The Players League, 1946

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The Legacy of The Players League (1890)
In 1890, a bold and revolutionary concept emerged in the world of baseball. Amid growing player dissatisfaction with team ownership and management, a new league was formed: The Player's League. It was a response to the oppressive conditions faced by players in the established National League and American Association. With player rights at its core, it sought to give athletes more power and control over their careers.

However, despite the fervor and hope surrounding its formation, the league lasted only one season. Ownership issues, financial instability, and the entrenched power of the existing leagues led to its swift collapse. Though short-lived, the 1890 Players League left behind a legacy that would inspire future generations. It stood as a testament to what baseball could be: a league where players, not owners, dictated their own fates.


Reviving the Spirit of the 1890 Players League (1946)
Fast forward to 1946. The world had changed, and so had the players. The return of baseball’s biggest stars from World War II signaled a new era, but the structure of the game remained rooted in outdated traditions. Players found themselves bound by restrictive contracts, with limited opportunities to control their own careers.

Just as in 1890, the time was ripe for change. Rather than continue under the traditional model, baseball’s leadership made a historic decision: to rebrand and relaunch Major League Baseball as The Players League (TPL), drawing direct inspiration from the original league’s ideals.

This was not just a cosmetic shift—it was a complete restructuring of the game to put the players first. After years of playing under restrictive contracts and conditions, players sought a new path, one that honored the spirit of the 1890 Players League. In this new era, players wanted more control, fairer compensation, and a fresh start in their careers.

This is when the modern Players League was born—a league formed in the same spirit of empowerment and equality that had defined the short-lived league from over half a century before. While the teams retained their identities and iconic stadiums, the league’s creation symbolized a return to the idea of player autonomy, with fresh ownerships, a redrafted pool of players, and a competitive, leveled playing field.

In 1946, the Players League rose from the ashes of the 1890 league's early demise, giving players a new, historical platform to forge their own legacies. The players now truly owned the league, and this time, there was no going back.


A Legacy Reborn: The Players League, 1946
The transformation was sweeping yet respectful of baseball’s history:

• New Owners, Same Teams – Each franchise underwent an ownership transition, welcoming fresh investors and former baseball minds, for modernizing operations, while retaining team names, logos, and ballparks.
• Managers Retained – Stability was key, and existing managers were offered the opportunity to stay with their clubs. Familiar faces in the dugout ensured continuity for fans and players alike.
• A Grand Redraft – Every player, regardless of prior affiliation, was entered into a grand redraft. This shattered long-standing monopolies and team dynasties creating a competitive balance unlike anything the sport had seen before.
• A Fresh Start for Team Histories – While players carried their career stats forward, all team records and championships were reset. The 1946 season would mark the true first chapter of The Players League.
• A League Built for the Players – While still run by ownership, new league policies guaranteed players greater contract flexibility and rights, with an emphasis on fairness—a nod to the 1890 Players League’s core mission.

As the 1946 season approached, excitement swept across the country. Would former powerhouses reclaim their dominance, or would new dynasties emerge in this fresh competitive landscape?

What began as a one-year rebellion in 1890 was now a permanent reality.


The Players League was here to stay.

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In a season defined by a complete league redraft that’s scattered familiar faces into brand-new roles, the Cleveland Guardians emerged as the story of the night, orchestrating a masterful offensive performance against the Chicago White Sox on April 16, 1946. Under the Guardians' banner—now boasting talents like Bob Kennedy, Hoot Evers, Catfish Metkovich, Eddie Lake, Johnny Lindell, and Eddie Waitkus—a sudden burst in the top of the second ignited the contest. Kennedy’s nimble single set the table, while Evers’ patient walk and Metkovich’s reach on a defensive error sent runners surging into scoring position. With Lake’s line drive single scoring Kennedy and Lindell’s timely hit driving home Evers, Cleveland jumped on the board with a staggering five-run outburst—a statement of intent from a team reinvented for the modern era.

Across the diamond, the Chicago White Sox—now reassembled with players like Dom DiMaggio, George Kell, Stan Musial, and Ron Northey—found themselves struggling to adjust to their new identities. Despite flashes of individual brilliance, the Sox couldn’t stem the tide as the Guardians’ offense rumbled on. In the top of the seventh, a mix of Waitkus’s gritty infield single, Kennedy’s powerful double, and another decisive burst from Metkovich netted three more runs. Then in the eighth, a timely walk by pinch-hitter Doc Cramer paved the way for Clyde Kluttz’s clutch double that added the final run. It was a shutout that not only underscored Cleveland’s seamless integration of fresh talent but also highlighted the unpredictable beauty of a redrafted league where loyalties are new and every play writes a fresh chapter in baseball’s enduring story.

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In a game that epitomized the creative spark of a league redraft, the retooled Chicago Cubs wasted no time, seizing an early advantage against the Cincinnati Reds on April 16, 1946. The Cubs’ new-look lineup—featuring familiar faces now in unexpected roles like Johnny Pesky, Ted Williams, and Peanuts Lowrey—set the stage in the top of the first. Pesky drew a walk that moved him into scoring position, and a fly out by Williams brought him home in dramatic fashion, while a wild pitch later allowed Peanuts Lowrey’s efforts to pay off, as Carl Furillo circled the bases for the second run. It was an explosive start that showcased the Cubs’ blend of patience and opportunism in a redrafted world where every play writes a new chapter.

The Reds, reassembled with fresh identities and bolstered by talents like Babe Young, Frankie Hayes, and Whitey Kurowski, quickly responded to the early onslaught. In the bottom of the second, Young’s single and daring steal set the wheels in motion, with Hayes’s timely hit and clutch RBI single by Eddie Miller tying the game at 2–2. The turning point came in the bottom of the fifth when Kurowski launched a towering two-run homer—a 382-foot missile—that gave Cincinnati the lead. In the sixth, a masterful display of baserunning by Miller and Elmer Valo, capped by a double from Valo, extended the Reds’ advantage to 7–3. Despite a late surge from the Cubs with singles from Clyde McCullough and Buddy Blattner, the Reds’ relentless execution and redrafted chemistry proved too potent, culminating in a memorable 7–3 victory that left no doubt about which new alliance reigned supreme on the diamond.

