1948,The American League featured an outstanding pennant race in 1948 as New York, Boston, and Cleveland battled down to the last day. The Red Sox beat the Yankees twice on the final weekend of the season to force a one-game playoff with the Indians. Rookie knuckleballer Gene Bearden got the start for Cleveland and beat the Red Sox 8-3 as the Indians took the pennant. Led by 24-game winner Johnny Sain, the Boston Braves easily outlasted the Dodgers, Cardinals, and Pirates to meet Cleveland in the World Series. The pitching of Bob Lemon and Bearden was too much for Boston as the Indians won the World Series in six games, their first championship in 28 seasons. Cleveland SS Lou Boudreau hit .355 with 18 homers, 106 RBI, and 116 runs scored to win the AL MVP while Stan Musial (.376, 39 HR, 131 RBI, 135 R) handily beat Sain and Rookie of the Year Alvin Dark for the top award in the National League. Red Sox OF Ted Williams won the AL batting title with a .369 average, and Yankees OF Joe DiMaggio led the league with 39 homers and 155 RBI. Johnny Mize and Ralph Kiner led the National League with 40 home runs apiece.\n\nMilestones and Moments from 1948:\nPie Traynor and Herb Pennock were elected to the Hall of Fame in 1948…Babe Ruth’s number 3 was retired by the Yankees in June…Cleveland starter Bob Lemon threw a no-hitter on June 30, one of his ten shutouts in 1948…Casey Stengel was hired after the season as the manager of the Yankees.

World Series – Cleveland Indians AL over Boston Braves NL 4 games to 2

Awards –

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MVP Awards – NL Stan Musial AL Lou Boudreau

Major League Rookie of The Year – Alvin Dark

All-Star Game – July 13th – A.L. 5 over N.L. 2, played at Sportsman’s Park III (AL)
AL Starter W. Masterson NL Starter R. Branca MVP

National League All-Stars

American League All-Stars

All-Star Managers

All-Star Game Ball Park

The stories that shapped the year:

Sort bySearch Days, Events, Players Title (A - Z)Date (Newest)

January 11, 1948

1948 – A DC6 plane carrying the Santiago Baseball Club crashes in Rio Verde de Yamasa, Monte Plata while returning from playing a doubleheader in Barahona. All 32 occupants are killed, including Dominican baseball legend Pedro Báez, the team’s manager, in what is considered the biggest tragedy in the country’s sports history.

January 29, 1948

1948 – Commissioner Happy Chandler fines the Yankees, Cubs and Phillies $500 each for signing high school players.

January 30, 1948

Pitcher Herb Pennock collapses and dies from a heart attack

February 10, 1948

Philadelphia Phillies acquire veteran shortstop Eddie Miller from the Boston Braves

February 14, 1948

Hall of Fame pitcher Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown dies at the age of 71

February 24, 1948

The Chicago White Sox trade Ed Lopat to the New York Yankees for Aaron Robinson, Bill Wight and Fred Bradley

February 27, 1948

Pie Traynor and Herb Pennock win election to the Hall of Fame

March 4, 1948

Cardinals outfielder Stan Musial ends his holdout, signing a contract for $31,000, the same salary he made last season. ‘Stan the Man,’ after being assured by new owners Robert Hannegan and Fred Saigh that his salary will be increased based on his performance, gets a pay raise of $5,000 when he is hitting .403 at the All-Star break, en route to being named the National League’s MVP.

March 6, 1948

The Braves acquire All-Star second baseman Eddie Stanky from the Dodgers for Bama Rowell and $60,000

March 11, 1948

1948 – Cesar Geronimo is born in El Seibo, DR. Used mostly as a defensive replacement in Houston, Geronimo would leave for Cincinnati as part of the infamous Morgan deal and hold down center field for the Reds for the next nine seasons.

March 20, 1948

Babe Ruth all time, All Star Team

March 23, 1948

Connie Mack and Happy Chandler at Spring Training in West Palm Beach, Florida – 1948.

March 27, 1948

Former slugger Hank Greenberg, who tormented the Cleveland Indians for most of his career as a member of the Detroit Tigers, is hired as the Indians’ farm club director by Bill Veeck.

March 30, 1948

Murry Dickson of the St. Louis Cardinals achieves a rarity: a spring training no-hitter

March 31, 1948

At Ebbets Field No. 2, the Dodgers play their first exhibition game at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, which will remain the team’s home for 61 years. Amidst much fanfare, including Governor Millard Caldwell throwing the ceremonial first pitch, Jackie Robinson homers in the first inning as Brooklyn beats its top farm club, the Montreal Royals, 5-4.

April 1, 1948

Roy Campanella and Carl Furillo during a Montreal Royals and Brooklyn Dodgers

April 4, 1948

A’s manager Connie Mack, who is 84 years old, challenges Clark Griffith, the 78 year-old owner of the Senators, to a foot race from third base to home plate.

April 7, 1948

The Phillies trade infielder Ralph LaPointe and give the Cardinals $30,000 to obtain first baseman Dick Sisler

April 16, 1948

The super station WGN-TV televises a major league baseball game for the first time. With Jack Brickhouse doing the play-by-play, the White Sox beat the Cubs, 4 – 1, in the first game of the Windy City Classic played at Wrigley Field.

April 19, 1948

Stan Spence, Vern Stephens and Bobby Doerr hit consecutive home runs as the Boston Red Sox set a team record on Opening Day

April 19, 1948

The Pirates, wearing their black and gold color scheme for the first time, lose baseball’s traditional opener in Cincinnati

April 20, 1948

George Vico homers on the first pitch he ever sees in the major leagues, becoming only the fifth player to accomplish the feat.

April 20, 1948

Richie Ashburn makes his debut – it is the first big league game he has ever attended

April 20, 1948

Roy Campanella makes his debut with Brooklyn Dodgers

April 23, 1948

Chuck Connors makes his regular season debut with the Montreal Royals

April 24, 1948

Bill Nicholson of the Chicago Cubs makes his bid to become the first player in Wrigley Field’s 34 years of existence to reach its distant right centerfield scoreboard

April 25, 1948

Larry Doby ties record with 5 strikeouts in one game

April 29, 1948

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Ted Wilks loses his first game in 77 consecutive appearances dating back to September 8, 1945. Wilks posted a 12-0 record during the streak which included four starts.

