Bill McGowan orders Cleveland pitcher Johnny Allen to trim off the tattered sleeves of his undershirt because they distract opposing batters

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On June 7, 1938, at Fenway Park umpire Bill McGowan orders Cleveland pitcher Johnny Allen to trim off the tattered sleeves of his undershirt because they distract opposing batters. The ill-tempered Allen had cut the sleeves of one of his sweatshirts and worn it under his jersey during several of his starts in ’38. He claimed that the purpose of the alteration was to let more air in. Allen refuses and is ejected and fined $250 in blatant defiance of manager Ossie Vitt.

That undershirt, which Allen wore for most of his career, was purchased by team owner Alva Bradley for $250 and the frayed sweatshirt was displayed at Higbee’s Department Store – owned by Bradley’s brother and now is in the Hall of Fame’s collection, and McGowan was inducted into the Hall in 1992.

Cleveland wins the game, 7 – 5.
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