Livingston County League Restablished After 22-Year Layoff

[batted balls]

Sept. 28, 1947

American Standings

Team W L PCT GB
Blackstone Bears 111 42 .725 --
Forrest Trappers 89 64 .582 22.0
Emington Patriots 85 68 .556 26.0
Long Point Pirates 75 78 .490 36.0
Flanagan Falcons 71 82 .464 40.0
St. Paul Saints 71 82 .464 40.0
Cayuga Braves 55 98 .359 56.0
Graymont Giants 55 98 .359 56.0

National Standings

Team W L PCT GB
Cornell Cardinals 100 53 .654 --
Odell Rams 94 59 .614 6.0
Saunemin Eagles 92 61 .601 8.0
Fairbury Hawks 80 73 .523 20.0
Cullom Chargers 79 74 .516 21.0
Pontiac Indians 66 87 .431 34.0
Chatsworth Blue Jays 53 100 .346 47.0
Dwight Trojans 48 105 .314 52.0

[batted balls]

Sept. 29, 1947

Blackstone Bears' left fielder Ted Williams hit the cover off the ball all year long and today picked up the American League batting crown.

The 29-year-old Williams hit .372 with 38 home runs and 154 RBIs. He also delivered 202 hits, including 37 doubles and nine triples. Playing in 148 games, Williams shattered the LCL record for runs scored with 167. The old mark was 157 set by Ty Cobb.

Williams won the title by virtue of going 2-for-3 in the final game of the regular season. The left-hander hitter edged Emington's Dale Mitchell, who went 1-for-3 in his finale, and ended the year at .371. Mitchell set an NL record by hitting in 33 consecutive games. Dwight's Cy Seymour holds the LCL record with a 50-game hitting streak in 1904.

"I'm thrilled to win the batting title," said Williams. "But, I'm looking forward to the LCL World Series even more."

Williams and his Blackstone teammates open Series play Tuesday against Cornell.

Batting AVG
T. Williams BST .372
D. Mitchell EMG .371
S. Musial BST .340
J. Pesky BST .332
Y. Berra FOR .320

[batted balls]

Sept. 29, 1947

Dom Dallessandro of the Fairbury Hawks capped a great season by winning the National batting crown. The 33-year-old Dallessandro, who hit .325, proved to be a tough out for opposing pitchers all year long.

Included in his stats were 131 hits, 12 home runs and 66 RBIs. He also scored 63 runs and played in 122 games.

"This is definitely the high point of my playing career," said Dallessandro.

Batting AVG
D. Dallessandro FAR .325
D. Ennis COR .322
H. Peck PON .309
A. Dark ODE .307
E. Valo ODE .301

[batted balls]

American
League Batting Leaderboards
Batting AVG
T. Williams BST .372
D. Mitchell EMG .371
S. Musial BST .340
J. Pesky BST .332
Y. Berra FOR .320
On-Base PCT
T. Williams BST .505
A. Galan BST .443
J. Mize BST .413
S. Musial BST .411
G. Hatton BST .402
Slugging PCT
T. Williams BST .683
J. Mize BST .683
S. Musial BST .636
C. Keller FLA .523
J. DiMaggio FOR .517
On-Base + Slugging
T. Williams BST 1.188
J. Mize BST 1.095
S. Musial BST 1.046
C. Keller FLA .921
J. DiMaggio FOR .887

At-Bats
J. Robinson STP 626
S. Musial BST 612
R. Ashburn STP 591
C. Gillenwater GRA 577
B. Doerr LP 575
Runs
T. Williams BST 167
S. Musial BST 150
J. Mize BST 117
J. Pesky BST 114
A. Galan BST 113
Hits
D. Mitchell EMG 213
S. Musial BST 208
T. Williams BST 202
J. Pesky BST 181
R. Ashburn STP 169

Total Bases
S. Musial BST 389
T. Williams BST 371
J. Mize BST 316
C. Keller FLA 275
J. DiMaggio FOR 274

Doubles
S. Musial BST 39
T. Williams BST 37
A. Galan BST 29
G. Kell STP 29
G. Hermanski EMG 28
Triples
J. Pesky BST 13
S. Musial BST 11
P. Rizzuto STP 11
R. Ashburn STP 10
G. Hermanski EMG 9

Home Runs
J. Mize BST 54
S. Musial BST 40
T. Williams BST 38
C. Keller FLA 35
J. DiMaggio FOR 26
Runs Batted In
T. Williams BST 154
S. Musial BST 151
J. Mize BST 146
C. Keller FLA 119
J. DiMaggio FOR 91
Stolen Bases
G. Hermanski EMG 26
R. Ashburn STP 18
J. Robinson STP 17
G. Hatton BST 14
V. Stephens FOR 13
Bases-On-Balls
T. Williams BST 151
A. Galan BST 139
C. Keller FLA 115
B. Salkeld BST 102
G. Hatton BST 101


National
League Batting Leaderboards
Batting AVG
D. Dallessandro FAR .325
D. Ennis COR .322
H. Peck PON .309
A. Dark ODE .307
E. Valo ODE .301
On-Base PCT
F. Baker FAR .426
E. Valo ODE .417
F. Fain ODE .413
D. Dallessandro FAR .405
P. Reiser PON .397
Slugging PCT
D. Ennis COR .592
T. Kluszewski SAU .525
R. Northey ODE .514
J. Gordon COR .506
K. Keltner SAU .506
On-Base + Slugging
D. Ennis COR .955
R. Northey ODE .882
D. Dallessandro FAR .876
K. Keltner SAU .865
J. Gordon COR .856


At-Bats
A. Dark ODE 659
L. Doby FAR 612
E. Waitkus DWT 600
L. Boudreau CTW 599
B. Dillinger COR 588
Runs
E. Valo ODE 110
D. Ennis COR 107
F. Baker FAR 101
L. Doby FAR 100
B. Dillinger COR 98
Hits
A. Dark ODE 202
D. Ennis COR 184
B. Dillinger COR 177
L. Boudreau CTW 176
L. Doby FAR 173

Total Bases
D. Ennis COR 338
L. Doby FAR 296
K. Keltner SAU 279
J. Gordon COR 273
A. Dark ODE 266
Doubles
S. Jorgensen FAR 39
A. Dark ODE 37
T. Kluszewski SAU 33
T. Henrich FAR 31
L. Boudreau CTW 30
Triples
B. Dillinger COR 16
L. Doby FAR 15
J. Priddy CUL 14
A. Dark ODE 12
D. Ennis COR 11