May 2, 1948

Robinson out at Third

May 8, 1948

An infield single by Johnny Blatnik of the Phillies in the 7th prevents a perfect game by Harry Brecheen of the Cardinals. Brecheen will become the National League ERA leader with 2.24 and the winning percentage leader on a 20-7 record. The Cards win, 5 – 0, and Brecheen scores his third straight shutout.

May 8, 1948

The A’s win their 6th straight, pull off a triple play, and batter the White Sox, 16 – 1. Winning pitcher Carl Scheib puts the game away with an 8th-inning grand slam, and the A’s are now tied for the American League lead with the Indians. The A’s also purchase 37-year-old P Nels Potter from the Browns for $20,000 that day.

May 8, 1948

At Griffith Stadium, Larry Doby pounds a 408-foot homer to center field, which hits the loudspeakers 35 feet high, to help the Indians top the Senators, 6 – 1. Larry’s ball bounces back onto the field and is initially declared in play. The 8th-inning three-run homer is the longest home run in the Stadium since Babe Ruth’s shot in 1922, and is the first of Doby’s four career inside-the-park homers. World War II veteran Gene Bearden makes his first start, allowing just three Nat hits. He walks four in the 9th inning to allow the lone run, as Washington finally scores after three straight shutouts.

May 9, 1948

In the second game of a Sunday doubleheader between the Pirates and the Dodgers, the umpire continues the game through a 7:00 P.M. curfew because he believes Pittsburgh to be stalling with a 5 – 4 lead. The Dodgers pass the Pirates for a 7 – 5 score, but Ralph Kiner hits a three-run home run to carry Pittsburgh to a 10 – 8 victory. The Pirates are fined $100 for violating the curfew and Kiner will end up tying Johnny Mize with 40 home runs.

May 9, 1948

The Indians sweep a pair at Fenway Park, beating the Red Sox, 4 – 1, in 10 innings, and 9 – 5. A Ted Williams homer in the opener is the only Sox score, while Ken Keltner belts a pair of homers. They both add another in the nitecap, but Larry Doby clouts a monstrous two-run shot to dead center for the Tribe.

May 10, 1948

Doby has a big day leading tribe a win at Fenway

May 11, 1948

During a rain delay of a Richmond Roses-Marion Cubs game, Marion catcher Bob Osgood has a heart attack in the dugout. He dies at age 19. Osgood had a history of heart problems.

May 12, 1948

5/12/1948: Joe DiMaggio hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning at Yankee Stadium off Gene Bearden of the Indians. There was one out at the time. The game was rained out in the bottom of the fourth.

May 15, 1948

In a Pacific Coast League game, Seattle’s Dick Barrett stops Sacramento, 2 – 0, with a 7-inning perfect game.

May 15, 1948

At Brooklyn, Jim Russell’s 1st-inning home run is the only score as Boston’s Warren Spahn beats Rex Barney, 1 – 0. It’s the third shutout in a row for Brave hurlers.

May 16, 1948

Pete Gray, one-armed OF with the 1945 Browns, starts his comeback at Elmira after a year out of baseball. He will hit .290 in 82 games.

May 16, 1948

At Wrigley Field, the Cubs spot the Reds an 8 – 1 lead in the 2nd inning, then roar back to win, 13 – 11.

May 20, 1948

Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees hits for the cycle and collects six RBI in a 13 – 2 victory over the Chicago White Sox. DiMaggio hits two home runs, a triple, a double and a single, and narrowly misses another extra-base hit when Chicago left fielder Ralph Hodgin makes a spectacular catch at the wall.

May 21, 1948

Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle as he delivers two home runs, a triple, double and single helping the Yankees beat the White Sox, 13 – 2.

May 21, 1948

At the Polo Grounds, the Giants drop an 8 – 3 decision to the Cubs. New York rookie Les Layton, in his first major league at-bat, hits a pinch homer in the 9th off Johnny Schmitz.

May 23, 1948

Joe DiMaggio connects for 3 homeruns including 2 against Bob Feller

May 29, 1948

Richie Ashburn hits his first home run

May 31, 1948

Tommy Lasorda, strikes out 25 batters and collects the game-winning hit

June 4, 1948

Philadelphia A’s edge the White Sox‚ 4 – 3‚ as Lou Brissie picks up the win

June 5, 1948

In a 6-5 victory at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Phillies’ outfielder Richie Ashburn extends his consecutive hitting streak to 23 games, tying the major league rookie record. ‘Whitey’ establishes a 20th-century mark, which will be matched this season by Alvin Dark, an infielder with the Braves.

June 6, 1948

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Charlie Bicknell gives up four home runs to Erv Dusak, Red Schoendienst, Enos Slaughter and Nippy Jones in the sixth inning of a 11 – 1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

June 6, 1948

The Red Sox become the first team to hit three consecutive homers in one inning twice in one season. Stan Spence, Vern Stephens, and Ted Williams all go deep off Fred Hutchinson in the sixth inning of the team’s 12-4 rout of Detroit at Fenway Park.

June 6, 1948

First Negro League Game televised

June 11, 1948

Bob Feller fans Sherm Lollar with the bases full to end the game and the tribe hold off yanks 10-8

June 12, 1948

After piloting the team for 13 seasons, Charlie Grimm ends his tenure as the Braves manager by splitting a doubleheader with the Cubs. The 19,802 fans in attendance at Braves Field give the skipper, who will stay in the organization as Boston’s vice-president, a long standing ovation when he takes his position in the third base coaching box for the last time.

June 13, 1948

Ailing Babe Ruth makes his final appearance at Yankee Stadium

June 15, 1948

1948 – The Detroit Tigers beat the Philadelphia Athletics, 4 – 1, before a crowd of 54,480 in the first night game at Briggs Stadium. The Tigers are the last American League team to install lights.

June 20, 1948

Ralph Kiner hits home runs every Sunday for eight successive weeks in May and June. For the year he will hit 17 round trippers in 38 Sunday games.

June 20, 1948

Cleveland Indians draw a record crowd of 82,781 for a doubleheader at Municipal Stadium

June 24, 1948

Salisbury Cardinals manager Gene Corbett, who was tossed from the game, instructs bat boy Paul Murrell to tell the umpire to “get in the game and keep your eyes open.” After relaying the message, the 13 year-old also gets ejected from the Class D Eastern Shore League contest.

