20th Century Tournament RECAPS

1930s SEASON RECAP

The decade of the 1930s began with a Great Depression, 25% unemployment, soup kitchens and bread lines were the norm, and the Dust Bowl ruined farms all over the Great Plains. But, we still had baseball. No matter the conditions, fans could still thrill to the exploits of Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth, Carl Hubbell, Hack Wilson, Jimmie Foxx and Mel Ott, and exciting newcomers Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. Even as the winds of war swirled in the latter part of the decade, Judge Landis directed us to play on.

EASTERN DIVISION
The Eastern Division was a breathtaking, season-long race between the New York Giants and the 1932 New York Yankees. Bill Terry had just taken over for managerial legend John McGraw but, after a few early-season slipups, the Giants hit their stride. Cy Young winner Carl Hubbell (29-9, 3.37 ERA, 237 K) led from the mound, along with Freddie Fitzsimmons (23-11) and Hal Schumacher (14-8), while the one-two punch of player/manager Terry (.363 AVG, 42 HR, 160 RBI) and Mel Ott (.324 AVG, 41 HR, 131 RBI) powered the offense. Other hitting stars for the G’ints were third baseman Fred Lindstrom (.348 AVG, 24 HR, 104 RBI), Lefty O’Doul (.306 AVG, 22 HR, 88 RBI), and shortstop Travis Jackson (26 HR, 103 RBI). The 1932 Yankees were defending a 1920s World Series win, and the usual suspects, Babe Ruth (.359 AVG, 68 HR, 151 RBI, 156 Runs) and League MVP Lou Gehrig (.371 AVG, 53 HR, 172 RBI, 133 Runs), were on Murderer’s Row. Tony Lazzeri (.282 AVG, 25 HR, 127 RBI)and Earle Combs (.328 AVG, 145 Runs, 26 Triples) were also offensive standouts, and Closer Wilcy Moore (34 Saves, Fireman of the Year) was joined by two 20-game winners, Red Ruffing (22-10, 3.57 ERA) and Lefty Gomez (20-12, 3.46 ERA). New owner Tom Yawkey thought the secret to success for his Boston Red Sox would be buying superstars like Jimmie Foxx (.335 AVG, 64 HR, 184 RBI) , Joe Cronin (.290 AVG, 29 HR, 92 RBI, 125 Runs), and Lefty Grove (16-21, 3.91 ERA) in free agency. His plan failed miserably, but the Red Sox fans found their own enigmatic superstar in Ted Williams, who batted .413 to go along with 46 Home Runs and 108 RBI and a league-leading 159 Runs and 254 Hits. The Philadelphia Phillies were the league’s weak sister, though Dolph Camilli (.290 AVG, 44 HR, 133 RBI), Chuck Klein (.351 AVG, 38 HR, 130 RBI), Freddie Leach (.340 AVG) and Cliff Heathcote (.321 AVG, 108 Runs) performed admirably.
The Yankees came into the Polo Grounds looking to take the division, but the Giants beat them 2 out of three behind Ott and Terry. The final weekend saw the Red Sox give some assistance to the Yankees by blowing out the Giants in the first two games, as the Yanks split with the Phillies in the first two. The Yankees won Game 162 11-6, powered by Ruth and Gehrig homers, and awaited one more Red Sox win to move into a tie with the Giants. The Giants trailed the Red Sox entering the bottom of the 8th by a score of 4-2. Ott doubled, followed by a O’Doul walk and a Jackson single to load the bases. Jimmy Ripple walked to force in Ott, then a Harry Danning infield single tied the score at 4. Tony Cuccinello’s walk scored Jackson with the go-ahead run. Back-to-back singles by Fred Lindstrom and JoJo Moore blew the game open and handed the Giants the Eastern Division crown by one game over the defending champion Yankees.

CENTRAL DIVISION
The 1939 New York Yankees ran away with the Central Division, led by two southpaws, Marius Russo (25-4, League-leading 2.98 ERA) and Nip Winters (21-9, 3.39 ERA), and a bevy of hitters, led by star center fielder Joe DiMaggio (.350 AVG, 36 HR, 141 RBI, 126 Runs) , catcher Bill Dickey (.327 AVG, 56 HR, 145 RBI, 157 Runs), “Twinkletoes” George Selkirk (139 Runs, 37 HR, 87 RBI), Charlie “King Kong” Keller (35 HR, 117 RBI), and second baseman Joe Gordon (33 HR, 121 RBI). The Cleveland Indians finished 12 games off the pace. Hal Trosky (.315 AVG, 54 HR, 174 RBI) was an offensive monster, and Jeff Heath (.332 AVG, 33 HR, 138 RBI), Earl Averill (31 HR, 114 RBI, 107 Runs), and Joe Vosmik (.340 AVG, 45 Doubles, 109 Runs) did well, though the pitching staff was well-worn by October. The Detroit Tigers disappointed, though they mirrored the Indians with their offensive prowess, led by Hank Greenberg (.279 AVG, 54 HR, 141 RBI), Mickey Cochrane (.343 AVG, 24 HR, 113 RBI), Rudy York (.315 AVG, 31 HR, 120 RBI), Charlie Gehringer (.325 AVG, 119 Runs), and Goose Goslin (.387 AVG, 40 HR, 125 RBI). The Washington Senators finished last, though they had 7 starters to bat over .300: Sam Rice (.352 AVG, 94 Runs, 90 RBI), John Stone (.342 AVG), Buddy Myer (.332 AVG, 109 Runs), Cecil Travis (.313 AVG, 85 Runs, 88 RBI), Bing Miller (.312 AVG, 97 Runs, 86 RBI), and Sparky Adams (.310 AVG).

WESTERN DIVISION
The Wild West was a three-team affair until the final few days of the season. The Chicago Cubs boasted 20-game winner Lon Warneke (21-12, 3.98 ERA), hurler Charlie Root (18-8), catcher Gabby Hartnett (29 HR, 136 RBI), left fielder Riggs Stephenson (.342 AVG, 18 HR, 129 RBI), second sacker Billy Herman (.356 AVG, 53 Doubles, 109 RBI), while the Pittsburgh Pirates had their own stars: Ed Brandt (22-12), Carmen Hill (33 Saves), Arky Vaughan (.396 AVG, 37 HR, 116 RBI, 137 Runs), Pie Traynor (.312 AVG, 117 RBI), Paul Waner (.338 AVG, 106 RBI, 102 Runs), and Lloyd Waner (.330 AVG, 102 RBI). The St.Louis Cardinals’ Gas House Gang made opposing offenses dizzy and dazzy, with Dizzy Dean (21-18) and Dazzy Vance (19-17, 3.65 ERA, 322 K) leading the pitching staff. “Ducky” Joe Medwick (.343, 36 HR, 132 RBI) , “Sunny Jim” Bottomley (.321 AVG, 46 HR, 143 RBI), and Ripper Collins (.312 AVG, 41 HR, 145 RBI) carried the offense. The St.Louis Browns were the division doormats. Heinie Manush batted .313 and Rip Collins saved half of their wins, while the Brownies spiraled to the cellar.
With 6 games to play, the Gas House Gang led the Cubs by one game and the Pirates by two games. St.Louis visited Pittsburgh and won 3-2 on two Joe Medwick home runs, while the Cubs were beating the Browns. The Cubs continued on to a sweep of the Browns, while the Pirate bats came alive, drubbing the Cardinals by scores of 7-2 and 10-5. The Cubs now led the Cardinals by one game and the Pirates by two. The Pirates simply stayed in St.Louis, trading the Cardinals for the Browns. Each game was a blowout victory for the Pirates. The Cardinals traveled to Wrigley Field and used two Ripper Collins home runs to beat the Cubs 8-5 and tie them for the West lead with 2 games remaining. The Cubs used a 3-4, 2 RBI day from Stan Hack and adequate pitching from Charlie Root to defeat the Cards 3-2, and creating a one game lead over both the Cardinals and the resurgent Pirates. In Game 162, the Cardinals struck first, as Medwick knocked in run with a single off Lon Warneke. Dizzy Dean took the mound, but, after allowing two baserunners, left a fastball out over the plate, which Gabby Hartnett slammed into Wrigley’s center field bleachers for a 3-run bomb. After that, Ol’ Diz settled down, but so did Warneke, who did not allow the Cardinals to score again, giving the Cubs a 6-1 victory and the Western Division title.



