The 1946 World Series marked a significant moment in American baseball, being the first championship played after the lifting of wartime travel restrictions. This series saw the return of many prominent players who had served in the military, bringing a renewed sense of normalcy and excitement to the sport. The format of the series also reverted to the traditional 2-3-2 home team structure, a format that has been consistently used since. This championship pitted
the National League's St. Louis Cardinals against the American League's Boston Red Sox, culminating in a thrilling seven-game contest.
A Series of Firsts and Returns
Beyond the return of the traditional format and players, the 1946 World Series was notable as the first major professional sports championship meeting between teams from Boston and St. Louis. This matchup would later be repeated in the World Series three more times, in 1967, 2004, and 2013. The two cities also faced off in four NBA Finals, Super Bowl XXXVI, and two Stanley Cup Finals, highlighting a rich inter-city rivalry across various sports. The series itself was a hard-fought battle, with the Cardinals ultimately securing their sixth championship.
Game-by-Game Drama
The series began with the Boston Red Sox taking Game 1 in a 10-inning affair at Sportsman's Park, winning 3-2. The Cardinals quickly responded, shutting out the Red Sox 3-0 in Game 2, behind a complete-game performance from Harry Brecheen, tying the series as it headed to Boston. Game 3 saw the Red Sox dominate with a 4-0 victory at Fenway Park, but the Cardinals roared back in Game 4 with a decisive 12-3 win. Boston then took Game 5 with a 6-3 score, pushing the Cardinals to the brink of elimination. However, St. Louis staved off elimination in Game 6 with a 4-1 victory at Sportsman's Park, setting the stage for a dramatic Game 7.
The Decisive Game 7 and Key Performances
Game 7, played on October 15 at Sportsman's Park, was a nail-biter. The Red Sox initially took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Cardinals tied it in the second and then took a 3-1 lead in the fifth. Boston's Dom DiMaggio tied the game in the eighth inning with a two-run double, but he had to leave the game due to a hamstring injury, replaced by Leon Culberson in center field. This injury proved pivotal, as it set the stage for one of baseball's most famous plays: Enos Slaughter's "Mad Dash." Slaughter scored from first base on Harry Walker's hit, giving the Cardinals a 4-3 lead that would ultimately be the winning run. Harry Brecheen, who had come out of the bullpen during Boston's rally, secured his third victory of the series, closing out the game despite giving up two singles in the ninth. Notably, Boston superstar Ted Williams played the series injured and was largely ineffective, hitting only .200 with one RBI in his only World Series appearance, though he refused to use his injury as an excuse.