June 24, 1948

Vic Raschi wins his 9th straigh over Bob Feller

June 26, 1948

Lou Boudreau, the Tribe’s player-manager, who will finish the season with 199 hits, has a two-run single taken away when his pitcher Bob Muncrief misses third base in the Indians’ 5-0 victory over Washington. The right-hander makes up for his base running gaffe by hurling a three-hit shutout in the Cleveland Stadium contest.

June 30, 1948

In his first full season as a pitcher, Bob Lemon of the Cleveland Indians pitches a no-hitter, beating the Detroit Tigers, 2 – 0 in front of 49,628 at Briggs Stadium. Lemon has only two scares: Dale Mitchell makes a miraculous catch of a George Kell drive in the fourth and Ken Keltner makes a great stop behind third base in the 5th. The Tigers’ home was the last park in the junior circuit to use lights, installing illumination only two weeks ago.

June 30, 1948

An 18-year-old lefthander from Rochester, NY, Johnny Antonelli, gets a $75,000 contract from the Braves. Shortly afterward, the Tigers will pay a similar sum to another teenager, catcher Frank House.

July 1, 1948

Brooklyn’s Roy Campanella makes his debut, catching Ralph Branca. Campy doubles in his first at-bat, adds two singles, but the Giants win 6 – 4 over Branca.

July 2, 1948

The Senators beat the Yankees, 2 – 1, in 12 innings as Walt Masterson allows three hits and goes all the way for the win. Tom McBride makes 12 putouts to set the American League record for a left fielder in extra innings. The Yanks drop two games behind first-place Cleveland and 1 1/2 games behind the A’s.

July 3, 1948

Dick Lane, CF of Muskegon (Central League), hits five home runs in a game against Fort Wayne. Lane, who will get a trial with the Chicago White Sox in 1949, will hit only seven other home runs during the year and only 18 in a 4-year minor league career.

July 4, 1948

Ted Williams faces three pitchers in the 7th inning, a first in American League history

July 4, 1948

Led by Roy Campanella’s first two major league homers, the host Dodgers edge the Giants, 13 – 12, in a wild game lasting 3 1/2 hours. 37 players see action, 20 by Brooklyn, as both teams score four times in the 9th.

July 4, 1948

Braves rookie Johnny Antonelli, 18, makes his debut in the 8th inning of a 7 – 2 loss to the Phils, giving up one run on two hits. The Phils also win game two of the doubleheader.

July 5, 1948

Ralph Kiner hits three home runs for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the visiting Reds, while teammate Stan Rojek hits the first of his two major league homers, connecting off rookie Herm Wehmeier. Kiner teams up with Johnny Hopp and Wally Westlake in the outfield for a record 19 putouts in the 10 – 3 first game win. The Reds score three in the 9th to take the nitecap, 6 – 4.

July 5, 1948

The Cards’ Gerry Staley picks up a pair of wins in relief over the Cubs, winning 6 – 3 and 5 – 2 over Ralph Hamner and Johnny Schmitz. Staley pitches two innings in the opener and 2 2/3 innings in the nitecap. It is the second time in three weeks that the Cubs have lost a doubleheader to a single reliever.

July 5, 1948

Despite a hitless day by Ted Williams, the Red Sox sweep the Yankees, winning 6 – 5 and 8 – 7. Denny Galehouse wins the opener, then saves the win in game 2. But his 9th inning sacrifice bunt results in his tripping over 1B and he will be out of action for three weeks.

July 7, 1948

Cleveland Indians sign Negro Leagues legend Satchel Paige to a contract, making him the oldest rookie in major league history.

July 8, 1948

The Reds’ Ewell Blackwell strikes out 13 Cubs at Wrigley Field, as Cincinnati wins, 4 – 0.

July 9, 1948

Johnny Sain becomes the National League’s first 11-game winner

July 9, 1948

Satchel Paige makes his major league debut for the Cleveland Indians

July 10, 1948

Satchel Paige gets his first major league win as Larry Doby hits a two-run homer and the Indians tack on another run in the 9th to beat Philadelphia, 8 – 5.

July 10, 1948

For the 6th time this year, Vern Stephens and Bobby Doerr of the Red Sox hit back-to-back homers as Boston beats the 2nd-place A’s, 4 – 0. Jack Kramer scatters nine hits in the shutout to win his 7th straight. Ted Williams sits out the game with a damaged ligament, the result of being hit in the ribs while playfully sparring with Sam Mele on the train down from Boston yesterday.

July 11, 1948

The Reds’ Ken Raffensberger allows just one hit – a single by Marty Marion in the 4th – in shutting out the Cardinals, 1 – 0, in St. Louis. It’s his second one-hitter against St. Louis this year.

July 12, 1948

Pittsburgh Pirates’ third baseman Pie Traynor is in Cooperstown to be inducted into the Hall of Fame

July 13, 1948

At Sportsman’s Park, the American League defeats the National League for the 11th time in 15 All-Star contests, 5 – 2

July 13, 1948

At Sportsman’s Park, the American League defeats the National League for the 11th time in 15 All-Star contests, 5-2. Vic Raschi pitches three scoreless innings to pick up the win and hits a two-run single as well.

July 15, 1948

The Boston Braves stop the host Chicago Cubs, 2 – 1, behind Johnny Sain, then battle to a 1 – 1 tie in 13 innings in the nitecap. Alvin Dark’s hitting streak of 23 games is stopped in the opener, but he has two hits and scores the run in the second game. Bob Rush pitches all 13 innings for the Bruins.

July 16, 1948

Trio of major league teams makes managerial changes

July 16, 1948

The Browns frustrate the third-place Yanks, whipping Allie Reynolds, 10 – 4. Bob Dillinger leads the way with a bases-loaded triple, three singles, two stolen bases and five RBI. Cliff Fannin holds the Yanks scoreless until Phil Rizzuto’s homer in the 8th.

July 16, 1948

Ordered by Bill Veeck to pass up the All-Star Game, a well-rested Bob Feller is shelled in the 1st inning

July 16, 1948

Rookie Granny Hamner drives in seven runs to lead the Phils to an 11 – 10 squeaker over the Cardinals. Hamner has a pair of doubles and a single to go along with spectacular fielding, starting double plays in the 8th and 9th. Ken Heintzelman, who relieves Blix Donnelly after Stan Musial’s grand slam in the 2nd, is the winner.

