Appendix 5: Analysis of newspaper box scores for the second game of the double header between the Tigers and Athletics on June 20, 1937
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This article was published in Spring 2012 Baseball Research Journal
Appendix 5 in Herm Krabbenhoft’s research on Hank Greenberg.
Editor’s note: This is a supplement to Herm Krabbenhoft’s article, “Hank Greenberg’s American League RBI Record”, in the Spring 2012 edition of the “Baseball Research Journal”.
Appendix 5: Analysis of newspaper box scores for the second game of the double header between the Tigers and Athletics on June 20, 1937.
Presented here is the pertinent information from each of the box scores presented in the newspapers listed in Chart 2.
Once the various newspapers received the statistical information, the typesetting department proceeded to transform the information to its final form – the box scores.
It should be appreciated that each newspaper can choose to present the statistical information in its own preferred box score format. So, while the formats of box score presentations of the statistical information can be different for the various newspapers, the actual corresponding numbers should be exactly the same – i.e., identical to the numbers determined by the official scorer.
Here we look at the distinguishing aspects of the box scores in the various newspapers.
The classic baseball box score consists of three parts – (1) The upper/top portion which presents in a tabular format the names of the players, usually listed in the order in which they batted (or would have batted if they did not bat), and some statistical information, generally at bats, runs, hits, fielding putouts, and fielding assists. (2) The middle section which presents the line score of the game. (3) The lower/bottom portion which presents in text format all of the other statistical information (such as runs batted in, home runs, stolen bases, double plays, bases on balls, wild pitches, etc.).
To start our detailed analysis of the newspaper box scores for the second game of the double header on June 20, 1937, we’re going to focus first on the bottom portions of the box scores. We’ll dissect the upper portions later.
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The Detroit News (DN) – the upper portion has columns for AB, H, O, and A; the bottom portion presents:
Runs – Fox, Rogell, Clifton, Gehringer, Greenberg 2, York, Bridges – 8; Finney – 1.
Runs batted in – Moses, Walker, Rogell, Gehringer, Laabs, Greenberg, York.
Errors – Dean, Newsome 2.
Two-base hits – Gehringer, Moses, Bridges.
Three-base hits – Moses, Laabs.
Home run – York.
Stolen base – Greenberg.
Double play – Rogell, Gehringer and Greenberg.
Left on bases – Detroit 13, Philadelphia 5.
Bases on balls – Off Kelly, 5; off Smith, 3; off Bridges, 1.
Struck out – By Bridges, 3; by Kelley, 4; by Smith, 5.
Hits – Off Kelley, 9 in 6 innings; off Smith, 1 in 3.
Wild pitches – Kelley 2.
Losing pitcher – Kelley.
Umpires – Ormsby, Johnston and Owens.
Time – 2:07.
As can be seen, “Runs” is the first category; the players who scored the runs are listed in the order in which they batted. “Runs batted in” is the next category of statistical information presented in the bottom portion of the box score. The players who batted in the runs are listed in the order in which they batted in their first run – with the curious exception of Greenberg, who is listed after Laabs; further discussion of this aspect is provided in Appendix 2.
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The Detroit Free Press (DFP) – the upper portion has columns for AB, R, H, TB, PO, A, and E; the bottom portion presents:
Runs batted in – Moses, Walker, Rogell, Gehringer, Laabs, Greenberg, York.
Two base hits – Gehringer, Moses, Bridges.
Three base hits – Moses, Laabs.
Home run – York.
Stolen base – Greenberg.
Double play – Rogell, Gehringer to Greenberg.
Left on bases – Detroit 13; Philadelphia 5.
Bases on balls – Off Kelley 5, Smith 3, Bridges 1.
Strikeouts – By Bridges 3, Kelley 4, Smith 5.
Hits – Off Kelly 9 in 6 innings; Smith 1 in 3.
Wild pitches – Kelley 2.
Losing pitcher – Kelley.
Umpires – Ormsby, Johnston and Owens.
Time – 2:07.
