Editor’s note: The 1948 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. The first and second round series will be the best two of three games. The semifinals are best of five, while the championship series is the best of seven.
The Pittsburgh Pirates were three outs away from a victory in the first game of their opening round series against the Detroit Tigers in the 1948 Tournament.
It didn’t happen for the Pirates as the Tigers scored 10 times on the way to an 11-4 win to silence the crowd at Forbes Field.
Detroit will have Virgil Trucks on the mound in the second game of the best of three series as the Tigers look to advance to the second round. The Pirates counter with Bob Chesnes as they hope to force a third contest.
Heading into the top of the ninth, the Pirates led 4-1 as Elmer Riddle seemed in control.
Riddle walked Vic Wertz to begin the frame and then Johnny Lipon followed with a single.
Pittsburgh manager Billy Meyer then called Kirby Higbe from the bullpen, which turned out to be the wrong move.
Sam Vico had a RBI single and Bob Swift drove in another run with a double.
After Eddie Lake walked, George Kell put the Tigers on top 5-4 with a two-run single.
Meyer went back to the mound and brought in Hal Gregg, which also didn’t work.
Pat Mullin added a RBI single and Hoot Evers hit a sacrifice fly.
Before the inning was over, Vico added his second run-scoring single and Swift capped the onslaught with a bases loaded triple.
Pirate Power
The Tigers got on the scoreboard first in the third when Kell drove in a run with a single, but the lead didn’t last.
All of the Pittsburgh runs came on homers off Detroit pitcher Hal Newhouser, who was able to go the distance earning the victory for the Tigers.
Ralph Kiner had a two-run blast in the fourth that gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead. In the sixth, Wally Westlake and Kiner hit back-to-back solo shots to make it 4-1.
Newhouser (1-0) gave up nine hits with three strikeouts. Riddle allowed six hits in his eight innings. Higbe (0-1) was tagged with the loss as he only faced four batters and didn’t get an out.
1948 Tournament
First Round Pairings and Results
(N1) Boston Braves vs. (A8) Chicago White Sox, Braves 12-4, 5-0
(A5) Detroit Tigers vs. (N4) Pittsburgh Pirates, Tigers 11-4, lead 1-0
(A3) New York Yankees vs. (N6) Philadelphia Phillies
(N7) Cincinnati Reds vs. (A2) Boston Red Sox
(A1) Cleveland Indians vs. (N8) Chicago Cubs
(N5) New York Giants vs. (A4) Philadelphia A’s
(N3) Brooklyn Dodgers vs. (A6) St. Louis Browns
(A7) Washington Senators vs. (N2) St. Louis Cardinals