1946 Replay World Series

Boston, October 12 – Ted Williams sent the World Series back to St. Louis with a dramatic home run in the seventh inning giving Boston a 2-1 win in Game 5 of the Series. It was Williams’ third home run in as many days, and the blow kept the Sox alive for another day.

The two teams returned to Fenway Park after yesterday’s contest was cancelled by rain. The delay seemed to have benefited Cardinal starter Howie Pollet who has been ailing with a bad back. Pollet continued his scoreless streak to 13 innings by holding Boston for the first 5 innings. Meanwhile, St. Louis did strike first with a run in the third, but failed to take full advantage of Sox starter Joe Dobson’s early wildness. In the second, the Cardinals loaded the bases with a Slaughter single and two free passes to Kurowski and Garagiola. However, Dobson settled down against the bottom of the Redbird order. Harry Walker popped up to Rudy York for an infield fly, and Slats Marion lined to 2B Don Gutteridge for the second out. Pollet put a scare into the 35,982 fans in attendance with a deep fly to left that Williams put away at the base of the wall. But, the Cardinals continued to threaten in the third as Dobson walked Red Schoendienst for his third walk in as many innings. Terry Moore followed with an infield single deep in the hole which 3B Pinky Higgins could only field. Musial cued one back to Higgins, but the ball was too slowly hit to turn two. Higgins’ throw beat Musial to the bag, but the Cardinals had two men in scoring position with only one out. Slaughter also tried the left side of the Sox infield with a deep grounder to the right of Johnny Pesky. Pesky backhanded the high hop, turned and flipped to third to catch Moore. It was a superb effort by the Boston shortstop that perhaps saved a run, but St. Louis was on the board with Schoendienst’s run. After Dobson struck Kurowski out to end the third, the Cardinals had scored only one run with five men on base with less than one out in the past two innings. Pollet was shutting the Sox down, but St. Louis had not converted on two fine opportunities.

Pollet did not allow a hit until Rudy York doubled into the right field gap with one out in the fifth. Boston was unable to convert on its first opportunity as York was stranded at third. After Pollet’s warm-up tosses in the sixth, the ace portsider summoned for Dyer and his staff to the mound. Pollet’s back injury appeared to be tightening up. After a brief conference hastily ended by home plate umpire Lee Ballanfant, Dyer stayed with his ace. The first batter, Roy Partee, jumped on Pollet’s first pitch, sending it into the right field gap for a double. Joe Cronin called Dobson back, and summoned Tom McBride to hit for his pitcher. McBride sacrificed Partee to third, and Cronin again turned to his bench, sending Bobby Doerr to hit for Don Gutteridge. Doerr, who did not start due to an injury, did his duty with a deep fly to center allowing Partee to tie the game at one run apiece.

With the extra day of rest due to yesterday’s rainout, Cronin sent his ace Tex Hughson to the mound. Hughson struck out Terry Moore to start the seventh, but Musial singled to right for his second hit of the game. Dyer started Musial running, and Enos Slaughter singled past Pesky who was running to second to cover on the play. Musial coasted into third, and the Cardinals again had the Sox on the ropes. With the infield playing for the double play, Kurowski lined to CF Dom DiMaggio. Musial tagged, but DiMaggio threw a perfect strike to Partee who tagged Stan out to end the inning. As it always seems, those who make a great play in the field lead off the following inning, and so it was in the Sox half of the seventh. DiMaggio dribbled out to Schoendienst for the first out. The stage was set for Mr. Williams’ dramatics. Williams deposited Pollet’s 1-0 offering where no shift could field it - deep into the right field stands - for a 2-1 Boston advantage. The clout injected new life into the Sox, and the Cardinals’ failure to convert scoring opportunities came home to roost. Hughson set the side down in order in the 8^th and 9^th innings for the win. The teams traveled back to St. Louis last night, and Cronin will send hard-luck Mickey Harris back to the St. Louis mound for a do-or-die game for Boston. Harry Breechen will make the start for Dyer’s Redbirds who still stand one game away from the World’s Championship

Boston, October 10 - Three Boston errors in the late stages of Game 4 proved costly as the St. Louis Cardinals took a 3 games to 1 advantage with a 5-4 comeback victory. Cardinal manager Eddie Dyer is seemingly in the catbird seat as he calls upon ace lefty Howie Pollet for a potential Series clincher today. It is a disheartening turn of event for the Boston faithful as their club surrendered a late lead on uncharacteristic fielding errors.

