Heading into Game 4 of the 1939 World Series, the Yankees had a 3-0 lead over the Cincinnati Reds. They had won the first game on a walk-off single by Bill Dickey. The second and third games were less tense, as the Yankees won both pretty easily.
For Game 4, the Yankees gave the start to Oral Hildebrand. Hildebrand had a solid first season with the Yankees in 1939. He made just 15 starts and appeared in just 20 games, but had a 3.06 ERA in 126.2 innings. He wasn’t the Yankees’ ace, but he was a solid option up 3-0.