The Base Ball Life of Patrick O'Farrell

[Big Six]

56 Claremont Park
Boston, Massachusetts

Mr. Nile Kinnick
530 North Dubuque Street
Iowa City, Iowa

October 21, 1939

Dear Nile,

I'm very sorry that it's taken so long for me to write back to you. I confess that I didn't feel much like writing when your letter arrived and, as supportive and friendly as your words were, I simply didn't have the heart to reply.

Now I've played in an NFL championship game and a World Series, and I have had the experience of winning as well as losing. I can honestly say that I was unprepared for how much losing the World Series hurt. Perhaps it's the fact that we didn't give the Cardinals a bigger fight. Or maybe it's because we played so poorly for our fans in the two games in Boston. I honestly thought we'd win the Series; I sure didn't expect to lose it four games to one!

Martin Dihigo's injury didn't help matters. He did everything he could to get ready to play, but his shoulder was simply too painful. And, as swell a guy as Judy Johnson is, and as great a player as he has been all these years, he's unable to cover as much ground at short as he once did--or as much as Dihigo can, either.

All the Cardinals pitchers threw well except that loudmouth Dizzy Dean. I was glad to see us rough him up in Game Three. I laughed out loud when Gehrig hit that long home run off him, and it actually shut him up for a while.

Sure, I wish I'd had a chance to pitch more. It would have been great to start a game, or come in to one in relief with the outcome in doubt. I'll always be able to say that I pitched perfectly in my first World Series, though. Two batters faced; one ground ball to short; one fly ball to right. And I retired two of the tougher batters in the National League this season, too. Trey Martin is going to be a good one, and Willard Brown? He already is a good one!

Thanks for all the news about the beginning of your season. I read about that great game-winning pass you threw against Indiana, and I got another excellent report about your performance from my little sister (with whom I believe you spent quite a bit of time on the telephone that evening). I was sorry to hear about your loss at Michigan. You're right; Tom Harmon is a great player, and I would have liked to see you two go head to head.

And I suppose you've heard by now that I'm giving football a rest this season. I haven't told many people this, but I think I'd be with the Lions right now if we'd won the Series. As it turns out, I think I owe the Red Sox my very best next year as we try to win the pennant and make the Series turn out right. Personally, I had some success this year, and some failures, too. I wonder if a more restful fall, without big linemen slamming into me a few hundred times, will help me prepare for baseball season.

Besides, if I'm not playing for the Lions, I might be able to take a train out to Iowa and watch you play. I think your idea is swell, and I think I can probably persuade Mary Kate to come along, too.

I can see you smiling from here, buddy! Enjoy your day off today, because you'll need it with a game against Notre Dame next week.

Your pal,
Mike

[Ric915]

As always great stuff Big!!..

[myasu]

Incredibly consistent, high quality...
Definetely the best dynasty report I have ever read!

myasu

[Ragin Cajun]

Wow. This is by far the best OOTP dynasty I've ever read (only on page 25) and one of the top two I've EVER read on any forum. I have blatantly ripped you off in starting yet another dynasty of my own. I had to skip to the end real quick just to check the last posting date. I'm glad to see this appears to be ongoing. Not going to read the final posts up right now (in case I'm wrong, or not to spoil the story). Excellent work Six.

I hate to say that I'm just finding this dynasty as long as it's been going. I was reading AzTarHeels Big D dynasty, saw him mention Pat O' Farrell and had to do a search. If he was impressed, I knew it had to be good.

Thank you for all the time and effort you have put into this story. You have no idea how interesting this makes the game and this forum for the rest of us.

[Ragin Cajun]

OK, whew. Just finished the entire thing since finding it a few days ago. This was incredible. Now it's the patience to see updates when they become available. Great work Big Six and I humbly await the next and future installments as your schedule allows.

[Big Six]

Oops, I posted the same thing twice...

[Big Six]

Thanks very much for the compliments. I remember visiting this forum for the first time and spending several hours reading some of the excellent dynasties that were active at the time. I hoped I'd be able to "find" a story that I enjoyed as much as the creators of Bubba Jones and Dave Driscoll obviously enjoyed theirs.

It's flattering to read that other people have enjoyed the O'Farrells' story, too. I'm not planning to end it anytime soon, because I'm still having too much fun with it.

