Books and articles about Dizzy Dean

Dizzy Dean actually had only six full seasons in the majors, but no player packed more accomplishments, excitement, and shenanigans into a shorter time.

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RELATED LINKS Photos » Photo: Three Superstars from Black Baseball in Kansas City » Photo: Dizzy Dean carried off the field (1935 World Series, Game Four) » Photo: Diz Warms Up, 1938 from Baseball Between the Wars » Photo: Dean With the Cubs from Baseball Between the Wars Book Excerpts » "Paul could throw harder than Dizzy, but he didn't have the curve or know-how": Charlie Gehringer Ask The Experts » Why did hitters suffer in 1968? » Who were the Gashouse Gang? » What were some of Dizzy Dean's weird phrases? » What numbers did the Dean brothers wear while they were playing? » What was the World Series roster for the 1934 St. Louis Cardinals? Around the Web » This Date in Baseball - July 30 from dfw.com » Dizzy Dean from baseball-reference.com » Dizzy Dean from thebaseballpage.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Dean was given his nickname by his sergeant in the army, where he picked up the basics of pitching. He was pitching for a semi-pro team in San Antonio when a manager in the Cardinals' farm system spotted him at a tryout camp. The Cardinals signed him, and he split 1930 between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Houston, rolling up a combined 25-10 minor league record before pitching a three-hitter for St. Louis on the last day of the season. Returned to Houston for the 1931 campaign, Dean struck out 303 batters on his way to 26 victories.

As a rookie in 1932, the 21-year-old Dean was joining the "Gas House Gang" World Champions. He won 18 and led the NL in strikeouts, shutouts, and innings pitched. He helped his own cause repeatedly with superb fielding, a .258 batting average, and fine speed on the bases. From 1933 to 1936 Dean absolutely dominated batters. During this stretch he won 102 games, led the league in complete games each year, and averaged 50 games and more than 300 innings per season. He was the unquestioned ace of the Cardinal staff and would often come in from the bullpen between starts. In 1933 he struck out 17 Cubs in a game, a major league record at that time.

During spring training in 1934, Dizzy proudly predicted that he and his brother Paul would win 45 games that season. The incredible prediction seemed ludicrous because Paul had never pitched a game in the majors. Yet Dizzy's boast proved conservative; he won 30 and Paul won 19. Dizzy led the league in wins, strikeouts, shutouts, and complete games, was second to Carl Hubbell for the ERA crown, and batted .246. He easily outdistanced Paul Waner for the MVP award. He capped off his spectacular year with two wins over the Tigers in the World Series, including a shutout in the seventh game.

The 1935 season proved a virtual carbon copy of 1934 as the Deans won 47. Dizzy slipped to 28 victories but still led the league in many pitching categories. This time he was edged out by Gabby Hartnett for MVP. Dean won 24 and saved 11 the next year and again narrowly missed the MVP award, losing to Carl Hubbell.

In 1937 Dean appeared headed for another 25-win season by the All-Star break. Exhausted from the toll of so many innings, he asked to sit out the All-Star Game but went at the urging of Cardinal owner Sam Breadon. As the starter for the NL, Dean suffered a broken toe when he was struck by an Earl Averill line drive. Dean tried to come back before it had fully healed, altering his pitching motion to favor the injured foot, but the change brought on bursitis in his valuable right arm.

Traded to the Cubs for three players and $185,000 just before the start of the 1938 season, he replaced his blazing fastball and dazzling curve with a changeup and slow curve. Dean was able to chip in a 7-1 mark with a 1.81 ERA in 13 games, helping Chicago to the NL pennant. Over the next three years Dean appeared in only 30 games. At age 30 he retired and became a broadcaster for the St. Louis Browns. In 1947, after frequent criticism of Browns hurlers all year, Dean took the mound himself three times. In the last game of the season he shut out the White Sox for four innings and got a base hit in his only at-bat.

