1945 World Series

[NormanStewart]

The Pittsburgh Press (October 10, 1945)

Hostetler, cropper, joined Tigers as top base runner

Caprice of fate causes outfielder to be tagged ‘goat of series’

CHICAGO (UP) – It was a caprice of fate when, in the sixth game of the Tiger-Cub World Series, Detroit Outfielder Charlies “Chuck” Hostetler was tagged goat of the fray.

That was the game which the Tigers lost in 12 innings, 8-7. Hostetler committed his “skuller” in the seventh inning. He opened that frame pinch-hitting for Skeeter Webb and was safe on an error by Stan Hack.

He moved to second on an infield out and that brought up Roger “Doc” Cramer. The veteran outfielder spanked a line drive to left and Hostetler was off like a racehorse from the barrier. He touched third and rounded the bag when he heard Manager Steve O’Neill, who was coaching at the hotel corner, yell to him to hold up.

Quick stop causes fall

Attempting to stop short, he lost his balance and sprawled ludicrously between third and home. The Cub relay, Peanuts Lowrey to Tom Livingston to Roy Hughes, got him as he tried vainly to get back to third.

The play cost the Tigers an all-important run and later the 38-year-old Hostetler was the center of criticism from fans and teammates alike. Even the usually placid O’Neill vented his wrath on Chuck.

Speaking of the play, O’Neill said:

I put up my hands for him to stop, but he didn’t even look at me as he turned third. Then I yelled and he must have heard me, but his feet went out from under him as he broke stride. That cost us a run and the game.

Acquired for base-running

That was stiff censure coming from Hostetler’s boss. Some observers even thought that it was a portent of Chuck’s not being with the club in 1946. But the ironic part was that Detroit acquired Pennsylvania-born Hostetler because of his exceptionally fine base-running!

And in the 1945 World Series, after being with the club two years, he fumbled on the baselines where he was rated top notch.

Hostetler came to the Tigers in 1944, an athlete in his late 30s who had been out of baseball for several seasons. Jack Zeller, Detroit general manager, was tipped that the veteran might be able to help the Bengals.

Zeller was told that Hostetler was, considered the fastest man in the minor leagues if not in all baseball. Several attempts had been made to match Hostetler in a foot race with the big league’s fleet runners, but for one reason or another the contest never came about.

Dubbed ‘Topeka Tornado’

Playing for Topeka, Kansas, a few years back, Hostetler was dubbed the “Topeka Tornado,” and the midwestern press was issuing all kinds of challenges for runners to compete with the six-foot Chuck.

So even though he had been dropped to semi-professional ball, Zeller signed him to a Tiger contract in 1944. For the first part of the season, the serious-faced Chuck was the rage of the loop, hitting well over 400. He came down considerably however, but enjoyed a fairly successful year, ending up with a .290 mark in 90 games.

This year, he was used sparingly and hit a woebegone .159. He wasn’t expected to see much action in the World Series and he didn’t. When he finally did get in, he came a cropper on the base-paths. The same paths where he earned a chance with the Tigers in the first place.

[NormanStewart]

Peace reigns as Chandler quits Senate

‘Happy’ agrees to baseball orders

CHICAGO (UP) – Baseball Commissioner Albert B. “Happy” Chandler and major league baseball club owners “made up” today after Chandler announced his resignation as U.S. senator from Kentucky to devote full time to his job as commissioner of America’s favorite pastime.

Simmering unrest in the big leagues ended when Chandler, after a lengthy meeting with representatives of 14 of the 16 major league clubs, announced his political retirement.

He said the formal resignation date, believed to be November 1, would be revealed by Gov. Simeon S. Willis of Kentucky.

Opposition reported

There have been numerous reports around World Series headquarters that major league owners were attempting to “buy off” Chandler’s seven-year contract as commissioner because of “dissatisfaction” with the manner in which the Kentuckian had handled his duties as head of organized baseball.

But peace reigned today after Chandler agreed to a three-point program laid down by the 14 club owners and officials attending yesterday’s meeting.

The most important was the baseball men’s demand that Chandler set a definite date for his senatorial retirement.

Neglect charged

Chandler’s twofold job, of senator and commissioner. long has been a sore point with baseball bigwigs who believed that the happy senator from the Blue Grass region had neglected the sport for his Capitol Hill duties.

The other two points were:

• Appoint an experienced baseball man to succeed Leslie O’Connor as “special assistant” to the commissioner.

• Run the commissioner’s office by written rule and not by edict, which is in keeping with a provision made six months ago when Chandler accepted the seven-year commissioner contract for an annual salary of $50,000.

Would succeed O’Connor

George Trautman, president of the American Association, reportedly was approved as Chandler’s “special assistant.”

Trautman, one of the most popular executives in minor league baseball, would succeed O’Connor, who served as secretary to the late Commissioner Kenesaw M. Landis during his 23-year tenure as commissioner. After moving over as assistant to the new commissioner, O’Connor recently submitted his resignation to accept the vice presidency and general managership of the Chicago White Sox, effective December 15.

One of the club owners told the United Press that the three points were practically put “in ultimatum form and he (Chandler) knew he had to accept them if things were to go smoothly.”

‘100% for him’

After the meeting, the club owners and officials issued a statement that “we are behind the commissioner 100 percent.”

Chandler, in explaining his senator-commissioner duties, said he had remained in the Senate to “introduce a few important bills.”

“I took no salary during six months as commissioner as I did not think it would be fair,” Chandler said. “And I won’t take it now.”

The reported date of November 1 for Chandler’s senatorial resignation was considered significant since the big leagues will hold their first draft meeting under the new commissioner on that day in Chicago.

Meet in December

It also was announced that the American and National Leagues will meet here December 10 and 11 and then hold a joint meeting December 12, also at Chicago.

Only the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Washington Senators were not represented at yesterday’s gatherings.

And, as a windup to a “newsy” between-World Series-games day, both major leagues announced they would be doing business at the same old stand next spring with the American and National Leagues opening their season, Tuesday, April 16, and closing Sunday, September 29.

[NormanStewart]

The Village Smithy

By Chester L. Smith, sports editor

CHICAGO – Dizzy Dean, who must be credited with knowing a thing or two about pitching, called the turn on the selection of Hank Borowy to chuck today’s payoff World Series game for the Cubs.

A few hours after the National Leaguers had squared matters in the rodeo at Wrigley Field, while everybody was taking a fling at masterminding for Charlie Grimm, Ol’ Diz pronounced the final word.

“Grimm’ll pick Hank,” he assured all within listening distance.

“Do you think he’s right?” Dean was asked.