Joe Garagiola slides into Hal Wagner with the tying run in the top of the seventh. Garagiola tagged from third, beating a surprised Wally Moses' throw home. St. Louis took full advantage of three Boston errors to come back for a 5-4 victory.

With nobody out, 3B Pinky Higgins' throwing error in the seventh placed the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, setting the stage for more Cardinal dramatics. Boston starter Tex Hughson opened the frame with an innocent pass to Joe Garagiola. Harry Walker hit a sharp grounder to Higgins' right which the third sacker was able to knock down. However, Higgins hurried the throw which skipped under Rudy York's outstretched mitt. Walker quickly made the left turn toward second, and Garagiola raced for third. As the clutch hitting Marty Marion stepped up to bat, Sox manager Joe Cronin motioned his infield to stay back as to keep Walker, the go-ahead run, from scoring on any hard hit grounders. Marion got his bat on a Hughson fastball, slicing it down the right field line. Wally Moses raced over against the stands and made the catch. As Moses bounced off the wall, Garagiola alerted tagged up and headed home. The Cardinal catcher daring maneuver paid off as his slide into Hal Wagner beat Moses' throw to the plate. St. Louis had tied the game with the go-ahead run at third with one out. Dyer called pitcher Red Munger back, and sent Dick Sisler to the plate, seeking a deep fly ball to the outfield. Sisler blooped Hughson's pitch over first into shallow right. Moses raced in, and played the ball off a hop. The fleet Walker beat Moses' throw, and Sisler went to scoring position on the throw home. Hughson was able to strand Sisler, and escape any further damage.

The comeback was especially disheartening for Boston as they had wasted an easy opportunity for an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Ted Williams beat Dyer's shift with a triple to left. However, Williams was easily cut down on Rudy York's grounder to second. Red Schoendienst fielded and caught Williams down the line. After a brief rundown, Williams was tagged out by Marion. Williams headed back to the dugout to a smackering of boos from an astute crowd of 35,645 fans. Williams had given Boston a 3-1 with his second home run in as many days in the third inning. However, Whitey Kurowski quickly rebutted by leading off the 4th with a solo home run over the left field wall.

St Louis scored an important insurance run in the 8th as Higgins again opened the door with a one out throwing error on an Enos Slaughter grounder. Slaughter, who has been quieted by Boston hurlers since his earlier heroics, stole second with two outs. Garagiola hit a fly ball to right which Wally Moses misplayed. The Sox outfielder raced back, and allowed the ball to pop out of his glove. Slaughter scored easily on the two base error that should have been the third out. The insurance run proved beneficial as Rudy York led off the bottom of the ninth with a solo homer over the left field wall. It was York's first hit since his Game 1 home run, but Redbird reliever preserved the one run lead by retiring the remaining side in order.

Mike Higgins, the game's goat, was an early hero with a second inning RBI double off the left field wall for Boston's first run. Tex Hughson helped his own cause with an infield single scoring Higgins for a two run lead. But, St. Louis stayed with the Red Sox for every run. Red Schoendienst singled home Marion to half the Sox lead in the third. Eddie Dyer must be pleased with the results as he rested ace Howie Pollet who is aching with a bad back. Pollet pitched nine strong innings on Sunday. Cronin is expected to send Joe Dobson (10-8; 3.64 ERA) to try to keep the Red Sox alive for another trip to St. Louis.

Boston, October 9 – The Boston Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-1, in Game Three of the World Series. Dave (Boo) Ferriss shut down Enos Slaughter and the Redbird attack with a four hitter on a cool New England afternoon. The Red Sox took advantage of the familiar and cozy right field corner of Fenway Park to score two home runs of the bats of Hal Wagner and Ted Williams, the deciding blows of the contest.

Ferriss started off rusty from a lengthy rest from his last start by allowing two singles by Terry Moore and Stan Musial in the first. That brought up public enemy #1 in these parts, Enos Slaughter. However, the 34,500 Red Sox faithful in attendance breathed a sigh of relief as Ferriss induced Slaughter to pop out to Bobby Doerr. Whitey Kurowski grounded out to third to end the early threat. It would be the Cardinals only threat of the afternoon. Knuckleballer Murry Dickson handed Boston their first run in the second inning. Dom DiMaggio laced a two out double into the right center field gap. Dickson pitched around Williams and walked him. Dickson’s first pitch to Rudy York bounced in the dirt and skipped past catcher Garagiola. DiMaggio and Williams advanced on the wild pitch. Later in the count, Dickson crossed up Garagiola and DiMaggio scored the Bosox’ first run on the passed ball.