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An Old Ballplayer’s Guide to the 1946 American League
By Your Trusty Baseball Scribe, Who’s Seen It All

Ah, baseball in 1946. The war is over, the boys are back, and the game—our game—is reborn. No more factory shifts or military drills, no more service teams or borrowed equipment. Now it’s just horsehide, ash wood, and the crack of the bat echoing through our nation’s grand cathedrals of summer.

They’re calling it The Players League now, tipping their caps to the old rebels of 1890. Every team’s got a fresh slate, but don’t let that fool you—history still lingers in the dugouts, heavy as the smell of hot dogs and cigar smoke in the grandstands.

So let’s take a stroll through the American League, alphabetically speaking, with the same reverence one might have for the hallowed halls of Cooperstown.

Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox faithful are still nursing the wounds of that 1918 championship—the one that turned into the last sip of water before a long, dry walk through the desert. But here’s the thing: if there’s a team poised to turn history on its ear, it’s these boys. The war may have interrupted their rise, but Fenway still stands, green as ever, and the faithful still pack its wooden seats. Watch out for the hitters—Boston’s always had a knack for them.

Chicago White Sox
South Side tough. They’ve always been. But now? Now they get to start fresh, free from the ghosts of the past. The scandal of 1919 still lingers in whispered corners of Comiskey, but it’s a new day, a new team, and maybe—just maybe—a new hope. Pitching wins ballgames, and the Sox have a habit of finding arms that can flat-out deal. Don’t sleep on the boys from Chicago’s gritty side.

Cleveland Guardians
Baseball in Cleveland has always been about resilience. Through decades of close calls and heartbreak, the city has never wavered in its love for the game. Now, with the fresh start of 1946, the Guardians stand ready to define a new era. The pillars of League Park—and soon Municipal Stadium—have seen great players come and go, but the spirit remains the same: tough, gritty baseball played for a city that never quits. Maybe this is the year Cleveland writes a new story, one that lasts for generations to come.

Detroit Tigers
You hear that hum? That’s the sound of Briggs Stadium getting ready for another season of baseball in the Motor City. The Tigers don’t just play the game—they manufacture wins with the same precision that Henry Ford cranks out automobiles. They’ve always had that mix of power and poise, and something tells me that’s not changing anytime soon.

New York Yankees
Ah, the Bronx Bombers. What’s left to say? This team’s got more history in its pinstripes than most clubs have in their entire existence. Legends are made under the lights of Yankee Stadium, and let me tell you something: you’d be a fool to think the new league format is going to change that. The Yankees expect to win. And when you expect to win, you usually do.

Philadelphia Athletics
Connie Mack built an empire, then watched it crumble, then built it again. And now? Now, in 1946, the A’s are back at the starting line with everyone else. Shibe Park’s still standing, and Philadelphia is still a town that loves its baseball. Maybe the new league setup gives the old White Elephant a chance to charge again.

St. Louis Browns
If ever a club needed a fresh start, it’s the Browns. Perennial underdogs, second fiddle in their own city. But don’t count them out just yet. St. Louis knows baseball—one side of town has been winning for years, and the Browns would love to give their fans something to cheer about. Maybe—just maybe—this is their moment to flip the script.

Washington Senators
They say Washington is first in war, first in peace, and last in the American League. But you know what? The Senators might just have a shot in this brave new world of baseball. D.C. fans are loyal, and Griffith Stadium has seen enough heartbreak to last a lifetime. Maybe this is the dawn of a new chapter for the ballclub that’s been waiting too long for its moment.

And there you have it, folks. Eight teams, each with a clean slate, each with a dream. The war is over, baseball is back, and The Players League is here to make sure that no past glories—or past curses—dictate the future.

Now, grab your scorecards and get ready. 1946 is going to be one whale of a season.

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An Old Ballplayer’s Guide to the 1946 National League
By Your Trusty Baseball Scribe, Who’s Seen It All

The war is done, the boys are back, and baseball—real baseball—is finally returning to its rightful place at the heart of America. But this ain’t the same old National League you knew before the world went dark. No, sir. The Players League has wiped the slate clean, and every team—every city—has the same shot at glory.

But don’t be fooled. History still lingers in the dugouts, in the creases of old uniforms, in the names carved into wooden seats at every ballpark from Boston to St. Louis. Some clubs are looking to reclaim old glory. Others are looking to finally find it. Either way, the road to 1946 is paved with promise.

Let’s take a stroll through the National League, alphabetically speaking, and see where these teams stand as they step into the great unknown.

Boston Braves
The Braves have always been one of those teams you just feel should be better. Some years, they surprise you. Other years, well… let’s just say Boston is a city used to waiting. But now, in the wide-open field of The Players League, they’ve got a chance to rebrand their legacy. If they can figure out how to harness their talent, Braves Field might just see a banner worth remembering.

Brooklyn Dodgers
Ah, Brooklyn. The borough where baseball beats like a drum, where Ebbets Field is more cathedral than stadium. The Dodgers—Dem Bums, as they’ve been lovingly (or not-so-lovingly) called—are always knocking on the door. The question is, will 1946 be the year they finally kick it down? One thing’s for sure: the faithful in Brooklyn are ready for a winner.

Chicago Cubs
You can talk about curses and bad luck all you want, but the Cubs keep showing up. Wrigley Field is still one of the most beautiful sights in baseball, ivy and all, and Chicago fans still pack the house no matter the standings. A clean slate means hope, and if there’s a team that thrives on hope, it’s the North Siders. Maybe this is the year their patience pays off.

