1934 Detroit Tigers season
Encyclopedia
The Detroit Tigers
season was a season in American baseball. The season was the team's 34th since entering the American League
in . The Tigers won the American League pennant
with a record of 101-53, the best winning percentage in team history. The team made its fourth World Series
appearance, but lost the 1934 World Series
to the St. Louis Cardinals
4 games to 3.
, and compiling the best winning percentage in Detroit Tigers history (either before or after). They outscored their opponents 958 to 708 and also finished 1st in attendance with 919,161.
The 1934 Tigers' winning percentage ranks as the best in team history, as follows:
was hired as the team's manager and catcher
in the off-season before the 1934 season started. Cochrane was acquired by the Tigers on December 12, 1933, from the Philadelphia Athletics
for Johnny Pasek
and $100,000. Known as "Black Mike," Cochrane is considered one of the greatest catchers of all time. In 1934, he won the American League's Most Valuable Player award, batting
.320 with a .428 on base percentage
, 76 RBIs
, and 32 double
s. He was the first catcher to win the American League MVP award Aside from his contributions as a player, Cochrane was invaluable as a manager and leader. Second baseman
Charlie Gehringer
later said: "When Mickey was managing the Tigers from behind the plate I can't remember him ever fouling up anything. Seemed like he made snap judgments that always worked out well, especially in '34 and '35."
at first
, Gehringer at second, Billy Rogell
at shortstop
, and Marv Owen
at third
, the 1934 Tigers infield collected 769 hit
s (214 by Gehringer, 201 by Greenberg, 179 by Owen and 175 by Rogell), 462 RBIs (139 by Greenberg, 127 by Gehringer, 100 by Rogell, and 96 by Owen), and 179 doubles (63 by Greenberg, 50 by Gehringer, 34 by Owen and 32 by Rogell). Three members of the 1934 Tigers infield (Gehringer, Owen and Rogell) played in all 154 games, and the fourth (Greenberg) played in 153.
"Hammerin' Hank" Greenberg played his second major league season in 1934, hitting .339 with 118 run
s and 201 hits. He led the league with 63 doubles, and he was third in the AL with a .600 slugging percentage and 139 RBIs. Late in the 1934 season, he announced that he would not play on Rosh Hashanah
, the Jewish New Year. Fans grumbled, "Rosh Hashanah comes every year but the Tigers haven't won the pennant since 1909
." Greenberg did considerable soul-searching, and discussed the matter with his rabbi; finally he relented and agreed to play on Rosh Hashanah, but stuck with his decision not to play on the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur
. Of the latter decision, Detroit Free Press
columnist and poet Edgar A. Guest expressed the general opinion in a poem titled "Speaking of Greenberg," in which he used the Irish (and thus Catholic) names Murphy and Mulroney. The poem ends with the lines "We shall miss him on the infield and shall miss him at the bat / But he's true to his religion--and I honor him for that." The complete text of the poem is at the end of Greenberg's biography page at the website of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Charlie Gehringer had his best year to date in 1934, playing all 154 games. His .356 batting average and .450 on base percentage were both 2nd best in the league. He led the league in runs scored with 134 and hits with 214. He was also among the league leaders in doubles with 42 (2nd in AL) and RBIs with a career-high 127 (5th in AL). Gehringer finished 2nd in the AL MVP voting, just 2 points behind Detroit’s player-manager, Mickey Cochrane. Known for his consistency as a hitter and fielder, Gehringer was given the nickname "The Mechanical Man" by Yankee pitcher Lefty Gomez
. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/excerpts/cobb_would_have_caught_it18.stm Mickey Cochrane
joked that "Charlie says `hello' on Opening Day, `goodbye' on closing day, and in between hits .350."
Shortstop Billy Rogell had the best season of his career in 1934. As the Tigers' leadoff hitter, with four future Hall of Famers (Cochrane, Gehringer, Greenberg, and Goslin) following him in the lineup, He hit .296, driving in 100 runs and scoring 114. Rogell, unbeknownst to the Cardinals or the media, played the 1934 World Series on a broken ankle. Despite the injury he was able to collect eight hits and drive in four runs over the seven game series. He also found his way into one of the most popular plays in World Series history. After driving in a run with a single to right in the fourth inning of Game 4, Spud Davis
was replaced by Hall of Famer Dizzy Dean
as a pinch runner at first base. Pepper Martin
then stepped in and hit a ground ball to Gehringer at second. Gehringer turned and threw to Rogell who forced out Dean at second, and then fired the ball squarely into Dean’s forehead on the relay throw to first. The ball ricocheted off Dean’s head and landed over a hundred feet away in the outfield. Dean, always known for his quick wit and humorous nature, remarked after a visit to the hospital, “The doctors X-rayed my head and found nothing.” Rogell would say of the play later, “If I’d have known his head was there, I would have thrown the ball harder.”
