After blowouts in the first two postwar seasons, the American League fans were treated to one of the most thrilling pennant races ever in 1948. The bid of the defending world champion New York Yankees to begin a new dynasty came up short on the next to last day, leaving the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox still tied after 154 games.
The Long RaceUnlike the pattern of 1946 and 1947, no team was able to establish a commanding early lead. In fact, on July 24, the resurgent Philadelphia Athletics, long the league doormat, moved into first place. On August 3, the A's, Yankees, Red Sox, and Indians were in a virtual four-way tie for the lead, each 18 games over .500. The A's, in only their second winning season since the 1930's, fell back in early September, but the others charged on. With a week to go, there was a triple tie at 91-56.
The Yankees were benefiting from the first full season together of Vic Raschi, Allie Reynolds, and Ed Lopat, whose pitching would propel them to a record five consecutive championships beginning in 1949. But almost their entire offense was being carried by Joe DiMaggio, who was to lead the league in both home runs and runs batted in that year. DiMaggio was also playing with a painful foot injury which would require surgery and cause him to miss two months of the following season.
The Red Sox were powered by Ted Williams, who would take the batting title at .369, with home run support from Bobby Doerr and Vern Stephens. Jack Kramer, at 18-5, led a pitching staff with five hurlers in double figures in wins. The Sox were managed by Joe McCarthy, in his first year in Boston after having led the Yankees to seven world championships.
Although overshadowed by the surprising Athletics for the first four months, the Indians were also something of an astonishment. Finishing fourth in 1947, they had not won a pennant since 1920. Bob Feller, a perennial 20-game winner and strikeout artist, would be outshone by converted infielder-outfielder Bob Lemon and rookie Gene Bearden. The latter two would win 20 games each as Feller had to settle for 19. On offense, player-manager Lou Boudreau was having a career season which would see him bat .355 while playing a brilliant shortstop.
The Red Sox and Yankees went head-to-head for the last two games of the regular season, with the Sox taking both and eliminating the New Yorkers, while the Indians won on the last day to finsih tied with Boston.
The Thrilling ConclusionUnder the existing rules, a one-game playoff was required to decide the pennant winner. A coin toss set the game for Boston's Fenway Park. With the pitching staffs having been fully employed to the end of the race, both managers had tough choices to make. McCarthy chose the veteran Denny Galehouse, 8-8 that year, while Boudreau went with the rookie Bearden, looking for his 20th victory.
This time the thrills were all one-sided. Boudreau climaxed his Most Valuable Player season with two home runs, Bearden pitched well, and the Indians took their first pennant in 28 years with an 8-3 win.
Sources: Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball-Almanac.com
