On April 19, 1949 — In front of 53,000 fans on Opening Day, Johnny Groth hits home runs in two of his first three at bats at Tiger Stadium. The 22 year-old rookie’s performance enables Hal Newhowser and Detroit Tigers to beat Chicago White Sox, 5-1.
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Detroit Tigers 5, Chicago White Sox 1
Game Played on Tuesday, April 19, 1949 (D) at Briggs Stadium
CHI A 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 3 1
DET A 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 1 x - 5 7 0
BOX+PBP WP: Newhouser (1-0) LP: Gettel (0-1) HR: Robinson (1), Groth 2 (2)
Play by Play
WHITE SOX 1ST: Baker lined; Philley out on an unknown play; Appling out on an unknown play; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 0, Tigers 0. TIGERS 1ST: Berry out on an unknown play; Lipon singled; Kell grounded into a double play (third to second to first) [Lipon out at second]; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 0, Tigers 0. WHITE SOX 2ND: Zernial struck out; Seerey walked; Michaels grounded into a double play (shortstop to second to first) [Seerey out at second]; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 0, Tigers 0. TIGERS 2ND: Wertz flied out on an unknown play; Evers walked; Robinson homered [Evers scored]; Groth flied out on an unknown play; Vico out on an unknown play; 2 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 0, Tigers 2. WHITE SOX 3RD: Souchock popped out on an unknown play; Tipton out on an unknown play; Gettel flied out on an unknown play; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 0, Tigers 2. TIGERS 3RD: Newhouser out on an unknown play; Berry lined; Lipon lined; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 0, Tigers 2. WHITE SOX 4TH: Baker walked; Philley struck out; Appling singled to left [Baker to third]; Zernial singled to center [Baker scored, Appling to second]; Seerey flied out on an unknown play; Michaels flied out on an unknown play; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. White Sox 1, Tigers 2. TIGERS 4TH: Kell popped out on an unknown play; Wertz lined; Evers struck out; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 1, Tigers 2. WHITE SOX 5TH: Souchock struck out; Tipton lined; Gettel flied out on an unknown play; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 1, Tigers 2. TIGERS 5TH: Robinson struck out; Groth hit an inside the park homer to right; Pat Seerey changed direction to avoid the concrete wall as the ball landed fair by inches; Cass Michaels got to the ball before Seerey; Vico flied out on an unknown play; Newhouser reached on an error by Baker; Berry flied out on an unknown play; 1 R, 1 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. White Sox 1, Tigers 3. WHITE SOX 6TH: Baker out on an unknown play; Philley out on an unknown play; Appling flied out on an unknown play; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 1, Tigers 3. TIGERS 6TH: Lipon out on an unknown play; Kell popped out on an unknown play; Wertz lined; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 1, Tigers 3. WHITE SOX 7TH: Zernial doubled to center; Seerey popped to first; Michaels flied to right; Souchock grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. White Sox 1, Tigers 3. TIGERS 7TH: Evers singled; Robinson grounded into a double play (second to shortstop to first) [Evers out at second]; Groth homered; Vico struck out; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 1, Tigers 4. WHITE SOX 8TH: Tipton popped out on an unknown play; KOLLOWAY BATTED FOR GETTEL; Kolloway out on an unknown play; Baker popped out on an unknown play; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 1, Tigers 4. TIGERS 8TH: SURKONT REPLACED KOLLOWAY (PITCHING); Newhouser walked; Berry out on a sacrifice bunt [Newhouser to second]; Lipon flied to left; Kell singled to right [Newhouser scored]; Wertz singled [Kell to second]; Evers forced Kell (third unassisted); 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. White Sox 1, Tigers 5. WHITE SOX 9TH: Philley out on an unknown play; Appling lined; Zernial out on an unknown play; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 1, Tigers 5. Final Totals R H E LOB White Sox 1 3 1 3 Tigers 5 7 0 3