Cincinnati Reds
This town was built for baseball. The Reds have been around longer than just about anyone, and their fans? They expect effort, they expect grit, and they expect to win. The Reds don’t always get the national spotlight, but don’t let that fool you—this team knows how to scrap, and if the chips fall the right way, they might just make some noise in the new Players League landscape.

New York Giants
The Polo Grounds. A place where giants—literal and figurative—have walked. If history tells us anything, it’s that the Giants don’t stay quiet for long. They’ve got the city, they’ve got the stadium, and they’ve got a history of winning. The league may be starting fresh, but don’t be surprised if New York finds itself right back where it always seems to be—on top.

Philadelphia Phillies
Let’s be honest: the Phillies have spent most of their existence trying to get out of their own way. But what’s the beauty of The Players League? It means that history doesn’t matter anymore. The Phillies have the opportunity to rewrite their story, and if they can get their pitching straight, maybe—just maybe—Philadelphia can finally call itself a baseball town without a sigh of regret.

Pittsburgh Pirates
Steel. Grit. Toughness. That’s Pittsburgh, and that’s the Pirates. Forbes Field still stands as one of the game’s finest ballparks, and the fans in the Steel City know their baseball. The Pirates don’t do glitz and glamour—they just play hard, and they play to win. With the slate wiped clean, don’t be shocked if Pittsburgh is one of the first teams to plant its flag in the new era.

St. Louis Cardinals
If you think the Yankees are the only team with a culture of winning, you haven’t spent enough time in St. Louis. The Cardinals don’t rebuild—they reload. This team has won before, and you can bet your last nickel they plan to do it again. Sportsman’s Park is still home to some of the most passionate fans in the game, and they expect nothing less than excellence. The Players League may be new, but the Cards are still the Cards. Watch out.

And there you have it—the National League, reborn in 1946, ready to write its next chapter. The history books don’t matter anymore. The ghosts of past failures don’t carry any weight.

It’s a brand-new game, and everybody’s got a shot.

Now, find your seat, grab a scorecard, and let’s play ball.

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Ted Williams in Chicago: A New Era for the Cubs
By Your Trusty Baseball Scribe, Who’s Seen It All

For years, the Chicago Cubs have been a team defined by hope. Hope that the next season will be the one. Hope that the baseball gods might finally shine down on Wrigley Field. Hope that, someday, the Friendly Confines will witness a championship parade instead of another long winter of what-ifs.

But hope alone doesn’t win pennants.

So when the Cubs "landed" the first overall pick in The Players League’s grand redraft, the city held its breath. This was their chance. And when they called the name Ted Williams, everything changed.


The Kid Leaves Fenway for the Windy City
You don’t just replace a player like Ted Williams. In Boston, they’re still reeling. The Red Sox faithful had spent years watching “The Kid” turn hitting into high art. They’ve seen the sweet left-handed swing that defies physics. They’ve marveled at the way he works an at-bat like a master sculptor shaping marble. Now, they’re left with nothing but memories and a city wondering how it all slipped away.

But this isn’t about Boston’s loss. This is about Chicago’s gain.


A Franchise-Altering Selection
For a team like the Cubs—long accustomed to playing the underdog—landing the greatest hitter of his generation isn’t just a roster move. It’s a seismic shift in the very identity of the franchise. Chicago isn’t just hoping to compete anymore.

They expect to.

With Williams anchoring the lineup, the Cubs have something they haven’t had in years—swagger. The man doesn’t just hit baseballs; he punishes them. He won’t just make Wrigley’s ivy-covered walls famous; he’s liable to leave scorch marks on them. And you can be sure that every pitcher in the league took a long, uneasy breath when they saw him land in Chicago instead of Boston.


What This Means for Baseball’s Landscape
The balance of power in the league just tilted. The Red Sox, once built around Williams’ bat, must now forge a new path. The Cubs, long the lovable losers, have suddenly become something else entirely—dangerous.

Wrigley Field is no longer just a picturesque ballpark where baseball happens to be played. It’s a fortress. A place where one of the greatest hitters to ever live is about to put on a show. And let’s not forget—the Cubs are still playing in the same league as the Cardinals and Dodgers. The battles ahead? They won’t just be good. They’ll be legendary.


The Ted Williams Effect
Williams doesn’t just change the Cubs. He changes everything. The fans, long-suffering but loyal, have a reason to believe again. The opposing pitchers, once comfortable in their rotations, now dread their trips to the North Side. The front office, finally holding a generational talent, is tasked with building the kind of team that can surround him with greatness.

And maybe, just maybe, that dusty old trophy case in Wrigley Field won’t be as empty much longer.

Ted Williams is in Chicago. The Cubs are on the rise. And baseball may never be the same again.

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So, Boston, take a deep breath. The Kid’s gone, and the Windy City just became the center of the baseball universe.

Welcome to the new era of Cubs baseball.

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In a game that underscored the transformative power of the league redraft, the Washington Senators emerged as a cohesive force on April 16, 1946, outmuscling the retooled Boston Red Sox in a 7–0 shutout. From the outset, Washington’s new-look roster—featuring seasoned names now donning a fresh uniform, such as George Case, Marty Marion, Mickey Vernon, and Tommy Holmes—made their presence felt. In the bottom of the first, a combination of smart baserunning and timely contact saw the Senators carve out an early 2–0 advantage. The offensive onslaught continued in the lower third when Tommy Holmes’ single paired with Mickey Vernon’s clutch double pushed the tally to 3–0, setting the tone for what would become a masterclass in opportunistic scoring.

As the game progressed, the Senators’ momentum only grew. In the bottom of the fifth, Ray Mueller’s explosive triple brought Bobby Doerr and Jim Tabor across the plate, extending the lead to 5–0, while the bottom of the sixth delivered the final blow—a well-timed double from Tommy Holmes that drove in George Case and Marty Marion for two more runs. Meanwhile, the reconfigured Red Sox lineup, now featuring players like Stan Hack, Harry Walker, and Phil Cavarretta in unfamiliar roles, could find no answers to Washington’s relentless attack. In a display reminiscent of baseball’s most unpredictable narratives, the Senators’ blend of veteran savvy and redrafted ambition shone through, leaving the Red Sox to wonder where it all went wrong on a day when every pitch and play told a new story.