“Course not,” the great man responded. “Managers are never right. It should be Paul Derringer. He’s stop ‘em. And Derringer should have gone in instead of Wyse when Passeau had to quit on Monday. He would have stuck that four-run lead in his hip pocket and kept it there.”

“How would you like to be pitching in this series, Diz?” a voice inquired.

Diz bows too soon

Dean shook his head. “I guess I was a-born too soon,” he answered. “You ask Frankie Frisch. He’ll tell you.”

When Uncle Frank was approached, he simply threw up his hands.

“They would be passing out bonuses for singles,” he said in a tone that made further conversation unnecessary.

This series, no matter who wins, has already set a new all-time record for chin gymnastics.

If you look around the Cubs’ quarters at the Palmer House sooner or later you will find almost anyone who has had a hand in baseball in the last 20 years. It’s the game’s first after-the-war conclave and all the lads who have been off to battle or chained down at home are on the loose.

Parade of stars

Carl Hubbell, Mel Ott, Bill Terry, Dave Bancroft and Eddie Brannick are representing the Giants of yesterday and today. Terry, now in the cotton business, has had his name linked to the Braves’ managerial job, but has nothing to say.

Eddie Collins is a daily caller, and so is Connie Mack. Dick Bartell, fresh out of uniform, looks in now and then. For the week he spent touring with the series, Deacon Bill McKechnie admitted he had never stayed up so late in his life Manager Joe Cronin, still recalling his kid days with the Pirates, is the Red Sox delegate.

Billy Southworth is wearing the series button that would have been official had the Cardinals passed the Cubs. He has agreed to trade it to a Pittsburgher in return for one the Corsairs would have used if they hadn’t been shoved back in 1938.

Up until game time today, the most talked-about plays in the series have been Charlie Hostetler’s tumble as he neared the plate with the run that might have won for the Tigers on Monday and the “error” that was first presented to Hank Greenberg and stricken from the record five hours later.

Hostetler is goat

Hostetler, who was staking his life on scoring from second, admits he sensed that stolid Stephen O’Neill was standing in the third base coaching box waving a red lantern and hollering at the top of his voice. But he said he decided to try for home anyhow. At heart Charlie must be one of those birds who likes to race the railroad train to the crossing.

The odd part of it is, it looked as though he would make it and show up his boss as a bum judge of distance, but then he had to sprawl on his pan in the dirt and become a character who will be tethered forever in the pasture along with other goats of the World Series.

The singular part of the Greenberg episode is how he could have been debited with an error in the first place when he failed even to touch the ball Stanley Hack hit to win the game.

Hara-kiri suggested

As it was explained later, Scorer-In-Chief Mike Haley of St. Louis thought the ball had gone between Greenberg’s legs and promptly called it a misplay. The procedure is for the chief to announce his decision, which stands unless it is questioned. Ed Burns of Chicago said he was certain the ball had bounced over Greenberg’s shoulder, but didn’t like to cross Haley. H. G. Salsinger, the Detroiter in the group, also remained silent as did Fred Lieb of The Sporting News.

It wasn’t until some 350 writers, all the Cubs and especially Greenberg among the Tigers had raised an awful howl that the scorers met and reversed themselves.

The action inspired a classic remark when some wag pointed out that, having lost face, there was nothing left for the four men involved but hara-kiri.

This was Commissioner “Happy” Chandler’s first series and while nothing untoward has taken place to spoil his initial bath, it is plain the senator from Kentucky isn’t sitting too comfortably in his new seat.

Denial is giveaway

The club owners felt the prevailing sentiment so keenly that they had to meet on Monday to give “Happy” a vote of confidence and deny rumors of an impending revolt. This in itself was a giveaway of a sort. No one thinks of calling the fire department unless he smells smoke.

Hardly by sheer coincidence, a story giving “Happy” the blast extraordinary appeared in a national magazine that popped on the newsstands the day the series opened in Detroit. It enjoyed a wide sale and, pertinently, found only a few dissenters.

The owners’ communique, issued after their session, was extremely brief. It read: “There is no basis in fact for the story.” But when it had passed through the press box Monday it came out with the period at the end of the sentence removed, a comma inserted in its place and the word “yet” added.

[NormanStewart]

Series tickets draw top prices

CHICAGO (UP) – Anybody with a seat for the seventh and final World Series game could sell it for $100 in Chicago today.

With the 1945 World Series scheduled for a climactic ending at Wrigley Field today, Chicago was a baseball-crazy town. You either talked about baseball or you didn’t make conversation.

A box seat, originally priced at $7.20, was selling for as much as $150 in the lobbies of several of the leading hotels. Baseball fans were waving $100 bills at cab drivers and bellhops in the hope they could get a grandstand spot.

And in local bars and restaurants, arguments raged over whether Manager Charlie Grimm was wise in sending Hank Borowy to the mound for the Cubs with only one day of rest.

Brooklyn reputation ruined

Brooklyn fans long have been considered the nuttiest horsehide lovers in baseball. But their reputation was being ruined today by some 70,000 fans who all wanted to squeeze into the 43,000 seating capacity of Wrigley Field.

Unreserved bleacher seats, 5,000 of them, and 2,500 standing room tickets went on sale at 7 a.m. today and were immediately gobbled up. Fans, with blankets and chairs, began lining up before the bleacher ticket windows at 5 p.m. yesterday. And anybody who arrived at midnight was out of luck – the line had grown that long.

Box and grandstand seats went on sale yesterday at 8 a.m. and were grabbed in the brief span of three hours.

Ticket manager mobbed

George Doyle, ticket manager of the Cubs, was mobbed last night when he left his Wrigley Field box office. He finally was able to get away when special policemen helped him through the crowds.

Regardless of the outcome of today’s game, another record will be written into the record books. Only 36,185 fans need to attend the game to break the old World Series attendance record of 328,051 set by the New York Yankees and the St. Louis Cardinals during a seven-game series in 1926. And a capacity crowd of 43,000 fans is practically assured today.

