Minneapolis Millers Game by Game Results: 1941-1950

Minneapolis Millers - Compiled by Stew Thornley

1947 - American Association, 77-77-3, 4th place - Standings, statistics, and notes follow game-by-game results

Manager: Tom Sheehan

*Scheduled for seven innings

Date

Opponent

Outcome

Record

Notes

W 4/16

at Milwaukee Brewers, snow

Th 4/17

at Milwaukee

W 11-8

1-0

Winning pitcher-Steve Gerkin in relief of Rube Fischer. Wes Westrum homers.

F 4/18

at Milwaukee, cold

Sa 4/19

at Kansas City Blues, rain

Su 4/20-1

at Kansas City, rain

*Su 4/20-2

at Kansas City, rain

Tu 4/22

at Kansas City, rain

W 4/23

at Kansas City, rain

Th 4/24

Milwaukee

W 4-0

2-0

1-hitter by Marv Grissom. Mayor Hubert Humphrey throws out the first pitch before a crowd of 6,755 for the home opener. The only hit off Grissom was an infield dribbler by Al Roberge with 1 out in the 8th inning. Bob Beebe in the Minneapolis Tribune called it, "As fluky a base hit as Nicollet Park has seen in its 51 years of existence." The ball rolled down the third-base line in foul territory when it hit a "hammock of grass" and "skittered into fair territory."

F 4/25

Milwaukee

L 3-10

2-1

Losing pitcher-Kenny Jungels. HR-Larry Miggins. Millers commit 6 errors.

Sa 4/26

St. Paul Saints

L 2-6

2-2

LP-Earl McGowan.

Su 4/27

at St. Paul

L 6-16

2-3

LP-Francis "Red" Hardy. HR-Miggins.

M 4/28

St. Paul

W 9-3

3-3

WP-Dick Hoover. HR-Babe Barna 2, Mel Harpuder, Johnny McCarthy.

Tu 4/29

at St. Paul

L 4-6

3-4

LP-Grissom. HR-Barna, McCarthy.

Th 5/1

at Toledo Mud Hens, rain

*F 5/2-1

at Toledo

L 1-3

3-5

LP-McGowan.

F 5/2-2

at Toledo

W 2-1

4-5

WP-Gerkin. HR-Westrum.

Sa 5/3

at Columbus Red Birds

L 9-10 (10)

4-6

LP-Neal Saulia or Earl McGowan. HR-Westrum. (The game account says Saulia was the losiing pitcher, but McGowan is listed as the losing pitcher in the box score. Saulia gave up single to Ira Hutchinson and walked Augie Bergamo. McGowan relieved and struck out the next two batters before giving up a run-scoring double to Mike Natasin, Natasin's fourth double of the game, to drive in pinch-runner Roy Broome from second with the winning run. The official scorer may have charged the loss to McGowan; Saulia's official record for the Millers for 1947 shows no decisions.)

Su 5/4-1

at Columbus

L 5-15

4-7

LP-Grissom.

*Su 5/4-2

at Columbus

L 6-7

4-8

LP-Woody Abernathy. HR-McCarthy.

M 5/5

at Louisville Colonels

L 5-6

4-9

LP-Gerkin.

Tu 5/6

at Louisville

W 6-0

5-9

3-hitter by Fischer. Westrum drives in 5 runs with 2 triples.

W 5/7

at Indianapolis Indians, cold

Th 5/8

at Indianapolis

L 5-6

5-10

LP-Abernathy.

F 5/9

at Milwaukee

W 10-4

6-10

WP-Grissom. HR-Barna. Millers score 6 in the 9th.

Sa 5/10

Columbus

W 4-3

7-10

WP-Gerkin.

Su 5/11-1

Columbus

L 9-10

7-11

LP-Fischer. HR-Barna 2, McCarthy.

*Su 5/11-2

Columbus

W 5-4

8-11

WP-Abernathy. HR-Miggins.

M 5/12

Toledo

L 1-5

8-12

LP-Jungels.

Tu 5/13

Toledo

L 4-9

8-13

LP-Grissom. HR-Dick Lajeski.

W 5/14

Toledo

W 9-3

9-13

WP-McGowan. HR-Westrum.

Th 5/15

Louisville

W 6-4

10-13

WP-Fischer. HR-Westrum 2.

F 5/16

Louisville

L 6-9

10-14

LP-Hoover. HR-Bobby Rhawn.

Sa 5/17

Indianapolis

L 1-2

10-15

LP-Grissom.

Su 5/18-1

Indianapolis

W 7-5

11-15

WP-Hoover. HR-Barna, McCarthy, Westrum, Rhawn.