[Big Six]

Here are Mike O'Farrell's stats for the 1939 season:

G  CG   W  L  SV   ERA  IP    H    R    ER   HR   BB   K   CG   ShO   WHIP   BABIP  
26 26  12  7   0  4.38 207.2 238  124  101   26   55   72  13    0    1.41    .284

The American League ERA was 4.27, so by that standard, Mike was just a little worse than the average pitcher in his league. His BABIP was exactly league average. Of course, his record was helped by the fact that he pitched for a pennant winner that went 99-65. All in all, he had a pretty good rookie year, I'd say.

Vs. L:  .306/.354/.459
Vs. R:  .264/.301/.417

Like a lot of righthanded pitchers, Mike was more effective against righty hitters. The league hit .268 as a whole.

Home:  8-5, 4.74, 30 BB, 46 K in 125.1 IP
Away:  4-2, 3.83, 25 BB, 26 K in 82.1 IP

Mike pitched more at Fenway than he did on the road, but he was more effective away from home. Fenway is, after all, a tough place to pitch.

As the son of one of the greatest hitters of all time, Mike picked up a few things about swinging a bat. He hit .250 (17 for 68) with a double, driving in eight runs and scoring seven.

Mike committed four errors in 68 chances, for a fielding percentage of .967.

Another pitcher, Dizzy Trout of the Tigers, won the American League Rookie of the Year award. Dizzy went 19-9, 4.20, so he was a deserving winner.

[Big Six]

Baseball Magazine, November 1939

BIG LEAGUE STATISTICAL WRAP-UP
Milestones Abound in ‘39

OFFICIAL 1939 STANDINGS

AMERICAN          W   L   PCT   GB
Boston (A)        99  55 .643   -- 
Detroit           89  65 .578 10.0 
New York (A)      86  68 .558 13.0 
Cleveland         79  75 .513 20.0 
Chicago (A)       72  82 .468 27.0 
Philadelphia (A)  72  82 .468 27.0 
Washington        72  82 .468 27.0 
St. Louis (A)     47 107 .305 52.0 

NATIONAL          W   L   PCT   GB
St. Louis (N)     90  65 .581   -- 
Pittsburgh        89  66 .574  1.0 
New York (N)      85  69 .552  4.5 
Chicago (N)       76  78 .494 13.5 
Brooklyn          75  79 .487 14.5 
Cincinnati        71  83 .461 18.5 
Boston (N)        69  85 .448 20.5 
Philadelphia (N)  62  92 .403 27.5

The thrilling National League pennant race, which required a playoff game to settle, made up for a relatively unexciting American League cakewalk for the Red Sox. Looking back, the Red Sox’ superior record might well be the result of inferior competition, as no other AL team looked nearly as good as the top three teams in the senior circuit. Still, both leagues featured a number of outstanding performances by shining stars of the diamond that made the 1939 season one to remember.

The National League’s greatest offensive feat was performed by New York first baseman Buck Leonard, who won the Triple Crown for the second time in his illustrious career. Leonard hit .361, slugged 48 homers, and drove in 131 runs; he easily led the league in all three categories. Not surprisingly, Buck was crowned the NL’s Most Outstanding Batter, an award he has now won three consecutive times and seven times overall. Leonard is, without doubt, the most dangerous hitter in baseball today.

The World Champion Cardinals were led offensively by a trio of .300 hitters: first baseman Johnny Mize (.344), shortstop Charlie Gelbert (.337) and rookie outfielder Trey Martin (.310). Martin and Mize finished 1-2 in on base percentage, while Mize and powerful outfielder Willard Brown both slugged over .500. Brown crushed 44 homers and drove in 120 runs, both totals second only to Leonard.

Joining Leonard and Brown with more than a hundred RBI were Mize and the Pirates’ hard-hitting infielder Tony Cuccinello. Mize’s 29 home runs were third in the league, as power hitting seemed to decline throughout the major leagues.

Base thievery was down throughout the game, too. Only Gelbert (34) and Chicago’s Archie Graham (30) stole at least thirty bases, and both of these bandits are veterans who aren’t quite the speedsters they once were.

Six National League hurlers won at least 20 games, led by the Pirate duo of Red Lucas (27 wins) and Bob Logan (22). The Dean brothers of St. Louis each won 21 contests, while Mace Brown of the Dodgers and young Victor Starffin of the Giants hit 20 on the nose.

