane led off with singles against George Earnshaw. Charlie Gehringer followed with an RBI double. That brought up Hank Greenberg, who hit his 1st home run of the Tournament, a 3-run shot that gave Detroit a 4-0 lead. Gee Walker hit a 2-run homer in the 4th, his 2nd of the Tourney. Gehringer added a solo jack in the 5th. Tiger starter General Crowder ran into trouble in the 5th himself, loading the bases and walking in a run before retiring Dib Williams and Eric McNair. The Athletics put two runners on in the 9th against Firpo Marberry, but couldn’t score as Detroit took the game 7-3. The Athletics will need to win tomorrow in Detroit to force a Game 5 back in Philadelphia.

’31 Athletics @ ’35 Tigers – 9/11/23