Dean's meteoric pitching career provided ample reason to immortalize him. His bold and zany antics on and off the field have made him one of the most recognizable characters in American folklore. He loved to challenge and bait opposing players before and during games. He was a relentless braggart; fortunately he was as good as he said he was. He gambled and was pretty good at that too. Dean and Pepper Martin formed the core of the Gas House Gang. Whether in the dugout, clubhouse, or hotel, Dean and Martin could be expected to be up to some sort of prank. His popularity and colorful approach to the game continued unabated when he entered the radio broadcaster's booth. His malapropisms and blatant avoidance of the rules of grammar were legendary, and fans loved it. In 1950 he began doing baseball's Game of the Week on national television. He remained in sportscasting for more than 20 years. (FO)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » August 29, 1911: After belting a 14th inning homer on August 17th off the Browns' Jack Powell, A's pitcher Jack Coombs hits another extra inning round tripper, this time in the 11th off the Tigers Ralph "Judge" Works. Coombs's homer is the last one hit at Detroit's Bennett Park. Among major league pitchers, only Dizzy Dean will hit two extra-inning homers. » September 28, 1930: Dizzy Dean scatters three hits for a 3-1 victory in his major-league debut. The 19-year-old rookie, fresh from the Texas League, pitches the final game of the season for the pennant-winning Cardinals. » August 14, 1932: Cardinals rookie Dizzy Dean fans six Cubs in a row, one less than the record, and wins 2-1 in the 10th. » September 3, 1932: Winning 3–0, Dizzy Dean stops the Cubs' winning streak in the 2nd game of a doubleheader after Chicago wins its 14th straight in the opener. Diz fans seven to further increase his NL-leading total. The Cubs take the opener, 5–4, in 11 innings » September 13, 1932: Brooklyn's Jack Quinn earns his 247th ML victory at age 49 pitching a complete game 6–5 win over the Cardinals. It is the final win of his career. Dizzy Dean fans nine in the nitecap, but the Cards lose, 3–1. » June 6, 1933: The Cards and Reds battle to a 6–2 St. Louis decision, with Dizzy Dean beating Paul Derringer. The pre-game fight between the two pitchers, who exchanged words then fists during batting practice, goes to the Reds pitcher, who landed the first blow. Reds manager Jewel Ens was tossed during the game, and several bottles were tossed as well. One bottle strikes Burgess Whitehead on the shoulder. Pepper Martin, the National League's top hitter at .386, has four hits, as does Ducky Medwick. » June 21, 1933: In the Texas League, Shreveport pitcher Ralph Erickson no hits Houston and beats Dizzy Dean, 2–0. » July 30, 1933: The Cards Dizzy Dean sets a 20th-century major-league record with 17 strikeouts in the first game of a doubleheader with the Cubs. His teammate, C Jimmie Wilson, totals 18 putouts, also a new record. » September 30, 1933: In a 12–2 romp over the Cardinals, Babe Herman of the Chicago Cubs hits for the cycle, the 3rd time he has performed the feat. Guy Bush wins his 20th game, beating Dizzy Dean who finishes the season at 20–18. » March 12, 1934: Dizzy Dean's younger brother, Paul, ends his holdout. Diz predicts they will win between 40 and 45 games between them. They do even better, winning 49, with Dizzy contributing 30. » April 22, 1934: Lon Warneke pitches his 2nd straight one-hitter, beating Dizzy Dean, as the Cubs romp over the Cards 15-2. » May 20, 1934: In the second matchup of Dizzy Dean and Carl Hubbell, Diz comes out ahead again, 9–5. » June 23, 1934: The Cards beat the Dodgers 5–4 with the win credited to Bill Hallahan, who relieves in the 6th inning and gives up a run. In the bottom half, the Cards score five runs, and Dizzy Dean comes in and shuts out Brooklyn in the last three innings. The official scorer refers the decision on the winning pitcher to NL president Heydler, who gives it to Dean, eventually