1945 World Series
The 1945 World Series matched the American League Detroit Tigers against the National League Chicago Cubs. The Tigers won the Series, 4 games to 3, giving them their second championship and first since 1935.
Paul Richards picked up 4 runs batted in in the 7th game of the series, to lead the Tigers to the 9-3 game win, and 4-3 Series win.
The World Series again used the 3-4 wartime setup for home field sites, instead of the normal 2-3-2. Although the major hostilities of World War II had ended, some of the rules were still in effect. Many of the majors' better players were still in military service. Warren Brown, author of a history of the Cubs in 1946, commented on this by titling one chapter "World's Worst Series". He also cited a famous quote of his, referencing himself anonymously and in the third person. When asked who he liked in the Series, he answered, "I don't think either one of them can win it."
In a similar vein, Frank Graham jokingly called this Series "the fat men versus the tall men at the office picnic."
One player decidedly not fitting that description was the Tigers' slugger Hank Greenberg, who had been discharged from military service early. He hit the only two Tigers homers in the Series, and scored 7 runs overall and also drove in 7.
The Curse of the Billy Goat originated in this Series. As of 2007, this is the last appearance for the Chicago Cubs in the Fall Classic. Having last won the Series in 1908, the Cubs own the dubious record of both the longest league pennant drought and the longest World Series drought in history.
The Series was a rematch between the two opponents of the 1935 World Series. In that Series' final game, Stan Hack had led off the top of the ninth inning of Game 6 with a triple but was stranded, and the Cubs lost the game and the Series. Hack was still with the Cubs in 1945. According to Warren Brown's account, Hack was seen surveying the field before the first Series game. When asked what he was doing, Hack responded, "I just wanted to see if I was still standing there on third base."
In an unknowing foreshadowing of their future, the Cubs would win two of three in relatively spacious Briggs Stadium but would lose three of four in the relatively hitter-friendly confines of Wrigley Field.
The 1945 World Series is referenced in the Steve Goodman song "A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request" when Goodman says, "The law of averages says, anything will happen that can, but the last time the Cubs won a National League Pennant was the year we dropped the bomb on Japan."
Summary
AL Detroit Tigers (4) vs NL Chicago Cubs (3)
Game 1
Wednesday, October 3, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan
Game 2
Thursday, October 4, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan
Game 3
Friday, October 5, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan
Claude Passeau pitched a complete game one-hitter. The only hit of the game came with two outs in the second inning off the bat of Rudy York. Other Series pitchers in the "low-hit Complete Game Club" are:
Name Team League Series
Ed Reulbach Chicago Cubs N.L. 1906 World Series (1-hitter)
Bill Bevens New York Yankees A.L. 1947 World Series (1-hitter)
Don Larsen New York Yankees A.L. 1956 World Series (perfect game)
Jim Lonborg Boston Red Sox A.L. 1967 World Series (1-hitter)
Game 4
Saturday, October 6, 1945 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois
Game 5
Sunday, October 7, 1945 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois
Game 6
Monday, October 8, 1945 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois
Game 7
Wednesday, October 10, 1945 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois
Composite Box
1945 World Series (4-3): Detroit Tigers (A.L.) over Chicago Cubs (N.L.)
References
 Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series. 1st ed. New York: St Martins, 1990. (Neft and Cohen 201-206)
Reichler, Joseph, ed. (1982). The Baseball Encyclopedia (5th ed.), p. 2153. MacMillian Publishing. ISBN 0-02-579010-2.
External links
1945 World Series at Baseball-Reference.com
1945 World Series at WorldSeries.com (MLB.com)
1945 World Series at Baseball-Almanac.com
1945 World Series box scores and play-by-play at Retrosheet.org
Detroit Tigers History
|
|
|
|
This section is sponsored by:
Laptops
Find a great deal on a Laptop Computer by browsing our Laptop Computer listings.
www.LaptopComputersInfo.com
Top Laptop Computer
Need Top Laptop Computer at Low Price? Compare &Deal Today!
1st-in-Computers.com
Laptops
Laptops Info
www.givemearticles.com
laptops
Don't just search for laptops, find results.
www.ask.com
laptops
Search for laptops here.
www.aywoh.com
Laptops
Find articles, advice and resources on laptops.
www.experttopics.com
laptops
Don't just search for laptops, find results.
wwwAsk.com
|
