CHICAGO (UP, Oct. 6) – Manager Charlie Grimm was in the doghouse with his wife, Lillian, today on two counts – (1) the Cubs lost, and (2) a lipstick smudge on his right cheek.
June Haver, Hollywood starlet, gave “Jolly Cholly” a big kiss before the game right on the Grimm cheek.
Lillian was sitting in a box behind the dugout and when she saw it, she laughingly said: “Either win today, Mr. Grimm, or don’t come home.”
By Chester L. Smith, sports editor
CHICAGO (Oct. 6) – It may be something less than on-the-spot reporting to talk of the Pirates of 1946 during the World Series of ‘45.
The excuse is that Frankie Frisch got that way in Detroit the other night.
Onkle, between such exclamations as, “Say, can’t that Trucks fire the ball!.. I’d hate to turn Al Gionfriddo loose in the Tiger outfield – he’d run up somebody’s back,” and “It seems to me Don Johnson is the least appreciated player in the Cubs’ lineup” – made much talk about what his team will be next year, and he ticklish problems ahead.
The squad, Frisch said, will leave in the two groups, and will head West some week or 10 days earlier than ever before. The unusual conditions proposed by the after-war pileup of material are behind the move. Frisch wants plenty of time to appraise each man, and he may have as many as 50 to occupy his days.
Early look at servicemen
The pitchers and catchers will go first, a customary procedure in the past. The Skipper would like to drop them off in El Centro, California, where the desert heat would better coax out the winter’s frosts and aches. Should it be possible, several of the men who have been in service and will be returning, may go along. Frisch has a hankering to see them.
He would relish finding out if Bill Cox is really as able a shortstop as he appeared during the brief semester he played at Forbes Field before entering the Army. Burgess Whitehead, Jack Hallett and a few more are unknown quantities in a baseball sense, due to their long absence. In Onkle’s opinion, they will require longer to get the old hang of the diamond and he will be better able to judge them.
The program at San Berdoo will be the most intense in his seven years in Pittsburgh, Onkle promises. Furthermore, if arrangements can be made with the team that will barnstorm east with the Corsairs, there will be a stopover somewhere in Arizona for a last lineup.
“Then,” Frisch declares with the light of hope in his eyes, “we will go home and see what happens.”
Regarding trades
Your agent put out a sly question or two in an attempt to track down the rumor prevalent at the series that there wasn’t a pirate who wouldn’t be traded if the right offer came along.
Frisch was uncommunicative, but the impression is abroad that there is more truth than fiction to the gossip. Come to think of it, not many clubs can point to more than a handful of men who might be regarded as indispensable, and the Bucs are not one of them.
In the course of the countless conversations at the series, someone said there was a deal on between the Pirates and Reds.
The names of Lee Handley, Jack Saltzgaver, Rip Sewell and Max Butcher cropped out casually as being four whom the Pirates would be willing to part with, but when they were got to the ears of Bill McKechnie the Deacon mostly looked down his nose and said nothing. His general demeanor was that of a man who found himself at the wrong counter.
The Deac did condescend to relay that Cincy could be considered a shopper who would be first in line.
He mused:
The Pirates have some boys we might be interested in. I seem to recall a Bob Elliott, a Jim Russell and a Jack Barrett, to speak of a few. Now if they can’t find places for them, I’m sure we would be glad to make room on our bench.
When the information was relayed to Frisch, it was given a reception that was hardly a clue to an impending trade. Plainly, the original rumor, had ben left on the shelf so long it had already begun to spoil.
Frisch outlines needs
In Frisch’s future book, the “Corsair Needs,” reading from the top down are:
(A) – Pitching… Two winners are an absolute necessity to retain the club’s first-division rating. Three would be better. Frisch will welcome one. Sewell, a 20-game winner for two years prior to his slump, is considered as being a long gamble to be more than a filler-in in the future. His age is against him.
(B) – The shortstop and third base tangle must be straightened out. Cox could put the shortfield in pickle for several years to come, but the Handley-Elliott traffic jam at third continues to perplex Frisch.
(C) – Al Lopez has come to the point where he cannot be relied on to go down the line. This means another catcher. For all his hitting, Bill Salkeld is not the type of receiver who makes for a tight defense. But Bill will stay as long as he swings his mean bat. Could Vinnie Smith, now in the Navy, be the proper answer? Frisch wonders.
These are the three chief deficiencies as Onkle outlines them.
He is not slow in saying that unless the remedies are forthcoming the Picaroons could drown in the lower bracket of the league.
CHICAGO (UP, Oct. 6) – The 1945 World Series, regardless of the number of games, was practically certain tonight to set a new all-time record in player receipts.
The players’ share at the end of today’s fourth game was $445,714.50, while the all-time record is $488,005.74, set during the five-game series in 1941 between the Dodgers and Yankees.
Although the players do not receive any cut from the remaining games, they do receive part of the radio receipts. The radio is expected to add about $100,000 to the series jackpot and the players receive four-sixths of the total if the series goes six games and four-sevenths of the total if the series goes seven.
The individual player cuts also probably will surpass all previous records since it has been reported that both the Tigers and Cubs voted between 30 and 35 full shares.
