Second Chance Tournament: 1946 Red Sox

Editor’s note: Second Chance Tournament games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter is also being used for all games. The first and second rounds will be decided with a best of three series, while the championship series will be a best of five format.

The 1946 season was a bounce back year for the Boston Red Sox.

After finishing seventh in the American League in 1945 with a 71-83 record under Joe Cronin, the Red Sox won the pennant by 12 games over the Detroit Tigers. Boston’s entire lineup changed as players returned from military service during World War II. Leon Culberson was the only holdover that had significant playing time in 1945.

Ted Williams responded with a season that ended with his first of two Most Valuable Player awards. He would also win in 1949.

Boston also picked up Wally Moses and Pinky Higgins during the season.

In the World Series, the Red Sox would face the St. Louis Cardinals. This seven-game affair was famous for Enos Slaughter scoring from first on a hit that turned out to be the winning run in the final contest.

The Batting Order
Wally Moses RF (6 HR, 33 RBI overall)
Johnny Pesky SS (.335)
Dom DiMaggio CF (73 RBI, 10 SB)
Ted Williams LF (38 HR, 123 RBI, .342)
Rudy York 1B (17 HR, 119 RBI)
Leon Culberson DH (.313)
Bobby Doerr 2B (18 HR, 116 RBI)
Pinky Higgins 3B (.275 with Boston)
Hal Wagner C (6 HR, 52 RBI)

Starting Pitchers
Dave Ferriss (25-6, 3.25 ERA)
Tex Hughson (20-11, 2.75 ERA)
Mickey Harris (17-9, 3.64)

Second Chance Tournament First Round Schedule

1962 San Francisco Giants at 1946 Boston Red Sox
1946 Boston Red Sox at 1962 San Francisco Giants
1962 San Francisco Giants at 1946 Boston Red Sox, if necessary