Hale was named Bad News by enemy pitchers. A good RBI man, twice exceeding 100 in
a season, he hit for the cycle on July 12, 1958. He made the most errors among AL
second basemen in 1934 and third basemen in 1935, but he led third basemen in assists
in 1935 and 1936. One peculiar assist in 1935 came when the Red Sox loaded the bases
against the Indians. Joe Cronin hit a line drive that conked Indians third baseman
Hale in the head. Deflected to the shortstop on the fly, the ball was relayed to
second base and on to first for a triple play.
(EW)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»September 7, 1935: Cleveland beats Boston thanks to an unusual triple play. With no outs and the bases loaded in game 1, and the Indians leading, 5–3, in the 9th, the Indians bring in Oral Hildebrand to pitch to Joe Cronin. Cronin lines his first pitch off the side of the head of Cleveland 3B Odell Hale. The ball caroms to SS Bill Knickerbocker, who throws to 2B Roy Hughes, who throws to 1B Hal Trosky to finish the triple play ending the game.
»August 6, 1937:
In a 10-inning game Cleveland outfielders have no chances against the Yankees. In the 10th inning Joe DiMaggio hits a drive which 3B Odell Hale deflects into foul territory. One umpire calls it foul, so the Indians LF fails to chase after the ball. But the other umpire overrules the first, allowing the winning run to score because of the OF's idleness. Cleveland protest of the game will be upheld.
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