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1948 World Series

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1948 {{{country}}} Series
Team (Wins) Manager(s) Season
Cleveland Indians (4) Lou Boudreau (player/manager) 97–58, .626, GA: 1
Boston Braves (2) Billy Southworth 91–62, .595, GA: 6+1⁄2
DatesOctober 6–11
UmpiresGeorge Barr (NL), Bill Summers (AL), Bill Stewart (NL), Bill Grieve (AL), Babe Pinelli (NL: outfield only), Joe Paparella (AL: outfield only)
Hall of FamersIndians: Lou Boudreau, Larry Doby, Bob Feller, Joe Gordon, Bob Lemon, Satchel Paige
Braves: Billy Southworth (mgr.), Warren Spahn
Broadcast
TelevisionNBC, CBS, ABC, DuMont
TV announcersRed Barber, Tom Hussey (Games 1–2, 6) and Van Patrick (Games 3–5)
RadioMutual
Radio announcersMel Allen and Jim Britt
Streaming
Series

The 1948 World Series matched the Cleveland Indians against the Boston Braves. The Braves had won the National League pennant for the first time since the "Miracle Braves" team of 1914, while the Indians had spoiled a chance for the only all-Boston World Series by winning a one-game playoff against the Boston Red Sox for the American League flag.[1] Though superstar pitcher Bob Feller failed to win either of his two starts, the Indians won the Series in six games to capture their second championship and their first since 1920 (as well as their last to the present date).

It was the first World Series to be televised on a nationwide network and was announced by famed sportcasters Red Barber, Tom Hussey (in Boston) and Van Patrick (in Cleveland).[2] This was the second appearance in the Fall Classic for both teams, with the Indians' lone previous appearance coming in a 1920 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Braves' lone precious appearance coming in a 1914 win against the Philadephia Athletics. Consequently, this was the first, and to date only, World Series in which both participating teams had previously played in, but not yet lost, a previous World Series. Currently, this phenomenon can only be repeated if either the Miami Marlins or the Arizona Diamondbacks play against either the Toronto Blue Jays or the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in a future World Series.

This was the only World Series from 1947 to 1958 not to feature a New York team, and also the last World Series until 1957 not won by a New York team (which the Braves won over the Yankees, after they had relocated to Milwaukee). The teams would meet again in the 1995 World Series—by that time, the Braves had moved to Atlanta.

Summary

AL Cleveland Indians (4) vs. NL Boston Braves (2)

Game Date Score Location Time Attendance 
1 October 6 Cleveland Indians – 0, Boston Braves – 1 Braves Field 1:42 40,135[3] 
2 October 7 Cleveland Indians – 4, Boston Braves – 1 Braves Field 2:14 39,633[4] 
3 October 8 Boston Braves – 0, Cleveland Indians – 2 Cleveland Stadium 1:36 70,306[5] 
4 October 9 Boston Braves – 1, Cleveland Indians – 2 Cleveland Stadium 1:31 81,897[6] 
5 October 10 Boston Braves – 11, Cleveland Indians – 5 Cleveland Stadium 2:39 86,288[7] 
6 October 11 Cleveland Indians – 4, Boston Braves – 3 Braves Field 2:16 40,103[8]

Matchups

Game 1

Wednesday, October 6, 1948 at Braves Field in Boston, Massachusetts

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cleveland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Boston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 x 1 2 2
WP: Johnny Sain (1–0)   LP: Bob Feller (0–1)

Braves pitcher Johnny Sain and Indians pitcher Bob Feller were engaged in a scoreless pitchers' duel when the Braves came to bat in the bottom of the eighth inning. Feller walked Braves catcher Bill Salkeld to open the inning. Braves manager, Billy Southworth then replaced the slow-footed Salkeld with Phil Masi, who entered the game as a pinch runner. Mike McCormick followed with a sacrifice bunt, advancing Masi to second base. Feller issued an intentional walk to Eddie Stanky, who was replaced by Sibby Sisti. Feller then tried to pick off Masi at second base. Indians' shortstop Lou Boudreau appeared to tag Masi out, but umpire Bill Stewart called him safe.[9] Tommy Holmes proceeded to hit a single that allowed Masi to score the only run of the game, giving the Braves a 1–0 victory.[3]