Marv Owen batted .317 with 96 RBIs in 1934 and finished 9th in the AL MVP voting. Owen is remembered for a famous incident in Game 7 of the 1934 World Series. Joe Medwick
tripled in the 6th inning with the Cardinals ahead by 7 runs. He slid hard into Owen at third, knocking him down. The two fought, and Detroit fans pelted Medwick with fruit and garbage when he returned to left field. As the fan reaction escalated, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
ordered Medwick removed from the game. Owen batted just .069 (2-29) in the 1934 World Series.
played in left field, Pete Fox
played in right field, and the speedy Jo-Jo White
and Gee Walker
shared responsibility for center field, with White playing in 100 games.
Pete Fox hit .285, hit 31 doubles, stole 20 bases, and scored 101 runs.
Goose Goslin had a good year with a .305 batting average, 100 RBIs, 106 runs scored, 187 hits, and 38 doubles. After leading the Washington Senators
to American League pennants in 1924, 1925, and 1933, owner Clark Griffith
traded Goslin to Detroit before the 1934 season. Griffith told Goose he simply couldn't afford to pay his salary. With stars Goslin, Gehringer and Greenberg, the 1934 Tigers became known as the “G-Men.”
Center fielder Jo-Jo White hit .313, scored 97 runs, had a .419 on base percentage, and led the team with 28 stolen bases. White's real first name was Joyner, but he was called "Jo-Jo" because of the way he pronounced his native state of Georgia. Hank Greenberg
, who was raised in the Bronx was rommates with White, and according to Greenberg the two of them "used to fight the Civil War every night." Greenberg recalled a game in which White stole home with Greenberg at bat: "He deprived me of a good chance at an RBI, and he did it deliberately because he knew it would burn me up."
Gee Walker, the Tigers fourth outfielder, played in 98 games. Known as "The Madman from Mississippi," Walker was a fiery competitor who became a fan favorite in Detroit. He hit .300 for the 1934 Tigers with 20 stolen bases. Though he was regularly among the league leaders in stolen bases, he also developed a reputation for being inattentive and overzealous on the basepaths. He once tried to steal a base while the batter was being given an intentional walk. During the 1934 World Series, he was picked off first while arguing with the Cardinals' bench. On June 30, 1934, Walker was picked off base twice in the same inning. After Hank Greenberg singled, Walker reached base on an error, but was caught off base when the catcher threw to first base. Greenberg tried to draw a throw by running to third base and was thrown out, with Walker taking second base. Moments later, with Walker standing six feet off the bag, the pitcher threw to second base and Walker was tagged out. Detroit manager Mickey Cochrane was so angered by Walker's inattention that he suspended Walker for 10 days and fined him $20.
, Schoolboy Rowe
, Alvin Crowder
, and Elden Auker
.
Tommy Bridges had a record of 22-11. In 35 starts, Bridges threw 23 complete games. He lhad 151 strikeouts, and a 3.67 ERA. In a nationwide poll, Bridges was named the No. 2 sports hero of 1935, behind Notre Dame football player Andy Pilney
.
Schoolboy Rowe had the best record on the club at 24-8. At one point in the season, he had 16 consecutive wins. another big year in 1935. Schoolboy became a fan favorite not only for his pitching performance in 1934 but for his nationally publicized romance. While appearing on the Eddie Cantor
radio show, Rowe famously asked his fiancee, "How'm I doing, Edna honey?" The line endeared Schoolboy to the nation, and also resulted in relentless teasing from opposing players and fans. Schoolboy and Edna married after the 1934 season and had their first child during the 1935 season.
