For this deciding Game 7, Lou Boudreau gave the ball to his trusted ace Bob Feller. Frankie Frisch countered with Dizzy Dean, just had he did in the 1934 World Series when Dean lost Game 5 but came back to start Game 7 on short rest. For this championship game, Dizzy would be taking the mound with two days' rest, so I gave him a -3 modifier to his Effectiveness, Strikeout, and Control ratings.
In the bottom of the first, Joe Medwick doubled home Ripper Collins to give St. Louis an early lead. In the top of the third Bob Feller lifted a short fly ball to right. Jack Rothrock misjudged its flight as he charged in too fast. Realizing his mistake, Rothrock leaped up but ball grazed the top of his glove and rolled to the wall. Feller put his head down and circled all the way around the bases to tie the game. In the top of the fifth, Ken Keltner singled home Larry Doby to put the Indians up by one. Joe Gordon followed with what looked to be a sure hit up the middle, but shortstop Leo Durocher made diving play to prevent another run from scoring. The Redbirds tied it an inning later with a Collins single that drove in Frisch.
In the top of the eighth, Boudreau stood at second with two outs. Thurman Tucker ripped a fastball from a tiring Dean into right to score Boudreau with the go-ahead run. Indians reliever Satchel Paige worked out of trouble in the bottom of the frame when Ernie Orsatti struck out on a hit-and-run, allowing Jim Hegan to gun down Durocher at third. St. Louis reliever Bill Walker sent down the Indians in order in the top of the ninth. Cleveland needed just three more outs to complete the improbable comeback and claim the championship.
Ripper Collins led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, his third hit of the game. Paige retired Medwick on a pop out, putting the Tribe just two outs away from victory. With the fans at Sportsman's Park on the edge of their seats, catcher Bill DeLancey singled up the middle to put runners at first and second. Even though the hit-and-run backfired an inning earlier, Frisch called for it again. Rothrock awaited the pitch, hoping to make up for his earlier miscue. The Redbird right fielder laced a drive down the right field line that bounded into the corner. With the runners in motion, Collins scored easily and DeLancey came all the way around to slide home with the winning run.
The dramatic ninth inning rally lifts the Gas House Gang to victory. The 1934 St. Louis Cardinals are the winners of the Tournament of Champions!
St. Louis 4, Cleveland 3
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