On May 21, 1940, at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, future Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx of the Boston Red Sox hits a grand slam home run for the second consecutive day. Foxx’s grand slam proves decisive, as the Red Sox defeat the Detroit Tigers, 11-8. Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr and Doc Cramer also homer for…
On May 14, 1940, future Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx hits what is believed to be the longest home run in the history of Comiskey Park. The Boston Red Sox’ slugger hits a titanic blast against Johnny Rigney that clears the left-field roof. Lefty Grove picks up the win 7-6.
On Opening Day at Griffith Stadium, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s errant ceremonial first pitch smashes a Washington Post camera. Red Sox hurler Lefty Grove blanks the Senators, 1-0, after the Chief Executive tosses his wild throw.
1940 – The Brooklyn Dodgers purchase outfielder Joe Vosmik from the Boston Red Sox.
1940 – The St. Louis Browns make one of their best acquisitions ever when they purchase pitcher Elden Auker from the Boston Red Sox. Auker will become the ace of the Browns staff winning 44 games over the next three seasons.
The youngest of the three DiMaggio brothers, Dom DiMaggio, is bought for $40,000 by the Boston Red Sox from the San Francisco team (Pacific Coast League).
On September 9, 1939, Jimmie Foxx of the Boston Red Sox undergoes an appendectomy, sidelining him for the rest of the season. Although Foxx will not return to action in 1939, his 35 home runs will hold up as the most in the American League. He also finishes the year with a .360 batting average…
The Red Sox send 21 year-old farmhand Pee Wee Reese to the Dodgers for $35,000 and a player to be named later (Red Evans), along with three minor leaguers due to a less-than-enthusiastic scouting report filed by Joe Cronin, the team’s current player-manager, who deliberately downplayed the prospect’s talent to keep his own job in the Boston infield. The Louisville Colonels regular shortstop, a future Hall of Famer, will become a crowd favorite, helping Brooklyn to win seven pennants during his 16 seasons with the team.
The Red Sox win 4 – 3 and 5 – 3 to sweep a 5-game series in Yankee Stadium. The Yankee lead is now 6 1/2 games. Joe Cronin drives in runs in both games, giving him 12 games in a row with RBI.
On July 4, 1939, At Shibe Park, Boston Red Sox third baseman Jim Tabor four home runs in a doubleheader as Boston sweeps Philadelphia, 17 – 7 and 18 – 12. Three of his homers, including a record-tying two grand slams, come in the nightcap. It’s only the second time the feat has been accomplished,…
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