making his 30-win season possible. Heydler's telegram (as noted by Bill Deane) reads in part: "Dean pitched great ball during three innings to protect one-run lead and is winner. Hallahan pitched one inning rather poorly and did not stand to lose the game even had he continued." » June 27, 1934: The temperature reaches 115 degrees at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Dizzy Dean leaves the game with two out and the score tied 7–7 in the top of the 9th. Reliever Jim Mooney retires Mel Ott, and when Bill Delancey homers in the bottom of the inning to win the game, Dean is given credit for the win, his 12th of the year, though he wasn't the pitcher of record when the winning run scores. As on the 24th, Mike Haley, the scorer who had been overruled earlier that day, is the scorer and gives the win to Dean. Taking no chances, he asks Heydler to review his decision and Heydler agrees. » July 1, 1934: The Cardinals outlast the Reds 8-6 in an 18-inning first game of a double bill in Cincinnati. Dizzy Dean and Tony Frietas duel for 17 innings. » July 28, 1934: The veteran Waite Hoyt stops Dizzy Dean's win streak at 10 with a 5-4 win in Pittsburgh. » August 7, 1934: Dizzy Dean becomes the first pitcher to reach 20 wins this season with a 2-0 shutout over the Reds. » August 16, 1934: Dizzy Dean takes his appeal to Judge Landis in Chicago, who schedules a hearing in St. Louis. » August 20, 1934: Judge Landis rules against Dizzy Dean. The Cards end his suspension, and Dean returns to the team to avoid further loss in salary. » September 10, 1934: Dizzy Dean wins his 25th game, beating the Phillies 4–1. It is the fifth straight for the Cards, now four games behind. » September 28, 1934: The Cardinals gain a tie for first. The Giants are idle, as Dizzy Dean, on 2 days rest, shuts out the Reds 4-0 for his 29th win. » September 30, 1934: Dizzy Dean clinches the pennant with his 30th win, 9-0 over the Reds, as the Dodgers again beat the Giants 8-5. » October 3, 1934: Dizzy Dean wins the opening game of the WS 8-3, as Detroit manager Mickey Cochrane holds back his ace, Schoolboy Rowe. Veteran Al Crowder is ineffective as the Cardinals romp. Joe Medwick homers in a 4-for-4 day while the Tigers make 5 errors. » October 6, 1934: It is the Cardinals turn to play poorly, and they make 5 errors to lose 10-4. Dizzy Dean, used as a pinch runner, is carried off the field after being hit in the head by Billy Rogell's throw. Hank Greenberg ties the WS record with 4 hits. » October 9, 1934: Dizzy Dean makes good his boast that "me and Paul will win all 4 games." He humbles Detroit 11-0, as the Tigers go to pieces. When Joe Medwick slides roughly into 3B in the 6th inning, he tangles with Marv Owen. Irate Tigers fans in the temporary LF stands then launch a barrage of fruit at Medwick, halting the game. With the score at 9-0, Commissioner Landis removes Medwick from the game "for his own safety." » November 3, 1934: Although Lou Gehrig wins the Triple Crown with 49 home runs, 165 RBI, and a .363 BA, Mickey Cochrane, with two home runs, 76 RBI, and a .320 BA, is named American League MVP. Cochrane has 67 points to finish ahead of teammates Charlie Gehringer (65 points) and Schoolboy Rowe (59 points). Lefty Gomez of the Yankees polls 60. Dizzy Dean, with a 30-7 record, is chosen as National League MVP easily outdistancing Pitt's Paul Waner. » February 6, 1935: Dizzy Dean declares himself a holdout, demanding $25,000. He signs the next day for $19,500. » March 20, 1935: At St. Petersburg, the Cards set a spring training record, drawing 6,467 in a match against the Boston Braves. The big draw is Babe Ruth, who hits a towering fly against Dizzy Dean, then, after Diz departs, laces two doubles into the overflowing crowd. The Cards win, 5–4. » May 5, 1935: Thirty thousand fans are on hand in Boston to watch two superstars face each other—the Cardinals with young Dizzy Dean on the mound against the Braves with 40-year-old Babe Ruth. Diz walks Ruth his first two times up, then