Sunday, October 7, 1945, 1:30 p.m. CT
Wrigley Field, Chicago
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs (2-3) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| Detroit Tigers (3-2) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 0 |
| CHICAGO CUBS (NL): | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | PO | A | E | AVG | |
| Hack, 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | .350 | |
| Johnson, 2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | .200 | |
| Lowrey, LF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .300 | |
| Cavarretta, 1B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | .353 | |
| Pafko, CF | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | .167 | |
| Nicholson, RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .263 | |
| Livingston, C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .333 | |
| Merullo, SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .000 | |
| Williams, PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | |
| Schuster, SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .000 | |
| Borowy, P | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .250 | |
| Vandenberg, P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Chipman, P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Sauer, PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | |
| Derringer, P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Secory, PH | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | |
| Erickson, P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Totals | 32 | 4 | 7 | 27 | 11 | 2 | .219 |
| Batting | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2B | H. Borowy (1, off Newhouser); M. Livingston (2, off Newhouser); P. Cavarretta (2, off Newhouser) | |
| SH | D. Johnson (2, off Newhouser) | |
| TB | H. Borowy 2; M. Livingston 2; P. Cavarretta 2; P. Lowrey; S. Hack; F. Secory; B. Nicholson | |
| GIDP | P. Lowrey (1) | |
| RBI | B. Nicholson 2 (7); S. Hack (1); M. Livingston (3) | |
| 2-Out RBI | M. Livingston; S. Hack; B. Nicholson | |
| With RISP | 3 for 8 | |
| Team LOB | 4 | |
| Fielding | ||
| DP | 1. Johnson-Merullo-Cavarretta | |
| E | S. Hack (1); A. Pafko (1) | |
| Base Running | ||
| Pickoffs | St. Hack (1st base by Newhouser) |
| DETROIT TIGERS (AL): | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | PO | A | E | AVG | |
| Webb, SS | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | .200 | |
| Mayo, 2B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .235 | |
| Cramer, CF | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .333 | |
| Greenberg, LF | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .375 | |
| Cullenbine, RF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .200 | |
| York, 1B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .167 | |
| Outlaw, 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .158 | |
| Richards, C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 0 | .133 | |
| Newhouser, P | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | .000 | |
| Totals | 37 | 8 | 11 | 27 | 14 | 0 | .297 |
| Batting | |
|---|---|
| 2B | H. Greenberg 3 (3, 1 off Borowy, 1 off Erickson, 1 off Derringer); R. Cullenbine (2, off Erickson) |
| SH | J. Outlaw (1, off Vandenberg); R. Cullenbine (1, off Derringer) |
| IBB | P. Richards (1, by Vandenberg) |
| HBP | D. Cramer (1, by Erickson) |
| TB | H. Greenberg 6; R. Cullenbine 3; E. Mayo 2; S. Webb; P. Richards; R. York; D. Cramer |
| GIDP | H. Newhouser (2) |
| RBI | R. Cullenbine 2 (3); J. Outlaw (2); D. Cramer (2); H. Newhouser (1); S. Webb (1); R. York (1); H. Greenberg (5) |
| With RISP | 4 for 14 |
| Team LOB | 9 |
| Fielding | |
| DP | 1. Mayo-York-Webb-Mayo |
Chicago Cubs
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borowy, L (1-1) | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3.21 |
| Vandenberg | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Chipman | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Derringer | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.45 |
| Erickson | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.60 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8.00 |
Detroit Tigers
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newhouser, W (1-1) | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 8.49 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 4.00 |
Balks: None
WP: None
HBP: P. Erickson (1; D. Cramer)
IBB: H. Vandenberg (1; P. Richards)
Pickoffs: H. Newhouser (1; Hack, 1st base)
Umpires: HP - Summers, 1B - Jorda, 2B - Passarella, 3B - Conlan
Time: 2:18
Attendance: 43,463
Monday, October 8, 1945, 1:30 p.m. CT
Wrigley Field, Chicago
https://archive.org/download/classicmlbbaseballradio/19451008WorldSeriesGame6CubsVsTigers.mp3
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs (3-3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 15 | 3 |
| Detroit Tigers (3-3) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 1 |
| CHICAGO CUBS (NL): | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | PO | A | E | AVG | |
| Hack, 3B | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | .440 | |
| Johnson, 2B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 | .167 | |
| Lowrey, LF | 5 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | .280 | |
| Cavarretta, 1B | 5 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 0 | .364 | |
| Pafko, CF | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .208 | |
| Nicholson, RF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .208 | |
| Livingston, C | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | .389 | |
| Gillespie, PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | |
| Williams, C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .000 | |
| Hughes, SS | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | .286 | |
| Becker, PH | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | |
| Block, PR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Merullo, SS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .000 | |
| Secory, PH | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | |
| Schuster, PR | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | |
| Passeau, P | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | |
| Wyse, P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | |
| Prim, P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Borowy, P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .167 | |
| Totals | 46 | 8 | 15 | 36 | 19 | 3 | .326 |
| Batting | |
|---|---|
| 2B | M. Livingston (3, off Bridges); R. Hughes (1, off Bridges); A. Pafko (2, off Trout); S. Hack (3, off Trout) |
| SH | D. Johnson 2 (4, 1 off Trout, 1 off Trucks) |
| IBB | H. Becker (1, by Trout) |
| TB | S. Hack 5; R. Hughes 4; M. Livingston 3; A. Pafko 3; P. Cavarretta 2; P. Lowrey; F. Secory |
| GIDP | P. Lowrey (2) |
| RBI | S. Hack 3 (4); R. Hughes 2 (3); P. Cavarretta 2 (4); M. Livingston (4) |
| 2-Out RBI | M. Livingston; S. Hack; R. Hughes |
| With RISP | 4 for 17 |
| Team LOB | 12 |
| Fielding | |
| DP | 1. Merullo-Johnson-Cavarretta |
| E | D. Johnson (1); S. Hack 2 (3) |
| OFA | P. Lowrey (Hostetler at home plate); A. Pafko (Mayo at 2nd base) |
| Base Running | |
| Pickoffs | R. Hughes (2nd base by Swift) |
| DETROIT TIGERS (AL): | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | PO | A | E | AVG | |
| Webb, SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | .174 | |
| Hostetler, PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | |
| Hoover, SS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .333 | |
| Mayo, 2B | 6 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | .217 | |
| Cramer, CF | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .333 | |
| Greenberg, LF | 5 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .333 | |
| Cullenbine, RF | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .250 | |
| York, 1B | 6 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | .208 | |
| Outlaw, 3B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .167 | |
| Richards, C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | .133 | |
| Maier, PH | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | |
| Swift, C | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | .333 | |
| Trucks, P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | |
| Caster, P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| McHale, PH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | |
| Bridges, P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Benton, P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Walker, PH | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | |
| Trout, P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .167 | |
| Totals | 48 | 7 | 13 | 35 | 15 | 1 | .271 |
| Batting | |
|---|---|
| 2B | R. York (1, off Passeau); H. Walker (1, off Wyse) |
| HR | H. Greenberg (2, off Prim, 8th inn, 0 on, 2 outs to Deep LF) |
| IBB | J. Outlaw (1, by Passeau); P. Richards (2, by Passeau) |
| TB | H. Greenberg 4; R. York 3; H. Walker 2; R. Cullenbine 2; D. Cramer 2; B. Swift; B. Maier; J. Outlaw; E. Mayo; J. Hoover |
| GIDP | H. Greenberg (1) |
| RBI | E. Mayo (1); R. Cullenbine (4); D. Cramer (3); P. Richards (2); J. Hoover (1); R. York (2); H. Greenberg (6) |
| 2-Out RBI | R. Cullenbine; H. Greenberg; R. York |
| With RISP | 5 for 15 |
| Team LOB | 12 |
| Fielding | |
| DP | 1. Mayo-Hoover-York |
| E | P. Richards (1) |
| Base Running | |
| SB | R. Cullenbine (1, 2nd base off Passeau/Livingston) |
| CS | J. Hoover (1, 2nd base by Borowy/Williams) |
Chicago Cubs
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passeau | 6.2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1.72 |
| Wyse, H (1) | 0.2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8.10 |
| Prim, BS (1) | 0.2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9.00 |
| Borowy, W (2-1) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.50 |
| Team Totals | 12 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3.75 |
Detroit Tigers
| Pitchers | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trucks | 4.1 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3.38 |
| Caster | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Bridges | 1.2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 16.20 |
| Benton | 0.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.93 |
| Trout, L (1-1) | 4.2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0.66 |
| Team Totals | 11.2 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 6.17 |
Balks: None
WP: None
HBP: None
IBB: D. Trout (1; Becker); C. Passeau 2 (2; Outlaw, Richards)
Pickoffs: None
Umpires: HP - Jorda, 1B - Passarella, 2B - Conlan, 3B - Summers
Time: 3:28
Attendance: 41,708
The Pittsburgh Press (October 8, 1945)
Hit by Hack breaks up tie in 12th inning
CHICAGO (UP) – Chicago’s Cubs forced the 1945 World Series into a seventh and deciding game by defeating the Detroit Tigers at Wrigley Field this afternoon. The final score was 8-7.
Stanley Hack won the game with a single in the 12th inning that sent Schuster, a pinch-runner, in with the winning tally.
The seventh and deciding game of the series will be played here on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.