July 17, 1948

The Dodgers down the Reds, 8 – 4 and 10 – 4, for their 12th win in 14 games. Ralph Branca wins the opener as Jackie Robinson clouts a three-run homer in the 8th. Paul Minner wins his first major league game in the nitecap with six innings of relief. During an argument with Frank Dascoli, Reds catcher Dewey Williams grabs the ump. Williams will be fined $100 and suspended for five games. However, with catcher Ray Mueller on the disabled list with a broken ankle, the Reds appeal the suspension, stating they have only one catcher, Ray Lamanno. Ford Frick, National League president, will rule that Williams will serve the suspension in the Reds’ clubhouse, while dressed in full uniform. If anything happens to Lamanno, Williams can substitute, and a game will be added to the suspension.

July 17, 1948

Ed Lopat scatters 11 hits to beat the Browns, 4 – 0. It is the Yankee hurler’s second shutout in a row and his third this year.

July 17, 1948

At Pittsburgh, a Bobby Thomson pinch single drives home the winning run in the Giants managerial debut of Leo Durocher. The Giants win, 6 – 5, overcoming a three-run homer by Ralph Kiner.

July 18, 1948

In the first of two before 39,623, the Chicago Cubs beat the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, 3 – 2. With two outs and the bases loaded in the 9th inning, rookie Robin Roberts hits Phil Cavarretta and Andy Pafko on the back with successive pitches to force home the winner. Chicago’s Johnny Schmitz allows just four hits, three by Johnny Blatnik. The Jays (as they are still occasionally referred to in print) win the nitecap, 6 – 4, collecting 17 hits, including a homer by Del Ennis. Schoolboy Rowe evens his record at 5-5, beating Russ Meyer.

July 18, 1948

The Cards beat the Dodgers, 6 – 3, in 11 innings, then drop the nitecap, 13 – 4. In the 2nd inning, 17 Dodgers reach base against the Cardinals with nine hits, six walks, a fielder’s choice, and an error before P Hank Behrman whiffs to end the inning. The other outs are on the bases.

July 18, 1948

After the first two Cubs get on base in the bottom of the ninth inning at Wrigley Field, Phillies rookie right-hander Robin Roberts appears to pitch out of trouble by getting the next two batters out. The 21 year-old hurler and future Hall of Famer, however, proceeds to hit the next two consecutive batters, Phil Cavarretta and Andy Pafko, with a pitch, giving Chicago a 3-2 walk-off victory.

July 18, 1948

Pat Seerey of the Chicago White Sox clubs four home runs in an 11-inning game

July 20, 1948

1948 – An unprecedented 10-game suspension and $500 fine of an umpire, the veteran Bill McGowan, is announced by American League President Will Harridge following a confrontation in the Washington-Cleveland game. Tired of Senator pitcher Ray Scarborough continually complaining about strike calls, McGowan threw a ball-and-strike indicator at him. After that, he ejected Nats manager Joe Kuhel and several coaches. Kuhel also lodged a protest after yesterday’s 11th-inning loss when Ed Stewart was thrown out at home in the 10th. When Stewart argued the call with plate ump Joe Paparella, McGowan threw a ball at Stewart.

July 22, 1948

The Yankees take the rubber game of the series with the Indians as Vic Raschi earns the decision over Bob Feller, 6 – 5. Joe DiMaggio’s grand slam is the big blow for the Bombers: he has hit four homers and a triple in Feller’s four starts against New York. His eight RBIs in the three games with Cleveland gives him a league-leading 82.

July 22, 1948

Denny Galehouse returns to the Red Sox lineup and stops Chicago, 3 – 0. Vern Stephens clouts a two-run homer. In the 2nd game, a 5 – 3 win, Stephens adds a homer to take over the American League RBI lead with 83. The winner is Ellis Kinder, the first of 18 straight wins over Chicago for him (through June 1, 1952).

July 23, 1948

Larry Jansen’s five-hitter gives the Giants a 5 – 0 win over the Cubs. Johnny Mize’s 1st-inning homer off Russ Meyer provides all the scoring the Giants need.

July 23, 1948

After missing 15 games with a torn rib cartilage, Ted Williams is 2 for 4 to help the Red Sox down the White Sox, 13 – 1. Bobby Doerr collects his 18th homer and adds a double and single to back Mickey Harris. Boston has now won nine straight to pull within a game and a half of the first-place Indians.

July 24, 1948

fiery bus crash near St. Paul, Minnesota kills five members of Duluth’s minor league team in the Northern League

July 24, 1948

Six days after hitting four homers in one game, White Sox outfielder Pat Seerey again makes the record book, becoming the first major leaguer to strike out seven times in a doubleheader.

July 25, 1948

In the tight four-team American League race, Joe DiMaggio leads the Yanks to a sweep over the White Sox, 5 – 3 and 7 – 3. Joe D is 3 for 3 in the first game to back Ed Lopat, then adds a triple and two doubles in the nitecap. His three RBIs in game two gives him an AL-high 86.

July 25, 1948

In Boston, the other DiMaggio, Dom, makes two spectacular catches against the Indians as well as homering off Satchel Paige. The Red Sox beat Cleveland, 3 – 0, for their 15th win in 16 games. Joe Dobson tops Steve Gromek to leave the Sox percentage points ahead of the 2nd-place A’s. Cleveland and New York are each 1 1/2 games back. With the Braves in 1st place, it is the first time since 1916 that both Boston teams are at the top spot.

July 26, 1948

Babe Ruth makes his final public appearance

July 26, 1948

Leo Durocher makes his first appearance at Ebbets Field since taking over the Giants, but a turnaway crowd is disappointed as the Dodgers lose, 13 – 4. Preacher Roe is the losing pitcher while Sheldon Jones takes the victory.

July 26, 1948

The Phillies, who are five games under .500, name Eddie Sawyer to replace interim manager Dusty Cooke, who had filled the position when the team fired Ben Chapman earlier in the month. The former skipper of the Triple-A International League’s Toronto Maple Leafs will get off to a poor start, posting a 23-40 won-lost record in his first year at the helm, but will lead the Philadelphia Whiz Kids to a National League pennant in 1950.

