This … picture … is … awesome. This is why I love baseball.

I could almost end the post with just this picture because it’s just that amazing.

The 1937 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held in Washington at Griffith Stadium. The Senators were between mediocre and lousy by then, but this was reason to celebrate because it was only the fifth year of the all-star game and all the greats were here. DiMaggio, Gehrig,  Dean, Greenberg, Gehringer, Grove and Mize.

The clash of these stars led to a decisive victory by the American League, but it sounded like an excellent time. The Washington Post reported on the game the following day, July 8th, 1937.

With derisive shouts of “Oh, oh, Dizzy Dean, who’s dizzy now?” the American Leaguers trooped joyously into the dressing room following their 8-to-3 victory over the pick of the National League yesterday at Griffith Stadium in the All-Star game.

Led by Art Fletcher, veteran coach of the Yankees, the hard-bitten crew throated lusty yells of joy and then someone cried “We want beer!” and the cry was taken up in all sections and became a mighty roar.

…

Lou Gehrig, whose towering home run drive off Dean in the third inning with Teammate DiMaggio on base, sent the winners off to a lead they never relinquished, said he was just in there swinging when he sent the ball at a terrific clip far over the right field wall.

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“It was a fast ball right over the middle. It was the three and two pitch.”

“Did you have a feeling you were going to hit?” we asked.

“Naw! You never know when you’re going to hit a pitcher like Dizzy Dean!”

Gehrig … what a humble man.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is truly the country’s No. 1 fan. Entering shortly after 1:15 escorted by 11 Eagle Boy Scouts, guard of honor, flanked by numerous Secret Service men and assisted by James, his oldest son, and preceded by his secretary, Steve Early, Col. Watson and several others, the President stood patiently smiling while batteries of photographers ground away, and yelled “Hold it, Mr. President, one more.”

Chatting with James, and commenting on the game while smoking numerous cigarettes, the Nation’s leader seemed to enjoy every minute.

Al Simmons was seated with the Secret Service men in front of the presidential box and snapped many pictures with a camera as did Beau Bell from the bench. Al made his presence known early in the game with a good-natured quip to Dizzy Dean after he had walked Joe DiMaggio in the first inning.

“Pitch, you bush leaguer, you’re in the big leagues, now,” he cried.

…

Gehrig and DiMaggio frequently ducked down on the dugout stairs to catch a cigarette between innings. DiMaggio, on the spot because of his failure last year and the big things predicted for him in this game was very nervous at the bat.

In the first inning Gehrig went down swinging on a fast curve of Deans’ but was not a bit disconcerted.

“He’s not so tough,” he said, on the second inning cigarette as he exhaled vigorously. And to prove his point he stepped up in the third and hit that home run, waving his cap to Roosevelt and smiling at the crowd as he jogged over the plate.

Starting Lineups

Here are the starting lineups for the American and National Leagues.

Game Summary

The American League was out front from the third inning and never gave up the lead.

Here are some more photos from the game.