Comparing the box scores in the DN and the DFP reveals that, aside from the significant difference in the columns in the upper portions, there are only subtle differences in the lower portions – e.g., for bases on balls, the DN precedes each pitcher with “off” and separates the pitchers with semicolons; the DFP precedes only the first pitcher with “Off” and separates the pitchers with commas. The corresponding numbers are identical for the two box scores.
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The Detroit Times (DT) – the upper portion has columns for AB, R, H, PO, A, and E; the bottom portion presents:
Runs batted in – Moses, Walker, Rogell, Gehringer, Laabs, Greenberg, York.
Two base hits – Gehringer, Moses, Bridges.
Three base hits – Moses, Laabs.
Home run – York.
Stolen base – Greenberg.
Double play – Rogell to Gehringer to Greenberg.
Left on bases – Detroit 13, Philadelphia 5.
Bases on balls – Off Kelley 5, off Smith 3, off Bridges 1.
Struck out – By Bridges 3, by Kelley 4, by Smith 5.
Hits – Off Kelley 9 in 6 innings, off Smith 1 in 3 innings.
Wild pitches – Kelley 2.
Comparing the box score in the DT with those in the DN and the DFP shows that there are again subtle differences – e.g., for double plays there are three different presentations: the DT has “Rogell to Gehringer to Greenberg.” The DN has “Rogell, Gehringer, and Greenberg.” The DFP has “Rogell, Gehringer to Greenberg.” It is also seen that the DT box score did not list the umpires or give the time of the game; the DT box score for the first game of the double header did list the umpires and the time of the game. Again, it is noted that all of the corresponding numerical values are identical for the three box scores.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer (PINQ) – the upper portion has columns for AB, R, H, O, A, and E; the bottom portion presents:
Runs batted in – Moses 1, Walker 1, Rogell 1, Gehringer 1, Greenberg 1, Laabs 1, York 1.
Two-base hits – Gehringer, Moses, Bridges.
Three-base hits – Moses, Laabs.
Home run – York.
Stolen base – Greenberg.
Double play – Rogell, Gehringer to Greenberg.
Left on bases – Athletics, 5; Detroit, 13.
Bases on balls – Off Kelley, 5; off Smith, 3; off Bridges, 2.
Struck out – By Kelley, 4; Smith, 5; Bridges, 3.
Hits – Off Kelley, 9 in 6 innings; off Smith, 1 in 3.
Wild pitches – Kelley 2.
Losing pitcher – Kelley.
Umpires – Ormsby, Johnston and Owens.
Time – 2:07.
Comparing the box score in the PINQ with those in the DN, the DFP, and the DT shows that there are some more substantial differences. For example, for runs batted in, the numbers are explicitly included for each player (“1” in each instance) rather than simply stating the player’s name and implying that each player had 1 RBI. Also, for runs batted in, the order of the players is different – i.e., for the DN, the DFP, and the DT, the order is “… Laabs, Greenberg …” while for the PINQ the order is “… Greenberg 1, Laabs 1 …” Similarly, the order of the pitchers for the “struck out” category is different: the order for the DN, the DFP, and the DT is Bridges-Kelley-Smith; the order for the PINQ is Kelley-Smith-Bridges. Another difference in order is with the “left on bases” statistic – the PINQ has “Athletics, 5; Detroit 13.” Each of the box scores in the DN, the DFP, and the DT has Detroit 13, Philadelphia 5. The most significant difference, however, between the PINQ box score and the box scores in the DN, the DFP, and the DT is the number of bases on balls shown for Bridges – the box score in the PINQ shows Bridges with 2 walks; each of the box scores in the DN, the DFP, and the DT shows Bridges with 1 walk. The official DBD record for Bridges also shows that he issued 1 free pass. Similarly, the official DBD record for the Tigers team shows that they gave up just 1 walk. Likewise, the official DBD records for the Philadelphia team shows that it received 1 walk. Moreover, the official DBD records for the players who participated in the game for the Athletics show that only one player received a base on balls – Rusty Peters, who received 1 walk. And, none of the text accounts in the newspapers mentioned anything about the walk(s) issued by Bridges or received by the Athletics players.