July 27, 1948

In his major league debut with the Browns, St. Louis native Hank Arft bangs a triple and a home run off Frank Hiller. Arft drives in three runs as the host Browns top New York, 4 – 0. Tomorrow’s cheers of “Arft, Arft” will give Hank his nickname “Bow Wow.”

July 27, 1948

A Tiger-record night crowd of 54,609 see Ellis Kinder and the Red Sox top Hal Newhouser, 8 – 0.

July 27, 1948

Al Rosen clouts his fifth consecutive homer over two days for the Kansas City Blues, the Tigers’ Triple-A team in the American Association. The 24 year-old freshman, who will be named the American League MVP in 1953, will finish the minor league season batting .327, earning the circuit’s Rookie of the Year honors.

July 28, 1948

Detroit’s Dizzy Trout shuts out the Red Sox, 13 – 0, to stop Boston’s win streak at 13 games

July 29, 1948

The Red Sox rout the Tigers, 8 – 1, behind Jack Kramer’s 10th straight win

July 29, 1948

In Boston, Big Bill Voiselle pitches the first-place Braves to a 2 – 1 win over the Pirates, and collects his 5th hit of the year

July 29, 1948

The Giants win their third straight shutout, stopping the Reds, 5 – 0, behind Dave Koslo. Larry Jansen and Clint Hartung threw the other two shutouts. Walker Cooper’s grand slam, off Ken Raffensberger, is the big blow.

July 30, 1948

1948 – At Cleveland, the Red Sox are victorious, 8 – 7, for their 25th win of the month, a club record.

July 31, 1948

1948 – With a 7 – 6 win over the Cards, the Braves lengthen their lead over the Pirates and the Dodgers in the National League.

July 31, 1948

Enos Slaughter Night

August 1, 1948

1948 – At Cleveland, the Tribe sweep a pair from the Red Sox, 12 – 2 and 6 – 1, to move into 2nd place in the American League. Bob Lemon coasts to his 14th win in the opener, beating Ellis Kinder. Larry Doby drives in four runs. Cleveland RF Hank Edwards dislocates his shoulder crashing into the fence making a spectacular catch of Stan Spence’s home run bid. Sam Zoldak wins the nightcap. The Sox drop from 1st to 4th place with the double loss; Cleveland, New York and Boston are each a game back of the A’s.

August 3, 1948

Negro leagues star Satchel Paige makes his first major league start

August 3, 1948

Jack Kramer leaves in the 3rd inning with a sore shoulder but still is credited with his 11th straight win as the Red Sox (58-40) pound the Browns, 15 – 8. Ted Williams hits his 19th home run and Vern Stephens drives in three runs.

August 4, 1948

In St. Louis, the Browns spot the Red Sox six runs in the first inning, then come back with seven of their own in the bottom of the frame. St. Louis scores two in the 9th off reliever Ellis Kinder to win, 9 – 8.

August 4, 1948

Ernie Harwell, filling in for Red Barber, who is recovering from a bleeding ulcer, calls his first major league game as the Dodgers beat the Cubs at Ebbets Field, 5-4. To obtain the future Hall of Fame broadcaster, Brooklyn general manager Branch Rickey trades minor league catcher Cliff Daper to the Atlanta Crackers.

August 4, 1948

Hall of Fame hurler Robin Roberts pitching for the Michigan State Spartans in 1948

August 5, 1948

Dodger Gene Hermanski hits three successive home runs to offset six Brooklyn errors as the Dodgers beat the Cubs, 6 – 4. The win moves the Dodgers into 2nd place. Carl Erskine starts his first game and earns his 3rd win.

August 6, 1948

The Reds release Johnny Neun as manager and pick Bucky Walters to succeed him. The change doesn’t help today as Brooklyn’s Rex Barney wins, 4 – 1.

August 7, 1948

Before 66,000 fans, New York’s Vic Raschi (14-4) allows four singles in stopping the Indians, 5 – 0. Joe DiMaggio has a pair of doubles, drives in three runs, and swipes home on the front end of a double steal.

August 8, 1948

In Cleveland‚ 73‚484 fans watch the Indians and Yankees square off for 2 games. Trailing in the opener‚ an ailing Lou Boudreau hits a bases-loaded pinch single in the 7th to tie the game‚ and Satchel Paige wins it in relief‚ 8 – 6. Steve Gromek goes 7 innings in the nitecap to give the Indians a 2 – 1 win over rookie Bob Porterfield‚ making his major league debut.

August 11, 1948

Tony Freitas gets his 220th Pacific Coast League win in the Sacramento Solons’ defeat of the Seattle Rainiers. The losing pitcher is Dick Barrett who has 211 wins in the PCL.

August 11, 1948

At Brooklyn‚ Chicago’s Johnny Schmitz goes 11 innings to beat the Dodgers‚ 4 – 2. Schmitz scores the winning run‚ coming home on an Eddie Waitkus double.

August 12, 1948

1948 – In the second game of a doubleheader, the Cleveland Indians get 26 hits against the St. Louis Browns. The Indians set a record with 14 different players getting hits in the 26 – 3 win.

August 12, 1948

In the nightcap of a doubleheader, the Indians set a major league record when 14 different players get a hit in the 26-3 rout of the Browns. The Tribe finishes with a total of 29 hits, including nine extra-base hits, in the Sportsman’s Park contest.

August 13, 1948

The Phillies set a major league record by tallying nine runs before making an out

August 13, 1948

The promise of Satchel Paige on the mound brings 51,013 to Comiskey Park to see “Ole Satch” pitch his first big league shutout as Cleveland wins, 5 – 0. He gives up five hits to run his record to 5-1. In his 12 appearances, Paige has attracted 201,829 fans.

August 14, 1948

1948 – Rookie George Vico drives in seven runs to pace the Tigers to a 10 – 3 win over the Browns. Vico is one better than a cycle, collecting two doubles, a triple and homer to back Virgil Trucks’ sparkling one-hit relief effort over 6+ innings.

August 15, 1948

In the first of two at Philadelphia, Ken Heintzelman tosses a one-hitter to beat the Giants, 8 – 1. The only hit is Whitey Lockman’s 7th-inning triple. The Phils take the nitecap, 7 – 5, as Ed Heusser pitches five innings of relief to win. Larry Jansen and Clint Hartung take the losses.

