1944 East-West Game

The 1944 East-West Game was the 12th East-West Game at Comiskey Park. It was held in front of 46,247 fans on August 13, 1944.

For the first couple innings, things went back and forth. The West got to starter Terris McDuffie in the bottom of the first, on a single by Artie Wilson and errors by Sam Bankhead and Buck Leonard (the only miscues of the contest). In the second, Josh Gibson tripled off Verdell Mathis and scored on a single by Johnny Davis. The West took the lead back in the third when Alec Radcliffe tripled in Buddy Armour. In the fourth, the East tied it again, Leonard tripled against Gentry Jessup and came around to score.

The West had the game's big inning in the 5th to run away with it. Ducky Davenport and Armour singled off Carrenza Howard, then Radcliffe hit a long fly to center to score Davenport. Barney Serrell singled, then Archie Ware doubled to make it 5-2. Barney Morris relieved Howard but the relief was minimal as Ted Radcliffe took him deep with a shot to left field to cap the 5-run rally.

The East staged a comeback in the 7th. Gibson hit a pitch from Gread McKinnis 440' off of the top of the public address system in center field, but the ball bounced back onto the field, making it a double. Gibson was retired on the bases, but the East was not done, as Sammy Bankhead got to second base, then scored on a pinch-hit single by Roy Campanella. Ray Dandridge drove in Campy with the game's last run.

For the East, top offensive stars were Dandridge (3 for 5, 2B, RBI), Gibson (2 for 3, 2B, R, BB), Davis (2 for 3, RBI, BB) and McDuffie (a triple in his only at-bat). On the other hand, Cool Papa Bell and Pancho Coimbre were each 0-for-5. On the mound, the only East pitcher to fare well was Bill Byrd (shutout ball in the 8th and 9th) while Howard (4 R in 1 2/3 IP) took the loss. Defensively, Dandridge also excelled, with three big plays in the field.

The winning West got big days from the Radcliffe brothers - Ted was 3 for 4 with his 2-run homer while Alec went 2 for 4 with a triple, 2 RBI and two key defensive stops. Wilson, Armour and Serrell each got two hits and Serrell added a walk. Mathis and Jessup each allowed one run in three innings while Gene Bremer tossed 1 2/3 scoreless to save it. McKinnis (4 H, 2 R, BB in 1 1/3 IP) was their only moundsman to get beaten badly.