Tigers score
Passeau found trouble locating the plate in the second inning and is enabled the Tigers to take a 1-0 lead.
After Greenberg flied to Lowrey, Cullenbine walked. York’s double sent Cullenbine to third. To set the stage for a possible double play, Passeau then walked Outlaw intentionally, but followed this with a walk to Richards that forced Cullenbine over the counter.
Trucks popped to Hughes and Webb forced Richards at second to end the inning.
Trucks yielded his first hit of the game to Andy Pafko who led off with a single to center in the Cub half of the second. Nicholson then fouled to York.
Fast retrieving by Richards of a wild throw to first enabled the Tigers to pull a double play to end the inning. Livingston’s grounder to Mayo forced Pafko at second. When Webb’s throw to first went wild, Livingston attempted to reach second, but Richards, backing up York, scooped up the ball and threw to Webb for the third out.
York fouled to Cavarretta and Outlaw grounded out, Cullenbine going to second. Richards was purposely passed, but Passeau also walked Trucks to fill the sacks before Webb flied deep to center.
Cubs score four
The Cubs hammered Trucks from the mound with four runs on four hits in the fifth. Livingston opened with a single to center, then Hughes beat out a bunt, sending Livingston to second.
Passeau grounded to the box, but Trucks threw to third too late to get Livingston.
With the bases filled, Hack singled to center to score Livingston and Hughes, and when Cramer’s throw to the plate got away from Richards, Passeau raced on to third and Hack to second.
Johnson rolled out to Mayo, but Lowrey walked on four pitches to fill the sacks again. Cavarretta’s single sent Passeau and Hack across and put Lowrey on third.
George Caster went to the mound for Detroit, replacing Trucks. He retired Pafko on a pop up to Outlaw, then fanned Nicholson.
Passeau suffered a painful injury to his pitching hand in the sixth when he knocked down a hard drive to the box off the bat of Jimmy Outlaw.
The nail on the middle finger of his right hand was ripped off by the blow. He fielded the ball, however, and threw Outlaw out at first for the second out.
Stays in game
The Cub twirler went to the dugout for treatment, but returned to the mound. He yielded a hit off his gloved hand to Maier who batted for Richards, but retired the Tigers by fanning another pinch-hitter, McHale, who batted for Richards.
Tommy Bridges went to the mound and Bob Swift went behind the plate for Detroit as the Cubs opened their half of the sixth. Livingston greeted Bridges with a double into left center, then Hughes followed with another two-bagger to send Livingston across.
Passeau left the mound in the Tiger seventh when the Tigers tallied two runs.
Hostetler batted for Webb and was safe on Hack’s error. Mayo grounded out to Cavarretta, Hostetler going to second. Cramer singled to left, but Hostetler, in trying to reach home fell halfway between third and the plate and was tagged out. Cramer went to second on the play.
Greenberg drew a walk on five pitches, and Cullenbine singled to send Cramer across. Greenberg stopping at second. Henry Wyse replaced Passeau. York’s single scored Greenberg and put Cullenbine on second. Outlaw forced York for the final out.
The Cubs added two more in the seventh on two hits and three walks. Bridges left the mound and was replaced by Al Benton.
The Tigers tied the score at 7-7 with four runs in the opening half of the eighth. One of these was a home run into the left field stands by Hank Greenberg with none on. It was his second homer of the series. The Tigers drove Henry Wyse from the mound in their rally.
Seventh and deciding game in World Series set for Wednesday
By Leo H. Petersen, United Press sports editor
BULLETIN
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today defeated the Detroit Tigers in the sixth game of the World Series, evening the series at three games each. The seventh and deciding game will be played here Wednesday, with tomorrow an open date to permit the sale of tickets.
Today’s score was Chicago 8, Detroit 7.
CHICAGO – The Detroit Tigers, leading three games to two, today sent Virgil “Fire” Trucks out in an attempt to end the richest World Series in history.
Manager Charlie Grimm of the Chicago Cubs called on the veteran Claude Passeau to keep the National League champions’ hopes alive. Should Passeau duplicate his winning performance of the third game and send the series into a seventh contest, the final will be played here Wednesday, with tomorrow open for ticket sales.
Trucks defeated the Cubs, 4-1, in the second game at Detroit, besting Hank Wyse, the Cubs’ curveball artist. Passeau, who had turned back the Tigers on one hit in the third game, was going in with only two days’ rest.
Weather against him
At 36, a pitcher usually needs more rest than that and all season long while he was winning 17 games for the Cubs, he never did well when sent to the mound out of turn.
The weather was against Passeau, too, for he is a warm weather pitcher and the temperature at game time was 47. A cold breeze swept Wrigley Field as the Tigers and Cubs held their batting workouts.
Passeau allowed only one hit in shutting out the Tigers, 3-0, in that third game.
Hughes returns
The Cubs’ chances were bolstered by the return of the veteran Roy Hughes to shortstop. Hughes sat in the dugout yesterday as Hal Newhouser hurled the Tigers to their one-game edge. Hughes’ ankle was injured when he was struck by a ball hit by Rudy York of Detroit in the pre-game hitting drill.
Manager Steve O’Neill was confident that Trucks would end the post-season classic today.
“Passeau doesn’t figure to get by us the second time,” he said.
Trout ready to go
O’Neill announced that if a seventh game is necessary, he will start Dizzy Trout, who won the fourth game, 4-1. He also indicated that in that event, Newhouser would be in the bullpen from the first pitch in order to be ready to take over.
Grimm said he wasn’t worried about the seventh game.
“After all, we have a long day’s work cut out for us today,” he remarked. “And there will be time enough after we win that one to worry about the seventh game.”
Hack first to get on base with walk
CHICAGO (UP) – Play-by-play of the sixth game of the World Series follows:
FIRST INNING
TIGERS – Webb grounded out. Johnson to Cavarretta. Mayo flied deep to Nicholson. Cramer grounded out. Johnson to Cavarretta. No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.
CUBS – Hack walked. Johnson sacrificed. York to Mayo, who covered first. Hack going to second. Lowrey flied to Cullenbine. Cavarretta grounded out. Webb to York. No runs, no hits, no errors, one left.
SECOND INNING
TIGERS – Greenberg flied to Lowrey. Cullenbine walked. York doubled to right-center. Cullenbine stopping at third. Outlaw was purposely passed, filling the bases. Richards walked, forcing Cullenbine to score, with the other runners moving up a base. Trucks popped to Hughes. Webb forced Richards at second. Hughes unassisted. One runs, one hits, no errors, three left.
CUBS – Pafko singled to center. Nicholson fouled to York. Livingston forced Pafko at second Mayo to Webb and when Webb threw wild to first trying for a double play, Livingston attempted to go to second. He was out. Richards to Webb. It was scored as a double play. Livingston protested the decision and the Cubs ran out and took him off the diamond. No runs, one hit, no errors, none left.
THIRD INNING
TIGERS – Mayo grounded out. Johnson to Cavarretta. Cramer popped to Cavarretta. Greenberg grounded out. Hughes to Cavarretta. No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.
CUBS – Hughes struck out. Passeau also struck out. Hack singled to center. Johnston flied to Cramer in deep right-center. No runs, one hit, no errors, one left.
