World Series, Game One Recap
Hal Newhouser
New York (AP) Oct. 1, 1947
The Cards traveled to New York as the heavy favorites to claim their third World Series title in 6 seasons. On the mound for the underdogs was the hottest pitcher in the major leagues in Hal Newhouser with a 9 game winning streak under his belt after his acquisition from Detroit. Prince Hal would see familiar faces in the St. Louis lineup with ex-Tigers Hank Greenberg and Roy Cullenbine playing vital roles in the teams amazing offensive machine.
St. Louis scored an amazing 999 runs during the regular season, 6.49 R/G, hit a collective .289, a team OBP of .367, and a SLG of .440, all major league bests. The opposition Yankees had through several trade acquisitions, Clyde Shoun from Cincy, Lefty Wilkie from Pittsburgh and the June 29th blockbuster with Detroit that brought over Newhouser, culled together the Major League's best pitching staff. Conceding a Major League low 624 runs, 4.05 R/G, the immovable object would do battle with the irresistible force.
Newhouser, 16-8, 2.61 ERA would faceoff in game one against the Redbirds Murry Dickson, 19-9, 3.91 ERA, a bit of a surprise decision as he had been the teams number three starter most of the season.
After a scoreless first inning, Dickson conceded a leadoff single to LF Charlie Keller. A groundout to SS by Phil Rizzuto advanced the runner and RF Elmer Valo's double down the rightfield line brought the packed crowd roaring to it's feet as the opening blow was struck. Keller crossed the home plate, Yankees up 1-0. 1B Billy Johnson ground out to SS moving Valo to third. With 2 outs, Dickson gave 2B Joe Gordon nothing but junk walking him and bringing up pitcher Newhouser. Newhouser beat the odds and laced a double to deep center field, a leaden footed Cullenbine watching helplessly as the ball rolled to the fence scoring both runners. After 3B Jimmy Outlaw flew out to shallow left field the Yankees had opened their accounts with a 3-0 lead.
Bottom of the third, C Yogi Berra grounds out to second, CF Joe DiMaggio takes the free pass to first base and Keller drills a Dickson fastball down the right field line for a three-bagger, scoring the Yankee Clipper. Scooter singles to left and Keller waltzes home. Dickson continues to struggle, walking Valo, two on and only one out. Valo is forced out on Johnson's grounder to SS, leaving runners on the corners and two out. Dickson chooses to pitch to Gordon this time to his regret as Flash singles smartly to centerfield over a leaping Dusak and scores Rizzuto. Newhouser flies out to end the 3rd, Yankees in complete control, 6-0.
Moving to the bottom of the 5th, score unchanged and Dickson still hurling. Keller taps one to the pitcher for out one. Rizzuto and Valo follow with singles. Johnson moves the runners up a notch with a grounder to the Octopus. Gordon's tantalizing roller to third is muffed by Kurowski and a late, wild throw to first scores both baserunners and puts Gordon on. Superman Hal, a career .189 hitter confounds his opposition number by scorching a double down the rightfield line scoring Gordon and bringing his RBI total to three for the night. Outlaw lines out to Dusak to close out the inning. Yankees 9, Cards 0.
7th inning, Yankees at bat and Cards rookie reliever Glenn Elliott fulfilling every young boys dream of pitching in a World Series. Not the situation he would have envisioned in that fantasy, mopping up in a 9-0 blowout. Elliott had made 4 appearances and thrown 6 innings after his September callup, allowing 3 unearned runs and impressed management enough to gain a spot on the postseason roster. After putting down Rizzuto and pinch-hitter Snuffy Stirnweiss, Johnson singled and scampered home on pinch-hitter Steve Souchok's double to the gap in left-center. After the 7th, Yankees 10, Cards 0.
Top of the 9th and Newhouser not breaking a sweat, three outs from a shutout of this offensive Colossus. Cagey vet Greenberg works a walk and and 3B Whitey Kurowski tags a fat pitch to the warning track in right-center for a triple scoring Hammerin' Hank. Cullenbine goes down swinging then pinch-hitter Del Rice's single to left scores Kurowski. Frank Hiller is called in from the dugout to close out the game and he has little trouble finishing off Marty Marion and Clyde Kluttz. The first game of the 1947 World Series is in the books and it is a shocker as the underdogs have struck a mighty blow against Goliath with a 10-2 thrashing.
Game Notes: A cold, wet, windy day at Yankees Stadium. Game was delayed 54 minutes in the 4th inning due to a heavy downpour. Player of the Game, Hal Newhouser went 8 and a third, gave up 7 hits and two runs and fanned 10 while issuing only one walk. Stellar performance. Prince Hal also smacked a pair of doubles and drove in 3 runs. One of the finest individual performances in World Series history! Also, 2B Joe Gordon keyed the offense with a pair of RBI singles and a walk, scoring 2 runs and picking up 3 RBI.