The Polo Grounds, New York – Tuesday, April 12, 1932
Tuesday, April 12, 1932, the season opener with the Giants hosting Philadelphia, top of the 3rd inning and the count is 2-2 on the Phillies’ Kiddo Davis, in against New York’s Hi Bell. The Giants have the infield in with men on second and third, but the horse was already out of the barn, as it was already 7-1 Phillies at this point, lefty Bill Walker getting socked for 7 runs and knocked out after retiring no one in the 2nd inning. Bell came in to stem the tide, but here in the third Davis would knock in another run on a sac fly and another run would cross to make in 9-1 Phils as they cruised to victory, 13-5, with help from 5 Giant errors.
Bill Walker
Walker’s terrible start after leading the NL in ERA in 1931 (2.26) was a precursor for the 1932 campaign, as he had the worst season of his career, going 8-12 with a 4.14 ERA. Philadelphia’s Phil Collins would go all the way for the victory and pace the visitors’ 17-hit attack with a 4-4 day at the plate.
John McGraw
After finished second in 1931, the Giants never had a winning record in 1932, and longtime manager John McGraw retired on June 1, succeeded by Bill Terry, and would finish 72-82, tied for 6th place. McGraw would return to manage the NL in the first All-Star Game in 1933, while Terry reversed the fortunes of the Giants, leading them to the 1933 pennant.
In 1932, the Phillies, under Burt Shotton, would finish with a winning record at 78-76, in 4th place, 12 games behind the Cubs, their first winning season in 15 years. It was short-lived, as their next winning season would not be until 1949.
Credit/info on reverse of original photo
NY Times (partial) coverage of the day
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