This difference in walks leads to the question, “Which box score is correct?”
Rule 10.03 (c) in Baseball’s Official Rules for Playing and Scoring is titled “How to Prove a Box Score” and states the following:
“A box score is in balance (or proved) when the total of the team’s times at bat, bases on balls received, hit batters, sacrifice bunts, sacrifice flies and batters awarded first base because of interference or obstruction, equals the total of that team’s runs, players left on base and the opposing team’s putouts.”
So, which box score is in balance?
The box scores presented in the DN, the DFP, and the DT give the following:
- Athletics: AB (32) + W (1) = 33; R (1) + LOB (5) + Tigers PO (27) = 33
Thus, the box scores in the DN, the DFP, and the DT are in balance (i.e., proved).
The box score presented in the PINQ gives the following:
- Athletics: AB (32) + W (2) = 34; R (1) + LOB (5) + Tigers PO (27) = 33
Thus, the box score in the PINQ is not in balance (i.e., not proved).
So, it seems clear that in the typesetting phase of the publishing of the PINQ a clerical error was made for the bases on balls off Bridges – a number “2” slug was inadvertently used instead of the correct number “1” slug.
All of the other batting statistics in the PINQ box score agree with the corresponding values in the DN, DFP, and DT box scores. However, as discussed below, there are four differences in the fielding statistics (i.e., in the upper portions of the box scores).
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The Philadelphia Record (PREC) – the upper portion has columns for ab, r, h, o, and a; the lower portion presents:
Errors: Dean, 1; Newsome, 2.
Runs batted in: Moses, Walker, Rogell, Gehringer, Laabs, Greenberg, York.
Two-base hits: Gehringer, Moses, Bridges.
Three-base hits: Moses, Laabs.
Home run: York.
Stolen base: Greenberg.
Double play: Rogell to Gehringer to Greenberg.
Left on bases: Detroit, 13; Athletics, 5.
Bases on balls: Off Kelley, 5; Smith, 3; Bridges, 1.
Struck out: By Bridges, 3; Kelley, 4; Smith, 5.
Hits: Off Kelley, 9 in 6 innings; Smith, 1 in 3.
Wild pitches: Kelley, 2.
Losing pitcher: Kelley.
Umpires: Ormsby, Johnston and Owens. Time of game: 2:07.
Other than analogous subtle differences, the PREC box score is similar to the box scores in the DN, DFP, DT, and PINQ. “Errors” are presented as the first statistical category in the bottom portion. Significantly, Bridges is shown with issuing 1 base on balls.
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The Sporting News (TSN) – the upper half has columns for AB, R, H, O, and A; the lower half presents:
Errors – Dean, Newsome 2.
Runs batted in – Moses, Walker, Rogell, Gehringer, Laabs, Greenberg, York.
Two-base hits – Gehringer, Moses, Bridges.
Three-base hits – Moses, Laabs.
Home run – York.
Stolen base – Greenberg.
Double play – Rogell, Gehringer and Greenberg.
Bases on balls – Off Kelley 5, Smith 3, Bridges 1.
Struck out – By Bridges 3, Kelley 4, Smith 5.
Hits – Off Kelley 9 in 6 innings.
Wild pitches – Kelly 2.
Losing pitcher – Kelley.
Umpires – Ormsby, Johnston and Owens.
Other than TSN’s standard practice of not including the “Left on bases” category and the time of the game, the TSN box score was similar to all of the other box scores; Bridges is shown with 1 walk.
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The Boston Globe (BG) – the upper portion has columns for ab, bh, po, and a; the bottom portion presents:
Runs, Fox, Rogell, Clifton, Gehringer, Greenberg 2, York, Bridges, Finney.
Errors, Dean, Newsome 2.
Runs batted in, Moses, Walker, Rogell, Gehringer, Laabs, Greenberg, York.
