Ballparks of Indianapolis, Part 2: Perry Stadium/Victory Field
The American Association Almanac
Volume 20, Number 1
Spring 2024
Perry Stadium/Victory Field and the Indianapolis Indians
The Spring 2024 edition of the American Association Almanac (print journal, just published) describes Perry Stadium (later Victory Field), the home of the Indianapolis Indians, in replete detail. The publication consists of roughly 28,000 words, comprising a 64-page booklet format with a color cover, and centerfold which includes home performance data for both the 1932 and 1948 Indianapolis Indians. It is set in 11-pt. Times New Roman and was completed March 26, 2024.
The long-time home of the Indians was built in 1931 by Norman A. Perry in homage to his brother, James Perry, who was killed in an airplane accident just outside Indianapolis in 1929. In the spring of 2023 the Almanac published Part 1 of this two-part series (please see separate blog entry). In 1942 the park was renamed Victory Field just a month after Perry sold the Indians which occurred just days before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
In this issue of the Almanac, a heavy focus on the 1932 season is presented, as a look at the Table of Contents below will reveal below.
As with previous ballpark issues of the Almanac, the park's origins and evolution as a physical structure was paramount. Ancillary items such as what a customer paid for a ticket or for concessions were included as well. Research was conducted to discover how management adapted the park to shifting preferences by the baseball public over time. In particular, the story of the ivy along the outfield wall was explored in detail; this was important because of how it influenced one of the most important characteristics of Wrigley Field in Chicago, still in use today as a major league venue.
Prior to moving in to Perry Stadium in 1931, the Indians played their home games at what was known locally at the time as Washington Park; as baseball history came to the fore in the 1990s it became clear that a distinction would be required between that site and the Tribe's previous venue which was also located on Washington Street, but on its far eastern end. Hence, their first park is now referred to as East Washington Street Park (1902-04), and their next home as West Washington Street Park. Perry Stadium was located only a short distance south of the team's former home on West Washington Street, roughly one mile northwest of the city center.
Portions of the original manuscript for this issue were excluded for the sake of length which determines the number of sheets of paper will be required to print the journal, which in turn will affect two important things: the amount of postage required to send a single issue; and 2) whether the number of sheets will allow the stapler to penetrate the stack.
Here are those deleted sections from Vol. 20, No. 1, part 2 of the Ballparks of Indianapolis set.
1. From the section "Methodology"
Perhaps the most significant aspect of this issue from a statistical point of view is its presentation of the team's home record. Distilled from locally published box scores (however imperfect a source they may be), the team's statistical profile was established for batting and pitching. Each player's record at this ballpark for both the 1932 and 1948 seasons is now known.
Deciding whether to analyze an additional season beyond the Tribe's 1932 season shaped this issue. Considering the various options, the 1948 campaign was selected on the basis that it was the Tribe's best year during the Perry Stadium/Victory Field era. Summarizing the Indians' 1948 home season involved several steps. First the season's schedule was used to determine which home dates were played. As a rule, published schedules provide only a rough idea of when the games would be played; due primarily to weather postponements, scheduled games might be played at a later date, especially in the form of an unscheduled doubleheader. Nonetheless, they remain an essential part of establishing a club's home record. With the date established, the box score for each game was located, then downloaded, and eventually transcribed using a spreadsheet. The data were organized so that each team's and player's record could be established.
2. From the section "The 1938 All-Star Game"
The Indianapolis Indians hosted their first of four American Association All-Star games on Thursday, July 14, 1938. Through 79 games the Tribe was tied with St. Paul with identical records of 46 wins, 33 losses. Because the team was in possession of first place as of July 4, they earned the right to host the league's fifth All-Star game.
Tickets to the grand event, the fifth in the circuit's history, became available to the public at the Perry Stadium box office the preceding Sunday. For those who didn't attend the contest, a radio broadcast of the game could be heard. Block's, "The Store for Men," sponsored an ad for the game's radio broadcast; it awarded a $20 Stetson hat for every home run at the game and a $10 Stetson hat for every triple. According to the ad the game would be heard on WIBC, to begin at 8:15 p.m., although the actual call letters should have read WIRE.
