1934 World Series
Encyclopedia
The 1934 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals
against the Detroit Tigers
, with the Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang
" winning in seven games for their third championship in nine years.
The Cards and Tigers split the first two games in Detroit
, and Detroit took two of the next three in St. Louis
. St. Louis proceeded to win the next two, including an 11–0 embarrassment of the Tigers in Detroit to win the Series. The stars for the Cards were Joe Medwick, who had a .379 batting average with one of St. Louis' two home runs and a series-high five RBI, and the Dean Brothers, Dizzy
and Paul
, who combined for all four of the teams wins with 28 strikeouts and a minuscule 1.43 earned run average
. 1934's World Series was the last of which both teams were led by player-managers.
The Cardinals and Tigers have met twice in the World Series since 1934; in (won by the Tigers in seven games) and (won by the Cardinals in five games). Tigers pitcher Denny McLain
, who won one of the games in the 1968 Series, had won 31 games during the season, outdoing Dizzy Dean. Dizzy, age 57 in 1968, posed for a picture with McLain.
The Cardinals used eight (8) pitchers with a team earned-run average of 2.34 for the Series. But only two earned victories; brothers Dizzy Dean with two (2) wins and Paul Dean with the other two (2) wins.
Pete Fox
played for the losing team yet became the only World Series player to hit six (6) doubles in any Series of any length.
In the sixth inning of Game 7, Joe Medwick
slid hard into Marv Owen
, the Tigers' third baseman, after hitting a triple. They tangled briefly, and when Medwick went to his position in left field, the Detroit fans, knowing the game was lost (the score was 9–0 by then), vented their frustrations on Medwick, throwing fruit, vegetables, bottles, cushions, etc., at him. Commissioner Landis
ordered Medwick (and Owen) benched to end the ruckus. Newsreel footage shows Medwick slamming his glove onto the dugout bench in disgust. (Audio)
Dizzy Dean nearly took himself out of the Series on a play in Game 4. In the fourth inning, he pinch-ran and literally broke up a double play attempt by taking the relay throw in the noggin. The unconscious Dean was rushed to a hospital for observation. He was given a clean bill of health. Legend has it that at least one newspaper the next day featured the headline, "X-ray of Dean's head shows nothing." Dean had recovered from this trauma sufficiently to make his next starting assignment, the very next day.
According to The Fireside Book of Baseball by Charles Einstein, in the seventh game Frisch called time and walked over from second base to the mound to tell Dean "If you don't stop clowning around, I'll take you out of the game." Dizzy said, "No you won't." Frisch thought about this a moment. Then he returned to second base.
The series opener in Detroit pitted the Cardinals' 30-game winner, Dizzy Dean
, against the Tigers' General Crowder
. However, on this day, the subpar Tiger defense playing behind Crowder let him down, as it accounted for five errors and three unearned runs.
In the top of the second, the Gashouse Gang loaded the bases when a single and two errors; a single by Jack Rothrock
then brought home both Ernie Orsatti
and Dean to make it 2–0. In the third, St. Louis tacked on another run due to more shoddy Detroit fielding, as Joe Medwick
singled and was forced out at second by Ripper Collins
. However, a throwing error by Tiger shortstop Billy Rogell
allowed Collins to move to second and then score on a fielding error by Detroit's star first baseman, Hank Greenberg
. In the bottom of the third, Charlie Gehringer
got the Tigers on the board with a single that drove in Jo-Jo White
, but in the St. Louis fifth Medwick tattooed a solo home run off Crowder for a 4–1 Cardinals lead.
The Gang then exploded for a four-run sixth off Firpo Marberry
(who had relieved Crowder) and Chief Hogsett
, as Pepper Martin
and Medwick each cracked RBI singles and Bill DeLancey
lashed a two-run double to left. Though Detroit put up single runs in the sixth and eighth (via a Goose Goslin
single that scored Greenberg and a solo home run by Greenberg), they could get no closer, as Dean struck out Gee Walker
to give the Cardinals an 8–3 win and a 1–0 lead in the series.
The second game of the series proved to be a much closer affair compared to the first. It featured a pitching match-up of the Cardinals' Bill Hallahan
against the Tigers' Schoolboy Rowe
.
In the top of the second, St. Louis drew first blood when DeLancey singled and scored on a triple by Orsatti. In the third they added another run as a Medwick single brought in Martin.
in St. Louis, Missouri
in St. Louis, Missouri
in St. Louis, Missouri
(N.L.) over Detroit Tigers
(A.L.)
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, with the Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang
Gashouse Gang
The Gashouse Gang was a nickname applied to the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball team of .The Cardinals, by most accounts, earned this nickname from the team's generally very shabby appearance and rough-and-tumble tactics...
" winning in seven games for their third championship in nine years.