SEMI-FINALS Chicago Cubs and New York Giants
Fresh from winning the Western Division, the Chicago Cubs boarded the long train to New York to face the New York Giants. The Polo Grounds hosted Game 1, a matchup between Carl Hubbell and Bobo Newsom. Designated Hitter Lefty O’Doul was a one-man wrecking crew for Bill Terry’s Giants, tripling and homering to back Hubbell’s complete game 3-1 victory. In Game 2, JoJo Moore struck quickly, homering off 20-game winner Lon Warneke, giving New York a 2-0 lead. A 3rd inning Stan Hack double plated Frank Demaree, but Game 1 hero O’Doul slapped a three-run homer to right field. The Cubs scored a single run when Kiki Cuyler homered, but Tony Cuccinello of the Giants answered to finish the 4th inning. The Cubs pulled to within 6-4 when Lance Richbourgh singled and Billy Jurges doubled. Hubbell then induced a groundball to second baseman Cuccinello, who retired Stan Hack, allowing Richbourgh to score. Hubbell then mishandled Billy Herman’s one-hopper back to the mound and Jurges ran home with the Cubs 4th run. The Giants blew the game open in the bottom of the 7th when Freddie Lindstrom singled, stole second and took third on Gabby Hartnett’s overthrow. JoJo Moore hit a ground ball to short and Jurges attempted to throw Lindstrom out at home, but the throw was a bit high, and Lindstrom was called safe. Bill Terry singled, O’Doul drew a walk, and Travis Jackson strode to the plate with the bases loaded. Pat Malone was called upon to relieve Warneke. However, Jackson singled to left, scoring Moore and Terry. Catcher Harry Danning walked, loading the bases once again. Cuccinello then struck again with a 2-run single, and by the time the 7th was over, the Giants led 11-4. The Giants went on to win 12-5, behind 3-RBI days from O’Doul and Cuccinello.

The Series moved to Wrigley Field, with Game 3 beginning much as the first two contests, as O’Doul singled in Bill Terry in the top of the 1st. Kiki Cuyler doubled in a run in the bottom of the 1st to tie the score. Travis Jackson’s 3rd inning single drove in Mel Ott, but the Cubs answered on Richbourgh’s double in the bottom of the 4th. Charlie Root could not hold the tie for the home fans, however, as he quickly loaded the bases in the top of the 5th, when Terry singled, Ott walked, and O’Doul singled. Root then walked Travis Jackson, giving the Giants a 3-2 lead. Harry Danning’s single gave the Giants another run, making the score 4-2. A Terry RBI single in the 8th ended the scoring, as Hal Schumacher got the complete game victory over the Cubs, 5-2. The Cubs had their backs against the wall in Game 4, and put the ball in the hands of former Giant, Al Nehf. Gabby Hartnett’s home run to center tied the score at 1, and Kiki Cuyler’s sacrifice fly gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead. Bill Terry singled in Mel Ott in the 4th, but the Cubs retook the lead in the bottom of the 4th when Billy Jurges singled to left, scoring Charlie Grimm. With the Cubs leading 3-2, and pitchers Nehf and Harry Gumbert settling down, player/manager Grimm tried to break the game open in the bottom of the 6th. Lance Richbourgh singled, and Grimm called for Jurges to hit and run. Unfortunately, Richbourgh’s late start enabled third baseman to throw to second just ahead of Richbourgh’s slide, forcing him at second. Luckily for Grimm and Richbourgh, Stan Hack hit Gumbert’s next pitch into the center field stands for a 2-run bomb and, two batters later, Cuyler pulled a pitch down the left field line for a home run as well. Nehf then finished the game for the Cubs, and a 6-2 victory enabled them to fight another day. The “other day” would prove to be the next day, and the fight was all New York. Game 5 was a blowout, as the Giants took a 6-0 lead off Bobo Newsom, who couldn’t make it out of the 2nd inning. Led by the middle of their order, the Giants scored 15 runs, as Bill Terry went 4-6 with a home run, Mel Ott batted 4-4 with 4 RBI, and Lefty O’Doul doubled and tripled his way to 5 RBI. Carl Hubbell went the distance grabbing his second win of the series, and the Giants prepared for the World Series following a 15-2 win.



SEMI-FINALS 1932 New York Yankees and 1939 New York Yankees
The other Semi-Final pitted the 1932 New York Yankees against their future selves, the 1939 New York Yankees. Yankee Stadium was the obvious home for this series, and Marius Russo, who won 25 games during the regular season, was called on to pitch for the 39 Yankees, and pitch he did. He allowed only five hits, struck out 11, and was assisted by a 2nd inning offensive uprising. After Bill Dickey had homered in the bottom of the 1st, the 39 Yankees began the 2nd inning with a Joe Gordon walk and a Tommy Henrich single. Red Rolfe’s single scored Gordon, George Selkirk walked, and Phil Rizzuto doubled in Henrich. Dickey then came to the plate again and blasted another Herb Pennock offering to center, for his second home run of the game. Joe DiMaggio’s subsequent home run to center off reliever Shawkey gave the younger Yankees a 7-0 lead, fueled by Dickey’s 2 homers and 4 RBI. The 32 Yankees were baffled by Russo all day, never scoring in a 9-0 blowout. Game 2 began with the 32 Yankees providing a familiar answer to their 39 counterparts---Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Ruth doubled and Gehrig homered to right, and the 32 Yankees were finally on the board. Offense would not be the story of this game, however. Red Ruffing was pitching for the 32 Yankees, and he was doing it masterfully. Inducing 13 groundouts in the first 7 innings, Ruffing was pitching a no-hitter. Ruffing faced Joe DiMaggio to lead off the 8th, and Joltin’ Joe hit a shot, but it was a line drive right into Frankie Crosetti’s glove. Charlie Keller then tapped back to Ruffing and Joe Gordon flew harmlessly to left, and Ruffing was one inning from a perfect game. In the 9th, Ruffing struck out Tommy Henrich. Red Rolfe then lined a hard shot towards right field, but second baseman Tony Lazzeri speared it out of the air. Now, with a completely hushed Yankee Stadium, Ruffing faced the light-hitting Babe Dahlgren. Dahlgren had grounded out to second twice so Ruffing sought to work him away one more time. He had used two sliders to record Dahlgren’s previous two outs, forcing Dahlgren to slap at two down-and-away pitches. Ruffing, apparently feeling invincible on this beautiful October day, went to an outside fastball. The pitch WAS outside, but it was also up, and Dahlgren got every bit of it. Ending the no-hit hopes for fans and Ruffing’s teammates, Dahlgren’s long home run to center broke up the no-hit bid. Ruffing got Keller to fly out to right, giving the 32 Yankees a 7-1 victory, but all the talk was about Ruffing’s brush with immortality. “To pitch a perfect game, you have to pitch perfectly. I made one bad pitch, but I’m thankful we got back in the win column,” said Ruffing.