Home Runs
D. Ennis COR 36
J. Gordon COR 32
K. Keltner SAU 31
E. Robinson FAR 29
R. Northey ODE 27
Runs Batted In
D. Ennis COR 112
J. Gordon COR 109
A. Pafko ODE 109
R. Northey ODE 106
K. Keltner SAU 105
Stolen Bases
B. Dillinger COR 38
E. Valo ODE 28
F. Baker FAR 25
D. Ennis COR 19
T. Tucker CUL 19
Bases-On-Balls
F. Fain ODE 134
F. Baker FAR 122
P. Reiser PON 108
E. Valo ODE 107
S. Hack DWT 105

[batted balls]

American
League Pitching Leaderboards
ERA
H. Brecheen EMG 2.44
J. Schmitz FOR 2.64
R. Prim BST 2.67
F. Hutchinson FOR 2.77
H. Newhouser BST 2.97
Wins
H. Brecheen EMG 24
H. Newhouser BST 23
R. Prim BST 22
F. Hutchinson FOR 21
J. Sain EMG 20
Losses
S. Overmire GRA 20
R. Embree CAY 19
B. Newsom FLA 19
B. Lee GRA 18
F. Ostermueller CAY 18
Winning PCT
B. Feller BST .800
E. Blackwell BST .792
R. Prim BST .759
H. Newhouser BST .742
H. Brecheen EMG .727
Saves
H. Bithorn LP 14
J. Krakauskas FLA 14
H. Manders GRA 14
A. Lopatka EMG 13
A. Herring FOR 12
Games Pitched
S. Roser GRA 72
C. Shoun CAY 61
A. Gerheauser EMG 57
M. Candini GRA 54
H. Manders GRA 53
Games Started
W. Spahn STP 39
V. Raschi STP 38
H. Brecheen EMG 37
L. Jansen FLA 36
J. Sain EMG 36
Complete Games
H. Brecheen EMG 27
H. Newhouser BST 27
M. Cooper LP 25
F. Hutchinson FOR 25
R. Prim BST 24
Shutouts
H. Brecheen EMG 6
E. Blackwell BST 4
S. Chandler FOR 4
J. Sain EMG 4
D. Fowler FLA 3
Innings Pitched
W. Spahn STP 331.0
H. Brecheen EMG 324.1
V. Raschi STP 311.2
J. Sain EMG 299.0
L. Jansen FLA 293.1
Hits Allowed
F. Ostermueller CAY 312
W. Spahn STP 308
M. Cooper LP 296
B. Newsom FLA 285
R. Embree CAY 283
Home Runs Allowed
L. Jansen FLA 40
M. Cooper LP 31
V. Raschi STP 28
E. Kinder LP 26
R. Embree CAY 25
Walks Allowed
V. Raschi STP 165
J. Schmitz FOR 139
R. Embree CAY 135
B. Newsom FLA 130
E. Blackwell BST 124
Strikeouts
H. Newhouser BST 189
H. Brecheen EMG 174
W. Spahn STP 163
E. Blackwell BST 161
V. Raschi STP 157
WHIP
R. Prim BST 1.09
H. Brecheen EMG 1.11
F. Hutchinson FOR 1.13
H. Newhouser BST 1.20
R. Meyer STP 1.23
Opponents AVG
B. Feller BST .218
J. Schmitz FOR .219
H. Brecheen EMG .222
R. Meyer STP .224
E. Blackwell BST .233


National League Pitching Leaderboards
ERA
D. Trout COR 2.29
J. Dobson SAU 2.44
E. Lopat ODE 2.51
D. Ferriss SAU 2.78
L. Brissie CUL 2.92
Wins
E. Lopat ODE 23
D. Trout COR 20
A. Houtteman ODE 19
J. Rigney SAU 19
V. Trucks COR 18
Losses
S. Jones CTW 21
J. Kramer FAR 17
V. Lombardi DWT 17
J. Flores PON 16
J. Ostrowski PON 16
Winning PCT
E. Lopat ODE .793
D. Galehouse COR .739
J. Beggs COR .684
A. Hollingsworth FAR .650
R. Scarborough CUL .650
Saves
E. Erautt CUL 16
L. Griffeth CTW 14
J. Hetki SAU 14
T. Wilks PON 10
H. Gumbert DWT 9
Games Pitched
A. Milnar CTW 75
J. Berry PON 72
L. Wallace DWT 64
H. Gumbert DWT 57
J. Humphries DWT 52
Games Started
A. Houtteman ODE 39
J. Ostrowski PON 37
H. Borowy PON 34
J. Dobson SAU 34
R. Gumpert COR 34
Complete Games
D. Trout COR 28
V. Trucks COR 26
E. Lopat ODE 25
B. Bevens SAU 24
J. Vander Meer CUL 21
Shutouts
D. Koslo CUL 3
E. Lopat ODE 3
J. Beggs COR 2
H. Borowy PON 2
J. Dobson SAU 2
Innings Pitched
A. Houtteman ODE 306.0
D. Trout COR 295.0
J. Rigney SAU 284.1
V. Trucks COR 275.1
J. Dobson SAU 269.0
Hits Allowed
K. Raffensberger FAR 315
J. Ostrowski PON 294
A. Houtteman ODE 290
H. Borowy PON 277
J. Kramer FAR 270
Home Runs Allowed
A. Houtteman ODE 33
E. Wynn FAR 30
V. Trucks COR 27
E. Lopat ODE 25
B. Bevens SAU 24
Walks Allowed
V. Lombardi DWT 131
J. Kramer FAR 129
J. Rigney SAU 123
J. Vander Meer CUL 123
S. Jones CTW 121
Strikeouts
J. Rigney SAU 158
A. Houtteman ODE 153
V. Trucks COR 144
J. Dobson SAU 139
B. Rush CUL 138
WHIP
E. Lopat ODE 1.06
J. Dobson SAU 1.16
J. Beggs COR 1.18
J. Rigney SAU 1.19
A. Houtteman ODE 1.20
Opponents AVG
J. Rigney SAU .210
J. Dobson SAU .212
E. Lopat ODE .215
L. Brissie CUL .221
J. Beggs COR .227
Opponents OBP
E. Lopat ODE .267
J. Dobson SAU .287
J. Beggs COR .290
J. Rigney SAU .293
A. Houtteman ODE .295

[batted balls]

Sept. 29, 1947

Blackstone, Ill.--The calendar has moved ahead a full year, yet the Livingston County League World Series looks as it did last fall.

