Major League Baseball Season Recap 1945

World Series – Detroit Tigers AL over Chicago Cubs NL 4 games to 3

World Series MVP –
Babe Ruth Award –

Awards –
Major League Cy Young Award Cy Young Award National League Cy Young Award American League
MVP Awards – NL Phil Cavarretta AL Hal Newhouser
Major League Rookie of The Year –
NL Rookie of The Year – AL Rookie of The Year –

All-Star Game – – over , played at The 1945 game was not played due to World War II. See the A.L. & N.L. league pages for the rosters.

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January 7, 1945

Roberto Ortiz attacks umpire Bernardino Rodriguez in a dispute at home plate

January 7, 1945

In the most violent incident in Cuban baseball history, outfielder Roberto Ortiz of Almendares attacks umpire Bernardino Rodriguez in a dispute at home plate. Rodriguez is knocked unconscious and Ortiz is suspended for his actions.

January 10, 1945

The Baseball Writers Association of America  fails to elect a new member for the Hall of Fame this year

January 19, 1945

media reports say that Stan “The Man” Musial will enlist in the U.S. military

January 22, 1945

Stan Musial officially enlists in the U.S. Army

January 25, 1945

 Larry MacPhail, Dan Topping and Del Webb purchase the New York Yankees for $2.8 million from the heirs of previous owner Jacob Ruppert

February 10, 1945

Slugger Jimmie Foxx signs with the National League’s Philadelphia Phillies.

February 12, 1945

Don Wilson is born in Monroe, LA.

February 14, 1945

Bob Quinn gives up his post as general manager of the Boston Braves

February 15, 1945

Billy Southworth Jr., the son of Cards manager Billy Southworth, is killed when his B29 crashes into the water off Flushing, New York. The 27-year-old was a veteran of 25 missions in Europe, and was the first player in organized baseball to enlist in World War II. The young Southworth was a well-regarded outfielder with the Toronto Maple Leafs (International League) in 1940.

February 21, 1945

Due to wartime travel restrictions, baseball decides to cancel the All-Star game. The Midsummer Classic has taken place annually since the game’s inception in 1933.

February 22, 1945

1945 – At the major league meetings, the owners cancel the 1945 All-Star Game scheduled to be played at Boston’s Fenway Park on July 10th. Even after the cancellation, schedule-makers leave the dates of July 9, 10 and 11 open in case circumstances change, permitting the game. In place of the All-Star Game, eight simultaneous games pitting the National League vs. the American League are to be played. Seven are played, with the 8th being cancelled. Also approved is a rule change stating that a player needs 400 at bats to qualify for a batting title.

March 5, 1945

Bert Shepard, a one-legged veteran of the war, tries out as a pitcher for the Washington Senators

March 5, 1945

With war-time travel restrictions still in effect, the Dodgers open spring training at Bear Mountain, New York with 15 players in camp. Seven teams – the Browns, Tigers, Reds, Indians, Cubs, Pirates and White Sox – are training in Indiana, the most of any state. The Red Sox are at Tufts College in Massachusetts, while the Braves are prepping at the Choate School in Connecticut.

March 6, 1945

Harry O’Neill is killed in combat during World War II

March 15, 1945

With World War II travel restrictions still in effect, the Brooklyn Dodgers open spring training at Bear Mountain, New York, with 15 players in camp.

March 15, 1945

Leo Durocher weighs in Curt Davis 1945 Spring Training

March 15, 1945

Bert Shepard, a one-legged pitcher, begins a successful tryout with the Washington Senators

March 25, 1945

1945 – Tryouts are granted to pitcher Terris McDuffie and first baseman Dave Thomas when a group of black players appear at the Brooklyn Dodgers’ offices. The two players will work out at Ebbets Field in front of general manager Branch Rickey on April 7th.

March 31, 1945

1945 – Vince DiMaggio is sent by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for pitcher Al Gerheauser.

