1944 – Detroit Tigers pitcher Hal Newhouser is named Most Valuable Player in the American League, gathering four more votes than teammate Dizzy Trout. Newhouser’s 29 wins contrast with his 34 combined wins the previous four years, as his 2.22 ERA is bettered by Trout (2.12), who also has 27 wins.
1944 – Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the first Major League Baseball Commissioner, dies of a heart attack at age 78 in Chicago. Landis had ruled over baseball since November 1920 in the wake of the Black Sox scandal, and wielded authority perhaps unparalleled in any other industry. Landis had entered the hospital on October 2nd. He will elected to the Hall of Fame on December 9th in a special ballot.
In 1944, the Browns fielded a team that batted .252, 61 points under the .313 figure posted by the ’22 club. The ’44 Browns had one .300 hitter, outfielder Mike Kreevich, who barely made it at .301; one man with 20 homers, shortstop Vern Stephens, who hit exactly 20; and one player over the…
1944 – Five groups totaling 23 players, managers, umpires and sportwriters visit war theaters as part of the United Service Organizations program. Included are Mel Ott, Dutch Leonard, Frankie Frisch, Bucky Walters, Harry Heilmann, Carl Hubbell, Freddie Fitzsimmons, Bill Summers, Beans Reardon, Johnny Lindell, Tuck Stainback, Steve O’Neill, Leo Durocher, Joe Medwick, Nick Etten, Dixie Walker, Paul Waner and Rip Sewell.
On November 17, 1944, future Hall of Famer George Thomas Seaver was born in Fresno, California. Better known as Tom Seaver will make the major leagues in 1967 as a member of the New York Mets. The right-hander will lead the Mets to the 1969 World Series, win 3 Cy Young Awards, be named to…
Tom Seaver Position: Pitcher Bats: Right • Throws: Right 6-1, 195lb (185cm, 88kg) Born: November 17, 1944 in Fresno, CA Died: August 31, 2020 (Aged 75-288d) in Calistoga, CA Draft: Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 10th round of the 1965 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) and the Atlanta Braves in the 1st round (20th) of the 1966 MLB January Draft-Secondary Phase from University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA). High School: Fresno HS…
1944 – Joe Niekro is born in Martin’s Ferry, OH. Much of his career is spent in the shadow of his Hall-of-Fame older brother but the younger sibling leaves Houston as the winningest pitcher in franchise history (144). The two combine to win 539 major league games in their careers, most of any brother duo in baseball history.
November 2, 1944 – Japan, where baseball has been banned as an undesirable enemy influence, mourns the death of Eiji Sawamura. The Japanese pitcher, who is killed in action in the Pacific, became a national hero by striking out Babe Ruth in an exhibition game. [jetpack_subscription_form title=”Join the Community” subscribe_text=”We bring you cool stories about…
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