The 1943 Fall Classic began the tradition of highlight films presented. It was implemented as a way of showing the troops overseas the action that some of them had missed. Like Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio. A great way to boast moral!
So in '43, it was the Cards and Yankees in a rematch of the previous year's showdown. Stan Musial was there for St. Louis. New York wanted some revenge, and I'm sure if Joe DiMaggio got to see this he was thrilled. Nothing like seeing your buddies get revenge, eh?
The highlights started with Spud Chandler pitching to Lou Klein. Top of the first at Yankee Stadium. Klein got under one and sent it to Johnny Lindell in centre. Joe DiMaggio's position! The Yankees went on to win this game 4-2. It was not too exciting an affair, but at least it's there, on film. Preserved forever!
The 1943 World Series lasted just five games. The Yankees, led by Chandler's five straight strikeouts in the fifth game, took care of St. Louis. But, it was a very close Fall Classic. The only game not decided by one or two runs was New York's 6-2 win in game three. And the last two games, won by New York of course, were 2-1 and 2-0 pitcher's duels.
Neither team was playing with a full deck, and major league baseball would not be back to that until the 1946 season, when DiMaggio and Williams returned. Within two seasons, each would play in the Fall Classic.
The end of World War II did not see the end of these highlight reels, however. They would be shown in theatres, and in schools, and help make the World Series the big event that it is today. The 1943 film lasted just over twenty-two minutes, and was by no means a masterpiece. Although, they inserted a nice inspirational message from Babe Ruth himself to our brave folk fighting the good fight! But they soon found ways to make the World Series films more interesting. The films themselves would be narrated by such legends as Vince Scully, Bob Prince and Mel Allen. Highlights of All-Star games found their way in there. By 1958, it was in colour. 1982 saw them ditch the film, and go with television highlights. And, long before the day in age (ala DVD's) of different angles, the makers of these wonderful videos used alternative views. In the day and age before the satellite television, you could finally get a chance to see your favourite player on the grand stage. And you'd get some nice interviews, along the way! As baseball expanded the playoff formats to American and National League Series, they too, eventually made their way into these highlight packages!
The Fall Classic provides a distraction from the grim realities of some of our darkest times:
Think, 1989, San Francisco and Oakland, The Quake. Even though it was a sweep, it was something to watch and try to forget about all the devastation and deaths caused before the day of game three. A game that, of course, had to be delayed!
Think 2001, New York and Arizona, and the World Trade Center attacks.
The same was true during the second World War. Some of the players had to leave, but baseball wasn't about to go with them. The Show had to go on, as they say. And with the highlight reels finding their way overseas, baseball became prevalent during that tough time. Proof, once again, of baseball's enduring legacy of The National Pastime! Would you rather watch this, or see Babe Ruth again?
Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.
Fonseca, Lew, director. The World Series. Major League Baseball Productions, 1943. DVD.
Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.
Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 15 Mar. 2015.
So in '43, it was the Cards and Yankees in a rematch of the previous year's showdown. Stan Musial was there for St. Louis. New York wanted some revenge, and I'm sure if Joe DiMaggio got to see this he was thrilled. Nothing like seeing your buddies get revenge, eh?
The highlights started with Spud Chandler pitching to Lou Klein. Top of the first at Yankee Stadium. Klein got under one and sent it to Johnny Lindell in centre. Joe DiMaggio's position! The Yankees went on to win this game 4-2. It was not too exciting an affair, but at least it's there, on film. Preserved forever!
The 1943 World Series lasted just five games. The Yankees, led by Chandler's five straight strikeouts in the fifth game, took care of St. Louis. But, it was a very close Fall Classic. The only game not decided by one or two runs was New York's 6-2 win in game three. And the last two games, won by New York of course, were 2-1 and 2-0 pitcher's duels.
Neither team was playing with a full deck, and major league baseball would not be back to that until the 1946 season, when DiMaggio and Williams returned. Within two seasons, each would play in the Fall Classic.
The end of World War II did not see the end of these highlight reels, however. They would be shown in theatres, and in schools, and help make the World Series the big event that it is today. The 1943 film lasted just over twenty-two minutes, and was by no means a masterpiece. Although, they inserted a nice inspirational message from Babe Ruth himself to our brave folk fighting the good fight! But they soon found ways to make the World Series films more interesting. The films themselves would be narrated by such legends as Vince Scully, Bob Prince and Mel Allen. Highlights of All-Star games found their way in there. By 1958, it was in colour. 1982 saw them ditch the film, and go with television highlights. And, long before the day in age (ala DVD's) of different angles, the makers of these wonderful videos used alternative views. In the day and age before the satellite television, you could finally get a chance to see your favourite player on the grand stage. And you'd get some nice interviews, along the way! As baseball expanded the playoff formats to American and National League Series, they too, eventually made their way into these highlight packages!
The Fall Classic provides a distraction from the grim realities of some of our darkest times:
Think, 1989, San Francisco and Oakland, The Quake. Even though it was a sweep, it was something to watch and try to forget about all the devastation and deaths caused before the day of game three. A game that, of course, had to be delayed!
Think 2001, New York and Arizona, and the World Trade Center attacks.
The same was true during the second World War. Some of the players had to leave, but baseball wasn't about to go with them. The Show had to go on, as they say. And with the highlight reels finding their way overseas, baseball became prevalent during that tough time. Proof, once again, of baseball's enduring legacy of The National Pastime! Would you rather watch this, or see Babe Ruth again?
References
Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.
Fonseca, Lew, director. The World Series. Major League Baseball Productions, 1943. DVD.
Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.
Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.
Seaver, Tom, and Martin Appel. Great Moments in Baseball. New York, NY: Carol Pub. Group, 1992. Print.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 15 Mar. 2015.
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