Game 3 saw the teams simply trade dugouts. Lou Gehrig hit a sacrifice fly to center in the bottom of the 1st, scoring Earle Combs. Pitcher Lefty Gomez had been watching Ruffing’s masterpiece, and was spinning one of his own. He took a no-hitter into the top of the 6th inning, and recorded two quick ground outs. Phil Rizzuto doubled to center, however, ending Gomez’s no-hitter. Dickey grounded out to end the inning, with the 32 Yankees still leading 2-0. Joe DiMaggio led off the top of the 7th with a home run. The 39 Yankees had gone 15 innings scoring only 2 runs, with only 3 hits. The bats of the upstarts finally awoke in the top of the 9th, as DiMaggio singled and Charlie Keller walked off of closer Wilcy Moore. Joe Gordon then took Moore’s first pitch to Yankee Stadium’s left center field graveyard, scoring both DiMaggio and Keller and staking the 39 Yankees to a 3-2 lead. Henrich’s single then scored Gordon, and the game moved to the bottom of the 9th with the 39 Yankees leading the 32 Yankees 4-2. 39 Yankees starter Steve Sundra began the bottom of the 9th, but quickly got into trouble. Gehrig doubled to right field and Crosetti flew out to right with Gehrig advancing to third. Joe Sewell then walked, but Sundra got third baseman Pete Suder to pop up to short. With two outs, Gehrig and Sewell represented the tying runs on first and third. Fielder Jones singled to left, with Gehrig scoring and Sewell moving to third. Closer Johnny Murphy entered the game to face catcher Pat Collins. Collins hit a gapper to right center field, easily scoring Sewell with the tying run. As Fielder Jones rounded the bases with the winning run, the Yankee Clipper smoothly strode to the ball and uncorked a bullet from his deadly right arm. His beautiful, one-bounce throw gave Dickey all the time he needed to apply the tag, eliminating Fielder at the plate, leaving the game as a 4-4 tie. In the top of the 10th, Rizzuto hit a one out single to left, and Bill Dickey came to the plate. He was unable to muster any of his Game1 heroics, and instead grounded hard to Gehrig, who fired on to first, with Crosetti’s return throw nestling into Wilcy Moore’s glove ahead of Dickey for a double play. In the bottom of the 10th, Murphy got Earle Combs to ground out to short stop. Babe Ruth came to the plate. After one outside fastball, Ruth, the former pitcher, realized Murphy was going to work him away to stay away from the short porch in right. Ruth waited, and then exploded on Murphy’s outside fastball, sending the sphere into orbit. The home run landed somewhere in the deep recesses of the center field bleachers, and the 32 Yankees had an emotional, draining 5-4 victory. Ruth said, “Those boys are good, especially that center fielder, but we are the Yankees. They may become the Yankees, but they can’t do anything more than we already done done. Pass me a hot dog….”.
Game 4 began with Bill Dickey and Lou Gehrig continuing their RBI competition. Dickey homered to center off Johnny Allen in the top of the 1st, while Gehrig singled in Ruth in the bottom of the 1st off of Bump Hadley. Both pitchers then threw 5 innings of shutout ball. In the bottom of the 7th, however, Hadley ran into trouble. Tony Lazzeri singled to left, and Gehrig singled to center. Light-hitting shortstop Frankie Crosetti came to the plate and, surprisingly, doubles to center, scoring Lazzeri. Don Brennan entered the game in relief, but Joe Sewell greeted him with a suicide squeeze that scored Gehrig from third. An 8th inning Lazzeri triple scored Earle Combs, and Wilcy Moore closed out the 9th for the save in the 4-1 32 Yankee win. The series had been a hard-fought and exciting contest, but the big brothers led their little brothers 3 games to 1 going into Game 5. Danny MacFayden took the mound for the 32 Yankees, but a Joe DiMaggio singled scored George Selkirk with the first run of the game in the top of the 1st inning. In the top of the 4th, Tommy Henrich singled and George Selkirk was walked intentionally to face Phil Rizzuto. Rizzuto slapped a single to center, which Earle Combs overran. Both runners scored and Rizzuto wound up on third base. Dickey then grounded out, but the play apparently lit a fire under the 32 Yankees. Murderer’s Row woke up and introduced itself to Wes Ferrell. Combs singled to right, and Ruth doubled to center. Tony Lazzeri hit a hot grounder to short, which Rizzuto dove for, but the Scooter couldn’t get up in time to make a play. Combs scored and Ruth moved to third. Gehrig then hit a long fly to center, scoring Ruth, making the score 3-2. Joe Sewell then tied the game with a double, scoring Lazzeri. Pete Suder singled weakly to center, and Sewell held up at third. Fielder Jones then singled to center, giving the 32 Yankees a 4-3 lead as Sewell crossed the plate. Pat Collins’ RBI single gave the Yankees one more run, and they led 5-3 after 4 innings. Wilcy Moore was called upon to hold the lead in the top of the 7th. He did reasonably well, but the top of the 9th began with a Selkirk single. Rizzuto then popped out to center. Moore never gave Dickey anything good to hit, walking him, and bringing Joe DiMaggio up as the go-ahead run. With a 1-1 count, Moore fooled DiMaggio, jamming him and forcing a pop up along the railing down the third base line. Frankie Crosetti flew to the spot, reached into the stands and denied DiMaggio another chance to hit by making a circus catch. Charlie Keller then flew out to right, and the 32 Yankees had bettered their chronological progeny 4 games to 1.



WORLD SERIES New York Giants and 1932 New York Yankees
The World Series was another New York affair, with the 1932 Yankees facing the New York Giants. Carl Hubbell was the Giants’ ace, but he was treated rather rudely by the Yankees in Game 1. Lou Gehrig, in particular, was Hubbell’s nemesis. Gehrig homered to right in the bottom of the 1st, and then repeated the feat in the bottom of the 3rd. Gehrig’s two home runs gave the Yankees a 5-0 lead, and Johnny Allen pitched well enough, as the Bronx Bombers won Game 1 7-1. Game 2 was Red Ruffing’s first opportunity to pitch since his one-hitter in Game 2 of the Semi-Finals. He faced Freddie Fitzsimmons. Tony Cuccinello’s single and Freddie Lindstrom’s sacrifice fly gave the Giants 2-0 lead and proved that Ruffing wasn’t the same on this day. In the top of the 4th, Tony Lazzeri singled, Gehrig doubled, and Frankie Crosetti hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Lazzeri. Joe Sewell then singled in Gehrig, tying the game at 2. Travis Jackson doubled in Mel Ott in the 6th inning, and Jackson’s home run in the 9th put the game out of reach, as the Giants beat Ruffing and the Yankees 5-2.

