On This Date in Sports April 23,1952: Cain Beats Feller
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
It is a pitchers' duel for the ages as the St. Louis Browns beat the Cleveland Indians 1-0 at Sportsman's Park, with Bob Cain beating Bob Feller. Both teams managed one hit, as the Browns scored in the first inning after a leadoff triple by Bobby Young. Luke Easter got the only hit for the Tribe in the fifth inning. It was the second time in major league history that two pitchers had thrown a one-hitter in the same game.
Robert Feller was born in Van Meter, Iowa, on November 3, 1918. A star in high school, Feller was signed and made his debut with the Cleveland Indians at 17 in 1936, striking out 15 batters in his debut. Bob Feller quickly became one of baseball’s biggest stars. In 1939, Feller won 24 games and finished third in MVP voting.
Bob Feller tossed the first no-hitter of his career on April 16, 1940, against the Chicago White Sox. It was on Opening Day at Comiskey Park. It remains the only no-hitter that has been thrown on the first game of the season. Feller enlisted in the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor and served for three and a half years on the USS Alabama as a Gun Captain. He kept his arm in shape by throwing a baseball alongside the ship's cannons.
Bob Feller was a crucial part of the Indians' 1948 World Championship team but began to show wear and tear over the next two seasons as he dealt with a sore shoulder. After returning to the Indians in 1945, Bob Feller again became the top pitcher in the game in 1946, tossing his second no-hitter against the New York Yankees in the Bronx on April 30th. To adjust to the loss of velocity on his fastball, Feller began relying on a slider and had a resurgent year in 1951, leading the American League in wins for the sixth and final time in his career.
Bob "Sugar" Cain was born in Longford, Kansas, on October 16, 1924. He made his debut with the Chicago White Sox in 1949. After one full season in Chicago, Cain was traded to the Detroit Tigers in 1951. Bob Cain, a pitcher who hovered near .500, was traded again before the 1952 season, joining the cellar-dwelling St. Louis Browns.
In front of a sparse crowd, Bob Cain started strong striking out the first three batters. Bobby Young, meanwhile, had a leadoff triple for St. Louis. Young scored one batter later on an error by Al Rosen at third. Feller would not allow another hit, with two walks and five strikeouts.
The only hit given up by Cain was a single to Luke Easter, leading off in the fifth. It was followed by a walk by Al Rosen. After a flyout by Jim Fridley, Ray Boone hit into a double play to eliminate the Cleveland threat. Cain allowed three walks with seven strikeouts to earn the win.
It was the only one-hitter of Bob Cain's career, with Bob Feller having his 11th one-hitter of 12 in his career. It was the only loss that Feller suffered when throwing a one-hitter.