The umpire's controversial ruling touched off heated debates among the media and fans, especially after Associated Press photographs of the play were published.[9][10] Although Feller allowed only two hits, he took the loss in what would be the closest he ever came to winning a World Series game.[9] Upon his death in 1990, Masi's will revealed that he really was out on the pick-off play.[11]

Game 2

Thursday, October 7, 1948 at Braves Field in Boston, Massachusetts

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cleveland 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 4 8 1
Boston 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 8 3
WP: Bob Lemon (1–0)   LP: Warren Spahn (0–1)

The second game also made television history when a live broadcast of the Indians–Braves matchup was shown aboard the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Marylander passenger train travelling between Washington, D.C. and New York City, using a receiver operated by Bendix Corporation technicians.[12] An Associated Press reporter observing the demonstration said, "Technically, it was surprisingly good."[12]

Game 3

Friday, October 8, 1948 at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Boston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1
Cleveland 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 x 2 5 0
WP: Gene Bearden (1–0)   LP: Vern Bickford (0–1)

For the third straight game, no home runs were hit by either team. This would not happen again in a World Series until 2014.

Game 4

Saturday, October 9, 1948 at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Boston 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 7 0
Cleveland 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 x 2 5 0
WP: Steve Gromek (1–0)   LP: Johnny Sain (1–1)
Home runs:
BOS: Marv Rickert (1)
CLE: Larry Doby (1)

Game 5

Sunday, October 10, 1948 at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Boston 3 0 1 0 0 1 6 0 0 11 12 0
Cleveland 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 6 2
WP: Warren Spahn (1–1)   LP: Bob Feller (0–2)
Home runs:
BOS: Bob Elliott 2 (2), Bill Salkeld (1)
CLE: Dale Mitchell (1), Jim Hegan (1)

Satchel Paige appeared for the Indians, becoming the first black pitcher to take the mound in World Series history.

The previous day's single-game attendance record was broken with 86,288 fans.

Game 6

Monday, October 11, 1948 at Braves Field in Boston, Massachusetts

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cleveland 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 4 10 0
Boston 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3 9 0
WP: Bob Lemon (2–0)   LP: Bill Voiselle (0–1)   Sv: Gene Bearden (1)
Home runs:
CLE: Joe Gordon (1)
BOS: None

Composite box

1948 World Series (4–2): Cleveland Indians (A.L.) over Boston Braves (N.L.)

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cleveland Indians 2 0 3 7 1 2 0 1 1 17 38 3
Boston Braves 4 0 1 1 0 1 7 3 0 17 43 6
Total attendance: 358,362   Average attendance: 59,727
Winning player's share: $6,772   Losing player's share: $4,571[13]

Notes

  1. ^ Levy, Sam (October 5, 1948). "Bearden, Boudreau, Keltner Share Honors as Indians Win". The Milwaukee Journal. p. 8.
  2. ^ Detroit Tigers Official Profile, Photo and Data Book. Detroit Tigers. 1957. p. 45.
  3. ^ a b "1948 World Series Game 1 – Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Braves". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  4. ^ "1948 World Series Game 2 – Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Braves". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  5. ^ "1948 World Series Game 3 – Boston Braves vs. Cleveland Indians". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  6. ^ "1948 World Series Game 4 – Boston Braves vs. Cleveland Indians". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  7. ^ "1948 World Series Game 5 – Boston Braves vs. Cleveland Indians". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  8. ^ "1948 World Series Game 6 – Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Braves". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  9. ^ a b c Lebovitz, Hal (October 1971). "Pickoff Play Caused A Storm in 1948 Series". Baseball Digest. 30 (10): 84–86. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
  10. ^ Hand, Jack (October 7, 1948). "Putout Dispute Still Rages; Was Masi Safe Or Not?". Prescott Evening Courier. Associate Press. p. 5. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  11. ^ McMurray, John. "The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  12. ^ a b "Train Television Shows Ball Game" (pdf). The New York Times. October 8, 1948. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  13. ^ "World Series Gate Receipts and Player Shares". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved June 14, 2009.

References

  • Cohen, Richard M.; Neft, David S. (1990). The World Series: Complete Play-By-Play of Every Game, 1903–1989. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 219–224. ISBN 0-312-03960-3.
  • Reichler, Joseph (1982). The Baseball Encyclopedia (5th ed.). Macmillan Publishing. p. 2156. ISBN 0-02-579010-2.
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