Tigers vs. Cardinals: A Classic Matchup
The 1934 World Series pitted two star-studded teams against each other in what baseball fans quickly recognized as a special matchup. The Detroit Tigers, led by player-manager Mickey Cochrane, had finally broken through in the American League after years of disappointment. The St. Louis Cardinals, those scrappy characters known as the "Gas House Gang," had stormed back from a 7-game deficit in September to snatch the National League pennant from the New York Giants.

What followed was a seven-game battle that showcased both brilliant baseball and wild antics - exactly what you'd expect when the Gas House Gang was involved.

Game 1: Dizzy Dazzles Detroit
When 42,000 fans packed into Navin Field in Detroit for Game 1, they witnessed Dizzy Dean (RHP, STL) at his absolute best. The Cardinals' ace threw a complete game shutout, scattering eight hits while striking out five Tigers. The final score: Cardinals 8, Tigers 3.

Joe Medwick (OF, STL) starred with the bat, collecting three hits including a double, while Pepper Martin (3B, STL) swiped two bases and scored twice. Detroit's starting pitcher, "General" Alvin Crowder (RHP, DET), couldn't make it through the third inning.

After the game, a confident Dizzy told reporters, "Shucks, that wasn't nothin'. Me and Paul got this Series in the bag."

Game 2: Tigers Even the Score
The Tigers bounced back in Game 2 behind a masterful performance from schoolteacher-turned-pitcher Tommy Bridges (RHP, DET). Bridges went the distance, allowing just eight hits as Detroit evened the Series with a 3-2 win.

Charlie Gehringer (2B, DET), nicknamed "The Mechanical Man" for his consistent excellence, drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. Cardinals starter Bill Hallahan (LHP, STL) pitched well but couldn't match Bridges when it counted.

Game 3: Paul Dean's Moment
The Series shifted to Sportsman's Park in St. Louis for Game 3, where younger brother Paul Dean (RHP, STL) proved he belonged on the big stage. The rookie tossed a complete game, giving up just four hits as the Cardinals won 4-1.

Ripper Collins (1B, STL) provided the offensive spark with a two-run homer in the fourth inning that broke a 1-1 tie. The Tigers couldn't solve the younger Dean, managing just one extra-base hit all game.

"I told y'all my little brother can pitch almost as good as me," Dizzy crowed afterward. "Almost."

Game 4: Tigers Roar Back
Game 4 saw the Tigers even the Series again behind a 14-hit attack. Detroit pounded three Cardinals pitchers for 10 runs in a 10-4 rout.

Hank Greenberg (1B, DET), the Tigers' slugging first baseman, drove in four runs with a homer and a double. Even pitcher Eldon Auker (RHP, DET) got in on the action with two hits and an RBI.

The game featured a dust-up when Pepper Martin slid hard into Gehringer at second base, causing both benches to empty, though no punches were thrown. Just another day with the Gas House Gang.

Game 5: Martin's Heroics
In a pivotal Game 5, the Cardinals grabbed the Series lead with a 3-1 victory behind Tex Carleton (RHP, STL) and reliever Bill Walker (LHP, STL).

The star was Pepper Martin, who scored one run after stealing second and third bases, then drove in the insurance run with a perfect squeeze bunt in the eighth inning. The Tigers threatened in the ninth, but Walker shut the door.

Cardinals manager Frankie Frisch (2B, STL) called it "the best game of baseball I've ever been part of," high praise from a future Hall of Famer.

Game 6: Detroit Forces Game 7
Facing elimination, the Tigers responded with a convincing 4-3 win in Game 6. Tommy Bridges (RHP, DET) earned his second victory of the Series, while player-manager Mickey Cochrane (C, DET) delivered the key hit, a two-run single in the second inning.

Dizzy Dean, pitching on just two days' rest, surrendered three runs in eight innings. He complained afterward that his "arm was tired as a one-legged man in a dance contest," but promised he'd be ready for Game 7.

Game 7: The Medwick Incident
The decisive Game 7 became famous not just for the Cardinals' championship, but for one of the strangest incidents in World Series history.

