The Tigers and Indians become the first teams to swap skippers. The Tribe’s new manager, Jimmy Dykes, will compile a 103-115 record for Cleveland, while Joe Gordon posts a 26-31 mark in his two-months stay in Detroit.
Frank Lane trades managers with Detroit GM Bill DeWitt. The Indians’ Joe Gordon (49-46) is dealt to the Tigers for Jimmy Dykes (44-52).
Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers make an unusual trade
In an effort to distract Ted Williams during his at-bats in the 6th and 8th innings, Indians CF Jimmy Piersall goes into a war dance. Piersall gets tossed for his efforts and manager Joe Gordon is also ejected for arguing Jimmy’s case. It is Piersall’s 6th ejection of the season. Gordon had previously announced that any more ejections would cost Piersall $500 each, but he thinks today’s thumbing is unwarranted and waives the fine. American League president Joe Cronin is less forgiving and fines Piersall $100. The Indians win, 4 – 2, behind Jim Perry’s pitching and the first major league home run of Mike de la Hoz.
After Tiger manager Joe Gordon says he plans to leave the team at the end of the season, he is fired four days later by general manager Frank Lane. After reported negotiations with Leo Durocher to take over the helm do not pan out, the Detroit GM changes his mind and apologizes to his skipper, who decides to continue in his position.
In a dispute with the umpires, Cleveland manager Joe Gordon is ejected. Cleveland OF Minnie Minoso refuses to stand in the batter’s box until the argument is over. Umpire Frank Umont calls him out on strikes. The enraged Minoso charges Umont and gets the thumb also. The Indians win, 8 – 7, to stay on the heels of Chicago.
Joe Gordon replaces Bobby Bragan as manager of the Cleveland Indians, signing a contract through 1959.
Pacific Coast League’s Sacramento manager, former major league All-Star second baseman Joe Gordon, pinch hits homers in both ends of a doubleheader. The first one, a grand slam, wins the game, 4-1.
At Fenway Park, Vern Stephens crashes a 3-run home run, his 200th career homer, in the 1st off Fred Hutchinson. Detroit wins, 9 – 5, with a little help in the 9th from umpire Jim Boyer. Boyer calls time just before pinch-hitter Tom Wright triples to CF. In his do-over, Wright grounds out. Stephens joins five other active players with more than 200 homers: Joe DiMaggio, Johnny Mize, Ted Williams, Joe Gordon, and Bill Nicholson.
7/27/1949: Three homers were lost in a rain-shortened game at Yankee Stadium. In the bottom of the first, Tommy Henrich homered off Cleveland’s Bob Feller with two on and no one out. In the top of the second, Joe Gordon hit a solo shot with one out off Ed Lopat. One inning later, Cleveland pitcher Sam Zoldak also hit a solo homer with one out off Lopat.
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