Game 3 moved the Series 3/4 of a mile across the Harlem River, from the Polo Grounds to the Bronx. Roy Parmelee and Lefty Gomez both pitched well, only surrendering single runs in the 6th, as Travis Jackson hit an RBI double and Tony Lazzeri homered to center for the Yankees. In the top of the 8th, Jackson doubled again, and Freddie Lindstrom’s double to center gave the Giants a 2-1 lead over Gomez. Parmelee was still dazzling the Yankees when he began the 9th inning. Joe Sewell hit a ground ball to second, but Tony Cuccinello bobbled it, allowing Sewell to reach first on the error. Pete Suder then doubled to center, but, since there were no outs, Sewell was held at third. Fielder Jones fooled the Giants and Parmelee by laying down a bunt toward first base and scoring Sewell on the suicide squeeze. Parmelee retired Collins and Combs to end the inning, but the game was tied 2-2. Gomez continued into the 10th, but allowed singles to JoJo Moore and Mel Ott, bringing Lindstrom to bat with two on and two out. The Yankees called on Wilcy Moore, who enticed Lindstrom in to a fly out to center. In the bottom of the 10th, Parmelee got Ruth to fly to right for the first out. Tony Lazzeri walked, but then, when he attempted a steal of second, Danning overthrew the bag, and Lazzeri took third. Inexplicably, Bill Terry didn’t call for Lou Gehrig to be walked, Gehrig singled to center, and the celebration was on. Terry refused comment after the game. Game 4 was never close. Herb Pennock and Wilcy Moore combined to hold the Giants to one run, while Joe Sewell and Pat Collins homered, and Tony Lazzeri went 4-5. There was some trepidation in Yankee Stadium, however, as slugger Babe Ruth twisted his ankle running the bases in the 1st inning. His availability for the rest of the Series was unknown.
Game 5 began with Carl Hubbell on the mound and Babe Ruth on the bench. Both these events would be telling, as Hubbell pitched around a Lou Gehrig home run to hold the “Swat”-less Bombers to 2 runs. Lefty O’Doul doubled in JoJo Moore and Mel Ott in the top of the 1st, and O’Doul, Travis Jackson and Harry Danning all knocked in runs in the top of the 3rd, and the score was 8 to nothing before the Yankees finally scored in the bottom of the 6th. The Giants went on to win 8-2, and prepared to go back to the Polo Grounds needing to win both games. Asked about his availability for Game 6, Ruth said, “Have you seen how spindly my ankles are? They have a lot to hold up. But I guarantee you, if for some reason my boys don’t win the title in Game 6, I’ll be back for Game 7. Ask those Giants fans how swell I hit in the Polo Grounds. They remember.”

Game 6 began with Giants starter Freddie Fitzsimmons making it through the top of the 1st inning unscathed, despite a two-out walk to Tony Lazzeri. The Giants struck first against Yankee starter Red Ruffing when, after two quick outs, Bill Terry singled and Mel Ott drew a walk. Lefty O’Doul singled sharply to right, scoring Terry. Travis Jackson’s grounder to second was misplayed by Lazzeri, allowing Ott to score the Giants’ second run of the day. After loading the bases by walking Jimmy Ripple, Ruffing retired the side by forcing Harry Danning to ground out to third. The Yankees did not wait long to answer. In the top of the 3rd, Fielder Jones drew a walk. Next up, Ruth’s replacement, Buddy Hassett, doubled to center. Jones held up at third, but scored soon thereafter when Danning allowed a passed ball to roll to the screen. Earle Combs then doubled to center, scoring Hassett with the tying run. Lazzeri singled through the hole into left, but the hit wasn’t deep enough to score Combs. Lou Gehrig struck out, but Fitzsimmons walked Frankie Crosetti to load the bases. Joe Sewell came to the plate and, on a 1-2 pitch from Ruffing, hit a high lazy fly down the right field line. Right fielder Jimmy Ripple moved quickly to the wall, but Sewell’s fly ball landed 2 rows behind him, just inside the foul pole, not more than 305 feet from home plate. The Yankees had taken a 6-2 lead, and all without input from Gehrig, who struck out, and Ruth, who was unable to play in Game 6. The Giants loaded the bases in the bottom of the 3rd, but, once again, Danning made the last out of the inning, popping out to right. In the top of the 6th, Earle Combs grounded to Tony Cuccinello, but Cuccinello bobbled the ball, allowing Combs to reach first on the error. One batter later, Lazzeri doubled to center, scoring Combs, and Gehrig drove Lazzeri in with a sacrifice fly to center. The Giants made an attempt to come back against Ruffing in the bottom of the 7th. JoJo Moore homered to center, and Bill Terry followed him with a home run to right. Ruffing retired Ott and Travis Jackson, however, and the Yankees led 8-4 going into the 8th inning. Ruffing, who had come within one pitch of a perfect game in the Semi-Finals, entered the 9th with a chance to bring another title to the New York Yankees. Freddie Lindstrom singled to center to start the inning, but JoJo Moore followed with a fly out to center. Bill Terry hit a shot to Gehrig at first, but the Iron Horse speared it, made a sharp throw to Crosetti, and shuffled back to first in time to take Crosetti’s return throw in time to complete the double play. Quoted afterward, Ruffing said, “I really wanted that perfect game, but being the one on the mound when your team wins a World Series, there is nothing better than that.”



WORLD CHAMPION 1932 New York Yankees

League Awards
MVP-Lou Gehrig, 1932 Yankees
CY Young Award-Carl Hubbell, Giants
Fireman Award-Wilcy Moore, 1932 Yankees

League Leaders
Batting Average-Ted Williams, Red Sox .413
Home Runs-Babe Ruth, 1932 Yankees 68 HR
RBI-Jimmie Foxx, Red Sox 184 RBI
Runs- Ted Williams, Red Sox 159 Runs
Hits- Ted Williams, Red Sox 254 Hits
Doubles- Joe DiMaggio, 1939 Yankees 64 2B
Triples-Earle Combs, 1932 Yankees 26 3B
Stolen Bases-Cliff Heathcote, Phillies 28 SB
Hit Streak-Joe Vosmik, Indians 38 games


Pitching Leaders
Wins-Carl Hubbell, Giants 29-9
Saves-Wilcy Moore, 1932 Yankees 34 Saves
Strikeouts-Dazzy Vance, Dodgers 322 K
ERA-Marius Russo, 1939 Yankees 2.98 ERA

Love the recap! Except for how it ended for the Giants.

Great job, Andy!! Loved the way you got the tension of the West Division down to a t. I was urging on the Pirates with all my might, but to no avail.

Just a small detail. I think Vosmick had a 38-game hitting streak. Imagine the media attention if he had done that today...

Bill

That's strange Bill, the stats didnt reflect it. I notice that things arent completely fixed there, cause Gehrig and other playoff participants had their modest streaks continue in the playoffs

BTW, I like Joe Vosmik. Dude can hit, especially in smaller caps. That's why I like this league---though we all occasionally get hit with a tough draw, you get the opportunity to play with cards you normally wouldnt use. And the stats reflect pretty life-like, I believe.

