July 7, 1937
President Franklin D. Roosevelt is the first President to attend an All-Star game as he is invited to throw out the first ball at Griffith Stadium in Washington D.C. The President and the rest of the sellout crowd of 31,391 at the 5th Annual All-Star game had to deal with a very hot and muggy afternoon. The game time temperature was reported to be 90 degrees.
The D.C. heat did not seem to bother the Yankees’ first baseman Lou Gehrig who drove in four runs with a home run and a double to lead the American League to an 8-3 victory over the National League.
Dizzy Dean, the star Cardinal pitcher is not only the losing pitcher of the game he also gets his toe fractured when Earl Averill hits a ball that nails Dean in the foot. After that injury Dizzy will end up changing his pitching delivery. The change in his delivery will lead to a very bad arm injury.
The Washington Senators were represented on the American League squad by 2nd Baseman – Buddy Myer, Catcher – Rick Ferrell, and Pitcher – Wes Ferrell. What I find interesting is that the Yankees’ skipper Joe McCarthy who was managing the American League did not allow any of the three Senators to make it into the game. With the American League leading the National League squad 8 to 3 after six innings you would think one of the Senator players could have made an appearance. Click here to view the box score of the 5th Annual All Star Game.
FYI: I hope you enjoy the film clip of FDR throwing out the first pitch.