Garagiola atoned for the 1st inning miscue by belting a leadoff home run into the right field stands in the top of the 2nd. Ferriss then picked up his game, retiring the next 8 batters until Garagiola walked in the 4th. After that pass, Ferriss did not allow another Cardinal to reach base until a meaningless Musial single in the 9th. Garagiola’s counterpart, Hal Wagner, put the Red Sox ahead for good with a solo home run that first base umpire Charles Berry ruled fair. Ted Williams provided the insurance with a three run home run down the right field line, a close 302 feet from homeplate. Boston hopes to knot the Series at two games apiece in today’s contest. Joe Cronin is scheduled to return Game 1 starter Tex Hughson (23-9; 2.31 ERA) to toe the rubber. Dyer will give Howie Pollet's back another day of rest and go with George (Red) Munger (4-3; 3.00 ERA in 7 starts).

SLAUGHTER STRIKES AGAIN!
Two three-run homers sink Harris and Sox, 6-2; Series heads to Fenway

St. Louis, October 7 – The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Boston Red Sox, 6-2 in Game 2 of the World Series at Sportsman’s Park. Enos Slaughter, with three mighty swings, has single-handedly given the St. Louis Cardinals a surprising two game lead in the Series. The sudden turn of events has baseball experts and the heavily favored Red Sox, particularly pitcher Mickey Harris, scratching the heads. In Sunday’s contest, Slaughter ended the extra inning affair with a home run off Harris, pitching in relief of Tex Hughson.

Less than twenty-four hours after his game winning homer, Slaughter stepped in to face Harris with two runners on and two out. Boston had taken an early 1-0 lead in the first on a Ted Williams single, scoring leadoff hitter Tom McBride. Harris had retired the first two Redbirds, but Stan Musial singled to right to continue the inning. Cleanup hitter Whitey Kurowski drew a walk that set the stage for Slaughter. The 35,815 fans drew silent as Country walked up to the plate. All hoped for a repeat performance, but none dared to utter such a fantastic dream. Slaughter drilled Harris’ first pitch into the right field stands that suddenly quaked with a raucous celebration. Harris stared in quiet disbelief as Slaughter circled the bases and drew three runs on the scoreboard.

With out out in the third, Terry Moore singled to center. Musial hit a swinging bunt in front of the plate that Roy Partee fielded and looked to second. As Partee declined the double play attempt, Musial hustled down the line and Partee hurried his throw to first. Rudy York was unable to dig the ball out of the dirt, and umpire Al Barlick ruled York was not in possession of the ball as Musial touched the base. Musial was aboard on a throwing error by the Sox’ backup catcher. Harris popped Kurowski out on an infield fly to 3B Pinky Higgins. The crowd roared as the hero Slaughter stepped up to bat. The Redbird faithful had witnessed so much from Country that they were no longer bashful about asking for more. Harris stubbornly challenged Slaughter again, and again Slaughter crushed Harris’ offering deep into the right field bleachers. The ballgame was seemingly won at that point, as the fight seemed to disappear from the Red Sox players. Despite Slaughter’s heroics, Harris pitched quite well for the Sox. He surrendered only five hits in seven innings of work. In the sixth, the two combatants met again. With the bases empty, even Slaughter expected to be drilled in the ribs or even higher. However with the war already lost, Harris won this battle by dropping a curve ball over the plate, and home plate umpire Cal Hubbard punched Slaughter out.

Harry Breechen (15-10; 2.88 ERA) submitted a notable performance overshadowed by Slaughter’s slugging feat. The southpaw also allowed only five hits. With the exception of Dom DiMaggio’s solo homer that just cleared the left field wall, Breechen kept the forlorn Sox without any hope of a comeback. The Series will proceed to Boston after a travel day. The weather is expected to be cooler with temperatures in the low ‘60’s which will contrast to the mid-summerlike conditions in St. Louis. Joe Cronin will send Dave (Boo) Ferriss (23-8; 3.00 ERA) to the mound, and Eddie Dyer is expected to counter with Murray Dickson (17-5; 2.57 ERA).

St. Louis, Oct. 6 - Enos Slaughter belted a home run to right to end Game 1 of the World Series and hand St. Louis a surprising one game lead. Mickey Harris, pitching in relief of Tex Hughson, seemingly had the Redbirds under control until he let one slip to the veteran Slaughter. Enos socked the pitch on a rope to right, and as Tom McBride followed the ball to the wall, the St. Louis faithful erupted in jubuliation. Tension had been mounting since the 6th when Stan Musial tied the game with a RBI single to right, scoring Red Schoendiest. Slaughter's blast quickly ended the suspense, and left Cardinal fans with the realization their underdog team may make a series of this match-up.

