Remembering New York Giants History (1937): Carl Hubbell's 24 Game Winning Streak Snapped

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Monday May 31,1937: New York Giants Hall of Fame pitcher Carl Hubbell (King Carl or the Meal Ticket as he was known) had just set a record by winning 24 consecutive games. The pitcher with the high leg kicking delivery dominated the league for two seasons.

On May 31st, 1937 at New Yorks Polo Grounds, the NYFD had to turn away a crowd of an estimated 20,000 fans who did not have tickets for the game, for public saftey.

An incredible 60,000 had already jammed into the Polo Grounds and the surrounding hills, to watch Carl Hubbell continue his win streak. But it was on this day that he took his first loss in ten months losing 10-3 to the Brooklyn Dodgers.

One of the things that makes baseball so great are the unsung heroes, that shine for a day to break or spoil a record. Today it was Brooklyn Dodger, back up catcher Paul Chervinko, making his first MLB start of a short 45 game career. Chervinko would contribute with two RBIs helping Brooklyn defeat the Giants & beat Hubbell for the first time on the season.

 Hubbell's win streak started back in July 1936. He was 10- 6 at the time. He went on to win his next 16 decisions leading the NL with 26 wins & an .813 winning percent.

In July 1936, he won three games in a five day span, shutting out the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-0, then beating the Cincinnati Reds in relief. He came home to get a 2-1 win over the first place St. Louis Cardinals.

On August 19th his 2-1 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers brought the Giants within a 1/2 game of first place, a spot they would secure in the upcoming days.

Of Hubbell's 16 straight wins, 14 were complete games, two were in relief and his ERA was down to 1.86. Besides leading the league in wins (26) that year & winning % (.813), he won the ERA title (2.31), and  NL MVP award. The New York Giants won the NL by five games. In that years  World Series, Hubbell went 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA.

In 1937 he picked up where he left off, beating the Boston Bees in the second game of the year with a three hit shut out. He then defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in another complete game win. Next he beat the Cincinnati Reds pitching 6.2 innings.

He then threw three more complete game wins, beating the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates & St. Louis Cards. In his next start he beat the Pirates again to get to 7-0. On May 27th he came in relief & earned the win over the Reds in Cincinnati to get to 8-0 with a 1.73 ERA.
Hubbell went on to lead the league in wins (22), strike outs (156) & winning percentage (.733), en route to another NY Giants pennant & World Series appearance. During his streak he beat every NL team (except the Boston Braves) four to five times.

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