Elden Auker, a 23-year-old underhand pitcher out of Kansas A&M, also had a big year for the 1934 Tigers. Auker was 15-7 with a 3.42 ERA. During the 1935 World Series
, Auker was interviewed by a young Cubs broadcaster, Ronald Reagan
. When they met after Reagan had been elected Governor of California, Reagan told him, "You probably won't remember me, but I'll remember you as long as I live." The 1935 radio interview, Reagan said, "was my first big break."
The Tigers' #4 starter was Vic Sorrell
. Sorrell was 6-9 with a 4.79 ERA.
The Tigers' closers in 1934 were Firpo Marberry
and Chief Hogsett
. Marberry was one of the first relief specialists in the major leagues. Marberry appeared in 38 games and had a record of 15-5. Hogsett became a fan favorite as well, having a 3-2 record in 38 games. When Hogsett would take the mound at Navin Field, Detroit fans greeted him with "war whoops." Hogsett later reported that, while he was "one-thirty-second Cherokee on my mother's side," he got the nickname in the minor leagues when he "roomed with a full-blooded Kiowa Indian and the nickname just kind of stuck."
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
was a match-up between the St. Louis Cardinals
’ "Gashouse Gang
" and Detroit’s “G-Men” (so named because of stars Gehringer, Greenberg, and Goslin). Even nearly 50 years later, Charlie Gehringer
(interviewed in 1982) felt the Tigers were robbed of the 1934 championship by umpire Brick Owens. Detroit was ahead 3 games to 2, and in Gehringer's view "we should've won the sixth game." Late in the game, Brick Owens called Mickey Cochrane
out on a play at third base "even though all of the photographs show that he was safe by a mile." Gehringer insisted that, if Cochrane had been called safe, "we would've had the bases loaded with nobody out and we could've had a big inning.”
The Tigers wound up losing Game 6 by one run. They then lost Game 7 in an 11-0 shutout thrown by Dizzy Dean
, despite a 2-for-4 game from Gehringer.
In the sixth inning of Game 7, Joe Medwick
slid hard into Marv Owen
, the Tigers' third baseman, after hitting a triple. They tangled briefly, and when Medwick went to his position in left field, the Detroit fans, knowing the game was lost (the score was 9-0 by then), vented their frustrations on Medwick, throwing fruit, vegetables, bottles, cushions, etc., at him. Commissioner Landis
ordered Medwick benched to end the ruckus. Newsreel footage shows Medwick slamming his glove onto the dugout bench in disgust. (Audio)
Pete Fox
played for the Tigers and became the only World Series
player to hit six (6) doubles in any Series of any length.
NL St. Louis Cardinals (4) vs. AL Detroit Tigers (3)
in 2001:
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
season was a season in American baseball. The season was the team's 34th since entering the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in . The Tigers won the American League pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
with a record of 101-53, the best winning percentage in team history. The team made its fourth World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
appearance, but lost the 1934 World Series
1934 World Series
The 1934 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang" winning in seven games for their third championship in nine years....
to the St. Louis Cardinals
1934 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 53rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 43rd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 95-58 during the season and finished first in the National League...
4 games to 3.
Season summary
The Tigers won the American League pennant with a record of 101-53, finishing seven games ahead of the New York Yankees1934 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 32nd season in New York and its 34th season overall. The team finished with a record of 94-60, finishing 7 games behind the Detroit Tigers. New York was managed by Joe McCarthy. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee Stadium.- Roster :- Starters...
, and compiling the best winning percentage in Detroit Tigers history (either before or after). They outscored their opponents 958 to 708 and also finished 1st in attendance with 919,161.
The 1934 Tigers' winning percentage ranks as the best in team history, as follows:
EWLINE
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Catcher/Manager: Mickey Cochrane
Hall of Famer Mickey CochraneMickey Cochrane
Gordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
was hired as the team's manager and catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in the off-season before the 1934 season started. Cochrane was acquired by the Tigers on December 12, 1933, from the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Johnny Pasek
Johnny Pasek
John Paul "Johnny" Pasek was a Major League Baseball catcher. Pasek played for the Detroit Tigers in and the Chicago White Sox in . He batted and threw right-handed....
and $100,000. Known as "Black Mike," Cochrane is considered one of the greatest catchers of all time. In 1934, he won the American League's Most Valuable Player award, batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.320 with a .428 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
, 76 RBIs
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, and 32 double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
s. He was the first catcher to win the American League MVP award Aside from his contributions as a player, Cochrane was invaluable as a manager and leader. Second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Charlie Gehringer
Charlie Gehringer
Charles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
later said: "When Mickey was managing the Tigers from behind the plate I can't remember him ever fouling up anything. Seemed like he made snap judgments that always worked out well, especially in '34 and '35."