I like this league (and the other franchise leagues you've set up) too for its (their) realism. Players tend to perform closer to normal within the confines of their real years. I also like comparing how everyone composes a slightly different team with basically the same constraints. I think you (or somebody) should set up a franchise 60 mil league. Then the choices could even be more "interesting". Do you go with several big boppers and forget pitching? A bunch of 3 mil guys? There's a lot to be said for 60 mil.

Bill

I've considered doing a 60m Franchise LEague, with even a card $$ limit, like 6m or something, just to have to use guys who are always overlooked in the 120m or so Franchise Leagues

bump

1940s SEASON RECAP

The decade of the 1940s was dominated by a global struggle against totalitarian dictatorships, with most technological advancements coming from military necessity, such as radar, jet aircraft, the first computer, and the splitting of the atom. Many famous baseball players gave their best years to the war effort, and the United States emerged as the world’s greatest superpower. The postwar years saw a boom in everything, but especially baseball.

EASTERN DIVISION
The Eastern Division was won by the Brooklyn Dodgers, due in large part to their strong offensive lineup. Catcher Roy Campanella (.281 AVG, 46 HR, 140 RBI), center fielder Duke Snider (.301 AVG, 43 HR, 135 RBI), second baseman Jackie Robinson (.334 AVG, 134 Runs, 22 HR, 86 RBI), right fielder Carl Furillo (.323 AVG, 28 HR, 93 RBI), and first baseman Gil Hodges (24 HR, 78 RBI) powered the Bums to the crown, while Cy Young Award winner Don Newcombe (26-9, 3.40 ERA) dominated on the mound. Carl Erskine also went 21-11. Casey Stengel’s New York Yankees dogged the Dodgers all season, always remaining within striking distance, but never able to close the deal. They settled for the Wild Card to advance to the playoffs, to which Casey said, "If we're going to win the title, we've got to start thinking we're not as good as we think we are." The Bronx Bombers were led by the Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio (.341 AVG, 123 Runs, 35 HR, 133 RBI), along with catcher Yogi Berra (.306 AVG, 49 HR, 144 RBI), Charlie Keller (140 Runs, 36 HR, 102 RBI) , Tommy Henrich (30 HR, 117 RBI), Hank Bauer (24 HR, 108 RBI, and first baseman Joe Collins (36 HR). Stengel mixed and matched his starters and turned most games over to closer Joe Page (31 Saves), though Tommy Byrne (20-8) and Bob Porterfield (20-17) each won twenty games, though not impressively. The New York Giants had fine 89-win season, but could never catch its top two division and borough rivals. The G’ints were led by MVP Johnny Mize, the Big Cat, who slugged 73 home runs, drove in 190 runs, scored 143 Runs, and batted .326. Mel Ott (.314 AVG, 130 Runs, 51 HR, 128 RBI) and Bob Johnson 101 Runs, 36 HR, 110 RBI) also contributed mightily at the plate, while Hal Schumacher (25-8, 3.64 ERA). The Chicago White Sox finished last, though hurler Ted Lyons (17-18, 2.99 ERA), shortstop Luke Appling (.325 AVG, 87 Runs), Wally Moses (47 Doubles, 20 Triples), and left fielder Joe Vosmik (.289 AVG, 72 RBI) had good seasons.

CENTRAL DIVISION
The Central Division was a wire-to-wire battle between the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians. The Red Sox led the division by a single game going into the last series, which the Red Sox hosted at Fenway Park. With tie-breakers, it had been determined that the team that won 2 games in the 3-game series would win the division crown. In Game One, the Red Sox annihilated the Indians and starter Mike Garcia, scoring 14 runs in the first 3 innings. The BoSox banged out 24 hits, led by Ted Williams, Rudy York, and Johnny Pesky, all of whom had 4 hits. Joe Cronin went against convention and started his closer, Ellis Kinder, who went on to the complete game 17-2 win. Game Two was a battle between the two clubs’ aces, Tex Hughson and Satchel Paige. Paige held the Red Sox to one run on five hits, and was powered by home runs from Al Rosen and Lou Boudreau in a 7-1 victory. Game Three would be the deciding game of the Central Division. Boston starter Boo Ferriss gave up one run in the first inning, but couldn’t get out of the second, as back-to-back homers by Larry Doby and Al Rosen drove him from the game. The Indians scored 5 runs in the frame, to take a 6-1 lead. It was short-lived, however, as the Red Sox small-balled Hall of Famer Bob Feller. Ted Williams walked, Rudy York singled, and Bobby Doerr walked to load the bases with no outs. Jim Tabor singled Williams in, and an Aaron Robinson grounder scored York, though Doerr was forced at second base. Catfish Metkovich walked to load the bases again, followed by a two-run Johnny Pesky single to right, which tied the game at 6. Dom DiMaggio then executed a perfect suicide squeeze, scoring Lou Finney with the go-ahead run. Ted Williams tacked on runs in the 6th and 7th innings with a single and a two-run home run, and Clem Dreisewerd closed out the game and the Division Title for the Boston Red Sox.
Joe Cronin’s Red Sox were led by the Splendid Splinter, Ted Williams, who was an offensive terror. Williams won the Batting Crown with a .395 AVG, scored 152 Runs, hit 51 Home Runs, drove in 156 runs, and had an On Based Percentage of .499. First baseman Rudy York (.318 AVG, 35 HR, 151 RBI), second baseman Bobby Doerr (.296 AVG, 27 HR, 115 RBI), shortstop Johnny Pesky (.348 AVG, 125 Runs, 48 Doubles), center fielder Dom DiMaggio (.312 AVG, 120 Runs), and third baseman Jim Tabor (16 HR, 96 RBI) gave Boston fans an offense to cheer about. Tex Hughson (23-15, 3.70 ERA), Joe Dobson (20-13), and closer Ellis Kinder (38 Saves) provided great pitching on Yawkey Way. The Cleveland Indians had strong starting pitching with Bob Lemon (23-13, 3.27 ERA), Bob Feller (22-15, 3.45 ERA), Satchel Paige (15-17, 3.86 ERA), and Mike Garcia (21-12). Offensive stars for the Tribe were second baseman Joe Gordon (42 HR, 121 RBI, 131 Runs) , center fielder Larry Doby (27 HR, 110 RBI), shortstop Lou Boudreau (.346, 18 HR, 80 RBI, 105 Runs), left fielder Dale Mitchell (.324 AVG, 25 Triples), third baseman Ken Keltner (34 HR, 99 RBI), and first baseman Al Rosen (20 HR, 98 RBI). Billy Southworth’s Boston Braves produced a .500 finish, led by star southpaw Warren Spahn (21-10, 8 Saves, 3.51 ERA). Sid Gordon (29 HR, 100 RBI), Jeff Heath (.304 AVG, 22 HR, 104 RBI), and catcher Walker Cooper (19 HR, 95 RBI) had good offensive seasons. The Chicago Cubs’ weakness was their pitching, and despite offensive prowess by Ripper Collins (.299 AVG, 28 HR, 135 RBI, 100 Runs), Billy Herman (.300 AVG, 41 Doubles), and Cool Papa Bell (.315 AVG, 95 Runs), the Cubs finished in the cellar.

