1943 Hall of Fame Game

The fourth Hall of Fame Game took place at Doubleday Field on a sunny Monday afternoon – July 19, 1943 – as 4,000 fans looked on.

The series which pits an American League team against a National League one, this year included the Chicago White Sox facing off against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The game featured two large rallies with both teams scoring in chunks. The Dodgers would eventually overcome a five-run deficit in the first inning to win 7-5.

The game opened with the White Sox scoring five quick runs in the first inning against Dodgers starter Freddie Fitzsimmons.

Chicago started the scoring when Hall of Fame shortstop Luke Appling smacked a triple off the wall in center, bringing home two runs. Following Appling, White Sox second baseman Don Kalloway doubled to center scoring Appling, and first baseman Joe Kuhel smashed a two-run homer of his own.

Fitzsimmons settled down tossing two scoreless frames but was pulled after the third inning. But he wouldn’t be saddled with the loss as the Dodgers bats would come alive as the game unfolded.

After the barrage of runs by the White Sox in the first, the Dodgers would counter with four of their own in the second inning off Chicago lefty Eddie Smith and were quickly back in the game. The runs came on five hits off Smith including a solo homer by Dodgers first baseman Dolf Camilli and three doubles from his teammates.

With one out in the fifth inning, Brooklyn struck again as Smith began to tire. Smith gave up two runs to the Dodgers in the fifth. The tallies came on an RBI triple by catcher Mickey Owen which scored Camilli and a single by Bobby Bragan that scored Owen.

The Dodgers would add one run in the seventh off reliever Jake Wade to make it seven unanswered runs in the victory.

Right-hander Rube Melton relieved Fitzsimmons in fine fashion for the Dodgers, tossing six innings of scoreless ball while surrendering only two hits to pick up the win.