*Su 5/18-2

Indianapolis

W 2-0

12-15

WP-Jungels. HR-McCarthy.

M 5/19

St. Paul

T 4-4 (7)

12-15-1

Game called to allow Millers to catch train. HR-Harold "Tookie" Gilbert. The 18-year-old Gilbert, brother of Charlie Gilbert of the Philadelphia Phillies and son of former major leaguer Larry Gilbert, manager of the Nashville Volunteers of the Southern Association, was signed to a $50,000 bonus by the New York Giants. All bidding clubs placed their names in a hat, and Gilbert’s mom drew the Giants.

*Tu 5/20-1

at Kansas City

W 8-2 (11)

13-15

WP-Abernathy.

Tu 5/20-2

at Kansas City

L 10-11

13-16

LP-Hoover.

*W 5/21-1

at Kansas City

L 4-5

13-17

LP-McGowan.

W 5/21-2

at Kansas City

W 9-4 (8)

14-17

WP-Grissom. Called early to allow Millers to catch their train.

Th 5/22

at Milwaukee, rain

*F 5/23-1

at Milwaukee

L 2-5

14-18

LP-Fischer. HR-Westrum.

F 5/23-2

at Milwaukee

L 2-4

14-19

LP-Hoover. HR-Charles Cleston "Bama" Ray.

Sa 5/24

Kansas City

W 14-4

15-19

WP-Abernathy. Rhawn gets 4 hits.

Su 5/25-1

Kansas City

L 3-6

15-20

LP-McGowan. HR-Westrum.

*Su 5/25-2

Kansas City

L 1-3 (5, rain)

15-21

LP-Grissom.

M 5/26

Milwaukee

W 7-1

16-21

WP-Hardy.

Tu 5/27

Milwaukee

W 4-3

17-21

WP-Grissom. HR-Westrum.

W 5/28

Milwaukee, cold

Th 5/29

at St. Paul

L 1-3

17-22

LP-Abernathy.

F 5/30 a.m.

St. Paul

W 10-4

18-22

WP-McGowan. HR-Ray, Miggins, McCarthy.

F 5/30 p.m.

at St. Paul

L 3-4 (11)

18-23

LP-Hardy.

Su 6/1-1

at Louisville

L 2-4

18-24

LP-Grissom.

*Su 6/1-2

at Louisville

L 1-2

18-25

LP-McGowan.

M 6/2

at Louisville

L 0-4

18-26

LP-Abernathy.

*Tu 6/3-1

at Indianapolis

L 4-12

18-27

LP-Fischer.

Tu 6/3-2

at Indianapolis

W 6-2

19-27

WP-Hardy. HR-Rhawn.

W 6/4

at Indianapolis

W 6-3

20-27

WP-Grissom. HR-Westrum.

Th 6/5

at Indianapolis

L 3-4

20-28

LP-Andy Gilbert.

F 6/6

at Columbus

W 1-0

21-28

1-hitter by McGowan.

Sa 6/7

at Columbus

L 8-9 (12)

21-29

LP-Jungels. HR-A. Gilbert.

Su 6/8-1

at Toledo

W 5-2

22-29

WP-Grissom.

*Su 6/8-2

at Toledo

W 3-1

23-29

WP-Abernathy. HR-A. Gilbert.

M 6/9

at Toledo

L 2-12

23-30

LP-Fischer.

*W 6/11-1

St. Paul

W 7-4

24-30

WP-Gerkin. HR-Ray. Millers turn triple play on a strikeout.

W 6/11-2

St. Paul

W 11-5

25-30

WP-Abernathy.

Th 6/12

at St. Paul

L 2-5

25-31

LP-Grissom.

F 6/13

Indianapolis, rain

Sa 6/14

Louisville

W 4-2

26-31

WP-Abernathy. HR-Barna. Tookie Gilbert sent to Erie (Pennsylvania) of the Middle Atlantic League.

Su 6/15-1

Louisville

L 1-3

26-32

LP-McGowan.

*Su 6/15-2

Louisville

W 5-1

27-32

WP-Fischer.

M 6/16

Louisville

T 3-3 (11)

27-32-2

Game called to allow Colonels to catch their train. HR-Ray.

Tu 6/17

Toledo

W 6-4

28-32

WP-Grissom. HR-Westrum, Rhawn, McCarthy.

W 6/18

Toledo

W 2-1

29-32

WP-Jungels.

Th 6/19

Toledo

W 14-8

30-32

WP-Abernathy.

F 6/20

Columbus

W 3-2

31-32

WP-McGowan. HR-McCarthy.