WESTERN DIVISION
The St. Louis Cardinals coasted to the Western Division crown, led by co-MVP candidates Enos Slaughter (.299 AVG, 31 HR, 132 RBI, 107 Runs) and Stan Musial (.335 AVG, 20 HR, 98 RBI, 103 Runs) . The Redbirds were led on the mound by a trio of left-handers, Harry Brecheen (14-7, 3.92 ERA), Max Lanier (13-12 2.95), and the superb Howie Pollet (24-13, 2.86 ERA). The Detroit Tigers boasted two twenty game winners in Hal Newhouser (20-17) and Schoolboy Rowe (21-17), and first baseman Hank Greenberg (.305 AVG, 33 HR, 122 RBI), center fielder Earl Averill (37 HR, 136 RBI), and second baseman Charlie Gehringer (.339 AVG, 49 Doubles, 19 HR, 91 RBI) led the way at bat. There was not much to cheer for in the Queen City, as the Cincinnati Reds finished a distant third. However, closer Joe Beggs (22 Saves, 2.46 ERA), first baseman Frank McCormick (19 HR, 94 RBI), Wally Berger (23 HR, 72 RBI), and Hank Sauer (28 HR, 86 RBI) each had productive seasons. The St. Louis Browns had an unexpected slugger, as Stan Spence walloped 44 Home Runs, 111 RBI, and scored 100 Runs. Shorstop Vern Stephens (20 HR, 73 RBI) and first baseman George McQuinn (.302 AVG, 21 HR, 78 RBI) assisted Spence on offense, but the Browns finished in last place, 29 games behind their Sportsman Park roommates, the Cardinals.

SEMI-FINALS Boston Red Sox and Brooklyn Dodgers
The Semi-Finals brought the Central Division champion Red Sox into Ebbets Field to face the mighty Dodgers. Game One matched up aces Don Newcombe and Tex Hughson, but this was a day for offense. Rudy York’s two-run homer in the third gave the Red Sox a 3-1 lead, but Carl Furillo’s single and Gil Hodges 3-run bomb put the Dodgers back in front by a score of 5-3. After Duke Snider’s sacrifice fly made it 6-3, the Red Sox tied the score after Aaron Robinson homered and Pinky Higgins singled to right. Closer Ellis Kinder entered the tie game in the 8th, but allowed a two-out two-run home run to center from Jackie Robinson. Bud Podbielan entered the game in the top of the 9th for Brooklyn, and walked Rudy York. After a Bobby Doerr fly out to left, Pinky Higgins singled to center. Podbielan got exactly what he wanted on the next pitch, as pinch-hitter Tom McBride hit a tailor-made double play ball to Robinson at second, but Higgins took Pee Wee Reese out with a hard slide, sending the Kentucky shortstop sprawling. Now, the Dodgers had two outs with men at the corners, and Podbielan faced Jim Tabor. Tabor singled to right, scoring York and moving McBride to third. Podbielan then uncorked a wild pitch, allowing McBride to score the tying run, before Leon Culberson grounded to third for the last out. The game moved uneventfully to the bottom of the 11th inning, when, with one out, Kinder allowed back to back singles to Gil Hodges and Johnny Hopp. Billy Cox then lined an outside changeup into center, scoring Hodges and giving Brooklyn a 1-0 series lead. Game Two began with a Ted Williams two-run homer over the screen in right field off of pitcher Carl Erskine. In the bottom of the third, the Dodgers got 6 consecutive batters on base on 3 singles, 2 walks, and a costly error by second baseman Bobby Doerr, and the Dodgers led 4-2. After each team plated single runs in the 4th, the Red Sox took a 6-5 lead on run-scoring singles by Higgins and Tabor in the 5th inning. The see-saw affair continued as Billy Cox and George Shuba singled in runs in the bottom of the frame, making the score 7-6, Brooklyn. In the top of the 7th, Erskine ran out of gas and, after a one-out single to Pinky Higgins, the Bums called on left-handed specialist Morrie Martin to retire Lou Finney. Manager Joe Cronin sent Leon Culberson up to pinch-hit, and Culberson singled to center. The Dodgers then went to Bud Podbielan again, but he walked Jim Tabor, loading the bases. Another batter, another pitching change, and this time the Dodgers went back to Game One winner Ralph Branca. Branca was hit hard by Aaron Robinson, but the line drive was hit right at first baseman Gil Hodges—two out. Next, Branca faced the league’s Hits leader, Johnny Pesky. Pesky singled to right, scoring Higgins, but, to the horror of Red Sox fans, Leon Culberson tried to score as well. Carl Furillo, the Reading Rifle, almost looked surprised to see the Red Sox outfielder testing his arm. Surprise led to disrespect, and disrespect led to determination, and Furillo’s rocket shot to Campanella put an end to the affront of his cannon right arm, cutting down Culberson at the plate with what would have been the go-ahead run. In the bottom of the 7th, Billy cox singled to score Hodges, then Duke Snider slammed a two-run single, scoring Reese and Robinson, giving the Dodgers a 10-7 lead, which Branca would make stand up, giving the Dodgers a 2-0 series lead.

Game Three was played at Fenway Park, and Leon Culberson two-run homer in the 3rd, followed by run-scoring singles by Dom DiMaggio and York made the 5th inning score 5-0, all off starter Preacher Roe. Red Sox pitcher Boo Ferris, meanwhile, was pitching an outstanding game. Gil Hodges hit a 7th inning solo shot, but Ted Williams answered with a run-scoring single in the bottom of the 7th. After a York walk and a Culberson out, Bobby Doerr singled to right and Ted Williams rounded third. Red Sox fans cringed, then watched as Carl Furillo again rose to the challenge, gunning out Williams at the plate for the third out. Reliever Bob Klinger entered for the Sox, and closed out Ferriss’ 7-2 victory. Game Four was a battle between fourth starters, as Paul Minner took the mound for the Dodgers opposite Jim Bagby. Roy Campanella began the scoring in Game Four with a three-run home run to dead center off Bagby. A 3rd inning Dom DiMaggio double plated a run for the BoSox, Rudy York homered to in the 4th to center, but after 6 innings, the Dodgers led 4-2. In the bottom of the 7th, Pesky singled, DiMaggio was hit by pitch, and Ted Williams singled to right. The Red Sox appeared to have finally learned their lesson, as Pesky was held at third this time. As a reward for their patience, Minner threw a wild pitch, allowing Pesky to score and the other runners to move up a base. York then hit a deep fly to center, and DiMaggio tagged up and scored the tying run. The game moved to the 10th inning knotted at 4. Bagby induced a Robinson ground out, but then walked Snider and gave up a long double to left-center from Campanella. DiMaggio’s strong throw held Snider at third, and the Dodgers were threatening again. Cronin went to Ellis Kinder and, this time, he did not disappoint. Furillo tapped harmlessly back to the mound and Kinder checked the runner and threw on to first for the out. With two out, Johnny Hopp flew out to right, and the Dodgers threat was over. In the bottom of the inning, Doerr walked and Higgins slapped a single to right, his 12th hit of the series. Podbielan came in to pitch for the Dodgers, and Tabor squared to bunt the runners over. Gil Hodges came in from first to field the bunt and thought he had a play on Doerr at third. His throw was late, however, and now the Red Sox had the bases loaded and on one out. Morrie Martin entered for the Dodgers to face Aaron Robinson, but walked Robinson on 4 pitches, giving the Red Sox a5-4 10-inning victory, tying the series at 2. Game Five was tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 8th. Both Tex Hughson and Don Newcombe pitched had well. In the bottom of the 8th, Pesky and DiMaggio reached on back to back singles. After Williams grounded out, Rudy York homered into the center field bleachers, scoring 3. Hughson took that 5-2 lead into the top of the 9th. After retiring Furillo, Hodges and Hopp both singled. Cronin called on Kinder again, who surrendered a single to left, on which Hodges was willing to stop at third, but Williams over-ran the ball, and Hodges scored, with the other runners moving to second and third. Pinch-hitter Cookie Lavagetto walked. Pee Wee Reese came to bat with the bases loaded and one out, and his double to right-center scored Hopp and Cox, tying the game at 5. Kinder intentionally walked Jackie Robinson and then, in a great battle, struck out Duke Snider. However, as a reminder of the great lineup from Flatbush, Roy Campanella came to the plate and deposited Kinder’s next pitch to the same spot in the centerfield bleachers that he had reached the day before, only this time for a grand slam. The Dodgers now led 9-5. In the 9th, Aaron Robinson homered to right, and singles by Pesky, Williams, and York loaded the bases with only one out. Reliever Paul Carter got Bobby Doerr to ground out to second, but Robinson’s only play was to first, allowing Pesky to score. With the tying runs in scoring position, postseason hero Pinky Higgins, with 13 hits in the series, came to bat. Higgins had no magic in his bat this time, grounding out to Reese to end the game.

