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October 5, 1938
The San Diego Padres are on top of the baseball world after winning an action-packed World Series from the Washington Senators in six games.
The Series began in dramatic fashion, as Washington won Game One, 3-2, on a two-run pinch homer by Jimmy Ripple off shaky Padres closer Jed Carter. The "Capital Punishers" pleased the home folks in Game Two as well, roughing up Padres pitchers in an 11-2 romp.
San Diego ace Cliff Melton took the mound in Game Three, and he pitched a five-hit, one-run masterpiece. A home run by Buddy Lewis gave the Pads their winning margin in a 3-1 victory.
Game Four was a slugfest, won 9-7 by the Padres to even the Series at two games apiece. Washington LF Mule Suttles hit one of the longest home runs ever seen in San Diego, the 567th of his career (counting eight in post-season play).
The Senators bounced back in Game Five, winning 8-6. Dizzy Dean, who won 13 regular-season games as a starter, made his debut as a closer and pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn a save.
San Diego faced a must-win situation as the Series moved back to Washington. Once again, Cliff Melton was up to the challenge. He added to his reputation as one of the best big-game pitchers in baseball, beating the Senators 3-1. Melton's victory gave him an 8-1 record and a 1.46 ERA in nine post-season starts.
Game Seven will go down in baseball history as one of the most exciting Series games ever. Through eleven innings, the Padres and Senators battled to a 2-2 tie. Mark Marshall took the mound for Washington in the top of the 12th and coaxed a fly ball out of San Diego's Eddie Silber. Senators right fielder Smead Jolley, not known for his defensive prowess, allowed the ball to glance off his glove, and Silber reached first safely on the error.
Cool Papa Bell was up next, and he laid down a bunt. Marshall fielded the ball and fired to first, but the lightning-fast Bell beat the throw; Silber slid safely into second. A line out and a walk loaded the bases for Buddy Lewis. The Padres' young star etched his name into World Series lore by smacking a fly ball that was deep enough to allow Silber to tag up and score the Series-winning run.
Melton, who won four games without a loss during the postseason, and Lewis, who hit .380 with three homers and 11 RBI in 12 LCS and World Series games, were the biggest heroes of the Padres' drive to the World Championship.
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