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THE 20's: - 1921 - 1922 - 1923 - 1926 - 1927 - 1928
Complete Composite Statistics and Box Scores at Baseball-Almanac.com

1921 World Series

"Babe Ruth found baseball lying in the gutter as a result of the Chicago White Sox World Series scandal in 1919. He reached down with his bat and lifted it to the status of America's national pastime." - Waite Hoyt

PINSTRIPE PERSPECTIVES: Events off the field

The first burial of an unidentified soldier who had been killed in France during WWI was held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on November 11th. On Memorial Day, 1958, the bodies of two other unknown soldiers; one of whom had died in World War II, the other during the Korean War, were also buried in the tomb, which was later renamed the Tomb of the Unknowns.

The United States, Britain, Japan, France and Italy met for the Washington Naval Convention and agreed on a treaty limiting worldwide naval powers. The treaty called for a ratio of naval ships of five to five to three to 1.7 to 1.7. As a result, for every five large ships in the U.S. British fleets, Japan could have three, and France and Italy, 1.7. The United States also agreed to scuttle thirty of its own war ships as a result of the treaty.

FALL CLASSIC: New York Giants (5) vs. New York Yankees (3)

If the 1920 season had left Boston wondering if they had made a mistake, then the 1921 season surely removed any doubt. Babe Ruth was in New York and breaking his own records for the second consecutive season. As the Red Sox were struggling to stay competitive, the Yankees were still getting used to winning, after coming off of a third place American League finish during the Babe's "rookie" season in a pinstriped uniform. Nothing changed in 1921, as their new acquisition raised his homerun record to a staggering fifty-nine, his RBI total to one hundred seventy-one and his batting average to .378 on the way to their first American League pennant and World Series appearance. The Babe wasn't alone though, as teammate Bob Meusel contributed twenty-four homers and one hundred thirty-five RBIs and the rest of the Yankees batted .288 or higher. Two other ex-Red Sox, Carl Mays (a twenty-seven game winner) and Waite Hoyt (with nineteen) added insult to injury while Bob Shawkey added eighteen more victories.

The National League's Giants were veterans to the Fall Classic and had plenty to smile about themselves. With a lineup of lumberjacks that included Frankie Frisch, Ross Youngs, George Kelly and Irish Meusel and a solid pitching staff known as the "fearsome foursome" (Art Nehf, Fred Toney, Jesse Barnes and Phil Douglas), they promised to give Babe Ruth and his re-born Yankees a run for their money. In the first World Series to be played entirely in one ballpark (the Polo Grounds), the Big Apple's "rival roommates" squared off in the first official Subway Series. Despite rumors of Ruth on the mound, Miller Huggins gave the Game 1 start to Carl Mays while John McGraw selected Phil Douglas. The Yankee's pitchers quickly set the tone for the Series with an opening 3-0 victory that was repeated the following day with a two hit, 3-0 triumph by Waite Hoyt.

Down but not out, the Giants managed to come back in Game 3 after trailing four runs in the fourth inning. After tying it up in the bottom of the inning, McGraw's team rallied for eight runs in the seventh, thanks to Ross Youngs' bases-loaded triple. In the end, the Yankees had blinked and were taken for twenty hits and a 13-5 victory that turned the momentum back to the veterans. The Giants continued, as Douglas returned the following day and vindicated himself with a 4-2 win that tied the Series at two games apiece. Game 5 was even more dramatic, as an injured Babe Ruth shocked everyone with a key bunt in the fourth inning, setting up the winning run off a Bob Meusel double. The Yankees had regained their composure and walked away with a 3-1 Series leading victory, but at a terrible cost as their most valuable player would be unable to continue due to arm and knee ailments.

Despite the absence of the Babe, the Yankees still felt confident with their remaining lineup. That was until they lost Game 6, 8-5 and Game 7, 2-1. Great performances at the plate by Irish Meusel and Frank Snyder as well as a solid outing on the mound by Phil Douglas had put the Giants out in front. Game 8 evolved into a classic pitcher's duel between Waite Hoyt and Art Nehf, who led the standoff 1-0 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. In a last chance effort, the desperate Yankee skipper went to his bench and replaced the struggling Wally Pipp (who had batted a miserable .154) with the still injured Babe Ruth who grounded out to first. Two plays later, the Series was over with the Giants winning five games to three.

