At Shibe Park, 15,000 fans witness the first legal baseball game between major league teams played on a Sunday in the city of Philadelphia. In a hometown exhibition game, the Phillies defeat the Athletics, 8 – 1.
1934 – Babe Ruth, sponsored by Quaker Oats, agrees to do three 15-minute broadcasts a week over NBC. The total of $39,000 for 13 weeks is $4,000 more than his New York Yankees contract. Of equal weight, WSAL hires Red Barber to broadcast Cincinnati Reds games.
Reds president Larry MacPhail hires 26 year-old Red Barber to broadcast the team games on WSAL. The not-so-old “Ol’ Redhead” will spend the first five years of his Hall of Fame career in Cincinnati, calling the contests from the stands of Crosley Field.
1934 – Rabbit Maranville breaks his left leg while sliding home on a double steal in an exhibition game against the New York Yankees. The Boston Braves veteran is out for the season and will play just 23 games next year. He had broken his right leg earlier in spring training of 1926.
1934 – In New Orleans, Louisiana Mildred Didrickson (Babe Zaharias) pitches again, this time for the New Orleans Pelicans against a split squad of the Cleveland Indians. She throws two scoreless innings and lines out in her only plate appearance. In nearby Lafayette, manager Walter Johnson pitches for the other Cleveland squad against the minor league Kansas City Blues.
1934 – Mildred Didrickson (also known as Babe Zaharias), the renowned all-around female athlete, pitches the 1st inning for the Philadelphia Athletics in a spring training exhibition game against the Brooklyn Dodgers. She gives up one walk but no hits. Two days later she pitches again, this time one inning for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox. Didrickson is less successful the second time, giving up four hits and three runs. Bill Hallahan relieves her, as she does not have an at bat in either game. She will also play several games for the House of David this season. Didrickson is the second female to play exhibitions with a major league team. Previously, first baseman Lizzie Murphy played for an American League All-Star team on August 14, 1922.
On March 12, 1934, St. Louis Cardinals rookie Paul “Daffy” Dean ends his holdout. Dean will win 19 games for the Cardinals in his first major league season. Helping them to the 1934 Wrold Series, Dean will win 2 games for the Cardinal’s helping them defeat the Tigers for the 1934 Championship.
On February 25, 1934 — At the age of 60, John McGraw dies at New Rochelle Hospital, two weeks after entering the facility with optimistic reports about his recovery from prostate cancer. The renowned New York Giants manager known as ‘Little Napoleon’ due to his style and stature, won 10 pennants and 3 world championships…
Brooklyn coach Casey Stengel signs a two-year deal to manage the Dodgers, replacing skipper Max Carey, who guided the sixth-place club to a 65-88 record last season. During the rookie manager’s three-year tenure with the Brooks, the team will finish 43 games under .500, finishing no higher than fifth place.
February 22, 1934 Hall of Fame manager George “Sparky” Anderson was born in Bridgewater, SD to LeRoy and Shirley Anderson. Nicknamed Captain Hook (for his penchant of using his bullpen often), he played 1 season in MLB (in 1959). He is known as one of the greatest managers in Major League Baseball history. In 26 seasons…
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!