The 1948 Red Sox Season
A deep dive into the Boston Red Sox's pivotal 1948 campaign, marked by a fierce pennant race and a dramatic tie-breaker loss.
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Season Overview
A Near Miss
The 1948 Boston Red Sox concluded their Major League Baseball season with a formidable record of 96 wins and 59 losses. This performance placed them in a tie for first place in the American League alongside the Cleveland Indians, forcing a decisive one-game playoff to determine the league champion.
Historic Broadcasts
This season marked a significant milestone as it was the first time Red Sox games were broadcast on television. Viewers could follow the action through alternating broadcasts on WBZ-TV and WNAC-TV, with Jim Britt and Tom Hussey providing commentary. The inaugural televised game occurred on July 2, 1948, a contest against the Philadelphia Athletics.
Offseason Maneuvers
Key Acquisitions
In December 1947, the Red Sox executed a significant trade with the St. Louis Browns. This transaction brought prominent players to Boston, including infielder Vern Stephens, utility player Billy Hitchcock, and pitchers Jack Kramer and Ellis Kinder. The deal involved a substantial financial outlay of $375,000 and the transfer of eleven Red Sox players.
Amateur Signings
Prior to the commencement of the 1948 season, the Red Sox organization secured the services of several amateur free agents. Notable among these signings were Milt Bolling and pitcher Bob Smith, indicating strategic investments in developing future talent.
The Regular Season Battle
Pennant Pursuit
The 1948 season was characterized by an intense three-way race for the American League pennant. The Boston Red Sox, alongside the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians, engaged in a prolonged and competitive struggle throughout the regular season. By its conclusion, both Boston and Cleveland had achieved identical records of 96 wins and 58 losses, necessitating a playoff to decide the league's representative in the World Series.
The Tie-Breaker Showdown
October Classic
The American League's first-ever one-game playoff took place on Monday, October 4, 1948, at Boston's iconic Fenway Park. Manager Joe McCarthy selected pitcher Denny Galehouse, who had posted an 8-7 record, as the starter. Despite Galehouse's previous success against Cleveland in relief, the Indians ultimately prevailed with a 8-3 victory. Key offensive contributions for Cleveland included Ken Keltner's single, double, and a crucial three-run home run. McCarthy later cited a lack of rested pitching arms as a factor, though players like Mel Parnell and Ellis Kinder reportedly felt ready to pitch.
1948 American League Standings
Final League Placement
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Indians | 97 | 58 | .626 | — | 48–30 | 49–28 |
| Boston Red Sox | 96 | 59 | .619 | 1 | 55–23 | 41–36 |
| New York Yankees | 94 | 60 | .610 | 2½ | 50–27 | 44–33 |
| Philadelphia Athletics | 84 | 70 | .545 | 12½ | 36–41 | 48–29 |
| Detroit Tigers | 78 | 76 | .506 | 18½ | 39–38 | 39–38 |
| St. Louis Browns | 59 | 94 | .386 | 37 | 34–42 | 25–52 |
| Washington Senators | 56 | 97 | .366 | 40 | 29–48 | 27–49 |
| Chicago White Sox | 51 | 101 | .336 | 44½ | 27–48 | 24–53 |
Head-to-Head Records
Performance Against Opponents
| 1948 American League Record vs. Opponents | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | BOS | CWS | CLE | DET | NYY | PHA | SLB | WSH | |||||
| Boston | — | 14–8 | 11–12 | 15–7 | 14–8 | 12–10 | 15–7 | 15–7 | |||||
| Chicago | 8–14 | — | 6–16 | 8–14 | 6–16 | 6–16 | 8–13–1 | 9–12–1 | |||||
| Cleveland | 12–11 | 16–6 | — | 13–9 | 10–12 | 16–6 | 14–8–1 | 16–6 | |||||
| Detroit | 7–15 | 14–8 | 9–13 | — | 9–13 | 12–10 | 11–11 | 16–6 | |||||
| New York | 8–14 | 16–6 | 12–10 | 13–9 | — | 12–10 | 16–6 | 17–5 | |||||
| Philadelphia | 10–12 | 16–6 | 6–16 | 10–12 | 10–12 | — | 18–4 | 14–8 | |||||
| St. Louis | 7–15 | 13–8–1 | 8–14–1 | 11–11 | 6–16 | 4–18 | — | 10–12 | |||||
| Washington | 7–15 | 12–9–1 | 6–16 | 6–16 | 5–17 | 8–14 | 12–10 | — | |||||
Opening Day Lineup
The Starting Nine
The Red Sox commenced their 1948 campaign with the following starting lineup:
- CF: Dom DiMaggio
- 3B: Johnny Pesky
- LF: Ted Williams
- 1B: Stan Spence
- SS: Vern Stephens
- 2B: Bobby Doerr
- RF: Sam Mele
- C: Birdie Tebbetts
- P: Joe Dobson
Team Roster
Key Personnel
The 1948 Boston Red Sox roster featured a blend of established stars and supporting players:
Player Statistics
Batting Performance
Key offensive statistics for the starting players:
| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Birdie Tebbetts | 128 | 446 | 125 | .280 | 5 | 68 |
| 1B | Billy Goodman | 127 | 445 | 138 | .310 | 1 | 66 |
| 2B | Bobby Doerr | 140 | 527 | 150 | .285 | 27 | 111 |
| SS | Vern Stephens | 155 | 635 | 171 | .285 | 29 | 137 |
| 3B | Johnny Pesky | 143 | 565 | 159 | .281 | 3 | 55 |
| LF | Ted Williams | 137 | 509 | 188 | .369 | 25 | 127 |
| CF | Dom DiMaggio | 155 | 648 | 185 | .285 | 9 | 87 |
| RF | Stan Spence | 114 | 391 | 92 | .235 | 12 | 61 |
Other notable batters include Wally Moses (.259 AVG, 2 HR, 29 RBI) and Sam Mele (.233 AVG, 2 HR, 25 RBI).
Pitching Excellence
Key statistics for the starting pitchers:
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Dobson | 38 | 245.1 | 16 | 10 | 3.56 | 116 |
| Mel Parnell | 35 | 212.0 | 15 | 8 | 3.14 | 77 |
| Jack Kramer | 29 | 205.0 | 18 | 5 | 4.35 | 72 |
| Ellis Kinder | 28 | 178.0 | 10 | 7 | 3.74 | 53 |
Other pitchers contributing included Denny Galehouse (8-8, 4.00 ERA) and Mickey Harris (7-10, 5.30 ERA).
Farm System Affiliates
Developing Talent
The Red Sox maintained a robust minor league system in 1948, with affiliates across various levels:
- AAA: Louisville Colonels (American Association)
- AA: Birmingham Barons (Southern Association)
- A: Scranton Red Sox (Eastern League)
- B: Lynn Red Sox (New England League), Roanoke Red Sox (Piedmont League)
- C: El Paso Texans (Arizona–Texas League), Auburn Cayugas (Border League), San Jose Red Sox (California League), Oneonta Red Sox (Canadian–American League)
- D: Milford Red Sox (Eastern Shore League), Oroville Red Sox (Far West League), Valley Rebels (Georgia–Alabama League), Wellsville Red Sox (PONY League)
League champions within the system included Birmingham, Scranton, Oneonta, and Milford.
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References
References
- Milt Bolling page at Baseball Reference
- Bob Smith page at Baseball Reference
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