It will still take a long time to know the consequences that Covid-19 will have on humanity. At times we try to find a positive view of the pandemic in the face of so much uncertainty, and in particular we have found it in reading, following the advice to those of us who are elderly, to be at home as long as possible. It was then that we once again stumbled upon a story that we wish to share.
In the end, it is nothing more than a sample of how major league baseball has changed. Not that today is better or worse than yesterday. It is simply different. With another vision, another code of values. Especially the show itself, because the game remains the same. In this case, it refers to a meeting held in 1931, which expresses how, then, the vision of the players about their profession, would perhaps leave the fans of the present with their mouths open to say the least.
On August 23, 1931, the Philadelphia Athletics came to St. Louis to play with the Browns, at that time one of the worst team in the American League. With a mark of 49 and 68 they were 35 games away from the first place where the Athletics were precisely, on the way to their third crown in a row.
For Philadelphia, his star pitcher, lefty Grove, would open with an intimate commitment. Grove had 16 consecutive wins, and one more would allow him to break the tie he had with Walter Johnson, Joe Wood, and Shoolboy. So just over 20 thousand fans gathered in the park. Not so much as to see the team, as to witness one of the most notable pitchers, in his attempt to impose a new record of triumphs.
One detail went unnoticed and it was no wonder. Four of the regulars were absent due to discomfort: center fielder Mule Haas, shortstop Joe Boley, third baseman Jimmy Dykes and left fielder Al Simmons. However, how much could the casualties mean if there were the fearsome slugger Jimmie Foxx, bartender Max Bishop, catcher Mickey Cochrane, right fielder Bing Miller, and of course Lefty Grove himself.
After receiving a hit from the first batter of the game, Grove retired eight batters in a row until Fred Schulte singled with two outs in the third inning. Then Ski Melillo flied out to left field. Rookie Jimmy Moore appeared to be in control of the ball but lost it at the last minute and Melillo doubled while Schulté scored and San Luis went 1-0 up.
Grove did not accept any more touchdowns but Dick Coffman left the Athletics unscathed in three. St. Louis won 1-0 and Grove was left with the desire for the absolute record of wins followed by a pitcher in the AL. However, the significance of what happened came later.
Storm in the locker room
In the locker room, in a gesture of bad temper at the setback that did not surprise his teammates, Grove with a bat launched it with everything he found in his path. Especially with the belongings of Al Simmons, for not being in the leftfield to take the balloon of Moore that pushed the victory of San Luis.
Simmons had received permission from manager Connie Mack to go to his house. No one said anything or tried to stop him.
Between 1925 and 1940, also with the Red Sox, he won 300 games, had at least 20 wins eight times, and was first in ERA nine times, more than any other pitcher in the majors.
In seven others, he led the AL in strikeouts and helped the Athletics reach three crowns and two World Series.
A TIP
First Most Valuable
When the MVP of the season was created in 1931, Grove was the first to win it in the American League, after finishing with a 31-4 record, with a 2.06 ERA, 4 shutouts and 27 complete starts that helped the Philadelphia to catch the crown of the circuit.
What would you do today?
Robert Moses Grove, better known as Lefty, was elevated to the Major League Hall of Fame in 1947. He passed away at the age of 75, on May 22, 1975. He only lost 140 games, and today we wonder, if he it would have hurt so much to lose a game like that to San Luis.