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In a game that crackled with unexpected twists and retooled rosters, the Philadelphia Phillies, led by a dynamic duo in Dixie Walker and Del Ennis, established an early offensive rhythm against a reinvigorated New York Giants squad. The Phillies struck first in the top of the first when Dixie Walker ignited the frame with a crisp double, followed immediately by Del Ennis blasting a triple that brought Walker home and set the tone for what was to come. The visitors’ offense continued to heat up in the third, capitalizing on an error that allowed another run to score, while further damage was inflicted in the fourth when Dixie Walker circled the bases on an inside-the-park three‐run homer—a statement hit that extended Philadelphia’s lead to 7–0.

The Giants, featuring reconfigured names like Billy Herman, Lou Boudreau, and Goody Rosen, answered back in the bottom of the fourth, chipping away with a couple of timely hits that trimmed the deficit to 7–4. However, the Phillies’ momentum proved too potent. In the top of the eighth, a well-orchestrated sequence involving a sharp double by Joe Kuhel, an intentional walk, and a costly throwing error allowed the Phillies to add two more runs, pushing the tally to 9–6. Despite a late rally from the Giants in the bottom of the ninth—highlighted by a dramatic triple from Dick Wakefield—the retooled Phillies held firm, emerging victorious in a game where every play told the story of a league in transformation.

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Boston in Mourning: The Red Sox Without Ted Williams
By Your Trusty Baseball Scribe, Who’s Seen It All

Boston is a city that knows heartache. It wears it like an old, familiar coat, passed down through generations. The Red Sox faithful have lived with ghosts for decades, staring across the baseball landscape and wondering why fate never seems to smile on them.

And now, as The Players League dawns, as a grand experiment reshapes the game, Boston has been dealt its cruelest blow yet.

Ted Williams—the man, the myth, the best pure hitter the game has ever seen—is gone.


The Day Boston Stood Still
The draft played out like a slow-motion nightmare. The Red Sox, doomed to pick near the bottom of the first round, sat helpless as their franchise player was snatched away by the Cubs with the first pick. One minute, he was the heart of Fenway. The next, he was gone.

You could feel it in the streets. The silence. The disbelief. The Red Sox had lost legends before—Ruth, Foxx, Grove—but this? This was different. Williams wasn’t at the end of his career. He wasn’t chasing a paycheck.

He wasn’t demanding a trade.

He was taken.


A Team Without a Face
So now what? Who steps in to fill the void? The Red Sox have always been a team defined by their stars—Williams, Cronin, Doerr before them—but now, there is no chosen one.

Boston’s front office scrambled, trying to find a way to spin the loss, but the truth was clear: Fenway Park just became a lonelier place. The Green Monster, which once stood as a monument to Williams’ legendary swings, now looms like a tombstone over a franchise left in limbo.

The fans aren’t ready to let go. They still wear their Williams jerseys, still mutter his name like a prayer. They don’t care that The Players League was supposed to level the playing field, to break up the old dynasties and give every team a chance.
Boston doesn’t want a fair fight. Boston wants its legend back.


A City on Edge
The season has just started, but already, there’s tension in the air. Fenway Park, normally alive with anticipation, feels like a powder keg waiting for a spark. The first time a player struggles? The first time a new face fails to deliver? The ghosts of Boston’s past will be there, whispering, reminding everyone of who they lost.

Some cities embrace change. Boston resents it.

And when Ted Williams steps into the batter’s box wearing a Chicago Cubs uniform for the first time?

Don’t expect forgiveness. Don’t expect understanding.
Expect anger. Expect heartbreak. Expect Boston to never forget.

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By the Luck of the Draw: The Players League Draft Order is Set
By Your Trusty Baseball Scribe, Who’s Seen It All

The air in the grand ballroom of The Players League headquarters was thick with anticipation. Every team owner, every manager, and every baseball man worth his weight in scouting reports gathered to witness the moment that would shape the future of the game. The league’s inaugural draft was upon us, but before names could be called, before franchises could lay claim to the superstars of yesterday and the icons of tomorrow, there was the small matter of determining the draft order.

And in keeping with the spirit of a fresh start, the order would be decided by lot.


A Roll of the Dice, A Shake of Fate
No past records, no secret negotiations, no behind-the-scenes wrangling—just pure chance. The names of all sixteen clubs were placed in a drum, an old wooden contraption that looked as if it had been borrowed from a traveling carnival. The room fell silent as the commissioner—dressed in his finest, eyes steeled with the gravity of the moment—turned the crank. The balls tumbled inside, each representing a city, a franchise, a future waiting to be written.

One by one, the names were drawn. And with each pull, the fate of baseball’s new era took shape.


The Browns Win the Lottery
The first envelope was opened, and the name inside sent a ripple through the room: St. Louis Browns. A team long buried beneath the shadow of their city’s more successful counterpart, a team whose fans had been waiting for a miracle, suddenly found themselves at the front of the line.

The reaction among the assembled baseball men was muted, measured—after all, everyone knew the draft order was being drawn in secret. The league’s decision to keep the results under wraps until all negotiations had played out was a calculated one. Every owner had agreed in advance that there would be no bartering, no backroom deals, no powerful franchises strong-arming their way to the top. The order drawn by lot would be final, unaltered, and non-negotiable.

For some, it was a relief. For others, a disappointment. But the decision had been made, and The Players League would march forward accordingly.