Blackstone will represent the American League, while Cornell bears the National League hopes.

"We're familiar with one another," said Cardinals' manager Billy Southworth.

A season ago, Blackstone buried Cornell with a Series sweep.

"Things won't be that easy this time around," said Bears' manager Joe Cronin.

Blackstone, 112-42, wrapped up the AL pennant way back at the beginning of September. Cornell, 100-54, took a little longer, but the Cardinals believe they're playing their best ball of the season.

"We're relaxed and playing well all around," said pitcher Dizzy Trout (20-11, 2.29 ERA) who will start the Series opener.

Cornell is also boosted by the emergence of second-year players Del Ennis and Bill Nicholson. Ennis, 21, led the NL with 36 home runs and 112 RBIs. Nicholson hit 19 round-trippers, all against right-handed pitching.

"Those two guys have really helped us as a team," said second baseman Joe Gordon (.282-32-109).

Cornell also features team speed. Leadoff hitter Bob "Duke" Dillinger led the NL with 38 steals and 16 triples.

Blackstone will send righty Hal Newhouser (23-8, 2.97 ERA) to the hill for game one. Newhouser won two games against Cornell in last year's World Series.

The Bears' offense may well be the best in LCL history. Blackstone broke its own record by swatting 229 home runs during the regular season. First baseman Johnny Mize broke Babe Ruth's long-standing single season record by clouting 54 round-trippers.

League batting champion Ted Williams hit .372 with 38 homers and an AL-best 154 RBIs. Stan Musial hit .340 with 40 homers and 151 RBIs. Musial led the league with 39 doubles. Second baseman Johnny Pesky led the AL with 13 triples.

So what do the experts think?

"A year ago I went with the underdog," said veteran sports writer Max Mercy. "Not this time around. Cornell is an improved team, but Blackstone is the greatest offensive team in LCL history. I'll go with Blackstone in five."

Probably Pitching Matchups
Game One--Dizzy Trout (20-11) vs. Hal Newhouser (23-8)
Game Two--Virgil Trucks (18-14) vs. Ewell Blackwell (18-5)
Game Three--Randy Gumpert (15-9) or Denny Galehouse (12-6) vs. Bob Feller (16-4)

LCL World Series History

Blackstone Championships: 1908, 1909, 1912, 1946
Blackstone Pennants: 1908, 1909, 1912, 1914, 1915, 1946, 1947

Cornell Championships: 1906, 1921
Cornell Pennants: 1906, 1912, 1913, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1946, 1947

Previous World Series Matchups:
1912: Blackstone defeated Cornell 4-2
1946: Blackstone defeated Cornell 4-0

[batted balls]

Sept. 30, 1947

Blackstone, Ill.--It was ugly from the beginning.

Blackstone took the opening game of the 1947 Livingston County League World Series with a record-setting 18-0 victory over Cornell.

"There's nothing really to say," said Cornell manager Billy Southworth. "They handed it to us but good."

Southworth tried a bit of trickery that backfired. In the days leading up to game one, the Cornell manager insisted that right-hander Dizzy Trout would start for the Cardinals. When the opener began, however, it was righty Virgil Trucks that took the mound for Cornell.

It hardly mattered. Blackstone scored on its very first Series batter as leadoff hitter Augie Galan hit a solo home run. The Bears wound up scoring 10 runs in the first three innings off a beleaguered Trucks and reliever Gordon Maltzberger.

Blackstone scored nearly all of its runs via the homer. In fact, the Bears blasted a Series-record six home runs en route to their Series-record 18 runs. Even starting pitcher Hal Newhouser got into the act, doubling in the second inning and homering to lead off the third. It was the first time in LCL history that a pitcher had homered in a World Series game.

"Forget his pitching, that's all Hal wants to talk about," joked Blackstone manager Joe Cronin.

Yet, Newhouser's pitching was just fine as well. The left-hander shut out the Cardinals on seven hits. Newhouser walked three and struck out six. He is now 3-0 in Series games dating back to last season.

After Newhouser's homer, Maltzberger replaced Trucks. Yet, Cornell fared no better. After walking Galan, Johnny Pesky hit two-run homer off the Cardinal relief pitcher.

Ted Williams later homered off Maltzberger to lead off the sixth.

"I was awful out there," said Maltzberger.

Yet, no Cornell pitcher escaped Blackstone's power.

Left-handed Joe Page surrendered a grand slam to American League home run champion Johnny Mize in the seventh. Mize hit a record 54 homers during the regular season.

Right-hander Dick Mauney became the fourth Cornell pitcher of the game. He also became the fourth Cardinal hurler touched by the longball as Bill Salkeld swatted a three-run shot later in the seven-run seventh inning.

Salkeld, who now has three career World Series homers, said, "It was a day to remember."

Or to forget, if you're from Cornell.

LCL Notebook: Right-hander Ewell Blackwell will start game two for Blackstone. Cornell will send Randy Gumpert to the hill . . . Johnny Mize's grand slam was the first in LCL Series history . . . In addition to scoring a Series record 18 runs, the Bears' 16 hits also established a new mark. The old records were set in 1917 when St. Paul scored 14 runs on 14 hits against Fairbury . . . The old record for most home runs in one Series game came when Pontiac hit four homers during a 7-1 over Flanagan in the 1924 Series . . . Blackstone had Marvin Moore, the MVP of the 1908 Series, throw out the first pitch.