[NormanStewart]

Game 7

Wednesday, October 10, 1945, 1:30 p.m. EST
Wrigley Field, Chicago

Broadcast (MBS), 1:15 p.m. EST:

https://archive.org/download/classicmlbbaseballradio/1945%2010%2010%20-%20World%20Series%20Game%207%20-%20Cubs%20vs%20Tigers%20Radio%20Broadcast%20Classic.mp3

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Chicago Cubs (3-4)	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	3	10	0
Detroit Tigers (4-3)	5	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	9	9	1

CHICAGO CUBS (NL):
Hitters	AB	R	H	PO	A	E	AVG
Hack, 3B	5	0	0	1	3	0	.367
Johnson, 2B	5	1	1	1	3	0	.172
Lowrey, LF	4	1	2	3	0	0	.310
Cavarretta, 1B	4	1	3	10	0	0	.423
Pafko, CF	4	0	1	6	0	0	.214
Nicholson, RF	4	0	1	1	0	0	.214
Livingston, C	4	0	1	4	1	0	.364
Hughes, SS	3	0	1	1	1	0	.294
Borowy, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	.167
Derringer, P	0	0	0	0	0	0
Vandenberg, P	1	0	0	0	1	0	.000
Sauer, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Erickson, P	0	0	0	0	0	0
Secory, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	.400
Passeau, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Wyse, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
McCullough, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Totals	37	3	10	27	9	0	.270

Batting
2B	D. Johnson (2, off Newhouser); B. Nicholson (1, off Newhouser)
3B	A. Pafko (1, off Newhouser)
TB	P. Cavarretta 3; A. Pafko 3; B. Nicholson 2; D. Johnson 2; P. Lowrey 2; M. Livingston; R. Hughes
GIDP	A. Pafko (1)
RBI	P. Cavarretta (5); A. Pafko (2); B. Nicholson (8)
2-Out RBI	B. Nicholson
With RISP	2 for 10
Team LOB	8

DETROIT TIGERS (AL):
Hitters	AB	R	H	PO	A	E	AVG
Webb, SS	4	2	1	0	5	0	.185
Mayo, 2B	5	2	2	2	1	0	.250
Cramer, CF	5	2	3	2	0	0	.379
Greenberg, LF	2	0	0	0	0	0	.304
Mierkowicz, LF	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cullenbine, RF	2	2	0	2	0	0	.227
York, 1B	4	0	0	8	1	0	.179
Outlaw, 3B	4	1	1	1	2	0	.179
Richards, C	4	0	2	9	0	0	.211
Swift, C	1	0	0	2	0	0	.250
Newhouser, P	4	0	0	1	2	1	.000
Totals	35	9	9	27	11	1	.257

Batting
2B	P. Richards 2 (2, 1 off Erickson, 1 off Derringer); E. Mayo (1, off Passeau)
SH	H. Greenberg (1, off Derringer)
IBB	R. Cullenbine (1, by Derringer)
TB	P. Richards 4; D. Cramer 3; E. Mayo 3; S. Webb; J. Outlaw
RBI	P. Richards 4 (6); D. Cramer (4); E. Mayo (2); R. York (3); J. Outlaw (3); H. Greenberg (7)
2-Out RBI	P. Richards 4; J. Outlaw; R. York
With RISP	2 for 11
Team LOB	8
Fielding
DP	1. Webb-Mayo-York
E	H. Newhouser (1)
Base Running
SB	J. Outlaw (1, 2nd base off Vandenberg/Livingston); D. Cramer (1, 2nd base off Erickson/Livingston)

Chicago Cubs

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Borowy, L (2-2)	0	3	3	3	0	0	0	4.00
Derringer	1.2	2	3	3	5	0	0	6.75
Vandenberg	3.1	1	0	0	1	3	0	0.00
Erickson	2	2	1	1	1	2	0	3.86
Passeau	1	1	2	2	1	0	0	2.70
Wyse	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	7.04
Team Totals	9	9	9	9	8	5	0	9.00

Detroit Tigers

Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Newhouser, W (2-1)	9	10	3	3	1	10	0	6.10
Team Totals	9	10	3	3	1	10	0	3.00

Balks: None
WP: H. Newhouser (1)
HBP: None
IBB: P. Derringer (2; R. Cullenbine)
Pickoffs: None
Umpires: HP - Passarella, 1B - Conlan, 2B - Summers, 3B - Jorda
Time: 2:31
Attendance: 41,590

[NormanStewart]

DETROIT TIGERS WIN WORLD SERIES, DEFEATING CHICAGO CUBS 9-3

The Pittsburgh Press (October 10, 1945)

Newhouser and Borowy start in final

Players recover from injuries
By Leo H. Petersen, United Press sports editor

BULLETIN

CHICAGO – The Detroit Tigers of the American League won the World Series here today, four games to three, defeating the Chicago Cubs of the National League in the seventh and deciding game.

The score was Detroit 9, Chicago 3.

CHICAGO – Hank Borowy, trying for his third victory and Hal Newhouser, who has won one and lost one, were the opposing pitches today as the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers met in the seventh and deciding game of the World Series.

Borowy, going with only one day’s rest, defeated the Tigers and Newhouser, 9-0, in the fist game at Detroit and received credit for the Cubs’ 12-inning 8-7 victory here Monday. He lost the fifth game, 8-4, to Newhouser.

Tigers favored

The Tigers were favored, 4-3. Newhouser has had two days’ rest. Both Manager Charlie Grimm of the Cubs and Steve O’Neill of the Tigers had their other pitching stars in the bullpen from the start. Dizzy Trout and Virgil “Fire” Trucks were ready to back up big Hal, while Claude Passeau, Ray Prim and Paul Derringer were given the bullpen assignment for the Cubs.

Except for minor injuries, both teams were in good shape for this deciding game of the richest series of all time.

Greenberg ready

Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg suffered a wrist injury in the sixth game, but said he was “ready to go.”

Eddie Mayo, Tiger second sacker, and Roy Hughes, Cubs’ shortstop, were recovered from their injuries.

The Cubs went through an automatic hitting drill and then the sun peeped through the overcast as the Tigers took their licks.

A half-hour before game time, the crowd started pouring in for the finish of this first seven-game series since 1940. The bleachers had filled completely and sent up a roar as the Cubs came back onto the field for their fielding practice.

Breakfasts in bed

Newhouser said he had a nine-hour sleep, took a leisurely breakfast in bed, and “felt great.”

Borowy was nervous and Trainer Andy Lotshaw of the Cubs chased newspapermen away from him in the dugout.

Grimm was confident Borowy would come through for him again – just as he did toward the end of the season when he scored most of the important victories the Cubs needed to win the National: League pennant.

Already pays off

His Chicago record was 11 and 2, and one of those triumphs clinched the pennant for the Cubs and there was no doubt but what Borowy already had paid off on the $100,000 pennant insurance. Today the Cubs were seeking another dividend on the deal.

O’Neill was just as confident that Prince Hal, who has come through for him so many times when the chips were down, would not fail him now with baseball’s richest prize ready to be taken.

“I know Hal will do it,” he said. “And I hope Hank Greenberg gets the hit that will mean victory for he never should have been charged with an error on that play Monday.”

Scorers change mind

That was when Stan Hack hit a line drive to left with Pinch Runner Billy Schuster on first base and two out in the twelfth inning. The ball got by Greenberg and the official scorers at first called it a single for Hack and an error for Greenberg which enabled Schuster to go all the way home with one of the most important runs in a World Series.