with two strikes on the Bambino, Dean waves his outfielders back and pipes a fast ball down the middle that Ruth misses. Dean wins the game, 7–0, and in his first at bat, homers over Ruth's head in right. Dean will face Ruth again on the 19th, holding the Babe hitless again, and win that game as well. » June 11, 1935: Despite a hostile home town crowd, Dizzy Dean tosses a six-hitter at the Cubs as the Cards win, 13–2. » September 4, 1935: The Cards score four in the 8th, then Dizzy Dean picks up a save in the 9th to beat the Braves, 5–3. Jess Haines, who fails for the 11th time to win his 200th game, is lifted after seven for Bill Walker who promptly tees up Wally Berger's 30th homer of the year. Walker gives up two hits but is the winning pitcher. » September 6, 1935: The Cards again top Boston, 6–4, with Frisch's triple in the 8th a key blow. Dizzy Dean notches his 24th win. » September 8, 1935: The Cards fail to increase their lead as they split with the Phils. In the opener, Dizzy Dean wins his 25th game, but the Birds lose 4–2 in the night cap when they strand 16 runners. St. Louis outhits the Phils 13 to 4. Rain washes out the Cubs game at Wrigley. » September 12, 1935: Dizzy Dean wins his 26th, a 5–2 victory over New York's Carl Hubbell, to keep the Cardinals in 1st place by a game. But the Cards Ducky Medwick has his hitting streak stopped at 28 straight games » September 13, 1935: Friday the 13th brings bad luck to the Cards. Trailing the Giants 10–6 in the last of the 9th, the Cards tie it up and then give the ball to Dizzy Dean. But the Giants score three in the 10th against the tired star, to win 13–10. With Larry French and the Cubs beating the Dodgers 4–1, St. Louis now leads the NL by four percentage points. » September 15, 1935: Before an overflow crowd of 41,284 in St. Louis, the Giants Carl Hubbell outpitches Dizzy Dean to give New York a 7–3 win. It is the 2nd time in four days the two aces have matched up. The Giants, winners of 14 out of their last 22 games, are now just one 1/2 games behind the Cardinals. » September 17, 1935: With Terry Moore sidelined after fracturing his foot yesterday, the Cards top Brooklyn, 4–2 behind Jess Haines. Paul Dean saves the game in relief. In the 2nd game of the doubleheader in St. Louis, a tired Dizzy Dean again fails in relief, giving up three runs in relief, as Brooklyn wins 8–7. The Cards are now trailing the Cubs by two 1/2 games. » September 19, 1935: Dizzy Dean tops Brooklyn 9–1 as Frisch and Charley Gelbert each have three hits for St. Louis. » September 22, 1935: The Cards shave the lead to three games by twice beating the Reds, 14–4 and 3–1. Mike Ryba, in relief of Bill Hallahan in the 2nd, wins the opener pitching seven innings of two-hit ball in his major league debut. He also knocks in three runs on two hits. Dizzy Dean wins his 28th, allowing just three hits and striking out ten, to take the nitecap. » September 27, 1935: The Cubs clinch the NL pennant in the first game of a doubleheader with the Cardinals, 6–2, besting Dizzy Dean, as Bill Lee wins his 20th. The Cubs tally 15 hits off Diz, led by Freddie Lindstrom's 4. With Roy Henshaw's victory, 5–3, in the nitecap, the Cubs extend their win streak to an incredible 21 games and reach the 100-win mark. Only once during the winning tsreak have the Cubs pitchers given up more than three runs. The streak ties the franchise mark set in 1880. » October 23, 1935: Gabby Hartnett is selected by the BBWAA as the NL MVP, with Dizzy Dean the runner-up. » March 23, 1936: After an acrimonious holdout, Dizzy Dean signs for a reported $24,000 and an understanding that the only fines levied will be major ones. » May 12, 1936: After the Dodgers beat Dizzy Dean, 5–2, at Ebbets Field, Cardinal captain Leo Durocher and Casey Stengel agree to meet under the stands and the Dodger manager gets a cut lip in a brief fight. The fight was the result of much bickering about calls during the game and some pre-game bantering. » May 22, 1936: Collecting 17 hits, including