Although they had fallen short in their first World Series appearance, the Yankees had shown a glimpse of what would become a dynasty. Waite Hoyt had not allowed a single earned run in twenty-seven innings and Carl Mays had been just as effective with an ERA of 1.73 over twenty-six. Ruth batted an impressive .313 and added his first World Series home run and four RBIs. After four straight losses, the Giants had finally reclaimed the championship title for the first time since 1905.

BOMBER BYTES: from Baseball-Almanac.com

Waite Hoyt was called upon in Game 8 to take the Yankees to the promised-land. With two (2) wins and no (0) earned runs through seven, he pitched a complete game, allowed six (6) hits, and no (0) earned runs - yet lost due to an unearned run scored on an error in the first inning.

This was the first time in history where two teams from New York played against each other in the World Series; however, Chicago was the first to host an all-city championship in the 1906 World Series.

The home run hit by Babe Ruth in Game 4 during the bottom of the ninth inning was the first World Series home run of his career.

1922 World Series

"The Giants' four victories-to-none triumph - with one tie, of course - would prove (John) McGraw's third and last World Series championship. Ruth and company, frustrated by the events of 1922, were still seeking their first." - The Sporting News

PINSTRIPE PERSPECTIVES: Events off the field

On March 20th, at Norfolk, Virginia, the U.S.S. Langely was commissioned as the first United States Naval Aircraft Carrier. Originally a coaler christened the Jupiter, the mammoth vessel was refurbished for the purpose of conducting experiments in the new idea of seaborne aviation. At the outbreak of World War II, Langley was anchored off Cavite, Philippine Islands and was ordered to proceed to Balikpapan, Borneo, and Darv, in Australia, where she assisted the RAAF in running antisubmarine patrols out of Darwin. She was then assigned to American-British-Dutch-Australian forces assembling in Indonesia to challenge the Japanese thrust in that direction. Early in the morning of February 27th, 1942, Langley rendezvoused with her usual antisubmarine screen of Navy destroyers as nine twin-engine enemy bombers attacked her. The first and second Japanese strikes were unsuccessful; but during the third Langley took five hits igniting several planes on the flight deck. After an unsuccessful attempt to extinguish the flames, the order to abandon ship was passed. The escorting destroyers fired nine four-inch shells and two torpedoes into the old tender to insure her sinking and she went down about seventy-five miles south of Tjilatjap with a loss of sixteen.

FALL CLASSIC: New York Giants (4) vs. New York Yankees (0)

The defending American League champion Yankees entered the 1922 season still recovering from a devastating loss to the Giants and without two of their star players. Both Babe Ruth and Bob Meusel had been suspended for an unauthorized barnstorming tour after the 1921 Series. To make matters worse, Commissioner Landis handed Ruth additional suspensions after several run-ins with umpires and other indiscretions off the field. In fact, the Babe did not play until May 20th and had only made one hundred ten appearances out of one hundred fifty-four games at the end of the pennant race. His stats plummeted as a result, dropping him to third in homers (with thirty-five) and out of the top five for RBI's (with ninety-nine). Still, the Yankees managed to hold onto their American League crown and prepared for a rematch against the defending World Champion New York Giants.

The Yankees continued to pillage the Boston Red Sox, acquiring Everett Scott and Joe Dugan as well as Whitey Witt from the Philadelphia Athletics. The Giants had made some great deals too, in trading for third baseman Heinie Groh and pitcher Jack Scott. Once again, New York was host to its second consecutive Subway Series, which had finally reverted back to a best-of-seven format.

Game 1 found the Giants in familiar territory, as they rebounded from a 2-0 deficit in the eighth inning on their way to a 3-2 victory. Newly acquired Heinie Groh performed exceptionally well, going three-for-three despite the best efforts of Joe Bush, who had shut out his hometown rivals through seven innings. Things started differently in Game 2, as the Giants quickly set the pace with a three-run homer off Yankee veteran Bob Shawkey in the top of the first inning. Not to be outdone, the Yankees managed to tie it up with runs in the first, fourth and eighth innings. Both sides dug in for what promised to be a dramatic finish, but umpire George Hildebrand insisted on calling the game due to "darkness" after the tenth inning. With at least a ½ hour of sunlight left, the fans were outraged and demanded the official's resignation. In an effort to make the best of a bad public relations situation, the league decided that the gate receipts would be donated to various New York charities.

