Brownies take 3 of 4 from Tribe to clinch playoff slot

Simply put this was a win to get in series.  In essence this was actually playoff baseball.  If ESPN was around in the mid 40's this series would have been featured.  Instead fans from Cleveland would keep tabs on the game by listening to WJW.  Fans back home in St. Louis had the pleasure of tuning their radio dial to WEW and listening to John O'Hara and ole' Dizzy Dean.

League Park

GAME 1

Potter vs A.Smith

Browns 10, Indians 4

A 4 run outburst in the top of the 7th by the visiting Brownies broke up a 4-4 stalemate.  An RBI single by Mark Christman with 2 out made it a 5-4 game.  Mack's second error of the day prolonged the inning and allowed George McQuinn to score which made it 6-4.  Mike Kreevich then followed with the knockout blow, a 2 run double, to give the Browns a 4 run lead.  St. Louis added 2 more in the 9th to make this look like a blowout.  Four Brownies had multi-hit games.  Christman had 3 RBI's and 2 runs scored.

GAME 2

Muncrief vs Reynolds

Browns 7, Indians 1

Absolutely no drama in this contest.  The Tribe scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the 1st on a Roy Cullenbine single and never again threatened.  St. Louis responded with 6 runs over the next 3 innings.  Bob Muncrief was on his game giving up just 1 run on 6 hits in 8 innings.  George Caster finished off the game with a scoreless 9th.  Catcher Red Hayworth was the only Brownie not to hit safely.  Every other Brown had 1 hit, including pitcher Muncrief.  Centerfielder Milt Byrnes had the only multi-hit day (2-3).  He also chipped in 3 RBI's.

GAME 3

Kramer vs Harder

Browns 4, Indians 3 (15 inn)

This 15 inning extravaganza was the coffin nail in the Tribe's season.  Down 3-0 after 5 1/2 innings of play, Cleveland rallied back for 3 runs in the bottom of the 6th to tie the game up.  For the next 8 innings both teams posted goose eggs on the scoreboard.  That would all change in the top of the 15th when one mighty swing off of Vern Stephens' bat made it 4-3 Brownies.  The 4th reliever of the day, Al Hollingsworth, came on and got the final 3 outs to save the day and push the Brownies into the post season.

GAME 4

Jakucki vs Bagby

Indians 2, Browns 0

Jim Bagby cruised to a 2 hit shutout as both teams had their buses pack and their gear stowed on this getaway day season finale.  St. Louis' bus is headed to the Bronx, New York for a best of 5 playoff series.  Cleveland's bus is headed in all different directions as the team will now officially scatter to the four corners of the earth.  Some of these boys will be back next year, while others will be heading into service to help us defeat the evils of fascism across the globe.