August 15, 1948

Before 72,468 – the largest crowd of the season at Yankee Stadium – the A’s sweep a pair from the Yanks by 5 – 3 scores and regain second place in the American League. The A’s win the opener in 10 innings after Joe DiMaggio ties the score with his 20th homer of the year. Joe D also triples home a run in the extra frame but Lou Brissie preserves the win for Carl Scheib. The A’s total 20 hits in the two games, including a triple and double by Sam Chapman. New York is now in 4th place, five games back.

August 16, 1948

Babe Ruth succumbs to throat cancer at the age of 53

August 17, 1948

Indians rookie Gene Bearden shuts out the Browns, 8 – 0, to improve his record to 12-3.

August 17, 1948

An estimated crowd of 100,000 fans passes by the body of Babe Ruth, which is on display at Yankee Stadium. After the funeral in two days at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the ‘Bambino’ will be buried in the Cemetery of the Gate of Heaven in Hawthorne, New York.

August 17, 1948

Yankee first baseman Tommy Henrich hits his fourth grand slam of the season, tying one of the major league records established by Babe Ruth, who died yesterday. The Bambino set the record playing for the Red Sox in 1919, the year he hit 29 round-trippers in his final season in Boston.

August 18, 1948

At Philadelphia, Rex Barney of the Dodgers fires a one-hitter, beating the Phils, 1 – 0. The lone hit is a looping single by Putsy Caballero that just eludes a diving Duke Snider.

August 18, 1948

The Pirates halt the Cubs, 7 – 4, behind rookie Bob Chesnes. Chesnes helps his own cause with two singles in the Bucs’ 6-run 8th inning to pin the loss on Russ Meyer. Stan Rojek has four hits for the Pirates, while Andy Pafko drives home three runs on three hits for Chicago.

August 18, 1948

The Giants crush the first-place Braves, 8 – 2, behind Sheldon Jones. Sid Gordon hits his 24th and Johnny Mize his 29th, both off Vern Bickford, to pace the New Yorkers. The Braves lead Brooklyn by a game.

August 18, 1948

The Indians’ streak of not giving up a run is extended to 30 innings when Sam Zoldak tosses a nine-hit shutout against St. Louis. Cleveland right-fielder Allie Clark scores all of the Tribe’s runs in the 3-0 victory played at Cleveland Stadium.

August 19, 1948

1948 – In the Eastern Shore League, Ed Santulli of Rehoboth Beach pitches a 10 – 0 no-hitter over Federalsburg, the third no-hitter in the league in four days. On August 16th, Ed Black of Salisbury no-hit Milford, 4 – 0, while Gene Kern of Cambridge did the same, beating Federalsburg, 12 – 0.

August 20, 1948

The largest crowd (78,382) ever to attend a night game sees Satchel Paige become the fourth consecutive Indian to throw a shutout. The ageless wonder joins Gene Bearden, Sam Zoldak, and Bob Lemon in blanking the opposition.

August 21, 1948

Cleveland’s streak of victories (8), shutouts (4) and scoreless innings (47) ends in the ninth inning when Bob Lemon gives up three runs

August 22, 1948

The Dodgers steal eight bases, including a 5th-inning triple steal with Jackie Robinson on the front end. But the Braves win, 4 – 3, to move two games ahead of second-place Brooklyn. In the last 19 steal attempts against the Braves, no Dodger has been thrown out.

August 22, 1948

In the first 1948 East-West Game, the West wins its fourth straight and 7th of the past 8, 3-0. Bill Powell, Jim LaMarque and Gentry Jessup combine on a 3-hit whitewash. Willard Brown becomes the first former big leaguer to appear in an East-West Game.

August 24, 1948

The second 1948 East-West Game is held at Yankee Stadium. The East wins, 6-1, behind five-hit pitching by Max Manning, Dave Barnhill and Joe Black. 13 players in this contest would spend time in the major leaguers, a record for an East-West Game.

August 24, 1948

At Fenway Park, with the Red Sox trailing Cleveland, 8 – 7, Vern Stephens crashes a 2-run homer to give the Sox a 9 – 8 win and move them into first place. This is Stephen’s 15th game-winning hit of the year.

August 25, 1948

At Boston, it is Cleveland’s turn to take over first place as they roll 9 – 0 behind Bob Lemon. It is Lemon’s 8th shutout of the year.

August 26, 1948

1948 – The Cubs sweep two from the Braves, 5 – 1 and 5 – 2, despite a near-riot that holds up play for 20 minutes in the nitecap. The reaction by the fans comes when Jocko Conlan rules that a drive by Phil Cavarretta in the 3rd inning is a ground-rule double, not an inside-the-park homer. Conlan makes his call after Braves LF Jeff Heath “loses” the ball in the Wrigley Field vines, though it is really by his feet. The fans shower the field in protest and Conlan bawls out some of Chicago’s finest for not taking any action. When play is resumed, Andy Pafko walks and Peanuts Lowrey hits a bases-loaded triple.

August 27, 1948

Hank Majeski of the Athletics hits six doubles in a doubleheader against the Browns, pacing the dogged A’s to wins of 6 – 0 and 9 – 1. He is the third American League player to collect six long hits in an afternoon and just the second to do it in two regulation length games. Hal McRae, on the same date in 1974, will do it next in the AL.

August 27, 1948

Johnny Schmitz leads the Cubs to a 1 – 0 win over the first-place Braves at Wrigley Field. Schmitz allows just six hits, including two triples, but doubles and scores the game’s only run in the bottom of the 9th. Johnny Saintakes the loss.

August 28, 1948

Vern Stephens is 4 for 4 with two doubles to pace the Red Sox to a 6 – 2 decision over Chicago. Ellis Kinder (6-7) is the only starter not to collect a hit for the first-place Sox.

August 28, 1948

The Yanks stroll into 2nd-place by edging the Indians, 3 – 2. Ahead 2 – 1, Sam Zoldak wilts in the 98 degree weather and Gene Bearden replaces him in the 9th. Joe DiMaggio is hit, and two wild throws brings in Ed Klieman, who finishes the walk to Yogi Berra. A Bobby Brown sac bunt and an intentional pass to Phil Rizzuto load the bases. Cliff Mapes walks to force a run and a grounder brings home the winner.