Two-base hits, Gehringer, Moses, Bridges.
Three-base hits, Moses, Laabs.
Home run, York.
Stolen base, Greenberg.
Double play, Rogell, Gehringer and Greenberg.
Left on base, Detroit 13, Philadelphia 5.
Base on balls, by Kelley 5, by Smith 3, by Bridges.
Struck out, by Bridges 3, by Kelley 4, by Smith 5.
Hits, off Kelley, 9 in 6 innings; off Smith, 1 in 3 innings.
Wild pitches, Kelley 2.
Losing pitcher, Kelley.
Time, 2h 7m.
Umpires, Ormsby, Johnston and Owens.
Attendance, 16,000.
The BG box score is again similar to – yet distinctly different from – all of the other newspaper box scores. The BG box score included the attendance for the game (16,000). None of the other newspaper box scores included attendance (although the PREC box score did include attendance for the first game of the double header – 17,000). The BG box score for the first game also showed the attendance at 17,000. The BG box score showed Bridges with 1 (implied) walk – i.e., Bridges was listed with the pitchers who gave up walks, but the number of walks (1) he issued was not stated, either because “1” was understood or because it was inadvertently omitted.
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The Chicago Tribune (CHTRB) – the upper portion has columns for Ab, R, H, P, A; the bottom portion presents:
Errors – Dean, Newsome [2].
Runs batted in – Moses, Walker, Rogell, Gehringer, Laabs, Greenberg, York.
Two base hits – Gehringer, Moses, Bridges.
Three base hits – Moses, Laabs.
Home run – York.
Stolen base – Greenberg.
Double play – Rogell to Gehringer to Greenberg.
Left on bases – Detroit, 13; Philadelphia, 5.
Bases on balls – Kelley, 5; Smith, 3; Bridges, 1.
Struck out – Bridges, 3; Kelley, 4; Smith, 5.
Hits – Kelly, 9 in 6 innings; Smith, 1 in 3.
Wild pitch – Kelley, 2.
Losing pitcher – Kelley.
Umpires – Ormsby, Johnston, and Owens.
Time – 2:07.
Attendance – 16,000.
The CHTRB box score is likewise similar to all – but not identical to any – of the other newspaper box scores. The CHTRB box score has Newsome’s two errors presented with the 2 enclosed in brackets, i.e., [2]. The CHTRB box score also included the attendance for the game (although, curiously, attendance was not included in the box score for the first game of the double header). Again, Bridges was shown having walked 1 batter.
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The Cleveland Plain Dealer (CLPD) – the upper portion has columns for A, H, O and A; the lower section presents:
Runs – Fox, Rogell, Clifton, Gehringer, Greenberg 2, York, Bridges, Finney. Errors – Dean, Newsome 2.
Runs batted in – Moses, Walker, Rogell, Gehringer, Laabs, Greenberg, York.
Two-base hits – Gehringer, Moses, Bridges.
Three-base hits – Moses, Laabs.
Home run – York.
Stolen base – Greenberg.
Double play – Rogell, Gehringer and Greenberg.
Left on bases – Detroit 13, Philadelphia 5.
Bases on balls – Off Kelley 5, off Smith 3, off Bridges 1.
Struck out – By Bridges 3, by Kelley 4, by Smith 5.
Hits – Off Kelly, 9 in 6 innings, off Smith, 1 in 3 innings.
Wild pitches – Kelley 2.
Losing pitcher – Kelley.
Umpires – Ormsby, Johnston and Owens.
Time – 2:07.
The CLPD box score is very similar to all of the other newspaper box scores – yet unique. For example, “Errors” are presented in the same paragraph as “Runs.” Again, all of the corresponding numbers are the same; and Bridges is shown with 1 walk.
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The New York Times (NYT) – the top half has columns for ab, r, h, po, a, and e; the bottom half presents:
Runs batted in – Moses, Walker, Rogell, Gehringer, Laabs, Greenberg, York.
Two-base hits – Moses, Gehringer, Bridges.
Three-base hits – Moses, Laabs.