April 2, 1945

Don Sutton is born in Clio, Alabama

April 16, 1945

Red Sox try out Jackie Robinson and two others

April 17, 1945

Pete Gray, a one-armed outfielder, plays his major league debut game with the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman’s Park. Gray hits a single off Les Mueller in four at-bats, and handles no chances in the outfield. St. Louis beats the Detroit Tigers, 7 – 1, for their ninth straight Opening Day win, setting a major league record that the 1975-1983 New York Mets will tie. Gray, one of many players recruited to perform during World War II, will hit .218 (51 for 254) in his only major league season.

April 17, 1945

4/17/1945: On Opening Day in Cincinnati, Pirates shortstop Frankie Zak reached first on a bunt, which sent teammate Al Lopez to second. Zak then asked for time to tie his shoelace, which was granted by umpire Ziggy Sears. However, Reds pitcher Bucky Walters had begun his pitch, which Jim Russell hit over the right field fence for an apparent three-run homer. The play was not allowed because of the time out. Russell then singled to CF to drive in one run. The eleven-inning contest was won by the home team, 7-6.

April 18, 1945

one-armed outfielder Pete Gray makes his debut for the St. Louis Brown

April 19, 1945

Joe Cronin breaks leg running the bases

April 24, 1945

Happy Chandler becomes the second baseball commissioner

April 26, 1945

Pete Gray One Armed Outfielder

May 6, 1945

Jackie Robinson debuts with Kansas city

May 16, 1945

Mort Cooper goes AWOL from the Cardinals, returning to St. Louis. A 20-game winner for three previous seasons, Cooper, along with his brother Walker Cooper, has had his salary frozen at $12,000 for three years, and is in a salary dispute with owner Sam Breadon. Without Cooper, the Cards drop a pair to the Braves, losing 5 – 4 in 14 innings and 4 – 1.

May 17, 1945

For the fourth time in four days, every American League game is postponed because of rain.

May 18, 1945

Luis Olmo of the Brooklyn Dodgers hits a triple and home run, each with the bases loaded, in the Dodgers’ 15 – 12 victory over the Chicago Cubs. No major league player has done that since. Olmo adds a double for good measure.

May 20, 1945

one-armed outfielder Pete Gray of the St. Louis Browns enjoys an incredible day against the New York Yankees

May 24, 1945

The visiting Giants beat the Reds, 7 – 6, on a pinch homer by colorful Danny Gardella. Gardella had started the day by leaving a suicide note in his hotel room for his roommate Nap Reyes. When Reyes returned to the room a few minutes later‚ he noticed the open window and read the note. Horrified‚ he rushed to the window only to see the grinning face of Gardella‚ who had been hanging from the window ledge several stories over the street.

May 24, 1945

The Tigers lose Al Benton‚ who has 5 wins and 3 shutouts‚ when he is hit on the ankle in the 4th frame by a line drive off the bat of Bobby Estalella. The A’s score 4 in the 5th to win‚ 7 – 2. There is great confusion in the 2nd inning, when Irv Hall and George Kell bat out of turn for the A’s: Kell, batting 6th in the lineup card handed to umpire Eddie Rommel, comes up in place of Hall, who is batting 5th. He strikes out, so Tigers manager Steve O’Neill does not point out the mistake, validating Kell’s at-bat. But Hall then steps to the plate when the 7th hitter, 1B Dick Siebert, should have followed Kell. Hall singles, O’Neill appeals, and Rommel calls him out to end the inning. However, no one can then agree on who is to lead off the 3rd (if the rule had been properly applied, Siebert would have been the one called out to end the 2nd and number 8 hitter Frankie Hayes should have been next up). Rommel decides that Kell should be next. Both managers protest the decision, although no one seems to be sure who should have been the proper batter. When American League President Will Harridgerules on the protest filed by O’Neill (who claims, wrongly, that Siebert should have led off the 3rd), he dismisses the protest – but for the wrong reasons – indicating that he is just as confused as everyone else. The perplexing rule will be clarified in 1957.

