Film Access
TPL - Wednesday, April 17, 1946
AL Round-up
ST. LOUIS BROWNS @ DETROIT TIGERS
On a brisk April morning in 1946, the Detroit Tigers delivered a masterclass in timely power and stellar pitching, shutting out the St. Louis Browns 4–0. The Tigers broke through in the bottom of the second when Chet Laabs launched a two‐run homer—sailing an impressive 355 feet—to jumpstart the offense and set the tone for the game. The momentum carried as Laabs added a solo blast in the bottom of the fourth, punctuating his dominant performance and pushing the Tigers’ lead to three runs, while the Browns, despite early hustle from Eddie Stanky and Buddy Lewis, could find no answer to Detroit’s fiery bats.
The Tigers further extended their advantage in the bottom of the sixth when Tommy Henrich delivered a solo home run, deep and decisive at 363 feet, sealing the game at four runs. Throughout the contest, Detroit’s pitchers, led by Claude Passeau and supported by the steady work of Dave Ferriss on the mound, kept the Browns off the scoreboard, neutralizing any early sparks from St. Louis. In a game where every swing told a story, the Tigers’ timely homers and unyielding defense ensured they emerged as the clear victors in a performance that echoed the classic drama of baseball’s golden era.
NEW YORK YANKEES @ PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS
In a riveting extra‐inning showdown on April 17, 1946, the New York Yankees eked out a 3–2 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics in a game that epitomized the drama of classic baseball. The Yankees surged ahead in the top of the second when Dick Culler’s crisp line-drive single set the stage for Pat Seerey’s explosive two‐run home run, giving New York an early 2–0 lead. The Athletics answered back in the bottom of the third, as Dain Clay’s timely single drove in Paul Richards to cut the deficit to 2–1, only for Philadelphia to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth on Dale Mitchell’s blistering triple that brought a runner home.
With tension mounting and the game locked at 2–2, the decisive moment came in the top of the 12th. In a display of clutch hitting, Thurman Tucker delivered a well-timed single that drove in Pat Seerey from third base, providing New York with the insurance run that ultimately sealed the win. Despite a late rally attempt by the Athletics in the bottom of the 12th, New York’s steady play and timely offense proved too much, leaving the Yankees to celebrate a hard-fought 3–2 triumph in a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final out.
BOSTON RED SOX @ WASHINGTON SENATORS
In a game that showcased the unpredictable twists of baseball’s extra‐inning drama, the Boston Red Sox outlasted the Washington Senators 8–3 on April 17, 1946. The contest was a study in momentum shifts. Boston’s offense finally sparked in the fifth inning when Gene Hermanski’s double and Billy Jurges’ timely single pushed runners into scoring positions, and a clutch sacrifice bunt by Nels Potter set the stage for a trio of runs that put the Red Sox on the board. Later, in the top of the sixth, a pair of hits – including Pete Suder’s powerful triple – extended Boston’s lead, while Phil Masi’s fly ball and a misplayed throw helped drive in two more runs.
The Senators managed to claw back three runs in the bottom of the seventh, capitalizing on a costly error and some aggressive baserunning to narrow the gap. However, Boston’s bats proved the difference. In the top of the 12th inning, Thurman Tucker’s single, following a well-executed sacrifice bunt that advanced Pat Seerey to third, produced the insurance run that ultimately sealed the victory. With the final score reading 8–3, the Red Sox demonstrated that timely hitting and smart baserunning can prevail even in the most extended contests—a performance that would have Bob Costas tipping his cap to a well-played extra-inning masterpiece.
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS @ CHICAGO WHITE SOX
In a thriller on April 17, 1946, the Cleveland Guardians eked out a 6–5 victory over the Chicago White Sox in a game defined by momentum swings and timely offense. The Guardians struck first in the top of the second when Hoot Evers launched a solo home run off White Sox ace Vic Raschi, giving Cleveland an early lead. Their advantage grew in the top of the fifth, as a series of misplays and clutch hits—culminating in a key double by Eddie Lake that brought home two runs—pushed the score to 3–0. The pivotal moment came in the top of the seventh, when an infield single from Bob Kennedy, followed by a big double from Catfish Metkovich, ignited a four-run outburst that extended Cleveland’s lead to 6–0.
