Origins Of The Gashouse Gang
1931 St. Louis CardinalsHome Field: Sportsman's Park
World ChampionsHit: #2 R; #3 BA
W - 101 L - 53Pitch: #2 OR, ERA
Manager: Gabby StreetDef: #1 FA

The Cardinals of the 1930s embodied a rough and tumble spirit that led to them being called the Gashouse Gang. While the 1934 squad is most often associated with this label, the 1931 squad was better.

St. Louis had not won so much as a pennant this century until 1926 when they won their first World Series title. Other pennants followed in 1928 and 1930, but St. Louis had fallen in the World Series both times. In 1931, the Cardinals won 101 games and took the pennant by 13 games.

Frankie Frisch, the club's spiritual leader, was the loop's Most Valuable Player. Two Cardinals, Chick Hafey and Jim Bottomley, battled Giants' first baseman Bill Terry for the batting title. When the dust settled, all three were within a point. Hafey came out on top with a .3489 average. Bottomley came in third at .3481. The pitching was solid led by Wild Bill Hallahan. At 19-9, he tied for the league's victory lead. Paul Derringer and Burleigh Grimes won 18 and 17 respectively.

The World Series was a rematch of the 1930 series, which had been won by the Philadelphia Athletics in six games. This year, the A's won 107 games and seemed destined to become the first team ever to win three straight World Series titles. Sparked by rookie Pepper Martin, the Cardinals hung tough and outdueled Philadelphia in seven games.


Pos Player Bats AB H R HR RBI BA    NL Rank
C Jimmie Wilson R 383 105 45 0 51 .274  
1B Jim Bottomley L 382 133 73 9 75 .348    #3 BA
2B Frankie Frisch B 518 161 96 4 82 .311  
SS Charlie Gelbert R 447 129 61 1 62 .289  
3B Sparky Adams R 608 178 97 1 40 .293  
LF Chick Hafey R 450 157 94 16 95 .349    #1 BA
CF Pepper Martin R 413 124 68 7 75 .300  
RF George Watkins L 503 145 93 13 51 .288  
                   
1B Ripper Collins B 279 84 34 4 59 .301  
C Gus Mancuso R 187 49 13 1 23 .262  
OF Ernie Orsatti L 158 46 27 0 19 .291  
OF Wally Roettger R 151 43 16 0 17 .285  
SS-2B Jake Flowers R 137 34 19 2 19 .248  
OF Taylor Douthit R 133 44 21 1 21 .331  
3B-2B Andy High L 131 35 20 0 19 .267  
OF Ray Blades R 67 19 10 1 5 .284  
                   
Total: Team   5435 1554 815 60 751 .286  
  League   42941 11883 5537 492 5175 .277  

Pitcher Throw G IP W L ERA PCT    NL Rank
  Bill Hallahan L 37 249 19 9 3.29 .679    #1t W, #1 K
  Paul Derringer R 35 212 18 8 3.35 .692    #4t W, #4 K
  Burleigh Grimes R 29 212 17 9 3.65 .654  
  Flint Rhem R 33 207 11 10 3.57 .524  
  Syl Johnson R 32 186 11 9 3.00 .550  
  Jesse Haines R 19 122 12 3 3.02 .800  
  Allyn Stout R 30 73 6 0 4.19 1.000  
                   
Total: Team       101 53 3.45    
  League           3.86    

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