Pennant Hopes Dashed by the Homer in the Gloamin’
The Story of How the 1938 Pittsburgh Pirates Blew the National League Pennant
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About the Book
After many disappointing seasons during the 1930s, the 1938 Pittsburgh Pirates looked like they were finally poised to claim their first National League pennant since 1927. A hot streak during June and July propelled manager Pie Traynor’s squad into first place. Yet after commanding the top spot for more than two months, Pittsburgh could not hold off the charging Chicago Cubs and experienced one of the most monumental collapses in baseball history. This detailed historical account examines the entire 1938 season, while also looking at the players and events that were a major part of this star-crossed season.
About the Author(s)
Bibliographic Details
Ronald T. Waldo
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 272
Bibliographic Info: 20 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2013
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7202-4
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0174-8
Imprint: McFarland
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments vi
Preface 1
1. Murderers’ Row and the Waner Brothers 5
2. Bill Benswanger and Arky Vaughan Arrive on the Scene 25
3. New Blood Offers Hope to Pirates Fans for 1938 Season 40
4. Bad Luck During Spring Training in San Bernardino 53
5. Bucs Bust Out of the Gate Due to Arky Vaughan’s Heroics 69
6. Paul Waner’s Slump and Talk of Rebuilding for Next Year 88
7. Pirates Regroup as Benswanger and Traynor Nix Deal with New York Giants 107
8. Johnny Rizzo Shines as Pirates Climb into First Place 126
9. Pittsburgh Feels the Pressure and Starts to Wilt in the Summer Heat 146
10. Traynor’s Boys Attempt to Hang on While Chicago Surges 166
11. Pittsburgh’s Final Collapse and the Homer in the Gloamin’ 186
12. Disastrous Season and a Second-Division Finish in 1939 207
13. The End of an Era 222
Appendix A: 1938 Pittsburgh Pirates Roster 232
Appendix B: 1938 Statistics 234
Chapter Notes 236
Bibliography 257
Index 259
