Box score from the past (10.15.46)

Poor Johnny Pesky. Last week I posted about how the Pole came to bear his name, and the tale of him hitting a walk off home run around his pole to give Mel Parnell the victory. But he has a more dubious claim to Red Sox history. In game #7 of the 1946 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Red Sox went up 1-0 in the top of the 1st inning, but fell behind 3-1 by the end of the 5th. They stormed back with 2 runs in the top of the 8th to tie the game. In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Cardinals’ Enos Slaughter led off with a single. The next 2 batters were retired, and their manager called for the hit and run. Walker then hits a line drive to Leon Culberson, who had replaced Dom Dimaggio who left the game with an injury. Culberson throws to Pesky for the relay. Pesky either checked Walker at first before firing home, or he was so shocked to see Slaughter dashing for home that he hesitated long enough for Slaughter to make it into home safe. The play has been dubbed ‘Slaughter’s Mad Dash.’ It would be 21 years before the Red Sox made it back to the World Series, and another 37 years after that before a World Series trophy would land in Boston.