May 24, 1945

5/24/1945 – The Athletics beat the Tigers, 7-2, in a wild game. In the fourth inning, pitcher Al Benton of the Tigers was hit by a line drive by Bobby Estalella. Benton suffered a fractured bone just above the right ankle and was carried off the field. The Philadelphia batting order turned in to umpire Eddie Rommel had Joe Burns batting fourth, Irv Hall fifth and George Kell sixth. However, on the scoreboard Hall and Kell were reversed. Burns struck out to open the bottom of the second inning. Kell, batting out of turn, also struck out. Hall then batted and, when he singled, the Tigers protested that he was out of order. Rommel declared Hall out, which was incorrect according to the rules. The proper batter in this case was Dick Siebert, who followed Kell in the lineup in the seventh spot, and he should have been declared out, not Hall. Rommel further declared that Kell should lead off the third inning, which is also incorrect. Since Siebert was the proper batter, Frankie Hayes (in the eighth spot) should have led off the third inning. Since Rommel had Kell lead off the third inning, it looks as if only five batters made six outs in the first two frames. One result of the confusion is that Kell’s strikeout disappeared from the official records. The confusion continued when the Tigers’ protest of the game based on Kell was not being the proper lead off batter was denied incorrectly by the AL president.

June 8, 1945

Durocher is arrested after ambushing a fan

June 16, 1945

1945 – Dave Ferriss of the Boston Red Sox loses to the New York Yankees, 3 – 2, after starting his career with eight victories, four of them shutouts.

June 29, 1945

Ben Chapman replaces Fred Fitzsimmons as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.

July 1, 1945

Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers makes a dramatic return after serving in World War II

July 6, 1945

Tommy Holmes hits in his 34th consecutive game to pass Rogers Hornsby’s modern National League record of 33 in 1922

July 6, 1945

P Phil Marchildon rejoins the Athletics. In the Canadian Air Force, he was shot down during World War II and was in a German prison camp for nine months.

July 8, 1945

Filling wartime rosters requires going deeper into the bag. The Dodgers bring back Babe Herman from California. He pinch-hits twice against the Cardinals, tripping over first base on a hit. Guy Bush, Clay Touchstone and Hod Lisenbee, contemporaries of Herman in the 1920s, will get their chances on the mound. The Babe will go 9 for 34, mostly as a pinch-hitter, sock one homer, and be a popular gate attraction in Brooklyn.

July 8, 1945

The Cubs take the National League lead by winning two from the Phillies, 12 – 6 and 9 – 2. They never relinquish first place, despite losing 16 of 22 games to the Cards.

July 10, 1945

Ten new members are inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame

July 10, 1945

The All-Star Game at Fenway Park is canceled because of travel restrictions. During the break in the schedule, 7 inter-league games are played for war charity. Plans for a USO-sponsored all-star game in Europe do not materialize, although the war in Germany is over and fighting in the Pacific will be over in 6 weeks.

July 10, 1945

All-Star Game scheduled for Fenway Park is canceled because of travel restrictions imposed by World War II

July 11, 1945

Aaron Robinson, Yankees C, returns from the military. Red Ruffing is back too, and so are Hugh Mulcahy and Buddy Lewis. Charlie Keller will follow, and a couple of dozen former major-league players will be in uniform before the season is over.

July 12, 1945

Tommy Holmes National League record hitting streak halted at 37 games

July 21, 1945

Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers play 24 innings and settle for a 1-1 deadloc

July 22, 1945

In front of a sellout crowd at Fenway Park, Red Sox right-hander Dave Ferriss goes the distance, beating the Browns, 3-2. The 23 year-old rookie sensation known as Boo improves his record to 17-2 en route to finishing the season with a 21-10 (.677) mark along with a 2.96 ERA.

July 27, 1945

1945 – The Cubs purchase P Hank Borowy from the New York Yankees in an unexpected waiver deal. Borowy, 10-5 with the Yankees, was put on waivers, apparently to solve a roster problem, and was passed over by 15 teams. The Cubs snatch him for $97,500, and he will help the Cubs win the pennant with an 11-2 record, including three wins over the Cardinals down the stretch.