Home run – York.
Stolen base – Greenberg.
Double play – Rogell, Gehringer and Greenberg.
Left on bases – Detroit 13, Philadelphia 5.
Bases on balls – Off Kelley 5, Smith 3, Bridges 1.
Struck out – By Bridges 3, Kelley 4, Smith 5.
Hits – Off Kelley 9 in 6 innings, Smith 1 in 3.
Wild pitches – Kelley 2.
Losing pitcher – Kelley.
Umpires – Ormsby, Johnston and Owens.
Time of game – 2:07.
The NYT box score is similar to each of the other newspaper box scores but not exactly the same as any of them. Again, Bridges was shown with 1 walk.
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The St. Louis Globe-Democrat (SLGD) – the upper portion has columns for AB, H, O, and A; the lower part presents:
Runs – Fox, Rogell, Clifton, Gehringer, Greenberg (2), York, Bridges, Finney.
Errors – Dean, Newsome (2).
Runs batted in – Moses, Walker, Rogell, Gehringer, Laabs, Greenberg, York.
Two-base hits – Gehringer, Moses, Bridges.
Three-base hit – Laabs.
Home run – York.
Stolen base – Greenberg.
Double play – Rogell to Gehringer to Greenberg.
Left on bases – Detroit, 13; Philadelphia, 5.
Bases on balls – Off Kelley, 5; off Smith, 3; off Bridges, 1.
Struck out – By Bridges, 3; by Kelley, 4; by Smith, 5.
Hits – Off Kelley, 9 in 6 innings; off Smith, 1 in 3.
Wild pitches – Kelley (2).
Losing pitcher – Kelley.
Umpires – Ormsby, Johnston and Owens.
Time of game – 2:00:07:00.
The SLGD box score, though nearly identical to the other box scores, has these unique features: Greenberg’s 2 runs, Newsome’s 2 errors, and Kelley’s 2 wild pitches are each presented enclosed in parentheses, i.e., (2); for the time of game, seconds are included. Again, Bridges was shown with 1 walk.
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The Washington Post (WPST) – the upper part has columns for AB, H, O, and A; the lower part presents:
Runs – Fox, Rogell, Clifton, Gehringer, Greenberg (2), York, Bridges, Finney.
Errors – Dean, Newsome (2).
Runs batted in – Moses, Walker, Rogell, Gehringer, Laabs, Greenberg, York.
Two-base hits – Gehringer, Moses, Bridges.
Three-base hits – Moses, Laabs.
Home run – York.
Stolen base – Greenberg.
Double play – Rogell to Gehringer to Greenberg.
Left on bases – Detroit, 13; Philadelphia, 5.
First base on balls – Off Kelley, 5; off Smith, 3; off Bridges, 1.
Struck out – By Bridges, 3; by Kelley, 4; by Smith, 5.
Hits – Off Kelley, 9 in 6 innings; off Smith, 1 in 3 innings.
Wild pitches – Kelley, 2.
Losing pitcher – Kelley.
Umpires – Ormsby, Johnston and Owens.
Time of game – Two hours 7 minutes.
Again, the WPST box score is unique in its format for presentation of the statistical information – for example, while Greenberg’s 2 runs and Newsome’s 2 errors are enclosed with parentheses, Kelley’s 2 wild pitches are not. Again, Bridges was shown with 1 walk.
In summary, then, the lower portion of each of the newspaper box scores is unique in its format for presenting the statistical information. With the solitary exception of the PINQ box score incorrectly showing Bridges with 2 walks (instead of the correct 1 walk), every corresponding statistic is identical for each of the various box scores. That is significant.
What this means is that while each newspaper’s typesetting department arranged the statistical information according to their own individual preferences, all of the corresponding batting numbers matched exactly (except the erroneous number of walks off Bridges in the PINQ). That strongly suggests that the incoming statistical information for each newspaper was identical.
Finally, I use the newspaper box score information to generate the same line of statistics for each player as given in the official DBD records for each Tigers player. Each newspaper box score from Chart 2 is used to achieve this.
