January 17 - Carl Hubbell gets rewarded

On January17, 1934,the New York Giants come to contract terms with National League Most ValuablePlayer CarlHubbell. “The King,” who won league honors unanimously in1933, will earn $18,000 for the upcoming season. The Giants will be wellrewarded as Hubbell will lead the league in ERA, CG and SV’s and finish 9th inthe MVP Voting. The 1934 season is best remembered for Hubbell’shistoric achievement in the All-Star Game, when he struckout five straight future Hall of Famers, none of them familiar with thescrewball. With two American Leaguers on base in the first inning at the PoloGrounds, Hubbell struck out Babe Ruth with three consecutive screwballs. LouGehrig took a ball and then swung through three more screwballs. Jimmie Foxxdistinguished himself by comparison, at least managing one foul tip in theprocess of striking out. With the fans still buzzing, Hubbell struck out AlSimmons and Joe Cronin, the first two hitters in the second inning, beforeallowing a single to Bill Dickey.