Greenberg was relieved of the stigma when the scorers changed their mind and Hack was credited with a double.

Hank, whose homerun in the eighth sent the game into extra innings, wasn’t charged with a miscue, for the ball took a queer bounce over his head just as he was set to field it.

$7,000 to winners

So the Tigers were rooting for Greenberg to star again today as they went out to win the big one. They know that if they win today’s game, they will receive some $7,000, while if they lose, their take from the biggest players’ pool in series history will be a shorter $5,800.

To add to the numerous other records which this series has set, one more baseball mark appeared certain to be established today. There wasn’t any doubt from the way the ticket sales went yesterday but what Wrigley Field will be jammed today.

And should 36,184 pay their way in the park it would mean a new attendance high surpassing the 328,051 who saw the 1926 series between the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals.

Total receipts set mark

Tickets for the deciding game went on general sale at 8 a.m. at Wrigley Field yesterday and by 10:30 a.m. all except two of the booths were closed.

But no matter how many persons jam Wrigley Field total receipts for the 1945 World Series already have mounted to an all-time mark – $1,388,277. And today’s handle should make the total somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,600,000.

[NormanStewart]

TIGERS WIN 9-3, COP SERIES
Newhouser muzzles Cubs for 2nd win

Borowy knocked out in first inning

CHICAGO (UP) – Detroit’s Tigers won the 1945 World Series by defeating the Chicago Cubs in the seventh and final game at Wrigley Field this afternoon. The score was 9-3.

Hal Newhouser pitched the entire distance for the Tigers and won his second game of the series. The Tigers collected nine hits off six Chicago hurlers.

Playing in 48-degree weather, the Tigers tallied five runs in the first inning.

Borowy knocked out

Hank Borowy, seeking his third series victory for the Cubs, lasted only long enough to throw nine times to the first three Tiger batsmen, each of whom singled.

Webb opened with a single to right, then Mayo hit the first pitch into right for another hit. Webb going to third. Cramer then dropped a single into left, scoring Webb and sending Mayo to second.

Paul Derringer replaced Borowy. Greenberg sacrificed. Cullenbine was purposely passed, filling the sacks, after which York popped out weakly to Hack.

Derringer then walked Outlaw on four pitches, forcing Mayo home.

Cramer, Cullenbine and Outlaw all scored on Richards’ double to left. Newhouser grounded out to end the inning as the Tigers batted around.

Cubs score one

The Cubs came back with one run in their half of the first, two hits off Hal Newhouser and an error by the Tiger twirler producing the tally.

Hack went out on strikes, but Johnson doubled to left center. Lowrey was safe when Newhouser fumbled his grounder. Cavarretta singled to right, scoring Johnson and sending Lowrey to third. The Cub threat ended as Pafko hit into a double play.

The scoring orgy continued in the second as the Tigers added another run. With two out, Cramer singled to right and Greenberg walked. Cullenbine also walked, and after Derringer passed York to force Cramer home, Hy Vandenberg went to the mound for the Cubs. He made Outlaw ground to the box for the third out.

Pafko triples

The Cubs tallied their second run of the game in the fourth inning on Cavarretta’s second hit of the afternoon, a single to center, followed by Pafko’s three-bagger to deep center.

Vandenberg left the Cub mound in the fifth for a pinch-hitter. Paul Erickson took over the Cub pitching duties in the sixth.

Richards scores Cullenbine

Richards brought his bat back into play for another Tiger run in the seventh. Cullenbine walked to open the frame, but York went out on strikes and Outlaw filed to Pafko.

Then Richards smashed a double into deep right center, Cullenbine racing all the way home from first.

Claude Passeau became the fifth Cub pitcher to enter the game when he went to the mound in the eighth. Erickson had given way in the Cub half of the seventh to Secory who batted for him and was called out on strikes with runners on first and second.

Two more for Tigers

The Tigers got to Passeau for two runs in the eighth. Webb walked and Mayo doubled to left, Webb scoring from first on the hit.

Mayo reached third as Cramer grounded out, then scored as Greenberg fired out to Lowrey.

The Cubs picked up a run in the eighth. With one out, Lowrey singled to left and Cavaretta followed with one to center that sent Lowrey to third.

Richards, Detroit catcher, suffered a broken little finger when he was struck by a foul tip off Nicholson’s bat. Swift went behind the plate for the Tigers. Nicholson then doubled to left center, scoring Lowrey. Newhouser then fanned Livingston.

[NormanStewart]

Play-by-play description of title game

First 3 Detroit players get hits

CHICAGO (UP) – Play by play in the final game of the World Series follows:

FIRST INNING

TIGERS – Webb singled to right. Mayo also singled to right, sending Webb to third. Cramer singled to left. Webb scoring and Mayo stopping at second. Borowy was replaced by Paul Derringer. Greenberg sacrificed. Cavarretta unassisted. Mayo going to third and Cramer to second. Cullenbine was purposely passed, filling the bases. York popped to Hack. Outlaw walked, forcing Mayo home with Cramer going to third and Cullenbine to second. Richards doubled to left. Cramer, Cullenbine and Outlaw scoring. Newhouser grounded out. Johnson to Cavarretta. Five runs, four hits, no errors, one left.

CUBS – Hack was called out on strikes. Johnson doubled to left center. Lowrey was safe at first when Newhouser fumbled his grounder for an error. Johnson holding second. Cavarretta singled to right. Johnson scoring and Lowrey going to third. Pafko hit into a double play. Webb to Mayo to York. One run, two hits, one error, one left.

SECOND INNING

TIGFRS – Webb flied to Pafko. Mayo also fled to Pafko. Cramer singled to right. Greenberg walked Cramer moving to second. Cullenbine walked, filling the bases. York also walked, forcing Cramer home, Greenberg to third and Cullenbine to second. Derringer was replaced by Vandenberg. Outlaw grounded out. Vandenberg to Cavarretta. One run, one hit, no errors, three left.

CUBS – Nicholson fouled to Richards. Livingston grounded out. Outlaw to York. Hughes was called out on strikes. No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.

THIRD INNING

TIGERS – Richards was called out on strikes. Newhouser grounded out. Johnson to Cavarretta. Webb grounded out. Hughes to Cavarretta. No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.

CUBS – Vandenberg flied to Cullenbine. Hack grounded out. Outlaw to York. Johnson grounded out. Webb to York. No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.

FOURTH INNING

TIGERS – Mayo was called out on strikes. Cramer popped to Hughes. Greenberg walked. Cullenbine struck out, but had to be thrown out by Livingston to Cavarretta when the Cub catcher dropped the third strike. No runs, no hits, no errors, one left.

