At Pittsburgh, Pirate catcher Bill Salkeld is 5 for 5, including hitting for the cycle, and drives in all five runs, but his Bucs lose, 6 – 5 to Cardinals reliever Harry Brecheen. Salkeld hits his only triple of the year in the cycle, half his career total. His offensive effort offsets a curious defensive stat: he has no putouts or assists in the game.
8/4/1942: The Dodgers were playing the Giants at the Polo Grounds with wartime restrictions in effect that required the lights to be shut off at a predetermined time. Brooklyn scored four runs in the top of the tenth inning, including an inside-the-park grand slam by Peewee Reese, which flew over the head of center fielder Buster Maynard and rolled to the clubhouse area. After a pitching change, a walk and a fly out, the umpires stopped the game in the middle of an at bat by Joe Medwick. The game reverted back to a nine-inning, 1-1 tie. The contest was scheduled for a September 6 makeup. This was the first time a game had ended in a tie under the lights due to the dim out regulations. The game had started at 6:45pm. The only statement made by NL President Ford Frick was to say that he would “urge earlier start times.”
Braves pitcher Jim Tobin clubs his 6th homer of the year, tying the National League record for homers by a pitcher, but he loses to the Phils, 4 – 2.
Mickey Owens becomes the first catcher to handle three foul pop ups in one frame. The Brooklyn backstop’s third inning defense contributes to the Dodgers’ 11-6 victory over New York at Ebbets Field.
In Boston, the two teams dedicate the game in memory of Willard Hershberger, then Frank McCormick drives in six runs to lead the Reds to a 12 – 9 win over the Bees after Bucky Walters loses the opener, his third straight defeat.
Jimmie Foxx, who started as a catcher in 1925, is behind the plate for the Red Sox to catch a 7 – 3 win for long-time teammate Lefty Grove. Foxx cracks his 24th home run to start the Sox on an 8-game skein in which they will hit 20 homers.
Mike Kreevich of the Chicago White Sox equals the major league record by grounding into four successive double plays against the Washington Senators.
Joe Medwick again ties the major-league record with four extra-base hits in a game. It is the third time he has performed the feat.
The Cardinals regain first place, beating the Cubs, 6 – 1, and dropping them to second place.
Walter Johnson (46-48) resigns as manager of the Indians and will be replaced by Steve O’Neill (36-23). The Tribe has dropped 23 of its last 32 decisions.
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