Dizzy Dean, true to his word, was more than ready. He tossed a complete game six-hitter, allowing just two runs as the Cardinals cruised to an 11-0 victory and the world championship.

The game is remembered more for what happened in the sixth inning. Joe Medwick tripled to drive in a run, making the score 9-0. As he slid into third base, he appeared to kick Tigers third baseman Marv Owen (3B, DET). When Medwick took his position in left field for the bottom half of the inning, Tigers fans began throwing everything they could find at him – fruit, bottles, seat cushions.

The barrage continued for nearly half an hour. Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, watching from the stands, finally ordered Medwick removed from the game for his own safety. It remains the only time a player has been pulled from a World Series game because of fan behavior.

After the game, Medwick shrugged it off: "I didn't kick him, but if those fans want to think I did, what can I do about it? The game was already over anyway."

Champions of Baseball
The 1934 Cardinals secured their third world championship in nine years, cementing their place as the National League's top franchise. Dizzy Dean was the clear Series MVP (though no formal award existed yet), winning two games including the clincher.

The statistics tell the story: the Cardinals outhit the Tigers .279 to .245, outscored them 33-23, and played cleaner defense with just six errors to Detroit's nine.

But numbers can't capture what made this Cardinals team special. They weren't just great players – they were characters who played the game with a flair that captivated America. The Gas House Gang's 1934 championship remains one of baseball's most colorful triumphs, a perfect blend of skill and personality that fans still talk about almost a century later.

As Dizzy Dean summed it up in his folksy way: "We ain't just the best team in baseball. We're the most fun to watch, too."


Extra Innings:

CONCLUSION: LEGACY OF THE GANG
The 1934 Cardinals created a legacy that has endured for ninety-plus decades. While other Cardinals teams won more games or more championships, none captured the public imagination quite like the Gas House Gang.

Their combination of undeniable baseball skill and distinctive personality made them the perfect sports heroes for Depression-era America. They weren't polished corporate figures but flawed, relatable characters who played baseball with unmistakable joy and competitive fire.

The statistics confirm what contemporary observers knew -- this wasn't just a colorful bunch but a genuinely great baseball team. The 1934 Cardinals featured an MVP-caliber ace, multiple All-Stars, and a balanced attack without significant weaknesses. Their late-season surge to overtake the Giants and their seven-game World Series triumph over the Tigers showcased both their talent and their tenacity.

Ninety-one years later, the Gas House Gang remains the standard against which colorful baseball teams are measured. Their statistics prove their excellence, but their enduring appeal comes from something less tangible -- the distinctive spirit with which they played the game. As Dizzy Dean might have put it in his familiar fractured syntax: "They wasn't just good ballplayers, they was baseball immortals."

Gas House Gang Anecdotes…

Pepper Martin's Mud Slide
John "Pepper" Martin (3B, STL) earned the nickname "The Wild Horse of the Osage" because of how he played the game. During a rain-soaked game against the New York Giants, Martin hit a triple and decided to slide into third base despite being completely safe by a mile.

He slid so hard that he went past the bag, through a puddle, and right into the Giants' dugout - covered head to toe in mud. Manager Frankie Frisch (2B, STL) just shook his head while the Giants players howled with laughter. Martin got up, tipped his mud-caked cap to the crowd, and jogged back to third base.

The Brawl with the Cubs
The Cardinals and Chicago Cubs hated each other in the 1930s. During a heated July game at Wrigley Field, Bill Lee (RHP, CHC) threw a pitch that nearly hit Joe Medwick's (OF, STL) head. Medwick, never one to back down, pointed his bat at Lee and yelled some choice words.

Next inning, Durocher slid hard into Billy Jurges (SS, CHC) at second base. Jurges took exception, and within seconds both benches emptied. The fight spilled into the stands, with Durocher and Jurges throwing punches while fans scrambled to get out of the way. Four players were ejected, and the Cardinals rallied to win 6-5.