CUBS – Lowrey flied to Cullenbine. Cavarretta singled to center. Pafko tripled to deep center, scoring Cavarretta. Nicholson grounded out. Newhouser to York. Pafko holding third. Livingston also grounded out. Newhouser to York. One run, two hits, no errors, one left.

FIFTH INNING

TIGERS – York grounded out. Hack to Cavarretta. Outlaw singled just out of Hughes’ reach. Outlaw stole second. Richards grounded out. Hack to Cavaretta. Outlaw holding second. Newhouser lined to Lowrey. No runs, one hit, no errors, one left.

CUBS – Hughes called out on strikes. Sauer batted for Vandenberg and struck out. Hack grounded out. Webb to York. No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.

SIXTH INNING

TIGERS – Paul Erickson went in to pitch for Chicago. Webb flied to Pafko. Mayo flied to Lowrey. Cramer singled to center. Cramer stole second. Greenberg struck out. No runs, one hit, no errors, one left.

CUBS – Johnson struck out. Lowrey singled to left. Cavarretta flied to Cramer. Lowrey holding first. Pafko struck out. No runs, one hit, no errors, one left.

SEVENTH INNING

TIGERS – Cullenbine walked. York was called out on strikes. Outlaw flied to Pafko. Richards doubled to deep right-center. Cullenbine scoring. Newhouser lined to Pafko. One run, one hit, no errors, one left.

CUBS – Nicholson grounded out. York to Newhouser, who covered first. Livingston singled to left and went to second on a wild pitch. Hughes walked. Secory batted for Erickson and was called out on strikes. Hack forced Livingston at third. Outlaw unassisted. No runs, one hit, no errors, two left.

EIGHTH INNING

TIGERS – Claude Passeau went in to pitch for Chicago. Webb walked. Mayo doubled to left. Webb scoring. Cramer grounded out. Johnson to Cavarretta. Mayo going to third. Greenberg lined to Lowrey. Mayo scoring after the catch. Cullenbine popped to Johnson. Two runs, one hit, no errors, none left.

CUBS – Johnson grounded out. Webb to York. Lowrey singled to left. Cavarretta singled to center, sending Lowrey to third. Pafko struck out. Time was called as Richards went to the Detroit dugout for treatment of a hand injury suffered when Nicholson fouled off a pitch. Swift went in to catch for Detroit. Richards broke the little finger of his right hand. Nicholson doubled to left-center. Lowrey scoring and Cavarretta going to third. Livingston struck out. One run, three hits, no errors, two left.

NINTH INNING

TIGERS – Henry Wyse went in to pitch for Chicago. York flied to Nicholson. Outlaw flied to Pafko. Swift grounded out. Hack to Cavarretta. No runs, no hits, no errors, none left.

CUBS – Mierkowicz went to left field for Detroit. Hughes singled to center. McCullough batted for Wyse and struck out. Hack flied to Cramer. Johnson forced Hughes at second. Webb to Mayo. No runs, one hit, no errors, one left.

[NormanStewart]

The Pittsburgh Press (October 11, 1945)

Newhouser, Richards series stars

Catcher’s handling of pitchers and his hitting big factors
By Leo H. Petersen, United Press sports editor

CHICAGO – The Detroit Tigers were at the end of the 1945 major league baseball season today. They had the World Series gold and glory won on a wing and a prayer.

It meant more to the Tigers than the money and honor that goes to a champion. To the victors in particular, and the baseball world in general, it proved that their boss, Steve O’Neill, had come back and made good in the big time.

The boys who were instrumental in that success are O’Neill’s wing and prayer. The wing is that of Southpaw Hal Newhouser, who climaxed a brilliant season yesterday by defeating the Cubs, 9-3, in the seventh and deciding game of this richest series of all time.

The prayer was Catcher Paul Richards, far past his prime but called upon to fill the breach when service calls cut baseball manpower.

Richards was in the minors when O’Neill decided to take a chance on the veteran while praying fervently that, until the boys come marching back, the 36-year-old Richards would hold up.

Steve’s prayers were not in vain. Richards’ handling of pitchers played a big part in the Detroit success and his bat yesterday boomed out the base hit that brought the Tigers their second World Series victory in seven tries. Their previous victims also were the Cubs. That was 10 years ago.

It was rough losing for Chicago, but it was generally agreed they lost to a better club. Once more it was a story of American League power going for a big inning over the tight defensive play of the National League.

Big inning pays dividends

All during this money series, the policy of going after a big inning paid dividends. The richest reward of all came in that first inning yesterday when the Tigers jumped on their old jinx, Hank Borowy, and drove him from the box in the course of a five-run rally.

Fordham Hank went out in an attempt to match the record of eight other hurlers who have won three World Series games but that one day of rest between. the sixth and seventh games was not enough. Instead of winding up with his 14th victory over the Tigers, he came out of it with his fifth defeat.

Two of Hank’s victories and two of his defeats came in this series. The fact that he lost under the circumstances took no luster off the performances he turned in for the Cubs after they gambled $100,000 on him as pennant insurance, purchasing him from the New York Yankees in midseason. The 11 victories against two defeats he turned in during the Chicago drive to the league pennant was dividend enough.

It was the old story with Newhouser coming through. All season long he had been O’Neill’s man in the clutch. And the 25 victories he turned in meant the pennant for the Tigers just as his two World Series victories meant the championship.

Newhouser had failed O’Neill in the first game when he lost to Borowy but he came back to beat Fordham Hank, 8-4, in the fifth game. And yesterday, when thousand-dollar bills were riding on every pitch, he again showed the pitching magic which has made him the outstanding pitcher in the game.

Doubles with bases full

For Richards, it was a new experience. Living on borrowed time so far as the game’s big tent is concerned, he showed that while his eye has dimmed somewhat and his speed has gone, he still has what it takes when the chips are down. He handled the Tiger pitching flawlessly and then came up with the cash-value hit in the final game.

The bases were full, with two out, when Richards strode to the plate and caught hold of one of Paul Derringer’s fast balls for a double to left. That meant three runs and gave Newhouser all of the working margin he needed.

Richards chipped in with another double to drive in a run later and wound up in the dugout when the final out was made. He suffered a broken finger on his right hand when struck by a foul tip. Although it was painful he wasn’t too worried about the injury. That base hit meant money to him and his teammates and took the sting out of the bonebreak.

It wasn’t, of course, all Newhouser and Richards. Guys like Hank Greenberg, Doc Cramer, Skeeter Webb, Eddie Mayo, Virgil Trucks and Dizzy Trout did their part, too. But without Newhouser and Richards it probably would have been a different story.

Seldom has a series seen so many records set as this one. Batting, pitching and other marks fell by the score. And the big records were in total attendance and receipts – the lifeblood of the game.

