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The 1946 playoffs leading up to the World Series was excellent. Cubs-Cardinals at Sportsman's Park with one game, and Red Sox-Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
The Cardinals easily handled the Cubs in their first game, 4-1, clinching a trip to the World Series. They scored 2 runs in the 1st and 2nd innings.
The Red Sox-Yankees series was different. Game 1 had a great crowd at Yankee Stadium, over 67,000, as fans hoped to see the Yankees clinch a World Series bid. That was not the case though, as a 10th inning Red Sox rally led by a Ted Williams triple led to 6 runs and a 11-5 victory, which dampened spirits in Gotham.
Game 2 though was one of the most exciting moments in baseball's history. The Red Sox led almost the entire game. It was 5-1 going to the 7th inning, with Boston just 9 outs away. Meanwhile, the Yankees added 3 runs in the 7th, on two singles and a bases loaded walk. It was 5-4, but the excitement was just beginning.
The Yankees held Boston scoreless in the 8th, then Boston held the Yankees until the bottom of the 9th. The Red Sox were 3 outs away from their first World Series until 1918.
The Yankees with the last at-bat dampened things. Nick Etten and Charlie Keller added singles to put 2 on for Yogi Berra, who pinch hit for the P. He flew out. Then Tommy Henrich came out, and after a long at-bat, on 3-2 slammed a two-bagger through into LF, tying the game at 5.
Billy Johnson flew out, bringing up Aaron Robinson with the game on the line. On a 1-2 pitch, he sent everybody on their way home in glee with a 3 run game winning HR to left off Ellis Kinder. Thousands of fans stormed the field at Yankee Stadium, celebrating the Yanks first trip to the Series in 3 years.
So it sets up as New York-St. Louis again in the World Series, a rematch of 1942 and 1943.
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