FOURTH INNING
TIGERS – Cullenbine was safe at first when Johnson fumbled his grounder for an error. York fouled to Cavarretta. Outlaw grounded to Johnson, who made a spectacular stop and threw him out at first. Cullenbine going to second. Richards was purposely passed. Trucks walked, filling the bases. Webb flied to Pafko in deep center. No runs, no hits, one error, three left.
CUBS – Lowrey was called out on strikes. Cavarretta singled to center. Pafko lined to Greenberg. Nicholson popped to Webb. No runs, one hit, no errors, one left.
FIFTH INNING
TIGERS – Mayo grounded out. Hack to Cavarretta. Cramer flied to Lowry. Greenberg also flied to Lowrey. No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.
CUBS – Livingston singled to center. Hughes beat out a bunt down the first base line for a base hit. Livingston going to second. Passeau grounded to Trucks who threw a third too late in an attempt to catch Livingston. Hack singled to center, scoring Livingston and Hughes. When the throw from Cramer got away from Richards for an error, Passeau went to third and Hack to second. Johnson grounded out. Mayo to York, the runners holding their bases. Lowrey walked, filling the bases. Cavarretta singled to center. Passeau and Hack scoring and Lowrey going to third. Trucks was taken out and replaced by Geoge Caster. Pafko popped to Outlaw. Nicholson struck out. Four runs, four hits, one error, two left.
SIXTH INNING
TIGERS – Cullenbine beat out a grounded to Johnson York was called out on strikes. Cullenbine stole second. Outlaw grounded out. Passeau to Cavarretta. Cullenbine holding second. Passeau was hit on his pitching hand by the ball and time was called. The nail on the middle finger of Passeau’s right hand was ripped off by the ball. Passeau returned to the mound and after a few warmup pitches resumed his position. Maier batted for Richards and beat out a grounder off Passeau’s glove. Cullenbine went to third. McHale batted for Caster and was called out on strikes. No runs, two hits, no errors, two left.
CUBS – Tommy Bridges went in to pitch and Bob Sift to catch for Detroit. Livingston dropped a double into short left-center. Hughes doubled to right. Livingston scoring. Hughes was trapped off second and was out. Swift to Mayo to Outlaw. Passeau lined to Mayo. Hack grounded out. Webb to York. One run, two hits, no errors, none left.
SEVENTH INNING
TIGERS – Hostetler batted for Webb and was safe at first on Hack’s error. Mayo grounded out. Cavarretta unassisted. Hostetler going to second. Cramer singled to left. Hostetler in trying to score fell halfway between third and home plate and was out. Lowrey to Livingston to Hughes. Cramer going to second. Greenberg walked. Cullenbine singled to center. Cramer scoring and Greenberg stopping at second. Passeau was taken out and replaced by Henry Wyse. York singled to left. Greenberg scoring and Cullenbine stopping at second. Outlaw forced York at second. Johnson to Hughes. Two runs, three hits, one error, two left.
CUBS – Hoover went to short for Detroit. Johnson was called out on strikes. Lowrey beat out a grounder to Hoover. Cavarretta walked. Pafko flied to Greenberg. Nicholson walked. Livingston walked, forcing in Lowrey. Cavarretta going to third and Nicholson to second. Bridges was taken out and replaced by Al Benton. Hughes bounced a hit off Benton’s glove. Cavarretta scoring Nicholson going to third and Livingston to second. Wyse struck out. Two runs, two hits, no errors, three left.
EIGHTH INNING
TIGERS – Swift walked. Walker batted for Benton and doubled to right. Swift stopping at third. Hoover was safe at first when Hack fumbled his rounder. Swift scoring and Walker holding second. Mayo singled to center. Walker scoring and Hoover stopping a third but Mayo was out trying to stretch it. Pafko to Johnson. Wyse was replaced by Ray Prim, a lefthander. Cramer flied to Lowrey. Hoover scored after the catch. Greenberg hit a home run into the left field stands to tie the score. Cullenbine grounded out. Hughes to Cavaretta. Four runs, three hits, one error, none left.
CUBS – Dizzy Trout went in to pitch for Detroit. Hack walked. Johnson sacrificed. Trout to Mayo, who covered first. Hack going to second. Lowrey grounded out. Mayo to York. Hack going to third. Cavarretta flied to Greenberg. No runs, no hits, no errors, one left.
NINTH INNING
TIGERS – Hank Borowy went in to pitch for Chicago. York grounded out. Hack to Cavarretta. Outlaw singled to left. Swift singled to center. Outlaw going to third. Trout grounded to Hughes and Outlaw was trapped between third and home and run down. Hughes to Livingston to Hack. Swift went to second on the play with Trout on first. Hoover popped to Cavarretta. No runs, two hits, no errors, two left.
CUBS – Pafko doubled to left. Nicholson struck out. Gillespie batted for Livingston and grounded out. Trout to York. Becker batted for Hughes and was purposely passed. Block ran for Becker. Borowy flied to Cramer. No runs, one hit, no errors, two left.
TENTH INNING
TIGERS – Merullo playing short and Williams catching for Chicago. Mayo lined to Hack. Cramer singled to right. Greenberg hit into a double play. Merullo to Johnson to Cavarretta. No runs, one hit, no error, none left.
CUBS – Hack singled to left. Johnson struck out. Lowrey hit into a double play. Mayo to Hoover to York. No runs, one hit, no errors, none left.
ELEVENTH INNING
TIGERS – Cullenbine fouled to Hack. York grounded out. Hack to Cavarretta. Outlaw flied to Lowrey. No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.
CUBS – Cavarretta grounded out. Trout to York. Pafko popped to Mayo. Nicholson flied to Greenberg. No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.
TWELFTH INNING
TIGERS – Swift flied to Lowrey. Trout fouled to Williams. Hoover singled to center. Hoover was out stealing. Williams to Merullo. No runs, one hit, no errors, none left.
CUBS – Williams grounded out. Mayo to York. Secory, batting for Merullo singled to center. Schuster ran for Secory. Borowy struck out. Hack singled to left, and when Greenberg let the ball go through him for an error. Schuster scored the winning run. One run, two hits, one error.
Underrated Tigers come from behind twice to take lead in World Series
CHICAGO (UP) – There are two important factors which may crown the Detroit Tigers as world champions of baseball today.
The first is that Steve O’Neill is a luck gambler.
The second is that the Chicago Cubs are tight as a drumhead and as jittery as an anticipating daddy in the waiting room.
It could be the combination which will carry the underrated Tigers to victory after a hectic stretch race and two overhauling performances during the current classic. They lost the first and squared it, and then they dropped the third and evened the count once more. And now they are in front and they promise to be mighty tough to catch.
O’Neill criticized
Yet a short time before this series, the critics were blasting O’Neill, the handsome Irishman who pilots the Tigers, for his “poor” handling of the Detroit pitchers. They disparaged his every act and it was a common practice to label the team as the “Tired Tigers” before the series started.
But you can’t deny that the proof of the pudding is tin the eating, and the Tigers had a comfortable breakfast this morning. The gastronomical delight can be attributed to Stout Steve. When he sent Virgil Trucks to the mound in the second game, after losing the first game of the series with Hal Newhouser, his brightest star, they said he was a little off his beam.