After that disappointing loss, the Red Sox traveled back to Ebbets Field to face Erskine and the Dodgers. The Sox scored first on a run-scoring groundout by Dom DiMaggio, but the Bums answered in the bottom of the 1st, and Furillo and Hodges each singled in a run off Red Sox starter Joe Dobson. The bottom of the 3rd was not kind to Dobson, as Robinson singled and then Duke Snider homered with a long shot over the scoreboard in right. Three batters later, Hopp doubled in a run, then Cox singled in Hopp, giving the Dodgers a 6-1 lead. After a Campanella single plated another run in the 4th, the Red Sox answered. Jim Tabor homered, and Aaron Robinson and Pesky singled, followed by a walk to Dom DiMaggio. Ted Williams hit a long fly to center, but Snider hauled it in, allowing Robinson to score from third. Next up, Rudy York doubled to deep left-center. Pesky scored and DiMaggio rounded third, but Snider made a great throw to Jackie Robinson, whose relay to the plate cut down DiMaggio, making him the third Red Sox runner of the series to be thrown out at the plate to end an inning. Dodgers 7, Red Sox 4. In the bottom of the 6th, the Dodgers loaded the bases with two out, with Billy Cox coming to the plate. Cox singled to left, but Ted Williams misplayed the ball, allowing the ball to roll all the way to the wall, as Snider, Hodges, and Hopp all scored. The Dodgers then used their mix-and-match bullpen to finish the game, a 10-6 Dodgers victory, and a berth in the World Series.



SEMI-FINALS New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees met in the Semi-Finals, beginning with Game One in St. Louis’ Sportsman’s Park. Yankee starter Vic Raschi was the story, pitching a complete game 5-hitter, while Tommy Henrich went 2-4 with 2 RBI and Billy Johnson was 2-4 with 3 RBI and a home run. Max Lanier was the loser for the Redbirds. In Game Two, the Yankees scored in the 1st on an RBI single by Yogi Berra and a double off the bat of Tommy Henrich. Joe DiMaggio’s triple in the second scored the third Yankee run off George Munger, and the Yankees blew it open in the top of the 4th, as Snuffy Stirnweiss and Phil Rizzuto led off the frame with singles, followed by a Charlie Keller double. Sacrifice flies by Joe DiMaggio and Yogi Berra scored Rizzuto and Keller, giving the Yankees a 7-0 lead. Bob Porterfield, the Yankees starter, would only need one run on this day, as he threw a complete game shutout. Joe DiMaggio finished off the Cards with an 8th inning bomb into the centerfield stands.

Game Three was slated for Yankee Stadium, with the Cardinals throwing Howie Pollet against the Yankees’ Ed Lopat. The Cardinals wasted no time greeting Lopat, as center fielder Terry Moore homered to center on the first pitch. Red Schoendienst singled and Enos Slaughter tripled him in, and Stan Musial’s RBI groundout plated Slaughter. Cards-3, Yanks-0. Pollet allowed 4 straight singles in the bottom of the 2nd, giving the Yankees two runs. Those four singles would be the only hits Pollet would give up on the day. A Whitey Kurowski sacrifice fly in the 3rd ended the scoring, and the Cardinals took Game Three 4-2. Game Four began with Cardinals starter Harry Brecheen completely controlling Yankee bats. Powered by Danny Litwhiler’s 6th inning home run, Brecheen allowed only two singles through eight innings of shutout ball. In the 9th, the Cardinals turned to George Munger to close out the Yankees, but it was evident that he didn’t have the stuff his predecessor did, as the Yankees started the inning with a Charlie Keller single, followed by Litwhiler’s error on DiMaggio’s drive, put runners on second and third with no outs. Berra singled in Keller, and Jerry Coleman’s grounder to short plated DiMaggio, thought the Cardinals were able to turn two on the play. Hank Bauer singled and Nick Etten walked before Munger induced Henrich to ground out to third, giving the Cardinals a 3-2 victory. Game Five was an exciting, back-and-forth affair. Joe DiMaggio jolted the Cardinals in the bottom of the 2nd with a two-run home run to deep left, but the Cardinals answered in the 4th, as Whitey Kurowski, Del Rice, and Lou Klein each drove in a run, making the score 3-2 Cardinals. The Yankees struck again in the bottom of the 5th, as Stirnweiss walked and Rizzuto singled. Cardinals starter Murry Dickson negotiated his way through Keller and DiMaggio, but Yogi Berra powered Dickson’s next offering into the center field bleachers for a three run home run. Slaughter homered to right in the 7th, making the score 5-4. The Cardinals went on the attack again in the top of the 8th, as Marty Marion doubled and Solly Hemus’ triple into the monuments scored Marion with the tying run. With the infield in, Terry Moore slapped a hot shot which Jerry Coleman knocked down with a great diving play. Hemus was running on contact, however, and Coleman’s only play was at first. The Comeback Cardinals had taken a 6-5 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Cards reliever Ken Burkhart allowed a single to Berra. After Henrich struck out, Marion misplayed Hank Bauer’s grounder, and the Yankees had men on first and second. Burkhart walked Bobby Brown, and then walked Joe Collins to score Berra and tie the game. Marion turned Stirnweiss’ grounder into a double play, but the Yankees had tied the score at 6. Yankee closer Joe Page gave up a Stan Musial single to start the 9th and, after two outs were recorded, Del Rice walked. Marion singled to center and Musial, on the move with two outs, rounded third as Joe DiMaggio unleashed a throw to the plate. Berra took the perfect throw and tagged Musial out at the plate for the third out. DiMaggio had held the tie. In the bottom of the 9th, Phil Rizzuto took Burkhart’s 0-1 outside fastball to right, a fly ball that just get kept going. Slaughter watched helplessly as the Scooter’s pop fly home run landed in the fourth row, giving the Yankees a wild 7-6 win.