Infield: Greenberg, Gehringer, Rogell, and Owen
The Detroit infield in the mid-1930s was one of the best-hitting combinations in major league history. With Hank GreenbergHank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
at first
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
, Gehringer at second, Billy Rogell
Billy Rogell
William George "Billy" Rogell was an American baseball player who played 14 years in Major League Baseball, primarily as a shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. He made his major league debut on April 14, 1925 and played his last game August 25, 1940...
at shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, and Marv Owen
Marv Owen
Marvin James Owen was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played nine seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , and Boston Red Sox ....
at third
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, the 1934 Tigers infield collected 769 hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
s (214 by Gehringer, 201 by Greenberg, 179 by Owen and 175 by Rogell), 462 RBIs (139 by Greenberg, 127 by Gehringer, 100 by Rogell, and 96 by Owen), and 179 doubles (63 by Greenberg, 50 by Gehringer, 34 by Owen and 32 by Rogell). Three members of the 1934 Tigers infield (Gehringer, Owen and Rogell) played in all 154 games, and the fourth (Greenberg) played in 153.
"Hammerin' Hank" Greenberg played his second major league season in 1934, hitting .339 with 118 run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
s and 201 hits. He led the league with 63 doubles, and he was third in the AL with a .600 slugging percentage and 139 RBIs. Late in the 1934 season, he announced that he would not play on Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah , , is the Jewish New Year. It is the first of the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora'im which occur in the autumn...
, the Jewish New Year. Fans grumbled, "Rosh Hashanah comes every year but the Tigers haven't won the pennant since 1909
1909 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates over Detroit Tigers -MLB statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-Events:...
." Greenberg did considerable soul-searching, and discussed the matter with his rabbi; finally he relented and agreed to play on Rosh Hashanah, but stuck with his decision not to play on the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
. Of the latter decision, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
columnist and poet Edgar A. Guest expressed the general opinion in a poem titled "Speaking of Greenberg," in which he used the Irish (and thus Catholic) names Murphy and Mulroney. The poem ends with the lines "We shall miss him on the infield and shall miss him at the bat / But he's true to his religion--and I honor him for that." The complete text of the poem is at the end of Greenberg's biography page at the website of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Charlie Gehringer had his best year to date in 1934, playing all 154 games. His .356 batting average and .450 on base percentage were both 2nd best in the league. He led the league in runs scored with 134 and hits with 214. He was also among the league leaders in doubles with 42 (2nd in AL) and RBIs with a career-high 127 (5th in AL). Gehringer finished 2nd in the AL MVP voting, just 2 points behind Detroit’s player-manager, Mickey Cochrane. Known for his consistency as a hitter and fielder, Gehringer was given the nickname "The Mechanical Man" by Yankee pitcher Lefty Gomez
Lefty Gómez
Vernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez was an American left-handed major league pitcher who played in the American League for the New York Yankees between 1930 and 1942. Considered one of the great pitchers of the day, Gomez was a seven-time All-Star and a five-time World Series Champion with the Yankees...
. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/excerpts/cobb_would_have_caught_it18.stm Mickey Cochrane
Mickey Cochrane
Gordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
joked that "Charlie says `hello' on Opening Day, `goodbye' on closing day, and in between hits .350."
Shortstop Billy Rogell had the best season of his career in 1934. As the Tigers' leadoff hitter, with four future Hall of Famers (Cochrane, Gehringer, Greenberg, and Goslin) following him in the lineup, He hit .296, driving in 100 runs and scoring 114. Rogell, unbeknownst to the Cardinals or the media, played the 1934 World Series on a broken ankle. Despite the injury he was able to collect eight hits and drive in four runs over the seven game series. He also found his way into one of the most popular plays in World Series history. After driving in a run with a single to right in the fourth inning of Game 4, Spud Davis
Spud Davis
Virgil Lawrence "Spud" Davis was an American professional baseball player, coach, scout and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and Pittsburgh Pirates...