The Order Takes Shape
One by one, the teams fell into place:

1. St. Louis Browns
2. Chicago White Sox
3. New York Giants
4. Cleveland Guardians

5. Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Chicago Cubs
7. Brooklyn Dodgers
8. Detroit Tigers

9. Philadelphia Phillies
10. Washington Senators
11. Cincinnati Reds
12. New York Yankees

13. Boston Braves
14. Philadelphia Athletics
15. Boston Red Sox
16. St. Louis Cardinals


The Calm Before the Storm
As the final name was drawn, the room exhaled. The draft order was set. Some teams had landed in favorable positions, others would have to make the most of what they were given. But the most significant moment of all was the quiet agreement made before the drawing even began: there would be no tampering. No negotiations. No shifting of positions based on influence or wealth.

The Yankees, the Dodgers, the Cardinals—teams that had long wielded baseball’s balance of power—would not be allowed to dictate the outcome. The order was final, and the league’s owners had chosen to abide by it.

For now, the world outside the ballroom remained in the dark. The order had been drawn, but not yet revealed. The next step? The grand announcement. And with it, the moment where the future of baseball would finally take shape.

The draft was coming. And when it did, there would be no more secrets.

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In a dramatic 10‐inning contest on April 16, 1946, the St. Louis Browns edged the Detroit Tigers 5–2 in a game defined by timely hitting and gritty extra‐innings heroics. The action was deadlocked early on—with the Browns posting a lone hit in the top of the first and the Tigers capitalizing on Luke Appling’s four‐ball walk and subsequent baserunning to notch a run in their half. The Tigers added a second in the bottom of the fifth when a well‐placed single by Stan Spence, compounded by a throwing error that allowed Hank Majeski to score, pushed Detroit ahead 2–0, as both teams battled hard to keep the opposition at bay.

But the Browns would have the final word. In the top of the 8th, Buddy Lewis’s double set the stage as Eddie Stanky advanced from first to third and scored on a subsequent Grady Hatton single—cutting the Tigers’ lead to 2–2. The decisive moment came in the top of the 10th when Eddie Stanky roared into action with a line-drive double that drove him home, followed by Grady Hatton’s powerful double that produced another run. Andy Pafko’s blistering triple then capped the extra-inning rally, giving the Browns a 5–2 lead that the Tigers’ bats couldn’t answer in their final appearance. It was a game of shifting fortunes, where each extra-inning swing told the story of baseball’s enduring drama.

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In a game that swung like a finely tuned symphony, the Pittsburgh Pirates emerged victorious over the St. Louis Cardinals 5–3 on April 16, 1946. The Pirates struck first in the top of the first when Johnny Wyrostek drew a walk and, after a slick steal, found himself in scoring position on Johnny Mize’s timely single that sent him rounding the bases for the go-ahead run. The Cardinals weren’t idle, however—they answered back in the bottom of the inning as Frank McCormick’s line-drive single and subsequent efforts from Roy Cullenbine and Snuffy Stirnweiss pushed a run across to tie the game at one.

The momentum ebbed and flowed throughout the contest. In the top of the fifth, Bob Elliott’s solo home run lifted the Pirates to a 2–1 edge, but it was Walker Cooper’s dramatic three-run blast in the top of the seventh—a towering drive that sailed 399 feet—that truly shifted the balance, putting Pittsburgh firmly ahead. The Cardinals made several attempts to claw their way back, with key contributions from McCormick and Cullenbine in the early innings, but the Pirates’ timely hitting and gritty baserunning ultimately sealed the deal in a battle that showcased the unpredictable drama of baseball.

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The Players League Draft: A Day of Destiny
By Your Trusty Baseball Scribe, Who’s Seen It All

The stage was set. The secret drawing of the draft order had already sparked whispers, but now came the moment of truth. With the world watching, the teams of The Players League stepped forward to make their selections.

For some, it was the beginning of a new dynasty. For others, the weight of expectation pressed down like an iron fist. This wasn’t just a draft—this was the birth of a league, a new era where history would no longer dictate the future.

And the first name called? Well, that was when the fireworks started.


Chaos at the Top: The Cubs Take Control
The first pick was supposed to belong to the St. Louis Browns. That was what had been determined in the secret drawing. That was what every team had agreed to accept without negotiation. But when the commissioner stepped to the podium, he did not call St. Louis. Instead, he announced Chicago.

The Cubs.

Gasps rippled through the ballroom. The Cubs were supposed to be picking sixth. And yet, here they were, stepping forward, somehow in possession of the first overall pick.

Every owner had sworn not to trade picks. Every front office had agreed to accept the lot-drawn order as law. This wasn’t some handshake deal between the powerful clubs—this was the St. Louis Browns, one of the league’s most overlooked franchises, suddenly yielding the golden ticket.

So what in the name of baseball’s sacred history had just happened?


The Browns’ Silence, The Cubs’ Moment
St. Louis, the team that had drawn first pick, said nothing. No protest. No attempt to correct the situation. It was as if they knew something the rest of the league didn’t.

Meanwhile, the Cubs wasted no time. The moment was theirs, and they seized it with both hands.

Ted Williams.

The greatest hitter of his generation was heading to the North Side. Fenway Park had lost its king, and Wrigley Field had gained a legend. Boston reeled. St. Louis stayed silent. And the rest of the league demanded answers.


The Draft Continues—Under a Cloud of Mystery
With confusion still thick in the air, the Browns finally made their pick at sixth overall, the slot originally assigned to the Cubs. But why? How?

Had there been a deal? A quiet understanding? The league had no official rule against swapping picks—just a gentleman’s agreement among the owners to keep the wealthier clubs from strong-arming their way to the top.

Yet here it was, the very thing they had all sought to avoid, unfolding before their eyes. Had the Browns, of all teams, struck a deal in the shadows? Had they been offered something far more valuable than the first overall pick? Something they could not refuse?


The Aftermath: Questions with No Answers
The draft had been completed. The picks had been made. The rosters were taking shape. But behind closed doors, the league was burning with one simple question:

What happened?


How had the Cubs, a team assigned the sixth pick by the impartial drawing of lots, ended up first? The league’s owners had agreed to stand by the order—no shifting, no negotiations. Yet, the Browns had quietly stepped aside, allowing Chicago to take the grand prize.

