Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the first Major League Baseball Commissioner, dies of a heart attack
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Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the first Major League Baseball Commissioner, dies of a heart attack

ByTom

1944 – Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the first Major League Baseball Commissioner, dies of a heart attack at age 78 in Chicago. Landis had ruled over baseball since November 1920 in the wake of the Black Sox scandal, and wielded authority perhaps unparalleled in any other industry. Landis had entered the hospital on October 2nd. He will elected to the Hall of Fame on December 9th in a special ballot.

1944 – Five groups totaling 23 players, managers, umpires and sportwriters visit war theaters as part of the United Service Organizations program. Included are Mel Ott, Dutch Leonard, Frankie Frisch, Bucky Walters, Harry Heilmann, Carl Hubbell, Freddie Fitzsimmons, Bill Summers, Beans Reardon, Johnny Lindell, Tuck Stainback, Steve O’Neill, Leo Durocher, Joe Medwick, Nick Etten, Dixie Walker, Paul Waner and Rip Sewell.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1944 – Five groups totaling 23 players, managers, umpires and sportwriters visit war theaters as part of the United Service Organizations program. Included are Mel Ott, Dutch Leonard, Frankie Frisch, Bucky Walters, Harry Heilmann, Carl Hubbell, Freddie Fitzsimmons, Bill Summers, Beans Reardon, Johnny Lindell, Tuck Stainback, Steve O’Neill, Leo Durocher, Joe Medwick, Nick Etten, Dixie Walker, Paul Waner and Rip Sewell.

Hall of Famer George Thomas Seaver is born in Fresno, California

Hall of Famer George Thomas Seaver is born in Fresno, California

ByThis Day in Baseball

    On November 17, 1944, future Hall of Famer George Thomas Seaver was born in Fresno, California. Better known as Tom Seaver will make the major leagues in 1967 as a member of the New York Mets. The right-hander will lead the Mets to the 1969 World Series, win 3 Cy Young Awards, be…

Joe Niekro is born in Martin’s Ferry, OH.
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Joe Niekro is born in Martin’s Ferry, OH.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1944 – Joe Niekro is born in Martin’s Ferry, OH. Much of his career is spent in the shadow of his Hall-of-Fame older brother but the younger sibling leaves Houston as the winningest pitcher in franchise history (144). The two combine to win 539 major league games in their careers, most of any brother duo in baseball history.

Eiji Sawamura became a national hero by striking out Babe Ruth in an exhibition game dies in WWII action

Eiji Sawamura became a national hero by striking out Babe Ruth in an exhibition game dies in WWII action

ByThis Day in Baseball

November 2, 1944 – Japan, where baseball has been banned as an undesirable enemy influence, mourns the death of Eiji Sawamura. The Japanese pitcher, who is killed in action in the Pacific, became a national hero by striking out Babe Ruth in an exhibition game. [jetpack_subscription_form title=”Join the Community” subscribe_text=”We bring you cool stories about…

FDR Visits Ebbets Field

FDR Visits Ebbets Field

ByThis Day in Baseball

The weather can’t stop Franklin Roosevelt. When his 1944 Campaign through four of the five New York City boroughs was compounded with torrential downpours, FDR insisted that it carry on as scheduled, despite the protests from his physician. The tour concluded with a speech at Ebbets Field, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers.  [jetpack_subscription_form title=”Subscribe…

1944 – The only all-St. Louis World Series opens with the Browns, as the visiting team, beating the Cardinals on George McQuinn’s home run, 2 – 1. Denny Galehouse is the winning pitcher and Mort Cooper the loser despite allowing just two hits.

ByBaseball

1944 – The only all-St. Louis World Series opens with the Browns, as the visiting team, beating the Cardinals on George McQuinn’s home run, 2 – 1. Denny Galehouse is the winning pitcher and Mort Cooper the loser despite allowing just two hits.

Dixie Walker wins NL batting crown hitting .357 for 7th place Dodgers

ByThis Day in Baseball

Dixie Walker, an outfielder on the seventh-place Dodgers, wins the National League batting crown with a .357 batting average, finishing ten points higher than runner-up Stan Musial. In 1947, the ‘People’s Cherce’s younger brother, Harry ‘the Hat,’ will also lead the Senior Circuit, hitting .363 in the year when he is traded, after playing ten games for St. Louis, to Philadelphia.