July 29, 1945

The West wins the 1945 East-West Game, 9 – 6, as Jesse Williams drives in four and Archie Ware three. Verdell Mathis picks up two hits and tosses three hitless, scoreless innings for the victory. The West leads 9 – 0 after four due to poor pitching performances from Tom Glover and Bill Ricks.

August 1, 1945

Mel Ott of the New York Giants rips the 500th home run of his career

August 1, 1945

Irv Hall is credited with a single as his line drive winds up inside Dutch Leonard’s pants after it hits the Senators righthander in the stomach. The Washington starter may have lost the Philadelphia A’s shortstop’s batted ball, but he gets the win as Washington beats Philadelphia in the Griffith Stadium contest, 2 – 1.

August 4, 1945

Two remarkable debut pitching performances by Senators’ rookies makes the 15 – 4 loss to Boston a most memorable contest. The game which features Tom McBride tying a major league record by driving in six runs with a bases-loaded double and triple during the Red Sox’s 12-run fourth inning, sees Joe Cleary, the last major leaguer to be born in Ireland, give up seven runs on five hits and three walks in his only big league appearance to finish with a career ERA of 189.00. In mop-up work, World War II veteran Bert Shepard, with an amputated leg as a result of being wounded in combat, hurls 5 1/3 innings, giving up just one run on three hits in his only major league appearance.

August 4, 1945

Pirate catcher Bill Salkeld is 5 for 5, including hitting for the cycle, and drives in all five runs in a 6-5 loss

August 5, 1945

The Cubs bang out 22 hits in Game One of a pair to overwhelm the Reds, 12 – 5. Stan Hack has three doubles and a single, and Phil Cavarretta has four hits. The Cubs take the nitecap, 2 – 1, behind Claude Passeau’s 6-hitter. Chicago has won 17 of their last 18 games.

August 8, 1945

1945 – A line drive of the bat of Hank Greenberg fractures the skull of pitcher Jim Wilson, resulting in two hours of surgery. Wilson will recover and pitch in the majors until 1958.

August 10, 1945

1945 – Richard Muckerman buys out Don Barnes’ interest in the St. Louis Browns and now controls 50 percent of the club.

August 11, 1945

Chicago’s Claude Passeau limits the Braves to two hits – both coming with 2 out in the 8th – as the Cubs win‚ 8 – 0. The Cubs score 6 in the 9th after starter Bob Logan is lifted.

August 12, 1945

Mel Ott leads the Giants to a pair of wins over the Reds‚ 3 – 2 and 6 – 5. Ott hits a pinch 3-run homer in the 8th of the nitecap after his homer and another by Danny Gardella leads the way in opener. The Reds’ Bill McKechnie‚ desperate for hitting‚ selects P Joe Bowman to pinch-hit for Vern Kennedy in game 1. Bowman is 0-for-42. He will hit .088 for the season.

August 12, 1945

Phils baserunner Tony Daniels collides with Cubs 1B Phil Cavarretta‚ sidelining the Cubs star for 25 of the next 27 games. The Cubs manage to win two from the Phils‚ 4 – 3 and 12 – 6.

August 12, 1945

In the lid-lifter at Briggs Stadium‚ pitcher Jim Tobin‚ acquired on waivers‚ pitches 3 scoreless innings against New York and clubs a 3-run game-ending homer in the bottom of the 11th to win‚ 9 – 6. Another former Brave‚ Jim Turner‚ serves up the homer. The Tigers win the nitecap‚ 8 – 2‚ behind Hal Newhouser’s 18th win.

August 13, 1945

1945 – Branch Rickey becomes the principal stockholder of the Dodgers. He and associates Walter O’Malley and John Smith acquire the 50 percent interest of the Ebbets estate for a reported price of $750,000.