Each newspaper box score provides all of the information needed to generate the official DBD lines – except the number of walks received by each player and the number of times each batter struck out. Fortunately, we can unequivocally deduce the number of walks received by each player from the other information provided in the box scores. The number of times each batter struck out is not determinable from the newspaper box scores.
From the box scores, we know for certain that the Tigers received a total of 8 walks in the game – 5 were issued by the starting pitcher, Kelley; 3 were issued by the relief pitcher, Smith. The DFP newspaper account states that Greenberg walked in the fifth inning. Both the DFP and DN accounts mention that Pete Fox walked in the sixth inning. These 2 walks were the only ones described in the various newspaper articles. So, 6 walks need to be assigned to specific players. Fortunately, the recipients of those 6 walks can be easily ascertained from the at bats shown for each player. Since Gehringer (the number 3-hole batter) had 6 at bats (i.e., the most at bats by any Tigers player), all of the players batting below him in the lineup must have had at least 5 plate appearances (i.e., at bats plus walks); and, the players batting ahead of Gehringer must have had at least 6 plate appearances. It is noted that there were no Tigers players with sacrifice hits and no Tigers players hit by pitches.
So, since Fox (the leadoff batter) had 4 at bats, he must have walked 2 times to have 6 plate appearances. One of Fox’s walks came in the sixth inning, according to the game accounts in the DN and the DFP.
And, since Rogell and Clifton (the number-2 batters) had 3 at bats (3 at bats for Rogell and 0 at bats for Clifton), they must have walked a total of 3 times between them to have a combined total of 6 plate appearances. From the game accounts we know that Clifton took over as a pinch runner for Rogell in the top of the 6th inning. We also know that relief pitcher Smith pitched the final 3 innings, giving up 1 hit and 3 walks; the hit that he gave up was the solo home run hit by York in the 8th inning. We also know that Gehringer was the last batter of the game and that the first batter that Smith faced was Bridges (the number-9 slot batter). Therefore, Smith faced Clifton twice. And, since Clifton had 0 at bats, he must have walked 2 times in his 2 plate appearances. Therefore, Rogell walked 1 time.
Since Greenberg (the clean-up batter) had 3 at bats, he must have walked 2 times to have 5 plate appearances. One of Greenberg’s walks came in the fifth inning, according to the game account in the DFP.
Since Walker (the number-5 batter) had 4 at bats, he must have walked 1 time to have 5 plate appearances.
And, each of the number 6, 7, 8, and 9 batters (York, Laabs, Tebbetts, and Bridges, respectively) had 5 at bats (and, therefore, no walks).
So, we have accounted for all 8 of the walks issued by Philadelphia’s pitchers – Fox received 2; Rogell, 1; Clifton, 2; Greenberg, 2; and Walker, 1. And, as shown below, there is 100% agreement between the official DBD records and these box score-based deductions for the recipients of the walks.
With accurate walks-received information in place, we’re now ready to assemble the statistical lines for each Tigers player from each newspaper box score. The statistical lines for each player are shown in a chart for each player; the order of the player charts are presented according to the player’s position in the batting order – Fox, Rogell, Clifton, Gehringer, Greenberg, Walker, York, Laabs, Tebbetts, Bridges. A statistical line chart for the Tigers team is presented after the chart for Bridges. The order of the columns is exactly the same as the order in the official DBD ledger utilized by the Howe News Bureau, the official statisticians for the American League. For comparison, the statistical line from the official DBD record is shown in the bottom row of each player’s chart. It is emphatically pointed out that the official DBD records did not record a “zero” (0) entry for any statistic – the cell was simply left blank. The same “no entry implies zero” modus operandi is utilized in these charts for the second game of the Tigers-Athletics double header on June 20, 1937.