The Cubs’ Satchel Paige led the league in innings pitched (354) and was the only NL hurler to strike out at least 300 hitters (321). Paige placed second in ERA (2.14), trailing Hilton Smith of the Braves, who posted a sparkling 1.78 mark. It was Lucas, however, who copped the Most Outstanding Pitcher prize, his sixth such honor. Lucas also won his 300th game during the season, a feat that should cinch his eventual enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.

The American League batting champion was also a first baseman named Buck who plies his trade in New York City. This time, it’s Buck O’Neil, who produced a sweet .371 average in his first full season in the big leagues. O’Neil, 28, was traded to the Yankees from Pittsburgh in May, and did nothing but hit upon his arrival in the Big Apple.

Finishing behind O’Neil on the American League list was the pride of Boston, Lou Gehrig. Lou supplemented his .342 batting mark with 25 homers, including the 500th of his career. At age 36, the Red Sox slugger is perhaps not the colossus he once was, but he proved he is still a dangerous man with a bat in his hands. And, he participated in the All-Star game for the fifteenth consecutive season; only his former teammate, Pat O’Farrell, has compiled a longer such streak.

The Yankees provided the junior circuit’s home run champ, too, as exciting young flychaser Joe DiMaggio deposited 40 balls over the fence. DiMaggio drove home 121 runs, second to the Tigers’ Hank Greenberg (130), and he scored 123 times himself, placing behind only the Tigers’ Willie Wells (125).

Wells and the Athletics’ Jimmie Foxx were the only two other American Leaguers to hit thirty home runs; each of them connected exactly 31 times. Greenberg, DiMaggio, Wells, Foxx, and the Red Sox duo of Gehrig and Josh Gibson comprise the AL 100-RBI fraternity.

Base stealing was even less common in the American League than in the National. Martin Dihigo of the Red Sox led the majors with 38 steals, the lowest total ever to lead the bigs, and no other AL player swiped as many as twenty. Gone are the days when daring baserunners like Pat O’Farrell, Tillie Shafer, and even recently retired Cool Papa Bell turned singles and walks into doubles with great regularity!

The Red Sox’ ace, Big Jim Weaver, won 29 games, struck out 202 batters, and posted a 2.30 ERA to win the Pitchers’ Triple Crown. That feat earned the 35-year-old veteran his second straight Most Outstanding Pitcher award. The Indians’ Johnny Broaca (25 wins), the Senators’ Jake Winters (192 strikeouts), and Winters’ teammate Dick Coffman (3.06 ERA) finished second to Weaver in the Triple Crown categories.

A host of American League pitchers won 20 or more games, including Weaver and Broaca; the Red Sox’ Ray Brown (22), the Tigers’ Marv Gudat (22), Schoolboy Rowe of the Tigers and Browns (21), Lon Warneke (20) and Gene Schott (20) of the Yankees, and Tony Frietas of the Athletics (21).

And, finally, we salute veteran slugger Mule Suttles, who became the all-time leader in doubles late in the 1939 season. Suttles, 39, was traded from the Browns to the Tigers in July, and it was as a Tiger that he stroked the 686th two-bagger of his career to pass Pat O’Farrell’s mark. The Mule kicked six more doubles during the season, giving him a total of 692.

[Big Six]

56 Claremont Park
Boston, Massachusetts

Mr. Nile Kinnick
530 North Dubuque Street
Iowa City, Iowa

December 1, 1939

Dear Nile,

You know I'd be thrilled to come up to New York for the Heisman Trophy banquet! Thank you very much for the invitation. I understand why it had to be such short notice, because the final candidates couldn't really be decided until last weekend's games. I think you have a great chance to win, personally.

My whole family is very excited, and I wish all of them could come. Mom and Dad have a previous engagement, a dinner for a charity they're involved with. Boston University has a hockey game that night, so John can't make it. Beth and her husband and daughter might come up from Philadelphia, if they can; it's harder to make arrangements with a toddler to plan for. We're still trying to work it out so that Bill can catch a train from Deerfield and join us. And, yes, Mary Kate will be able to be there. I know you were probably more anxious to find out about her than any of us!

Seriously, I think she would be flattered and touched if you offered her your pin. I am sure the fact that she's not in school anymore won't make her think it's a juvenile thing to do, so don't worry. She knows how meaningful a gesture it really is. And, if things work out the way I think they will, she'll be wearing the Heisman Trophy winner's pin.