Researcher's Note: Confusion over how WIBC could have broadcast this game became apparent as a search for the a.m. frequency over which the station broadcast turned up more questions than it answered. A Wikipedia page led to a news article published in the Indianapolis Star of Oct. 30, 1938 indicating the first broadcast date of the station would be that day, Oct. 30, 1938. The station was scheduled to present a dedicatory program featuring 35 local performers beginning at noon that day, according to the article which stated, "WIBC, Indianapolis's new radio station, goes on the air for the first time at 8 o'clock this morning with a diversified program of entertainment." Because the reported date does not align with the date of the All-Star Game,red flags appeared.
Going further into the archives of the Star yielded a clue. According to its April 21, 1932, edition there was a radio station out of Muncie, Indiana with the call letters WIBC. As stated in the article, entitled "I.U. Jordan River Revue Will Start Tour Today,"
"At 4:45 Friday afternoon selections from the revue will be broadcast by members of the cast over Muncie radio station WIBC."
An investigation turned up no other such references to the Muncie radio station, so the clue fell through.
An article in the Sept. 22, 1938 issue of the Indianapolis Times detailed the completion of the new offices to be used by WIBC, but gave no mention to any previous iteration of the call letters the station would be using.
Could it be that the call letters "WIBC" being used by the Muncie station in 1932 eventually expired or were sold to the Indianapolis firm sometime after the All-Star game?
While that is a possibility, the mystery was solved by one very simple method: observe the newspaper listings for the radio programming on the date of the All-Star game.
And there it was, as plain as day: the game would be broadcast beginning at 9:15 p.m. E.D.T. live from Perry Stadium on radio 1400, WIRE. The Block's ad in the Indianapolis Star simply used the wrong call letters. WIRE was under contract to broadcast Indians' home games. The Tribe's first broadcaster was Norman Perry, Jr., son of the owner.
Going into the All-Star game, Indianapolis and St. Paul were tied for first place despite the Tribe's recent losses. On the eve of the big contest, Kansas City's three-run ninth capped a game-winning rally resulting in a 3-0, five-hit defeat for the locals, their 33rd against 46 wins. The game, which ended their homestand, featured four umpires, presumably as an exercise preceding the next day's tilt. The deciding tally came on a Joe Gallagher home run that left the field near the 408-foot mark in center field. As one of the league's top hitters, Gallagher would remain in Indianapolis as a member of the All-Star squad playing left field. His presence would draw the rancor of local fans after he'd gone after a fan in the stand some days prior, resulting in an altercation. The Sporting News described his reception during the big game:
Joe Gallagher, Kansas City outfielder who went into the grandstand at Indianapolis on the last visit of the Blues at Perry Stadium and socked a tormentor, put in a most uncomfortable evening with the Stars. He was booed not only when he took the field but drew a strong blast each time he went to bat. (TSN; July 21, 1938)
League president George Trautman announced the representatives from each of the eight American Association teams via loudspeaker from home plate to get the proceedings underway. They included Roy Hamey, secretary-treasurer of the Kansas City Blues; Waldo Shank, president of the Toledo Mud Hens; Lou McKenna, business manager of the St. Paul Saints; Henry J. Bendinger, president of the Milwaukee Brewers; Mike Kelley, president of the Minneapolis Millers; and Don Beach, president of the Columbus Red Birds.
As reported in The Sporting News,
Trautman also had Commissioner [Mountain] Landis and William Harridge [American League president] take a bow from their box. He sought vainly to have Perry appear on the field, but the modest and wealthy Indianapolis owner ducked. (TSN; July 21, 1938)
Player introductions were next. Each of the All-Stars was attired in a satin uniform furnished in red, white and blue seemingly made for the occasion. The All-Stars and each Indians' player received a "beautifully finished leather suitcase-style hand trunk" from Trautman. The exotic uniform design was provided by the Wilson Sporting Goods Company and "was the brain child of Wallie Robb, assistant to President L. B. Icely of the Chicago firm."
George Johnson, dean of the Association umpires, was gifted with a watch by former league prexy Thomas J. Hickey as each of the league's arbiters assembled around him. Upon the watch was inscribed the following: "Presented to George Johnson as an expression of appreciation of 25 years of service to the American Association." Each umpire entered the contest for an inning or two.
The lineups were presented in the following order.
