This was the year that a crazy bunch of guys from St. Louis known as the "Gashouse Gang" won both the pennant and the World Series. They were a rowdy and aggressive gang; their best players were nicknamed "Pepper", "Ducky", and "Ripper". Their best pitchers were a pair of brothers named "Dizzy" and "Daffy". The Dizzy one had a most remarkable season, winning 30 games and the MVP Award.

        Dizzy Dean was 23 years old, and in his third full season with the Cardinals. That he was a magnificent pitcher is obvious; and if you weren't sure, all you had to do was ask him. When he first reached the majors, Dean was already claiming to be the best pitcher in the world. His famous motto was "It ain't braggin' if you can do it". Dean liked to pull stunts, such as declaring he would strike out a batter before actually doing it. On one occasion, he bet he could strike out Bill Terry with the bases loaded; he then walked the bases loaded intentionally just so he could face Terry, and then struck him out.
        Dean was a famous goofball. He was a country bumpkin who dropped out of the third grade, and didn't speak or write English too well. But he scoffed at people who criticized his use of the language, and even managed to write a short book about pitching, and about how a great a pitcher he was. In this World Series, Dean was on first base when a ground ball was hit; he broke up the double play by using his head to knock down the relay from second base. The throw knocked him out cold, and Dean was taken to the hospital. Next day's headlines read "X-RAYS OF DEAN'S HEAD REVEAL NOTHING".
        Paul Dean was 21 years old, and in his rookie season. He was nicknamed "Daffy", but there are no funny stories about him, and he was likely given the nickname by his older brother. Paul began his career with two very good seasons; he hurt his arm in 1936, however, and never pitched well again. Dizzy Dean also had his career prematurely ended; Dizzy broke his toe in the 1937 All-Star Game, and altered his pitching motion to take pressure off the toe. He hurt his arm, and was forced to retire.
        The Cardinals had the Dean brothers, but the Giants had the best pitching staff in the league. Carl Hubbell was a great pitcher and had one of his best seasons; he and Dean were clearly the best in the league. But Hal Schumacher and Freddie Fitzsimmons also had fine seasons for the Giants, as did Lon Warneke of the Cubs. There is not much to distinguish among them.
        Another pitcher who had a great year was Curt Davis of the Phillies. Davis finished third in the MVP vote among pitchers, behind Dean and Hubbell. He was a 31-year-old rookie; though his numbers don't look very impressive, he had a lot working against him. First, Davis pitched for the Phillies, a bad team with a bad offense. Second, he pitched in the Baker Bowl, one of the worst parks for pitchers ever built. Put Davis in a normal park with a good team, and he very likely puts up some outstanding numbers.