1948 World Series Game 5

Hoping to stave off elimination, Cleveland turned to 19-game winner Bob Feller to start Game 5. Hoping to wrap up the series, Boston gave the ball to veteran right-hander Nels Potter, who compiled a 2.86 ERA while pitching for three teams in the regular season.

The Braves jumped out to an early lead when Tommy Holmes led off the game with a double and later scored on a Bob Elliott single. Two innings later, Elliott collected another RBI with a double that drove in Earl Torgeson. Though Boston put at least two men on base in each of the first five innings, Feller continually worked out of trouble. In the bottom of the fifth, Cleveland cut the deficit to 2-1 after Eddie Robinson singled, advanced on a wild pitch, and came home when Mike McCormick dropped Jim Hegan's fly ball. 

With Feller removed for a pinch hitter in the fifth, left-hander Sam Zoldak came on to pitch the sixth for Cleveland. Boston quickly loaded the bases for Torgeson who drove in two with a single. Marv Rickert later drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Catcher Bill Salkeld followed by blasting a two-run homer to tally five runs in the inning for the Braves. An inning later, Rickert singled home another run for Boston. On the mound, Nels Potter remained in command for the visitors. Cleveland put two men on in the bottom of the ninth, but Hegan lined into a double play to end the game and the series.

Reversing history, the Braves claimed the World Series four games to one.

Boston 8, Cleveland 1

1948 World Series Game 4

Looking to even the series, Cleveland skipper Lou Boudreau called on Steve Gromek (9-3, 2.84 ERA) to start Game 4. More often used in relief during the regular season, the right-hander (sorry the "R" is missing from his roster entry in the book) made 9 starts in 1948. Boston manager Billy Southworth returned to his top ace Johnny Sain to start this contest. Because he was working with only two days rest, I gave Sain a -3 modifier to his Effectiveness, Strikeout, and Control ratings for this game.

An error by Boudreau allowed Braves shortstop Alvin Dark to reach base in the top of the first. Earl Torgeson followed with a double to plate the first run of the game. Two batters later Marv Rickert tripled to extend Boston's lead. The game remained 2-0 until the top of the sixth when the Braves loaded the bases with one out against reliever Satchel Paige. Center fielder Mike McCormick then grounded to third but beat the throw to avoid a double play and drive in Boston's third run.

In the bottom of the sixth, Larry Doby singled and advanced to second on a ground out. Joe Gordon then singled to center to plate Cleveland's first run and cut the deficit to 3-1. In the top of the ninth, Rickert led off with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly to right by McCormick. Catcher Phil Masi then delivered a sac fly to center to increase the Braves lead back to three. Sain, showing no ill effects from pitching on short rest, retired the last seven batters in a row to finish off the complete game victory.

In a reversal of how the actual World Series progressed, the Braves now lead the series three games to one.

Boston 4, Cleveland 1 

1948 World Series Game 3

As the series moved to Cleveland, Lou Boudreau turned to his rookie southpaw sensation Gene Bearden (20-7, 2.43) to right the ship. Boston skipper Billy Southworth called on his own star rookie Vern Bickford (11-5, 3.27) to try to keep the Indians winless in this series.

Boston cleanup hitter Bob Elliott started the scoring in the top of the second when he blasted a Bearden knuckleball over the left field wall. The drive led many Braves fans listening to the radio broadcast to start thinking of a possible series sweep. But in the bottom of the frame Cleveland right fielder Wally Judnich doubled home Ken Keltner to tie the game 1-1. In the bottom of the fifth, Judnich and Bearden singled to put runners at the corners with two outs. Dale Mitchell then beat out a slow roller to allow the go-ahead run to score. After Larry Doby drew a walk to load the bases, Boudreau singled to drive home two more for the home team.

The score remained 4-1 into the eighth. In the bottom of that frame, Keltner belted a two-run homer to extend the lead to five. Bearden ran into trouble in the top of the ninth when a single by Tommy Holmes and a double from Alvin Dark gave the Braves runners at second and third with nobody out. Boudreau summoned Ed Klieman from the bullpen to relieve Bearden. The Indians right-hander retired the next three batters in order to close out the victory. 

Cleveland 6, Boston 1

1948 World Series Game 2

Looking to even the series, Cleveland started 20-game winner Bob Lemon in Game 2. The home team countered with Warren Spahn (15-12), one half of the Braves elite pitching duo: "Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain."

Dale Mitchell opened the game by reaching base on a throwing error by shortstop Alvin Dark. The runner advanced to second on a groundout and then moved to third on a sharp single by Lou Boudreau. Indians cleanup hitter Joe Gordon lifted a fly ball to center. Mitchell tried to tag up and score but was cut down at the plate by a strong throw from Mike McCormick.