was replaced by Hall of Famer Dizzy Dean
Dizzy Dean
Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. Dean was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
as a pinch runner at first base. Pepper Martin
Pepper Martin
Johnny Leonard Roosevelt "Pepper" Martin was an American professional baseball player and minor league manager. He was known as the Wild Horse of the Osage because of his daring, aggressive baserunning abilities. Martin played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman and an outfielder for the St...
then stepped in and hit a ground ball to Gehringer at second. Gehringer turned and threw to Rogell who forced out Dean at second, and then fired the ball squarely into Dean’s forehead on the relay throw to first. The ball ricocheted off Dean’s head and landed over a hundred feet away in the outfield. Dean, always known for his quick wit and humorous nature, remarked after a visit to the hospital, “The doctors X-rayed my head and found nothing.” Rogell would say of the play later, “If I’d have known his head was there, I would have thrown the ball harder.”
Marv Owen batted .317 with 96 RBIs in 1934 and finished 9th in the AL MVP voting. Owen is remembered for a famous incident in Game 7 of the 1934 World Series. Joe Medwick
Joe Medwick
Joseph Michael Medwick , nicknamed "Ducky", was an American Major League Baseball player. A left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals during the "Gashouse Gang" era of the 1930s, he also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , and Boston Braves...
tripled in the 6th inning with the Cardinals ahead by 7 runs. He slid hard into Owen at third, knocking him down. The two fought, and Detroit fans pelted Medwick with fruit and garbage when he returned to left field. As the fan reaction escalated, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...
ordered Medwick removed from the game. Owen batted just .069 (2-29) in the 1934 World Series.
Outfield: Goslin, Fox, White and Walker
In the outfield, Hall of Famer Goose GoslinGoose Goslin
Leon Allen "Goose" Goslin was a left fielder in Major League Baseball known for his powerful left-handed swing and dependable clutch hitting. He played 18 seasons with the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Detroit Tigers, from until...
played in left field, Pete Fox
Pete Fox
Ervin "Pete" Fox was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played thirteen seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox ....
played in right field, and the speedy Jo-Jo White
Jo-Jo White
Joyner Clifford "Jo-Jo" White was an American center fielder in professional baseball. He played nine seasons with the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Athletics , and Cincinnati Reds...
and Gee Walker
Gee Walker
Gerald Holmes "Gee" Walker was a Major League Baseball outfielder. During his fifteen year career, he played with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, and Cincinnati Reds...
shared responsibility for center field, with White playing in 100 games.
Pete Fox hit .285, hit 31 doubles, stole 20 bases, and scored 101 runs.
Goose Goslin had a good year with a .305 batting average, 100 RBIs, 106 runs scored, 187 hits, and 38 doubles. After leading the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
to American League pennants in 1924, 1925, and 1933, owner Clark Griffith
Clark Griffith
Clark Calvin Griffith , nicknamed "the Old Fox", was a Major League Baseball pitcher, manager and team owner.-Biography:...
traded Goslin to Detroit before the 1934 season. Griffith told Goose he simply couldn't afford to pay his salary. With stars Goslin, Gehringer and Greenberg, the 1934 Tigers became known as the “G-Men.”
Center fielder Jo-Jo White hit .313, scored 97 runs, had a .419 on base percentage, and led the team with 28 stolen bases. White's real first name was Joyner, but he was called "Jo-Jo" because of the way he pronounced his native state of Georgia. Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
, who was raised in the Bronx was rommates with White, and according to Greenberg the two of them "used to fight the Civil War every night." Greenberg recalled a game in which White stole home with Greenberg at bat: "He deprived me of a good chance at an RBI, and he did it deliberately because he knew it would burn me up."
Gee Walker, the Tigers fourth outfielder, played in 98 games. Known as "The Madman from Mississippi," Walker was a fiery competitor who became a fan favorite in Detroit. He hit .300 for the 1934 Tigers with 20 stolen bases. Though he was regularly among the league leaders in stolen bases, he also developed a reputation for being inattentive and overzealous on the basepaths. He once tried to steal a base while the batter was being given an intentional walk. During the 1934 World Series, he was picked off first while arguing with the Cardinals' bench. On June 30, 1934, Walker was picked off base twice in the same inning. After Hank Greenberg singled, Walker reached base on an error, but was caught off base when the catcher threw to first base. Greenberg tried to draw a throw by running to third base and was thrown out, with Walker taking second base. Moments later, with Walker standing six feet off the bag, the pitcher threw to second base and Walker was tagged out. Detroit manager Mickey Cochrane was so angered by Walker's inattention that he suspended Walker for 10 days and fined him $20.
