On May 22, 1933, in a 3-0 win behind Lefty Gomez over Cleveland, Joe Sewell of the New York Yankees strikes out for the first time on the season. Sewell, the 34 year old future hall of farmer, playing in his final season, will strike out only three more times in 524 at-bats.
For the first time in major league history, brothers on opposite teams hit home runs in the same game. Boston Red Sox catcher Rick Ferrell homers off his brother Wes Ferrellin the 2nd inning, but the Cleveland Indians pitcher returns the favor as he homers in the 3rd on a pitch called by his sibling. It is the only time that the Ferrell brothers homer in the same game.
The first All-Star Game is announced for July 6th at Comiskey Park. It will be played as part of the Chicago World’s Fair celebration and is sponsored by the Chicago Tribune. Fans will pick the players.
On May 16, 1933, Cecil Travis of the Washington Senators makes an incredible major league debut. Travis sets a modern day record by collecting five singles in his first five at-bats. Travis is retired in his final two at-bats, but his Senators still defeat the Cleveland Indians, 11-10, in 12 innings. Senators third baseman Cecil…
The major leagues advance the cut-down date a month, limiting rosters to 23 players today instead of June 15th.
With rain pelting down at Ebbets Field, Hack Wilson pounds a 9th-inning pinch-grand slam, the first in Brooklyn Dodgers history, to beat Ad Liska and the Philadelphia Phillies, 8 – 6. The homer is inside-the-park, just the third pinch inside-the-park grand homer in major league history, and the first since 1910.
The Red Sox sell Earl Webb to the White Sox.
The Cardinals trade Paul Derringer, Sparky Adams, and Allyn Stout to the Reds in exchange for shortstop Leo Durocher, Dutch Henry, and Jack Ogden. The deal, necessitated by Charlie Gelbert’s hunting accident, will be viewed as one of Branch Rickey’s biggest mistakes as Derringer will become a four-time 20-game winner for Cincinnati.
In a strange play at home plate, catcher Luke Sewell of the Washington Senators tags out two Yankees runners on the same play. Lou Gehrig had held up, thinking a fly ballwould be caught. Dixie Walker closes up on him, and both are tagged out by Sewell while trying to score.
On April 25, 1933, rookie Russ “Sheriff” Van Atta makes an incredible debut for the New York Yankees at Griffith Stadium. Van Atta pitches a five-hit shutout against the Washington Senators and collects four singles in four at-bats. Yankee outfielder Earle Combs adds five hits in the Yankees’ 16-0 win. The 26-year-old southpaw will finish…
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