Brooklyn scores 10 runs in the 1st and 4th innings as they whip the visiting Pirates, 23 – 6. This follows a pre-game attempted strike by the players following Leo Durocher’s three-game suspension of P Bobo Newsom for insubordination. Minutes before the game, SS Arky Vaughan hands his uniform to Durocher and refuses to play. Durocher calls for volunteers to play, but by game time he has just a battery of Curt Davis and Bobby Bragan. Branch Rickey intervenes, and Vaughan and the others agree to play. Newsom, 9-4, will be traded to the Brownson July 15th.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Brooklyn scores 10 runs in the 1st and 4th innings as they whip the visiting Pirates, 23 – 6. This follows a pre-game attempted strike by the players following Leo Durocher’s three-game suspension of P Bobo Newsom for insubordination. Minutes before the game, SS Arky Vaughan hands his uniform to Durocher and refuses to play. Durocher calls for volunteers to play, but by game time he has just a battery of Curt Davis and Bobby Bragan. Branch Rickey intervenes, and Vaughan and the others agree to play. Newsom, 9-4, will be traded to the Brownson July 15th.

1943 – Chicago Cubs owner Philip Wrigley and Brooklyn Dodgers executive Branch Rickey draw up charter for the “All-American Girls Softball League”, which will eventually become the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). The league, originally conceived in the belief that the major leagues would suspend play because of World War II, will operate from 1943 to 1954 around the Chicago area. When the league changes its name and switches to hardball, the pitching distance is 40 feet and bases 68 feet apart. After struggling through poor attendance in its early seasons, the league will draw over one million fans in 1948.

1943 – Chicago Cubs owner Philip Wrigley and Brooklyn Dodgers executive Branch Rickey draw up charter for the “All-American Girls Softball League”, which will eventually become the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). The league, originally conceived in the belief that the major leagues would suspend play because of World War II, will operate from 1943 to 1954 around the Chicago area. When the league changes its name and switches to hardball, the pitching distance is 40 feet and bases 68 feet apart. After struggling through poor attendance in its early seasons, the league will draw over one million fans in 1948.

ByTom

1943 – Chicago Cubs owner Philip Wrigley and Brooklyn Dodgers executive Branch Rickey draw up charter for the “All-American Girls Softball League”, which will eventually become the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). The league, originally conceived in the belief that the major leagues would suspend play because of World War II, will operate from 1943 to 1954 around the Chicago area. When the league changes its name and switches to hardball, the pitching distance is 40 feet and bases 68 feet apart. After struggling through poor attendance in its early seasons, the league will draw over one million fans in 1948.

Branch Rickey

Branch Rickey resigns as the Cardinals’ vice president and moves over to the Dodgers

ByThis Day in Baseball

Branch Rickey, the innovator of the farm systems which helped to build a strong Redbird franchise, resigns as the Cardinals’ vice president. Three days later, the Dodgers will announce the Mahatma has been named president of the Brooklyn club, a move that will help to fill the void created by Brooklyn’s general manager Larry MacPhail’s enlistment in the army to serve in World War II.

Leo Durocher

Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis grants free agency to a group of nine Cardinal minor leaguers that includes Pete Reiser

ByBaseball

Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, not a fan of Branch Rickey’s farm system, grants free agency to a group of nine Cardinal minor leaguers that includes Pete Reiser. A reported gentlemen’s agreement that has Brooklyn signing and hiding the 19 year-old outfielder in the low minors to be traded back to St. Louis at a later date, doesn’t work when Brooklyn manager Leo Durocher disobeys orders, allowing the phenom to display his incredible ability in spring training exhibition games.

 Commissioner Landis frees 74 St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, among them Pete Reiser

 Commissioner Landis frees 74 St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, among them Pete Reiser

ByTom

1938 – Commissioner Landis frees 74 St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, among them Pete Reiser, in yet another attempt to halt the farm system cover-up. Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Larry MacPhail makes a pact with his St. Louis counterpart, Branch Rickey, to take the as-yet unknown Reiser and swap him back in the future, but the young outfielder’s ability is too great to hide.

IRS figures for 1934 show Branch Rickey as the highest-paid man in Major League Baseball at $49,470. Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis had voluntarily taken a cut in 1933 from $65,000 to $40,000 because of the Depression.

ByTom

IRS figures for 1934 show Branch Rickey as the highest-paid man in Major League Baseball at $49,470. Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis had voluntarily taken a cut in 1933 from $65,000 to $40,000 because of the Depression.

Paul Derringer

Branch Rickeys biggest mistake – trading away Paul Derringer

ByThis Day in Baseball

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.

The Cardinals announce players will wear numbers on their sleeves of their uniforms, with the digits corresponding to the player’s place in the batting order. The Redbirds strongly disapprove of the concept implemented by St. Louis manager Branch Rickey, who acted on a suggestion put forth by sportswriter John Sheridan.

The Cardinals announce players will wear numbers on their sleeves of their uniforms, with the digits corresponding to the player’s place in the batting order. The Redbirds strongly disapprove of the concept implemented by St. Louis manager Branch Rickey, who acted on a suggestion put forth by sportswriter John Sheridan.

ByTom

The Cardinals announce players will wear numbers on their sleeves of their uniforms, with the digits corresponding to the player’s place in the batting order. The Redbirds strongly disapprove of the concept implemented by St. Louis manager Branch Rickey, who acted on a suggestion put forth by sportswriter John Sheridan.