Babe Ruth
It was back to work for most Cleveland residents. The crowd of 52,240 of the day before shrank to less than 6,000 for the Monday game.
Despite Bob Feller on the mound, that twin bill setback might have hung heavy over the heads of the local fans.
Regardless, those in attendance would see a dandy. Sure, Feller won. He ran his record to 10-2 and pitched a complete game.
But the Yankees, nonetheless, took with them a feeling of accomplishment.
Seven hits—including two Tommy Heinrich homers—and four walks were worked by the Yanks in the 7-5 loss. Rapid Robert fanned “only” six. Joe DiMaggio doubled and singled in four trips, scoring twice.
Looking back at the 1941 season, Frankie Crosetti remembered Cleveland’s old League Park fondly:
“It was one of the places where Joe, and even me, seemed to hit well. Part of that place, I think, is still there. It was one of those great neighborhood parks—like Wrigley and Fenway.”
Crosetti, who talked about the park more than 20 years ago, was correct. In fact, the League Park Society today works to bring the old field back to life.
In 1891, when the Cleveland club was the Spiders of the National League, Cy Young threw the first pitch at the new facility at 66th Street and Lexington Avenue.
Tris Speaker, Babe Ruth, Feller and DiMaggio were some of the Hall of Famers with a stake in the park’s history.
League Park was home to the Indians through 1946, but the old ball field was never demolished—not completely.
In February of this year, Cleveland city officials approved a plan to restore what stands of the 120-year-old ballpark (a section of the brick facade along the first-base side and the old ticket office behind what was the right field corner).
A Cleveland spokesperson says League Park renovation will be finished next year.
Still used as a playground and recreational ball diamond, League Park promises to bring back hallowed visions of days gone by.
Games in which Babe Ruth hit his 500th home run or the shadow of Tribe third baseman Ken Keltner making two outstanding plays on July 17, 1941, ending a young Italian legend’s hitting streak at 56.
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