American Giants vs. Indians

Schorling Park in Chicago was the venue for the first-round game between the 1927 Chicago American Giants and the 1948 Cleveland Indians. The dominant southpaw Bill Foster took the hill for the home team, while the visitors opened with Bob Lemon on the mound.

In the bottom of the second, Chicago put men on second and third with nobody out. Sensing that runs would not be easy to come by against the elite American Giants staff, Lou Boudreau pulled his infield in. The move succeeded with third baseman Ken Keltner throwing out Steel Arm Davis at the plate. Cleveland threatened in the top of the third after Eddie Robinson doubled and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly by Jim Hegan. One of the top hitting pitchers of his day, Bob Lemon then lined a single into left to give the Indians the lead.

In the fourth, Chicago catcher James Bray doubled and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Cleveland pitcher Bob Feller then fired a heater past John Hines to record a key strikeout. Rapid Robert did not allow another hit during his three-inning stint. The game remained 1-0 into the bottom of the eighth when Jim Brown and Pythias Russ reached to put two men on with one out for the home team. But Steel Arm Davis lined into a double play to end the threat. Cleveland's rookie southpaw sensation Gene Bearden retired the side in order in the ninth to save the victory.

For pitching three scoreless innings and driving in the game's only run, Bob Lemon is the Player of the Game. Cleveland advances to the semifinals, where they will face the 1927 Yankees.

Cleveland Indians 1, Chicago American Giants 0

Next up is our third first-round matchup, the 1975 Cincinnati Reds vs. the 1934 Philadelphia Stars.