Both teams packed up for the long train ride to St. Louis. Max Lanier and Bob Porterfield would be the pitching matchup. The game moved on as a scoreless tie until the top of the 5th, when Tommy Henrich hit a two-run homer to center. Del Rice homered for the Cards in the bottom of the 5th. Yankees-2, Cardinals-1. Porterfield continued to hold the Cardinals bats down, until the 9th inning. Enos Slaughter led off the inning with a slicing fly ball to left, which Hank Bauer reached, but then allowed to drop out of his glove, giving Slaughter second. Stan Musial flew out to Bauer, who caught the ball this time. Whitey Kurowski hit a long fly ball to right, and Slaughter was able to tag and move to third. Danny Litwhiler then drew a walk. Casey Stengel came to the mound and told Porterfield, “Bob, one of us is fixin’ to come out of the game.” Stengel then called on Tom Ferrick to close out the series. Ferrick forced Jones to hit a routine grounder to Rizzuto at short, but it was anything but routine to Rizzuto, who booted it, allowing Slaughter to score the tying run in the bottom of the 9th. Ferrick then got another ground ball from Marion, this time a force play for Billy Johnson at third. Max Lanier took the mound again in the top of the 10th and gave up a one-out single to Keller. After DiMaggio grounded out, Yogi Berra hit a gapper to right-center that rolled to the wall, scoring Keller from first. After the third out, Stengel brought on the Yankee closer, Joe Page, who finished off the Cardinals and their season. The Yankees were moving on to another all-New York World Series.



WORLD SERIES Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees
Game One of the World Series was hosted by Brooklyn at Ebbets Field, and the Dodgers were not very hospitable early, taking a 5-1 lead after two innings, on RBIs by Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson, and Roy Campanella. Don Newcombe took the Dodgers’ 6-3 lead to the 9th inning. Nick Etten reached on a single, and then Joe Collins homered to right, chasing Newcombe from the game. Paul Carter came on for the Dodgers, but he walked Stirnweiss and gave up a single to Rizzuto and quickly left the game. Ralph Branca—yes, Ralph Branca---came in and promptly struck out Keller. Joe DiMaggio singled to right, but the Yankees had heard about Furillo’s throwing heroics in the Semis, and did not try to score Stirnweiss from second. The Yankees had loaded the bases, with the tying run at third. Yogi Berra came to the plate and drove a shot to right. Carl Furillo gave chase, but the ball bounded quirkily off the Abe Stark “Hit Sign-Win a Suit” sign, and the resulting triple cleared the bases, giving the Yankees an 8-6 lead. After Yogi dusted himself off, he asked Yankee third base coach Frank Crosetti it this meant he would really get a suit. Tommy Henrich then completed the comeback with a home run over the right field screen. The Dodgers went meekly in the 9th, and the Yankees won Game One 10-6. Yogi did win a suit, and was seen out on the town later that night. When Edna Stengel, Casey’s wife, saw Yogi in his new suit, she said, “Yogi, you look cool”, to which Yogi replied, “Thanks, you don’t look so hot yourself.”
Game Two’s matchup was Preacher Roe for the Bums and Bob Porterfield for the Bombers. Both men pitched well, with Porterfield’s only mistake a third inning Duke Snider blast to right, scoring Jackie Robinson on the two-run homer. Roe allowed a solo home run to Joe DiMaggio in the top of the 8th, but no more. The Dodgers won the pitcher’s duel 2-1.

Game Three moved to Yankee Stadium, where Charlie Keller went 4-4 to power Ed Lopat to a 5-3 victory. The Yankees scored two in the 3rd and 3 in the 6th off of Carl Erskine, giving the Yankees all the runs they would need. Game Four followed the same pattern, as the Bronx Bombers took a commanding 7-0 lead after three innings. The big blows were home runs by Berra and Bauer. The Dodgers got back in the game on back-to-back home runs by Campanella and Furillo, but Tommy Byrne, Fred Sanford, and Tom Ferrick would allow them to get no closer, giving the Yankees an 8-4 win. The Yankees would only need to win one more game to take home the World Series title. The Dodgers opened Game Five with three successive singles off Vic Raschi, with Duke Snider’s single plating Pee Wee Reese. Carl Furillo then walked. With the bases loaded, Raschi’s next pitch careened in towards Gil Hodges, hitting the Dodgers first baseman on the left wrist, forcing Jackie Robinson in with the second run. It was a costly run---Hodges’ right wrist was broken, ending his season. Raschi walked Johnny Hopp, scoring Snider. The Dodgers took a 3-0 lead. Big Don Newcombe was dealing for the Dodgers. In the bottom of the 4th, Newcombe struck out Joe Collins, but pulled a muscle in his lower rib cage, and was unable to continue. Newcombe’s replacement, Bud Podbielan walked Stirnweiss and then gave up a triple to Rizzuto, scoring Stirnweiss. Podbielan surrendered to Ralph Branca in the bottom of the 6th, and Branca shut the door on the Yankees. The Dodgers led 3-2 going into the bottom of the 8th, when the Dodgers replaced Branca with Paul Carter. Rizzuto greeted Carter with a double to center, and Carter was removed. Morrie Martin entered and induced Charlie Keller to ground out to short. Martin was then removed for Clyde King. Joe DiMaggio lashed a rocket to left-center, scoring Rizzuto with the tying run on the double. Yogi Berra, who would be named Postseason MVP, broke the tie with his own double down the right field line, scoring Joltin’ Joe. King then walked three consecutive Yankees, with his walk of Bobby Brown forcing Berra in, making the score Yankees-5, Dodgers-3. Then, to make the Dodgers’ pain complete, Joe Collins blasted a long home run down the right field line, scoring 4 Yankees with his grand slam. The Yankees led 9-3, and though the Dodgers would score a run in the top of the 9th, the Yankees would go on to win the game 9-4 and the World Series, 4 games to 1.





1949 NEW YORK YANKEES WORLD CHAMPIONS


League Awards
MVP—Johnny Mize, New York Giants
CY YOUNG AWARD—Don Newcombe, Brooklyn Dodgers
FIREMAN OF THE YEAR—Ellis Kinder, Boston Red Sox


League Leaders
Batting Average-Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox .395
Home Runs-Johnny Mize, New York Giants 73 HR
RBI- Johnny Mize, New York Giants 190 RBI
Runs- Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox 152 Runs
Hits- Johnny Pesky, Boston Red Sox 259 Hits
Doubles- Rudy York, Boston Red Sox 50 2B
Triples-Dale Mitchell, Cleveland Indians 25 3B
Stolen Bases-Pete Hill New York Giants 36 SB
Hit Streak-Dale Mitchell, Cleveland Indians 26 games


Pitching Leaders
Wins-Don Newcombe, Brooklyn Dodgers 26-9
Saves-Ellis Kinder, Boston Red Sox 38 Saves
Strikeouts-Hal Newhouser, Detroit Tigers 290 K
ERA-Howie Pollet, St. Louis Cardinals 2.86 ERA

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