Editor’s note: The 1940s Diamond Gems Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur. For this tournament, the rules include a three-man pitching rotation using the best lineups available.
Ebbets Field was eerily silent.
It may have taken a few innings, but the 1941 Brooklyn Dodgers brought their hometown fans back to life on the way to a 5-4 victory over the 1948 Cleveland Indians in the championship game of the 1940s Diamond Gems Tournament.
Cleveland tagged Brooklyn starting pitcher Curt Davis for three runs in the top of the first as Joe Gordon drove in a pair with a triple. Gordon later scored on a ground out by Larry Doby and it was 3-0 as the Brooklyn crowd was stunned.
The Dodgers were able to respond in the second with a tally off Indians starter Bob Feller on Mickey Owen‘s sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the third, Brooklyn’s mob in Flatbush nearly became chaotic when Pete Reiser smacked a two-run homer to tie the affair.
Brooklyn grabbed the lead in the fifth thanks to Feller. After the Cleveland hurler struck out Davis and Pee Wee Reese, he walked Babe Herman before allowing a double to Reiser to put runners at second and third.
Dolph Camilli hit a ball back to the mound. Feller couldn’t handle it and with the error, Herman raced home to give the Dodgers a 4-3 advantage.
Owen added another sacrifice fly for the Dodgers in the eighth, which turned out to be a very important insurance run.
With one out in the top of the ninth, Cleveland catcher Jim Hegan drilled a solo blast off Davis to pull the Indians to a run.
However, Davis was able to collect himself after a brief chat with Brooklyn manager Leo Durocher as he retired Cleveland pinch-hitter Thurman Tucker and lead-off batter Dale Mitchell to bring on the celebration.
Davis gave up 10 hits with two walks and three strikeouts as he went the distance, while Feller surrendered eight hits with four free passes and eight strikeouts in his complete game effort.
1940s Diamond Gems Tournament
Championship
1941 Brooklyn Dodgers 5, 1948 Cleveland Indians 4
Semifinals
1941 Brooklyn Dodgers 3, 1940 Cincinnati Reds 2
1948 Cleveland Indians 5, 1941 New York Yankees 3
First Round Results
1940 Cincinnati Reds 5, 1948 Boston Braves 2
1941 Brooklyn Dodgers 2, 1946 St. Louis Cardinals 0
1948 Cleveland Indians 4, 1940 Detroit Tigers 3 (12)
1941 New York Yankees 6, 1946 Boston Red Sox 5