When 41,590 persons paid their way into Wrigley Field for the seventh game, it soared the series attendance mark to 333,457, topping by 5,400 the former record set in the 1926 classic – in the so-called golden era of sports between the Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals.

Receipts record $1,592,454

The $204,177 take for the final game brought the total receipts to $1,529,454, topping by $270,125.79 the old mark of $1,322,328.21, set in the Tigers’ and the Cincinnati Reds’ seven-game series in 1940.

But, instead of coming out on the losing end, as they did then, the Tigers were on top this time. It meant a difference of $2,168 to each member of the club. For splitting their cut of the record players’ pool into 31 shares it meant $6,445 for each man. For the losing Cubs, who voted 33½ shares, it meant $4,277 each.

It was one of the most loosely played World Series in history. Yet the sports world took the record turnout and gate as another indication that the post-war world of athletics is going to make the golden ‘20s a bad also-ran.

There was no outstanding hero in the series and no outstanding goat. Newhouser, Greenberg and Richards turned out to be the big guns for the Tigers, and although his fielding was brilliant, Andy Pafko was the big Chicago disappointment.

Pafko couldn’t come through with base hits when they were needed. But neither could Bill Nicholson and some of the other renowned sluggers of the Cubs.

The odds would have been 50 to 1 that such guys as Rudy York, Greenberg, Roy Cullenbine, Nicholson, Phil Cavarretta, Peanuts Lowrey and Pafko would have driven more than three balls out of the park in seven games. But as it happened, Greenberg got two and Cavarretta the other.

[NormanStewart]

Records of World Series shattered in Tiger victory

Attendance mark of 333,457 is established as 41,590 attend seventh and final game

CHICAGO (UP) – They put a lot of new pages into the World Series record book today.

Never before has there been a series that shattered as many marks as the 1945 “big show” which bowed out yesterday at Wrigley Field after seven games with the Detroit Tigers winning.

The records included:

LARGEST CROWDS: The 41,590 fans who attended yesterday’s game established an attendance mark, boosting the total turnstile registration for the seven-game 1945 series to 333,457. The previous mark was 328,051 set in 1926 when the Cardinals and Yankees played a seven-game match. Yesterday’s turnout also was the largest crowd ever to attend the seventh game of a series.

TOTAL RECEIPTS: Yesterday’s turnout poured $204,177 into the coffers, hiking the total take for the 1945 series to $1,592,454, and cracking the former mark of $1,322,328.21 set in 1940 during the seven-game tussle between the Cincinnati Reds and the Tigers.

STRIKEOUTS: Hal Newhouser of Detroit in striking out 10 men to win yesterday’s game, set a modern series mark of 22 strikeouts. He had fanned 12 men in his previous two series appearances. The former record of 20 was held by three pitchers while the old-time mark of 28 was set by Bill Dineen of Boston in 1903 during an eight-game series.

PINCH-HITTERS: The Cubs, in using their 14th pinch-hitter in yesterday’s game, set a record for National League “late entries.” The Giants held the previous high with nine in 1923.

LONGEST GAME: The sixth game, a 12-inning battle Monday, lasted three hours and 28 minutes, breaking by 34 minutes the former high of 2:54 set by the Yankees and Dodgers in 1941.

MOST PLAYERS: The Tigers and Cubs, in sifting 19 players into Monday’s game, cracked the previous series record of 18 held by the 1935 Giants. The overall total of 38 surpassed the previous series two-team high of 29 set by the Giants-Senators in 1936.

There were several other minor records, of interest only to a mathematician.

Dotting and dashing the series finale:

Lean Lon Warneke, the Cardinal and Cub pitching hero of bygone days, says he has hung up his glove for good.

“No more baseball for me,” the Arkansas thin man said. “I know when to quit.”

Stan Hack boarded a plane for San Francisco last night, with him reports that he would quit his third base post with the Cubs to manage Los Angeles next season. Hack, as yet, hasn’t confirmed or denied it.

The American League now has won 136 World Series games to 104 for the National League.

If well-wishing telegrams meant anything, the Cubs should have won the series in a breeze. Manager Charlie Grimm received an average of 200 a day, but he would rather have had a few more runs.

Johnny Mize, discharged from the Navy at Great Lakes Tuesday, turned up in the Cub dugout yesterday looking trim at 205 pounds. The former Cardinal-Giant first baseman is eager to get back into uniform.

[NormanStewart]

O’Neill’s stubborn Irish trait proves right in player picking

Sticks by son-in-law over Joe Hoover
By Joe Williams

O’Neill

Webb

CHICAGO – It was a long time between World Series drinks for Stephen Francis O’Neill, the blubbery manager of the triumphant Detroit Tigers. Exactly 25 years, as a matter of statistics.

Back in 1920 as a lean, young black0haired catcher, he spark-plugged the Cleveland Indians to their win over Brooklyn. Yesterday this same O’Neill, a gray-haired grandfather, piloted the Tigers to victory in the seventh and final game of the playoffs. There have been no in-between stops on the World Series Special for O’Neill. He got on at Cleveland and got off at Detroit.

This was a popular achievement by O’Neill who comes from a long line of ball-playing O’Neills. He is an amiable, gregarious fellow, a member of the old school, and it’s probably true he hasn’t an enemy in the world, as the saying goes. There isn’t anything dashing about him, nor dynamic, and you seldom hear a peep out of him as he stands at third base and runs the club.

Wins with solid style

He plays baseball the way he learned it under Tris Speaker. There is nothing inventive or particularly imaginative about the way he plays it, but it represents a solid and substantial style and he wins with it.

This year he won the American League flag and the series with it and he carried the fight down to the last day before he conceded defeat last season. Thus his brief record as a major league manager describes him as a success.

O’Neill has one characteristic which is typically Irish. He is stubborn. Once he makes up his mind to do a thing nobody’s going to change it. Not until the actual working out of the test has proved him wrong, anyway. This may or may not be a happy faculty. But in the series, it proved to be just that.

Others preferred Hoover at short

It is no secret that the older Tigers wanted to see Joe Hoover at shortstop instead of Skeeter Webb. What they had in mind was additional power. Webb is what football calls a scatback and he can’t knock your cap off with his hardest drive. O’Neill wasn’t opposed to strengthening his attack, but he wanted to make sure his defense didn’t suffer as a result, and the shortstop comes pretty close to being the key man of the infield.

Well, the upshot of the controversy was that O’Neill started Webb. There were some who sought to read into this decision a motive that had little to do with the team’s prospective success. Webb married one of O’Neill’s daughters and is, of course, his son-in-law. Word of these insinuations got back to O’Neill. To him it was a laugh.

Start Webb as shortstop

“Webb’s a nice guy and I’m glad to have him as a son-in-law,” O’Neill commented. “But I’m not going to start him as a son-in-law; I’m going to start him as a shortstop. I’m satisfied he’s our best bet.”