Sa 6/21

St. Paul

W 7-6

32-32

WP-Gerkin. HR-A. Gilbert.

Su 6/22-1

at Milwaukee

W 15-7

33-32

WP-Gerkin. HR-Jack Maguire, Ray, Mo Mozzali.

*Su 6/22-2

at Milwaukee

W 14-5

34-32

WP-McGowan.

*M 6/23-1

at Milwaukee

L 7-8

34-33

LP-Grissom. HR-Westrum.

M 6/23-2

at Milwaukee

L 3-4 (8, curfew)

34-34

LP-Hoover. HR-A. Gilbert.

Tu 6/24

at Kansas City

L 2-4

34-35

LP-Abernathy. HR-Miggins.

*W 6/25-1

at Kansas City

L 1-3

34-36

LP-Fischer.

W 6/25-2

at Kansas City

L 1-2

34-37

LP-McGowan.

Th 6/26

at Kansas City

L 0-5

34-38

LP-Hardy. Perfect game for Carl DeRose. DeRose, a native of Milaca, Minnesota, pitches the first perfect game in American Association history, throwing 93 pitches and striking out Barna, who was hitting for Gerkin, to end the game. DeRose, who had a "dead arm," was making his first appearance in 3 weeks, and had asked manager Bill Meyer for a last chance to pitch. After the game, DeRose couldn't lift his arm to shake hands. He said from the third inning on, his arm hurt so much he had tears streaming down his face, but he refused Meyer's offer to lift him. The Blues left on a road trip after the game without DeRose, who will undergo surgery. Cliff Mapes homered, and Ed Stewart had 2 triples to provide Kansas City with its runs.

*F 6/27-1

Milwaukee

W 10-8

35-38

WP-Gerkin. HR-Ray, Rhawn, A. Gilbert.

F 6/27-2

Milwaukee

L 7-9

35-39

LP-Hoover. HR-Russ Rolandson, McCarthy.

Sa 6/28

Milwaukee

L 7-8

35-40

LP-Gerkin. HR-Ray 2.

Su 6/29-1

Milwaukee

W 6-5

36-40

WP-McGowan. HR-A. Gilbert.

*Su 6/29-2

Milwaukee

L 3-5

36-41

LP-Fischer.

*M 6/30-1

Kansas City

L 2-3 (8)

36-42

LP-Hardy.

M 6/30-2

Kansas City

L 1-7

36-43

LP-Grissom. Millers leave 18 runners on base.

*Th 7/1-1

Kansas City

W 9-8

37-43

WP-McGowan. HR-Maguire, McCarthy. Rhawn's spiking of Bud Souchock sets off the first of two brawls in the game.

Th 7/1-2

Kansas City

L 5-7

37-44

LP-Jungels.

W 7/2

Kansas City

T 8-8 (7)

37-44-3

Game called to allow the Blues to catch their train. HR-Westrum, Barna.

Th 7/3

at St. Paul

W 4-3 (10)

38-44

WP-Fischer.

F 7/4 a.m.

at St. Paul

L 1-2

38-45

LP-Hardy.

F 7/4 p.m.

St. Paul

L 3-9

38-46

LP-Grissom. HR-Miggins, McCarthy.

Sa 7/5

at St. Paul

L 3-7

38-47

LP-Jungels.

Su 7/6

St. Paul

W 11-8

39-37

WP-Gerkin. HR-Gilbert.

Tu 7/8

at Columbus

W 2-0

40-47

4-hitter for Hardy. HR-Ray.

W 7/9

at Columbus, rain

Th 7/10

at Toledo, rain

*F 7/11-1

at Toledo

W 3-2

41-47

WP-Fischer.

F 7/11-2

at Toledo

W 14-5

42-47

WP-McGowan. HR-Rolandson.

Sa 7/12

at Indianapolis

L 7-9 (12)

42-48

LP-Abernathy.

Su 7/13-1

at Indianapolis

L 7-14

42-49

LP-Grissom. HR-A. Gilbert 2.

*Su 7/13-2

at Indianapolis

L 1-4

42-50

LP-Jungels. HR-Gilbert.

M 7/14

at Louisville

L 3-4

42-51

LP-Abernathy.

Tu 7/15

at Louisville

W 8-0

43-51

4-hitter by Fischer.

W 7/16

at Louisville

L 4-8

43-52

LP-McGowan.

Sa 7/19

Toledo

L 5-6

43-53

LP-Hardy. Game called by rain in the 9th inning.

Su 7/20-1

Toledo

W 6-2

44-53

WP-Fischer.

*Su 7/20-2

Toledo

W 4-2

45-53

WP-Abernathy.