Out of Navy few days
For hadn’t Trucks been home from the Navy only a few days?
The sailor’s first start was in the pennant-clinching game and he failed to last. And here he was pitching in a game that could throw the Tigers two behind. So Trucks won and the gamble paid off.
Next Steve bet on Stubby Overmire. Well, he lost that one.
But by this time Paul “Dizzy” Trout, well-rested, and a bit on the angry side because he had been overlooked so long after being a workhorse for the Tigers two years, got Steve’s nod and went out to blow those Cubs down. That squared them off at two to two and Steve came right back with Newhouser.
Newhouser in command
Well, he had it yesterday. While it was one of the screwiest and wildest ball games in series history, the Detroit boy was in command all the way. So Steve, one up, is coming back again with Trucks, the guy who wasn’t expected to win but the Fireballer O’Neill remembered – when other people forgot – had won 29 ball games while in service against only one defeat.
And over in that other dressing room, despite heated denials, those Cubs were a nerve-frazzled bunch.
You could tell it yesterday before the game, Grimm, sitting in the dugout with Manager Bill McKechnie of the Cincinnati Reds and Bill Terry, one-time manager of the Giants, had nerves as tight as a new girdle.
Grimm worried
This wasn’t Jolly Cholly Grimm, the happy-go-lucky, banjo-playing guy who didn’t have a care in the world. Charlie was plenty worried.
And a few feet away sat Hank Borowy, who was to be dusted out of the ball game by those terrific Tiger bats just a short while later, the same Hank who had won the opening game of the series. But somehow you could feel that lack of utter confidence.
Now the chips are down, out there on the Wrigley Field diamond. And the glare seems to be blinding those Cubs right into hibernation as they step up for what may be the final game today.
Newhouser overcomes team’s faulty play
By Joe Williams
CHICAGO – It happens at intervals in the World Series that the fifth game is played with exactly the same personnel as the first game. At least, the identical casts are in there at the start. Often enough it follows the results are the same, too; the opening day performers will win again in the fifth game.
But that didn’t happen out here yesterday when the Tigers moved ahead of the Cubs for the first time, and needing only one more win, are now stout favorites to take it all.
Hal Newhouser was back in the box for the Tigers and Hank Borowy for the Cubs. These are the two pitching standouts, the main reliances of their respective staffs. They are, in short, the pros… and there are very few pros in this series.
When they came to grips in the first game, it wasn’t a contest. Newhouser, best lefthander in the game, didn’t survive the third inning. The Cubs treated him as if they knew where the skeleton was hidden. They rapped him for eight hits and seven runs in 2⅔ innings. This was a crushing blow to the Tigers. Logically, they began to ask: “If Newhouse can’t stop ‘em, who can?”
Trucks, Trout save series
But as the series lengthened, they managed to come up with two other pitchers who were able to turn the NL champions back. Virgil Trucks was one, Dizzy Trout the other. And so the action of the series rolled on until it was time for Newhouser and Borowy to return for a repeat performance.
Those who bet, and those who are able to take their baseball without added stimulants, had to string along with Borowy. But if you did, you drew yourself a loser. Indeed, the action of the first game was almost completely reversed in this fifth game. This time it was Borowy who had to throw in the sponge.
Newhouser makes comeback
On the other hand, Newhouser, pitching over bad breaks and bush league support, contrived an earnest, impressive comeback which was a tribute both to his ability and gritty spirit. The score was 8-4. Actually, it should have been 8-1. And that one honest run came in the ninth when the meal was over, and the maid was clearing the table.
Probably no pitcher ever had to work so laboriously to win a series game for his side. The Tigers played the most slovenly game I’ve ever seen a winning team play in a World Series. Or even a losing one.
Outlaw pulls ‘boner’
Only Newhouser’s abundant pitching gifts and his refusal to crack saved them. Doc Cramer gave the Cubs their tying run in the third when he fumbled a single in center. This wasn’t scored as an error because the hitter didn’t try for second on the fumble. But the runner who had been held up at third was then waved home and he scored.
Newhouser’s closest call came in the seventh, and the only reason it didn’t produce a goat to outgoat all series goats is that the Tigers finally won as when that happens it seems all is forgiven.
The Cubs’ Johnson opened the inning by fanning. Lowry singled to center. Cavarretta walked and was forced for the second out, Lowey going to third.
Up came Nicholson and he hit to Outlaw at third. And where does Outlaw throw the ball? To second base! Mayo, playing the base, is so surprised Outlaw doesn’t throw to first for the third out, the routine play, that he can’t get to the bag in time for the throw and everybody is safe and, of course, Lowrey scores.
Newhouser saves day
Then Livingston scorches a double to left and it looks as if a big and maybe decisive rally is in the making. There’s a pinch-hitter for the shortstop and Newhouser, still astonishingly complacent in the face of the moronic horrors which are fencing him in, strikes out the pinch-hitter.
And so I give you Newhouser, the man who came back… and he rode high over opposition which came from a unusual source: from his own guys.
By Chester L. Smith, sports editor
CHICAGO – If the Tigers win the World Series today – which they well can do, the way it has been running – those of us who have been sitting in on it aren’t going to be happy to head for home.
There will be a lot of explaining to do. How the Detroits are, probably, the poorest team that ever took away a championship. How many depend on so few. Merely describing the Tiger outfield will require a careful selection of words and just the right inflection in each sentence.
A reporter climbed aboard one of the buses that carry the newspapermen from Wrigley Field to the Loop after yesterday’s game waving a dollar bill.
“Gentlemen,” he announced, “don’t get the idea I’m a sure thing gambler but I’m betting this buck the Detroit outfield doesn’t come out of the series without at least one member being killed.”
He couldn’t find a taker.
Hal Newhouser pitched tremendously yesterday, yet if it had not been for Hank Greenberg, who got three doubles and scored three runs and a few others chipping in with hits now and then, he could have been beaten.
Outfield mistakes
Mickey Livingston bounced a run-making two-bagger into the seats along the right-field line on one occasion which might have been caught had it not been that Roy Cullenbine started out at a dog trot, evidently thinking the ball would drop foul.
Another of the Cubs’ seven hits was a short fly that Eddie Mayo pursued and pursued with great vigor. He chased it all the way from second base to right field. Cullenbine was so awed by Eddie’s display of verve that he stood rooted in his tracks.
Eventually, the ball fell just behind Eddie whose time for the mile was not clocked. At this point, Mayo and Cullenbine could have shaken hands. they were that near each other. but luckily one of them had the presence of mind to pick up the sphere and fire it toward the infield.
But the climactic buffoonery of the afternoon occurred in the ninth when Capt. Phil Cavarretta deposited a looping fly in right-center. Mistaking it for a maypole, both Cullenbine and Doc Cramer went into a dance while Newhouser stood on the mound wringing his hands and Stolid Stephen O’Neill collapsed in a heap in the dugout. When the ball came to earth, Cramer was pointing to the spot as though to remind his chum of the duty he had neglected, and Cullenbine was still looking skyward.
Another defensive lapse
There was another defensive lapse on the Tigers’ part. Jimmy Outlaw pegged too late to second in the seventh, failing to catch a runner who later scored.