The All-Stars' Starting Nine
Lynn King, Columbus, cf
Eddie Joost, Kansas City, 3b
Ted Williams, Minneapolis, rf
Joe Gallagher, Kansas City, lf
Bob Boken, St. Paul, 2b
George Archie, Toledo, 1b
Eddie Miller, Kansas City, ss
Joe Becker, Milwaukee, c
Whit Wyatt, Milwaukee, rhp
Manager: Burt Shotton of Columbus
Substitutes
Oscar Grimes, Milwaukee, 3b
Jim Bucher, Columbus, 2b
Eldon Breese, Kansas City, c
Bob (Claud) Linton, Toledo, c
Kemp Wicker, Kansas City, lhp
Leroy Parmelee, Minneapolis, rhp
Eddie Morgan, Columbus, ph
Lloyd Brown, St. Paul, lhp
Fern Bell, Louisville, ph
Player Ages of the Starting All-Stars
Lynn King, 30 (b. 11-28-07)
Eddie Joost, 22 (b. 6-5-16)
Ted Williams, 19 (b. 8-30-18)
Joe Gallagher, 24 (b. 3-7-14)
Bob Boken, 30 (b. 2-23-08)
George Archie, 24 (b. 4-27-14)
Eddie Miller, 21 (b. 11-26-16)
Joe Becker, 30 (b. 6-25-08)
Whit Wyatt, 30 (b. 9-27-07)
Nicknames
Fern Bell: Danny
Lloyd Brown: Gimpy
Joe Gallagher: Muscles
Lynn King: Dig
Eddie Miller: Eppie
Eddie Morgan: Pepper
Leroy Parmelee: Bud or Tarzan
Burt Shotton: Barney
Ted Williams: The Kid
The "Ever-Ready" Milwaukee battery consisted of teammates Joe Becker and Whit Wyatt, both 30 years of age.
The Indianapolis Indians' Starting Nine
Jimmy Pofahl, ss
Vince Sherlock, 2b
Milt Galatzer, lf
Steve Mesner, 3b
Bill Baker, c
Glenn Chapman, rf
Bob Latshaw, 1b
Myron McCormick, cf
Vance Page, rhp
Substitutes
Johnny Niggeling, rhp
Andy Pilney, ph
Bill Lewis, c
Don French, rhp
Manager: Ray Schalk
Indianapolis Player Ages and Birth Dates
Jimmy Pofahl, 21 (6-18-17)
Vince Sherlock, 28 (3-27-10)
Milt Galatzer, 31 (5-4-07)
Steve Mesner, 20 (1-3-18)
Bill Baker, 27 (2-22-11)
Glenn Chapman, 32 (1-21-06)
Bob Latshaw, 21 (2-23-17)
Mike McCormick, 21 (5-6-17)
Vance Page, 32 (9-15-05)
Indianapolis Nicknames
Glenn Chapman: Pete
Bill Lewis: Buddy
Vince Sherlock: Baldy
Ray Schalk: Cracker
(nicknames from baseball-reference.com)
With Bill Baker and Bill Lewis doing backstop duty, the Indians could not have disputed charges of "double-billing."
Notes of Interest on the 1938 American Association All-Stars
• Lynn King had a career year in 1938 with Columbus.
• Eddie Joost had a 31.6 WAR during his 17-year major league career.
• Ted Williams, with enough nicknames to fill a room, had a career WAR of 121.8 during his 19-year major league career. He led the Association with 370 total bases in 1938, slugged a preposterous .701 and drove in 142 runs in addition to his 43 home runs, all circuit leaders.
• Joe Gallagher ranked second in total bases with 315 for Kansas City, belted 24 home runs and drove in 119 runs.
• Bob Boken batted .297 in 1938.
• George Archie ranked sixth in hits (188) and in the top ten in doubles with 33, and eighth in total bases (256), batting .312. Archie was inducted into the Army in Dec. 1941, seeing active duty with the 65th Calvary Reconnaissance Troop in France at the German front in 1945.
• Eddie Miller tied All-Star teammate George Archie with 33 doubles in his rookie year, batted .290 and ranked fifth in triples with 11. In 14 major league seasons he earned a WAR of 22.3.
• Joe Becker played in 40 games for the Cleveland Indians prior to arriving in Milwaukee in 1938 when he batted .306 with 15 doubles and 42 RBI in 79 games. He later served his country in the Navy and became a minor league manager as well as a pitching coach for the Dodgers, Cardinals and Cubs.
• Whit Wyatt had the career of a lifetime in 1938, winning 23 games against just eight losses. He won a pitching triple crown for the Brewers that year, leading the league in ERA (2.37), and strikeouts (208), as well as in complete games (26) and innings (254). He went on to have a very successful major league career. He is a central figure in the book "A False Spring" by Pat Jordan (1986).
