Books and articles about Spud Davis

Virgil Lawrence Davis batted .300 in 9 of his 16 seasons. In 1933 his .349 average was second in the NL to future Hall of Famer Chuck Klein's .368. Davis led NL catchers in assists in 1931, double plays in 1932, and total chances per game in 1934, years in which rival catchers included future Cooperstown enshrinees Gabby Hartnett and Al Lopez. Davis later backed up Ernie Lombardi at Cincinnati, and Lopez at Pittsburgh.

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As a member of the 1935 Cardinals, Davis feuded with Dizzy Dean. Dean accused him of not hustling after a foul during a loss to Cincinnati, and insisted on a different catcher the next time out. Teammates sided with Davis, but manager Frankie Frisch complied with Dean's demand. Davis managed the Pirates briefly in 1946. (TJ)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 11, 1928: The Cards and Phils swap catchers, with Spud Davis going to Philley and Jimmy Wilson to St. Louis. Wilson, the better defensive backstop, will improve the Cards. » April 18, 1929: In Philadelphia, the twice-deferred opener unfolds before a frigid 6,000 with the Giants handing the Quakers an 11–9 loss. For the first time in 15 years, the Giants dress at their hotel and taxi to the ball park. Lefty O'Doul bangs a pair of homers for Philley, while Hurst and Larry Benton, in relief of winning pitcher Hubbell, add round trippers for New York. Benton's comes in the Giants 6-run 9th, when the New Yorkers twice pull off successful double steals. Each time Phils catcher Virgil Davis fires the ball into CF. » November 15, 1933: Cards C Jimmie Wilson is swapped to the Phillies to become manager. St. Louis gets hard-hitting Virgil Davis in exchange. » July 26, 1936: Before a paid attendance of 41,596 in Boston—the largest crowd in the National League since 1930—the Cards and Bees split. The Bees take the opener, 4–3, on Wally Berger's two run homer in the 8th inning off Jess Haines. The nitecap is knotted at 2–2 in the 7th, when the Cards unload five runs. Joe Medwick leads off the frame with a homer, Johnny Mize doubles, and Virgil Davis homers to knock out Ben Cantwell. After two more reach base, Dizzy Dean drives them both home to ensure his 16th win of the year. Dean a run-scoring triple in the 3rd as well. » December 2, 1936: The Cards sell Virgil Davis and Charley Gelbert to the Reds, and the Browns buy Ethan Allen from the Cubs. » June 13, 1938: In a stellar move for Cincinnati, Philadelphia's Bucky Walters is sold to the Reds for $55,000 plus players Virgil Davis and Al Hollingsworth. » March 3, 1940: The Boston Bees sell Debs Garms to the Pirates. Garms will get only 358 at bats for the Bucs but, nevertheless, will lead the NL in hitting with a .355 average. Unlike the AL's 400 at bats, the NL rules state that a player must appear in at least a hundred games: Garms will play in 103. Ford Frick, NL prexy, will clarify this in September when it is clear that Garms will not reach the 400 ABs. (Pirate teammate Virgil Davis will be the nominal runnerup at .326, but play just 99 games). Garms will drop to .264 in 1941 and he will be out of baseball in 1942.