M 7/21

Toledo

L 5-6

45-54

LP-Grissom. Millers leave 15 runners on base.

Tu 7/22

Columbus

L 4-7

45-55

LP-McGowan. HR-Westrum.

W 7/23

Columbus

L 7-9

45-56

LP-Bill Emmerich. HR-Ray, A. Gilbert.

Th 7/24

Columbus

W 7-3

46-56

WP-Hardy. HR-Rhawn.

*F 7/25-1

Indianapolis

W 6-5

47-56

WP-Emmerich. HR-Augie Bergamo, Rolandson.

F 7/25-2

Indianapolis

W 6-5 (11)

48-56

WP-Fischer. HR-Barna.

Sa 7/26

Indianapolis

L 5-9

48-57

LP-Jungels. HR-McCarthy 2, Gilbert.

Su 7/27-1

Indianapolis

W 4-1

49-57

WP-Grissom. HR-Rhawn.

*Su 7/27-2

Indianapolis

L 4-8

49-58

LP-Emmerich. Gerkin appears in his 62nd game of the season, breaking the American Association 154-game record.

M 7/28

Louisville

W 6-5 (12)

50-58

WP-Grissom.

*Tu 7/29-1

Louisville

L 2-6

50-59

LP-Abernathy. HR-Bergamo.

Tu 7/29-2

Louisville

W 11-5

51-59

WP-Hardy. HR-Ray 2, McCarthy.

W 7/30

Louisville

W 5-4

52-59

WP-Fischer.

Th 7/31

Louisville

L 4-9

52-60

LP-Grissom. HR-Ray 2, Maguire, Bergamo.

Sa 8/2

Columbus

W 5-0

53-60

WP-McGowan.

Su 8/3-1

Columbus

W 9-5

54-60

WP-Hardy. HR-Bergamo.

*Su 8/3-2

Columbus

W 6-3

55-60

WP-Gerkin. HR-Westrum.

*M 8/4-1

Columbus

L 4-7

55-61

LP-Grissom. HR-Barna.

M 8/4-2

Columbus

L 3-9

55-62

LP-Fischer. HR-Barna, McCarthy.

Tu 8/5

at Toledo

L 3-6

55-63

LP-Jungels.

W 8/6

at Toledo

L 8-9

55-64

LP-Emmerich. HR-Rhawn 2.

Th 8/7

at Toledo

W 7-5

56-64

WP-Fischer. HR-Rhawn, Barna.

F 8/8

at Toledo

W 13-10 (10)

57-64

WP-McGowan. McCarthy hits 3-run homer in the 10th.

Sa 8/9

at Louisville

W 5-1

58-64

WP-Hardy. HR-Barna.

Su 8/10-1

at Louisville

L 0-3

58-65

LP-McGowan.

*Su 8/10-2

at Louisville

L 2-4

58-66

LP-Fischer.

Tu 8/12

at Indianapolis

L 3-10

58-67

LP-Lum Harris.

W 8/13

at Indianapolis

L 5-11

58-68

LP-Grissom.

Th 8/14

at Indianapolis, rain

F 8/15

at Indianapolis

W 10-0

59-68

3-hitter by Hardy, who had a no-hitter for 7-2/3 innings.

Sa 8/16

St. Paul

W 16-7

60-68

WP-McGowan. HR-Chick Genovese 2, Westrum.

Su 8/17

at St. Paul

W 13-10

61-68

WP-Gerkin. HR-Westrum.

M 8/18

St. Paul

L 3-5

61-69

LP-Abernathy. HR-McCarthy.

Tu 8/19

Louisville

L 2-13

61-70

LP-Hardy. HR-Westrum.

W 8/20

Louisville

W 3-2

62-70

WP-McGowan.

Th 8/21

Indianapolis

L 5-10

62-71

LP-Fischer.

F 8/22

Indianapolis

W 4-1

63-71

WP-Harris.

Sa 8/23

Columbus

W 11-3

64-71

WP-Hardy. HR-Ray, Rhawn.

Su 8/24-1

Columbus

W 4-2

65-71

WP-McGowan. HR-Barna.

*Su 8/24-2

Columbus

W 8-4

66-71

WP-McGowan. HR-Barna.

M 8/25

Toledo

W 3-2 (10)

67-71

WP-Fischer.

Tu 8/26

Toledo

W 6-5

68-71

WP-Harris.

W 8/27

Kansas City

L 1-3

68-72

LP-Hardy. HR-Ray.

Th 8/28

Milwaukee

W 6-3

69-72

WP-McGowan. HR-Rhawn, McCarthy.