But this was mere trivia compared to the outlandish carryings-on in the outfield, and Outlaw later turned in the day’s most sparkling play when he picked up Don Johnson’s bunt with his bare hand while moving at top speed and whipped to Rudy York for the putout. This was the second out in the eighth when the Cubs were threatening to move in on Newhouser and there’s no telling what might have happened had Outlaw not handled it perfect!
As the series shaped up today, there was nothing wrong with the National Leaguers that can’t be laid at the door of the Gen. MacArthur, Bill Halsey, Dwight Eisenhower and the atomic bomb. They ended the war and sent Greenberg and Virgil Trucks back to Detroit. Trucks won the second game and was making a curtain call this afternoon.
Greenberg has driven in all the vital runs for his side. Thus he has helped redeem the honor and glory of the flat-foot floogie outfield of which he represents one-third.
Strange turn
By a strange turn of the wheel of fortune Detroit’s pitching pattern has improved each day since the series came to Chicago, while the Cubs’ plight grew progressively worse.
O’Neill had Trucks, whose performance earlier was second only to Claude Passeau’s, ready with ample rest. Cholly Grimm, on the other hand, was compelled to send back Passeau with but two days’ rest or pick on Henry Wyse, who has already lost one game. It was not strange that the Cubs manager snatched at the nope that Passeau, veteran that he is, would be able to pitch a carbon copy of his previous shutout.
The odds were against it but there could be little basis for criticizing Grimm. As he pointed out, it would be senseless to save Passeau for a game that won’t be played unless the Bruins win this afternoon.
TNT pitching combine
A Chicago victory, would still leave the Tigers with the upper hand in the pitching department. The third member of their TNT (Trucks, Newhouser and Trout) combine will be ready and straining at the leash. That would be only Dizzy Trout, who drawled yesterday that he hoped O’Neill wouldn’t hear him say it, but he “wouldn’t mind at all if those guys win tomorrow.”
“Then,” he said with a gesture of disdain, “I’ll shut ‘em out the last day.”
No one can deny that Trout was the pivot around which Detroit’s fortunes swung to begin their upward climb. When Saturday’s game began, Newhouser and Stubby Overmire had been whipped.
They were the pair O’Neill thought would be most effective. A licking for Dizzy would have meant the Cubs took a 3-1 lead in the series, a psychological barrier the Tigers would hardly have been able to clear. But he pulled them both through, eased the strain on the temperamental Newhouser, and threw all the strain on the Cubs and Hank Borowy.
No basis for rumors, magnates say
CHICAGO (UP) – Major League club owners and their representatives attending the World Series today denied reports that they were dissatisfied with the conduct of Commissioner A. B. Chandler’s office and were considering buying up his contract.
“There is no basis of fact to the story,” said a statement handed out by National League Publicity Director Arthur Patterson.
Previously, the club owners were reported to have met yesterday to devise ways and means of buying off the seven-year contract at $50,000 annually which Chandler signed last winter after the death of Kenesaw Mountain Landis.
Holds political post
The first criticism of Chandler came when he continued as U.S. senator from Kentucky, a post he still holds. Then in a pre-game conference with the six World Series umpires, he again was criticized for the manner in which he attempted to change old World Series customs.
The feeling against the new commissioner was said to have reached its peak at Friday’s game at Briggs Stadium in Detroit when rain threatened to postpone the third contest of the post-season classic.
Absence starts reports
While a crowd of 55,000 and the Detroit and Chicago ball clubs were waiting for a decision from Chandler on whether the game would be played, he was attending a political luncheon.
The criticism of his outside activities was heightened at Chicago when he made various public appearances not connected with baseball, such as a speech today before a football organization.
Chandler refused to comment.
The Pittsburgh Press (October 9, 1945)
Teams rest today as tickets are sold for final tilt in Chicago tomorrow
By Chester L. Smith, Press sports editor
CHICAGO – The World Series was all even to three games apiece today, as the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers took an intermission before they meet again tomorrow to decide the championship.
The one-day lapse had been ordered by Commissioner “Happy” Chandler to enable the Chicago club to sell tickets for the final. The sale began early this morning.
Manager Charlie Grimm announced today that he would call on Fordham Hank Borowy to pitch the deciding game for the Cubs. It will mark the third game Borowy has started in the series and the fourth in which he has appeared.
Borowy will be after his third victory in the current series. He won the opening game, was beaten by the Tigers in his second start Sunday and was the winning hurler in yesterday’s game in which he worked the last four innings.
If Borowy beats the Tigers, he will become the ninth pitcher since 1903 to win three series games. The last to turn the trick was Stanley Coveleskie of Cleveland in 1920.
Others who have won three series victories include Ed Faber (Chicago White Sox) in 1917, Smokey Joe Wood (Boston Red Sox) in 1912, Jack Coombs (Philadelphia Athletics) in 1910, Babe Adams (Pittsburgh Pirates) in 1909, Christy Mathewson (New York Giants) in 1905, and Bill Dinneen and Deacon Phillipe with the Boston Red Sox against the Pirates in 1903 when the series was played over a nine-game route.
Newhouser for Tigers
Concerning Detroit’s starting pitcher, Manager Steve O’Neill said: “I’ll use Hal Newhouser.”
Newhouser defeated the Cubs on Sunday, 8-4, and will be aiming at his second series victory after a two-day rest.
Yesterday’s game, in which the imperfections that cropped out on both sides served only to heighten the drama and suspense, was won by the Cubs, 8-7, in the 12th inning when Stanley Hack cracked a two-base hit to left that bounced over Hank Greenberg’s shoulder and scooted to the fence. It scored pinch-runner Billy Schuster from first and sent the frozen crowd of almost 42,000 in a hysterical outburst of joy.
The official scorers first ruled the play a single for Hack and an error for Greenberg, but later changed it to a two-base hit. The ball bounced crazily in front of the Tiger star and sailed over his left shoulder.
Dizzy Trout, who entered the game in the eighth inning as the fifth Tiger pitcher, yielded the hit to Hack and was the loser, while Hank Borowy, No. 4 on the Chicago pitching parade, took away his second series triumph.
Series will set attendance mark
By Leo H. Petersen, United Press sports editor
CHICAGO – Manager Charlie Grimm of the Chicago Cubs decided today to gamble with an old Detroit nemesis and named Hank Borowy to pitch tomorrow in the seventh game of the World Series.
Borowy, who will be shooting for his third victory in the post-season classic, will be opposed by Hal Newhouser, the southpaw ace of the Tigers.
Fordham Hank won 11 and lost two for the Cubs after they bought him from the New York Yankees in midseason for $100,000. If he is the winning or losing pitcher, he will set a record. No other pitcher has ever figured in three consecutive World Series decisions.
Won yesterday
Borowy lost the fifth game Sunday to Newhouser, 8-4, and received credit for Chicago’s 8-7 12-inning victory yesterday which evened this richest series of all time at three games each.
Borowy also pitched the opener at Detroit Wednesday, defeating Newhouser, 9-0.
Hard put for pitching strength, Grimm decided to go with Borowy rather than the veteran Paul Derringer, who is the only well-rested pitcher the Cubs have. He was hoping that Borowy once more would be able to continue the jinx he has held over the Tigers.
Before Borowy was sold out of the American League, he had defeated the Tigers 11 times while losing to them only three.
