Cleveland, Not Boston: Part 1
The Red Sox had an outstanding infield of Billy Goodman, Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky and Vern Stephens, a solid catcher in Birdie Tebbetts, and of course, Ted Williams in left. If they could get decent pitching, they would win. But they didn?t.
The Indians? playing manager, thirty year old Lou Boudreau, had a fantastic season, batting .355 with 18 home runs and 106 RBIs. But now an aside. Boudreau had 560 official plate appearances and 98 bases on balls. He struck out nine---repeat---nine times. Do you think that he helped to ?manufacture? some runs? How many of today?s ?greats? strike out nine times in a three game weekend series?
At first base, Eddie Robinson had a decent year but former Yankee second baseman Joe Gordon batted .280 with 32 home runs and third baseman Kenny Keltner, who had helped to end Joe DiMaggio?s hitting streak in 1941, batted .297 with 31 home runs. It was the infield, not the outfield, that provided the Indians? greatest offensive threats.
Boudreau used Larry Doby, who had been a second baseman in the Negro Leagues and was the first black player in the American League in the outfield because he had no one else. Doby responded with a .301 batting average and 14 home runs but he did make 14 errors. Dale Mitchell was the only other outfielder who played regularly, batting .336. Catcher Jim Hegan was great defensively and managed 14 home runs.
Pitching wins pennants and Cleveland?s pitching surprised. Feller had a decent season for Feller, winning 19 games (19 wins is no more than ?decent??) but it was Bob Lemon and Gene Bearden who were the difference. Lemon won an unexpected 20 and Bearden a surprising 19. At the end of the season, Cleveland was two games ahead of the Yankees because the Red Sox knocked the Yankees out of the race on the next to last day of the season, and was tied with the Indians for the pennant, forcing a one game playoff game. Guess who won.
Boston is a city that loves to suffer. Individuals who continually elect Edward M. Kennedy and John Kerry to the United States Senate have an interesting view of the world. In fairness, Republicans Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. and Leverett Saltonstall represented Massachussets In 1948 so it makes no difference. Republican or Democrat, the Red Sox remain the Red Sox. And teams from Boston don?t win the World Series anymore.
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