But the resilient White Sox weren’t ready to surrender. In the bottom of the fifth, a sizzling triple from Lonny Frey, combined with timely singles by Dom DiMaggio and George Kell, sparked a three-run rally that cut the deficit to a one-run game. A further run added in the bottom of the ninth, thanks to a clutch double play sequence turned error that allowed a run to score, narrowed the gap to 6–5. Ultimately, despite Chicago’s spirited comeback efforts, the Guardians’ well-timed hitting and steady pitching held the day in a classic, hard-fought contest that epitomized the unpredictable drama of baseball.
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NL Round-up
BROOKLYN DODGERS @ BOSTON BRAVES
In a high-octane display on April 17, 1946, the Brooklyn Dodgers overpowered the Boston Braves 13–7 in a game where timely hits and aggressive baserunning told the story. The Dodgers got on the board in the top of the first thanks to a blistering double from Pete Reiser that put the brakes on any early resistance, and the momentum truly exploded in the top of the third. A string of well-orchestrated plays—from Bert Haas’s disciplined walk to Enos Slaughter’s clutch single, followed by key hits from Sam Chapman, Barney McCosky, and Phil Rizzuto—sparked a six-run outburst that pushed Brooklyn to a commanding 7–2 lead.
The offensive onslaught continued with added firepower in the top of the fourth when McCosky’s towering two-run home run further extended the Dodgers’ advantage. In the top of the sixth, the Dodgers piled on four more runs with a mix of singles, a big double from Rizzuto, and a two-run homer by Bobby Adams, propelling them to 13 runs. Although the Braves mounted a spirited comeback in the later innings—highlighted by timely contributions from Joe DiMaggio, Red Schoendienst, and a rally late in the eighth—the Dodgers’ explosive early innings and precise execution proved too much to overcome. This victory underscored Brooklyn’s retooled lineup as they etched their mark in a classic game filled with the unpredictable drama of baseball’s golden era.
CHICAGO CUBS @ CINCINNATI REDS
In a high-octane clash on April 17, 1946, the Chicago Cubs triumphed over the Cincinnati Reds by a final score of 9–5 in a game defined by an explosive offensive outburst. The Cubs’ bats first stirred in the fourth inning when a well-timed play by Peanuts Lowrey—capitalizing on a miscue by the Reds’ defense—pushed them ahead 1–0. But the real fireworks came in the top of the sixth. Ted Williams led off with a crisp single, followed by Ray Sanders’ sharp line drive that put him on base. An error then allowed Williams to score, and subsequent hits and walks by Peanuts Lowrey, Wally Moses, Clyde McCullough, and Buddy Blattner ignited a torrential eight-run inning that catapulted the Cubs to a 9–2 lead.
The Reds tried to claw their way back in the later frames, mustering a couple of runs in the bottom of the eighth on timely doubles and singles, and adding another run in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a rally that included key contributions from Don Johnson and Al Lakeman. Despite Cincinnati’s spirited late push, the Cubs’ explosive 6th inning proved decisive, sealing a hard-fought 9–5 victory that underscored the unpredictable drama and relentless energy of baseball’s golden era.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES @ NEW YORK GIANTS
In a hard-fought contest on April 17, 1946, the Philadelphia Phillies edged the New York Giants 5–3 in a game marked by timely power and critical defensive miscues. The Phillies broke through in the top of the fourth when Del Ennis ignited the offense with a towering two‐run home run that sent the ball 430 feet deep—an emphatic statement that gave Philadelphia a 2–1 lead. The momentum continued to build in the top of the fifth as a series of crisp line drives and solid contact, including key singles from Pee Wee Reese and Wally Judnich, pushed the Phillies’ total to 4–1.
The Giants fought back in the later innings, with their bats sparking an effort that briefly narrowed the gap. However, Philadelphia reasserted control in the top of the seventh when a rally sparked by singles from Roger Wolff and Pee Wee Reese—combined with a costly error on Dixie Walker—allowed another run to score, extending the Phillies’ lead to 5–2. Although the Giants managed to add a run in the bottom of the ninth, their late surge fell short, and the Phillies’ steady production and capitalized opportunities proved decisive in this classic mid-century showdown.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES @ ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Game report not filed by press time.
.......................................1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Pittsburgh Pirates (2-0). 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 12 3
St. Louis Cardinals (0-2) 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 3 7 1
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