|
Clinch
Boston Globe, September 1, 1941
RED SOX CLINCH THE PENNANT!
With 94-38 Record, Sox Lead League By 27 Games
BOSTON--By now, nobody should have been surprised to read the news that the Boston Red Sox clinched the American League pennant. Savvy baseball aficionados would have predicted that occurrence weeks ago.
What might surprise them, however, is the fact that the Red Sox ended the race before the calendar turned to September. No team in the history of major league baseball has ever ended a league contest sooner.
The Sox' 6-5 victory over the St. Louis Browns was not a pretty one, with both starting pitchers being thrashed in the early innings, but it was a victory nonetheless.
It was, in fact, the 26th victory of the season for the Red Sox' ace, Iron Mike O'Farrell and, as usual, O'Farrell worked all nine innings. In a feat of endurance that would have impressed the rooter of O'Farrell's father's day, Mike has completed what he started 21 consecutive times.
Not surprisingly, O'Farrell leads the junior circuit with 316 innings pitched and 30 complete games, and his victory total has been tops in the league for some time. Among National Leaguers, only Dizzy Dean of the Cardinals has won more games (27) or pitched as many complete games (30), and only Dean and the Cubs' Satchel Paige have thrown more innings (321 apiece).
Securing the pennant so early gives manager Bill Carrigan the delightful luxury of working O'Farrell and the other Red Sox regulars much less frequently during September. "We plan on playing the starters enough to keep them sharp, but we would also like to give some of our younger players a chance to show what they can do," the veteran pilot said. "We'd be fools to overwork someone and have them tired when the World Series rolls around."
The Red Sox celebrated their American League championship with a gusto that respected the achievement, but also with a restraint that indicated that the players realize their job is not complete.
"Sure, we are excited about winnng the pennant," team leader Lou Gehrig said. "We also realize our season isn't complete unless we win the World Series."
Gehrig's broad, lined face softened as he smiled.
"You'll sure see us celebrate then."
|