eight doubles, the Cards overwhelm the Pirates, 11–4. Dizzy Dean breezes to his 6th win and the Cards increase their lead to one 1/2 games. Pepper Martin scores in his 13th consecutive game, but will go runless tomorrow. » May 31, 1936: Stu Martin 4th hit of the game, a single in the 12th inning, drives in the winning run as the Cards beat the Reds, 8–7. Dizzy Dean 'scatters' 19 hits, including five by Lew Riggs, in winning his 9th. » July 7, 1936: The National League, having lost the first three All-Star Games, wins 4–3 at Boston's National League Park with four different Cub players (Galan, Herman, Hartnett, and Demaree) scoring runs. After Dizzy Dean and Carl Hubbell each pitch scoreless 3-inning stints, Curt Davis is hammered by the American League, including Lou Gehrig's home run, but Lon Warneke shuts the door. Meanwhile, the NL is helped by Joe DiMaggio's loose fielding and error and Augie Galan's home run. DiMag is the first rookie to play in an All-Star game. NL plays its starting lineup except for two late-inning pinch hitters. Local favorite and 3-time starter Wally Berger doesn't appear. Missing from the NL roster are Dolph Camilli and Buck Jordan, co-leaders at .348, as well as the eventual batting champ Paul Waner. » July 21, 1936: Cardinals slugger Joe Medwick has 10 hits in succession to equal the National League record. He had seven hits in his last seven times at bat in a doubleheader on the 19th, and he hits safely in his first three today. He is finally stopped by the Giants Carl Hubbell. The Giants break a 1–1 tie on Dick Bartell's homer in the 10th off Dizzy Dean to win, 2–1. » 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. » August 10, 1936: The Cards are back in first place, beating the Cubs in a game interrupted by a fight between former teammates Dizzy Dean and Tex Carleton. » October 20, 1936: Carl Hubbell, 26-6, edges out Dizzy Dean, 24-13, for MVP honors in the NL. » April 2, 1937: Dizzy Dean, Paul Dean, and Joe Medwick have a scuffle in a Tampa hotel lobby with New York News reporter Jack Miley and Chicago Times writer Irv Kupcinet. » May 19, 1937: Dizzy Dean instigates another donnybrook following a number of knockdown pitches in a game with the Giants. The Giants score three runs in the 6th inning after Dean is called for a balk by ump George Barr. Losing 4–1 to Carl Hubbell in the 9th, Dean knocks down Jimmy Ripple with a pitch. Ripple follows with a bunt on the first base side in a effort to make Dean field the ball. The bunt, however, bounces to 2B Jimmy Brown, who prepares to throw to Johnny Mize at 1B. Dean, who had started toward the ball, keeps running and barrels into Ripple. The two benches empty, and when the field is cleared by the umpires and policemen, the batter Ripple, who was never put out at first base, is credited with a single. Catchers Gus Mancuso and Mickey Owen are ejected after staging their own private boxing match. The only player who doesn't leave the bench is Hubbell, who wins his 6th straight game of the year and 22nd regular-season decision in a row. The Cards scoreboard attendant counts pitches in the game: 172 by Dean and 93 by Hubbell (70 strikes, 23 balls). King Carl uses five pitches in both the 1st and 8th. » June 2, 1937: NL President Ford Frick suspends Dizzy Dean for refusing to retract statements made after a balk call in the May 19th game, which led to an on-field brawl. Dean forces a meeting with the press at which he denies the statements, and his suspension is lifted a few days later. » July 7, 1937: Lou Gehrig leads the AL All-Stars over the NL 8-3 with a HR, double, and four RBI. FDR attends the game in Washington. Dizzy Dean's toe is fractured by a drive off the bat of Earl Averill. After the injury Dean is unable to pitch with the same delivery. He uses an unnatural motion, causing an arm injury from which he never recovers. » April 16, 1938: Dizzy Dean is sold by the Cardinals to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs pay $200,000 and send P Curt Davis