Farmers Mutual Insurance Association

The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported that rookie Herman “Hi” Bell gave up only two runs over 18 innings of pitching in a doubleheader on July 19, 1924. He was the last MLB pitcher to start both games of a doubleheader.

PITCHED 18 INNINGS AND WON 2 GAMES IN A SINGLE DAY

Bell was typically a middle innings reliever. He achieved his greatest claim to fame though on July 19, 1924, when he became the last pitcher in Major League history to start and win both ends of a double header. In the first game, he held the Boston Braves hitless until the eighth inning and held them hitless for four innings in the second game. Bell won only three games his first season, and two came in this double-header, 6-1 and 2-1.

A St. Louis Star & Times columnist wrote about the doubleheader, double-win: “Bell breezed home with the triumph – his first of the season … Who’d pitch the second half? ‘Gimme the ball,’ said Big Hi in the clubhouse. ‘I’ll take ‘em again.’” For Hi Bell that day, he pitched 18 innings, gave up a total of six hits and two walks, and allowed only two runners across home plate. A writer in the St. Louis Post Dispatch described Bell as “big-fisted, raw-boned and with a deep love for rough and tumble.” Following the end of the 1924 season, the Cardinals made a barnstorming trip which included an exhibition game against the Alton team. Home town heroes Holm and Bell suited up for Alton, with Hi pitching and Wattie playing catcher. School classes were closed at 2 p.m. to allow the children to watch the game. An estimated 1,700 fans turned out to watch the Cardinals edge Alton, 4-2.

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