The Iron Man Wins Twice in One Afternoon
A workhorse who would not quit, a streak that could not last, the quiet man who dreamed up the Midsummer Classic, and a hitter who simply could not make an out.
Ed. 07.09.26
The Iron Man Wins Twice in One Afternoon (1904)
Joe McGinnity earned his nickname in an iron foundry, but he made it a legend on the mound. On this day the Giants right-hander came out of the bullpen in both games of a doubleheader against St. Louis and won them both, first cleaning up after Christy Mathewson, then after Hooks Wiltse, pushing his record to 22 and 2. That season he went 35 and 8 with a 1.61 ERA. McGinnity once threw more than 100 innings in a single August.
Robin Roberts Finally Comes Out (1953)
Robin Roberts finished everything he started. From August 1952 through early July 1953 he completed 28 straight games, the longest run since 1920. It took the heart of the Brooklyn order to end it. Pee Wee Reese singled, Duke Snider doubled, Jackie Robinson lifted a sacrifice fly, and Gil Hodges tripled him out of the game in the eighth. Reliever Bob Miller finished up and got the win. Roberts just went back out and completed each of his next four starts anyway.
The Man Who Dreamed Up the All-Star Game (1955)
Arch Ward was a Chicago Tribune sports editor, not a ballplayer, but no single person shaped the game's summer more. In 1933 he pitched a one-time exhibition between the best of both leagues to lift a Depression-weary city. It stuck. Ward attended every All-Star Game after that and died at 58 on the very day he was to leave for his 22nd. His funeral fell on the day of the game he built, and they held the first pitch 30 minutes so his friends could get there.
Six Hits, Six Trips (2013)
Alex Rios came to bat in the ninth inning already 5 for 5. Then he beat out a grounder past Prince Fielder for number six, becoming just the 36th player in American League history to collect six hits in a nine-inning game. The White Sox beat Detroit 11 to 4. Five singles and a triple, not a home run in the bunch. Sometimes the loudest day at the plate is all line drives and hustle.
