Facing a trip to the Loser’s Bracket, the 1935 Chicago Cubs held on for a 5-3 victory to force Game 5 against the 1931 St. Louis Cardinals. Charlie Root took the mound for the first time and induced 5 Cardinals double plays, allowing 11 hits and a walk, but only 3 runs to lead Chicago. St. Louis grounded into a double play in each of the 1st four innings. St. Louis’ Bill Hallahan was left still searching for his 1st victory of the Tournament. The Cubs scored a run in the 2nd and broke out for 3 more in the 3rd to stake an early lead. They could have scored more, but two runners were thrown out at the plate. Frank Demaree and Stan Hack led the Chicago offense, each going 3 for 5. Overall, Hallahan allowed 12 hits and walked 3 while striking out 5 in his complete game loss. The teams will head back to Wrigley Field for the decisive Game 5 of the series. The loser will face the 1934 New York Giants in the Loser’s Bracket.

’35 Cubs @ ’31 Cardinals – 9/19/23

Earl Whitehill’s struggles against the 1931 Philadelphia Athletics continued in a big way today. The Washington ace lasted just 6 2/3 allowing 10 hits and 5 runs in his 1st start against the Athletics. This time, he didn’t make it out of the 3rd inning, as Philadelphia collected 7 hits and 4 walks to score 9 runs off Whitehill. Jimmy Dykes set the tone with a base-clearing double with 2 outs in the 1st. Jimmie Foxx led off the 3rd with his 1st home run of the Tournament. Monte Weaver did better in relief against Philadelphia, allowing just one earned run in 5 1/3 innings. Rube Walberg was a little wild for the Athletics, allowing 8 hits, but walking another 8 in 8 innings. But Washington could only plate 3 runs, losing the game 13-3. The loss drops the Nationals to the Loser’s Bracket where they will have a rematch with the 1939 New York Yankees. They swept the Yankees in 3 games in their first series. The Athletics will wait for the winner to determine the American League champion.

’31 Athletics @ ’33 Senators – 9/19/23

One game after being shutout by Carl Hubbell, the Cincinnati Reds were held to just one run and 4 hits by New York Giants starter Roy Parmelee. It continued the Cincinnati struggles at the plate. The Reds managed just one hit and one walk after the 3rd inning. Bucky Walters was also good, but a Billy Werber error in the 2nd led to an unearned run. Bill Terry’s double scored Jo-Jo Moore in the 5th to give the Giants a lead. Walters went the distance, allowing 8 hits, but fell to 1-3 in the Tournament. It was Parmelee’s 1st win. The 2-1 loss ends the 1939 Cincinnati Reds’ run in the Tournament as they fall to New York 3 games to 1. The Giants advance to play the loser of the Cubs/Cardinals series.

’34 Giants @ ’39 Reds – 9/19/23

Pitching on 3 days rest, Carl Hubbell allowed just 6 hits, shutting out the 1939 Cincinnati Reds to give the New York Giants a 2-1 series lead. Mel Ott’s triple drove in a run in the 1st inning off Whitey Moore. Ott would hit a home run to lead off the 6th, giving him a Tournament-leading 7 homers in 8 games. The Giants scored one run in each of the last 4 innings of the game, several of those thanks to a single-game record of 4 sacrifice hits. Meanwhile, Cincinnati never had more than one baserunner in any inning. They are now just one game away from elimination.

’34 Giants @ ’39 Reds – 9/18/23

Facing elimination, Detroit’s Tommy Bridges was pitching the most important game of his tournament. But it only took the 1939 New York Yankees 3 hitters to get their 1st run on the board when Tommy Henrich hit an RBI double. Meanwhile, New York’s Atley Donald stepped up in a big way, holding the 1935 Detroit Tigers to just 5 hits and 2 runs in 7 1/3 inning. By the time the Tigers scored their 1st run, they were already down 7-0. Joe DiMaggio, who had been struggling all tournament, started cold, but finished hot, hitting his 1st home run and a 9th inning double, driving in 4 runs. In the end, the Tigers offense never really found their rhythm. Only two starters hit over .300 in the Tournament. As Detroit heads home, New York waits for the Winner’s Bracket loser to try to continue their run.

’39 Yankees @ ’35 Tigers – 9/18/23

Facing a series sweep, Chicago Cubs hurler Larry French went the distance, scattering 10 hits and allowing just 2 runs to a St. Louis Cardinals club that scored 11 in each of their last two games. Both runs French allowed were unearned. The Chicago offense got things going early against Flint Rhem, with Augie Galan homering to lead off the game. Chicago loaded the bases and added another run in the 2nd. Taking advantage of a Frankie Frisch error, the Cubs scored 3 unearned runs in the 4th, thanks in part to Billy Herman’s 2-run double. Rhem lasted just 6 innings, allowing 7 runs and 7 hits while walking 5. He’s now 0-2 in the Tournament. The 7-2 victory gives Chicago new life, though they’re still down 2-1 in the series. The lower of the series will drop to the Loser’s Brackett. Herman finished 2 for 4 with 3 RBI. He’s hitting .407 in the Tournament.

’35 Cubs @ ’31 Cardinals – 9/18/23

Buddy Myer hit a leadoff triple in the 1st inning off Philadelphia Athletics starter Lefty Grove, and Heinie Manush followed with a double and scored, but Washington couldn’t keep the 2-run lead. Al Simmons hit a 2-run double of his own in the 3rd to tie the game. That tie stood until the 10th inning. Alex McColl pitched two perfect innings of relief for the Senators. In the bottom of the 10th, Luke Sewell walked to lead off the inning and stole 2nd. Myer’s deep drive to center moved Sewell to 3rd, and Manush followed with another deep fly ball of his own, scoring Sewell to win it 3-2 for Washington. The win keeps the Senators hopes alive in the winner’s bracket. Philadelphia still holds a 2-1 lead in the series with one more game to play in Washington. Grove fell to 1-2 with the loss.

Athletics @ Senators – 9/18/23

For the 2nd straight game, the 1931 St. Louis Cardinals battered the 1935 Chicago Cubs for 11 runs. This time, Cardinals starter Syl Johnson didn’t allow a Cubs runner to even get into scoring position. Johnson allowed just 6 hits and struck out 2 in his complete game shutout. Meanwhile, the Cardinals offense kept rolling, scoring 9 runs on 14 hits in 7 innings against Lon Warneke, and 2 more runs on relief pitcher Fabian Kowalik. Jim Bottomley was 4 for 5 with 3 doubles and 3 runs scored, and Chick Hafey hit a 3-run homer to lead the Cardinals offense. The Cubs head to St. Louis, where they will try to avoid the sweep.

’31 Cardinals @ ’35 Cubs – 9/16/23