The 1944 Fall Classic was the only one the Browns ever reached. It was the same year as "Meet Me In St. Louis", starring Judy Garland was released. Fitting, since it was the Browns vs. the Cardinals. This one was a Sportsman's Park exclusive!
The Browns proved that the Cards were mere mortals in game one. Mort Cooper pitched well for the Cardinals, who were considered the home team in game one. Would you believe it, a two-hitter by Coop was not enough? It was the Browns eeking out a 2-1 win behind a seven-hitter by Denny Galehouse.
The Cardinals won game two, but it took them eleven innings and both starting pitchers were out of the equation by then. I guess it must have felt odd that game three was in St. Louis like game two was, and was in Sportsman's Park, also like game two was.
And the Browns got back to the winning. They took it, 6-2, as Jack Kramer (Not to be confused with the tennis great of that time), pitched a gem of a game. George McQuinn went 3-3 and knocked in a pair. The Browns were back ahead, two games to one.
But the Cardinals refused to give in any more. They came back with a big win of their own in game four, and it was because of Stan The Man. The Man was only 23 years old at the time, so he was more of a kid. But that voice at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field had spoken: "Here comes That Man, again!"
Stan Musial hit a two-run home run in the top of the first. The crowd must not have minded, even if it was against the home team. He singled and scored in the top of the third for good measure. When it was all over, Musial had three hits in four at-bats, and the Cardinals had a 5-1 win. The 1944 Fall Classic was tied at two. But not for long.
Cooper got his revenge against Galehouse in the crucial fifth game, winning it, 2-0. Stan got a hit and a walk, but didn't get an RBI or a run scored. But the important thing was St. Louis was in the driver's seat at this point. I'm talking about the Cardinals, by the way!
It was one of the Cardinals lesser stars, Emil Verban, that went 3-3 at the dish with an RBI in game six. But was the pitching of Max Lanier and Ted Wilks that got the Cardinals the win at the 1944 Baseball Crown. They combined on a three-hitter, Lanier the win and Wilks the save. The final score was 3-1, Cards and this "All St. Louis" affair was over in six games. Three of them were pitching duels.
The Cardinals went on to win the Fall Classic again in 1946. From there, they did not win again until 1964. Actually, they never made it back to the Fall Classic until that year earlier. The Giants and Dodgers and Braves got too strong. The Browns finished about .500 the next season, and even had a one-armed outfielder named Pete Gray. But by 1954, the team had moved to Baltimore. They did not make it back to the World Series until 1966.
But, in 1944, it was "Meet Me In St. Louis!"
And root, root, root for the "home" team, right? Hard not to in '44!
The Browns proved that the Cards were mere mortals in game one. Mort Cooper pitched well for the Cardinals, who were considered the home team in game one. Would you believe it, a two-hitter by Coop was not enough? It was the Browns eeking out a 2-1 win behind a seven-hitter by Denny Galehouse.
The Cardinals won game two, but it took them eleven innings and both starting pitchers were out of the equation by then. I guess it must have felt odd that game three was in St. Louis like game two was, and was in Sportsman's Park, also like game two was.
And the Browns got back to the winning. They took it, 6-2, as Jack Kramer (Not to be confused with the tennis great of that time), pitched a gem of a game. George McQuinn went 3-3 and knocked in a pair. The Browns were back ahead, two games to one.
But the Cardinals refused to give in any more. They came back with a big win of their own in game four, and it was because of Stan The Man. The Man was only 23 years old at the time, so he was more of a kid. But that voice at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field had spoken: "Here comes That Man, again!"
Stan Musial hit a two-run home run in the top of the first. The crowd must not have minded, even if it was against the home team. He singled and scored in the top of the third for good measure. When it was all over, Musial had three hits in four at-bats, and the Cardinals had a 5-1 win. The 1944 Fall Classic was tied at two. But not for long.
Cooper got his revenge against Galehouse in the crucial fifth game, winning it, 2-0. Stan got a hit and a walk, but didn't get an RBI or a run scored. But the important thing was St. Louis was in the driver's seat at this point. I'm talking about the Cardinals, by the way!
It was one of the Cardinals lesser stars, Emil Verban, that went 3-3 at the dish with an RBI in game six. But was the pitching of Max Lanier and Ted Wilks that got the Cardinals the win at the 1944 Baseball Crown. They combined on a three-hitter, Lanier the win and Wilks the save. The final score was 3-1, Cards and this "All St. Louis" affair was over in six games. Three of them were pitching duels.
The Cardinals went on to win the Fall Classic again in 1946. From there, they did not win again until 1964. Actually, they never made it back to the Fall Classic until that year earlier. The Giants and Dodgers and Braves got too strong. The Browns finished about .500 the next season, and even had a one-armed outfielder named Pete Gray. But by 1954, the team had moved to Baltimore. They did not make it back to the World Series until 1966.
But, in 1944, it was "Meet Me In St. Louis!"
And root, root, root for the "home" team, right? Hard not to in '44!
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