• Manager Burt Shotton of the Columbus Red Birds was a long-tenured figure in baseball who cut his teeth on the profession during the deadball era. Six years managing the Philadelphia Phillies (1928-33) reflected poorly on his career, but he removed all doubts of his managerial acumen with the 1937 Columbus Red Birds who won the Association pennant with 90 wins, then copped the championship by defeating Milwaukee in the final round of the playoffs that year.
Notes on the Indianapolis Indians in 1938 All-Star Game
• Jimmy Pofahl was born at Faribault, MN. The youngster played with Minneapolis the following year. Three seasons with the Washington Senators followed. Died at Owatonna, MN, age 67.
• Vince Sherlock came from Buffalo, NY. He first arrived at Indianapolis in 1934 and played as a regular each of his seasons with the Tribe. Cup of coffee with Brooklyn in 1935. Died at Cheektowaga, NY, age 87.
• Bob Latshaw's birthplace was Denver, CO. The lefty occupied the first sack for the Indians in 133 games. He played over 1700 games from 1935-54; never made the majors. He managed extensively in the low minors. He was found not to be related to Andy Latshaw who served as the Chicago Cubs' trainer for years. Died at Towson, MD, age 83.
• Milt Galatzer was born at Chicago, IL. The veteran lefty and went back-and-forth between Toledo and the Cleveland Indians, with four seasons with Cleveland prior to 1938. Bob Feller once said, "There may have been better ballplayers than Milt Galatzer but there was never a better man." Galatzer died at the age of 67 in San Francisco, CA.
• Steve Mesner was from Los Angeles, CA and was in his fifth season of organized ball and his first of two seasons in the Association. Cups of coffee with Cubs, Cardinals and Reds. At the age of 20, the Tribesman batted .331 in 127 games and nearly 500 plate appearances, swatting 37 doubles! He died at the age of 63 in San Diego, CA.
• Bill Baker hailed from Paw Creek, NC and was in his first of two seasons with the Tribe; in both he batted over .300. Played 263 games at the major league level, all after the age of 30. Joining the Navy in 1944, playing with the Pirates upon his return. Became a National League umpire and then an American Association umpire. Passed away at Myrtle Beach, SC at the age of 95.
• Glenn Chapman's birthplace was Cambridge City, IN, located 57 miles east of Indianapolis on the National Road, US 40. Broke in with the Tribe in 1932, made the rounds of the minors, and cut his teeth on major league ball with Brooklyn in 1934 in 67 games. Had a career year with the 1938 Tribe, batting .308 with 103 RBI and scoring 93 runs. Chapman died at Richmond, IN, age 82.
• Mike McCormick was born at Angel's Camp, CA. His journeyman career began at the age of 17 and spanned the years 1934-60 with 21 seasons in organized ball including ten at the major league level with five teams and managed in eight minor league seasons. Died at the age of 58 in Los Angeles, CA.
• Vance Page was born at Elm City, NC. First played in the minors at the age of 20, later going west to pitch in the Pacific Coast League for the Hollywood Stars. First joined the Indians in 1934 and remained a fixture on the starting slab through the 1938 season when he played with the Cubs for four successive seasons. Cumulative record of 189-163 in 17 seasons, 15-16 at the major league level with 100 strikeouts. Died at the age of 45 at Wilson, NC on the 13th anniversary of the 1938 All-Star game when he fell off a barn and fractured his skull.
• Johnny Niggeling, winning pitcher of the 1938 All-Star game, had just celebrated his 35th birthday (born at Remsen, IA, July 10, 1903). Began his professional career at 25, spending three seasons with Kansas City prior to joining the Indians in 1938; after another solid season with the Tribe in '39, he started a long career in the majors that did not end until he was 42 years of age. Produced a cumulative record of 223-181 in 18 season, 64-69 as a major leaguer having given up 1,111 hits. Died at 60 years of age at Le Mars, IA.
• Andrew Pilney, who struck out in his one All-Star at-bat, became head coach at Tulane University for several seasons. He excelled on the gridiron at Notre Dame prior to his short career in organized baseball.
