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1938 WORLD SERIES : WASHINGTON SENATORS vs PITTSBURGH PIRATES
The Senators attempt to defend their 1937 World Championship against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pittsburgh has two World Series titles to its credit including a win over the Yankees 4 years ago. This will be a rematch of the classic 1925 series. That series went the full 7 games and featured plenty of comebacks from both clubs. Washington ultimately prevailed as Senator infielder Rogers Hornsby was the hero, driving in 2 runs in a 4-2 game 7 victory.
Both clubs are completely healthy and ready to go as the series opens in Forbes Field.
GAME 1 - Bucky Walters, the converted thirdbaseman who won the rookie of the year award, gets the start for the Pirates in the opener against steady Lefty Gomez. Both pitchers are at the top of their game in the early going. Walters has a no-hitter through 4 while Gomez has allowed just 2 Pittsburgh hits. In the bottom of the 5th, Pittsburgh third sacker Pinky Higgins leads off with a double. A walk to Gabby Hartnett and Jim McLeod error loads the bases. Pirates outfielder Jimmy Welsh delivers a sacrifice fly to score Higgins with the game's first run. Walters is, of course, left in to hit for himself but looks terrible as Gomez fans him. Johnny Frederick steps to the plate with 2 out and breaks the game open with a triple to score both Hartnett and Tommy Henrich. The Pirates score 3 runs on just 2 hits.
Walters finally loses the no-hitter in the 6th when Washington catcher Harry Danning singles but he is stranded at second. Gomez has also settled down and through 8 the Pirates have just 4 hits and the Senators but one. Pittsburgh goes quietly in the bottom of the 8th and Walters needs just 3 outs for the shutout. Dixie Walker leads off with a single and Stu Martin follows with a double. The Pirates elect to intentionally walk Johnny Mize to load the bases with the dangerous Wally Berger coming to the plate. The move pays off as Berger bounces one back to the pitcher and Walters comes home for the force. The Pirates get two for the price of one as Hartnett completes the doubleplay with a throw to first that nips Berger by a step. Two away runners on second and third as Walters works to Tom Miller. He is a little too fine and Miller draws a walk to load the bases. Eric McNair, the MVP of the 1937 series, steps up and delivers a single to score a pair of runs making it 3-2 Pittsburgh with runners on the corners. Harry Danning has a chance to tie the game but the Washington catcher grounds out to first baseman Lou Gehrig and the Washington threat falls just short.
GAME 2 - Harry Danning has more success this day, delivering 3 hits and 2 rbi's leading the Senators to a 5-3 win. Tommy Henrich's bases loaded double in the fifth accounts for all the Pittsburgh runs off of Washington starter Lou Fette. 23 game winner Augie Walsh took the loss, allowing 11 Washington hits.
GAME 3 - The Series shifts to Washington and the bats shift into high gear. Starters Denny Galehouse of Pittsburgh and the Senators Harry Gumbert are long gone before the dust settles. The two clubs combine for 30 hits as Pittsburgh wins 13-9 to take a 2 games to one lead in the series. Billy Rogell drives in 4 runs for Pittsburgh with Tony Lazzeri and Pinky Higgins each delivering 3 hits. Johnny Mize homered and drove in 2 runs for Washington. Dixie Walker and Len Koenecke also had 2 rbi's each. Ray Starr got the win in relief despite pitching just 1/3 an inning. Jud McLaughlin, the third of 4 Washington pitchers, took the loss.
GAME 4 - Another 30 hit slugfest as both Gomez and Walters get roughed up. In the end the Senators prevail 14-7. Dixie Walker, Wally Berger, Tom Miller and Harry Danning all homer for Washington with Miller's being a grand slam. Miller and Walker each had 3 hits. Lou Gehrig had 3 hits for the losers, missing only a homerun in a bid for the cycle.
GAME 5 - Down 3-0 the Senators rally with 8 unanswered runs in the final 3 innings for an 8-3 victory and a 3-2 series lead. Dixie Walker's 3 run homer was the big blow. Lou Fette beat Augie Walsh for the second time in the series.
GAME 6 - Pittsburgh's turn for a comeback as the Senators build a 5-1 lead before the Pirates stage an 8th inning rally. Lou Gehrig and Gabby Hartnett each have 2-rbi singles as the Pirates tie the game. Pittsburgh has a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth but Tommy Henrich's fly ball with the bases loaded and 2 out is caught at the warning track. Washington goes 1-2-3 in the top of the 10th and the Pirates are well on their way to doing the same when Harry Gumbert retires the first two batter. However, Gabby Hartnett, who tied the game in the 8th, ends it in the 10th with a walkoff solo homerun to force a 7th game. Ray Starr gets his second win of the series in relief.
GAME 7 - Lefty Gomez and Bucky Walters meet for the third time in the series. Johnny Mize greets Walters early with a 2 run homer to put Washington ahead in the top of the first. Pittsburgh answers with 2 runs of their own in the bottom of the inning but Washington regains the lead in the second when Harry Danning hits a solo homerun. It remains 3-2 through 7 innings in an extremely tense game. In the 8th a pair of walks and a Johnny Mize single load the bases for Tom Miller with 2 out. Miller fould off close to a half dozen pitches before connecting on a Walters fastball. It flies 423 feet over the wall in left center. A Grand Slam! The Senators lead 7-2 and are 6 outs away from another title. Pittsburgh threatens in the home half of the 8th but Tommy Henrich pops out to strand a pair of baserunners. Lefty Gomez takes the hill in the 9th trying to complete the game. Pinch hitter Tom Carey grounds out and then Gomez fans Johnny Frederick. Billy Rogell gives the Pirates a flicker of hope when he singles however Lou Gehrig, who hit a quiet .276 in the series, grounds into a force play to end the game.
Tom Miller with 13 rbi's in the series, including the game 7 grand slam, is an easy choice for the MVP award. The award seems like a fitting way for the 41 year old to end his career but Miller says he will be back next season.
Underappreciated for most of his career, Miller has posted some amazing numbers. Only Frankie Frisch with 9, has played in more World Series than Miller. However, Miller has been on the winning team in 6 of the 7 World Series he played in. He has a lifetime .319 batting average and won a batting title and the A.L. MVP Award in 1935. However, he was named to just 2 allstar teams in his career.
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