The mystery of the first pick had overshadowed everything else. Fans in Chicago celebrated. Fans in Boston despaired. Fans in St. Louis waited, watching, wondering what their ownership knew that the rest of the world didn’t.

One thing was clear—the truth would come out.

And when it did, it could change everything.

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[ZapMast]

The Great Shake-Up: The Absurdity—and Genius—of The Players League Redraft
By Your Trusty Baseball Scribe, Who’s Seen It All
________________________________________

Take everything you know about baseball—the dynasties, the rivalries, the sacred bond between player and city—and toss it out like yesterday’s box scores. Because The Players League has taken a wrecking ball to the foundation of America’s pastime, and the baseball world is still reeling.

A full redraft. Every player back in the pool. Every team starting from scratch. It’s lunacy. It’s chaos. It’s the kind of thing that makes baseball purists spit their coffee clear across the room. And yet, for the first time in decades, fans in some of the most downtrodden baseball cities have a reason to believe.


The Old Guard vs. The Underdogs
Of course, the Yankees hate it. The Cardinals scoff. The Red Sox faithful are still trying to process how Ted Williams is wearing a Cubs uniform. The old guard—the teams that had spent years crafting dynasties, locking up talent, and ruling over the sport like kings—now find themselves back in the muck with everyone else. And they’re furious.

But take a walk through the streets of St. Louis—on the Browns’ side of town. Or wander into a tavern in Philadelphia, where A’s and Phillies fans alike are suddenly talking about pennant races instead of punching bags. Go to Washington, where the Senators faithful—long accustomed to being baseball’s forgotten franchise—are dreaming big. For them, this is justice. This is a long-overdue reckoning.

For the first time, baseball is an even fight. No more waiting for scraps from the big boys’ table. No more cursing the balance of power. No more saying, “Wait till next year,” because next year is now.


A Wartime Gamble to Lift a Nation
Make no mistake—this wasn’t just about baseball. The world had just emerged from the biggest war in human history. Cities were rebuilding. Families were reuniting. America needed a jolt, a reason to come together again.

What better way than by making the national pastime a true competition for everyone?

The league’s brass knew the risks. The owners grumbled. The established clubs threatened to revolt. But the truth was plain: baseball needed this. The country needed this. A fresh start for a sport that had, for too long, favored the few at the expense of the many.

And the fans? They’re eating it up.


The New Order
What happens next is anyone’s guess. Some teams will undoubtedly make smart picks, build wisely, and rise quickly. Others will fumble their way through this grand experiment like a blindfolded man trying to hit a Bob Feller fastball. But the point is, for the first time, everyone has a chance.

The old dynasties will have to prove themselves again. The laughingstocks of the league are no longer burdened by decades of losing. Every game matters now.

And that, for all its absurdity, for all the teeth-gnashing it has caused in boardrooms from the Bronx to St. Louis, is exactly why The Players League may have just pulled off the greatest trick in baseball history.

The game belongs to the people again. And if you don’t like it?

Well, you better get used to it. Because the first pitch of this grand experiment has been thrown, and there’s no turning back now.

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[ZapMast]

Film Access



In a tightly contested duel on April 16, 1946, the Philadelphia Athletics edged the New York Yankees 3–1 in a game where timely hits and tactical bunts wrote the narrative. The Athletics broke through early in the bottom of the first when Dain Clay’s smooth double and Les Fleming’s well-placed single put a run on the board, setting the tone against a Yankees lineup that had shown flashes of brilliance with Mickey Witek’s early single. The Yankees responded in the top of the third when Bill Rigney’s double followed by a clutch single—while the Athletics’ own pitcher, Dutch Leonard, took the bat—drove in the tying run, leveling the score at one apiece.

But it was in the bottom of the eighth that Philadelphia seized control. A perfectly executed sequence—sparked by Paul Richards’ sharp groundball single, a sacrifice bunt by Tex Hughson, and timely hits from Dain Clay and Sid Gordon—produced two insurance runs that propelled the Athletics to a 3–1 advantage. The Yankees mounted a brief rally in the top of the ninth, yet missteps and disciplined pitching by Tex Hughson stifled their comeback, leaving the Athletics to celebrate a hard-fought victory in a game defined by strategic play and the enduring drama of baseball.

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The Dodgers burst onto the scene in the top of the first, igniting the game with an electrifying display of offensive firepower. Bert Haas opened the scoring with a blistering triple, immediately setting the tone, while Pete Reiser followed up with a towering two‐run home run that sailed a remarkable 408 feet—an early statement that left the Braves reeling. Later in the frame, a miscue on a dropped throw allowed Sam Chapman to reach base, and Barney McCosky’s smooth double sent Chapman scoring, while an error on Phil Rizzuto’s ground ball further fueled the Dodgers’ surge, giving Brooklyn a 4–0 lead before the Braves could even step up to the plate.

The momentum carried through the middle innings as Brooklyn steadily added to their tally. In the top of the fifth, timely hits by Enos Slaughter and Sam Chapman—combined with another scoring play courtesy of Bert Haas—pushed the Dodgers’ total to 6. The offensive onslaught continued in the top of the sixth when a single from Max Lanier, bolstered by another error and subsequent hits, produced two more runs, extending the lead to 8. A pivotal moment came in the top of the seventh when pinch hitter Floyd Baker’s dazzling triple sparked an additional run, cementing a 9–0 advantage. Although the Braves managed a solitary run in the bottom of the sixth, Brooklyn’s early and sustained explosion proved insurmountable, as the Dodgers triumphed 9–1 in a game defined by explosive starts and timely execution.

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[ZapMast]

The Day the Earth Moved
By Your Trusty Baseball Scribe, Who’s Seen It All
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The phone rang.

Not a normal ring—not the sluggish, bureaucratic hum of front office chatter, not the routine call from a scout buried in some small-town ballpark watching a kid with a decent fastball.

This was different. Urgent. Panicked. Alive.