August 14, 1945

Cleveland’s Lou Boudreau suffers a broken right ankle in a collision at second base with Dolph Camilli, but the Tribe beats the Red Sox, 3 – 0, behind Jim Bagby’s three-hitter.

August 14, 1945

Giants rookie Sal Maglie makes his first major league start, beating the Reds, 5 – 2. It is Cincy’s 11th straight loss. They’ll lose a pair tomorrow before winning.

August 15, 1945

Umpire Ernie Stewart is canned by American League President Will Harridge for “disloyalty.” Stewart had complained about the pay and taken his case to Commissioner Happy Chandler. Bill McGowan is the top-paid umpire in the league at $9,000.

August 15, 1945

The Cubs rack up 19 hits, including two homers by Paul Gillespie, one with the bases full, to swamp the Dodgers, 20 – 6. Chicago scores eight in the 4th inning with the first eight batters reaching base before an out is recorded. Hank Borowy coasts to the win.

August 15, 1945

Commissioner Happy Chandler negotiates a contract to have Gillette become the sponsor of the World Series, replacing Ford Motor Compan

August 18, 1945

1945 – Scheduled demonstrations at the Polo Grounds and Ebbets Field to end segregation in organized baseball are called off.

August 19, 1945

1945 – The Yankees win the first of two with the White Sox, 4 – 2, to break their nine-game losing streak. Chicago takes the nitecap, 2 – 0, as Lefty Grove gives up just five hits.

August 19, 1945

1945 – In game two of a doubleheader against the Reds, 37-year-old slugger Jimmie Foxx makes his first major league start, pitching the first seven innings for the Philadelphia Phillies. He leaves with a 4 – 1 lead, and Andy Karl saves Foxx’s only decision, a 6 – 2 final. Double X’s ERA in 10 appearances is 1.52. The lidlifter goes to the Phils as well, 5 – 0, though they are mathematically eliminated from a 1st place finish.

August 19, 1945

Better known for his home run prowess, Hall of Fame slugger Jimmie Foxx starts and throws 7.2 innings, giving up just 4 hits in the Phillies’ 4-2 nightcap victory over Cincinnati at Shibe Park. The 37 year-old corner infielder, playing in his final season, will take the mound a total of 9 times, posting a remarkable 1.59 ERA during 22.2 innings of work for the last place team.

August 20, 1945

Detroit’s Hal Newhouser shuts out the A’s, 4 – 0, for his 20th win of the year. Hank Greenberg has his 15-game hitting streak stopped, but Roy Cullenbine and Doc Cramer add home runs.

August 20, 1945

Washington stops Cleveland twice as Marino Pieretti wins, 7 – 0, and Alex Carrasquel follows with a 6 – 0 shutout.

August 20, 1945

Dodger shortstop Tommy Brown becomes the youngest player (17 years, 8 months, and 14 days) in major league history to hit a home run. The round-tripper by ‘Buckshot’, who started his career as a 16 year-old high school student, will be the only run Brooklyn scores off 30 year-old Pirates southpaw Preacher Roe, who goes the distance in the 11-1 rout of the home team at Ebbets Field.

August 24, 1945

Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians makes his first appearance since his return from military duty

August 25, 1945

1945 – The Tigers’ Joe Hoover will swipe only 19 bases in his career, but the most valuable one comes today. On the front end of a 3rd-inning double steal, Hoover steals home against the Browns for the game’s only run.

August 26, 1945

1945 – Red Sox pitcher Boo Ferriss wins his 20th game, beating the A’s, 4 – 3, and doubling home the game-winner in the 10th inning.

August 28, 1945

1945 – Against the Phillies, Brooklyn’s teenage SS Tommy Brown hits a triple and then steals home sliding under a high pitch by Rene Monteagudo. At 17, he is the youngest to pull off a home steal. The Dodgers win, 7 – 1, for their 13th win in 14 games.