The Cards and Tigers split the first two games in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, and Detroit took two of the next three in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. St. Louis proceeded to win the next two, including an 11–0 embarrassment of the Tigers in Detroit to win the Series. The stars for the Cards were Joe Medwick, who had a .379 batting average with one of St. Louis' two home runs and a series-high five RBI, and the Dean Brothers, Dizzy
Dizzy Dean
Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. Dean was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
and Paul
Paul Dean (baseball)
Paul Dee "Daffy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Born in Lucas, Arkansas, he pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals , the New York Giants , and the St. Louis Browns ....
, who combined for all four of the teams wins with 28 strikeouts and a minuscule 1.43 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. 1934's World Series was the last of which both teams were led by player-managers.
The Cardinals and Tigers have met twice in the World Series since 1934; in (won by the Tigers in seven games) and (won by the Cardinals in five games). Tigers pitcher Denny McLain
Denny McLain
Dennis Dale "Denny" McLain is a former American professional baseball player, and the last major league pitcher to win 30 or more games during a season —a feat accomplished by only thirteen players in the 20th century....
, who won one of the games in the 1968 Series, had won 31 games during the season, outdoing Dizzy Dean. Dizzy, age 57 in 1968, posed for a picture with McLain.
The Cardinals used eight (8) pitchers with a team earned-run average of 2.34 for the Series. But only two earned victories; brothers Dizzy Dean with two (2) wins and Paul Dean with the other two (2) wins.
Pete Fox
Pete Fox
Ervin "Pete" Fox was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played thirteen seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox ....
played for the losing team yet became the only World Series player to hit six (6) doubles in any Series of any length.
In the sixth inning of Game 7, Joe Medwick
Joe Medwick
Joseph Michael Medwick , nicknamed "Ducky", was an American Major League Baseball player. A left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals during the "Gashouse Gang" era of the 1930s, he also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , and Boston Braves...
slid hard into Marv Owen
Marv Owen
Marvin James Owen was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played nine seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , and Boston Red Sox ....
, the Tigers' third baseman, after hitting a triple. They tangled briefly, and when Medwick went to his position in left field, the Detroit fans, knowing the game was lost (the score was 9–0 by then), vented their frustrations on Medwick, throwing fruit, vegetables, bottles, cushions, etc., at him. Commissioner Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...
ordered Medwick (and Owen) benched to end the ruckus. Newsreel footage shows Medwick slamming his glove onto the dugout bench in disgust. (Audio)
Dizzy Dean nearly took himself out of the Series on a play in Game 4. In the fourth inning, he pinch-ran and literally broke up a double play attempt by taking the relay throw in the noggin. The unconscious Dean was rushed to a hospital for observation. He was given a clean bill of health. Legend has it that at least one newspaper the next day featured the headline, "X-ray of Dean's head shows nothing." Dean had recovered from this trauma sufficiently to make his next starting assignment, the very next day.
According to The Fireside Book of Baseball by Charles Einstein, in the seventh game Frisch called time and walked over from second base to the mound to tell Dean "If you don't stop clowning around, I'll take you out of the game." Dizzy said, "No you won't." Frisch thought about this a moment. Then he returned to second base.
Summary
Game 1
Wednesday, October 3, 1934 at Navin Field in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
The series opener in Detroit pitted the Cardinals' 30-game winner, Dizzy Dean
Dizzy Dean
Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. Dean was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
, against the Tigers' General Crowder
Alvin Crowder
Alvin Floyd Crowder , nicknamed "General," was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played eleven seasons in the American League with the Washington Senators, the St. Louis Browns, and the Detroit Tigers...
. However, on this day, the subpar Tiger defense playing behind Crowder let him down, as it accounted for five errors and three unearned runs.
In the top of the second, the Gashouse Gang loaded the bases when a single and two errors; a single by Jack Rothrock
Jack Rothrock
John Huston Rothrock was a utility player in Major League Baseball who played for four different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 5'11", 165 lb., Rothrock was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed. He was born in Long Beach, California.Rothrock was a line drive hitter and...
then brought home both Ernie Orsatti
Ernie Orsatti
Ernest Ralph Orsatti , was a professional baseball player who played outfielder and first base in the Major Leagues from -. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals with a lifetime batting average of .306 in 701 games. He both batted and threw left-handed...
and Dean to make it 2–0. In the third, St. Louis tacked on another run due to more shoddy Detroit fielding, as Joe Medwick
Joe Medwick
Joseph Michael Medwick , nicknamed "Ducky", was an American Major League Baseball player. A left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals during the "Gashouse Gang" era of the 1930s, he also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , and Boston Braves...
singled and was forced out at second by Ripper Collins
Ripper Collins
James Anthony "Rip" Collins was a Major League Baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Pittsburgh Pirates....