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cornell Cardinals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Blackstone Bears 2 5 3 0 0 1 7 0 X 18 16 0

Cornell AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
B. Dillinger 3B 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .250 0 0
H. Evers CF 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 .333 0 0
D. Ennis LF 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 .667 0 0
J. Gordon 2B 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 .000 0 0
a-B. Blattner PH, 2B 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 0 0
A. Seminick C 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 .500 0 0
J. Wyrostek RF 3 0 0 0 1 1 4 .000 0 0
T. Wright 1B 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .333 0 0
b-L. Moss PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 0 0
E. Miller SS 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000 0 0
V. Trucks P 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 0 0
G. Maltzberger P 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
J. Page P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
D. Mauney P 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
Totals 31 0 7 0 3 6 16

a - B. Blattner pinch hit for J. Gordon in the 8th
b - L. Moss pinch hit for T. Wright in the 9th

BATTING
Total Bases: A. Seminick 2, T. Wright, B. Dillinger, D. Ennis 2, H. Evers
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: J. Wyrostek, B. Blattner
GIDP: J. Gordon, E. Miller, L. Moss
Team LOB: 9

FIELDING
Double Plays: 2 (Gordon-Wright, Miller-Gordon-Wright)
PB: A. Seminick

Blackstone AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
A. Galan 3B 2 4 1 1 4 0 0 .500 1 1
J. Pesky SS 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 .600 1 2
S. Musial RF 5 1 0 0 1 0 3 .000 0 0
T. Williams LF 1 2 1 2 3 0 0 1.000 1 2
a-R. Kiner PH, LF 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .000 0 0
J. Mize 1B 5 1 3 5 0 0 1 .600 1 5
S. Spence CF 4 1 2 3 1 1 2 .500 0 3
G. Hatton 2B 4 0 2 0 0 0 4 .500 0 0
b-R. Cullenbine PH 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1.000 0 0
c-G. Myatt 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
B. Salkeld C 5 1 1 3 0 0 5 .200 1 3
H. Newhouser P 5 2 2 1 0 1 1 .400 1 1
Totals 37 18 16 17 11 2 17

a - R. Kiner pinch hit for T. Williams in the 7th
b - R. Cullenbine pinch hit for G. Hatton in the 7th
c - G. Myatt substituted for R. Cullenbine in the 8th

BATTING
Doubles: H. Newhouser (1, 2nd Inning off V. Trucks, 0 on, 1 out)
Home Runs: H. Newhouser (1, 3rd Inning off V. Trucks, 0 on, 0 outs) B. Salkeld (1, 7th Inning off D. Mauney, 2 on, 2 outs) J. Pesky (1, 3rd Inning off G. Maltzberger, 1 on, 0 outs) T. Williams (1, 6th Inning off G. Maltzberger, 0 on, 0 outs) A. Galan (1, 1st Inning off V. Trucks, 0 on, 0 outs) J. Mize (1, 7th Inning off J. Page, 3 on, 2 outs)
Total Bases: H. Newhouser 6, B. Salkeld 4, G. Hatton 2, J. Pesky 6, T. Williams 4, A. Galan 4, J. Mize 6, S. Spence 2, R. Cullenbine
2-out RBI: B. Salkeld, J. Mize
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: H. Newhouser, B. Salkeld, G. Hatton
GIDP: B. Salkeld, J. Mize
Team LOB: 7

FIELDING
Double Plays: 3 (Pesky-Mize, Pesky-Hatton-Mize, Pesky-Myatt-Mize)

Cornell IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
V. Trucks L (0-1) 2.0 7 8 7 5 0 2 78 37 31.50
G. Maltzberger 3.1 4 3 3 2 0 2 57 33 8.10
J. Page 1.1 3 4 4 2 1 1 37 22 27.01
D. Mauney 1.1 2 3 3 2 1 1 25 14 20.26

PITCHING
Game Score: V. Trucks 3
Batters Faced: V. Trucks 18, G. Maltzberger 14, J. Page 9, D. Mauney 7
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: V. Trucks 1-5, G. Maltzberger 4-4, J. Page 1-2, D. Mauney 1-1
Pitches - Strikes: V. Trucks 78-37, G. Maltzberger 57-33, J. Page 37-22, D. Mauney 25-14


Blackstone IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
H. Newhouser W (1-0) 9.0 7 0 0 3 6 0 145 93 0.00

PITCHING
Game Score: H. Newhouser 76
Batters Faced: H. Newhouser 34
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: H. Newhouser 11-7
Pitches - Strikes: H. Newhouser 145-93

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: H. Newhouser (shown below)
Ballpark: Blackstone Park
Weather: Clear skies (64 degrees), wind blowing in from left at 12 mph
Start Time: 1:05 pm
Time: 3:31
Attendance: 41770

[batted balls]

Oct. 1, 1947

Blackstone, Ill.--The Cornell Cardinals didn't fare much better in game two of the Livingston County League World Series than they did in the opener.

For the second straight day, Blackstone shut out Cornell and took a 2-0 Series lead. Wednesday, the Bears roared to a 10-0 victory behind the pitching of Ewell Blackwell.

"Most fans tend to overlook the strong pitching we get on nearly a daily basis," said Blackstone manager Joe Cronin. "But, today is yet another example of it."

Blackwell, 18-5 during the regular season, tossed a four-hitter. The right-hander walked only two while striking out nine.

"My arm felt alive today," said Blackwell. "It's easy to throw a good game when your offense puts runs on the scoreboard for you."

Scoring runs isn't usually a problem for Blackstone. The Bears led the LCL in nearly every offensive category this season. They showed why in Wednesday's game.

The Bears jumped out to a 1-0 when Stan Musial hit a first-inning solo home run off Cornell starter Randy Gumpert.

An inning later, Blackstone catcher Bill Salkeld singled home the Bears' second run.

In the fourth inning, center fielder Stan Spence hit a two-run homer off Gumpert. Blackwell singled to lead off the fifth and start a three-run Bear inning.

Finally, second baseman Grady Hatton capped the Bear scoring with a two-out, three-run homer off Cornell reliever Joe Page. Hatton, last year's World Series Most Valuable Player, has now hit safely in all six Series games he has played in.

If things weren't bad enough for Cornell, the Cardinals lost second baseman Joe Gordon for the remainder of the Series. Gordon, Cornell's cleanup hitter, broke his left wrist diving for a ball in the second inning.

"I dove all out for the ball and rolled over on my wrist," said Gordon. "It's painful, but not as painful as missing the rest of the World Series."

After a day off, the Series will resume Friday when the venue shifts to Cornell's Cardinal Field.