Pitching: Bridges, Rowe, Auker, Marberry and Hogsett
The pitching staff was led by starters Tommy BridgesTommy Bridges
Thomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
, Schoolboy Rowe
Schoolboy Rowe
Lynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
, Alvin Crowder
Alvin Crowder
Alvin Floyd Crowder , nicknamed "General," was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played eleven seasons in the American League with the Washington Senators, the St. Louis Browns, and the Detroit Tigers...
, and Elden Auker
Elden Auker
Elden le Roy Auker was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball noted for his submarine pitching style....
.
Tommy Bridges had a record of 22-11. In 35 starts, Bridges threw 23 complete games. He lhad 151 strikeouts, and a 3.67 ERA. In a nationwide poll, Bridges was named the No. 2 sports hero of 1935, behind Notre Dame football player Andy Pilney
Andy Pilney
-External links:...
.
Schoolboy Rowe had the best record on the club at 24-8. At one point in the season, he had 16 consecutive wins. another big year in 1935. Schoolboy became a fan favorite not only for his pitching performance in 1934 but for his nationally publicized romance. While appearing on the Eddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor was an American "illustrated song" performer, comedian, dancer, singer, actor and songwriter...
radio show, Rowe famously asked his fiancee, "How'm I doing, Edna honey?" The line endeared Schoolboy to the nation, and also resulted in relentless teasing from opposing players and fans. Schoolboy and Edna married after the 1934 season and had their first child during the 1935 season.
Elden Auker, a 23-year-old underhand pitcher out of Kansas A&M, also had a big year for the 1934 Tigers. Auker was 15-7 with a 3.42 ERA. During the 1935 World Series
1935 World Series
The 1935 World Series featured the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs, with the Tigers winning in six games for their first championship in five Series appearances. They had lost in , , , and ....
, Auker was interviewed by a young Cubs broadcaster, Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. When they met after Reagan had been elected Governor of California, Reagan told him, "You probably won't remember me, but I'll remember you as long as I live." The 1935 radio interview, Reagan said, "was my first big break."
The Tigers' #4 starter was Vic Sorrell
Vic Sorrell
Victor Garland Sorrell , nicknamed "Lawyer" and "The Philosopher," was a Major League pitcher who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. In 10 Major League seasons, Sorrell had a 92-101 record with a 4.43 career ERA...
. Sorrell was 6-9 with a 4.79 ERA.
The Tigers' closers in 1934 were Firpo Marberry
Firpo Marberry
Frederick "Firpo" Marberry was an American right-handed starting and relief pitcher in Major League Baseball from to , most notably with the Washington Senators...
and Chief Hogsett
Chief Hogsett
Elon Chester "Chief" Hogsett was a sub-marining left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played 11 seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers , St...
. Marberry was one of the first relief specialists in the major leagues. Marberry appeared in 38 games and had a record of 15-5. Hogsett became a fan favorite as well, having a 3-2 record in 38 games. When Hogsett would take the mound at Navin Field, Detroit fans greeted him with "war whoops." Hogsett later reported that, while he was "one-thirty-second Cherokee on my mother's side," he got the nickname in the minor leagues when he "roomed with a full-blooded Kiowa Indian and the nickname just kind of stuck."
Roster
| 1934 Detroit Tigers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Season highlights
- April 17: The Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox1934 Chicago White Sox seasonThe 1934 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 34th season in the major leagues, and its 35th season overall. They finished with a record 53-99, good enough for eighth and last place in the American League, 47 games behind the first place Detroit Tigers....
, 8-4, at Comiskey ParkComiskey ParkComiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
. - April 28: Goose GoslinGoose GoslinLeon Allen "Goose" Goslin was a left fielder in Major League Baseball known for his powerful left-handed swing and dependable clutch hitting. He played 18 seasons with the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Detroit Tigers, from until...
hit into four consecutive double plays‚ but the Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians1934 Cleveland Indians seasonThe Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished third in the American League with a record of 85-69, 16 games behind the Detroit Tigers.- Regular season :...
