In 1936, fans voted for the all-star team, including the starting pitchers. Ballots that were printed in newspapers were mailed to the commissioner’s office to be tallied, after which the managers selected five more players, bringing the roster to twenty-one. Rookie Joe DiMaggio received the most votes of any American League outfielder.
The All-Star Game Was Meaningful in 1936
The game was played on July 7 in Boston at Braves Field, the home of the Boston Bees, with gate receipts going to the fund for indigent ball players. The all-star game was considered second in significance only to the World Series, which has not been the case the last few decades, when it has devolved into a pure exhibition game. In 1936, there were pre game predictions of a bitter struggle, because the National League, which had lost the first three all all-star games, was thirsty for victory. The first all-star game in 1933 was viewed as merely a grand review of the game’s greatest stars, but after only three games it was transformed into a battle that would reveal league superiority. The fourth all-star game shaped up as a battle between American League offense against National League defense.
Joe DiMaggio Had a Horrible Day
A small, disappointing crowd of 25,534 fans saw the National League win its first all-star game, 4.3. Joe DiMaggio had a horrible day. Batting third and playing right field, he came up in the first inning with Luke Appling on first with one out to face Dizzy Dean, who would end the season with 24 wins. Joe grounded into an inning ending double play. In the second inning, Joe misplayed Gabby Hartnett’s line drive into a triple, allowing Frank Demaree to score the game’s first run. DiMaggio tried to make a shoestring catch, but the ball went between his legs and rolled to the wall. In the fourth, facing Carl Hubbell, Dimaggio popped out to shortstop and then he grounded back to Hubbell in the sixth, but the worst was yet to come.
The American League Rallies
With the National League leading, 4-0, Lou Gehrig led off the seventh with a home run off Cubs’ right hander Curt Davis, who proceeded to retire Earl Averill and Bill Dickey, Davis would never get the third out. Goose Goslin singled, pinch hitter Jimmy Foxx singled, and George Selkirk walked to put the potential tying runs on base, bringing up Luke Appling, who promptly singled home two runs and moved Selkirk to second.
Durocher Snags Joe's Line Drive
Lon Warneke replaced Davis and walked Charlie Gehringer to again load the bases. Joe Dimaggio hit a low line drive to the left side of the infield that was almost the mirror image of a line drive hit twenty six years later by the Giants’ Willie McCovey that Yankees’ second baseman Bobby Richardson snagged. This time, shortstop Leo Durocher caught the line drive to preserve the one run lead. In the ninth inning, with the American League still down by a run, Charlie Gehringer sliced a drive into left field for a double, but DiMaggio ended the game when he went after a 1-1 pitch and hit a harmless pop up to second baseman Billy Herman. In his first all star game, Joe was 0-5. After the game, all a crestfallen Joe DiMaggio would say was that “I didn’t have much luck.” His luck would change in October.
References:
- Drebinger, John. “Teams in All-Star Baseball Classic at Boston Today Rated on Even Terms.” New York Times. 7 July 1936, p. 24.
- Drebinger, John. “First Victory in Four Efforts Scored by National League in All-Star Game; National League Tops American, 4-3.” New York Times. 8 July 1936, p. 22.
- “Newcomers to Big League Fame Get Call in all-star Selections; Twenty of Last Year's Idols Passed Up by Fans, Announcement of Voting for Boston Game Reveals -- DiMaggio and Stan Martin, Prize Rookies of 1936, Are Named.” Associated Press. New York Times. 27 June 1936, p. 12.
- “Fourth All-Star Game to Draw 45,000 to Bees' Park Tuesday; Popular Midseason Fixture Looms as Close Battle, With National League Still Seeking First Victory -- Hurlers Trouble McCarthy as Fans' Choices Falter -- Grimm to Lead 'Home Team.” New York Times. 5 July 1936, p. S4.
- “Dizzy Dean Bemoans Two Passes He Issued to Appling and Gehrig; ' You'd Have Seen Something If I Was Feeling Really Good,' Says Cardinal Ace -- Manager Grimm Praises Victorious Nationals And McCarthy Blames Americans' Defeat on Breaks.” Associated Press. New York Times. 8 July 1936, p. 22.
