1949 AL Game: Opening Day in Detroit!

April 19, 1949

  It was Opening Day for the Detroit Tigers and they hosted the Chicago White Sox. It was a wet start of the season at Briggs Stadium but over 37,000 fans still turned out for the game and they didn't go home disappointed. In a well pitched game by both clubs the Tigers won it in dramatic fashion 3-2. After tying the game in the 8th inning, with 2 out in the bottom of the 9th Johnny Groth blasted a homerun into the leftfield seats for the victory. Hal Newhouser went the distance for Detroit.

BOXSCORE: 1949 Chicago White Sox At 1949 Detroit Tigers             4/19/1949
 
  White Sox          AB  R  H RBI AVG     Tigers             AB  R  H RBI AVG
  F.Baker 3B          4  1  2  0 .500     N.Berry 2B          4  1  2  1 .500  
  D.Philley CF        4  0  1  0 .250     J.Lipon SS          4  0  1  0 .250  
  L.Appling SS        4  0  0  0 .000     G.Kell 3B           4  0  1  1 .250  
  G.Zernial LF        3  0  1  0 .333     V.Wertz RF          4  0  0  0 .000  
  P.Seerey RF         3  1  1  0 .333     H.Evers LF          4  0  1  0 .250  
  C.Michaels 2B       3  0  2  0 .667     A.Robinson C        2  0  0  0 .000  
  B.Souchock 1B       3  0  0  0 .000     J.Groth CF          4  1  1  1 .250  
  J.Tipton C          3  0  0  0 .000     S.Vico 1B           3  0  0  0 .000  
  A.Gettel P          3  0  0  0 .000     H.Newhouser P       3  1  1  0 .333  
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      30  2  7  0                 Totals      32  3  7  3
 
 
White Sox....... 0 0 0  1 1 0  0 0 0  -  2  7  0
Tigers.......... 0 0 1  0 0 0  0 1 1  -  3  7  0
 
White Sox (0-1)          IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA
A.Gettel LOSS(0-1)        8 2/3   7   3   3   2   2   1   3.12
Totals                    8 2/3   7   3   3   2   2   1
 
Tigers (1-0)             IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR    ERA
H.Newhouser WIN(1-0)      9       7   2   2   0   0   0   2.00
Totals                    9       7   2   2   0   0   0
 
ATTENDANCE- 37,529 DATE- Tuesday, April 19th 1949 TIME- Day WEATHER- Bad
T- 2:21
LEFT ON BASE- White Sox: 1  Tigers: 5
DOUBLE PLAYS- White Sox: 1  Tigers: 3
DOUBLES- G.Zernial(1st), H.Evers(1st)
TRIPLES- H.Newhouser
HOME RUNS- J.Groth(1st)
RBIs- N.Berry(1st), G.Kell(1st), J.Groth(1st)
WALKS- A.Robinson-2
STRIKE OUTS- V.Wertz, H.Evers
GIDP- D.Philley, L.Appling, B.Souchock, G.Kell
2-out RBI- G.Kell, J.Groth
RLISP 2-out- C.Michaels, S.Vico
TEAM RISP- White Sox: 1 for 4  Tigers: 2 for 5
WEB GEMS- Top 1st: Hoot Evers robbed Dave Philley of an extra base hit.
 
Hal Newhouser allowed Red Rolfe to rest his bullpen, tossing a complete game
and second baseman Neil Berry had 2 base hits as the Detroit Tigers won at
Briggs Stadium in dramatic fashion over the Chicago White Sox, the final
score, 3 to 2.
 
The game was won by Detroit with a run in the 9th inning. After two were out
Johnny Groth ripped a solo home run giving Detroit the victory and sending
the 37,529 home-town fans home happy.  Detroit and Chicago each finished the
afternoon with 7 hits.  
 
Newhouser(1-0) lasted until the end allowing 2 runs for the win. Al
Gettel(0-1) was the loser.  He gave up 3 runs and 7 hits in 8 and 2/3
innings.