1946 World Series

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox baseball championship series The 1946 World Series was played in October 1946 between the St. Louis Cardinals (representing the National League) and the Boston Red Sox (representing the American League). This was the Red Sox's first appearance in a World Series since their championship of Template:Wsy.

In the eighth inning of Game 7, with the score 3–3, the Cardinals' Enos Slaughter opened the inning with a single but two batters failed to advance him. With two outs, Harry Walker walloped a hit over Johnny Pesky's head into left-center field. As Leon Culberson chased it down, Slaughter started his "mad dash". Pesky caught Culberson's throw, turned and—perhaps surprised to see Slaughter headed for the plate—supposedly hesitated just a split second before throwing home. Roy Partee had to take a few steps up the third base line to catch Pesky's toss, but Slaughter was safe without a play at the plate and Walker was credited with an RBI double. The Cardinals won the game and the Series in seven games, giving them their sixth championship.

Boston superstar Ted Williams played in the Series injured and was largely ineffective but refused to use his injury as an excuse. He hit only .200 in 25 at-bats with just one RBI in his only World Series appearance.

As the first World Series to be played after wartime travel restrictions had been lifted, it returned from the 3-4 format to the 2–3–2 format for home teams, which has been used since. It also saw the return of many prominent players from military service.

This was the first of eleven meetings between teams from Boston and St. Louis for a major professional sports championship. This would happen again in the World Series three more times (1967, 2004, 2013), along with four NBA Finals (1957, 1958, 1960, 1961), Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002, and two Stanley Cup Finals (1970, 2019).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Summary

Sportsman's Park during the 1946 World Series

Matchups

Game 1

Rudy York

Template:Linescore The Red Sox struck first in Game 1 when Pinky Higgins followed a hit-by-pitch and walk in the second with an RBI single off Howie Pollet. The Cardinals tied the game in the sixth when Red Schoendienst singled, moved to second on a ground out, and scored on Stan Musial's double off Tex Hughson. They took the lead in the eighth when Whitey Kurowski singled with two outs and scored on Joe Garagiola's double. Pollet was a strike away from closing the game when Tom McBride tied the game with an RBI single with two on. Rudy York hit a home run into the left field bleachers in the tenth to put the Red Sox up 3–2. Earl Johnson pitched two shutout innings to close to give Boston a 1–0 series lead.

Game 2

File:Harry Brecheen.jpg

Harry Brecheen

The Cardinals struck first in Game 2 when Del Rice hit a leadoff double in the third off Mickey Harris and scored on Harry Brecheen's single. They added to their lead in the fifth with two unearned runs on Terry Moore's RBI single with two on followed by Stan Musial's groundout. Brecheen pitched a complete-game shutout as the Cardinals tied the series heading to Boston.

Game 3

Dave Ferriss

In Game 3, Rudy York's three-run home run in the first off Murry Dickson gave the Red Sox an early 3–0 lead. They added another run in the eighth off Ted Wilks when Red Schoendienst misplayed Hal Wagner's ground ball with two on. Dave Ferriss pitched a complete-game shutout to give the Red Sox a 2–1 series lead.

Game 4

Whitey Kurowski

This is the only game in World Series history that three players on the same team (St. Louis) had four or more hits (Enos Slaughter, Whitey Kurowski and Joe Garagiola had four each). Red Sox outfielder Wally Moses got four hits as well and second baseman Bobby Doerr hit a two-run home run and would hit .409 in the Series.

Enos Slaughter's lead-off home run in the second off Tex Hughson put the Cardinals up 1–0. Whitey Kurowski doubled and scored on Harry Walker's single. Walker moved to third on an error before scoring on Marty Marion's groundout. Next inning, Stan Musial's two-run double extended the Cardinals' lead to 5–0. Jim Bagby relieved Hughson and allowed a two-out RBI single to Garagiola. The Red Sox got on the board in the fourth when Ted Williams singled off Red Munger and scored on Rudy York's double, but the Cardinals got that run back in the fifth on back-to-back doubles by Enos Slaughter and Kurowski. Garagiolas's RBI double in the seventh off Bill Zuber made it 8–1 Cardinals. Bobby Doerr hit a two-run home run in the eighth, but the Cardinals put the game out of reach in the ninth. Three straight singles to lead off made it 9–3 Cardinals. Mike Ryba relieved Mace Brown and allowed a two-run double to Marty Marion, then an error on Red Schoendienst's ground ball scored the last run of the game. Munger pitched a complete game to tie the series for St. Louis.

Game 5

Ted Williams

Template:Linescore Ted Williams hit a RBI single, his only RBI of the whole Series, in the first off Howie Pollet. After the Cardinals tied the game in the second on Harry Walker's RBI double after an error off Joe Dobson, Don Gutteridge's RBI single off Al Brazle in the bottom of the inning put the Red Sox back up 2–1. Leon Culberson's home run in the sixth made it 3–1 Red Sox. Next inning, after a double, strikeout and intentional walk, Pinky Higgins's RBI double made it 4–1 Red Sox. After another intentional walk loaded the bases, shortstop Marty Marion's errant throw to second on Roy Partee's ground ball allowed two more runs to score. Dobson allowed a two-run single in the ninth to Harry Walker before retiring Marion to end the game and put the Red Sox one win away from the championship.