F 8/29

Milwaukee

W 3-2

70-72

WP-Fischer. HR-McCarthy.

Sa 8/30

Kansas City

L 8-10

70-72

LP-Harris.

Su 8/31-1

Kansas City

L 2-5

70-74

LP-Hardy. HR-McCarthy.

*Su 8/31-2

Kansas City

W 7-6

71-74

WP-Emmerich. HR-Westrum.

M 9/1 a.m.

St. Paul

W 7-3

72-74

WP-McGowan. HR-Barna.

M 9/1 p.m.

at St. Paul

W 9-4

73-74

WP-Fischer. HR-A. Gilbert, Frank Trechock (grand slam).

Tu 9/2

at St. Paul

L 9-10 (8)

73-75

LP-Grissom. HR-Barna. Game called to allow teams to catch their trains.

W 9/3

at Milwaukee

L 4-6

73-76

LP-Abernathy. HR-Westrum.

Th 9/4

at Milwaukee, rain

Steve Gerkin named American Association Most Valuable Player.

*F 9/5-1

at Milwaukee

L 3-4

73-77

LP-Harris. HR-McCarthy.

F 9/5-2

at Milwaukee

W 2-1

74-77

WP-McGowan. Hitless into the 9th, Millers break up Vern Bickford's no-hitter and score twice to win.

Sa 9/6

at Kansas City

W 12-5

75-77

WP-Fischer.

Su 9/7-1

at Kansas City

W 7-2

76-77

WP-McGowan.

Su 9/7-2

at Kansas City

W 5-2

77-77-3

WP-Emmerich. HR-Rhawn.

Playoffs

Tu 9/9

at Louisville

L 4-6

0-1

LP-Hardy. HR-Rhawn.

W 9/10

at Louisville

L 3-8

0-2

LP-Fischer.

Th 9/11

at Louisville

W 13-8

1-2

WP-Abernathy. Millers get 18 hits.

Sa 9/13

Louisville

L 7-8

1-3

LP-McGowan. HR-Bergamo, Westrum 2, Trechock, Barna.

Su 9/14

Louisville

W 5-1

2-3

5-hitter by Fischer. HR-Westrum.

M 9/15

Louisville

W 8-2

3-3

WP-Grissom. HR-A. Gilbert 2, McCarthy, Rhawn.

Tu 9/16

Louisville

L 4-8

3-4

LP-McGowan. HR-Barna. Sheehan resigns as manager.

Manager

Kansas City

Bill Meyer

Louisville

Harry "Nemo" Leibold

Milwaukee

Nick Cullop

Minneapolis

Tom Sheehan

Columbus

Hal Anderson

Indianapolis

Jimmy Brown

St. Paul

Herman Franks-Curt Davis

Toledo

Frank Snyder

Statistics

Player

Games

Batting Average

Home Runs

Runs Batted In

Position

Johnny McCarthy

142

.345

102

Babe Barna

143

.324

Russ Rolandson^*

.324

Bobby Rhawn

140

.302

3b-ss

Mo Mozzali^*

114

.300

Wes Westrum

134

.294

Mel Harpuder

.294

2b-ss-3b

Andy Gilbert^*

112

.291

1b-3b-lf

Frank Trechock

127

.290

2b-ss

Len Schulte

104

.282

2b-ss

Bama Ray

143

.282

Jack Maguire

.281

2b-ss

Norm Jaeger

.260

Augie Bergamo^*

123

.243

Dick Lajeskie

.241

Frank “Chick” Genovese^*

.240

Larry Miggins

.233

Jack Aragon^*

.218

Fred Bell

.205

Gene “Huck” Geary

.122

Harold “Tookie” Gilbert

.097

1b-lf

Pitcher

ERA

Earl McGowan

221

3.95

Red Hardy

202

3.97

Steve Gerkin

175

4.27

Rube Fischer

197

4.43

Lum Harris^*

115

4.46

Woody Abernathy

118

5.19

Dick Hoover

5.54

Kenny Jungels

102

5.74

Marv Grissom

151

6.26

Bill Emmerich

6.75

Art Fowler

12.00

Neal Saulia

Ed Wagner

*Rolandson, Genovese, Aragon, Harris, and Jungels’s statistics include games played with Louisville in 1947, Mozzali’s statistics include games with Columbus, Bergamo’s statistics include games with Columbus and Louisville, and Andy Gilbert’s statistics include games with Toledo.

Steve Gerkin, named Most Valuable Player, appeared in 81 games, 2 as a starter and 79 as a reliever, during the regular season (as well as 3 other games that were expunged from the record by rain. He also pitched in 4 playoff games.