LCL Notebook: Blackstone has now hit nine home runs in two World Series games. That's the most is LCL Series history over that span . . . Grady Hatton is batting .529 with three homers and 10 RBIs in just six career Series games . . . Del Ennis' fourth-inning double was the first Cornell extra-base hit of the Series . . . With three hits in nine at-bats, Blackstone pitchers are batting for a higher average (.333) than all but two Cornell regulars . . . The victory extended Blackstone's Series winning streak to six games . . . Game three probables are right-hander Bob Feller for the Bears and righty Dizzy Trout for the Cardinals.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cornell Cardinals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
Blackstone Bears 1 1 0 2 3 0 3 0 X 10 11 0

Cornell AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
B. Dillinger 3B 4 0 1 0 0 3 0 .250 0 0
T. Wright 1B 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .286 0 0
D. Ennis LF 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .429 0 0
B. Nicholson RF 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000 0 0
J. Gordon 2B 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
a-B. Blattner 2B 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .000 0 0
J. Wyrostek CF 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 .000 0 0
A. Seminick C 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 .429 0 0
E. Miller SS 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 .000 0 0
R. Gumpert P 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
b-H. Evers PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 0 0
J. Page P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
G. Maltzberger P 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 0 0
Totals 29 0 4 0 2 9 9

a - B. Blattner substituted for J. Gordon in the 2nd
b - H. Evers pinch hit for R. Gumpert in the 6th

BATTING
Doubles: D. Ennis (1, 4th Inning off E. Blackwell, 0 on, 2 outs)
Total Bases: A. Seminick, T. Wright, B. Dillinger, D. Ennis 2
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: G. Maltzberger, E. Miller, B. Nicholson
GIDP: R. Gumpert
Team LOB: 4

BASERUNNING
SB: J. Wyrostek (1)

FIELDING
Errors: E. Miller
Double Plays: 1 (Miller-Gordon-Wright)


Blackstone AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
A. Galan 3B 4 1 2 0 1 0 0 .500 1 1
J. Pesky SS 5 1 1 1 0 0 2 .400 1 3
S. Musial RF 5 1 1 1 0 1 3 .100 1 1
T. Williams LF 2 2 1 1 2 0 0 .667 1 3
J. Mize 1B 3 1 2 1 1 0 1 .625 1 6
S. Spence CF 4 2 1 2 0 0 5 .375 1 5
G. Hatton 2B 4 1 1 3 0 0 3 .375 1 3
B. Salkeld C 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 .222 1 4
E. Blackwell P 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .250 0 0
Totals 35 10 11 10 4 1 15

BATTING
Home Runs: S. Musial (1, 1st Inning off R. Gumpert, 0 on, 2 outs) G. Hatton (1, 7th Inning off G. Maltzberger, 2 on, 2 outs) S. Spence (1, 4th Inning off R. Gumpert, 1 on, 1 out)
Total Bases: E. Blackwell, B. Salkeld, S. Musial 4, G. Hatton 4, J. Pesky, T. Williams, A. Galan 2, J. Mize 2, S. Spence 4
2-out RBI: B. Salkeld, S. Musial, G. Hatton
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: G. Hatton
GIDP: J. Pesky
Team LOB: 5

FIELDING
Double Plays: 1 (Blackwell-Pesky)


Cornell IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
R. Gumpert L (0-1) 5.0 9 7 7 2 1 2 82 48 12.60
J. Page 1.1 1 1 1 1 0 0 25 15 16.88
G. Maltzberger 1.2 1 2 2 1 0 1 23 16 9.00

PITCHING
Game Score: R. Gumpert 20
Batters Faced: R. Gumpert 25, J. Page 6, G. Maltzberger 8
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: R. Gumpert 10-3, J. Page 1-3, G. Maltzberger 1-4
Pitches - Strikes: R. Gumpert 82-48, J. Page 25-15, G. Maltzberger 23-16
Inherited Runners - Scored: G. Maltzberger 1-1


Blackstone IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
E. Blackwell W (1-0) 9.0 4 0 0 2 9 0 112 72 0.00

PITCHING
Game Score: E. Blackwell 86
Batters Faced: E. Blackwell 31
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: E. Blackwell 6-10
Pitches - Strikes: E. Blackwell 112-72

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: E. Blackwell (shown below)
Ballpark: Blackstone Park
Weather: Clear skies (57 degrees), wind blowing in from center at 12 mph
Start Time: 1:05 pm
Time: 2:31
Attendance: 41868
Special Notes: J. Gordon was injured in the second inning.

[batted balls]

Oct. 3, 1947

Cornell, Ill.--For seven innings, Cornell right-hander Dizzy Trout held Blackstone's potent offense in check. Then, the Bears broke loose.

Blackstone scored three eighth-inning runs and won 4-1. The victory leaves the Bears just one game away from their second straight Livingston County League World Series title.

"They're like lightening," said Trout. "They can strike anywhere and at any time."

Leading 1-0, Blackstone upped its lead when right fielder Stan Musial homered on the first pitch from Trout to open the eighth. It marked the second straight Series game Musial had homered.

"I was just trying to get on base to give us a start," Musial said.

Ted Williams followed Musial's homer with a line drive single to right.

"I was a little rattled by the home run," said Trout. "Knowing how the Series has been going, I didn't want us to fall furher behind."

Yet, that's exactly what happened. Trout wound up walking the next two hitters, Johnny Mize and Stan Spence, to load the bases. That brought up Bear second baseman Grady Hatton.

"Everybody knows Hatton's track record," said Trout.

Hatton--a career .519 Series hitter--singled home two more runs, giving Blackstone a commanding 4-0 lead.

That proved to be more than enough for Bear starter Bob Feller. Although he yielded an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth, Feller finished with a four-hitter. The hard-throwing right-hander walked four and struck out six.

Trout wound up giving up four runs on eight hits. He walked seven and struck out two.

Blackstone goes for the sweep and its fifth LCL World Series championship Saturday afternoon. The Bears will either start game one winner Hal Newhouser or 40-year-old veteran Ray Prim. Cornell manager Billy Southworth is undecided about his starting pitcher.

LCL Notebook: Bear second baseman Grady Hatton has hit in seven straight World Series games, dating back to last year . . . Stan Musial has just two Series hits, both home runs . . . Cornell's run in the eighth inning broke a 25-inning Series scoreless drought for the Cardinals . . . Buddy Blattner, a career .282 hitter, started in place of the injured Joe Gordon at second base for Cornell . . . Blackstone has now won seven consecutive World Series games. The Bears have hit at least one home run in each of those contests.


