Opening Day Magic

Nearly 67 years ago, on April 16, 1940, an Opening Day crowd of 31,000 fans at Washington's Griffith Stadium witnessed Boston's Lefty Grove, recently turned 40 years old and in the twilight of a hall of fame career, in a classic pitcher's duel with the Senators' Dutch Leonard. For seven full innings, Grove recaptured the magic that had aleady won him 286 games, setting down every opposing batter without allowing a hit or a walk.  The 31,000 home town fans knew they were watching history.  As true fans, they wanted their home town team to start the season with a win - but no one had ever thrown a no-hitter on Opening Day - let alone a perfect game.   

Meanwhile, 700 miles away, 14,000 fans braved the 40 degree chill at Chicago's Comiskey Park and watched another pitcher's duel between the White Sox's Edgar Smith and the Cleveland Indians' 21-year old ace Bob Feller.  Thanks to a timely triple by catcher Rollie Hemsley, Feller gained a 1-0 advantage in the top of the 4th. 

Back in Washington, the bottom of the eighth started.  Tension built as Grove set down the first batter.  Senator shortstop Cecil Travis stepped to the plate and ended the drama with a single.  The 31,000 fans at Griffith Stadium would not see history; nor would they enjoy a win for the home team, as Grove would hold on and win game #287 1-0 with a two-hitter.   

Although the fans at Griffith Stadium went home disappointed, the chilled 14,000 in Chicago were rewarded.  History may have missed Washington, but it landed in Chicago as Feller held the White Sox without a hit, winning the game 1-0.  It was the first and still the only no-hitter thrown on Opening Day. 

But it almost wasn't.  With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Chicago's Taffy Wright smashed a hard grounder in the hole.  Cleveland second baseman Ray Mack made a great play and saved Feller's date with history.

 

That's baseball.  That is what makes Opening Day special:  no one knows for sure what magic will happen.  On a cold Tuesday afternoon in 1940, two pitchers win pitchers' duels by the same 1-0 score. One legend fades into the twilight and one continues building his own renown.  Both danced with magic - but only one brought her home.