Game 6

Marty Marion

St. Louis staved off elimination at home, chasing Boston starter Mickey Harris with a three-run third. With two on and one out, Terry Moore's sacrifice fly scored the game's first run. After a single, back-to-back RBI singles by Whitey Kurowski and Enos Slaughter made it 3–0 Cardinals. The Red Sox scored their only run of the game in the seventh when Rudy York hit a leadoff triple and scored on Bobby Doerr's sacrifice fly. Marty Marion added an RBI double in the eighth off Earl Johnson to back Harry Brecheen's second win of the Series.

Game 7

Enos Slaughter

The Red Sox struck first in Game 7 on Dom DiMaggio's sacrifice fly after two leadoff singles off Murry Dickson. The Cardinals tied the game in the second when Whitey Kurowski hit a leadoff double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Harry Walker's sacrifice fly off Dave Ferriss. In the fifth, Walker hit a leadoff single and scored on a double by Dickson, who scored on Red Schoendienst's single. The Cardinals led 3–1 in the eighth inning when Dom DiMaggio tied the game with a two-run double but had to be removed from the game after severely pulling a hamstring and Leon Culberson took his position in the center field.

In the bottom of the frame, Enos Slaughter scored from first base on a play called the Mad Dash. From the dugout, Dom DiMaggio tried in vain to get the reserve Culberson to shade Walker properly. As the runner started, Walker lined the ball to left-center field. Culberson was out of position and slow to field the ball. As he threw a relay to shortstop Johnny Pesky, Slaughter rounded third base, ignored third base coach Mike González's stop sign, and continued for home plate.

What exactly happened when Pesky turned around is still a matter of contention. Some claim that Pesky, assuming that Slaughter would not be running home, checked Walker at first base instead of immediately firing home. Some contend that Pesky was shocked to see Slaughter on his way to score and "held the ball," a mental lapse. But Pesky's reaction after taking the throw is immaterial. The run was lost by a chain of unfortunate events: Dom DiMaggio pulling up injured; the Red Sox lacking a better defensive replacement than Leon Culberson; Culberson being out of position on Walker's hit; Culberson's slow pickup of the ball, complicated by a rough outfield surface, and Culberson's weak throw; and Slaughter's speed and aggressive base-running. Slaughter scored just as Red Sox catcher Roy Partee caught Pesky's relay up the line from home plate.

The run put the Cardinals ahead 4–3 and proved to be the winning run. Harry "The Cat" Brecheen had come out of the bullpen during Boston's rally in the eighth when the Red Sox had two men on base, and he gave up the double by DiMaggio that tied the game. Brecheen allowed two singles to start the ninth inning, but then retired the Red Sox without giving up a run, to record his third victory of the Series.

Composite box score

1946 World Series (4–3): St. Louis Cardinals (N.L.) over Boston Red Sox (A.L.) Template:Linescore

Series statistics

Boston Red Sox

Batting

Note: GP=Games Played; AB=At Bats; R=Runs; H=Hits; 2B=Doubles; 3B=Triples; HR=Home Runs; RBI=Runs Batted In; BB=Walks; AVG=Batting Average; OBP=On Base Percentage; SLG=Slugging Percentage

Player	GP	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	AVG	OBP	SLG	Reference
Hal Wagner	5	13	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Rudy York	7	23	6	6	1	1	2	5	6	.261	.433	.652	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Bobby Doerr	6	22	1	9	1	0	1	3	2	.409	.458	.591	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Pinky Higgins	7	24	1	5	1	0	0	2	2	.208	.269	.250	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Johnny Pesky	7	30	2	7	0	0	0	0	1	.233	.258	.233	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Ted Williams	7	25	2	5	0	0	0	1	5	.200	.333	.200	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Dom DiMaggio	7	27	2	7	3	0	0	3	2	.259	.310	.370	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Wally Moses	4	12	1	5	0	0	0	0	1	.417	.462	.417	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tom McBride	5	12	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	.167	.167	.167	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Roy Partee	5	10	1	1	0	0	0	1	1	.100	.182	.100	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Leon Culberson	5	9	1	2	0	0	1	1	1	.222	.300	.556	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Don Gutteridge	3	5	1	2	0	0	0	1	0	.400	.400	.400	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
George Metkovich	2	2	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	.500	.500	1.000	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Rip Russell	2	2	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	1.000	1.000	1.000	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Dave Ferriss	2	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tex Hughson	3	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	.333	.500	.333	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Joe Dobson	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mickey Harris	2	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.333	.333	.333	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Earl Johnson	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Jim Bagby	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Pitching

