Ten Yankees Twin Bills in 16 Days
New York Played 23 Games From August 12-27 in 1938
On July 4, 1938, the Yankees and Indians were tied for first place. By the end of the month, the Yankees led the Tribe by 2 games, and then the perennial World Champions went on an August tear, opening up a 16 game margin over the now third place Indians by August 28, with the Red Sox ensconced in second, trailing by 13 games, but that is not the story. It is the schedule, which is not to be believed.
Two Doubleheaders in Three Days
On August 12, the Athletics visited Yankee Stadium to play a five game set against the Yankees. While a five game series is not too unique, the fact that the teams would play a doubleheader on Friday and on Sunday was a little unusual. The teams split the first twin bill, the Yankees took the single contest the next day, and the Yankees swept the second double header to take 4 of the 5 games.
DiMaggio the Loafer
Joe DiMaggio had a memorable series. In the second game of the Friday doubleheader, in which the Yankees routed the A’s, 16-3, "The double header lasted so long …that outfielders on both teams were losing the ball in the glare. Finney’s homer inside the park in the ninth inning of the second game was a gift from DiMaggio. He missed an easy catch and loafed after the ball while the Athletics’ first baseman circled the sacks."
DiMaggio's Left Field
The Saturday game illustrated how Yankee Stadium affected DiMaggio’s statistics. "DiMaggio’s first inning triple was one of the longest drives hit in that sector of the stadium, the ball banging against the bleachers in left center on the fly, some 440 feet away. The great DiMag has been getting tremendous length to his blows of late, which makes it all the more unfortunate the contour of the stadium gives him no such advantage as left handed hitters get." Of course, left center in the remodeled Yankee Stadium in which Alex Rodriguez plays is 399 feet from home plate.
So Many Twin Bills and So Litte Time
After an off day on Monday, the Yankees traveled to Washington for a Tuesday doubleheader against the Senators, which they swept. The teams were off on Wednesday, and then they played another double header on Thursday, which they split. From Washington to Philadelphia for single games on Friday and Saturday, followed by a Sunday twin bill, which the Yankees swept. Monday was a travel day back to New York where the Yankees split a doubleheader on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Yankees split another doubleheader with the Sox.
Gehrig's Streak Almost Ended
The Chicago doubleheader might have been a game that fans would point to as a pivotal game in baseball history because in the eighth inning of the opener, Lou Gehrig argued vehemently with home plate umpire Joe Rue over a called third strike. Rue came close to ejecting Gehrig, which meant that his consecutive game streak would have ended. A player ejected from the first game of a doubleheader was ineligible to play in the second game.
More Doubleheaders
After Chicago, Cleveland came to the Stadium, where they were swept in a doubleheader on Thursday. No, this is not being made up. It really happened. On Friday, the teams split a twin bill, and on Saturday, the Yankees swept a doubleheader from the Tribe.
From Friday, August 12 through and including Saturday, August 27, the Yankees played 10 doubleheaders and a total of 23 games. Yes, baseball is a business, and in 1938, baseball was a business, but in today’s business, it is unthinkable to give away something for which people will. When is the last time you paid a single admission to see two games played on the same day?
References:
Daley, Arthur. "Yanks Victors, 16-3, After 5-4 Setback." New York Times. 13 August 1938, p. 8.
Drebinger, John. "Yankees Vanquish Athletics by 11-4 on Long Wallops." New York Times. 14 August 1938, p. 63.
Drebinger, John. "White Sox Win, 8-5, Then Are Routed." New York Times. 25 August 1938, p. 22.
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