THIS WEEK IN FIGMENT BASEBALL
OCTOBER 8, 1937: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GAME ONE
ALLEN LEADS MINERS TO WIN IN SERIES OPENER
A tremendous outing by Lefty Allen allowed the Pittsburgh Miners to strike first in the World Championship Series, as they coasted to a 7-2 victory in front of over 43,000 frenzied fans at Pittsburgh's Fitzpatrick Park. Except for a slight struggle in the fourth inning when Allen surrendered back to back doubles to Brooklyn's John Langille and Fred Barrell, the 23 year old Miners star was in complete control of the game, scattering seven hits while walking two in going the distance.
In contrast, Brooklyn starter Joe Shaffner had a day he would wish to soon forget. Shaffner had been outstanding the past month and a half and had the lowest ERA in either league during the season, but that did not impress the Miners hitters who jumped all over him right from the get go. Shaffner got Miners lead-off man Joe Owens to ground out to start the game but then he walked Cy Bryant and allowed a single to George Cleaves. A sac fly from Ray Cochran and a Lou Kelly double had the Miners up 2-0 after one inning and their bats never slowed down, adding another run on a solo homer from Henry Clayton in the second inning and made it 4-0 on a Kelly sacrifice fly in the third.
Brooklyn briefly made a game of it with their 4th inning outburst to cut the Miners lead in half but that was all Allen would allow and the Pittsburgh bats chased Shaffner in the 6th by adding some insurance with 3 more runs. Lou Kelly, with a first inning double to score the second run of the game and a sacrifice fly also had a strong outing as did Pittsburgh second baseman Henry Clayton, with a homer and two runs scored, but the star of the show was Allen, who led the Federal Association with 22 wins during the season.
"Nothing fazes Lefty," gushed Miners Manager Dan Andrew after the game. "Looking at him out there on a stage like this, it's hard to believe he is just 23 years old."
Fred Barrell, who has had a trying season this year hitting just .211 -nearly .100 points below his average a year ago - was the best of a struggling Kings offense today. Barrell, who was MVP of the 1931 Series when he was with the Chicago Cougars, went 2 for 3 and drove in both Brooklyn runs.