Rudy York gave Boston a two run lead with a HR over the left field wall. His circuit clout would be the only damage the Sox could muster against the Cardinal portside duo of Howie Pollet and Al Brazle. St. Louis C Joe Garagiola tosses a new baseball to Howie Pollet. (The Sporting News)

Boston took the early lead on a home run by Rudy York. But, the sideshow really began as Ted Williams stepped in the box one batter earlier. Cardinal manager Eddie Dyer shifted his infield to counter the pull-hitter Williams. Thirdbaseman Whitey Kurowski trotted over to the first base side of second. CF Terry Moore shifted to right center, as Harry Walker and Marty Marion were the only defense on left side of the infield. (see photos below). The strategy proved meaningless as Pollet walked Williams on four inside pitches. York then followed by sending a changeup over the left field wall. LF Harry Walker drifted back on the ball as if he had a play. As he reached the wall, all he could do was look up. Boston was out to a 2-0 lead, and all of the pundits calling on a Bosox sweep looked like geniuses.
     This Cardinal bunch are like scrap iron, not prone to give in so easily. Despite hurting from a back injury, Pollet settled down, and did not surrender another hit until a Williams double to center in the 7th. St. Louis cut the lead to one in the 3rd as Harry Walker drew a leadoff walk from Tex Hughson. Marty Marion singled past Higgins in the hole for the first St. Louis hit. Pollet advanced the two runners with a sacrifice to Higgins. Schoendienst grounded sharply to third allowing the swift Walker to score, but Terry Moore fouled out to end the inning.
     In extra innings, both manager attempted to stay with their starters but circumstances dictated otherwise. Hal Wagner singled with two outs in the 10th, prompting Joe Cronin to signal for Don Gutteridge to hit for Hughson. The move was unsuccessful as Gutteridge flew out to center to end the inning. Lefty Mickey Harris (19-9; 3.66 ERA), in relief of Hughson, walked Pollet with one out in the bottom of the 10th. Dyer called for a pinch runner for the slow-footed Pollet, but Harris stranded the runner at first by striking out Schoendienst and inducing Moore to fly out. Al Brazle retired the Sox in order in the 11th, and Harris looked to be similarly in control until Slaughter's blast ended the contest.
     Cronin is expected to go with Harris in today's match so the lefty will need to get the pitch to Slaughter out of his mind in a hurry. Dyer will counter with another southpaw, Harry "the Cat" Breechen (15-10; 2.88 ERA).

Managers Joe Cronin and Eddie Dyer exchange handshakes
in yesterday's pre-Series warmups at Sportsman's Park.

St. Louis, October 5 -The Boston Red Sox will travel to Sportsman’s Park to face the Cardinals in this year’s World Series. The oddsmakers have made the Red Sox a prohibitive favorite to win the Series. Even for the sternest of National League fans, the only question seems to be how long will the Series last. Conventional wisdom among NL pitchers is to "stop Musial for a day and either Slaughter or Kurowski, and you’ve got the Cards pretty well bottled up." Conversely, AL pitchers found no rest against the Boston nine that features dangerous hitters up and down the lineup. The Red Sox scored over 150 more runs than their closest AL counterpart this season. The Red Sox dominated the American League, posting winning records against every team. Boston sprinted past the rest of the AL in June and ended the season leading the junior circuit in hitting, pitching, and fielding. Joe Cronin's club will not beat themselves as they committed only 106 errors all season, the best in baseball and 25 fewer than the sure-handed Cardinals. Although both teams finished nine games ahead, the Cardinals were not as dominant. The Cardinals defeated their closest opponent, Brooklyn, by beating them on the field in 17 of 22 games. However, St. Louis struggled with lesser opponents in the defending NL champion Cubs and the Braves. Cardinal ace Howie Pollet who registered 15 wins before losing has been bothered by a torn back muscle of late.With Tex Hughson scheduled to start Game 1, Boston is listed as a 7-20 favorite, meaning a twenty-dollar wager gains seven dollars. The general perception is that the Series will last five games.

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The Cardinal staff will have its hands full with Boston lineup. Left to right: Howie Pollet,
Harry Breechen, Al Brazle, Ted Wilks, and Ken Burkhart.