Jimmie Wilson
October 8, 1940: Game 7 of the World Series is played at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Paul Derringer of the Cincinnati Reds and Alva "Bobo" Newsom of the Detroit Tigers get into a pitchers' duel, and the Tigers lead 1-0 in the bottom of the 7th.
But leadoff doubles by Frank McCormick and Jimmy Ripple tie the score, followed by a sacrifice bunt and Billy Myers' sacrifice fly, for the run that wins the game and the Series, 2-1 to Cincinnati. The game lasts just 1 hour and 47 minutes.
The Reds' Bill McKechnie becomes the 1st manager to win a World Series with 2 different teams. "The Deacon" also piloted the Pirates to the 1925 World Championship.
With NL batting champion Ernie Lombardi injured down the stretch, and backup catcher Willard Hershberger becoming (as far as can be proven) the only big-leaguer ever to commit suicide during the season -- slashing his throat on in a Boston hotel room during a roadtrip on August 3 -- 40-year-old coach Jimmie Wilson was signed to a playing contract, and was one of the factors in this World Series. So was an injury to Tiger star Hank Greenberg.
The Tigers would win the Series again 5 years later. The Reds would need another 35 years, going 0-for-3 in World Series play, 5-12 in games, before triumphing in 1975.
With NL batting champion Ernie Lombardi injured down the stretch, and backup catcher Willard Hershberger becoming (as far as can be proven) the only big-leaguer ever to commit suicide during the season -- slashing his throat on in a Boston hotel room during a roadtrip on August 3 -- 40-year-old coach Jimmie Wilson was signed to a playing contract, and was one of the factors in this World Series. So was an injury to Tiger star Hank Greenberg.
The Tigers would win the Series again 5 years later. The Reds would need another 35 years, going 0-for-3 in World Series play, 5-12 in games, before triumphing in 1975.
UPDATE: The Reds have a team Hall of Fame. Elected from this 1940 team have been 1st baseman Frank McCormick, 2nd baseman Lonny Frey, shortstop Billy Myers, 3rd baseman Billy Werber, left fielder Mike McCormick, center fielder Harry Craft, right fielder Ival Goodman, catcher Ernie Lombardi; pitchers Bucky Walters, Paul Derringer and Johnny Vander Meer; manager Bill McKechnie, and general manager Warren Giles. But team owner and ballpark namesake Powel Crosley has not been inducted.
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October 8, 1940 was a Tuesday. Football was in midweek. The NBA hadn't been founded yet. And the NHL season started over a month later. So there were no other scores on this historic day.
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