1931 – An argument between fans at an illegal drinking establishment in Brooklyn, NY over who should start the next game of the World Series turns violent, resulting in the death of a patron after he hits his head on a marble table. Both the bar owner and the man who gave the fatal punch are arrested, but charges against the latter will be dismissed when an autopsy shows that the victim died of a stroke caused by advanced alcoholism, and not directly because of the blow. The bar will be closed permanently, however.

1931 – An argument between fans at an illegal drinking establishment in Brooklyn, NY over who should start the next game of the World Series turns violent, resulting in the death of a patron after he hits his head on a marble table. Both the bar owner and the man who gave the fatal punch are arrested, but charges against the latter will be dismissed when an autopsy shows that the victim died of a stroke caused by advanced alcoholism, and not directly because of the blow. The bar will be closed permanently, however.

A’s take game 1 of 1931 World Series – Al Simmon’s homers

A’s take game 1 of 1931 World Series – Al Simmon’s homers

Thursday, October 1, 1931 1:30 pm (CT) at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis, Missouri. The Philadelphia A’s play the first game of world series vs St Louis Cardinals. The A’s scored four runs in the third, enabling Lefty Grove to win Game 1 despite giving up 12 hits, three by Pepper Martin. Al Simmons, captured…

In a scheduled doubleheader at Ebbets Field, the Robins beat the Giants, 12 – 3, in the opener. The nitecap, called on account of darkness after three innings with no score, will turn out to be the final contest between managers Wilbert Robinson and John McGraw, one-time friends and business partners, but now bitter enemies. McGraw has the edge, 197-190, with five ties.

In a scheduled doubleheader at Ebbets Field, the Robins beat the Giants, 12 – 3, in the opener. The nitecap, called on account of darkness after three innings with no score, will turn out to be the final contest between managers Wilbert Robinson and John McGraw, one-time friends and business partners, but now bitter enemies. McGraw has the edge, 197-190, with five ties.

Lou Gehrig hits a home run to tie Babe Ruth at 46 while the Yankees pound Lefty Grove, 13 – 1, and deny him his 32nd victory. Grove throws just three innings in the warmup for the World Series. Gehrig drives in two runs as he (184) and Ruth (163) combine to drive in 347 runs for the year, the most productive duo in history. Bill Dickey has four hits and ends the year with no passed balls, the only American League catcher to do so, while the Yankees are the only AL team to ever accomplish the feat.

Lou Gehrig hits a home run to tie Babe Ruth at 46 while the Yankees pound Lefty Grove, 13 – 1, and deny him his 32nd victory. Grove throws just three innings in the warmup for the World Series. Gehrig drives in two runs as he (184) and Ruth (163) combine to drive in 347 runs for the year, the most productive duo in history. Bill Dickey has four hits and ends the year with no passed balls, the only American League catcher to do so, while the Yankees are the only AL team to ever accomplish the feat.

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.

Nick Altrock becomes the first player to appear in major league games in five different decades. The 54 year-old former left-hander accomplishes the feat as a pinch hitter when he walks and then is promptly picked off first base in the Senators’ 4-2 loss to Boston at Griffith Stadium.

Nick Altrock becomes the first player to appear in major league games in five different decades. The 54 year-old former left-hander accomplishes the feat as a pinch hitter when he walks and then is promptly picked off first base in the Senators’ 4-2 loss to Boston at Griffith Stadium.

Sam Rice drops a fly ball and the Yankees rally for five runs in the 8th to beat the Senators, 8 – 3. Babe Ruth has two solo homers to help in the win. The 3rd-place Yanks now trail the Nats by a half game.

Sam Rice drops a fly ball and the Yankees rally for five runs in the 8th to beat the Senators, 8 – 3. Babe Ruth has two solo homers to help in the win. The 3rd-place Yanks now trail the Nats by a half game.

The round-robin playoff among New York City’s three major league teams, to raise money for the unemployed, concludes with Brooklyn losing to both the Giants and the Yankees at the Polo Grounds. Again, a near capacity crowd turns out and adds $48,000 to bring the fund to $108,000. In field events held between games, Babe Ruth, normally a left-handed hitter, bats right and wins the fungo hitting contest. He breaks the old distance record held by Big Ed Walsh. Ruth’s drive lands in deep center field, 421 feet away. The old record, set 20 years earlier, was 419 1/2 feet.

The round-robin playoff among New York City’s three major league teams, to raise money for the unemployed, concludes with Brooklyn losing to both the Giants and the Yankees at the Polo Grounds. Again, a near capacity crowd turns out and adds $48,000 to bring the fund to $108,000. In field events held between games, Babe Ruth, normally a left-handed hitter, bats right and wins the fungo hitting contest. He breaks the old distance record held by Big Ed Walsh. Ruth’s drive lands in deep center field, 421 feet away. The old record, set 20 years earlier, was 419 1/2 feet.