1938 Chicago Cubs - KOD22 World Champions

What an amazing series between managerial rivals Michael Hopcroft and Andy Weinrib, who met in the World Series for the 2^nd time in the past 3 seasons.  The Yankees came in on the heels of an incredible 8-0 post season roll.  The Cubs took each of their previous 2 series to the brink.  After going down 2-0 to the mighty Bombers manager Andy Weinrib said, “I’m just hoping to win 1 vs that incredible lineup”.  Hoppy on the other hand was not overconfident even up 2-0.  He knew that the series isn’t over until it was over (thanks Yogi).  Having burned through his pen he was forced to keep Hoyt in longer than he wanted in game 6.  Still, who expected to see a walk off 3 run shot by a 34 year old Lazzeri who played in just 54 games during the 1938 regular season.  I could only imagine how Lazzeri would have felt considering the fact that he was released by the Yankees just after hitting .400 for them in the 1937 World Series.  You could hardly blame the Yankees for letting Lazzeri, who hit .244 in the regular season, go considering they had future HOF’er Joe “Flash” Gordon waiting in the wings to take over.  “Poosh ‘em Up Tony” would play just one more year then he briefly was a player manager in the minors before heading home to San Fran to run a bar.  He died of a heart attack at the young age of 42.  He is the only Yankee player to be inducted in the Hall of Fame to not have his uniform number retired, which IMO is a sin.  The man played over a decade in the Bronx winning 6 pennants and 5 championships, while being acknowledged as the best player at his position during that era, yet the Yankees have kept him out of monument park.  Hopefully his walk off series clinching home run gives him some sort of redemption.

Congratulations to both managers for winning their respective pennants.  For Andy this is his 2^nd championship in the last 3 seasons.  Anyone can win once, but when you win more than once you aren’t a fluke.  2 in 3 seasons is dominance.  Hoppy, I know you’re fretting about not winning, but you had a great season and you’ve been the only manager in KOD history to get the Yankee franchise to the KOD World Series.  Thank you both for a wonderful series and a wonderful season.

Game 6 - "Waite...for Tony"

GAME 6 – Wrigley Field

Hoyt vs C.Bryant

Cubs 4, Yankees 2

As the series headed back to the Windy City the tables were now turned with the Yankees in desperation mode.  With Waite Hoyt, who was 16-12 on the regular season, on the hill New York had confidence and why wouldn’t they ?  Hoyt, who allowed just 1 hit over the first 6 frames was cruising while protecting a 2-0 lead.  The Cubs opened the home half of the 7^th with a blast by Ripper Collins that took Ruth back to the ivy for a leaping catch.  Demaree singled and moved to third on a Billy Herman double.  Jurges was given an intentional pass, so Hoyt could face pitcher Clay Bryant.  Cub manager Andy Weinrib went to his bench and sent spare outfielder Joe Marty up to pinch hit.  Marty lined a 2-0 Hoyt offering up the middle to score Demaree to make it a 2-1 ballgame.  Herman, who had been so crafty on the bases tried to score all the way from second, but was instead gunned down by Earle Combs for the inning’s second out.  After Stan Hack fanned, stranding Jurges and Marty, Cubs fans sensed that their team once again was in the process of snatching defeat from the jaws of possible victory.  In the bottom of the 8^th the Cubs were once again poised to tie it after Galan led off the inning with a triple.  The next two batters were incapable of getting a ball out of the infield and Hartnett fanned to strand Galan.  Hoyt was masterful in walking the tightrope and preserving his lead.  Down 2-1 with 3 outs left the Cubbies started off the bottom of ^th with a Demaree fly to Combs in center.  Back to back singles by the pesky Herman and Juges brought up the pitcher’s spot.  Manager Weinrib looked at his bench and said to 34 year old Yankee castoff Tony Lazzeri, “Old man, grab a stick and make your old teammates pay.”  Hoping for a hit and tying run Cub fans were on edge.  Yankee manager Michael Hopcroft was on edge too.  Having as much faith in his pen as he would in Koenig’s glove he was forced to let Hoyt work his way out of another jam.  Lazzeri worked the count to 2-1, then got a curve ball that hung like the Hindenberg in a New Jersey dock.  Lazzeri, who saw limited action during the season, didn’t forget how to hit a wounded duck.  With one mighty crack of the bat he deposited the ball 366 feet, just over the ivy, for a walk off series clinching homer.  The partying on Addison and Clark began immediately and lasted until the wee hours of the morning.

the 9

Cubs win series 4-2

Game 5 - "Billy do be a hero..."

GAME 5

B.Lee vs Shocker

Cubs 3, Yankees 2

Nursing a 2 run lead after 6 Urban Shocker was the victim of Mark Koenig’s shoddy defense.  New York’s lackluster shortstop  booted an Augie Galan short hopper on what should have been the first out of the inning.  Catcher Gabby Hartnett walked.  Both were bunted up 90 feet by Ripper Collins.  Demaree lined out to Joe Dugan at third for the 2^nd out of the inning.  Shocker looked like he was going to get out of the jam, but Billy Herman would have none of that.  Chicago’s secondsacker hit a seeing eyed roller just out of the reach of Dugan and Koenig to score Galan and Hartnett to tie the game.   Herman, who was running hard out of the box, snuck into second as the Yanks tried to gun Hartnett down at the plate.  In what looked like an instant replay (which did not exist in 1938), Billy Jurges plated Herman with his own slow roller in the 5-6 hole.  Charlie Root came on in the 9^th to foil the Bombers and earn himself a save and his team their 3^rd straight win.

Cubs lead series 3-2

Game 4 - "Jack be Nimble"

GAME 4

French vs Pennock

Cubs 10, Yankees 8

In a wild and wooly game where that saw no fewer than 5 lead changes exchanged the Cubbies outlasted a depleted Bomber pen to even up the series.  With Herb Pennock getting knocked out of the box after 2 1/3 innings the Yankee pen was tapped 4 times as if they were a 2015 pen.  None of New York’s boys were capable of holding down the relentless Cubbies.  In contrast Jack Russell pitched 4 innings of 1 run ball in relief of putrid Cub starter Larry French with Bob Logan getting a scoreless 9^th inning save.  Both teams combined for 18 runs on 28 hits, yet no one hit a homer. 

Series tied 2-2

Game 3 - "Dean's List"

GAME 3 – Yankee Stadium

Dean vs Hoyt

Cubs 8, Yankees 2

In a must win game 3 on the road Cubs manager tapped veteran Dizzy Dean to control the Bombers and out-duel Waite Hoyt.  Dean, who won game 7 of the LCS scattered 9 hits and allowed just 2 runs to keep the big Bronx bats at bay.  Cub bats came alive with 8 runs on 13 hits.  Frank Demaree (2-4) knocked in 3 runs and Stan Hack brought in 2 as the Cubs give the Bombers their first post season loss.

Yankees lead series 2-1