Brooklyn’s Dixie Walker wins batting title over Stan Musial 

Brooklyn’s Dixie Walker wins batting title over Stan Musial 

ByThis Day in Baseball

1944 – Official National League statistics published today show Brooklyn’s Dixie Walker at the top of the hitters with a .357 batting average, ahead of Stan Musial at .347. In an even closer vote than occurred in the American League, the National League Most Valuable Player Award goes to fielding wizard shortstop Marty Marion of the Cardinals, who tallies one more vote than Cubs slugger Bill Nicholson (189). The Cardinals committed only 112 errors and fielded .982, both better than previous records held by the 1940 Cincinnati Reds. Marion is the third different Cardinals player in three years to win MVP honors.

1944 – The Tigers swap infielder Joe Orengo to the Red Sox for Skeeter Webb, son-in-law of Detroit manager Steve O’Neill. O’Neill denies any knowledge of trade talks, saying “I read about it in the morning paper.”

ByTom

1944 – The Tigers swap infielder Joe Orengo to the Red Sox for Skeeter Webb, son-in-law of Detroit manager Steve O’Neill. O’Neill denies any knowledge of trade talks, saying “I read about it in the morning paper.”

Roger Bresnahan pitching

Roger Bresnahan, who will be elected to the Hall of Fame eight weeks later, dies in Toledo, OH

ByThis Day in Baseball

    On December 4, 1944, catcher Roger Bresnahan, who will be elected to the Hall of Fame eight weeks later, dies in Toledo, OH. Bresnahan, the first player to regularly wear shin guards, was one of John McGraw’s most versatile players, filling in at nearly every position and providing a valuable bat for the…