1933 – New York Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert refuses to release Babe Ruth from his contract, thus preventing him from becoming the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Ruth will never receive a chance to manage a major league team.
The Washington Senators topped 90 wins for a fourth straight season in 1933 and beat out the Yankees and Athletics for the American League pennant. Washington player-manager Joe Cronin hit .309 with 118 runs batted in while OF Heinie Manush was second in the league with a .336 average. The New York Giants edged the…
1933 – The major leagues agree on a uniform ball to be livelier than the National League ball of recent seasons, to match the American League balls. Owners also agree to ban Sunday doubleheaders until after June 15th.
In an extended trade, the St. Louis Browns acquire Smead Jolley, Ivy Andrews, and $40,000 from the Boston Red Sox for Carl Reynolds. St. Louis then sends Jolley, plus Jim Levey and Wally Hebert to Hollywood (Pacific Coast League) for Alan Strange. Strange will go to the Senators for Lyn Lary before the end of the season. Levey, meanwhile, will return east in the fall to join the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he will play halfback for three seasons.
Goose Goslin of the Washington Senators is sent to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for John Stone.
Connie Mack is still selling. First he sells Lefty Grove, the A’s top winner in each of the past five seasons, along with Max Bishop and George Walberg, to the Boston Red Sox for $125,000 and two players, pitcher Bob Kline and infielder Rabbit Warstler. Next, catcher Mickey Cochrane goes to Detroit, then George Earnshaw and backstop Johnny Pasek, just acquired from the Tigers, go to the White Sox for $20,000 and catcher Charlie Berry. Berry once led the NFL in scoring and will become a major league umpire in the 1940s. The day will be known as “Black Tuesday” in Philadelphia.
At the major leagues’ annual meeting, the owners vote Judge Landis another seven-year contract as commissioner. Will Harridge gets a new five-year pact as American League president.
For the second time, Connie Mack begins to dismantle a dynasty he has built, deciding to sell Mickey Cochrane to the Tigers for $100,000. Although the A’s have won three American League pennants and two World Series titles, dating back to 1929, with the Great Depression looming, the Philadelphia owner needs cash in the face of a failing economy.
On November 21, 1933, the Philadelphia Phillies trade Triple Crown winner Chuck Klein to the Chicago Cubs for infielder Mark Koenig, outfielder Harvey Hendrick, and pitcher Ted Kleinhans, plus $125,000. Klein, who batted .368 with 28 home runs and 120 RBIs. Hendrick will play one year with the Phillies, while Koenig and Hendrick quickly go…
1933 – The Pittsburgh Pirates send Adam Comorosky and Tony Piet to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Red Lucas and Wally Roettger. As a pitcher, Lucas will feast on the Reds over the rest of his career, going 14-0 against them. Piet hit .323 for the season, but will be in the doghouse over a contract dispute and will never start a game after July.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!