By the time he picked up, the voice on the other end was already shouting.

“They’ve done it! I can’t believe it—finally! The players are going to new teams! The President—he stepped in! He listened to them! He gave in!”

The assistant to the Cubs’ general manager gripped the receiver tighter. His knuckles went white. He felt the floor shift beneath his feet.

This wasn’t just a trade. This wasn’t a contract negotiation. This was baseball as he knew it unraveling and reshaping itself in real time.


The Revolution Hits Home
For years, the owners had run the game like an empire. They controlled the contracts. They dictated the careers of men who bled for this sport. They owned baseball.

Not anymore.

The war had changed things. The players had changed. Many of them weren’t just athletes anymore—they were heroes. They had fought in the trenches, seen the world, survived things no box score could measure. And when they returned home, they weren’t about to be told where to play and how much they were worth by men in suits who had never swung a bat in their lives.

They fought for something bigger. And somehow, against all odds, they won.

The President himself had stepped in. Maybe it was the letters from the players. Maybe it was the growing sentiment across the country that the men who fought for freedom overseas shouldn’t have to fight for it at home. Maybe he just saw the writing on the wall.

Whatever the reason, the message was clear: Baseball no longer belonged to the owners.

It belonged to the players.


The Old Guard Strikes Back
The ink wasn’t even dry on this new era of baseball before the old guard made their move. The most powerful owners—the Yankees, the Cardinals, the Red Sox—called on the courts to put a stop to it. They painted the redraft as a reckless dismantling of the game, a violation of contracts, a direct attack on the very foundation of the sport.

They wanted an injunction. A reversal. A return to the way things had always been.

But the high court wanted no part of it.

In a stunning decision, the justices stepped back, refusing to interfere in what they called an "internal matter of the league." Whether it was respect for the President’s decision or an unwillingness to wade into the murky waters of labor rights in baseball, the result was the same—the courts had taken themselves out of the game.


The Cubs’ Place in the Storm
In Chicago, the front office was in chaos. Some celebrated. Some panicked. Nobody knew what came next.

Ted Williams was still a Red Sock. Joe DiMaggio was still a Yankee. Stan Musial was still wearing Cardinal red. But all of it, every last contract, every last handshake deal, was about to be torn up. Everything was about to change.

“What does this mean for us?” the assistant asked, still gripping the receiver. He barely recognized his own voice.

The answer came back fast, calm but resolute.

“Baseball’s changed. It’s no longer an owner’s league. It’s a player’s league from now on.”

He hung up the phone and looked around the office. Some of the old-timers sat in stunned silence, relics of a game that had just ceased to exist. Others—the bold ones, the young ones, the ones who had seen this coming—were already moving, already plotting, already seeing what this new world might bring.

The sun was setting outside, casting long shadows over the city.

Tomorrow, the world would wake up to something brand new.

Baseball had changed.

And the earth had moved beneath their feet.

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[ZapMast]

The Telegram That Shook St. Louis
By Your Trusty Baseball Scribe, Who’s Seen It All
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The telegram arrived in the early morning hours, slid under the heavy wooden doors of the St. Louis Cardinals’ front office. Normally, telegrams meant bad news—a player injured in the offseason, a contract dispute, or worse, a war casualty notification during the past few years.

But this time, the news was different. The kind of news that didn’t just shake a franchise, but shook the entire foundation of baseball itself.

The team executive picked up the envelope, slicing it open with an old letter opener he’d had since the club’s early days of dominance. The message was brief. No frills, no drawn-out explanations—just a declaration of what was now fact.

“MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TO BE RESTRUCTURED. PLAYERS REDRAFTED. TEAMS REBUILT. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.”

He read it twice, then once more, the weight of the moment settling in. The game had changed. The Cardinals—the mighty Cardinals, winners, architects of championship rosters, kings of the National League—were now just another team in a brand-new world. No special privileges. No dynasties. No history to fall back on. Just a name on a list, starting from scratch.

A long silence filled the room. The younger front-office men waited, tension thick in the air. The old-timers looked grim, fingers twitching against their desk edges, waiting for the explosion of disbelief, the outrage, the cries of injustice.

Instead, the executive smoothed the telegram against the desk, nodded once, and leaned back in his chair. A grin—small at first, then growing—spread across his face. He reached for a cigar, clipped the end, and struck a match with calm, practiced precision.

“We’re ready for the challenge.”

His voice cut through the silence, steady, sure. The words landed like a rallying cry. The room exhaled.

The Cardinals weren’t panicking. They weren’t cursing the league office. They weren’t looking for an escape hatch back to the old ways.

They were preparing.


A City That Knows How to Win
St. Louis had never been a city to back down. From the days of the Gas House Gang to the war years, the Cardinals had built their name on toughness, resilience, and an unshakable belief that baseball was won between the lines, not in the boardrooms.

This was no different. The teams that had relied on money, on influence, on keeping their stars locked away in their pockets—they were the ones in trouble now.

But St. Louis? St. Louis had always known how to build from the ground up.

The telegram was a warning shot to some. To others, it was a death knell.


To the Cardinals? It was a starting pistol... a challenge.

And they were in the blocks; ready to meet it head-on.

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[ZapMast]

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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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Film Access



TPL - Thursday, April 18, 1946

AL Round-up

ST. LOUIS BROWNS @ DETROIT TIGERS
In a tightly contested duel on April 18, 1946, the Detroit Tigers edged the St. Louis Browns by a score of 6–5. The Browns began modestly in the first inning, with Eddie Stanky’s single and Joe Medwick’s line-drive hit driving in a run later on, but the inning ended scoreless. In the second inning, both teams’ pitching held firm, with Detroit’s Luke Appling doubling in the bottom half, yet no runs were produced.

