|
September 29, 1937
The National and American League pennants have both been decided, and this year's World Series will match a team which is making its first appearance in the Fall Classic against a team whose only Series victory came over a decade ago.
The Detroit Tigers made their second consecutive playoff appearance this year, and swept the New York Giants to win the American League championship. The first and fourth contests were both exciting, and demonstrated that entertaining baseball can feature hard hitting or skillfull pitching. The Tigers won Game One 14-12, and triumphed 2-1 in the finale when Johnny Mize hit a solo home run off Giants' righthander Bob Feller in the bottom of the eighth inning. Harlond Clift led the Detroiters with a .433 average, a home run, and six RBI.
The mighty Portland Beavers won the most games in either league during the regular season and took the Continental Division title with ease, while the Pacific Division winners, the Hollywood Stars, needed to win a one-game playoff to secure their title. However, it was the underdog Stars who prevailed in the ALCS, dispatching the Beavers in six games. Hollywood catcher Ernie Lombardi hit .500, homered twice, and drove in seven runs.
The Stars are celebrating their first league championship, while the Tigers have played in two World Series and won in 1925. Only two current Tigers--pitcher Cole Barrett and outfielder Paul Waner--remain from the '25 champions, and one more--relief ace Pat Richardson--was a member of the '27 squad.
|