1959 – On Opening Day at Briggs Stadium, Chicago White Sox second baseman Nellie Fox goes 5 for 7 and hits an unlikely 14th-inning two-run home run off Don Mossi to beat the Detroit Tigers, 9 – 7. Fox did not homer in 623 at-bats last season.
At Briggs Stadium, Roger Maris hits a game-winning, grand-slam home run in the top of the 11th inning against Detroit in the Indians’ second game of the season. In his major league debut two days ago, the 22 year-old rookie outfielder went 3-for-5 in the Tribe’s 3-2 loss to Chicago at Cleveland Stadium.
In an 18 – 7 loss to the Tigers, Senators 18-year-old rookie third baseman Harmon Killebrew hits his first major league home run off Billy Hoeft. “Killer” will finish his 22-year Hall of Fame career with 573 homers.
On May 16, 1954, Ted Williams is back, though grimacing with each swing, after suffering a collarbone fracture and goes 8 for 9 with two home runs and seven RBI in a doubleheader against the Tigers. Williams has three hits in game one, a 7 – 6 loss. He goes 5 for 5 in the nightcap,…
1953 – Detroit Tigers shortstop Harvey Kuenn, who hit .308 for the season, is voted American League Rookie of the Year.
Art Houtteman, needing to retire just one more batter to author a no-hitter, throws a fastball to Harry Simpson, who rips the pitch for a single, spoiling the right-hander’s chance for immortality. The Tigers’ 13-1 triumph over the Tribe at Briggs Stadium marks the team’s first victory of the season, after dropping eight decisions to start the campaign.
Johnny Mize hits three home runs in one game for the sixth time in his career, establishing a major league record. The first baseman’s offensive output, which makes him the second player to accomplish a three-homer game in both leagues along with Babe Ruth, isn’t enough when the Yankees lose at Detroit, 9-7.
The Tigers trade first baseman Rudy York to the Red Sox for infielder Eddie Lake, who will replace current shortstop Skeeter Webb with two solid defensive years before a broken finger relegates him to a utility role on the team. Boston’s new first baseman’s offensive output, which includes 119 RBIs, helps to propel the club to an American League pennant this season.
Major League Baseball Season Recap 1945 World Series – Detroit Tigers AL over Chicago Cubs NL 4 games to 3 World Series MVP – Babe Ruth Award – Awards – Major League Cy Young Award Cy Young Award National League Cy Young Award American League MVP Awards – NL Phil Cavarretta AL Hal Newhouser Major League Rookie of The…
Baseball is the only game you can watch on the radio. Join the community today and listen to hundreds of broadcasts from baseball’s golden age! Sign Up or learn more On October 3, 1945 – The Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs face each other in the World Series for the fourth time. Hank Borowy…