I better drop this in the mail along with the "official" RSVP card so they both arrive on time. I'll see you in New York this weekend!

Your pal,
Mike

[Big Six]

Boston University Daily Free Press, January 12, 1940

HOCKEY TEAM DEFEATS DARTMOUTH, 4-1
Heckenger Scores Twice; Four Assists for O'Farrell; Conley Sparkling In Net

The Terrier hockey team sparkled last night in a 4-1 victory over visiting Dartmouth. Their victory gives the Terriers sole possession of first place in the conference, and guarantees them a winning record for the season.

Goaltender Bobby Conley '41 was splendid, turning back 33 Dartmouth shots. Included in Conley's collection of saves were several outstanding stops, including a sprawling save of a wrist shot by Dartmouth's high-scoring forward Herb Frechette.

Slick center John O'Farrell '42 dazzled the crowd with nifty assists on all four Terrier goals. Midway through the the first period, O'Farrell hit Ron Heckenger '40 with a perfect lead pass on a Terrier breakaway, and Heckenger put the puck behind Dartmouth goalie Joe Petresevich.

Five minutes later, O'Farrell ripped a hard, low shot that Petresevich deflected onto the stick of Terrier attacker Tom Clay '41. Clay banged the puck home to give the Terriers a 2-0 lead.

After the Big Green scored to move within a goal in the second stanza, O'Farrell and Clay worked the puck to Marv Holmes '40. Holmes blasted the puck into the top left corner of the net, and BU went up 3-1.

The Terriers closed out the scoring with five minutes remaining in the game. Once again, O'Farrell connected with Heckenger, threading a pass between the Dartmouth defensemen. Heckenger knocked the puck past Petresevich, who hardly had time to move before the net rippled behind him.

O'Farrell's four assists gave him a team-leading total of 33 points for the season--10 goals, 23 assists--and moves him into third place on the conference leader list.

The Terriers will next travel to Brown, where they take on the Brown Bears at 2:00 P.M. on the 18th.

[Big Six]

Payne Park
Sarasota, Florida

Miss Eleanor Flaherty
303 East University Street
Wooster, Ohio

March 21, 1940

Dear Ellie,

You have no idea how happy I was to find a letter waiting for me when I got back to my "barracks" after this afternoon's game. We played the Giants, I pitched, and it seemed that everything I threw up there got hit hard. Buck Leonard hit one off me that was still rising when it cleared the fence. I know Buck hits a lot of balls like that off a lot of pitchers, but that fact only comforts me a little.

One of our new outfielders, Dominic DiMaggio, probably saved me three runs when he made a beautiful running catch in deep centerfield. If you think you recognize the name, you're right; Dominic is Joe's brother. I think he's actually a better outfielder than Joe, although he doesn't hit for nearly as much power. Nevertheless, I hope he makes the team, because I need all the fast outfielders behind me I can get!

All in all, however, I'm very pleased with the way I've been throwing the ball. I think my decision to skip the football season was a good one, because I feel fresher than I think I ever have at this time of the year. Sure, I missed playing football at first, because I've been spending my autumns that way since I was twelve years old. I don't miss the aches and pains and bumps and bruises, however, and if I've increased my chances of turning into the kind of pitcher who will help the Red Sox win, it's been well worth it.

The best thing about this past winter, however, has been the chance I've had to get to know you even better, Ellie. I smiled when I read the part of your letter when you told me how much you'd been thinking about me; I can promise you I've been thinking about you every bit as much.

Are you seriously thinking about trying to find a teaching position near Boston? My heart skipped a few beats when I read that. You know I'd love to have you closer. Right now, the only time I can see you this summer is when we're playing in Cleveland, and we're only there for three series a year.

I suppose I should close this now, because I need to get my arm rubbed down from our trainer. Then, it will be time for dinner, and maybe a movie in town, before I head for bed and get ready to start the routine all over again. Please write again as soon as you can, Ellie.

Fondly,
Mike

[Big Six]

Boston Globe, April 9, 1940

O’FARRELL SHUTS OUT CHISOX
Pitcher Helps Own Cause With Three Hits, Two Runs

CHICAGO—Mike O’Farrell crossed home plate twice yesterday afternoon at Comiskey Park. Thanks to his stellar work on the mound, that was once more than was absolutely necessary.

