On January

17, 1934,

the New York Giants come to contract terms with National League Most Valuable

Player Carl

Hubbell. “The King,” who won league honors unanimously in

1933, will earn $18,000 for the upcoming season. The Giants will be well

rewarded as Hubbell will lead the league in ERA, CG and SV’s and finish 9th in

the MVP Voting. 

The 1934 season is best remembered for Hubbell’s

historic achievement in the All-Star Game, when he struck

out five straight future Hall of Famers, none of them familiar with the

screwball. With two American Leaguers on base in the first inning at the Polo

Grounds, Hubbell struck out Babe Ruth with three consecutive screwballs. Lou

Gehrig took a ball and then swung through three more screwballs. Jimmie Foxx

distinguished himself by comparison, at least managing one foul tip in the

process of striking out. With the fans still buzzing, Hubbell struck out Al

Simmons and Joe Cronin, the first two hitters in the second inning, before

allowing a single to Bill Dickey.