28,631 Boo Feller Who Lasts Only 5 Innings. To Bob Feller went the boos of 28,631 Griffith Stadium customers. Feller who has encountered the displeasure of the baseball world by his walkout on the All Star game, made his second start in the nightcap. The third largest crowd of the season gave him the works every second. Mickey Vernon, breaking out of his slump, had already cracked out three doubles in the afterpiece and missed by inches being the big hero of the day. Allie Clark making a dramatic leaping catch to prolong the match. In the fourth the Nats came within three feet of scoring when Caden Gillenwater tried to come home on Mark Christman’s single, but Walt Judnich’s perfect throw to Jim Hegan nailed him at the plate. The Nats lone run came in the ninth. With two away, the sensational Mark Christman kept the Nats’ hopes alive by rattling a double, his third hit of the game, off the wall in center. Between games Satchel Paige and Larry Doby were presented radios by Harold Jackson.
Player Profile – Mark Christman
Mark first signed with the Detroit Tigers, despite growing up in St. Louis and being a Cardinals fan. Jim Feeney, a friend of the Tiger’s General Manager, Jack Zeller, signed the young municipal leaguer. Pete Reiser, Terry Moore, Creepy Crespi and Lonnie Frey also came out of the same municipal league. Mark spent four years on the farm before moving up to the majors in 1938. Christman was traded to the Browns in mid-May 1939 in a wholesale exchange involving Bobo Newsom. He was sent to Toledo and began to show in some promise playing every day at third and shortstop. In 1940 he was installed at the second sack. Then switched back to short for Toledo in 1941. In 1942, led American Association shortstops with a fielding average of .972, only 22 errors in 773 chances. In September that year he was the team’s captain and spark plug. That year he suffered a broken finger when he tried to stop a line drive.
He had a big year for the Brownies in 1944. When he came up some in the Browns front office taught he could be a .300 hitter. These hopes didn’t pan out but key hits in critical situations gave Christman the reputation of a clutch hitter. That season the press loved to play up the Brownies 4-F infield but Mark was classified as 1-A. His manager at the time, Luke Sewell, regretted not calling him up sooner. Sewell adds, “If I had put him at third base earlier things might have been different.” Sewell hesitated to bench Harlond Clift. In Mid-August Clift was traded to Washington and Christman got the job at third.
He landed in Washington in April 1947 for a $10,000 waiver price. Griffith was looking for a respectable shortstop. Christman played primarily at short but just could not hit. He finished 26th overall in the American League MVP vote, indicating the value of his glove. He was third on the team in the MVP, finishing behind Stan Spence and Early Wynn.
This season Manager Joe Kuhel has gone with a platoon using both Mark Christman and Johnny Sullivan at short. Mark was one of three candidates in training camp for the shortstop position, and definitely not the favorite. Joe Defani, had the support of the Old Fox. Defani was said to be a good hitter, but a sloppy fielder. Early in the spring Clark Griffith said of Defani: “If he can field, he might be there regularly.” He didn’t. Mark is a highly regarded fielder, he just can’t hit. On a good club he would be a utility infielder.
Christman was born and still resides in Webster Groves, a suburb of St. Louis. Christman attributes his rise to steady employment and to the fact that he became a pull hit to obtain power. In 1944 he went with a 34-ounce Vern Stephens model bat. Unlike other players he prefers a new fielding glove. He is well liked and said to be a good, honest player. He is married with several children. Did you know? Mark’s brother is well known pigskin tosser Paul Christman.
The 1948 Project
The 1948 Project will be a winter long project Karen and Kevin Flynn will be running in conjunction with a bigger project the folks over at DidTheTribeWinLastNight.com are running this winter.
Did The Tribe Win Last Night is a wonderful website that covers everything about the Cleveland Indians baseball club. Starting September 22, 2013 they are going to start winter project where they are retelling of the Cleveland Indians 1948 World Series Season.