, 4-1. Marv OwenMarv OwenMarvin James Owen was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played nine seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , and Boston Red Sox ....
had unassisted double plays in consecutive games on the 28th and 29th. - May 7: The Tigers beat the Boston Red Sox1934 Boston Red Sox seasonThe 1934 Boston Red Sox season involved the Red Sox finishing 4th in the American League with a record of 76 wins and 76 losses.- Offseason :...
, 8-6. Schoolboy RoweSchoolboy RoweLynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
was the winning pitcher and won the game with a home run. - May 27: Detroit beat Boston, 9-2. Schoolboy Rowe pitched a complete game.
- June 6: The Tigers beat the Indians, 2-1, despite a one-hitter by Cleveland pitcher Bob WeilandBob WeilandRobert George Weiland , was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from -. He played for the Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, and St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...
. Charlie GehringerCharlie GehringerCharles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
's RBI single was the only hit. Goose Goslin's hit streak ended at 30 games. The victory by Schoolboy Rowe put the Tigers in 1st place. - June 15: Schoolboy Rowe got the win over the Red Sox‚ 11-4‚ scattering 9 hits. This was the start of Rowe's 15-game win streak.
- June 20: The Tigers beat the Senators, 13-10. They scored three runs in the 11th inning. Marv Owen‚ Mickey CochraneMickey CochraneGordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
‚ Charlie Gehringer‚ and Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
each had three hits.
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 129 | 437 | 140 | .320 | 2 | 76 | |
| 1B | 153 | 593 | 201 | .339 | 26 | 139 | |
| 2B | 154 | 601 | 214 | .356 | 11 | 127 | |
| 3B | 154 | 565 | 179 | .317 | 8 | 96 | |
| SS | 154 | 592 | 175 | .296 | 3 | 100 | |
| OF | 151 | 614 | 187 | .305 | 13 | 100 | |
| OF | 128 | 516 | 147 | .285 | 2 | 45 | |
| OF | 115 | 384 | 120 | .313 | 0 | 44 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98 | 347 | 104 | .300 | 6 | 39 | |
| 54 | 167 | 49 | .293 | 0 | 27 | |
| 56 | 120 | 28 | .233 | 1 | 19 | |
| 16 | 16 | 1 | .063 | 0 | 1 | |
| 11 | 15 | 4 | .267 | 0 | 2 | |
| 3 | 6 | 1 | .167 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 275 | 22 | 11 | 3.67 | 151 | |
| 45 | 266 | 24 | 8 | 3.45 | 149 | |
| 28 | 129.7 | 6 | 9 | 4.79 | 46 | |
| 9 | 66.7 | 5 | 1 | 4.19 | 30 | |
| 20 | 95 | 6 | 4 | 4.36 | 39 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 205 | 15 | 7 | 3.42 | 86 | |
| 38 | 155.7 | 15 | 5 | 4.57 | 53 | |
| 20 | 75.3 | 2 | 3 | 5.38 | 30 | |
| 8 | 22.2 | 1 | 3 | 5.96 | 11 | |
| 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1.50 | 8 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W= Wins; L= Losses; SV = Saves; GF = Games Finished; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | GF | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 4.29 | 23 | |
| 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6.17 | 3 |
1934 World Series
The 1934 World Series1934 World Series
The 1934 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang" winning in seven games for their third championship in nine years....
was a match-up between the St. Louis Cardinals
1934 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 53rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 43rd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 95-58 during the season and finished first in the National League...
’ "Gashouse Gang
Gashouse Gang
The Gashouse Gang was a nickname applied to the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball team of .The Cardinals, by most accounts, earned this nickname from the team's generally very shabby appearance and rough-and-tumble tactics...
" and Detroit’s “G-Men” (so named because of stars Gehringer, Greenberg, and Goslin). Even nearly 50 years later, Charlie Gehringer
Charlie Gehringer
Charles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
(interviewed in 1982) felt the Tigers were robbed of the 1934 championship by umpire Brick Owens. Detroit was ahead 3 games to 2, and in Gehringer's view "we should've won the sixth game." Late in the game, Brick Owens called Mickey Cochrane
Mickey Cochrane
Gordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
out on a play at third base "even though all of the photographs show that he was safe by a mile." Gehringer insisted that, if Cochrane had been called safe, "we would've had the bases loaded with nobody out and we could've had a big inning.”
