test On October 1, 1946, The Brooklyn Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals, who both finished the season with a 96-58 record, play the first game of a best-of-three series to determine the National League’s championship, the playoff series is used for the first time in history. The St. Louis Cardinals take the lead in the…
On the last day of the campaign, by striking out opposing pitcher Hal Newhouser and four others, Bob Feller establishes a major league record by striking out 348 batters in one season. Future research, however, will show Rube Waddell had struck out 349 in 1904.
1946 – In Detroit’s Briggs Stadium, Indian fireballer Bob Feller ties Rube Waddell’s strikeout mark with his 343rd K of the season. Future research, however, will show Rube Waddell had struck out 349 in 1904.
Ernie Lombardi of the Giants slams the ball 483 feet under the stairway in right-center of the Polo Grounds, but barely makes third base. It is the 3rd triple in 7 years for Schnozz and the last of his career.
In the first game at Griffith Stadium, Josh Gibson hits a home run into temporary bleachers that shorten the left-field fence, helping the Homestead Grays beat the New York Cubans 8-3, to sweep a season-ending Negro League double-header. It is Gibson’s last career homer. After a few more games, the Grays close out their season, and Gibson will die from a reported stroke four months later.
Dodger Pete Reiser, even though still as injury-prone as he was before the war, steals 3 bases, including home, in an 11 – 3 Dodger victory over the Giants. It is his 7th steal of home this year. He will lead the major leagues with 34 steals despite missing more than 30 games due to injuries.
In the minor leagues Bill Kennedy of Rocky Mount (Coastal Plain League) will be credited with 456 strikeouts, breaking the former mark of 418 set by Virgil Trucks in the Alabama-Florida League in 1938.
With the center field bleachers as a backdrop, Hank Greenberg rounds third base after hitting his 43rd home run on Sept. 6, 1946. Greenberg led the majors with 44 home runs and topped the American League with 127 RBI. Greenberg — then in his first full year after returning from a four-year stint in the…
With two singles in the Red Sox’ 4-2 victory over Philadelphia, Johnny Pesky collects a total of 53 hits in August, the highest monthly total in franchise history. The shortstop’s team mark will be tied in 1950, also accomplished in the month August, by his close friend, Dom DiMaggio.
On August 25, 1946, future Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers is born in Steubenville, Ohio. After a brilliant amateur career that includes American Legion “Player of the Year” honors, Fingers will make his major league debut with the Oakland A’s in 1968 and will become one of baseball’s top relievers.
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