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THE CURSE OF THE BAMBINO, PART 2 ...
A POWERFUL RED SOX TEAM FAILS
IN THE WORLD SERIES ....
The Sox eliminate the Indians
from the pennant race
August 26, 1946 ... The Cleveland Indians were eliminated from the American League pennant race when they were mowed down by the Red Sox 5 to 1 at Fenway Park. Tex Hughson notched a real fine
five hitter, to get his 14th seasonal success on his third try.
Some timely hitting by Mike Higgins and Ted Williams assisted in the victory that laid the Indians to rest. Only the Yankees, the Tigers, and Washington remain to be knocked out mathematically before the long-awaited announcement of when World Series ticket applications can be made.
The latest comic relief made by the Indians occurred when Ted Williams went to bat and the Indians moved into their shift, leaving Pat Seerey in short left field to the left of second base. Suddenly from out of the box the just beyond the Cleveland dugout, darted a small figure. He streaked
for the third base position, in route picking up Mike Higgins glove. Before any of the ballplayers or umpires realized what was happening, the intruder was standing right on third base and pounding his glove as if he were awaiting a play.
Umpire Hal Weaver called time and quickly ordered the 10th man off the field. The character provided further amusement by striking a fighting pose and challenging Weaver in pantomime. He finally returned to the stands where he had to be hoisted over the railing by coach Buster Mills of the
Indians. He took one last bow by climbing on top of the Indians dugout.
Another comic incident took place when Ted Williams was picked off third-base in the fifth inning by pitcher Bob Lemon. The Kid was so angry with himself that he kicked his glove all the way to his left field position. When Pat Seerey took a called third strike for the final out in the
Cleveland sixth, he proceeded to put on an imitation of Ted even siding up to the scoreboard.
The Indians only got one run and it happened in the first inning. Just two visitors saw second base for the rest of the game. The Red Sox stormed ahead with three in the bottom of the second inning. Bobby Doerr doubled high off the left centerfield wall and it looked for a while like he had
another home run. Rudy York walked and Dom DiMaggio laid down a sacrifice bunt that Jim Hegan grabbed and then decided to force Doerr at third base. The throw went off Ken Keltner's glove into left field allowing Bobby to score and Rudy to reach third. DiMaggio pulled up at second base. Mike
Higgins scored both runners across with a long high double to left-center.
Johnny Pesky walked with two out in the fifth inning and Ted quickly scored him with a line drive two bagger down the left centerfield slot past the Indian defense. The fifth Boston run in the sixth inning was one that was unearned. York walked with one out and was safe at second on his
attempted steal, when Ray Mack dropped the ball apparently after tagging him. DiMaggio then bounced a scratch hit off Keltner's chest and Higgins walked to fill them up. Hal Wagner hit a ground ball to Fleming that scored Rudy with the Red Sox fifth run, making the score 5 to 1. |
