1946 Hall of Fame Game
On June 13, 1946, a crowd of 8,000 was expected at Doubleday Field. As it turns out, seats were added and more than 10,000 spectators showed up in attendance.
The reason for the throng of fans was the fifth Hall of Fame Game between the New York Giants and the Detroit Tigers.
With future Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg out of the lineup, the Tigers fell to the Giants 9-5 as New York was led by future Hall of Famer Mel Ott.
The matchup marked the first Hall of Fame Game since 1943, as the 1944 game between the Tigers and Giants was rained out and the 1945 game was canceled due to war travel restrictions.
The contest was practically over before it started as the Giants jumped all over Tigers starter Hal White – a native of Utica, N.Y., about 45 minutes from Cooperstown – to the tune of five runs on as many hits in the first inning. Sid Gordon fired the opening salvo with a slicing homer to right field. The Giants would add three more tallies on consecutive ground rule doubles and an RBI single.
Detroit was able to get two runs back in the bottom of the frame, one coming on a leadoff homer by shortstop Eddie Lake, his first of two solo shots for the day. However, the Giants would counter with two more runs in the second, bringing their total to seven runs scored in the first two innings.
White would give up nine runs on 10 hits in three innings before being pulled from the contest. Two Tigers relievers then combined to close up the game with six shutout innings.
Hal Schumacher, who was born 20 minutes north of Utica in Hinckley N.Y., made the start for the Giants. Schumacher tossed three innings giving up three runs on as many hits. Minor leaguer Dick Hoover, fresh out of the Navy, relieved Schumacher and threw six innings of two-run ball in his only appearance of the season.
Ott was 2-for-4 on the day with two RBI out of the three-hole, while another future Hall of Famer – Johnny Mize – went hitless in two at-bats hitting cleanup in the Giants' lineup.
The Giants' victory brought the Hall of Fame game series to a 4-1 margin in favor of the National League.
More Hall of Fame Games
1943 Hall of Fame Game
1947 Hall of Fame Game
1943 Hall of Fame Game
1947 Hall of Fame Game
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