Record is 13 and 4
So that record, with his World Series decisions, means Fordham Hank has beaten the Bengals 13 times while losing to them only four times.
Borowy was a big gamble, however, for having pitched both Sunday and Monday he will go with only one day’s rest. Normally, a pitcher receives three days’ rest between starting assignments.
Newhouser, on the other hand, has been a workhorse for the Tigers all season and will have had two days’ rest.
The odds, on the switch of Grimm’s starting pitcher, did not change, with the Tigers still favored at four-to-three to win the series.
Steve O’Neill, manager of the Tigers, said he was all set for the game with Newhouser, his 25-game winner.
Praise for Greenberg
O’Neill, like every other member of the Tiger squad, had nothing but praise for Hank Greenberg, who eventually was cleared by official scorers of committing a 12th inning error yesterday as the Cubs won 8-7.
With Pinch Runner Billy Schuster on first base, Stan Hack of the Cubs whistled one between third and short. The ball took a weird bounce, sailing over Greenberg’s shoulder as Schuster scampered home with the game-winning run.
The official scorer at first called it a single for Hack and a two-base error on Greenberg, which made the Tigers No. 1 slugger the “goat” of the game.
However, five hours after the game, when the sportswriters protested vigorously about the “injustice” of the thing, the official scorers changed their decision, crediting Hack with a double and a run batted in and wiping out the Greenberg miscue.
Big Hank cleared after writers kick
CHICAGO (UP) – Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg, a ball player’s player, received a “break” from the sports reporters today – from about 400 guys who did not want to see the big Detroit outfielder crucified as the “goat” of the 1945 World Series.
These writers, veteran typewriter punchers who have written thousands of words about that “slugging Greenberg boy,” lined up solidly in their protests against the official scorers who charged Greenberg with an error in the12th inning of yesterday’s game, permitting the Cubs to win, 8-7, and squaring the series at three games apiece.
The writers “kicked” so vehemently, that the three official scorers reversed their decision, cleansing Greenberg’s hands.
Ball bounces
The questionable play came in the last half of the 12th inning with the Cubs at bat and the score tied 7-all. Pinch Runner Bully Schuster was on first when Stan Hack rifled a hit to left field.
The ball took a crazy bounce, jumping over Greenberg’s head and rolling to the left field wall about 365 feet from home plate as Schuster scampered home with the “big” run – the game winner and, the one that gave the Cubs a ticket into the final game tomorrow.
The official scoring trio, members of the Baseball Writers’ Association,
credited Hack with a single at the time and charged Greenberg with a two-base error.
Thus Greenberg was marked down as a “bum,” the guy who permitted the Cubs another chance at the World Series title.
Scorers ‘told off’
But five hours after the game, in World Series headquarters, the storm broke as one after another of the sportswriters told the official scorers that it was an unjust decision because Greenberg never had a chance at the crazy, skipping ball.
The official threesome, Chief Scorer Martin J. Haley of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Harry G. Salsinger of the Detroit News and Edward Burns of The Chicago Tribune, reversed their stand.
In erasing the blot, Haley said the scorers had “unanimously agreed that the ball took a bad hop,” and Greenberg was guiltless.
Decision reversed
“We are reversing our original ruling of a single and an error and giving Hack a double,” Haley said, “plus a run-batted-in for Hack and no error for Greenberg. Our original decision was based on the fact that Greenberg apparently charged the ball unnecessarily – apparently misjudging the hop.”
Greenberg, one of the most popular players in the majors with his fellow workmen, at no time protested the accusation although he indicated his displeasure. However, his teammates took up the cudgel for him.
Manager Steve O’Neill, Relief Hurler Al Benton and others immediately after the game told locker room reporters that “Hank never had a chance at that ball. It certainly wasn’t an error.”
After the game, Hank was sarcastic but after showering, putting on his street clothes, he said:
I would have felt very bad if my error had permitted the Cubs to win the game. But I know it wasn’t my fault and I consequently don’t see why I should be blamed.
CHICAGO (special) – This freakish World Series, which has produced more oddities than a circus sideshow, added two numbers to the program yesterday that should be sent to a museum.
One was a double play in which the shortstop made both putouts, three men handled the ball and the wall got an assist.
The second was an error that stood against Hank Greenberg for five hours and then was converted into a two-base hit – which it should have been in the first place.
With Andy Pafko of the Cubs on first in the second inning, Mickey Livingston grounded to Eddie Mayo whose peg to Skeeter Webb at second nipped Pafko. With that, Webb fired a mile over Rudy York’s head at first. The ball bounded off the wall of the stands, Paul Richards picked it up and got it back to Webb in time to nail Livingston at second.
The error that didn’t happen was called on Stan Hack’s winning hit in the twelfth. The scorers must have thought Greenberg had touched the drive – which he didn’t. When all the testimony had been collected, which wasn’t until late last night, they sat down and calmly reversed their original decision.
CHICAGO (UP) – Representatives of the American and National Baseball Leagues held separate closed meetings today and planned a joint closed session this afternoon.
Nothing pertaining to the sessions was made public.
Major league representatives held an informal meeting yesterday when rumors that they were not satisfied with the manner in which Sen. A. B. Chandler, baseball commissioner, was conducting affairs of his office were denied.
‘Tanglefoot’ falls on ‘Kisser’ rounding third; game gets nuttier and nuttier
By Joe Williams
CHICAGO – Every day in every way the squirrel series gets nuttier and nuttier.
It’s all tied now at three all, and, to make it fitting, the performers, or most of them, should be tied in form-fitting straitjackets. There has never been anything like it since Olsen & Johnson received their grade school certificates in professional lunacy.
Not an afternoon passes that something new and daffy isn’t added. I’m tempted to add that the height of hilarity was achieved in yesterday’s refrigerated performance but I must doggedly keep in mind there is still another game to go.
You know the series should be over with the Tigers the winner, don’t you? And the only reason it isn’t is that Charles “Tanglefoot” Hostetler, who came into the game as a pinch-hitter, decided he was a combination of the headless horseman and Flat Foot Floosie.
Hostetler’s prize flop
What happened is that Mr. Hostetler, after rounding third on a hit he couldn’t miss scoring on, went into a curious sort of folk dance, which seemed to consist of whirring legs all mixed up, and the next thing the ice-coated customers knew he was spinning around on his kisser in the turf and one of the Cubs was tagging him out and laughing like mad.
As a matter of fact, everybody at Wrigley Field was laughing like mad because even in this squirrel series, where nothing is normal, this was the topper, an inventive piece of business which plainly bore the trademark of sheer slapstick genius. It didn’t seem to matter so greatly at the time and everybody thought it a part of the boisterous script.
Indeed, Mr. Hostetler was roundly applauded and it is reported received an offer to join a local carnival even before he got back to the dugout.
Spoils Tigers’ bid
It wasn’t until the eighth inning when the Tigers came from behind to even the score at 7-7 (you see it was that kind of game) that the Detroit customers realized this wasn’t an act but, on the contrary, an exhibition of awkwardness that might well represent the difference between ultimate victory and defeat. At the end of the ninth the game was still tied at 7-7.
The Cubs won out in the twelfth.
If Mr. Hostetler simply had been able to stand up, a talent which should not be beyond the mastery of even wartime ball players, there’d have been no extra innings. It would have been over in the ninth, Score: Tigers, 8; Cubs, 7, series over.
