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.
On June 12, 1939, an awe-inspiring collection of baseball’s greatest stars and legendary figures gathers in Cooperstown, New York for the official dedication of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner and the late Christy Mathewson, all of whom had been elected to the Hall of Fame’s inaugural class…
Lefty Grove and Walter Johnson at Fenway Park, circa 1939.
On May 3, 1938, Lefty Grove of the Boston Red Sox defeats the Detroit Tigers, 4-3, marking the start of a personal 20-game winning streak at home. Grove will not lose a game at Fenway Park until May 12, 1941.
August 11, 1937 – At Fenway Park Catcher Jimmy Foxx of the Boston Red Sox points to the outfield as Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees prepares to bat. The Yankees will prevail 8-5 in 14 innings. DiMaggio went 2-5 and homered in the first off Lefty Grove. Fox went 3-7 in the losing…
Behind Lefty Grove and Jimmie Foxx, the visiting Red Sox top the White Sox, 7 – 3. Grove wins his 13th on seven hits, while Double X bangs his 30th homer, a triple and double. Boston sub Moe Berg adds a triple, double, and single off Ted Lyons.
1936 – As the second part of the December 10 deal for Jimmie Foxx, the Boston Red Sox get Doc Cramer and Eric McNair from the Philadelphia Athletics for Hank Johnson, Al Niemiec, and $75,000. Even with the free spending, and the presence of 20-game winners Wes Ferrell and Lefty Grove, Boston will finish 6th in 1936. However, in six-plus seasons with the Sox, Foxx will hit 222 home runs, bats .300 five times, and be an All-Star six times.
Schoolboy Rowe, after sixteen straight victories, finally loses when the A’s chase him after seven innings in a 13-5 final at Philadelphia’s Shibe Park. In his last start, the Tiger right-hander tied the American League record for consecutive wins shared by Smoky Joe Wood, Walter Johnson, and Lefty Grove.
In the eighth inning of the Senators’ 8-1 victory over the Red Sox, Boston hurler Lefty Grove becomes the first pitcher in major league history to yield six doubles in one frame. The future Hall of Famer, ailing from a sore arm, gives up five consecutive two-baggers during Washington’s barrage.
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