August 28, 1945

A moment in American history takes place in Brooklyn as Branch Rickey meets with Jackie Robinson

August 30, 1945

Stan Hack of the Cubs becomes No. 82 in the 2,000-hit club

August 30, 1945

Yankees rookie Bill Bevens, 28, retires the first 18 Red Sox batters before giving up a walk and a double to Bob Johnson, the only hit for the Sox. Bevens wins, 7 – 1, defeating Boo Ferriss who was trying for his 21st win.

August 31, 1945

The Senators again muff a chance to go into first place, dropping a pair to the Yankees, 3 – 2 and 3 – 1. In between games, Nats pitcher Bert Shepard receives the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in World War II. Shepard lost his leg in battle.

September 1, 1945

The Phils beat the Braves, 8 – 3, in Boston‚ as Vince DiMaggio hits his 4th grand slam of the year‚ tying a major league mark. An injury will shortly end the season for the senior DiMaggio.

September 1, 1945

Detroit’s Hal Newhouser wrenches his back pitching against the Indians’ Bob Feller. Newhouser leaves the game in the 7th and will stay behind when the team leaves for New York‚ but will rejoin them on the 7th. The Tigers win, 5 – 4, behind Jim Tobin and are just 1 1/2 games ahead of the 2nd place Senators.

September 1, 1945

Philadelphia outfielder Vince DiMaggio’s bases-loaded home run paces the Phillies to an 8-3 victory over Boston at Braves Field. Joe and Dom’s older brother ties a major league mark with his fourth grand slam of the season.

September 1, 1945

Philadelphia outfielder Vince DiMaggio’s bases-loaded home run paces the Phillies to an 8-3 victory over Boston at Braves Field. Joe and Dom’s older brother ties a major league mark with his fourth grand slam of the season.

September 4, 1945

1945 – Long-time Yankee batting practice pitcher Paul Schreiber, who last pitched in the majors in 1923 and the minors in 1931, relieves for the Yankees against Detroit in a Tiger rout. Schreiber gives up no hits in 3 1/3 innings, but the Tigers’ Dizzy Trout wins, 10 – 0.

September 6, 1945

1945 – Punching umpire Joe Rue earns an indefinite suspension for the A’s C Greek George. George will not play in the majors again‚ though his lifetime batting average of .177 might be the main cause.

September 7, 1945

Washington’s Joe Kuhel hits the season’s first and only home run by a Senators’ player at Griffith Stadium

September 9, 1945

Dick Fowler gets his only victory of the season when he no-hits the Browns, 1-0

September 13, 1945

Only 281 patrons are in attendance at Crosley Field to watch the hometown Reds beat New York, 3-2. The Thursday crowd will be the smallest gathering of fans during the 58-year history of the Cincinnati ballpark.

September 15, 1945

9/15/1945 – Kermit Wahl of the Reds batted out of turn in the bottom of the second inning and singled to CF. When the mistake was pointed out to HP umpire Bill Stewart, the proper batter, Woody Williams, was called out. The Reds beat the Braves, 2-0, in 1:14 at Crosley Field.

September 23, 1945

9/23/1945 – The Browns were playing a late-season game in Detroit and were ahead, 5-0, after eight innings. In the top of the ninth, Browns Manager Luke Sewell intentionally skipped pitcher Nels Potter in the batting order. Don Gutteridge stepped to the plate a turn early but made an out so nothing was said by the Tigers. Sewell wanted Potter to have a bit more rest before the bottom of the ninth on the hot day in Michigan and Potter finished the complete game shutout.

September 29, 1945

Paul Gillespie becomes the first of only two players in baseball history ever to hit home runs in their first and last big league at bats. The wartime Cubs reserve catcher went deep against the Giants at the Polo Grounds on September 11, 1942 and ends his career homering at the spacious Forbes Fields, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

September 30, 1945

Just back from duty in World War II Hank Greenberg hits a dramatic ninth inning grand slam home run to give the Detroit Tigers the win

September 30, 1945

Eddie Stanky draws a walk his first time at bat, his 148th walk of the year, from Hugh Mulcahy, to break Jimmy Sheckard’s mark. The Dodgers beat the Phils 4 – 1.