I wish to add, in fairness, that Mr. Hostetler, of course, didn’t faw down and go boom on purpose. It was an accident but what a time he picked for it! And there are some authentic big leaguers here – the pros as they call them in the dugout by way of distinguishing them from the motley fill-ins.
Hack, Greenberg stand out
Greenberg of the Tigers is one of the pros. His second homer and seventh hit in the series tied the game, Hack of the Cubs is another hero. It was his hit that broke the deadlock in the twelfth.
As for Hack, he has been tremendous in this series and he’s an old gaffer, too. Been with the Cubs since ‘32 and is playing in his fourth series. This is probably the tipoff on what the pros can do in this kind of baseball.
Anyway, he has been poison to the Tigers. They can’t keep him off the bases. He was on six times yesterday, made four hits, and walked twice. All told he’s made 11 hits.
The only person he hasn’t made a hit with is Steve O’Neill.
By Chester L. Smith, sports editor
CHICAGO – The 1945 World Series involved two vital issues today.
In the order of their importance, they are: How to make one more clean shirt do until somebody wins the championship; and, can Hank Borowy come back to pitch and win for Cholly Grimm’s Cubs in the seventh game tomorrow after only one-day’s rest.
Mr. Grimm’s pitching staff, you must know, already has had the thorough laundering the shirts need so badly.
He had not a serviceable soul left. So Grimm decided today to go on to victory or down to defeat with Borowy. The big former Yankee won the first game, 9-0; was knocked out in the fifth game and then came back, in a relief role, hold the Tigers, and finally win in yesterday’s 12-innng battle.
That’s where the Cubs and Cholly are one-down to the Tigers and stolid Stephen O’Neill. Stevie can bring back Hal Newhouser, young, agile and full of ambition. If the urge to win and grab the winner’s purse of the richest World Senes ever played isn’t strong on Hal he ought to be examined. That’s why the Tigers are being picked tomorrow.
Bizarre exhibition
More through exhaustion than anything else, the series was put back on an even keel in 12 innings yesterday. There had been 38 players on the field when the run that counted scored, more than had ever seen action in a series game before. Connoisseurs of the ultimate in baseball might have shaken their heads and called it the worst of all, but when many a magnificent spectacle that embodied nothing less than perfection has been forgotten, this frowsy brawl among the expendables will be spoken of in awed tones.
The game was first won, then lost, by both teams, then won again by the Cubs. Base runners fell down. Such an impeccable character as Stanley Hack committed two errors. There were eight pitchers. Fielders threw to the wrong bases. Nothing bizarre was absent.
Passeau in tough luck
Clyde Passeau, whose one-hitter earlier in the series undoubtedly will qualify him for the pitching medal, lost the nail on the third finger of his right hand. It was by a line drive off Jimmy Outlaw’s bat in the sixth inning but Passeau stuck around to face seven more batters before he retired in the seventh.
Had this not occurred, Passeau probably would have won for he had a 5-to-1 margin to work on. At least this was the general thought – but would he? This was a tussle in which the pixies apparently had control.
A scene in the Cubs’ clubhouse, 10 minutes after the finish, was proof enough how cockeyed an afternoon it was.
The gang around Hack’s locker was stifling. His hit had driven in the winning run. Cubs and scores of others were there to slap the hero on the back, dig him in the ribs, scream words of praise that could not be heard above the tumult.
Off in another corner, quietly removing his uniform was one Frank Secory. He was alone. No one had time for him. All he had done was rap out the hit that gave Hack something to bat for. Frank had been delegated to bat for Len Merullo with one out in the all-conclusive twelfth. His single to center, a ripping line drive, aroused the throng for a moment, but there was an audible mass sigh when it was realized that Hank Borowy was the next batter. Before Hank could do as expected, Billy Schuster had gone in to run for Secory, so now it was this newcomer on first and Hack that everyone watched.
When Schuster raced over the plate shortly afterward while Hank Greenberg was chasing Hack’s hit to the wall, nobody remembered how the little Cub infielder got on base in the first place.
Everything occurs
And that is how it was in this bedlam, Passeau and Virgil Trucks, the starting pitchers, were forgotten long before the end. Scarcely anyone could recall that Greenberg tied the score in the eighth with a home run over the wall in left. Or Peanuts Lowrey’s catch that same inning that was one of the reasons the Tigers did not win, and a throw by Andy Pafko which was worth as much to the Cubs.
Pafko’s came first. The Tigers had one run over and two aboard when Eddie Mayo pumped a hit to center. The Tigers’ second baseman tested Andy’s arm by bidding for a double, but was out on a “strike” throw to Johnson. But there was yet a runner on third when Doc Cramer looped a fly to left center. It was short and dropping rapidly when Lowrey dived headfirst to make the catch. The Tiger on third scored easily while Lowrey was untangling himself, but the catch was not only the second out but rubbed off a man who might otherwise have been running across the plate ahead of Greenberg when Hank unloaded his home run.
What happened?
What actually befell Tiger Charlie Hostetler in the seventh is still a mystery today. All that is known is that he batted for Skeeter Webb and reached first base on a fumble by Hack. Next, he was detected on second after Mayo had grounded out. With that, Doc Cramer walloped a hit to left and Charlie was seen rounding third as Lowrey started to throw – too late it seemed. Thirty feet or so from the plate, another observation revealed Charlie flat on his face. He had fallen, the word went out.
When he got up and scrambled back toward third, Mickey Livingston had the ball and was heaving it to Hack. Hostetler was a dead one. But why had he tried to score and who tripped him? The best guess was that the ghost of some long-gone Cub had clipped him from behind.
There may never be another game as utterly incoherent as this one, and if not, that’s too bad. It went a long way to make this the richest and poorest and best series of them all.
Millions should have seen it.
Receipts may total $1,600,000
CHICAGO (UP) – Baseball’s official recordkeeper had a severe case of writer’s cramp today.
During one of the weirdest, most thrill-packed games in World Series history, the Cubs nosed out the Tigers, 8-7, yesterday in 12 innings and set the following records:
GATE RECEIPTS: The total take for the first six games – $1,388,277, including $100,000 in radio receipts – cracked the previous all-time high of $1,322,328.21, set by the Tigers and Cincinnati Reds in the seven-game 1940 series. Tomorrow’s seventh game turnstile registration should raise the total receipts to $1,600,000.
MOST PLAYERS: The Tigers and Cubs, in each using 19 players yesterday, surpassed a previous series mark of 18 held by the 1936 Giants. The grand total of 38 shattered the previous two-team high of 29 set by the Giants-Senators in 1936. Other player records include: (1) by both clubs, and (2) by one club in a series, 25 (Detroit).
LONGEST GAME: Yesterday’s battle, which continued for three hours and 28 minutes, broke by 34 minutes the previous high of 2:54 established by the Yankees and Dodgers in 1941.
PINCH HITTERS: The Cubs, in using their 11th pinch hitter yesterday, set a record for National League “tardy entries.” The Giants held the previous high of nine in 1923.
OTHER RECORDS: Most time at bat for one club in a game, Detroit; most times at bat one player in a game – Mayo, York and Pafko (6 – ties old record); most pitchers used in a game for both clubs, (9 – ties record).