Joe DiMaggio
The first-place Indians were on an envied perch, first place. The brilliant Sunday sun shone brightly after rain washed out a scheduled Saturday contest. Another doubleheader and the Yankees would start two eventual Hall of Fame pitchers—Lefty Gomez and Red Ruffing.
On May 29, Bob Feller had blanked Detroit, 9–0, so New York wouldn’t see Bullet Bob until Monday. Today the Yankees would face Mel Harder and Al Milner. Good pitchers.
More than 52,000 were on hand. With second-place Chicago 1.5 games back and the Bronx bad boys just four back, Cleveland was feeling the heat.
Thanks to the rainout, New York got a little rest on Saturday. It was important for Joe DiMaggio because he hadn’t been feeling very good. He was not only battling a sore throat, but he also was having discomfort in his neck and shoulder.
It wasn’t anything he couldn’t play through, but those four errors in the Boston doubleheader on Memorial Day were a topic of discussion in New York and Cleveland papers. DiMaggio wouldn’t use his physical condition as an excuse. He just remained quiet and worked harder to get through times like these.
In the first game, Ruffing was his usual effective self. No walks. One strikeout. He scattered eight hits—all singles—and dispatched the Indians, 2-0, in less than two hours.
DiMaggio singled and scored on a Buddy Rosar double in the third inning.
In the second game, Gomez and Harder battled 1-1 through seven innings until the Yanks rolled Harder for four runs in the eighth.
DiMaggio had singled earlier, but didn’t figure in the big inning. The Clipper’s string now stood at 18 straight games.
Leading 5-1 into the ninth, Gomez tired and manager Joe McCarthy called struggling Marv Breuer out of the ‘pen. The right-hander Breuer’s earned run average was approaching eight, but McCarthy guessed right—like he usually did.
After Gomez had allowed two runs, making it 5-3, Breuer got Gee Walker to pop out and (after walking Hal Trosky) induced Ray Mack to roll into a game-ending double play.
Just two back, the Yankees retired to their hotel. Everyone was in a good mood. Tired but seriously focused. Tomorrow New York would face Bob Feller. Most of the lineup would rather be at the dentist’s office.
League park was not the scene of these games. It held just 21,000. Municipal stadium was the weekend indians home with a capacity of 73,500
Thanks, Bob… You are correct. Subsequent games that week were at League Park.