O’Farrell tossed a four-hit shutout, the first whitewash job of his major league career, and the red-hot Red Sox rolled to a 9-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. The Boston victory kept them a game behind first-place Detroit, and tied with surprisingly strong Cleveland.

“A pitcher on this team will win a whole lot of ballgames if he simply doesn’t beat himself,” O’Farrell said after the game. “I’m making an effort to relax and do the things I do well, rather than pressing all the time.”

The twenty-five year old right-hander let his defense help him, coaxing fifteen ground ball outs. O’Farrell struck out only two men, but he only walked one. He demonstrated some of the hitting talent possessed by his famous father, too; he singled twice and scored two runs.

Heavy offensive work was also turned in by second baseman Bobby Doerr, who hammered his third home run of the young season. Doerr has driven in ten runs in the Red Sox’ first eight games and appears ready to build on the success of last year’s fine rookie campaign…

[Big Six]

Boston Globe, April 14, 1940

RED SOX TRADE FOR VETERAN GRAHAM
“Moonlight” Brings Experience, Guidance To Young Team

BOSTON—Even a casual fan recognizes the abundance of young talent the Boston Red Sox have assembled during the past year or two. Players like Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, Mike O’Farrell, and Dominic DiMaggio give the Red Sox the most exciting array of young players the team has possessed in years.

And, savvy baseball minds like general manager Pat O’Farrell and field general Bill Carrigan know that providing young players with veteran mentors gives them the best possible chance to develop into stars.

That’s why the Red Sox yesterday traded spare outfielder Moose Solters to the Chicago Cubs for Archie “Moonlight” Graham, a seven-time All Star and two-time batting champion who has smacked 2,607 hits and stolen 638 bases in his illustrious career.

Graham, 37, is undoubtedly a few steps slower than he was in his prime a decade ago, when he turned in consecutive seasons with batting averages of .342, .344, and .386 and won the National League stolen base crown seven consecutive times. Nevertheless, the lefty hitter is still a valuable asset, and Carrigan plans to start him in left field against right-handed pitchers. Graham can still play a mean outfield, and his throwing arm remains one of the best in the game.

And, Graham provides the Red Sox with another steady veteran presence, a player who won a World Series ring with the 1931 Cubs for whom he hit .386. He joins men like Lou Gehrig, Jim Weaver, Judy Johnson, and Martin Dihigo in a cadre of experienced players who provide the counterweight to the Red Sox’ youngsters.

Graham is also an old friend of O’Farrell’s; the two met in on the famous 1920 barnstorming trip that opened the doors for the racial integration of major league baseball. Then, O’Farrell was the veteran, while Graham was a raw teenager who wanted a chance to play professional ball.

“Pat O’Farrell could not have been a better inspiration and role model for me when I was starting out,” Graham said. “I’m very excited to come to Boston and return the favor by, hopefully, setting a good example for the young players Pat has signed.”

Then Graham grinned. “And I hope I’ll contribute a few base hits, too.”

[AZTarHeel]

Hey Big Six, at long last, I've finally completed reading the whole story ... I purposely paced myself, kind of like I do when I get a new Sports Illustrated, not wanting it to end. Now I guess I'll be like everyone else and wait anxiously for the next post of new news ...

Once again, this is a fantastic story ... The O'Farrells have truly turned about to be the All-American family, eh? What a trophy case they have ... Thanks again for sharing your story-telling talents with all of us ... I'm a sports-writer for a couple of small newspapers, and if you ever want to leave the world of teaching, you could certainly write for a living. I've "borrowed" a few of your phrasings for my stories, including referring to second base as the "keystone sack" a few times.

Keep up the good work...

AZ

[Big Six]

Thanks very much for your kind comments, AZTarHeel. I've truly enjoyed every minute I've spent in the O'Farrell world, watching each season unfold and trying my best to create a story that the forum's readers would want to follow.

I love to write, and I think I've known I would someday write a book since I was a kid. The support and encouragement many of you have given me helps keep me excited about my dynasty stories, and getting props from a successful dynasty writer such as yourself is always a lot of fun. I hope you'll keep reading and enjoying my thread.

