On April 19, 1945, Joe Cronin of the Boston Red Sox fractured his right leg when he catches his spikes at 2B in a 4–3 loss to the New York Yankees. The injury will influence the 39-year-old to retire as a major league player.
Cronin will continue to serve the Red Sox as their manager. Mike Ryba decides the game by hitting Johnny Lindell on the wrist with the bases full in the 9th.
Cronin will manage the Red Sox through the 1947 season, winning 1,071 games and leading the Red Sox to the Pennant in 1947. He will later be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956.
