DAVE FERRISS

THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 2 ...
A POWERFUL RED SOX TEAM FAILS
IN THE WORLD SERIES ....
Dave Ferriss notches his 20th win

August 13, 1946 ... Dave Ferriss became a 20 game winner for the second straight year at Shibe Park in Philadelphia today, as the Red Sox toppled the A's by a score of 7 to 5. Damp weather played havoc with Dave's sniffles, control and fielding, but he stuck in their to finish his 13th straight complete game. His gracious teammates supplied the necessary batting support and rewarded him with his eighth win in a row.

Much to the surprise of nobody, Ted Williams and Johnny Pesky led the early and late Boston bombardment on young Bob Savage, who went the whole way for Philly. Although he produced the rare spectacle striking out twice, Ted lined out a pair of doubles. His first one in the first inning produced his 103rd and 104th RBIs. His second double that clanged off the right-field wall sparked an important to run rally in the eighth inning. Pesky had another three-hit day, including a pair of doubles to bring his hit total up to 154.

In winning 20 games, Ferriss has joined the likes of Bob Feller and Hal Newhowser at that plateau. He won his 20th game last season on August 26th. However Connie Mack's team did not roll over and play dead as you might suspect for a last-place club.

A walk to Pesky and Don DiMaggio's single provided the runners for Ted's first inning double which Elmer Valo had trouble fielding on the soggy turf in right-center. The A's came right back in their half of the inning to tie the score.

In the second inning Ferriss gave himself a leg up by pushing a safe bunt past Savage to fill the bases with none out, following walks to Glenn Russell and Hal Wagner. Johnny Pesky's double past first base then accounted for two more runs and the Red Sox led 4 to 2.

Savage then settled down and pitched one-hit ball for the next five innings. He then racked up the A's third score in the fifth inning himself, when he walked, went to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Barney McCoskey's single to center, to make it 4 to 3.

Rudy York bunted Ted to third base following his double in the eighth inning. Bobby Doerr walked and then Russell scored the Kid with a single to left. Bobby stopped at second, but came across when Wagner whistled one safely into right field. That made the score 6 to 3.

The Sox added their last run in the ninth-inning on Pesky's second double, Dom's safe bunt and Rudy York's single. However in the ninth-inning, the Athletics did not go away quietly. Sam Chapman started by walking. After the next two men went out, Tuck Stainback, Elmer Valo and Oscar Grimes knocked out three successive singles. Bob Klinger and Earl Johnson started warming up in the Red Sox bullpen, but Barney McCloskey slapped a hot ground ball to Bobby Doerr to end the game. Rudy York was the first to congratulate Ferriss and at the same time give him the prize game ball.

A group Palmyra, New Jersey drove to the game to honor Hal Wagner. The Sox catcher was presented with several pieces of hunting equipment and his wife and mother were presented with corsages.