August 28, 1948

The Phils snap their 10-game losing streak with a pair of victories over the Pirates, 9 – 2 and 11 – 7. Del Ennis and Andy Seminick homer in the opener to back Schoolboy Rowe. Ennis hits pair in game two, Seminick adds another, as do Eddie Miller, Granny Hamner – his first of the year – and Al Lakeman. But the Phils lose star Richie Ashburn, who breaks a finger on his left hand.

August 29, 1948

Jackie Robinson hits for the backward cycle helping Brooklyn beat the Cardinals at Sportsman’s Park 12-7.

August 31, 1948

The Red Sox keep their precarious hold on 1st place with an 8 – 4 win over the Tigers. Mel Parnell is the complete game winner. Ted Williams has two hits, scores two runs and steals a base.

August 31, 1948

At Yankee Stadium, the Yanks score four runs in the 8th but the Browns come back with five in the 9th off Joe Page to make it close. But New York prevails, 10 – 9. 1B Tommy Henrich has a home run and an unassisted double play to help Allie Reynolds to the win. The Yanks remain a game behind the Red Sox.

August 31, 1948

Before 45,531 at Wrigley Field, the last-place Cubs beat the first-place Dodgers, 3 – 0 and 7 – 2. Hank Borowy stops Brooklyn on one hit in the opener – a single by Gene Hermanski – and faces just 27 batters. He hurls 100 pitches, while Bob Scheffing drives in all three runs. Doyle Lade wins the nitecap. The loss slices Brooklyn’s lead to two points over the Braves, 3 – 1 winners at Cincinnati, while the Cards and Pirates move just two games back.

August 31, 1948

Negro League legend Satchel Paige makes his first major league start, hurling seven innings to lead the Indians over the Senators, 5-3. Prior to today’s game, the future Hall of Famer made eight appearances in relief, compiling a 1-1 record for the Tribe.

September 1, 1948

1948 – The host Braves split a pair with the Reds‚ as Johnny Vander Meer bests Warren Spahn‚ 3 – 1, in the opener. Glenn Elliott‚ just up from the AAA Brewers‚ is awarded the victory in the 11 – 1 nitecap‚ even though he pitches just 3 innings. Elliott collides with Ted Kluszewski while running to first base and is injured after pitching his only innings of 1948. Reliever Clyde Shoun throws the last 6 innings.

September 2, 1948

1948 – Commissioner Happy Chandler fines the Pirates $2,000 for violating the National League bonus rule. Pittsburgh signed M.L. Lynch as a scout while offering his son Danny a $6,000-a-year contract. Chandler interprets this as an attempt to influence the young second baseman’s decision. Danny Lynch is declared a free agent and signs with the Cubs.

September 4, 1948

Roy Campanella 1948 NL Rookie of the Year

September 5, 1948

1948 – Amarillo (West Texas-New Mexico League) OF Bob Crues hits 2 home runs against Lubbock to give him 69 for the season, tying Joe Hauser’s 1933 mark at Minneapolis. He sets an organized baseball record with 254 RBI in 140 games, and hits a record 8 grand slams while batting .404.

September 6, 1948

The Pirates sweep two from the Cardinals‚ winning 2 – 1 and 4 – 1‚ and the two teams combine for just 2 strikeouts in the doubleheader‚ a major league record. The two also turn 13 double plays‚ 8 by Pittsburgh‚ to tie a major league mark for a twinbill. Pittsburgh turns a record tying 6 DPs in the lidlifter to back Bob Chesnes’ 12th win as Ralph Kiner belts a 2-run homer‚ his 38th‚ for all the scoring. 2B Danny Murtaugh is involved in 5 of the twin killings in game 1, equaling the mark first set by Detroit’s Charley O’Leary on July 23‚ 1905. Murtaugh’s hitting streak is stopped at 23 games.

September 6, 1948

The Boston Braves increase their lead to 4 games as Warren Spahn lasts 14 innings to beat Da Bums‚ 2 – 1. Spahn twice picks off Jackie Robinson in his 5-hitter. In the 7-inning nitecap‚ Johnny Sain wins‚ 4 – 0. Bill Salkeldand Mike McCormick bat out of turn 3 times in game 2 and not till the latter’s single in the 5th is the irregularity noticed. The umps then rule he’s out of turn and he loses his hit; Salkeld’s two earlier hits stand. The crowd of 40‚000 pushes the Braves attendance over the 1.3 million mark‚ a new high. Spahn and Sain will start 11 of the next 16 games.

September 6, 1948

After 2‚423 times at bat‚ Cubs infielder Dutch Verban finally connects for his only major league home run

September 6, 1948

At Philadelphia‚ the Giants sweep a pair from the Phils‚ winning 4 – 3 in 13 innings and 3 – 0 in 7 innings. In the nitecap, the Giants manage just one hit in the first 6 innings but garner 10 walks off Curt Simmons. He walks 2 more batters in the 7th‚ and gives up 3 hits before exiting. No one in the National League has ever walked that many in that few innings. Clint Hartung is the winner.

September 6, 1948

In the twinbill split between the Tigers and the Browns, the 2 teams set an American League mark by using 37 players in game 2‚ an 11 – 10 St. Louis win. Ted Gray wins the opener‚ 8 – 1.

September 6, 1948

At Chicago‚ the struggling Indians split a Labor Day doubleheader with the White Sox‚ losing 3 – 1 before winning, 1 – 0, in 7 innings. Bob Feller throws the shutout halted by darkness. The Tribe now trails the Yanks by 3 games and the Red Sox by 4 1/2 games.

September 6, 1948

9/6/1948 – The Dodgers were in Boston for a doubleheader. In the second game, Bill Salkeld and Mike McCormick of the Braves batted out of order the first two times through the lineup and the Dodgers did not realize it. McCormick was listed in the sixth position and Salkeld the seventh on the lineup handed to the umpires before the game. They produced two runs before the visitors realized there was a problem. In the first inning, Salkeld singled Jeff Heath home after the latter’s 2-RBI triple off the centerfield wall. Then in the third inning, Salkeld doubled to right and scored on Sibby Sisti’s single to left. After Salkeld made an out in the fifth inning, McCormick singled to left to advance a runner. Brooklyn coach Ray Blades then spoke to the umpires about the batting order and McCormick was called out for batting out of turn. The Braves swept the twin bill with Warren Spahn pitching a 14-inning complete game in the opener to win 2-1 and the second game called in the middle of the seventh due to darkness with the Braves ahead 4-0.

