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.
In Detroit, Vic Raschi posts his 20th win of the season to give New York a hard-fought 7 – 5 win. Raschi walks in two runs in the opening inning as Detroit tallies four runs, but New York comes back as Joe DiMaggio cracks his 29th home run and Johnny Mize follows a walk to Hank Bauer with his 10th homer. New York takes over first place by a half game.
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.
After the Giants had offered him to every team in the National League, Johnny Mize, who had expressed his displeasure about his playing time, is bought by Yankee general manager George Weiss for $40,000. The 36 year-old slugging first baseman doesn’t disappoint the Bronx fans, hitting .299 in a part time role over his five seasons with the Bombers.
1948 – Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals is named National League Most Valuable Player. In one of the best seasons ever, Musial led the NL in batting average (.365), runs (135), RBI (131), hits (230), doubles (46), triples (18) and slugging (.702). His 39 home runs were one short of Johnny Mize and Ralph Kiner.
Schoolboy Rowe of the Phillies pinch hits for Johnny Sain to become the first major leaguer to appear in different All-Star Games representing teams from the National League and American League. In the 1936 Mid-summer classic, the former Philadelphia A’s ace threw three innings of relief against the NL stars.
On April 24, 1947, Johnny Mize of the New York Giants becomes the first major leaguer to hit three home runs in a game on five different occasions. The “Big Cat” hits his most recent trio against Johnny Sain of the Boston Braves. In spite of Mize’s barrage, the Giants lose the game, 14-5.
In front of the largest crowd in 13 years, the New York Giants defeat the Boston Braves, 5 – 1, in the first night game played at Braves Field. The 37,407 fans are surprised as their hometown heroes enter the field wearing shiny satin uniforms designed to reflect the light generated by the electricity used for the evening contest.
1941 – The Giants acquire Johnny Mize from the Cardinals for three players – Bill Lohrman, Ken O’Dea and Johnny McCarthy – and $50,000. Because of injuries, Mize’s home run production fell from 43 to 16 in 1941, but he will bounce back to lead the National League in 1947 and 1948.
Johnny Mize hits homers #’s 38, 39, and 40 in the first game of a doubleheader, becoming the first player to hit three homers in one game four times in his career. Despite the ‘Big Cat’s’ heroics, the Cardinals drop a pair to the Pirates, 16-14 and 9-4.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!