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Blackstone Bears 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 4 8 2
Cornell Cardinals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 0

Blackstone AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
A. Galan 3B 3 0 1 0 2 0 1 .444 1 1
c-W. Kurowski 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
J. Pesky SS 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .308 1 3
a-J. Heath PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 0 0
b-G. Myatt SS 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .000 0 0
S. Musial RF 5 1 1 1 0 0 2 .133 2 2
T. Williams LF 4 2 1 0 1 0 1 .429 1 3
J. Mize 1B 4 1 2 0 1 0 0 .583 1 6
d-R. Cullenbine 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 0 0
S. Spence CF 3 0 0 0 1 0 3 .273 1 5
G. Hatton 2B 3 0 1 2 1 0 2 .364 1 5
B. Salkeld C 3 0 2 1 1 0 2 .333 1 5
B. Feller P 3 0 0 0 0 2 9 .000 0 0
Totals 33 4 8 4 7 2 26

a - J. Heath pinch hit for J. Pesky in the 7th
b - G. Myatt substituted for J. Heath in the 7th
c - W. Kurowski substituted for A. Galan in the 9th
d - R. Cullenbine substituted for J. Mize in the 9th

BATTING
Doubles: J. Mize (1, 2nd Inning off D. Trout, 0 on, 1 out)
Home Runs: S. Musial (2, 8th Inning off D. Trout, 0 on, 0 outs)
Total Bases: B. Salkeld 2, S. Musial 4, G. Hatton, T. Williams, A. Galan, J. Mize 3
2-out RBI: B. Salkeld
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: , B. Feller 2, T. Williams, G. Myatt
GIDP: S. Musial
Sac Bunt: B. Feller
Team LOB: 11

FIELDING
Errors: B. Salkeld , A. Galan
Double Plays: 1 (Feller-Pesky-Mize)


Cornell AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
B. Dillinger 3B 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .182 0 0
T. Wright 1B 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 .273 0 1
D. Ennis LF 4 0 1 0 0 0 4 .364 0 0
B. Nicholson RF 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 .000 0 0
A. Seminick C 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .273 0 0
J. Wyrostek CF 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .143 0 0
B. Blattner 2B 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .200 0 0
a-M. Rackley PH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
b-D. Murtaugh 2B 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000 0 0
c-V. Wertz PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 0 0
E. Miller SS 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .000 0 0
D. Trout P 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 .000 0 0
Totals 30 1 4 1 4 6 16

a - M. Rackley pinch hit for B. Blattner in the 7th
b - D. Murtaugh substituted for M. Rackley in the 8th
c - V. Wertz pinch hit for D. Murtaugh in the 9th

BATTING
Total Bases: T. Wright, B. Blattner, D. Ennis, J. Wyrostek
2-out RBI: T. Wright
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: , D. Ennis 2
GIDP: E. Miller
Team LOB: 6

FIELDING
Double Plays: 1 (Wright-Miller-Wright)


Blackstone IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
B. Feller W (1-0) 9.0 4 1 0 4 6 0 97 64 0.00

PITCHING
Game Score: B. Feller 79
Batters Faced: B. Feller 34
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: B. Feller 9-9
Pitches - Strikes: B. Feller 97-64


Cornell IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
D. Trout L (0-1) 9.0 8 4 4 7 2 1 155 83 4.00

PITCHING
Game Score: D. Trout 50
Batters Faced: D. Trout 41
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: D. Trout 15-9
Pitches - Strikes: D. Trout 155-83


GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: B. Feller (shown below)
Ballpark: Cardinals Field
Weather: Partly Cloudy (58 degrees), wind blowing left to right at 22 mph
Start Time: 1:05 pm
Time: 2:27
Attendance: 41952

[batted balls]

Oct. 4, 1947

Cornell, Ill.--Just when it looked like a Cornell victory was possible, Stan Spence put in his two cents.

Spence hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth off Cardinal starter Virgil Trucks lifting the Blackstone Bears to an 8-6 victory. Thus, Blackstone completed its sweep of Cornell and claimed its fifth Livingston County League championship.

"It's a dream come true," said Spence, Blackstone's center fielder. "As I rounded the bases, I tried to drink in what it meant."

Earlier in the game, Spence had hit a solo home run. He wound up being named the Series Most Valuable Player by batting .400 with three home runs and eight RBIs.

Spence's second blast gave the lead back to Blackstone starter Hal Newhouser. Though shaky at times, Newhouser got the final three outs in the bottom of the ninth and earned his second Series win. Newhouser is now 4-0 lifetime in Series starts.

"I was far from my best today," said Newhouser. "But, the fellas continue to get the job done for me."

Staked to an early 4-0 lead, Newhouser failed to hold stubborn Cornell in check. The Cardinals rallied for three runs in the fourth inning, two more in the fifth and finally tied the game with a single run in the sixth.

"The problem was I didn't hold them in check," said Trucks, who wound up walking a career-high 11 men.

Cornell manager Billy Southworth allowed Trucks to stay in the game.

"Virgil is a fighter," said Southworth. "Besides, our bullpen hasn't exactly shut Blackstone down in the Series."

Buddy Blattner, starting his second straight game in place of the injured Joe Gordon, collected a pair of hits and drove home three Cardinal runs.

"Buddy is a guy we'll take a hard look at next spring," said Southworth.

Yet, in the end Spence's home run decided the Fall Classic.

"I'm so grateful to play for a team like this," said Spence afterward.

Blackstone fans are also grateful for his presence as well.

LCL Notebook: Blackstone second baseman Grady Hatton saw his seven-game Series hitting streak end with an 0-for-4 outing Saturday . . . The Bears have homered in eight straight Series games . . . Blackstone pitchers wound up 3-for-10 in the Series. Their combined .300 average was better than all but two Cornell players (Buddy Blattner and Del Ennis) . . . With Saturday's victory, Blackstone is now 20-11 in all-time LCL World Series play. Cornell holds a 19-32 mark. Blackstone and Cornell have played three World Series against each other. Blackstone has won all three . . . The Bears' five LCL Series titles are two more than the three each won by Fairbury, Odell and St. Paul . . . Blackstone's back-to-back championships are the first since Flangan won the 1923 and '24 LCL World Series. Blackstone won consecutive titles in 1908 and '09. St. Paul also accomplished the feat in 1919 and 1920. No LCL team has ever won three straight World Series.


