1920 – In St. Louis‚ the Cardinals beat the Cubs‚ 5 – 1‚ as Grover Alexander loses after 11 wins. Bill Doak is the winner and Rogers Hornsby leads the Cards’ offense with 2 triples over the left fielder’s head. After the game Alexander calls Hornsby “the greatest hitter I’ve ever had to face. I have tried to fool him every way possible‚ but it just cannot be done.” Alex will be 27-14 for the 5th-place Cubs‚ and his 1.91 ERA will be the only one in the league under 2.00.

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1920 – In St. Louis‚ the Cardinals beat the Cubs‚ 5 – 1‚ as Grover Alexander loses after 11 wins. Bill Doak is the winner and Rogers Hornsby leads the Cards’ offense with 2 triples over the left fielder’s head. After the game Alexander calls Hornsby “the greatest hitter I’ve ever had to face. I have tried to fool him every way possible‚ but it just cannot be done.” Alex will be 27-14 for the 5th-place Cubs‚ and his 1.91 ERA will be the only one in the league under 2.00.

The Phils sell star pitcher Grover Alexander and his personal catcher “Reindeer” Bill Killefer to the Cubs for righthander “Iron” Mike Prendergast, C Pickles Dillhoefer, and $55,000

The Phils sell star pitcher Grover Alexander and his personal catcher “Reindeer” Bill Killefer to the Cubs for righthander “Iron” Mike Prendergast, C Pickles Dillhoefer, and $55,000

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1917 – The Phils sell star pitcher Grover Alexander, twice a 30-game winner, and his personal catcher “Reindeer” Bill Killefer to the Cubs for righthander “Iron” Mike Prendergast, C Pickles Dillhoefer, and $55,000. Phils owner William Baker later admits he made the trade because, “I needed the money.” The 5th-place Cubs expect the addition of Alexander to greatly strengthen their staff, but Alex will be drafted in the Army.

Grover Cleveland Alexander goes the distance in both games of the Phillies’ doubleheader sweep of Brooklyn at Ebbets Field

Grover Cleveland Alexander goes the distance in both games of the Phillies’ doubleheader sweep of Brooklyn at Ebbets Field

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Grover Cleveland Alexander goes the distance in both games of the Phillies’ doubleheader sweep of Brooklyn at Ebbets Field. In his 18 innings of work, the Philadelphia right-hander limits the Dodgers to seven hits en route to posting 5-0 and 9-3 victories in the twin bill.

Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander face each other for the first time

Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander face each other for the first time

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1916 – In Kansas City, MO, Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander face each other for the first time. The exhibition game between the two stars features Zach Wheat, Casey Stengel, Max Carey, Hal Chase and others. The “Johnsons” prevail over the “Alexanders”, 3 – 2.

Pete Alexander wins help to pull Phillies to within a game and a half of Brooklyn.

Pete Alexander wins help to pull Phillies to within a game and a half of Brooklyn.

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At the Baker Bowl, Grover Cleveland Alexander is coasting with a two-hit, 6 – 0 lead in the 8th over the Cubs, when weak-hitting Steve Yerkes lines a single followed by manager Joe Tinker’s only hit of the year. On a double play grounder, 1B Fred Luderus pulls his foot off the bag and Chicago goes on to score three runs. Second-place Philadelphia wins, 6 – 3, to pull with 1 1/2 games of Brooklyn.

The Phils whitewash the Robins twice‚ winning 3 – 0 behind Grover Alexander and 6 – 0 to back Eppa Rixey

The Phils whitewash the Robins twice‚ winning 3 – 0 behind Grover Alexander and 6 – 0 to back Eppa Rixey

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1916 – The Phils whitewash the Robins twice‚ winning 3 – 0 behind Grover Alexander and 6 – 0 to back Eppa Rixey. Alexander’s win in the opener is his 14th shutout‚ setting a major league record. The loser is Jack Coombs‚ who had set the record of 13 shutouts while pitching for the A’s in 1910.

On March 21, 1988 — 1988 – Edd Roush dies in Bradenton, Florida, at the age of 94. A two-time National League batting champion and a .323 hitter over an 18-year career, Roush entered the Hall of Fame in 1962.

The Reds acquire three future Hall of Famers when Christy Mathewson is traded to Cincinnati

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The Reds acquire three future Hall of Famers when Christy Mathewson is traded to Cincinnati with Giants CF Edd Roush and 3B Bill McKechnie for former Giants Buck Herzogand Red Killefer. McKechnie will make it to Cooperstown as a manager, not as a player, but the 23-year-old Roush is a steal for the Reds. A longtime nemesis of the Reds, Mathewson will pitch one game and then manage, and a new team nickname will be coined: “Matties.” The Reds lose today, managing just two hits off Pete Alexander, who contributes two doubles himself to the Phils offense.