Mid-Summer Classic
 CRACKERJACK LEAGUE DOMINATES 1944 MSC GAME; Stirnweiss Named MVP In 9-2 Victory July 6, 1944 [Boxscore] FRISCO, TX: Although many observers contend the Peanut League boasts the majority of the game's top hitters, it was the Crackerjack League that did almost all of the hitting in today's Midsummer Classic game. The Crackerjacks pounded out 16 hits enroute to a 9 to 2 victory, and held the Peanut team scoreless until there were 2 out in the bottom of the 9th. The Crackerjacks roughed up Peanut starter Ken Raffensberger, scoring 5 runs off of him before he was chased from the mound with no outs in the 3rd inning. The first 2 Crackerjack runs were scored in the 2nd inning on a double by Frenchy Bordagaray, a single by Eddie Mayo, and a triple by Snuffy Stirnweiss. The Peanuts threatened to get something started in the bottom of the 2nd when Jim Tabor reached 1st with a 2-out single. The next batter, Ernie Lombardi, hit a popup into shallow right center field that looked it would drop for another hit. But Stirnweiss pulled off a great play when he ran into the outfield and made a diving catch with his back to home plate to end the inning. The Crackerjack team took control of the game in the top of the 3rd with 6 hits and 5 runs off of Raffensberger and Bill Voiselle. In both the 2nd and 3rd innings the Peanut team appeared to pay a price for the fact that rightfielder Roy Cullenbine was forced to play in left field, where he seemed to have difficulty dealing with some of the balls hit into his territory although he did not commit any errors. The Crackerjacks scored 2 more runs in the 8th inning to run the score to 9-0, and looked as if they would shut out the Peanut lineup until Nick Strincevich was brought in to get the final out of the game. Strincevich had trouble finding the plate at first, and Eddie Stanky waited him out for a walk on 4 pitches. Stan Musial dropped a single into shallow center, and Bobby Doerr followed with a triple to left center that drove in both runners. But Strincevich retired Stan Spence on a ground out to end the game. In a ceremony after the game, Snuffy Stirnweiss was named the game's Most Valuable Player after getting 4 hits in 6 at bats, including a double and a triple, while scoring once and driving in 2 runs. Crackerjack manager Frank Drigotas was awarded his first Midsummer Classic trophy. |