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Blackstone Bears 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 8 8 1
Cornell Cardinals 0 0 0 3 2 1 0 0 0 6 10 0

Blackstone AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
A. Galan 3B 3 1 2 0 2 0 0 .500 1 1
c-W. Kurowski 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
J. Pesky SS 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 .267 1 3
a-J. Heath PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .000 0 0
b-G. Myatt SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
S. Musial RF 4 1 1 0 1 0 4 .158 2 2
T. Williams LF 3 2 1 1 1 0 3 .400 1 4
J. Mize 1B 5 0 1 2 0 0 4 .471 1 8
d-R. Cullenbine 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 0 0
S. Spence CF 4 2 3 3 1 0 0 .400 3 8
G. Hatton 2B 4 0 0 0 1 1 3 .267 1 5
B. Salkeld C 1 1 0 0 3 0 2 .308 1 5
H. Newhouser P 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 .333 1 1
Totals 28 8 8 6 11 2 23

a - J. Heath pinch hit for J. Pesky in the 8th
b - G. Myatt substituted for J. Heath in the 8th
c - W. Kurowski substituted for A. Galan in the 9th
d - R. Cullenbine substituted for J. Mize in the 9th

BATTING
Home Runs: S. Spence 2 (3, 5th Inning off V. Trucks, 0 on, 2 outs; 9th Inning off V. Trucks, 1 on, 2 outs)
Total Bases: S. Musial, T. Williams, A. Galan 2, J. Mize, S. Spence 9
2-out RBI: , S. Spence 2
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: B. Salkeld, S. Musial, J. Mize
GIDP: G. Hatton, J. Mize
Sac Bunt: H. Newhouser 2, J. Pesky
Sac Fly: T. Williams
Team LOB: 9

FIELDING
Errors: J. Pesky


Cornell AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI
B. Dillinger 3B 4 0 1 1 1 0 2 .200 0 1
T. Wright 1B 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .267 0 1
a-P. Ward 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
c-L. Moss PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 0 0
D. Ennis LF 5 0 1 0 0 0 3 .313 0 0
H. Evers CF 5 2 1 1 0 1 3 .222 0 1
A. Seminick C 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .267 0 0
B. Blattner 2B 4 1 2 3 0 1 0 .333 0 3
b-D. Murtaugh 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0
J. Wyrostek RF 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 .200 0 0
E. Miller SS 4 1 2 1 0 0 1 .154 0 1
V. Trucks P 3 0 0 0 0 0 4 .000 0 0
Totals 37 6 10 6 2 3 17

a - P. Ward substituted for T. Wright in the 9th
b - D. Murtaugh substituted for B. Blattner in the 9th
c - L. Moss pinch hit for P. Ward in the 9th

BATTING
Doubles: A. Seminick (1, 4th Inning off H. Newhouser, 1 on, 1 out) B. Blattner (1, 5th Inning off H. Newhouser, 1 on, 2 outs) E. Miller 2 (2, 4th Inning off H. Newhouser, 2 on, 1 out; 6th Inning off H. Newhouser, 0 on, 0 outs) D. Ennis (2, 1st Inning off H. Newhouser, 0 on, 2 outs) H. Evers (1, 5th Inning off H. Newhouser, 1 on, 1 out)
Total Bases: A. Seminick 2, T. Wright, B. Blattner 3, B. Dillinger, E. Miller 4, D. Ennis 2, J. Wyrostek, H. Evers 2
2-out RBI: B. Blattner
Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: B. Dillinger, D. Ennis, J. Wyrostek, H. Evers
Sac Bunt: V. Trucks
Team LOB: 7

FIELDING
Double Plays: 3 (Dillinger-Blattner-Wright, Trucks-Miller-Wright, Trucks-Wright)


Blackstone IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
H. Newhouser W (2-0) 9.0 10 6 6 2 3 0 139 91 3.00

PITCHING
Game Score: H. Newhouser 44
Batters Faced: H. Newhouser 40
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: H. Newhouser 16-8
Pitches - Strikes: H. Newhouser 139-91


Cornell IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA
V. Trucks L (0-2) 9.0 8 8 8 11 2 2 160 74 12.27

PITCHING
Game Score: V. Trucks 30
Batters Faced: V. Trucks 43
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: V. Trucks 10-12
Pitches - Strikes: V. Trucks 160-74
WP: V. Trucks 2


GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: S. Spence (shown below)
Ballpark: Cardinals Field
Weather: Partly Cloudy (56 degrees), wind blowing left to right at 12 mph
Start Time: 1:05 pm
Time: 3:00
Attendance: 41578

[batted balls]

Oct. 6, 1947

Pontiac, Ill.--With the Livingston County League 1947 World Series in the books, the American League Gold Glove team was announced Monday.

Catcher Bill Salkeld of Blackstone and second baseman Frankie Gustine of Emington were repeat winners from last year's team.

"Six different teams are represented, which says a lot," said veteran sports writer Max Mercy.

Emington, Long Point and Flanagan each held two spots on the Gold Glove roster.

Pitcher: Hank Wyse (Long Point Pirates)
Catcher: Bill Salkeld (Blackstone Bears)
First Baseman: Earl Torgeson (Emington Patriots)
Second Baseman: Frankie Gustine (Emington Patriots)
Third Baseman: George Kell (St. Paul Saints)
Shortstop: Buddy Kerr (Long Point Pirates)
Left Fielder: Charlie Keller (Flanagan Falcons)
Center Fielder: Goody Rosen (Flanagan Falcons)
Right Fielder: Al Zarilla (Cayuga Braves)

[batted balls]

Oct. 6, 1947

Pontiac, Ill.--When the National League Gold Glove team was announced, all nine of the recipients were first-time winners.

"It's interesting because two of the winners, Mickey Vernon and Lou Boudreau, were not wanted by their original teams," said veteran sports writer Max Mercy. "And both found a home in Chatsworth."

Vernon came to Chatsworth in a trade from Odell, while Boudreau joined the Blue Jays after being dealt from Forrest. Vernon was the NL Most Valuable Player last season.

Meanwhile, Saunemin landed three players on the Gold Glove team including two-thirds of the outfield spots.