September 30, 1945

George Stirnweiss of the Yankees gets 3 hits on the final day to raise his batting average to .309. The White Sox’s games are washed out, depriving the veteran Tony Cuccinello of a shot at the batting title. The only other .300 hitter playing full time is Johnny Dickshot. Neither Cuccinello nor Dickshot will ever play another game in the majors. Only Elmer Flick in 1905 and Carl Yastrzemski in 1968 ever lead the American League with a lower average than Stirnweiss, but the latter also leads the league with 195 hits, 107 runs, 22 triples, 301 total bases, 33 stolen bases, and a .476 slugging percentage.

October 3, 1945

Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs face each other in the World Series for the fourth time. Hank Borowy pitches a six-hitter and Hal Newhouser is demolished with eight runs in three innings as the Cubs win, 9 – 0.

October 5, 1945

Claude Passeau of the Chicago Cubs pitches a one-hitter, beating the Detroit Tigers, 3 – 0, in Game 3 of the World Series.

October 6, 1945

The Chicago Cubs Billy Goat Curse is started

October 7, 1945

1945 – Hank Greenberg hits three doubles to lead the Detroit Tigers to an 8 – 4 victory over the Chicago Cubs, giving the Tigers a 3-2 lead in the World Series.

October 8, 1945

Stan Hack’s double makes a tricky bounce over left fielder Hank Greenberg’s shoulder with two outs in the 12th inning to score runner Bill Schuster and give the Chicago Cubs an 8 – 7 win in Game 6 to even the World Series with Detroit.

October 10, 1945

The Detroit Tigers score five runs in the 1st inning of Game 7 of the World Series, and rout the Cubs, 9 – 3

October 23, 1945

Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey announces the signing of Jackie Robinson to a minor league contract

October 29, 1945

 Happy Chandler, who had continued to serve in the U.S. Senate after becoming commissioner, resigns his political office. He will move the commissioner’s quarters to Cincinnati.

October 30, 1945

Branch Rickey signs Jackie Robinson

November 6, 1945

Billy Southworth leaves the St. Louis Cardinals to sign a three-year contract with the Boston Braves

November 15, 1945

The rules are revised for election of modern players to the Hall of Fame

November 20, 1945

Rick Monday is born in Batesville Arkansas

December 6, 1945

Jay Dahl is born in San Bernadino, CA. Signed at age 17 in June of 1963

December 10, 1945

The Reds sell 1B Frank McCormick to the Phillies.

December 10, 1945

For the majors, returning servicemen are given increased protection for one year and the limiting of rosters to 25 players will be delayed until June 15th.

December 10, 1945

At the annual meeting, the major leagues head off the quest of the Pacific Coast League for major league status and grant more territorial protection for the upper minors by creating a new AAA classification for the PCL, American Association, and International League. The Eastern and Texas Leagues are promoted from Class A to AA. The South Atlantic League moves to Class A from Class B.

December 11, 1945

1945 – The Giants obtain a genuine “phenom,” pitcher/outfielder Clint Hartung, from Minneapolis for $20,000 and three players. Much ballyhooed, Hartung hit .358 in 66 games in 1942 for Eau Claire (Northern League) while winning three games. He was then in the military for the next three years, and will be still playing in the military for the 1946 season. The New York World Telegram’s Tom Meany writes, “Hartung’s a sucker if he reports to the Giants. All he has to do is sit at home, wait till he’s eligible, and he’s a cinch to make the Hall of Fame.”

December 12, 1945

1945 – Five years to the day after shipping Jim Bagby off to Cleveland, the Red Sox reacquire the veteran, in exchange for P Vic Johnson and cash. Boston also sells SS Skeeter Newsome to the Phils.

August 21, 2019

PODCAST Season 3, Episode 4 – Foxx, Marichal, Berra, Stairs, Perry