Ripper Collins' Harmonica

First baseman Jim "Ripper" Collins (1B, STL) brought his harmonica everywhere. On long train rides between cities, Collins would pull out his harmonica and start playing old folk songs to pass the time.

During one particularly boring rain delay at Sportsman's Park, Collins grabbed his harmonica from the clubhouse and put on an impromptu concert in the dugout. Soon fans near the dugout gathered to listen, and Collins had the whole section clapping along to "Oh! Susanna" while the grounds crew worked on the field.

Frisch's Missing Uniform
Before a crucial game against the Pirates, manager Frankie Frisch couldn't find his uniform. After searching everywhere, he discovered that Dizzy and Paul Dean had hidden it as a prank. With game time approaching, Frisch had to wear a uniform that was two sizes too small.

Walking out to exchange lineup cards, Frisch looked ridiculous in his tight-fitting uniform. The Pirates' manager couldn't stop laughing. Frisch got the last laugh though - the Cardinals won 11-2, and Frisch went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases.

Medwick's Water Bucket
Joe Medwick was known for his hot temper and practical jokes. During a sweltering August doubleheader, temperatures reached over 100 degrees. Between games, while teammates were resting in the shade, Medwick filled a bucket with ice water.

He snuck up behind Pepper Martin, who was sitting with his eyes closed, and dumped the entire bucket over his head. Martin jumped up, shouted a few words that didn't make the newspapers, and chased Medwick around the outfield to the delight of early-arriving fans.

The $8 Hotel Bill Argument

The Cardinals were notorious for being tough on club finances. After a road trip to New York, Ripper Collins and Pepper Martin got into a heated argument over an $8 hotel room service bill that neither wanted to pay.

The argument carried from the hotel to the train station, onto the train, and all the way back to St. Louis. Finally, manager Frankie Frisch got fed up and paid the $8 himself, telling both players they'd be fined $25 each if they mentioned it again. They never did.

 Note: My thanks for the contributions from Brian Walton of Cardinals Nation.

Video Highlight

Gas House Gang Video (3:40) courtesy of histconv

Gas House Gang|Documentary (3:23 ) courtesy M.V. Productions

1934 World Series highlights (5:52) courtesy of Phenia Films the MLB archives Original Broadcasts


Up Next: The Federal League (1913-1915)
On Deck: 84 Games

Keeping Baseball's Memories Alive,
Rick Wilton | Diamond Echoes

FOOTNOTES

  1. Dean, Dizzy and Robert Gregory. Dizzy Dean's Baseball Manual. Prentice-Hall, 1950.
  2. Heidenry, John. The Gashouse Gang: How Dizzy Dean, Leo Durocher, Branch Rickey, Pepper Martin, and Their Colorful, Come-from-Behind Ball Club Won the World Series—and America's Heart—During the Great Depression. PublicAffairs, 2007.
  3. Martin, J.L. "Pepper" as told to John Carmichael. Wild Horse of the Osage. Doubleday, 1953.
  4. Baseball Hall of Fame. Dizzy Dean Player File. National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY.
  5. Frisch, Frank with J. Roy Stockton. Frank Frisch: The Fordham Flash. Doubleday, 1962.
  6. Wheeler, Lonnie. The Gas House Gang: How Dizzy Dean, Leo Durocher, Pepper Martin, and Their Colorful Team Won the World Series and Captured America's Heart During the Great Depression. Tiger Stadium Publications, 2007.
  7. Alexander, Charles C. Breaking the Slump: Baseball in the Depression Era. Columbia University Press, 2002.
  8. Creamer, Robert. Stengel: His Life and Times. Simon & Schuster, 1984.
  9. The Sporting News. "Gas House Gang Still Supreme in Cardinals Lore." October 15, 1984.
  10. Sports Illustrated. "The Wildest Gang in Town." August 8, 1974.
  11. Baseball Reference. 1934 World Series. https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1934_WS.shtml
  12. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Archives, October 1934 collection.
  13. Baseball Digest. "Wild Tales of the Gas House Gang." June 1954.