The Tigers wound up losing Game 6 by one run. They then lost Game 7 in an 11-0 shutout thrown by Dizzy Dean
Dizzy Dean
Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. Dean was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
, despite a 2-for-4 game from Gehringer.
In the sixth inning of Game 7, Joe Medwick
Joe Medwick
Joseph Michael Medwick , nicknamed "Ducky", was an American Major League Baseball player. A left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals during the "Gashouse Gang" era of the 1930s, he also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , and Boston Braves...
slid hard into Marv Owen
Marv Owen
Marvin James Owen was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played nine seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , and Boston Red Sox ....
, the Tigers' third baseman, after hitting a triple. They tangled briefly, and when Medwick went to his position in left field, the Detroit fans, knowing the game was lost (the score was 9-0 by then), vented their frustrations on Medwick, throwing fruit, vegetables, bottles, cushions, etc., at him. Commissioner Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...
ordered Medwick benched to end the ruckus. Newsreel footage shows Medwick slamming his glove onto the dugout bench in disgust. (Audio)
Pete Fox
Pete Fox
Ervin "Pete" Fox was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played thirteen seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox ....
played for the Tigers and became the only World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
player to hit six (6) doubles in any Series of any length.
NL St. Louis Cardinals (4) vs. AL Detroit Tigers (3)
| Game | Score | Date | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardinals – 8, Tigers – 3 | October 3 | Navin Field | 42,505 |
| 2 | Cardinals – 2, Tigers – 3 (12 innings) | October 4 | Navin Field | 43,451 |
| 3 | Tigers – 1, Cardinals – 4 | October 5 | Sportsman's Park Sportsman's Park Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, all but one of which were located on the same piece of land, the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :From... |
37,073 |
| 4 | Tigers – 10, Cardinals – 4 | October 6 | Sportsman's Park Sportsman's Park Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, all but one of which were located on the same piece of land, the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :From... |
37,492 |
| 5 | Tigers – 3, Cardinals – 1 | October 7 | Sportsman's Park Sportsman's Park Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, all but one of which were located on the same piece of land, the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :From... |
38,536 |
| 6 | Cardinals – 4, Tigers – 3 | October 8 | Navin Field | 44,551 |
| 7 | Cardinals – 11, Tigers – 0 | October 9 | Navin Field | 40,902 |
League leaders
- Tommy BridgesTommy BridgesThomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
: AL leader in games started (35) - Charlie GehringerCharlie GehringerCharles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
: MLB leader in hits (214) - Charlie GehringerCharlie GehringerCharles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
: AL leader in runs (135) - Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
: MLB leader in doubles (63) - Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
: MLB leader in extra base hits (96) - Schoolboy RoweSchoolboy RoweLynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
: AL leader in strikeout to walk ratio (1.84)
Players ranking among top 100 all time at position
The following members of the 1934 Detroit Tigers are among the Top 100 of all time at their position, as ranked by The New Bill James Historical Baseball AbstractThe Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract is a reference-type book written by Bill James featuring an overview of baseball decade by decade, along with rankings of the top 100 players at each position. The original edition was published in 1985 by Villard Books, followed by The New Bill James...
in 2001:
- Mickey CochraneMickey CochraneGordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
: 4th best catcher of all time - Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
: 8th best first baseman of all time - Charlie GehringerCharlie GehringerCharles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
: 8th best second baseman of all time - Billy RogellBilly RogellWilliam George "Billy" Rogell was an American baseball player who played 14 years in Major League Baseball, primarily as a shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. He made his major league debut on April 14, 1925 and played his last game August 25, 1940...
: 49th best shortstop of all time - Goose GoslinGoose GoslinLeon Allen "Goose" Goslin was a left fielder in Major League Baseball known for his powerful left-handed swing and dependable clutch hitting. He played 18 seasons with the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Detroit Tigers, from until...
: 16th best left fielder of all time - Gee WalkerGee WalkerGerald Holmes "Gee" Walker was a Major League Baseball outfielder. During his fifteen year career, he played with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, and Cincinnati Reds...
: 92nd best left fielder of all time - Pete FoxPete FoxErvin "Pete" Fox was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played thirteen seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox ....
: 96th best right fielder of all time - Tommy BridgesTommy BridgesThomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
: 77th best pitcher of all time