• Manager Ray Schalk was born at Harvey, IL Aug. 12, 1892. Prior to becoming manager of the Indians in 1938 he had an extensive career with the Chicago White Sox (1912-1928), including two years managing the team. Known for his exceptional defensive skills as a catcher, Schalk also managed for 12 season, most notably with the Buffalo Bisons of the International League (1932-1937). His role in the Black Sox Scandal of 1919 remains a contentious issue in the Hall of Fame career of this great contributor to the game of baseball.
1938 All-Star Game Summary
With the temperature at game time hovering around 80˚ it was weather that could only be dreamed of for such an event. Norman Perry took in the tilt from the press box perched atop the roof, having donated his private box to visiting dignitaries. As reported in The Sporting News, Perry was "justly proud of his park. Its well-groomed greensward and the vine-covered brick walls in the outfield added to the garden-like picture the park offered under the lights and a star-bedecked sky canopy."
The contest opened as the din of a full house at Perry Stadium provided the background. With all the pomp and circumstance befitting such an occasion completed, it was finally time to "Play Ball!"
Vance Page set the All-Stars down in order in the first inning.
Facing Whit Wyatt, the Indians came up empty. Pofahl struck out leading off, Sherlock flied to left and Galatzer lined sharply to right but was stranded when Mesner looked at strike three.
The All-Stars scored twice in the second. With two outs, Archie singled to center for the first hit off Page. Miller then doubled, nearly clearing the left-field wall, Archie scoring. Becker singled to center, driving in Miller.
It was the Tribe's turn in the fourth. With Kemp Wicker on the mound, Mesner led off with a double to right. Baker walked and Chapman flied to center. Latshaw struck out before McCormick walked to load the bases. Then Johnny Niggeling, who came on in relief of Page in the top half, stroked one to right, driving in Mesner and Baker to tie the score, 2-2. Pofahl walked to fill the bags again and after one pitch to Sherlock, manager Burt Shotton brought in Leroy Parmelee who walked Sherlock, forcing in McCormick for the lead run. Galatzer walked on a 3-2 pitch, forcing in Niggeling to give Indianapolis a 4-2 lead.
Not until the All-Star eighth did another run percolate. Facing Don French, Grimes walked and Williams singled. French struck out Gallagher, eliciting a roar from the crowd. Sherlock's "great play" forced Williams at second, Grimes scoring to make it a 4-3 game.
In the home half the hosts added two insurance runs against Lloyd Brown. McCormick walked leading off and Lewis, in for Baker, executed his second consecutive successful sacrifice to put McCormick at second. Pofahl tripled against the right-center field wall to plate McCormick and scored on Galatzer's infield hit to make the score 6-3. Mesner doubled down the right field line but Galatzer was thrown out at the plate on the relay, the play going from Williams to Bucher to Linton, ending the eighth.
When the Stars took their final turn in the ninth, there was something missing. As described in the Indianapolis News,
The Stars could do nothing in their half of the ninth and the long row of kids who had climbed to the top of the twelve-foot wall disappeared as if by magic. A half hour earlier they had disappeared from the wall when a policeman went around the stadium, but they were back again in two minutes. Twelve feet do not mean anything to a kid when there are no knotholes.
The final from Perry Stadium:
Indianapolis 6, All-Stars 3
Among the All-Stars only Toledo's George Archie had a multi-hit game. With three hits in four trips, including a double, Archie claimed a good share of the team's seven safeties. Archie was the only player all game with a stolen base. Not one fielder had more than two assists.
The Indians registered 11 hits: Milt Galatzer (3), Steve Mesner (2) and Mike McCormick (2) with a multi-hit night. Galatzer and reliever Johnny Niggeling each collected two RBI. Both Mesner's hits were doubles.
Neither team was cited for an error.
The game lasted 2 hours, 22 minutes.
Sights and Sounds of the 1938 All-Star Game
The game account published (without a byline) in the Indianapolis News gave a descriptive report of the scene at Perry Stadium the night of July 14, a night seemingly made to be glorified:
There was no overflow crowd on the field to obstruct the play and call for ground rules. The Indians themselves were well satisfied as the victory gave the home team a record of four out of five games in the annual events.
It was a remarkable spectacle, so many fans crowded into the beautiful Perry stadium. The stars who usually hit like fury, according to their records, could not hit like fury against Tribe pitching and faultless fielding. It was a ball game in spite of the fact that the majority of fans attended expecting to see merely a good exhibition with the stars showing the way.
