This Day in Baseball History - May 18, 1925

Dazzy Vance receives a medal and $1,000 as the National League’s 1924 MVP during ceremonies preceding the Dodgers’ 9-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Vance in 1924 posted a 28-6 record, 2.16 ERA, 262 strikeouts and 30 complete games to edge St. Louis second baseman Rogers Hornsby, who hit .424, for MVP honors.

Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1955, Vance’s career was remarkable not only because of his on-field accomplishments, but because it started at a relatively advanced age.

Vance didn’t reach the major leagues with the Dodgers until he was 31, but he went on to win 190 games with Brooklyn from 1922-32 and 1935. The right-hander was one of Brooklyn’s "Daffiness Boys" who for a brief time wore a red undershirt with tattered sleeves to distract opposing hitters.

He was born in Iowa, but grew up in Nebraska,

He led the N.L. in strikeouts in seven consecutive seasons. He played in the major leagues for 16 seasons, making stops with Pittsburgh, New York, Brooklyn, St. Louis and Cincinnati.

He set a Dodger record by winning 190 games, broken by Don Drysdale in 1968.

May 18, 1929>--In the first game of a twin bill, the Dodgers rout the Phillies, 16-0. Johnny Frederick scores five times giving the Brooklyn center fielder a major league record of tallying eight runs in two games.

May 18, 1931>-- Dodgers' outfielder Babe Herman hits for the cycle for the first of three times which will become a major league record.

May 18, 1945>-- Brooklyn’s Luis Olmo has a grand day, driving in seven runs with a grand slam, triple and double as the Dodgers defeat the Chicago Cubs, 15-12. Olmo played for Brooklyn for six seasons, beginning in 1943.