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JIMMIE FOXX'S MVP SEASON
... April 18, 1938 ... With an amazing six run sixth inning rally, the Red Sox wrote a happy ending for 21-year-old Jim Bagby. The Sox beat the world champion New York Yankees, 8 to 4 before 10,500 fans, who defied the damp and cold elements to attend the Red Sox 1938 baseball opener. Bagby, who had never seen an American League game, let alone take part in one, received full deserved credit for the victory, although he pitched only the first six innings of the contest. He was yanked for a pinch-hitter during the last of the sixth explosion against Red Ruffing, the ex-Red Sox player and right-handed ace of the Yankees. The 21-year-old kid, who last year was throwing in the Class A New York – Pennsylvania league, held the Yankees to four runs, with one of them unearned. He gave up just five hits over the stretch and struck out five batters in a very powerful lineup. With more than any of these factors firmly entrenched, the young Bagby displayed sheer courage in turning back New York the way he did. Due mainly to his own wildness, which saw him give up six free passes and one hit batsman, he was thrust into at least three situations from which a less courageous competitor would have been lucky to escape. His teammates gave him great support both at bat and in the field. Their six run splurge was comparable to any rally ever put on by their opponents. Everyone in the lineup, who swung in that inning, played a small part in the half-dozen runs. Outside of Bagby's pitching, that inning was the story of the game. With the Red Sox trailing 4 to 2, Joe Cronin opened up the inning with a blazing singled to center. Mike Higgins drew a free pass, and Ben Chapman laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance both Cronin and Higgins. Bobby Doerr, who hasn't been hitting throughout the spring, then slammed a drive up against the left-field wall, only to have a go foul by inches at the last second. With two strikes against him, the 20-year-old took a ball and then caught hold of the next pitch and sent it banging up against the left-field wall. The tying runs came across and Doerr pulled up at second base. Ruffing then showed his first signs of weakness by walking Gene Desautels, and this brought up Leo Nonnenkamp to pinch-hit for Bagby. He also waited out Ruffing and got a pass that filled the bases. Doc Cramer, who had already doubled and singled, drove a clean liner between short and third. Doerr and Desautels raced over and the Red Sox were ahead 6 to 4. Joe Vance replace Ruffing, but the Red Sox refused to stop. Joe Vosmik hit a towering fly to left-center, that moved Nonnenkamp over to third. Jimmie Foxx, who brought home the initial Red Sox run in the first inning, drove home Leo with a line drive to deep center field, while Cramer moved over to third. Up for the second time in the inning, Cronin blooped a two base hit down the left-field line and brought home the sixth run of the inning. Higgins popped up to end it. Both teams had to endure an 11 minute delay of the game when the rain started. Archie McKain then took over on the mound for the Red Sox, and held the Yankees to just one hit over the final three innings. The usual opening game, pomp and circumstance was as brief as possible. Governor Hurley threw out the first pitch, caught by Bagby. A corp of United States Marines, aided by 101st infantry band, raised the Stars & Stripes while the players stood at attention on either side of home plate. |
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