And the fans saw the best the Association offers, good pitchers, good playing and good umpiring with ten umpires officiating and hardly a squawk coming from the stands on poor playing or bad decisions.
The fans saw the home boys win on merit. In fact no one present could imagine our boys begin defeated before such an appreciative crowd of home folks. They pulled against the sluggers and their concerted action showed its effect. Instead of knocking down corn stalks in adjoining fields with their home run drives the All Stars acted just like ordinary ballplayers.
In his column "Tearing Firma," News writer William F. Fox, Jr., made a parade of his usual quips, giving a unique perspective on the happenings of July 14. Fox took advantage of Tribe manager Ray Schalk's invitation to view the game from inside the dugout to proffer his take on things:
When the All-Scars [sic] appeared in their Red, White and Blue uniforms, one of the umpires, spying nineteen-year-old Ted Williams with a cap on three sizes too small, remarked: "Look at that Williams, he looks like Ned in the third reader."
The crowd of 12,277 broke the attendance record for All-Star games by eight cash customers.
Two fellows received a chorus of boos. One was Gallagher and the other one was the policeman who had to chase the boys off the top wall of the outfield.
When the players were introduced, Archie won the applause contest. The crowd seemed to know what it was doing and Archie appreciated it. He hit three of out four times up, stole a base and fielded exceptionally well.
Page and Schalk would have rocked the seismograph with the applause they received when the Indians were introduced.
Pilney posed with Frank Shaughnessy, president of the International League. Some of the folks wondered why. Shaugnessy [sic] was a Notre Dame football and baseball star in '03 and '04. Pilney was a Notre Dame grid hero too.
McCormick wears a little red button on the top of his ap. He found it in center field and thought it might bring luck.
The sound of a ball striking a bat is entirely different in the dugout. It is a thud rather than the crack it seems to be when you are in the stands.
Schalk chews gum ninety miles an hour. His words are reminiscent of those employed by Rockne ⏤ they are like sparks and they ignite the proper flame. Mistakes are censured ⏤ and as quickly forgotten. Praise comes in like manner.
For the first time in the history of these games the broadcast went out over the eight stations to all A.A. cities The hook-up was through WIRE. Norman Perry, Jr. took the first and ninth innings and each of the seven visiting broadcasters stepped up to bat for one inning. It was a swell program.
The game got around to the eighth inning before that entertaining Mr. Williams finally got a hit. It was a single. It looked like a rally, but when Williams was standing on the bag at first he made the crack of the evening: "That'll sure be funny if you fellows beat us, won't it?" Latshaw was still laughing about it when the inning was over.
The boys said Wyatt's fast ball takes off for unknown regions just as they start to swing on it.
The Indians keep up a steady barrage of chatter at the opposing pitchers⏤the same barrage of encouragement to their own hurlers and to their batters at the plate. (July 15, 1938)
As a tribute to the events, the Indianapolis Star editorial board went on record with its take on the significance of having an All-Star game in their city with the following opinion:
The contest gave Indianapolis an opportunity to display its diamond wares to a collection of baseball notables from all parts of the country. Judge Landis, the 'czar' of the professional game, was present along with a corps of major league scouts surveying the "ivory" market. They came, they saw and they probably were conquered with the desire to obtain some of the players who performed faultlessly before this critical crowd.
Establishment of a new attendance record for the All-Star baseball game played at Perry Stadium was gratifying to all concerned with this bit of diamond philanthropy, but especially to Indianapolis fans. The city's turnout for special occasions sometimes has not equaled the showing of other American Association members. The award for the opening day attendance, for example, has regularly escaped Indianapolis in spite of the fine accommodations offered the fans.
The contest, of course, was a friendly exhibition devoted to improving the lot of unfortunate ballplayers. It did not count in the season's records, thus eliminating some of the tension that accompanies the heat of the pennant chase. The All-Stars strutted their stuff, including satin suits, and the Indians in victory, strutted just a little bit more. (July 16, 1938)
With the Schalk vs. Shotton matchup in the rear view mirror, the Tribe traveled the western regions of the circuit for a few weeks. Regardless of the non-committal nature of the game as described in the Star's editorial, the Tribe's win against the All-Stars was a feather in their cap, and it may have inspired them to play more inspired ball the remainder of the season as they finished six games over .500, barely edging out Toledo for a spot in the playoffs that year.
