Who Really Deserved It?


Respected baseball expert Glenn Stout, who has written THE definitive biographies of both Williams and DiMaggio, relates that DiMaggio had undergone surgery to remove a bone spur from his left heel, which forced him to miss the first month of the 1947 season. When he returned on May 4, the Yankees had a mediocre 8-7 record and were trailing the first place White Sox by a game. Williams' Red Sox were in seventh with a 6-8 record. A fascinating side note is that May 4 is the day Brooklyn acquired Al Gionfriddo's services, and we all know about Gionfriddo's amazing catch of DiMaggio's bid for a game tying three run home run in Game 6 of that year's World Series.

DiMaggio's presence didn't have an immediate effect on the Yankees' fortunes. The team struggled and on Friday, May 23, uncomfortably ensconced in sixth place, 3 ½ games behind the league leading Tigers and 3 games behind the Red Sox, opened a four game set at home against Boston.

There had been a portent of things to come on Wednesday of that week. Yankees' rookie right hander Frank "Spec" Shea shut out the league leading Tigers on a four hitter to break a three game losing streak. DiMaggio led the offense with a first inning, base clearing bases loaded double off Prince Hal Newhouser. The final game of the Detroit series was rained out, bringing in Boston and Ted Williams.

In the first game, Allie Reynolds faced Harry Dorish and the Yankees' Super Chief hurled his third shutout of the season as the Yankees cruised to a 9-0 win. DiMaggio had a harmless hit as Snuffy Stirnweiss, Tommy Henrich, and Charlie Keller led the way. Williams went hitless but Reynolds was careful with the greatest left fielder in baseball history and walked him three times. Williams had a bad day and even dropped a Tommy Henrich fly ball in the first inning but avoided an error when he picked up the ball and threw to second, forcing Snuffy Stirnweiss, who had been on first.

Saturday's game saw Spud Chandler oppose Dave "Boo" Ferris. Once again, the Red Sox failed to score in an important game as the Yankees won, 5-0. DiMaggio had one hit in three official plate appearances, hitting a line drive single to center with the bases loaded in the seventh inning to break open a close 2-0 game. Williams was hitless with a walk

The copyright of the article Who Really Deserved It? in Baseball is owned by Harold Friend. Permission to republish Who Really Deserved It? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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