Back-to-back doubles by Bob Elliott and Marv Rickert put the Braves on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Boston increased its lead to 2-0 in the seventh when Eddie Stanky doubled home Rickert. After Alvin Dark tripled with one out in the bottom of the eighth, Boudreau brought in Sam Zoldak to replace Lemon. That move did not work out so well for Cleveland. A walk, two singles, and an error pushed two runs across for the Braves and loaded the bases. Stanky then doubled to drive in three more and put the game out of reach. Though Boston fans enjoyed the offensive outburst, Spahn did not need it. The ace southpaw allowed just five hits in a shutout victory.

The series moves to Cleveland for Game 3.

Boston 7, Cleveland 0

1948 World Series Game 1

The 1948 World Series between Cleveland and Boston opened at Braves Field. Bob Feller (19-15, 3.56 ERA) started for the AL champions while Johnny Sain (24-15, 2.60 ERA) took the hill for the NL champs. My lineups will follow the historical precedent, so Boston cannot play its injured outfielders Jim Russell and Jeff Heath.

Cleveland right fielder Wally Judnich opened the scoring in the top of the second with a solo home run over the right field wall. Boston answered in the bottom of the fourth when Bob Elliott led off the frame by drawing a walk. Marv Rickert followed with a single and both runners later advanced on a groundout. Braves second baseman Eddie Stanky then singled to tie the game. Two innings later, Rickert doubled and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Bill Salkeld. Feller then threw a wild pitch to allow Rickert to score.

Boston held a 2-1 lead heading into the ninth. Judnich opened the frame for Cleveland with a single. After Eddie Robinson flew out, player-manager Lou Boudreau summoned Hal Peck to bat for catcher Jim Hegan. The move paid off when Peck delivered a hit to put runners on the corners with one out. Braves manager Billy Southworth called on reliever Nels Potter to take over for Sain. With the pitcher's spot due up, Boudreau sent Hank Edwards to the plate. The Cleveland pinch hitter laid down a beautiful squeeze bunt to tie the game at two apiece.

Satchel Paige came on to pitch the bottom of the ninth. After the veteran retired the first two batters it appeared the game was heading for extra innings. But then Braves pinch hitter Clint Conatser sliced a fly ball to right that Judnich dropped to put the winning run on base. Leadoff hitter Tommy Holmes followed by grounding to second. The normally surehanded Joe Gordon rushed his throw to first into the dirt. The ball caromed away from Robinson, allowing Conatser to come around and score the winning run. After playing error-free ball for 8 2/3 innings, back-to-back miscues give Cleveland a tough-luck loss.

Game 1: Boston 3, Cleveland 2

My Website

For my next set of baseball games, I'm planning to replay the 1948 World Series between the Cleveland Indians and the Boston Braves. But first, I wanted to post about a recent change.

My website kentkrause.com has been retired. This blog (where you are now) will be the primary location for news about Diamond Legacies volumes, game replays, and my other books.

I also have an online presence at:

Kent Krause Books on Facebook

Kent Krause Amazon Author Page

Goodreads Author Page

@Kent_Krause on Twitter. Yes, I still call it Twitter. No, I do not post much there anymore. The other options mentioned above are better for updates about my books.

Grays vs. Black Barons

For my next Diamond Legacies 1948 game, the Homestead Grays battled the Birmingham Black Barons at Rickwood Field. The Negro National League champion Grays started Tom Parker (2.78 ERA). The Negro American League champion Black Barons gave the ball to Bill Powell (2.79 ERA).

Both pitchers came out of the gate strong, allowing no runs through the first three innings. In the top of the fourth, Sam Bankhead doubled and Eudie Napier walked to put two men on for the Grays with nobody out. Charles Gary then hit a hard smash that Birmingham third baseman John Britton fielded on one hop. He then stepped on the bag and fired to second baseman Piper Davis, who threw to first to complete a triple play. That is the only time I've had that happen in one of my Diamond Legacies games. 

The contest remained scoreless into the top of the sixth when Buck Leonard singled and Luke Easter followed with a walk for Homestead. Following a Bankhead groundout, Napier launched a Bill Powell changeup over the centerfield wall to put the Grays up 3-0. Parker meanwhile continued to flummox the Black Barons hitters. Willie Mays, who walked and stole a base, was the only Birmingham batter to reach third base in the entire game. Parker retired the last ten hitters in a row to complete the shutout.

Homestead 3, Birmingham 0