Three All-Star gatherings were in the future of the ballpark. On July 17, 1946, the Tribe hosted the event at what had become Victory Field in 1942. No All-Star game was held in either 1943 or 1945 on account of World War II but the All-Stars won each of the five preceding contests. In 1946, the Indians won the right to host the All-Star game by virtue of their first-place standing after the games of July 4.
The results of each of the All-Star games played in Indianapolis:
July 14, 1938: Indianapolis 6, All-Stars 3
July 17, 1946: All-Stars 4, Indianapolis 2
Aug. 9, 1954: Indianapolis 3, All-Stars 2
July 17, 1962: Indianapolis 11, All-Stars 7
All-Star Game Highlights
On July 14, 1938, the Indians hosted their first All-Star game, breaking the attendance record set at Columbus the year before. Pitcher Johnny Niggeling was the winner and played a part in the decision from both sides of the plate. The managers were Ray Schalk for the hosts and Burt Shotton of the Columbus Red Birds. The game was technically decided in fourth when Leroy Parmelee (Minneapolis) walked in Mike McCormick with the Tribe's fourth run. Attendance: 12,276.
On July 17, 1946 the All-Stars defeated Indianapolis on the strength of three solo home runs at Victory Field. Toledo's Jerry Witte (1b) was responsible for all three long balls. The game's deciding run came in the fifth when Witte, in his second of five at-bats, drilled a two-out offering from George Woods onto 16th Ave. over the left field wall. The Indians had but five hits. The winning pitcher was St. Paul's Harry Taylor, the loser Glenn Fletcher. Attendance: 10,318.
On Aug. 9, 1954, the All-Stars invaded Victory Field once again. After taking the lead with two runs in the third, Indianapolis tied it with two in the fifth. The deciding run came in the eighth when Harry Malmberg (2b) scored from third on pitcher Bert Thiel's throwing error to make it 3-2. It was the Tribe's 22nd one-run win of the season. Again the Indians had but five hits. The winning pitcher was Dick Tomanek (lhp), while Toledo's Thiel (lhp) took the loss. Attendance: 10,948.
On July 17, 1962, the host Indians were down, 1-0, entering the second frame when they scored three runs. Five unearned runs in the sixth made the score 11-4 and from that point the Tribe held on for the win despite a three-run rally in the ninth by the All-Stars. The Tribe's eighth and deciding run came when Jim Koranda (rf), batting clean-up, doubled with the bases full. Herb Score (lhp), back with the Tribe after a career in the majors, was the winner, while Omaha's Jack Smith took the loss. Both sides registered 13 hits. Dallas-Fort Worth's Ray "Jabbo" Jablonski (1b) hit a solo home run the Indians claimed bounced off the top of the wall near the scoreboard in left-center, giving the All-Stars their only lead of the game. Attendance: 9,012.
3. From "Perry Stadium: Things to Know"
The ball club was "unreserved" in expressing the following proviso, as recorded in the 1946 edition of the Indians' Official Scorebook which was on sale at the ballpark that year.
It is a pleasure and delight to reserve tickets for you. Some of our friends have reserved tickets and then have neglected to inform us of their inability to use the tickets. This has caused us the loss not only of the revenue from the seats but also has deprived us of the privilege of seating other of our friends more advantageously. No ticket reservation will be made after 7:30 P. M. on week days or after 12:30 P. M. on Sundays.
Whenever you reserve tickets and are unable to use them, we will appreciate it ever so much if you will let us know by at least an hour before game time. Just call RIley 4488. Also, if you have made such reservation and will be unable to get to the game until late, please let us know so that we will be sure to hold your tickets.
Remember, the more tickets we sell the better ball club you have a right to expect and you may be assured we will do our best to give it to you.
Whether the latter sentence deserved an exclamation point is left to the reader...
• During the 1940s the Indianapolis Indians ball club did its part, in many ways, to aid in the war effort on the home front. One of those was the sale of war bonds. A half-page, two-color ad was placed in the Scorebook announcing "$25.00 U.S. Bond Awarded Every Game. At every official Indian Home Game a $25.00 U.S. Bond will be awarded to a Baseball Fan. Listen for announcement and if your number on page 36 of your Indians' Official Scorebook corresponds with the number announced, kindly present your winning number scorebook at popcorn stand inside main entrance." All told, over $55,000 in war bonds were sold at Victory Field during the war years.
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Sample Pages 2
Almanac
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