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.