The pivotal moment came in the third inning when the Browns’ offense started to spark. Buddy Lewis reached on a groundball single—and after stealing second, he hit another single that allowed a runner from third to tag up and score, giving St. Louis a 2–0 lead. The Browns extended that lead in the fourth inning thanks to a timely single by Dave Koslo that drove in another run, pushing them to 3–0. However, the Tigers responded in the bottom of the eighth when a series of hits, capped by a three‐run home run by Bill Salkeld, tied the game at 3–3.

In the top of the ninth, the Browns rallied with two more runs coming from Joe Medwick’s hit and subsequent baserunning, giving them a 5–3 lead. Detroit answered in the bottom of the ninth with a late surge—Hank Majeski’s double, a crucial triple by Johnny Lucadello, and a single by Luke Appling that scored Lucadello—to overcome the deficit and secure a 6–5 victory.


NEW YORK YANKEES @ PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS
In a high-scoring affair on April 18, 1946, the New York Yankees jumped out to an early lead when Hank Greenberg’s solo home run in the top of the first put them on the board. However, the Philadelphia Athletics answered in the bottom of the first with an explosive inning—starting with a single by Dain Clay, followed by key hits from Billy Cox, Hank Edwards, and a two-run double by Paul Richards—pushing the Athletics to a 5–1 advantage. The Athletics’ timely baserunning and errors, including a misplayed play at second, helped fuel their early scoring surge.

The Yankees fought back over the next several innings, with a productive top of the sixth featuring a two-run home run by Pat Seerey that narrowed the gap to 4–6. Then, in the top of the ninth, clutch hitting combined with defensive miscues allowed Thurman Tucker’s double—and an error on a dropped throw—to spark a rally, putting the Yankees ahead 9–6. The Athletics were unable to respond in the bottom of the ninth, and the game concluded with the New York Yankees defeating the Philadelphia Athletics, 9–6.


BOSTON RED SOX @ WASHINGTON SENATORS
In a controlled yet explosive performance on April 18, 1946, the Boston Red Sox outlasted the Washington Senators 6–1 in a game where timely homers and smart baserunning propelled the Sox to victory. The rally began in the top of the seventh when Pete Suder’s double set the stage for Gene Hermanski’s emphatic two‐run home run that put Boston ahead. The momentum surged further in the top of the eighth when Tiny Bonham’s single was followed by a blistering triple from Stan Hack—scoring Bonham—and a clutch single from Phil Cavarretta that drove in Hack, extending the Sox lead to 4–1.

The Red Sox didn’t let up, as another spark in the top of the ninth brought on their final push. Pete Suder came back at the plate to double, setting the stage for a second blast by Hermanski—a two‐run homer that raised Boston’s total to 6. On the defensive side, Washington’s attack sputtered; the Senators managed just a lonely single by Mickey Livingston in the bottom of the ninth, unable to close the gap. With the final out secured, Boston’s blend of timely hitting and steady pitching proved too much, leaving the Red Sox to celebrate a well-earned 6–1 victory in a classic mid-season showdown.


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NL Round-up

NEW YORK GIANTS @ BROOKLYN DODGERS
In a pitcher's duel on April 18, 1946, the New York Giants edged the Brooklyn Dodgers 3–1 in a game where every play carried weight. The Giants broke the ice in the top of the first when Billy Herman’s leadoff single, combined with a wild pitch that advanced him, eventually allowed him to score. Despite an early hit by Bert Haas for the Dodgers in the bottom of the frame, the Giants maintained their 1–0 lead as Howie Pollet kept the opposing bats mostly silent in the early innings.

The turning point came in the top of the seventh when the Giants ignited a rally that would decide the contest. Buddy Rosar’s big double, supported by an intentional walk to Goody Rosen and timely on-base action from Eddie Yost, set the stage for a critical error that allowed Rosen to score, extending New York’s lead to 3–1. The Dodgers’ late efforts, including a double by Frank Mancuso in the bottom of the ninth, failed to generate further runs. In the end, the Giants’ blend of timely hitting and sharp pitching proved decisive in this classic showdown.


CHICAGO CUBS @ CINCINNATI REDS
In a game that swung on timely hits and critical defensive lapses, the Cincinnati Reds emerged victorious over the Chicago Cubs by a final score of 4–1. The Cubs briefly ignited the contest in the top of the first when Ted Williams hit a blistering triple that drove in Carl Furillo, giving Chicago an early 1–0 lead. However, the Reds quickly answered back in the bottom of the second, as a well-orchestrated sequence—starting with a single by Bama Rowell followed by Bobby Sturgeon’s double and Bill Dickey’s timely single that brought Rowell home—turned the tide in Cincinnati’s favor, tying the game and setting the stage for what was to come.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the fourth when the Reds exploded for four runs. Augie Galan’s on-base error, a sharp double by Bobby Sturgeon, and a key misplay on a fly ball allowed Eddie Miller to score, pushing the Reds’ lead to 4–1. Despite the Cubs’ best efforts in the later innings, including sporadic attempts to spark offense, Cincinnati’s pitching and timely production proved too much to overcome. The Reds’ ability to capitalize on defensive mistakes ultimately sealed a hard-fought victory in a classic mid-season showdown.


PITTSBURGH PIRATES @ ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
In a competitive battle on April 18, 1946, the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the St. Louis Cardinals 8–2. The Pirates got on the board in the top of the first when Eddie Stanky singled, followed by key baserunning by Buddy Lewis and Joe Medwick, though they didn’t score that inning. In the bottom of the second, the Cardinals capitalized with solid contact from Bama Rowell, Bobby Sturgeon, and Bill Dickey to take a 2–0 lead.

The Pirates responded emphatically in the middle innings. In the top of the third, Buddy Lewis and Joe Medwick advanced runners, with Andy Pafko’s double tying the game at 2–2. The tide turned in the sixth when Walker Cooper blasted a two‐run home run and Johnny Mize added a double, giving Pittsburgh a 4–2 advantage that expanded to 8–2 by the end of the game. Despite late efforts by St. Louis, the Pirates’ timely hitting and aggressive baserunning secured the victory.

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