THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 2 ...
A POWERFUL RED SOX TEAM FAILS
IN THE WORLD SERIES ...
Jim Bagby out-pitches Bob Feller, Pesky 4 for 4

May 4, 1946 ... Jim Bagby outpitched Bob Feller to the amazed delight of 31,822 freezing fans at Fenway Park this afternoon. In winning his first game of the season, Bagby hung on gamely, after a rocky start, to watch his teammates come from behind and blast out a 6-2 decision over Feller. It was their ninth straight win.

To the chilled customers, the game was a supreme test as to the Red Sox pennant possibilities. They had been keyed up to a greater pitch than anybody could remember, as the Sox racked up eight successive wins. Could Bob Feller, fresh off his brilliant no hit, no run game, halt the fence busting Red Sox?

But it was more even a crucial ballgame to Bagby. His job was at stake as he had failed in a relief role and had been chased in one starting assignment, before retiring a man. When manager Joe Cronin decided to pitch Bagby against Feller, it appeared that he was conceding the Sox chances to win. So Bagby had something to prove.

Bagby had great support. Johnny Pesky, who although in pain from a tender groin, insisted upon playing because he claimed he never had hit Bob Feller and felt he also had something to prove. All Johnny did was collect four hits. He drove in Boston's first two runs, scored a tiebreaking run in the fourth, and came home before Ted Williams, in the game clinching sixth inning, when the Kid delivered his third homer in as many days.

Although beaten twice previously, Feller had never failed to finish any of his previous starts. Williams' home run into the visiting bullpen was the first homer off him this season, and the first time that Kid had connected for a four bagger against him. It was obvious that Feller was not going to have a good afternoon, because all he did was complain about the cold before the game. So when he started the game by walking George Metkovich and Pesky rapped out the first of his four singles, Feller couldn't help but feel a bit uncertain.

As a result of a walk to Paul Seerey and a double by Les Fleming, the Indians had scored first blood in the opening inning. Feller got through the first inning but in the second he passed Don DiMaggio, Hal Wagner lined the first of his three singles to right as Dom streaked to third base. Eddie Pellagrini's attempted to bunt was popped back to Feller and Bagby fanned. So with two outs, Feller then issued a walk to Metkovich on a 3-2 pitch and then Pesky unloaded on the second pitch to him, driving a terrific line single right, bringing home the Sox first two runs.

The Indians came back in the fourth inning to square up the game and put Feller back into the contest. But it wasn't for long, because with two out in the fourth inning, Pesky lined another 3-2 pitch to left. The next batter was Ted Williams and he uncorked a mile high ball toward centerfield. Hank Edwards began circling around under the ball but the wind played tricks with it and it fell safely for a double to bring Johnny Pesky home with the tiebreaker.

In the sixth inning Pesky walked with one out and this time Williams made sure that it wasn't a freak hit which that would beat Feller. The Kid tagged one of his fastballs right into the gale - not only high but on a rope. In spite of wind and weather, the ball had home run written all over it. It didn't quite make the bleachers, but bounded off the concrete fence in back of the enemy bullpen for Ted's fourth home run of the spring and his third in three days.

In his six innings, Feller made 142 pitches, eight more than he tossed against the Yankees in his no-hitter.  His nine strikeouts boosted his seasonal total to 57 in 49 innings. Jim Bagby had fewer pitches in nine then Feller did in six. Jim tossed 120, with 20 coming in the first inning. In this winning streak, eight Red Sox pitchers have now pitched complete games. Eddie Pellagrini, who has now gone 0 for 29 still is a fan favorite and gets a good hand every time he comes to the plate.