Fox:
| Box | AB | R | H | TB | D | T | HR | SH | SB | W | HBP | RBI | CS | SO | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DN | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| DFP | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| DT | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| PINQ | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| PREC | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| TSN | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| BG | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| CHTRB | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| CLPD | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| NYT | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| SLGD | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| WPST | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| OFF-DBD | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Rogell:
| Box | AB | R | H | TB | D | T | HR | SH | SB | W | HBP | RBI | CS | SO | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DN | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||
| DFP | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||
| DT | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| PINQ | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| PREC | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||
| TSN | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||
| BG | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||
| CHTRB | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||
| CLPD | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||
| NYT | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| SLGD | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||
| WPST | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||
| OFF-DBD | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Clifton:
| Box | AB | R | H | TB | D | T | HR | SH | SB | W | HBP | RBI | CS | SO | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DN | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| DFP | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||
| DT | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||
| PINQ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||
| PREC | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| TSN | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| BG | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| CHTRB | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| CLPD | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||
| NYT | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||
| SLGD | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| WPST | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| OFF-DBD | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Gehringer:
| Box | AB | R | H | TB | D | T | HR | SH | SB | W | HBP | RBI | CS | SO | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DN | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||
| DFP | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||
| DT | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| PINQ | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | *3* | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| PREC | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||
| TSN | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||
| BG | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||
| CHTRB | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||
| CLPD | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| NYT | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| SLGD | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||
| WPST | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | ||||||||||
| OFF-DBD | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
Greenberg:
| Box | AB | R | H | TB | D | T | HR | SH | SB | W | HBP | RBI | CS | SO | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DN | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| DFP | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
| DT | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||
| PINQ | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||
| PREC | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| TSN | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| BG | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| CHTRB | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| CLPD | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||
| NYT | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||
| SLGD | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| WPST | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||
| OFF-DBD | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | ** | 1 | 11 | 1 |
Walker:
| Box | AB | R | H | TB | D | T | HR | SH | SB | W | HBP | RBI | CS | SO | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DN | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| DFP | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| DT | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| PINQ | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | *4* | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| PREC | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | |||||||||||
| TSN | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | |||||||||||
| BG | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| CHTRB | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | |||||||||||
| CLPD | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| NYT | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| SLGD | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| WPST | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| OFF-DBD | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | *4* |
York:
| Box | AB | R | H | TB | D | T | HR | SH | SB | W | HBP | RBI | CS | SO | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DN | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| DFP | 5 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||
| DT | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||
| PINQ | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||
| PREC | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| TSN | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| BG | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| CHTRB | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| CLPD | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||
| NYT | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||
| SLGD | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| WPST | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| OFF-DBD | 5 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | *3* | 1 | 1 |
Laabs:
| Box | AB | R | H | TB | D | T | HR | SH | SB | W | HBP | RBI | CS | SO | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DN | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| DFP | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| DT | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| PINQ | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | *2* | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| PREC | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||
| TSN | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||
| BG | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| CHTRB | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||