Babe Ruth's difficulties had continued to plague him well into the post-season, and it wasn't looking any better for Game 3. At this point in the Series, the Sultan of Swat had gone two-for-eight with one measly RBI and his teammates weren't looking any better. Giant's pitcher Jack Scott, who had compiled an impressive 8-2 record in only seventeen games, blanked the Yankees with a four hit, 3-0 triumph and set a momentum that would last for the rest of the Series. Hugh McQuillan took the mound for the Nationals in Game 4 and notched a complete 4-3 win, backed up by the slugging of Dave Bancroft. Art Nehf returned for Game 5 and the clincher (as he had in the previous year) in a 5-3 triumph that netted the Giants their second consecutive title. Not only had the Giants pitching staff dominated the last three games for a back-to-back championship, but they had done so while holding baseball's greatest slugger to a miserable zero-for-nine record. The Bambino wound up with two hits in seventeen at-bats for a .118 average and his teammates hit only .203 as a team.

BOMBER BYTES: from Baseball-Almanac.com

The 1919 World Series, 1920 World Series and 1921 World Series were all played in a best-of-nine format. The 1922 World Series resurrected the practice of playing a best-of-seven format.

When Game 2 was called after the end of the tenth inning by umpires due to darkness (though various New York based newspaper accounts state there was between 34 and 43 minutes of "good playing light" still available), fans threw bottles and seat cushions onto the playing field.

The first tie game in a World Series (American League vs. National League) took place during the 1907 World Series. The second took place during the 1912 World Series and this one was the third - and last - World Series tie game.

1923 World Series

"It is a thrilling thought that perhaps 2,500 years from now archaeologists, spading up the ruins of Harlem and the lower Bronx, will find arenas that outsize anything that the ancient Romans and Greeks built." - The Philadelphia Enquirer (1923)

PINSTRIPE PERSPECTIVES: Events off the field

President Warren G. Harding suddenly fell ill on July 28th while returning from a trip to Alaska and was rushed to a San Francisco hospital where he died of a heart attack on August 2nd. Harding's undeviating Republicanism and vibrant speaking voice led him far in Ohio politics. He originally served in the state Senate and as Lieutenant Governor, but unsuccessfully ran for state Governor later. Harding's career soared after he delivered the nominating address for President Taft at the 1912 Republican Convention and he was eventually elected to the Senate in 1914. Many local supporters began to promote Harding for the 1920 Republican nomination and he went on to win the Presidential election by an unprecedented landslide of sixty percent of the popular vote.

The second Ku Klux Klan movement in U.S. history was initiated stirring widespread controversy and racial violence. Professing itself nonpolitical, the Klan nevertheless controlled politics in many communities and in 1922, 1924, and 1926 elected many state officials and a number of Congressmen. Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana, Oregon, and Maine were particularly under its influence. Its collapse thereafter was largely due to state laws that forbade the wearing masks in public, which eliminated the secret element, and apparently from the declining interest of its members.

FALL CLASSIC: New York Giants (2) vs. New York Yankees (4)

The term "home field advantage" took on a whole new meaning in 1923 as baseball's grand cathedral, Yankees Stadium, opened much to the dismay of the Giants. Although the two-time defending champions would finally reclaim the Polo Grounds for themselves, the "House That Ruth Built" towered over their yard and featured an enormous seating capacity with an architectural beauty that was second to none. With the addition of a third ballpark, New York had established itself as the premier city for professional sports entertainment. A sports columnist from Philadelphia had written that thousands of years in the future, archeologists would uncover ruins in the lower Bronx that would resemble ancient Rome's coliseums. The Giants had generously shared their field with the Yankees (and Highlanders) since 1913 but now found themselves standing in the shadow of their cross-town rivals.

