The Yankees Bobby Brown And Indians Lou Boudreau In A Close Play At Third Base – 1949

Safe!
New York – Umpire Joe Paparella announces his decision as Lou Boudreau of the Cleveland Indians slides into third on Allie Clark’s pinch single in the 7th inning at Yankee Stadium June 18. Bobby Brown, New York Yankees third baseman takes the throw, Yankees won 6-3. photo credit: Acme 6-18-49

With all that dust flying how could umpire Paparella make an accurate call?

Dale Mitchell was the next hitter and he lined out to right field to end the inning, stranding Boudreau and Clark on base. This game saw the Yankees ace Vic Raschi run his record to 11-1 by defeating the Indians Satchel Paige.

32-year-old player-manager Lou Boudreau was the American League MVP in 1948. The Indians would go on to win the World Series, so expectations were high for 1949.

During the Indians championship season, Boudreau batted .355 with 199 hits, while stroking 18 home runs and driving in 106 runs. Boudreau accomplished this while drawing 98 walks and striking out only nine times in 676 plate appearances. To put that into perspective, it takes Yankees whiff king  Joey Gallo about four games to strike out the same number of times Boudreau did in an entire season.

1949 was a letdown for Boudreau as he hit only four home runs with 60 RBI’s and a .284 average. But it wasn’t just Boudreau who faltered. Starting pitchers Bob Feller, Early Wynn and Gene Bearden finished a combined five games over .500 with a 34-29 record. The previous year Feller and Bearden won 19 and 20 games respectively. Early Wynn played for the Washington Senators in 1948. Only Bob Lemon improved on his 20 win 1948 campaign, by posting a 22-10 record in 1949.

The Indians finished a disappointing 89-65 in third place, eight games behind the New York Yankees.

1948 was the last time the Cleveland Indians won the World Series.