O’Neill’s stubbornness, if stubbornness it was, paid dividends in the series. Webb proved to be the best infielder in the series. True, he didn’t hit his weight but he made all the plays and he made them with a sure-handed touch that was remindful of Peckinpaugh, Crosetti and the later day Marion.

Payoff game anti-climax

I didn’t keep tab on the number of hits he cut off by fine throws to first from deep short but there were more than several. As Rogers Hornsby, who saw the series from the press box, commented: “The Tigers couldn’t have won without him.”

As you know by now the payoff game was an anti-climax. It was over almost before it started. The Cubs had used up so much pitching strength in trying to keep even with the Tigers they had to resort to desperate measure.

As a starting pitcher in the all-or-nothing game, they pinned their hopes to frail Hank Borowy who thus was working his third game in four days. It proved to be the sliver of hay that broke the camel’s spinal column.

The first three Tigers clipped him for singles and the ex-Yankee was out of there in less than five minutes. Before the inning was over, the Bengals had scored five runs in one of their typical big-inning uprisings and the game to all practical purposes was ended, and everybody in the packed stands seemed to sense it.

In picking the Tigers to win the series, I expressed the belief that their Hal Newhouser, the best lefthander in baseball, if not the best pitcher, would prove the difference. That’s the way it worked out. Pitching was the tell in the final game as it usually is, and Newhouser was the teller, winning his second game in three starts.

[NormanStewart]

The Village Smithy

By Chester L. Smith, sports editor

CHICAGO – There was no other way for the World Series to end, once it was seen that the last of the Cubs’ frontline pitchers had lost what it took to stop the Tigers.

This informational tidbit became glaringly apparent only four minutes after Hank Borowy threw his first pitch to Skeeter Webb in the payoff seventh game at Wrigley Field yesterday.

Webb singled, so did Eddie Mayo, and so did Roger Cramer. Borowy was gone and the Cubs, too. Before the inning was over the American Leaguers had piled on five runs, a sedative which stupefied the stands except at rare intervals when they would toss fitfully in their sleep and utter weird sounds as the National Leaguers stirred them with feeble outbursts against Hal Newhouser.

It had been said in the early stages of this rag-tag-and-bobtail series that the Cubs would win unless the Tigers could match a stronger defense and greater speed with super-pitching and the ability to break through the Bruins’ curving corps. It was precisely along these lines that it went. Claude Passeau carried off the medal with his one-hitter in the third game, but there was no overall skill on the National League side to compensate for Newhouser, Virgil Trucks and Dizzy Trout.

Carpetbag managers

The carpetbag managers will now proceed to take over and toss their second guesses at Manager Charlie Grimm. They began the moment Don Johnson had forced Roy Hughes for the last putout yesterday by saying Cholly had no business to start Borowy. Hank, they pointed out, is no man of iron but rather a somewhat slightly-built fellow who needs his rest. Yet he was in all of the last three games.

Why not a power thrower such as Hy Vandenberg or Paul Erickson? They screamed. Anyone who would sail ‘em in fast. Hadn’t Hy and Paul done well in relief this very day?

Grimm, however, pegged that argument back in the laps of the critics.

He said:

I don’t want to take anything away from Vandenberg and Erickson, but the conditions when they went in the game weren’t the same that confronts a starter. The pressure was off. They couldn’t lose, only win. It makes a difference, and if I had it to do over again, I’d have to stick with Borowy.

Newhouser in pinch

Rather than call Hank the wrong man, it probably would be fairer to say Newhouser was the right one. He struck out 10, but more to the point all three Cub pinch-hitters were among them – Ed Sauer, Frank Secory and Clyde McCullough. You can conclude from this that the temperamental Mr. Newhouser was cramming his Sunday pitches down the opposition’s throats when he had to.

The finale was a disappointment to those who had been enjoying the series thoroughly merely by watching the strange gyrations of the Detroit outfield, as fine an assortment of ballet dancers as the game has collected on one stage within memory. Lovers of the dizzy drama had only one chance to stand and give hearty applause. This was in the fourth inning when Andy Pafko was found anchored at third after Cramer had done a bewildering succession of maneuvers trying to trace the progress of the Cub centerfielder’s long but by means uncatchable fly.

Eventually, the ball fell behind the Detroit gentleman, who is either not equipped with radar or had his set turned off. Were it not that the new world champions have many splendid outfielders returning for 1946, there should be an immediate campaign launched to compel all teams playing the Tigers to shoot up tracer bullets along with the flies so that the lads way out there can reach the approximate spot without so much confusion.

Greenberg gets prize

Now that it is all over, parceling out the heroes and the bums becomes a difficult task.

Hank Greenberg would qualify as the lead, no doubt. He won the second game with his home run and hit another in the eighth inning last Monday which sent the teams into overtime. All told, Hank drove in seven runs and was by far the keenest outfielder on his side. Yes, it must be Greenberg for first prize, for without him Detroit’s pitching might still have been too small a factor.

Jimmy Outlaw, the Tigers’ third baseman, was lost in the shuffle but had a major part in the ultimate victory. His five hits were responsible for two runs over the span of seven games and his fielding was impeccable.

Stolid Steve O’Neill had much to say about Paul Richards, who was the starting catcher in six games, and would have finished yesterday had a foul tip off Bill Nicholson’s bat not snapped the bone in the small finger of his right hand in the eighth. Richards would never have had a chance in the majors but for the war. He was managing a club in the South when the Tigers reached down and picked him up to relieve an acute shortage of backstops.

Cubs had quota

O’Neill’s tribute war unqualified. “When Paul is in the lineup, I don’t need to manage,” the round Irishman declared. Nor did Stephen object to Richards’ two-bagger in the first inning yesterday, and the second he pumped out in the seventh. They meant no less than four runs.

The Cubs had their quota of players who, while pulling down the loser’s share, could not be held to account for the defeat.

Capt. Phil Cavarretta made 11 hits and was little short of a bandit to Tiger batsmen at first base. Certainly, Andy Pafko was the best of all the outfielders. Don Johnson’s hitting was a disappointment, but he was no blowout at second. And Stan Hack was – well, he was Stan Hack.

But as we attempted, sloppily no doubt, to say, Cub pitching “plum wore out,” as they say around the moonshine stills. And there you have it.

[NormanStewart]

The Pittsburgh Press (October 12, 1945)

Tigers are feted by Detroit fans

New ball club promised by O’Neill

DETROIT (UP) – The Detroit Tigers, the world’s champion baseball team, disbanded today and its members headed for home or vacations. Some admitted they didn’t expect to return.