Although the Yankees had lost two consecutive World Series to the Giants, they were quickly becoming the more popular of the two teams. The (soon to be penned) Bronx Bombers boasted the game's top player, the largest arena, and the best record in baseball, after winning their third American League pennant by a sixteen game margin. Once again, the Subway Series was on, as the Yankees and the Giants met for the third consecutive year. In a strange twist, Giants' outfielder, Casey Stengel, who would later become one of the most successful and beloved Yankee managers, beat his future team in Game 1 with an inside-the-park home run off Joe Bush to break a 4-4 tie in the ninth inning. The Yankees record was now 0-9 (eight losses and one tie) in Series games against the Giants. But New York had Babe Ruth and he would have something to say about that. After a disappointing season plagued with suspensions and poor play in 1922, the Babe was back in action, hitting .394 and sharing the home run title with the Phillies' Cy Williams (with forty-one). He was in top form for Game 2, hitting home runs in the fourth and fifth innings on the way to a 4-2 victory at the Polo Grounds.

Game 1 hero Casey Stengel once again stole the spotlight in Game 3. Through six innings, the Yankees' Sam Jones and the Giants' Art Nehf were locked in a scoreless battle. Then, with one out in the seventh inning, Stengel homered into the right field stands at Yankee Stadium for the win. Not to be outdone, the Yankees dominated the next two outings while totaling sixteen runs with twenty-seven hits resulting in 8-4 and 8-1 victories. New York coasted through Games 4 and 5 on the arm of Joe Bush and the bat of Joe Dugan. Finally, the Yankees had beaten the Giants for their first world championship in their brand new stadium (which featured crowds in excess of 62,000 and over $1million dollars in ticket sales). In addition, Babe Ruth had finally beaten his post-season demons, hitting three home runs, a triple, a double and two singles while batting .368.

BOMBER BYTES: from Baseball-Almanac.com

The New York Giants hit three (3) triples and two (2) doubles during the 1923 World Series making them the third National League team (sixth overall) with more triples than doubles during a Fall Classic.

The 1923 World Series was the first to reach the $1 million plateau ($1,063,815.00) in terms of gate receipts? Review the gate receipts for every World Series on Baseball Almanac today.

Ironically the manager considered by many New York Yankee historians as their best ever, was their most challenging opponent. Casey Stengel led his New York Giants in home runs, runs batted in, bases on balls; tied his teammates in the runs scored department and hit a very memorable walk-off inside the park home run during Game 1 at Yankee Stadium.

1926 World Series

"I've cheated, or someone on my team has cheated, in almost every game I've been in." - Rogers Hornsby

PINSTRIPE PERSPECTIVES: Events off the field

U.S. troops were deployed to Nicaragua in May to help restore civil order after a revolt broke out against the new president Emiliano Chamorro. The resulting "Bryan-Chamorro Treaty" (terminated in 1970) granted the United States an option for a canal route through the country as well as the installation naval bases. For the majority of the century, Nicaragua's politics had been dominated by the competition for power between the Liberals, who were centered in the city of León, and the Conservatives who were centered in Granada.

Controversial radio host Father Coughlin began broadcasting his right-wing addresses in which he criticized such diverse groups as U.S. bankers, trade unionists, and Communists. Later, he organized the National Union for Social Justice, which denounced President Roosevelt's "New Deal" policies and advocated such measures as silver inflation as well as the nationalizing of banks, utilities, and many natural resources. Coughlin also published a magazine titled "Social Justice" in which he made increasingly anti-Semitic remarks directed especially at Jewish members of Wall Street.

FALL CLASSIC: St. Louis Cardinals (4) vs. New York Yankees (3)

Once again, the New York Yankees had risen to the top of the American League with solid pitching and spectacular hitting by the (soon to be penned) "Murderers". Babe Ruth was joined in the spotlight by two young up-and-coming sluggers named Lou Gehrig and Earle Combs, who hit .348 and .357 during the regular season. Their opponents, the National League's St. Louis Cardinals, had similar success with Rogers Hornsby, a .317 hitter, and pitchers Flint Rhem and Bill Sherdel, who had won twenty and sixteen games respectively.