Pitcher: Dave Ferriss (Saunemin Eagles)
Catcher: Buddy Rosar (Cullom Chargers)
First Baseman: Mickey Vernon (Chatsworth Blue Jays)
Second Baseman: Irv Hall (Pontiac Indians)
Third Baseman: Jim Tabor (Pontiac Indians)
Shortstop: Lou Boudreau (Chatsworth Blue Jays)
Left Fielder: Del Ennis (Cornell Cardinals)
Center Fielder: Dom DiMaggio (Saunemin Eagles)
Right Fielder: Johnny Lindell (Saunemin Eagles)

[batted balls]

Oct. 7, 1947

Pontiac, Ill.--For the first time in Livingston County League history, officials have handed out the Comeback Player of the Year Awards.

The inaugural repicients are Blackstone pitcher Ray Prim in the American League and Fairbury left fielder Dom Dallessandro in the National League.

Prim, 40, finished the season with a 22-7 record and a 2.67 ERA for the LCL champion Bears. He was also the starting and winning pitcher in this year's All-Star Game.

"I never thought I'd still be playing at this age," said Prim. "It's been an amazing run the past two seasons with a wonderful bunch of teammates."

Dallessandro of the Fairbury Hawks capped his season by winning the NL batting crown. The 33-year-old hit .325 with 12 home runs and 66 RBIs in 122 games.

"It's an honor to win this award," said Dallessandro. "Hopefully, it bodes well for the future."

[batted balls]

Oct. 8, 1947

Pontiac, Ill.--Flanagan right-hander Dick Fowler won the inaugural American League Rookie of the Year, league officials announced Wednesday.

Fowler finished with a 17-12 record in 33 starts for the Falcons. The 26-year-old posted a 3.42 ERA in 271 inning.

"It's exciting to win such an award," said Fowler. "Hopefully, this is a sign of good things to come in my career with the Flanagan Falcons."

Fowler outdistanced second-place finisher Richie Ashburn of St. Paul.

[batted balls]

Oct. 8, 1947

Pontiac, Ill.--The future looks bright for Fairbury center fielder Larry Doby.

The 23-year-old captured the inaugural National League Rookie of the Year Award Wednesday.

"This is a true thrill," said Doby. "I'd like to thank all my teammates and coaches as well as the great fans of the Fairbury Hawks."

Doby hit .283 with 25 home runs and 100 RBIs in his first season. The fleet center fielder also stole 11 bases and legged out 15 triples.

Saunemin Eagle first baseman Ted Kluszewski finished second in the voting.

[batted balls]

Oct. 9, 1947

Pontiac, Ill.--Emington's Harry Brecheen was voted the top pitcher in the American League and will be presented the 1947 Golden Arm Award.

Breechen, 32, compiled a 24-9 record with an ERA of 2.44 in 37 starts. The left-hander led the AL in wins, ERA and shutouts. He struck out 174 batters in 324.1 innings.

"To be recognized as the top pitcher in a great league like this is a humbling experience," said Breechen.

Breechen finished ahead of last year's winner, Hal Newhouser of Blackstone. Ray Prim, also of Blackstone, was third in the voting.

Breechen is the first Emington pitcher to win a Golden Arm.

[batted balls]

Oct. 10, 1947

Pontiac, Ill.--The National League announced Friday that Odell pitcher Ed Lopat has been chosen the Golden Arm Arm winner for 1947.

The Ram left-hander cruised to a outstanding 23-6 record. Lopat put up an impressive 2.51 ERA in his award-winning season. In 30 starts, he worked 261.1 innings. Lopat held opposing hitters to a .215 average.

"Winning this award means so much to me," said Lopat. "The only thing that could mean more would be to bring a World Series to the great Odell fans."

Cornell right-hander Dizzy Trout placed second in the balloting. Art Houtteman, Lopat's teammate, finished third.

Previous Odell pitchers to win the Golden Arm are Ed Walsh in 1908 and 1914, Stanley Coveleski in 1918 and 1919 and Wilbur Cooper in 1920.

[batted balls]

Oct. 11, 1947

Pontiac, Ill.--Blackstone left fielder Ted Williams capped a World Series-winning season by taking home the American League Most Valuable Player Award.

"Nineteen forty-seven will long live in my memory as a terrific year," said Williams.

The 29-year-old Wiliams led the AL in batting (.372), on-base percentage (.505), slugging (.683), OPS (1.188), RBIs (154), runs scored (167) and base on balls (151). In addition, Williams finished second in doubles (38), third in home runs (38) and fifth in triples (9).

"Any way you slice it, Williams put together one of the greatest seasons in LCL history," said veteran sports writer Max Mercy.

While Williams won the award, teammates Stan Musial and Johnny Mize finished second and third respectively. Musial led the league in extra-base hits (90) and doubles (39). Mize, last year's MVP and Triple Crown winner, set the single-season home run record with 54 round-trippers.

In addition to Mize and Williams, Marvin Moore (1907) and Young Upshaw (1909) won AL MVPs.

[batted balls]

Oct. 12, 1047

Pontiac, Ill.--Cornell left fielder Del Ennis became the youngest winner of the National League Most Valuable Player Award.

Ennis, 22, led the NL in home runs (36), RBIs (112), extra-base hits (71), total bases (338), slugging (.592) and OPS (.955). He finished runner-up for the batting title with a .322 average and 184 hits. Ennis was fourth in stolen bases (19) and fifth in triples (11).

"You don't expect to win something like this, especially so early in your career," said Ennis. "But, I'd still trade it for a World Series championship."

Veteran sports writer Max Mercy said, "Ennis is a player on the rise. He may well lead Cornell to a string of pennants."

Cardinal teammate Joe Gordon and Odell outfielder Ron Northey finished second and third respectively in the balloting.

Previous Cornell players to win the NL MVP Award are Harry Heilmann (1920) and Rogers Hornsby (1921).

[batted balls]

Nov. 5, 1947

Forrest, Ill.--Health issues have forced Livingston County League legend Babe Ruth to step down as Forrest Trappers' manager.

Ruth, 52, is reportedly ailing from a "serious health-related issue" by a source inside the team. The former slugger guided the Trappers to a second-place finish in the American League with an 89-64 record this past season.

Ruth, along with Ty Cobb, was a member of the most recent LCL Hall of Fame induction class.

Ruth who could not be reached for comment.

There appears to be no timetable for naming a new Forrest manager.