[Big Six]

Boston Globe, May 26, 1940

SOX SEEK BULLPEN STRENGTH
Two Trades Bring In Three Relief Pitchers

DETROIT—With the amazing total of six teams within a game of the American League lead as play begins today, the most subtle moves by a team’s brain trust have immense potential for altering the course of the season, for better or for worse. The team which is bold enough to seize the day, to anticipate the turn of events before they transpire, will be the one that prevails.

The duo who call the shots for the Boston Red Sox, general manager Pat O’Farrell and field manager Bill Carrigan, have learned this lesson over the course of the thirty-odd years they have spent in professional baseball. Carrigan, who caught the slants of Joe Wood, Tex Pruiett, and even Cy Young, is nevertheless “up-to-date” enough to detect what he believes to be a change in the way the game of baseball is played. His friend and partner, O’Farrell, this week brokered a pair of trades in order to put Carrigan’s theories into practice.

Two days ago, The Red Sox traded outfielders Doc Cramer and Al Cuccinello to the Philadelphia Phillies for a pair of strong-armed hurlers, Clarence Pickrell and John Fritsch. Yesterday, the Sox dispatched veteran pitchers Carl Hubbell and Red Ruffing to the St. Louis Browns in a two-for-one mound swap that brought Kelby Beton to the Olde Towne. All three new Sox are relief specialists with especially lively arms, and Beton is a southpaw.

Pickrell is a 29-year-old journeyman who has spent almost every day of his seven-year professional career in the minor leagues. Despite being nearly unhittable, posting earned run averages of 1.59 or lower in four of those seasons, Pickrell only appeared in four big league games with the Phillies. That will not be the case with the Red Sox, who will give Pickrell a chance to prove his mettle right away. “I’m thrilled to be part of this organization,” a grinning Pickrell said. “We’re in the midst of a pennant race, and I hope I’ll be able to help my new team win.”

Fritsch, a strapping lad of twenty, stands fully six feet, seven inches tall, and has laid waste to Class AA hitters all spring long. In fifteen innings, he has whiffed seventeen men, while walking only four. Fritsch, like Pickrell, will report directly to Boston. “Fritsch has a major-league arm,” said Carrigan. “We think he’s ready”

Beton, 25, pitched in 35 games for the Browns during the last two seasons, with mixed results. This season, he has struggled with his control, walking twelve men in sixteen frames, and the Red Sox will allow him to work out his difficulties on their Minneapolis farm.

“I’m fine with the decision to send me to the minors,” Beton said. “I went from a team that’s eleven games out of the lead to a team that’s one game out and won the pennant last year. The Red Sox are a great organization, and I’ll be in Boston soon enough.”


Carrigan believes that the Red Sox’ decision to bolster their relief corps is just what the team will need to win in Forties-style baseball. “I’ve noticed that fewer and fewer pitchers are completing their starts,” Carrigan explained. “The men out in the bullpen are therefore becoming a whole lot more important than they once were. If a team simply takes the pitchers who aren’t good enough to start and turns them into relief pitchers, they’ll lose a lot of games. I think it’s smarter to use one or two of your better men in relief.”

The Red Sox are among a group of four teams tied for second place, a game behind the Detroit Tigers and Washington Senators, who together occupy the penthouse. If the new firemen can pitch well enough to take some pressure off the team’s four starters, the Sox could be back in the World Series once again…

[Big Six]

Here's an invitation to any of you who are reading the O'Farrell story to take part in the story yourself.

The O'Farrell universe has its own Baseball Hall of Fame, which opened in 1926 (if I remember correctly). Each year, I allow forum readers to take part in the Hall of Fame balloting. There's a separate thread for the election, which you can access from my signature. The rules are listed in the first post of the thread, and the 1940 ballot is several posts from the end.

The election will close on Friday, and I'd love for any (or all) of you readers to cast a ballot. It doesn't matter whether you're a longtime reader, or someone who's stopped by for the first time today. You're all welcome to help me choose the greatest players in the history of Pat's universe for baseball's highest honor.

Yeah, it's a shameless plug, but hey...

[Big Six]

227 Elm Street
Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Mr. Patrick O’Farrell
12 Lowell Road
Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts

June 12, 1940

Dear Son,

I wanted to write to you as soon as I could, because I know the conversation we had on the telephone last night upset you. It is true; I have been less than completely honest with you about how ill I have been lately. I did not want you to worry about me, because you have so many other things, happier things, to think about these days. The Red Sox are playing so well lately, and are in first place again, where they belong. Your son has won five of his last six games, and he is pitching so much better than he did last season. And, the last of your children is about to graduate from high school. You do not need to waste your time worrying about me, even now that you know that I am not feeling well.

