TIGERFAN'S SPORTING DAILY : THURSDAY APRIL 19, 1947
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INDIANS OUTLAST BROWNS IN 10 INNING SLUGFEST
Plenty of offense in Cleveland yesterday as the Indians and the visiting St Louis Browns combined for 17 runs and 33 hits. When it was all said and done the Tribe came out on top thanks to a 10th inning rbi single off the bat of Jeff Heath to make the final score Cleveland 9 St Louis 8. Every Cleveland starter aside from pitcher Steve Gromek had at least one hit in the game. Heath with 3 hits along with Oscar Grimes, who hit a pair of homers led the Indians assault. Bob Dillinger and Wally Judnich each had 3 hits to lead St Louis. It was a tough day for the pitchers as starters Gromek and Sam Zoldak were shelled for a combined 12 earned runs and 24 hits. Both were pulled in the 6th inning.
In other American League action Boston exploded for 6 runs in the top of the ninth inning to beat Washington 8-2. Ted Williams had 3 hits in the game for the Red Sox including a homerun.
Hal White pitched a complete game 7-hitter to pace Detroit past the Yankees 5-1. Tommy Henrich and Dick Wakefield homered for the Tigers. In the other game Dick Errickson went the distance on the hill for Chicago as the White Sox hammered Philadelphia 10-2.
In the National League Cincinnati scored 4 runs in the final 3 innings to rally past Pittsburgh 6-3. Joe Dimaggio had a pair of hits including his first homerun of the season for the Reds.
Bobby Estalella's bases-loaded triple in the top of the 6th inning accounted for all of the Phillies offense as Philadelphia trimmed New York 3-2. Giants starter Russ Bauers allowed just 3 hits in the game but walked 10 including 3 Phillies in the 6th inning before Estalella's big blow. Rookie catcher Yogi Berra had his second straight two hit game for the Giants.
Ken Raffensberger had a great debut with the Boston Braves. Acquired from the Cubs at the beginning of the week, the 29 year old pitched 7 and 2/3 innings of shutout ball before giving way to the Braves bullpen in a 2-0 Boston victory over Brooklyn. Top draft pick Earl Torgeson got his first major league hit, a solo home run to account for one of the Boston runs. The other highly touted newcomer in this series, Jackie Robinson of the Dodgers, went 1-for-4 in the game.
In the final National League game yesterday Bill Nicholson had 4 rbi's and Harlond Clift hit a 3-run homer as the Cubs decked the Cards 9-3.
Code:
AMERICAN W L PCT GB
CLEVELAND 2 0 1.000 x
PHILADELPHIA 1 1 .500 1.0
WASHINGTON 1 1 .500 1.0
ST LOUIS 2 2 .500 1.0
BOSTON 1 1 .500 1.0
CHICAGO 1 1 .500 1.0
DETROIT 1 1 .500 1.0
NEW YORK 1 3 .250 2.0
NATIONAL W L PCT GB
PHILADELPHIA 2 0 1.000 x
BROOKLYN 1 1 .500 1.0
PITTSBURGH 2 2 .500 1.0
ST LOUIS 2 2 .500 1.0
BOSTON 1 1 .500 1.0
CHICAGO 1 1 .500 1.0
CINCINNATI 1 1 .500 1.0
NEW YORK 0 2 .000 2.0
WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Boston 8 Washington 2
Detroit 5 New York 1
Chicago 10 Philadelphia 2
Cleveland 9 St Louis 8 (10 inn)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Boston 2 Brooklyn 0
Chicago 9 St Louis 3
Philadelphia 3 New York 2
Cincinnati 6 Pittsburgh 3
TODAY'S PROBABLE MATCHUPS
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Philadelphia (Bill Voiselle 19-14) at Chicago (Ed Lopat 13-21)
St Louis (Tom Baker 19-16) at Cleveland (Johnny Babich 12-7)
Boston (Tex Hughson 10-4) at Washington (Milo Candini 7-10)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Boston (Jesse Flores 12-13) at Brooklyn (Mickey Haefner 21-13)
St Louis (Ernie White 22-11) at Chicago (Paul Erickson 16-17)
Philadelphia (Bill Swift 15-19) at New York (Ken Chase 7-18)
Cincinnati (Art Houtteman mlb debut) at Pittsburgh (Cliff Melton 28-11)
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR: HOUTTEMAN'S DREAM COULD BECOME A NIGHTMARE
19 year old Art Houtteman says as long as he can remember he has always wanted to pitch in the major leagues. The second round pick of the Cincinnati Reds will get his first chance to do just that tomorrow in Pittsburgh but it is hard to imagine a more difficult challenge to being your major league career. Not only will Houtteman face the National League Champion Pittsburgh Pirates but he will also square off against one of the greatest pitchers in the game, 4 time Cy Young winner Cliff Melton.
"We thought about holding the kid back a day for his debut," said Reds manager Johnny Neun. "But in the end we decided there is no sense. He will have to face the Pirates someday and every pitcher in this league is good."
Houtteman himself says he is eager for the challenge and is glad he is starting in Pittsburgh rather than the home opener against Brooklyn on Friday. "Personally, I feel there would be more pressure on me pitching at home. I am really looking forward to this."
He will become the youngest pitcher to ever start a game for the Reds. Jean Dubec was one month younger than Houtteman when he pitched 7 innings of relief for the Reds in 1908.
STANLEY CUP FINALS
RED WINGS LOOK TO HOIST CUP TONIGHT
The Detroit Red Wings can clinch their fourth Stanley Cup title in franchise history with a win in Toronto this evening. The Wings, who previously won the cherished chalice in 1936, 1937 and 1943, lead the best of seven final 3 games to two. Team captain Sid Abel is the hottest Red Wing with 2 goals in game five and an overtime winner in game 3. If necessary game seven will be Saturday night in Detroit.
SERIES 'C' FINALS Detroit vs Toronto
Tuesday April 10 at Detroit : Leafs 5-0
Thursday April 12 at Detroit : Red Wings 7-4
Saturday April 14 at Toronto : Red Wings 4-3 (OT)
Sunday April 15 at Toronto : Leafs 3-2
Tuesday April 17 at Detroit : Red Wings 3-2
Thursday April 19 at Toronto
Saturday April 21 at Detroit (if necc)
BOXING NEWS
GOLDBERG KO's BRITISH CHAMP
Poland's Benny Goldberg is now considered the number one contender for Luis Romero's European Bantanweight Title after knocking out the British champion in his hometown. Goldberg floored Liverpool native Gus Foran with a sharp combination in the 14th round. Goldberg is now 2-0 in post world war II fights. The 28 year old will likely face the European champ, Luis Romero, in the fall unless Romero wins his World Bantamweight Title fight with Canadian Fernando Gagnon next month.
Excitement is mounting for Sugar Ray Robinson's World Welterweight Title defense this Friday in Philadelphia. The 26 year old Robinson is 11-1 and will be making his first title defense since winning the post war belt in September with an 11th round KO of Marty Servo. His opponent will be Ohio native Tommy Bell, who is 27-2 but lost his only major challenge in a bout with Johnny Bratton.