and Clyde Shoun to St. Louis. The Cardinals also buy Tuck Stainback from the Cubs for $15,000. » June 23, 1938: The Cubs sweep two at home against the Giants, winning 7–4 and 3–1. Bill Lee is the victor in the opener, topping Harry Gumbert, while Dizzy Dean bests Hal Schumacher in game 2. » September 27, 1938: With the Pirates 11Ž2 game up on the Cubs, Dizzy Dean shuts out the Bucs for 8 innings. In the 9th Bill Lee relieves Dean, and the Cubs win 2-1. » June 18, 1939: Dizzy Dean of the Cubs, trying to regain his old form, beats Brooklyn 1-0 on Gabby Hartnett's HR. » June 3, 1940: The Cubs get waivers from all 15 teams and send Dizzy Dean to Tulsa (Texas League). Dean has submitted to a number of treatments, including teeth extraction, but his arm has not responded, and the Cubs hope the Texas League sun will help. He will pitch moderately well and is a great ticket seller. » August 28, 1940: The Cubs recall Dizzy Dean from Dallas and release Billy Rogell. » May 14, 1941: The Cubs finally give up on Dizzy Dean. Diz gets his release the same day that brother Paul Dean is sent to the minors by the Giants. Diz will sign on as a coach. » January 5, 1946: Catcher Walker Cooper goes to the Giants. The sale by the Cardinals for $175,000 is the highest cash deal ever. The Joe Cronin transaction in 1934 and the Dizzy Dean sale in 1938 were larger deals but also involved other players. Cooper was considered the best catcher in the game before his 1945 induction into the Navy following a salary dispute with the team. » September 28, 1947: On the season's last day, the Browns, desperate for a ticket seller, bring announcer Dizzy Dean in to pitch against the White Sox. Diz gives up only 3 hits in 4 innings and laces a clean single in his only at bat, but a pulled leg muscle forces his retirement. The White Sox score all their runs in the 9th to win 5-2. Even with Diz, the game draws less than 16,000, and the Browns finish the year with only 320,000 attendance, less than half that of 1946. Three days before the finale a Browns' game drew only 350. » April 11, 1950: The Texas League opener between Dallas and Tulsa is staged in the Cotton Bowl. The Dallas starters taking the field include Ty Cobb, Mickey Cochrane, Tris Speaker, Dizzy Dean, Travis Jackson, Frank Baker, Charlie Gehringer as well as Duffy Lewis and Dallas manager, Charlie Grimm, the two non-Hall of Famers. After Dean throws one pitch, the squad is replaced by the regular Dallas Eagles team. 53,578 fans, the largest paid crowd (since surpassed) in minor-league history, cheer. » January 21, 1953: The Hall of Fame passes over Joe DiMaggio in his first year of eligibility and elects P Dizzy Dean and OF Al Simmons to Cooperstown. Dean gathers 209 votes while Simmons' total of 199 is one more than needed. Also joining DiMag, who finished 8th in the voting, are in order Bill Terry, Bill Dickey, Rabbit Maranville, Dazzy Vance, Ted Lyons, Chief Bender (9th) and Gabby Hartnett (10th). All will eventually make it. » July 27, 1953: Dizzy Dean and Al Simmons are inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown. Along with them, the veterans committee enshrines Chief Bender, Bobby Wallace, 19th-century manager Harry Wright, executive Ed Barrow, and umpires Bill Klem and Tom Connolly. » August 31, 1959: Sandy Koufax breaks Dizzy Dean's National League mark and ties Bob Feller's major-league record of 18 strikeouts in a game against the Giants as 82,974 fans watch. He also totals 31 Ks for two consecutive games to set a new ML mark. Wally Moon's 3-run, 9th-inning home run wins it 5–2 for the Dodgers. » September 14, 1968: Denny McLain becomes the first 30-game winner since Dizzy Dean in 1934, as the Tigers beat the A's 5–4. Reggie Jackson's homer in the 4th puts the A' s ahead 2–0 but Norm Cash answers with a 3-run shot. Reggie hits another in the 6th, but the Tigers push across two in the 9th to win. Kaline, pinch hitting for McLain, walks and scores the tying run. Denny (30–5) gives up six hits and strikes out 10.