You most certainly do not need to come to Stockbridge to see after me, and neither does Sarah! Your home is with your own children. Johnny will be going back to college before you know it, and Bill will be leaving in the fall, too. You need to spend every moment you can with them because, before long, you will not have the chance to do so quite as easily.

I have lived a long, full life, Son. I have watched my children grow up, and raise children of their own. I have seen my grandchildren grow into wonderful young adults, and I have seen a great-grandchild come into the world.

I hope I do not need to tell you what a blessing you have been to me. You have not only achieved true greatness in your chosen field, but you have earned the affection and respect of untold millions of people. And never have you allowed your fame to “turn your head” or cause you to behave as if you were somehow better than other people.

So, please, don’t waste any of your time worrying about me. Your Dad is taking very good care of me, and there are always friends and neighbors coming to call and offering their assistance. You and Mike have a pennant to win, and then a World Series.

Kiss Sarah and “the kids” for me, and tell them I will be looking forward to hearing from them very soon.

Love,
Mom

[Big Six]

Boston Globe, July 21, 1940

SURGING YANKEES WIN EIGHTH STRAIGHT, TIE SOX FOR FIRST
BOSTON—Back in May, six of the eight American League teams found themselves clumped within a game of the top of the standings. Wise observers knew that within a month or two, the contenders would separate themselves from the pretenders, and this is exactly how things have transpired.

The class of the American League, 1940 edition, are clearly the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. The Boston club first separated itself from the pack, and led the field by a tidy four-game margin a month or so ago. Now, riding the crest of an eight-game winning streak, the Yankees have pulled even with the Red Sox, and promise to make a race of it over the season’s second half.

The evenly-matched contestants boast the league’s best two pitching staffs and the league’s most powerful batting orders. Both squads feature a blend of youth and experience that often characterizes pennant-winning clubs.

Among the eight members of the teams’ starting rotations, there are seven pitchers with at least ten victories. The Gothams’ Bill Crouch ranks second in the league with fifteen wins, while the Red Sox answer with a trio—Ray Brown, Bucky Walters, and Mike O’Farrell—who have won a baker’s dozen apiece.

The Yankees’ Joe DiMaggio, one of the game’s brightest young stars, has crushed 23 home runs, but venerable Lou Gehrig of the Red Sox has proven that, at age 37, he is still a fearsome slugger by cracking 23 of his own. Boston’s Josh Gibson boasts a .350 batting average, not too far off the .363 pace of ’39 batting leader Buck O’Neil of New York.

Indeed, the only factor separating the two teams at present is their ability to remain healthy. While the Yankees are completely hale and hearty, the Sox are currently making do without two of their regulars: versatile Martin Dihigo and rookie gardener Dom DiMaggio. Dihigo’s pulled biceps should be healed in a week or so, while DiMaggio is expected to be sidelined for two more weeks with a fractured hand.

Boston manager Bill Carrigan has been able to find a more suitable solution for DiMaggio’s absence than he has for Dihigo’s.

“Thank goodness for Archie Graham,” Carrigan says.

Graham, whom the Red Sox acquired to serve as a part-time player, a pinch-hitter, and a veteran leader, has played himself into a much more important role. He’s hitting .313, a point higher than his career mark, and his 37-year-old legs are still nimble enough to enable him to steal sixteen bases. When DiMaggio is healthy, Graham platoons with Mel Almada; now, both he and Almada are playing every day and playing well.
Meanwhile, Carrigan has shuttled veteran Judy Johnson, youngster Fumio Fujimura, and journeyman Bill Werber between shortstop and third base in an effort to cover for Dihigo. None of the three has grabbed hold of the opportunity; Johnson and Werber have not hit, and Fujimura has played poorly in the field. Big Jim Tabor, who bashed 33 home runs for Minneapolis last year and has added fifteen more this year, might receive an opportunity soon.

Nevertheless, Carrigan remains as optimistic as always. “When we get ourselves healthy, we’ll be just fine,” he assures Red Sox fans. His track record suggests you shouldn’t bet he’s wrong.