Both teams looked to be strong on both sides of the plate, but the Yankees remained heavy favorites after dethroning the Giants' dynasty in the previous Series. Rookie Lou Gehrig had a fantastic debut in Game 1, driving in the winning run for a 6-3 opening victory. New York was not as fortunate in Game 2, as the Cardinals returned with a vengeance for a 6-2 payback. Grover Alexander went the distance against three Yankees pitchers, including Urban Shocker, Bob Shawkey (who came on in the eighth inning), and Sam Jones (who finished the ninth inning). Things didn't get any better for the favorites in Game 3 as once again, a Cardinal pitcher (Jesse Haines) lasted all nine innings against three of New York's finest; Dutch Ruether, Bob Shawkey and Myles Thomas. Haines also contributed the only home run in the 4-0 shutout. The underdog Cards' were now on top, two games to one.

Down, but not out, "Murderer's Row" came back in Game 4 with a new resolve. This time it was St. Louis exhausting their bullpen, as Yankee vet Waite Hoyt stood tall against five Cardinal pitchers, including Flint Rhem, Art Reinhart, Hi Bell, Bill Hallahan and finally Vic Keen. The Bambino was back to his old self too, knocking out three homers to the Cardinals none. Although the National League champs were still ahead by a single game, serious damage had been done in the 10-5 debacle, as New York was clearly not giving up without a fight. Both teams dug in, as Game 5 resulted in a ten inning pitcher's duel between the Yank's Herb Pennock and the Card's Bill Sherdel. The Yankees managed to win it, 3-2 and led the Series by one game with two to go. Game 6 offered a replay of Game 2 as Grover Alexander, once again, went the distance in a crucial 10-2 triumph that left Bob Shawkey a loser and Urban Shocker and Myles Thomas unavailable for the final showdown.

Game 7 was a real nail-biter, as Jesse Haines and Grover Alexander went head-to-head with Waite Hoyt and Herb Pennock. Both teams managed eight hits apiece and Babe Ruth contributed the only homer in the contest. Down 3-2 in the ninth inning, the Yankees were still in good shape, as baseball's greatest slugger stepped up to the plate. The Babe worked the count to three and two and then drew his eleventh walk of the Series. Clean-up man Bob Meusel prepared to put the winning run on base, but was denied when the anxious Bambino attempted to steal second base. Although he had successfully stolen against the Cardinals in Game 6, he was slow off the start and catcher Bob O'Farrell's throw to Hornsby nailed the Yankees' slugger, ending the Fall Classic. Many fans were furious with Ruth and believed that his mistake had lost the Series for the team.

St. Louis had managed to beat the mighty Babe Ruth and his defending world champion Yankees, despite mediocre performances from their standout players. Hornsby hit a meager .250 against New York and both Rhem and Sherdel had failed to win a game.

BOMBER BYTES: from Baseball-Almanac.com

Game 1 featured Herb Pennock tossing a three (3) hit complete game win. Not to be outdone, Grover Alexander entered Game 2 and struck out ten (10) to even-up the 1926 World Series 1-1.

Game 4 can be best described in two (2) BIG words: Babe Ruth, who would become the first player to ever hit three (3) home runs in a single Series game. Two (2) short years later he would tie his own record and it would take nearly fifty (50 years before another player would duplicate this feat.

How did St. Louis (or at least what contributed greatly) win Game 7 and clinch the World Championship? By walking Babe Ruth a World Series record four (4) times.

1927 World Series

"Who is this Baby Ruth and what does she do?" - George Bernard Shaw

PINSTRIPE PERSPECTIVES: Events off the field

On August 23rd, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts executed two Italian immigrants for a double murder. It was widely believed that the men's reputation as anarchists prevented them from receiving a fair trial and the case remains one of the most controversial in American history. On April 15, 1920, a paymaster for a shoe company in South Braintree, Massachusetts, and his guard were shot and killed by two men who escaped with over $15,000. It was thought from reports of witnesses that the murderers were Italians. The suspects, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were later arrested. Neither, however, had a criminal record, nor was there any evidence of their having had any of the money. In July of 1921, they were found guilty after a trial in Dedham, Massachusetts, and sentenced to death. Years later it was determined that Sacco was probably guilty of the crime, but that Vanzetti was innocent.

