George Watkins of the Cardinals vs. Mickey Cochrane of the A’s in the 1931 World Series.
George Watkins of the Cardinals vs. Mickey Cochrane of the A’s in the 1931 World Series.
The most desperately contested battle for individual honors takes place in the race for the National League batting title. Chick Hafey, who reported late due to a contract dispute, goes into the final doubleheader with the Reds batting .353, four points over Bill Terry, last year’s champ. Hafey gets only two hits in eight times at bat to drop to .349. Bill Terry’s Giants are playing archenemy Brooklyn at Ebbets Field. Brooklyn, in their last game as the Robins, wins 12 – 3, behind Watty Clark. Terry gets only one hit in four times at bat. The title goes to Hafey, who bats .3488 to Terry’s .3486. Jim Bottomley, Hafey’s Cardinal teammate, goes 4 for 8 and finishes at .3481. The Cards win, 6 – 2 and 5 – 3, to win 20 of 22 with the Reds.
The most desperately contested battle for individual honors takes place in the race for the National League batting title. Chick Hafey, who reported late due to a contract dispute, goes into the final doubleheader with the Reds batting .353, four points over Bill Terry, last year’s champ. Hafey gets only two hits in eight times at bat to drop to .349. Bill Terry’s Giants are playing archenemy Brooklyn at Ebbets Field. Brooklyn, in their last game as the Robins, wins 12 – 3, behind Watty Clark. Terry gets only one hit in four times at bat. The title goes to Hafey, who bats .3488 to Terry’s .3486. Jim Bottomley, Hafey’s Cardinal teammate, goes 4 for 8 and finishes at .3481. The Cards win, 6 – 2 and 5 – 3, to win 20 of 22 with the Reds.
Lefty Grove wins his 31st
Lefty Grove wins his 31st, beating the Red Sox, 9 – 4, his 11th straight win over the Red Sox stretching back to May 26, 1930. Since July 25th of that year, Grove’s record is 46-4, the best 50-decision streak in the century.
Lefty Grove of the Philadelphia A’s wins his 30th game of the season
On September 19, 1931, Lefty Grove of the Philadelphia A’s wins his 30th game of the season. The future Hall of Famer shuts down the Chicago White Sox, 2-1. Grove will finish the season with a league-leading 31 victories. he becomes the first player since Jim Bagdy to win 30 who accomplished the feat in…
On his 32nd birthday, OF Earl Webb of the Red Sox ties and then sets the still-standing major-league record for two-base hits at 65. Earl doubles in the lidlifter, a 9 – 2 win over the visiting Indians, to tie George Burns’ double record at 64. Burns set his record in 1926. In the second game, a 2 – 1 Sox loss, Webb doubles off Pete Jablonowski to set the record. He doubles tomorrow and will finish the season with 67. He would have had 68, but on August 4th, the league corrected a May 1st box score, turning what had been credited as a double into a single.
On his 32nd birthday, OF Earl Webb of the Red Sox ties and then sets the still-standing major-league record for two-base hits at 65. Earl doubles in the lidlifter, a 9 – 2 win over the visiting Indians, to tie George Burns’ double record at 64. Burns set his record in 1926. In the second game, a 2 – 1 Sox loss, Webb doubles off Pete Jablonowski to set the record. He doubles tomorrow and will finish the season with 67. He would have had 68, but on August 4th, the league corrected a May 1st box score, turning what had been credited as a double into a single.
World Series tickets can now be printed as the St. Louis Cardinals repeat as National League champions
1931 – World Series tickets can now be printed as the St. Louis Cardinals repeat as National League champions. They beat the Phillies, 6 – 3, behind Bill Hallahan’s 18th win of the year, and prepare for a rematch of the 1930 World Series. Earlier in the day, The Reds clinched it for the Birds by sweeping the Giants, 7 – 3 and 4 – 3.
At Wrigley Field, the Cubs win 11 – 7 over the Braves when player-manager Rogers Hornsby cracks an 11th-inning pinch grand slam. This is the first extra-inning pinch grand slam in major league history. The Cubs take the second game, 8 – 1, behind Guy Bush’s one-hitter, his second of the year. His first was against the Cards on August 9th.
At Wrigley Field, the Cubs win 11 – 7 over the Braves when player-manager Rogers Hornsby cracks an 11th-inning pinch grand slam. This is the first extra-inning pinch grand slam in major league history. The Cubs take the second game, 8 – 1, behind Guy Bush’s one-hitter, his second of the year. His first was against the Cards on August 9th.
Homestead Grays ace Smokey Joe Williams fashions a 2-hit‚ 6 – 2 win over the St. Louis Stars in the Negro National League Championship Series. The Grays will win in 6 games.
Homestead Grays ace Smokey Joe Williams fashions a 2-hit‚ 6 – 2 win over the St. Louis Stars in the Negro National League Championship Series. The Grays will win in 6 games.
Lefty Grove fans the side in the 1st inning, hands out a walk to Lou Gehrig to start the 2nd, and records three more K’s. Lefty has two K’s in the 3rd but develops a blister from gripping the ball. Gehrig knocks Grove out of the box with a 6th-inning grand slam, but the A’s lefty still wins, 7 – 4. Lou now has 142 RBIs. Jimmie Foxx knocks in five runs for the A’s.
Lefty Grove fans the side in the 1st inning, hands out a walk to Lou Gehrig to start the 2nd, and records three more K’s. Lefty has two K’s in the 3rd but develops a blister from gripping the ball. Gehrig knocks Grove out of the box with a 6th-inning grand slam, but the A’s lefty still wins, 7 – 4. Lou now has 142 RBIs. Jimmie Foxx knocks in five runs for the A’s.
1931 – At Chicago, the Yankees record their first shutout of the season when Herb Pennock blanks the White Sox, 6 – 0. Ben Chapman has a good day with a triple, single, two runs scored and his 50th and 51st stolen bases of the year. In addition, he beats the Sox’s Carl Reynolds in a pre-game 100-yard dash.
1931 – At Chicago, the Yankees record their first shutout of the season when Herb Pennock blanks the White Sox, 6 – 0. Ben Chapman has a good day with a triple, single, two runs scored and his 50th and 51st stolen bases of the year. In addition, he beats the Sox’s Carl Reynolds in a pre-game 100-yard dash.