| CLPD | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| NYT | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| SLGD | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| WPST | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| OFF-DBD | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | *2* |
Tebbetts:
| Box | AB | R | H | TB | D | T | HR | SH | SB | W | HBP | RBI | CS | SO | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DN | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| DFP | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||
| DT | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| PINQ | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| PREC | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| TSN | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| BG | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| CHTRB | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |||||||||||||
| CLPD | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| NYT | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| SLGD | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| WPST | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| OFF-DBD | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Bridges:
| Box | AB | R | H | TB | D | T | HR | SH | SB | W | HBP | RBI | CS | SO | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DN | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| DFP | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||
| DT | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||||
| PINQ | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||||
| PREC | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| TSN | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| BG | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| CHTRB | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| CLPD | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||||
| NYT | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||||
| SLGD | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| WPST | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| OFF-DBD | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
Tigers team:
| Box | AB | R | H | TB | D | T | HR | SH | SB | W | HBP | CS | SO | LOB | DP | PO | A | E | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DN | 40 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 27 | 11 | 6 | ||||||
| DFP | 40 | 8 | 10 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 27 | 11 | 0 | 6 | ||||
| DT | 40 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 27 | 11 | 0 | 6 | |||||
| PINQ | 40 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 27 | *10* | 0 | 6 | |||||
| PREC | 40 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 27 | 11 | 6 | ||||||
| TSN | 40 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 27 | 11 | 6 | ||||||
| BG | 40 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 27 | 11 | 6 | ||||||
| CHTRB | 40 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 27 | 11 | 6 | ||||||
| CLPD | 40 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 27 | 11 | 0 | 6 | |||||
| NYT | 40 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 27 | 11 | 0 | 6 | |||||
| SLGD | 40 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 27 | 11 | 6 | ||||||
| WPST | 40 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 27 | 11 | 6 | ||||||
| OFF-DBD | 40 | 8 | 10 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 27 | 11 | *7* |
Examination of all of the charts of player-statistics for the Detroit Tigers players reveals that, besides the three already-reviewed RBI differences between the newspaper box scores and the official DBD records, there are four other differences in the statistical information in the newspaper box scores and the official DBD records:
-
For Gehringer, the PINQ box score shows him with 3 fielding assists while the official DBD record shows Gehringer with 4 assists. Interestingly, all of the other newspaper box scores – i.e., those from the Associated Press – show Gehringer with 4 fielding assists.
-
For Walker, the PINQ box score shows him with 4 putouts – i.e., the same as that shown in the official DBD records. Interestingly, all of the other newspaper box scores – i.e., those from the Associated Press – show Walker with 5 fielding putouts.
-
For Laabs, the PINQ box score shows him with 2 putouts – i.e., the same as that shown in the official DBD records. Interestingly, all of the other newspaper box scores – i.e., those from the Associated Press – show Laabs with 1 fielding putout.
-
For the Detroit Tigers team, the PINQ box score shows that it had 10 fielding assists while the official DBD record shows the Tigers team with 11 assists. Interestingly, all of the other newspaper box scores – i.e., those from the Associated Press – show the Tigers team with 11 fielding assists.
There are two most-striking aspects about these four differences in the fielding statistics between the official DBD records and the newspaper box scores:
(1) The box score in the PINQ – but not those is the other newspapers – is in complete agreement with the official DBD records for the putouts by Walker (4) and Laabs (2).
(2) The box scores in all of the newspapers – except the PINQ – are in complete agreement with the official DBD records for the assists by Gehringer (4) and by the Tigers team (11).
These two points bolster my contention that there were two independent writers/reports providing statistical information to the newspapers for their box scores – (a) the writer/reporter for the PINQ and (b) the writer/reporter for the AP (i.e., all of the other newspapers).
Because none of the articles in the various newspapers provide sufficient information to construct a batter-by-batter play-by-play account of the second game of the double header on June 20, 1937, between the Tigers and the Athletics, until a completed scored scorecard from that game surfaces (i.e., from an attic or a scrapbook, etc.), it is not possible to try to pinpoint the specific details of the discrepancies in the fielding stats between the PINQ box score and the AP box score (i.e., the box scores in all of the other newspapers).
What is most intriguing about the fielding discrepancies for Gehringer, Walker, Laabs, and the Tigers team between the PINQ box score and the AP box score is that the official DBD records have the same corresponding putouts for Walker and Laabs as the PINQ box score and the same corresponding assists for Gehringer and the Tigers team as the AP box score.
How could that have happened? What does it mean? Regrettably, I don’t have an answer that is satisfactory to me at this point. Nonetheless, the following two points are on terra firma:
- We determined that two baseball writers/reporters provided the statistical information to the newspapers for the box scores that were published – the baseball writer/reporter from the Associated Press (who provided the statistical information to virtually all of the nation’s newspapers, including The Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Times, and the Philadelphia Record) and the baseball writer/reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer, James C. Isaminger.
- And, even though there were some differences in the statistical information (assists for Gehringer and the Tigers and putouts for Walker and Laabs) between the PINQ and AP box scores, the RBI information for all of the players – including York and Greenberg – was exactly the same and in complete accord with the text accounts provided in the newspaper articles.