American Aviator Charles Lindbergh astounded the world on May 21st by landing in Paris after a solo flight from New York across the Atlantic in "The Spirit of St. Louis". Upon his return to the United States he received an unprecedented welcome, was promoted to colonel, and made a nationwide tour to foster popular interest in aviation. Lindbergh later married Anne Morrow, the daughter of the U.S. ambassador to Mexico and made several more historic flights with her. After the kidnapping and death of their son in 1932, the Lindberghs moved to England where Charles collaborated with Alexis Carrel on the invention of a perfusion pump that could maintain organs outside the body.

FALL CLASSIC: Pittsburgh Pirates (0) vs. New York Yankees (4)

Fans in 1927 witnessed the play of what many baseball historians consider to be the greatest team in the history of baseball; The 1927 New York Yankees. With an all-star lineup known as "Murderer's Row", New York outscored its opponents by nearly four hundred runs and hit .307 as a team. Babe Ruth, perhaps the greatest ever, set the original single season mark with sixty homeruns, which was more than any other American League team had combined. The Sultan of Swat also had plenty of help from his fellow sluggers in pinstripes. Outfield counterparts, Earle Combs in center and Bob Meusel in left, hit .356 and .337 respectively. Lou Gehrig had his first big season, batting .373 with forty-seven homers and a league leading one hundred seventy-five RBIs. Second year man Tony Lazzeri ranked third in the loop with eighteen homers. The pitching staff boasted four men who won eighteen or more games, led by Waite Hoyt at 22-7. Herb Pennock and Wilcy Moore gained nineteen victories apiece while Urban Shocker added eighteen. This lethal trio complemented the dominant offense by claiming the league's three best ERAs. Moore, who pitched primarily in relief, led the way with a 2.28 mark. With a 110-44 record, the Bronx Bombers ran away with the American League pennant, winning by a staggering nineteen games.

On the National League side, the Pittsburgh Pirates had managed a pennant, but were clearly not of the caliber that New York represented. Game 1 opened at Forbes Field, but the "home field advantage" offered the Pirates little comfort in a 5-4 loss that was highlighted by several crucial fielding errors by the home team. Little changed in Game 2, as the Yankees netted another 6-2 victory off the arm of George Pipgras, who beat Pittsburgh's Vic Aldridge, Mike Cvengros and Joe Dawson. Herb Pennock, who entered the game with a 4-0 Series record, went the distance for the third outing, mowing down the Pirates 1-2-3 in the first, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. The result was an 8-1 triumph that left the Yankees one win away from sweeping the Series and reclaiming their crown.

Game 4 was anyone's for nine innings as neither team blinked in a 3-3 stalemate. Pittsburgh manager, Donie Bush, had turned to Carmen Hill, who had peaked in 1927 as the ace of his pitching staff. Hill had never won more than three games, but in 1927 he chalked up twenty-two. New York's Miller Huggins went with Wilcy Moore, a promising rookie who had made only twelve starts in his fifty appearances. Both had planned to go the distance, but the mental fatigue was starting to take its toll. Pittsburgh's John Miljus came in as relief in the seventh inning and looked strong until the ninth. Earle Combs walked and Mark Koenig beat out a bunt to advance the runner. In a daring move, Ruth was walked intentionally, filling the bases with no outs and Lou Gehrig coming up next. Miljus managed to strike out the next two batters, but threw a disastrous wild pitch to Tony Lazzeri, scoring Combs and ending the game. The Yankees had won their second championship title and the crowning achievement to a magnificent season. They also became the first team ever to sweep the Nationals in a World Series.

BOMBER BYTES: from Baseball-Almanac.com

The 1927 New York Yankees led the American League in runs scored, hits, triples, home runs, base on balls, batting average, slugging average and on base percentage. The 1927 Pittsburgh Pirates led the National League in runs, hits, batting average and on base percentage. When comparing the two (2) together, the Pirates only led in hits.

The 1927 World Series was the first time in which the American League team swept the National League team.

Game 4 had the same script when New York took a 3-1 lead by the fifth inning. The Pirates took advantage of two errors and tied the game during the seventh inning. In the ninth inning, Johnny Miljus of Pittsburgh loaded the bases and the Yanks had no outs. Miljus momentarily settled in and struck out Lou Gehrig for the first out then struck out Bob Meusel for the second out. Tony Lazzeri waved in the winning run at the plate when Miljus threw a wild pitch that allowed Earle Combs to score from third.