Thirty-seven-year-old Paul Richards, the veteran catcher whose errors made him the goat of the first-game loss and whose doubles made him a star of the final-game victory, told guests at a banquet last night that “I’m going back to Waxahachie, Texas, to run my newspaper.”

Other oldsters on the team – Hank Greenberg, Skeeter Webb, Roger Cramer, Chuck Hostetler, Rudy York – didn’t have such definite plans, but admitted that younger players would be back from the war next year.

“It will be an entirely different ball club,” said Manager Steve O’Neill.

Hundreds of Detroiters paid $10 a plate to attend the banquet. Eddie Mayo received the Sporting News’ award as the most valuable player in the American League and Hal Newhouser the award as the league’s best pitcher.

[NormanStewart]

Cub and Tiger players in exhibition games

NEW YORK (UP) – New York will get the last 1945 glimpse of baseball, it was revealed today with announcement that four Detroit Tiger stars and one Chicago Cub would play in exhibition games Sunday.

Hank Greenberg, Eddie Mayo and Doc Cramer of the Tigers will play with an all-star team against the Brooklyn Bushwicks at Dexter Park. Virgil Trucks of the Tigers and Bob Chipman of the Cubs will pitch for Chuck Dressen’s all-stars against a Negro National League all-star team at Ebbets Field.

[NormanStewart]

Joe McCarthy lauds O’Neill’s judgment

BUFFALO, New York (UP) – New York Yankee Manager Joe McCarthy praised Steve O’Neill today on his management of the world champion Detroit Tigers.

“I think Steve used masterful judgment in handling his players, especially his pitchers,” McCarthy said. “Naturally, I am glad to see the world championship come back to the American League.”

He credited the Chicago Cubs manager, Charlie Grimm, with “a grand try but he guessed wrong on the last day.”

[NormanStewart]

The Village Smithy

By Chester L. Smith, sports editor

Notes copied from a World Series reporter’s cuff:

Charley Grimm was as glum a man as you ever saw for a few minutes after the last Cub had been put out at Wrigley Field on Wednesday. Cholly had a hunch he was managing a champion on top of a pennant winner this time, and when he left Detroit with a 2-1 edge in games he was sure of it.

But moping is not one of Cholly’s traits, and when someone asked him what his plans were, he brightened at once.

“I’m going to load Mom (Mrs. Grimm) in the car and well point ‘er for ol’ Missouri,” he replied. “When we get there, I’ll send her into the house to cook up a mess of fried chicken and I’ll go out and sit under a tree and give the squirrels a treat.”

Trend of times

The series marked the finish of big league baseball as we have seen it for the last three years. The Tigers are typical of the overhauling that will take place on all clubs during the winter. Not a single man who was in Stolid Stephen O’Neill’s outfield will be there as a regular next summer.

By spring, Dick Wakefield, Barney McCosky, Pat Mullin and Hoot Evers are expected to check in from one service and another. They’ll come in one door and Hank Greenberg, Roger Cramer and Roy Cullenbine will go out the other, Big Hank probably to play first base and the others to goodness knows where.

Tigers well fixed

With Hal Newhouser, Virgil Trucks, Dizzy Trout and Frank Overmire to anchor the pitching, the Tigers expect to be right in the middle of it again in ‘46, but there is no such secure feeling among the Cubs, who need a shortstop and a pitcher or two. To be honest about it, the National League is on the verge of conceding ail to the Cardinals for ‘46, and even longer.

When Sam Breadon, the St. Louis owner, walked into press headquarters in Chicago he was jocularly accused of spying to get ideas for playing host in the future. Old Sam denied everything – including tie report that has been wheeling around the circuit for weeks that he was ready to sell Shortstop Marty Marion.

“Bet Marty will be playing for us next season and you won’t lose,” declaimed Brother Breadon.

Marion, a Saint Louian explained on the side, is one of Sam’s favorite ballplayers, but the same doesn’t hold good in the case of Walker Cooper, the catcher. Sam still remembers the row over pay raises he had last spring with Walker and Morton. He sold Mort to Boston and they say Walker will be put on the counter as soon as the Navy returns him to Breadon.

The Pirates, Giants and Reds will be among those to rush into the waiting line.

Good series for umps

Series umpiring this year was unusually free from altercations – in fact, for the first four games one would have thought a great love had suddenly come into bloom between the men in the blue suits and the athletes.

Then, on Monday, Mickey Livingston crowded Jocko Conlan after the Cub catcher had been called out on a close number at second base. Art Passarella, one of the American Leaguers, was the recipient of the once over loudly from the crowd for his findings on balls and strikes in the final game. Neither uprising was serious, however. Jocko disregarded the edict that a player must never touch an umpire and said no more about the incident. Passarella merely had the misfortune to be behind the plate while Newhouser was doing a magnificent job of hitting the corners.

Naturally this irked the home crowd. In Detroit, everything would have been hunky-dory.

Conlan had the toughest decisions to make, or so it seemed. When he was at first, balls were dropping inches fair or foul on that side; when he moved across to third all the hairline hits followed him.

The nickel series

As a marathon of madness, which cannot, unfortunately, be written into the records, this was the series that will have to do until a new form of baseball lunacy is devised. Or maybe it would be better to store it away with the atomic bomb as a menace to civilization. As a weary reporter from Manhattan muttered Wednesday night as he clamped the lid on his typewriter and made for a train:

“They used to say New York was the only place they could have a nickel series – but Detroit and Chicago really showed us one.”

[NormanStewart]

The Pittsburgh Press (October 13, 1945)

The Village Smithy

By Chester L. Smith, sports editor

Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pa., October 13, 1945

DEAR BUD: The World Series that will be talked about for years to come ended on Wednesday when the Detroit Tigers put across a one-sided victory over the Cubs, 9 to 3, in the seventh game.

I doubt if there has ever been a wilder and wider assortment of baseball in any one series. The pitching ranged from Claude Passeau’s one-hit shutout in the third game to some of the worst imaginable. Hank Greenberg was the batting hero with two home runs that were worth a mint to Detroit, and Capt. Phil Cavarretta of Chicago made one spectacular play after another at first base.

But the misplaying of the Detroit outfield, a succession of dizzy throws and bad base running, climaxed when Tiger Charley Hostetler fell down as he neared the plate with a run the Tigers needed badly, were what made the whole thing so unforgettable. The Cubs were stronger defensively and faster, but the Tigers had a bit more punch and far steadier pitching.

The Pirates were represented by President Bill Benswanger and Manager Frankie Frisch, who didn’t pass up the chance to sound out rival clubs on the possibilities of a few trades over the winter. Both Bill and Frank are convinced that the Bucs won’t do as they stand now, so you can expect more than one deal and several new faces before the training season opens.