November 1, 1933
Code:
NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS
NORTHERN
New York Y 90 64 .584 --
Pittsburgh 87 67 .565 3
Boston 78 76 .506 12
Brooklyn 75 79 .487 15
Philadelphia 72 82 .468 18
New York G 66 88 .429 24
MID-EAST W L PCT GB
Baltimore 89 65 .578 --
Washington 83 71 .539 6
Cleveland 82 72 .532 7
Detroit 80 74 .519 9
Cincinnati 66 88 .429 23
Milwaukee 56 98 .364 33
AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS
CONTINENTAL W L PCT GB
Chicago W 94 60 .610 --
Chicago C 88 66 .571 6
St. Louis 81 73 .526 13
Portland 80 74 .519 14
Seattle 77 77 .500 17
Kansas City 54 100 .351 40
PACIFIC
Oakland 88 66 .571 --
Hollywood 80 74 .519 8
San Diego 75 79 .487 13
San Francisco 74 80 .481 14
Sacramento 71 83 .461 17
Los Angeles 62 92 .403 26
History was made on June 24 in Philadelphia, when Brooklyn 1B
Mike Dickey became the first player to reach the 3000-hit milestone. Somewhat ironically, this line-drive machine’s historic hit was a home run, only the 92nd of his illustrious career. Phillies rookie
Paul Dean was Dickey’s victim. Sadly, only 4193 fans were on hand to see the Dodger great’s big moment.
On the day he belted his historic homer, Dickey, 37, had a lifetime average of .361, with 1277 RBI and 1325 runs scored. His 589 doubles were the most in major league history, and he also belted 136 triples.
Unfortunately, Dickey couldn’t keep his Dodgers in the race, and before long the Yankees had a new challenger: the Pittsburgh Pirates. By early August, the Pirates caught the New Yorkers, and they passed the lead back and forth for a month.
Meanwhile, the Orioles took the Mid-East Division lead from the Senators and began to pull away. Baltimore’s star outfielder,
Rick Mar, collected his 2500th hit on Independence Day, and with Mar,
Dave McBride, and
Mike Crawford once again leading a contending ballclub, the excitement of the mid-twenties was back at Memorial Stadium. Crawford, in particular, caught time in a bottle, leading both leagues with 23 wins and winning the third
Outstanding Pitcher Award of his illustrious career.
Another veteran Mid-East Division star continued to defy the effects of age. Cleveland outfielder
Ken Rich was hitting .391 as late as mid-August, and while he couldn't quite maintain that pace, his final .376 figure was good for another NL batting title--the third of his career. Rich turned 42 during the World Series.
Their chances for the postseason gone, Senators fans nonetheless enjoyed watching
Mule Suttles catch and pass Hollywood slugger
Joe Hauser in the career home run race. Suttles finished the season with 391 career homers, Hauser with 377. The Mule is 33 years old, and has his sights set on the 500-homer plateau. “Unser Choe,” 35, has an outside shot at that honor as well.
In late August, the Yankees retook the Northern Division lead for good, and Yankees fans watched as
Al Simmons reeled off one of the longest hitting streaks in history. On September 5, he hit safely in his 44th consecutive game, breaking
Ike Boone’s record; he was stopped by
Ed Brandt of the Red Sox the next day.
In the American League, the defending division champions asserted their strength. The White Sox and Oaks took control of their races during the second half and won by comfortable margins. The San Francisco Seals, who played so well before the break, fell apart in July and dropped to fourth, while Hollywood and San Diego moved up.
Chicago righthander
Ray Brown (21-11, 2.28, 170 K) won the
AL Outstanding Pitcher award, and barely missed the pitchers’ Triple Crown, losing the ERA race to Oakland’s
Ad Liska (2.23).
Oscar Eckhardt (.347-10-90) and
Arky Vaughan (.333-10-89) were among the leading hitters, just behind batting champion
Arturo Martinez of Hollywood (.350).
Portland slugger
Chuck Klein battled Kansas City strongman
Jimmie Foxx for the AL home run crown, beating the Athletics star 39-38. Klein, who “slumped” to a .333 average, also led the league in RBI (115) and won his fourth
AL Outstanding Batter Award.
Both leagues’ Rookie of the Year winners were pitchers. The National League chose Detroit southpaw
Del Ellis (13-7, 3.12), while the American League honored San Francisco righthander "Poison"
Ivy Andrews (15-14, 3.11). Ellis is among a number of young Tigers with sharp claws who pulled their team into contention, while Andrews might inherit the title of Seals staff ace from
Colton Blanton, who announced his retirement at the end of the season.
The Yankees defeated the Orioles, 4 games to 2, to win the NLCS and advance to the World Series. The White Sox won the first game of the ALCS, but then Oakland reeled off four straight to capture their third straight pennant.
The World Series began with perhaps the greatest single-game pitching performance in history.
Ad Liska walked
NL Outstanding Batter Buck Leonard in the first inning, and retired the next 25 men in a row to complete a no-hitter.
The Series lasted seven games, and it with an equally memorable moment. Game Seven was played in Yankee Stadium, and after nine innings, the score was tied, 5-5. In the bottom of the tenth, the Yankees loaded the bases with two out against Oakland’s ace reliever,
Ken Smith.
Ed Walsh was summoned from the bullpen, and he allowed a Series-winning base on balls to Yankees pinch-hitter
Neal Finn.