SAHARA - Game 1 hero Babe Herman quickly learned the meaning of the phrase "hero today, goat tomorrow." Herman, who won Game 1 with a single in the
bottom of the 11th inning, made a costly error in the outfield in Game 2, as the Mississippi Misfits destroyed the Sahara Jihad 9-0. The victory evened
the DBS World Series at one game apiece, with the Series moving to Mississippi for Game 3 on Tuesday.
Although the three errors made by the Jihad surprised most fans, the pitching of Burleigh Grimes did not. Grimes, the
leading candidate for most of the post-season pitching awards, mowed down the Jihad batters, firing a masterful, complete game five-hitter.
The game began with an unusual version of the National Anthem. Rising star Lawrence Welk, 24, with a small band of musicians he called
"Champagne Musicians," performed the Anthem among bubbles and polyester. There was a slight delay to the start of the game as Amelia Earhart,
who became the first woman to fly the across the Atlantic in June, was an unexplained no-show. Charles Lindbergh saved the festivities by
filling in for the missing Earhart.
Both Grimes and Jihad hurler Waite Hoyt appeared to start Game 2 with a repeat of Game 1 in mind. The All-Star pitchers both had little trouble
in the first two inning disposing of enemy batsmen.
However, in the top of the third, Mississippi right fielder Goose Goslin hit a hanging curveball from Hoyt to dead center field for a quick
1-0 lead. "It was a bad pitch, it didn't break," Hoyt said after the game. It was a precursor for good things for Goslin and his Misfit teammates.
Hoyt continued to have little difficulty until the top of the fifth inning. George Sisler and Freddie Lindstrom led off the inning with
singles, followed by a walk to Goslin to load the bases. The usually sharp Hoyt then walked clean-up man Hack Wilson to bring in the second
run. Two more singles, a sacrifice fly, and an error by Jihad shortstop Joe Boley would bring in three more runs. By the time the dust
settled on the top of the fifth, the Misfits led 5-0 and the game was virtually over.
From that point, Misfits ace Burleigh Grimes took complete control of the game. Grimes only allowed two more hits for the remainder of
the game, struck out two and only allowed two other balls to even reach the outfield. His performance and explanation dispelled any
questions that he should have started Game 1 on only three days rest. Grimes said, "I felt real comfortable out there today. The spitter
was working really well, and the extra day off was a big difference."
The Misfits were able to tack on a few more runs in a very strange top of the seventh inning. Hack Wilson led off with a single, and
Herman's relay went over his infielders' heads allowing Wilson to go to second. With two out
and Wilson still on second, Riggs Stephenson laced a double to right center, but Wilson was unable to see the ball and wound up at third
when he should have scored. The issue was resolved when the next batter, shortstop Jackie Tavener, continued his timely hitting with a single
brought home the confused Wilson. "I really didn't see the ball. I knew I should have scored when I saw Riggs rounding second. I was really
embarrassed... Thanks, Jackie!!" Grimes then added to his player of the game status by singling to center to drive in another run, and
giving the Misfits an 8-0 lead.
The scoring ended in the top of the eighth when Goslin doubled and was eventually brought home by a sacrifice fly.
MISSISSIPPI AB R H RBI SAHARA AB R H RBI
Sisler, 1B 6 1 1 0 Kamm, 3B 4 0 2 0
Lindstrom, 3b 5 1 1 0 S.Rice, rf 4 0 0 0
Goslin, rf 4 3 3 1 Hafey, lf 3 0 1 0
H.Wilson, cf 4 2 1 1 Bottomley, 1b 3 0 0 0
Hartnett, c 5 0 2 1 Herman, cf 4 0 1 0
Frisch, 2B 2 0 0 2 Brannan, 2b 3 0 1 0
Stephenson, lf 5 1 3 0 Boley, ss 3 0 0 0
Tavener, ss 4 1 2 1 McGowan, ph 1 0 0 0
Grimes, p 5 0 1 1 Ruel, c 3 0 0 0
Hoyt, p 2 0 0 0
Sherdel, p 1 0 0 0
TOTAL 40 9 14 7 TOTAL 31 0 5 0
MISSISSIPPI 001 040 310 - 9 14 1
SAHARA 000 000 000 - 0 5 3
E: Goslin, Herman, Boley 2. LOB: Mississippi 10, Sahara 6.
2B: Kamm, Hafey, Stephenson, Goslin. HR: Goslin (1). CS: Brannan.
BB: Hafey, Bottomley, Frisch, Tavener, Goslin, Wilson.
SO: Boley, Ruel, Hafey, Grimes 2, Frisch. SF: Frisch 2
MISSISSIPPI IP H R ER BB SO
Grimes (W 1-0) 9 5 0 0 2 3
SAHARA IP H R ER BB SO
Hoyt (L 0-1) 6.2 12 8 6 4 2
Sherdel 2.1 2 1 1 0 1
Umpires: Home, McCormick; 1b, Klem; 2b, Wilson; 3b; Nallin; lf; McGowan; rf; Owens;
T: 2:37 A: 60,805