MORE HERE: The 1927 New York Yankees

1928 World Series

"Word of the Cardinals winning the National League championship this afternoon was followed by small demonstrations downtown and in many parts of the city, but the reaction was not comparable with the great outburst (in) 1926, when the Cardinals brought St. Louis its first pennant in 38 years." - St. Louis Gazette (September 29, 1928)

PINSTRIPE PERSPECTIVES: Events off the field

On June 18th, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean during a historic flight that lasted twenty-four hours and forty-nine minutes. The first woman to obtain pilot's certification from the National Aeronautic Association, Earhart flew as a passenger aboard a Fokker F.VIIb-3m flown by Wilmer Stultz and Slim Gordon. She later made the first solo flight by a woman from Hawaii to California in 1935, but her plane was later lost somewhere in the Pacific in 1937 as she was attempting to circumnavigate the globe. The exact circumstances of her (presumed) crash are still unknown today.

The Kellogg-Briand Pact was developed as an international effort to outlaw war. The declaration originally started as a bilateral French-American accord, but fourteen nations registered immediately, and sixty-two nations eventually signed. Although unsuccessful, the treaty marked the high point of idealism in the pursuit of peace. The proclamation stated "Whereas a Treaty between the President of the United States Of America, the President of the German Reich, His Majesty the King of the Belgians, the President of the French Republic, His Majesty the King of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Emperor of India, His Majesty the King of Italy, His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, the President of the Republic of Poland, and the President of the Czechoslovak Republic, providing for the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy."

FALL CLASSIC: St. Louis Cardinals (0) vs. New York Yankees (4)

After coming off of a magical season, the defending champion Yankees managed to hold off the Athletics to win their third consecutive pennant by 2½ games, but at a serious cost as injuries depleted their lineup. Pitcher Herb Pennock (17-6) was on the sidelines for the Series with a sore arm. Centerfielder Earle Combs was available only as a pinch-hitter because of a broken finger. Second baseman Tony Lazzeri suffered a lame throwing arm, and Babe Ruth was playing on a bad ankle. The St. Louis Cardinals, however, were all in good shape and ready for a repeat of the 1926 contest, when they had dethroned New York four games to three.

For Game 1, Waite Hoyt went up against Bill Sherdel in a classic rematch of David vs. Goliath. The Babe managed to play, despite his inability to run, and he and his young protégé both put on quite a show. Ruth had a single and two doubles. Gehrig went two-for-four with two RBIs and Bob Meusel hit a two-run homer on the way to a 4-1 opening victory. Grover Alexander (who had embarrassed the Yankees and their pitching staff in the '26 Series) returned for Game 2, but lacked the dominating presence of two years ago. Lou Gehrig started things off with a three-run homer in the first inning and the Yankees continued to score without resistance on the way to a 9-3 victory.

As expected, Ruth and Gehrig continued to abuse the Cardinals' pitching staff with reckless abandon. The Iron Horse launched three blasts in Game 3 for a 7-3 win and The Babe knocked three into the seats in Game 4 (with Gehrig contributing one) for another 7-3 triumph and a second sweep for the World Championship. Both sluggers had combined to go sixteen-for-twenty-seven at the plate, with a .593 average, seven homers and thirteen RBIs. Ruth set one of many Series records, hitting an unbelievable .625, with ten hits in four games. Gehrig hit .545 and set his own record with nine RBIs in four games. It truly was a two-man show, as the rest of the Yankees batted .196, but were supported by solid pitching by Hoyt, George Pipgras and Tom Zachary. The perennial World Champions had managed to save face after a difficult season and once again proved that they were the best-of-the-best.

BOMBER BYTES: from Baseball-Almanac.com

The New York Yankees were the first American League team to sweep their senior circuit opponent (1927 World Series) and the first Major League team to sweep two (2) consecutive Fall Classics.

Lou Gehrig was one of sixteen (16) New York Yankees who played in the 1928 World Series, but drove in as many runs by himself as the entire St. Louis Cardinals team combined.

George Pipgras won Game 2 of the 1927 World Series, Game 2 of the 1928 World Series, and Game 3 of the 1932 World Series - giving him a World Series career pitching line of three (3) games, three (3) wins, two (2) complete games and an earned run average of 2.77.

END 20's