Note: G=Games Played; GS=Games Started; IP=Innings Pitched; H=Hits; BB=Walks; R=Runs; ER=Earned Runs; SO=Strikeouts; W=Wins; L=Losses; SV=Saves; ERA=Earned Run Average

Player	G	GS	IP	H	BB	R	ER	SO	W	L	SV	ERA	Reference
Tex Hughson	3	2	Template:Fraction	14	3	8	5	8	0	1	0	3.14	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Dave Ferriss	2	2	Template:Fraction	13	2	3	3	4	1	0	0	2.03	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Joe Dobson	3	1	Template:Fraction	4	3	3	0	10	1	0	0	0.00	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mickey Harris	2	2	Template:Fraction	11	4	6	4	5	0	2	0	3.72	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Earl Johnson	3	0	Template:Fraction	1	2	1	1	1	1	0	0	2.70	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Jim Bagby	1	0	3	6	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	3.00	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Bill Zuber	1	0	2	3	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	4.50	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mace Brown	1	0	1	4	1	3	3	0	0	0	0	27.00	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Bob Klinger	1	0	Template:Fraction	2	1	1	1	0	0	1	0	13.50	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mike Ryba	1	0	Template:Fraction	2	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	13.50	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Clem Dreiseward	1	0	Template:Fraction	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

St. Louis Cardinals

Batting

Note: GP=Games Played; AB=At Bats; R=Runs; H=Hits; 2B=Doubles; 3B=Triples; HR=Home Runs; RBI=Runs Batted In; BB=Walks; AVG=Batting Average; OBP=On Base Percentage; SLG=Slugging Percentage

Player	GP	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	AVG	OBP	SLG	Reference
Joe Garagiola	5	19	2	6	2	0	0	4	0	.316	.316	.421	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Stan Musial	7	27	3	6	4	1	0	4	4	.222	.323	.444	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Red Schoendiest	7	30	3	7	1	0	0	1	0	.233	.233	.267	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Whitey Kurowski	7	27	5	8	3	0	0	2	0	.296	.321	.407	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Marty Marion	7	24	1	6	2	0	0	4	1	.250	.280	.333	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Harry Walker	7	17	3	7	2	0	0	6	4	.412	.524	.529	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Terry Moore	7	27	1	4	0	0	0	2	2	.148	.207	.148	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Enos Slaughter	7	25	5	8	1	1	1	2	4	.320	.433	.560	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Del Rice	3	6	2	3	1	0	0	0	2	.500	.625	.667	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Erv Dusak	4	4	0	1	1	0	0	0	2	.250	.500	.500	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Dick Sisler	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Nippy Jones	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Harry Brecheen	3	8	2	1	0	0	0	1	0	.125	.125	.125	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Murry Dickson	2	5	1	2	2	0	0	1	0	.400	.400	.800	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Howie Pollet	2	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Red Munger	1	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.250	.250	.250	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Al Brazle	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Pitching

Note: G=Games Played; GS=Games Started; IP=Innings Pitched; H=Hits; BB=Walks; R=Runs; ER=Earned Runs; SO=Strikeouts; W=Wins; L=Losses; SV=Saves; ERA=Earned Run Average

Player	G	GS	IP	H	BB	R	ER	SO	W	L	SV	ERA	Reference
Harry Brecheen	3	2	20	14	5	1	1	11	3	0	0	0.45	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Murry Dickson	2	2	14	11	4	6	6	7	0	1	0	3.86	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Howie Pollet	2	2	Template:Fraction	12	4	4	4	3	0	1	0	3.48	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Red Munger	1	1	9	9	3	3	1	2	1	0	0	1.00	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Al Brazle	1	0	Template:Fraction	7	6	5	4	4	0	1	0	5.40	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Johnny Beazley	1	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0.00	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Ted Wilks	1	0	1	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Highlights

• This was the first World Series appearance for the Red Sox since Template:Wsy, and it would be their last appearance until Template:Wsy, when they would again lose to the Cardinals in seven games. However, the Red Sox would win the next two World Series matchups with the Cardinals, sweeping them in Template:Wsy to break an 86-year championship drought, and then defeating them in six games in Template:Wsy (Boston's third in ten years).
• The World Series loss snapped the Red Sox's record of winning their first five postseason series, a feat that would not be matched until the Florida Marlins did it 57 years later in the 2003 National League Championship Series.
• Joe Cronin became the fourth manager to take two teams to the World Series (Pat Moran, Bill McKechnie, and Joe McCarthy were the first three) but was the first who did not win with either of them.
• This was the final World Series in which only four umpires were used.
• Several sources erroneously reported that Harry Walker hit a single allowing Enos Slaughter to score. It was officially scored a double.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• This was the first World Series in which the final out in Game 7 came with the tying run on third base.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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See also

• 1946 Negro World Series

Further reading

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Baseball's 25 Greatest Moments: Enos Slaughter's Mad Dash Template:Webarchive