September 9, 1948

At the Polo Grounds, Dodger Rex Barney no-hits the Giants, 2-0. The Brooklyn 23 year-old right-hander had to endure a one-hour rain delay, as well as showers in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings to finish his gem.

September 11, 1948

The Phillies, for the 16th consecutive season, will have a losing season when the team loses its 78th game of the year, dropping a 13-2 decision to the Braves at Shibe Park. The drought, which began in 1933, will be the longest in big league history until the Pirates suffer through twenty downtrodden years from 1993 to 2012.

September 13, 1948

Don Black, while batting in the second inning of the Cleveland Stadium contest against St. Louis, suffers a cerebral hemorrhage

September 14, 1948

“Spahn and Sain and pray for rain.”

September 16, 1948

Joe DiMaggio’s hits his 300th career homer

September 16, 1948

Larry Doby’s first inning grand slam proves to be the difference when the Indians hand the Senators their 16th consecutive defeat, 6-3

September 22, 1948

Stan Musial, for the fourth time this season, has five hits in five at-bats to set a National League record and ties the major league mark established by Ty Cobb. Stan the Man’s hits, which include a double and home run, come off five different pitchers on five consecutive pitches in the Cardinals’ 8-2 victory at Braves Field in Boston.

September 23, 1948

1948 – The Braves clinch the National League flag by defeating the Giants, 3 – 2. They will finish 6 1/2 games ahead of the Dodgers. Two days before the season is over, the Braves will lose their best hitter, OF Jeff Heath, who breaks an ankle sliding home against Brooklyn.

September 24, 1948

The Red Sox loss to the Yankees, along with Detroit’s defeat of the Indians, results in a three-way tie for first place with Boston, Cleveland, and New York finishing the day with identical records of 91-56 with only seven games to play. A one-game playoff, between the Tribe and BoSox, will be needed to crown Cleveland as the American League champs.

September 28, 1948

A crowd of 60,405 attends Joe Early Night at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium. The 26 year-old night watchman wrote Bill Veeck asking why an average fan never gets a ‘Day’, and the Indians’ owner responded by giving the World War II veteran a spectacular day of his own.

October 3, 1948

10/3/1948 After taking his position in center field in the bottom of the eighth inning at Fenway Park, Joe DiMaggio, is removed from the game by Yankee manager Bucky Harris. As the superstar of their hated rivals limps off the field, the enthusiastic Red Sox crowd of 35,000 gives Joltin’ Joe a lengthy and loud standing ovation, a gesture he will later refer to as one of the greatest thrills of his career.

October 4, 1948

Cleveland Indians defeat the Boston Red Sox in a one-game playoff

October 5, 1948

Willie Mays in 1948 Negro League World

October 6, 1948

Boston Braves beat Bob Feller and the Cleveland Indians, 1 – 0

October 7, 1948

Bob Lemon evens series 1-1

October 8, 1948

Facing only thirty batters, Indians’ rookie hurler Gene Bearden five-hits the Braves for a 2-0 victory in front of 70,000 fans in Cleveland.

October 9, 1948

Behind the solid pitching of Steve Gromek, the Indians win pivotal Game 4 of the Fall Classic, edging the Braves, 2-1, to take a 3-1 series lead

October 10, 1948

The largest crowd ever to attend a World Series game, 86,288 fans, jam into Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium to witness a showdown between two future Hall of Famers. Braves’ southpaw Warren Spahn beats Bob Feller and the Indians in Game 5 of the Fall Classic, 11-5.

October 11, 1948

Cleveland Indians defeat the Boston Braves to win the 1948 World Series

October 12, 1948

Casey Stengel replaces Bucky Harris – Leads Yankees to 5 straight Titles

October 27, 1948

Commissioner Happy Chandler orders free agency for ten Detroit minor leaguers

October 28, 1948

Lou Boudreau Day held to honor the world champion Cleveland Indians

November 4, 1948

Jake Powell Kills Himself; ’36 Series Star

November 10, 1948

Chicago White Sox acquire pitcher Billy Pierce from the Detroit Tigers for catcher Aaron Robinson.

November 11, 1948

Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees undergoes surgery for bone spurs on his right heel at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore

November 23, 1948

Hall of Famer Hack Wilson dies at the age of 48

November 26, 1948

National League president Ford Frick steps in and pays $350 for funeral services, including the cost of a coffin, for the unclaimed body of Hack Wilson. The former slugger, who had died probably of alcohol abuse a few days earlier in a Baltimore hospital, is identified only as a white male.

November 30, 1948

Lou Boudreau is selected as the American League Most Valuable Player, becoming the only manager to win a World Series and be named the Leagues MVP in the same season

December 2, 1948

Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals is named 1948 N L Most Valuable Player

December 8, 1948

1948 – Pittsburgh trades 2B Frankie Gustine and P Cal McLish to the Cubs for P Cliff Chambers and C Clyde McCullough.

December 10, 1948

1948 – The minors started 58 leagues and 438 clubs this year. All the leagues finished their schedules, but when the minor leagues ask for curbs on television broadcasts into their areas, the Major League clubs sidestep the issue.

December 13, 1948

Yankees trade Red Embree along with Sherm Lollar

December 14, 1948

Cleveland Indians acquire future Hall of Fame pitcher Early Wynn

December 14, 1948

It’s a busy day for the Phillies as the team purchases pitcher Ken Trinkle from the Giants and trade pitchers Walter Dubiel and Dutch Leonard to the Cubs for first baseman Eddie Waitkus and pitcher Hank Borowy. Ruth Ann Steinhagen, a Chicago female fan totally obsessed with former Cub Waitkus, is very upset with the trade and will try to kill him upon his return to Wrigley Field with the Phillies.

December 15, 1948

The Dodgers trade the much-heralded, but injury-prone Pete Reiser to the Braves for outfielder Myron McCormick. The marvelously talented but reckless Reiser crashed into too many outfield walls and, according to Red Smith, was carried off on a stretcher 11 times.

December 22, 1948

Steve Garvey is born

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