. However, a throwing error by Tiger shortstop Billy Rogell
Billy Rogell
William George "Billy" Rogell was an American baseball player who played 14 years in Major League Baseball, primarily as a shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. He made his major league debut on April 14, 1925 and played his last game August 25, 1940...
allowed Collins to move to second and then score on a fielding error by Detroit's star first baseman, Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
. In the bottom of the third, Charlie Gehringer
Charlie Gehringer
Charles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
got the Tigers on the board with a single that drove in Jo-Jo White
Jo-Jo White
Joyner Clifford "Jo-Jo" White was an American center fielder in professional baseball. He played nine seasons with the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Athletics , and Cincinnati Reds...
, but in the St. Louis fifth Medwick tattooed a solo home run off Crowder for a 4–1 Cardinals lead.
The Gang then exploded for a four-run sixth off Firpo Marberry
Firpo Marberry
Frederick "Firpo" Marberry was an American right-handed starting and relief pitcher in Major League Baseball from to , most notably with the Washington Senators...
(who had relieved Crowder) and Chief Hogsett
Chief Hogsett
Elon Chester "Chief" Hogsett was a sub-marining left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played 11 seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers , St...
, as Pepper Martin
Pepper Martin
Johnny Leonard Roosevelt "Pepper" Martin was an American professional baseball player and minor league manager. He was known as the Wild Horse of the Osage because of his daring, aggressive baserunning abilities. Martin played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman and an outfielder for the St...
and Medwick each cracked RBI singles and Bill DeLancey
Bill DeLancey
William Pinkney DeLancey , was a Major League Baseball catcher. He played four seasons in the majors between and for the St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...
lashed a two-run double to left. Though Detroit put up single runs in the sixth and eighth (via a Goose Goslin
Goose Goslin
Leon Allen "Goose" Goslin was a left fielder in Major League Baseball known for his powerful left-handed swing and dependable clutch hitting. He played 18 seasons with the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Detroit Tigers, from until...
single that scored Greenberg and a solo home run by Greenberg), they could get no closer, as Dean struck out Gee Walker
Gee Walker
Gerald Holmes "Gee" Walker was a Major League Baseball outfielder. During his fifteen year career, he played with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, and Cincinnati Reds...
to give the Cardinals an 8–3 win and a 1–0 lead in the series.
Game 2
Thursday, October 4, 1934 at Navin Field in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
The second game of the series proved to be a much closer affair compared to the first. It featured a pitching match-up of the Cardinals' Bill Hallahan
Bill Hallahan
William Anthony "Wild Bill" Hallahan was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the 1920s and 1930s...
against the Tigers' Schoolboy Rowe
Schoolboy Rowe
Lynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
.
In the top of the second, St. Louis drew first blood when DeLancey singled and scored on a triple by Orsatti. In the third they added another run as a Medwick single brought in Martin.
Game 3
Friday, October 5, 1934 at Sportsman's Park (III)Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, all but one of which were located on the same piece of land, the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :From...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
Game 4
Saturday, October 6, 1934 at Sportsman's Park (III)Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, all but one of which were located on the same piece of land, the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :From...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
Game 5
Sunday, October 7, 1934 at Sportsman's Park (III)Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, all but one of which were located on the same piece of land, the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :From...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
Game 6
Monday, October 8, 1934 at Navin Field in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
Game 7
Tuesday, October 9, 1934 at Navin Field in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
Composite box
1934 World Series (4–3): St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(N.L.) over Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(A.L.)
Brothers
Other brothers who both played and appeared in World Series games at the SAME TIME before the Deans were:- - Doc JohnstonDoc JohnstonWheeler Roger "Doc" Johnston , was a professional baseball player who played infielder in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Philadelphia Athletics.-External links:...
and Jimmy JohnstonJimmy JohnstonJames Harle Johnston was a major-league baseball player from 1911 to 1926...
- - Bob MeuselBob MeuselRobert William "Bob" Meusel was an American baseball left and right fielder who played in Major League Baseball for eleven seasons from 1920 through 1930, all but the last for the New York Yankees...
and Irish MeuselIrish MeuselEmil Frederick "Irish" Meusel was an American baseball Left fielder.He was first signed with the Washington Senators in 1914 and played one game. After a tour in the minor league, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1918...
- - Paul WanerPaul WanerPaul Glee Waner , nicknamed "Big Poison", was a German-American Major League Baseball right fielder.-Pittsburgh Pirates:...
and Lloyd WanerLloyd WanerLloyd James Waner , nicknamed "Little Poison", was a Major League Baseball center fielder. His small stature at 5'9" and 132 lb made him one of the smallest players of his era. Along with his brother, Paul Waner, he anchored the Pittsburgh Pirates outfield throughout the 1920s and 1930s...