1944 WORLD SERIES
GAME 1
It was on to New York for the second time in a week for us. I had the team come home after their series in Brooklyn, just for some deserved rest and recovery. On the train ride from Philly on Monday, I sat with Bucky Harris to discuss strategy.
“Andrew, I just think that we should put our best foot forward. Start the kid (Charlie Ripple) on Wednesday, then come back with Red [Ruffing] in Game 2.”
“Look, Bucky, I don’t want to get into an argument about this, but I’d rather lead with experience. We already have Scooter (Phil Rizzuto) leading off, and he’s the only hitter with Series experience. I think that since we have a former Yankee in the rotation, we ought to start Red in Game 1, then Charlie in Game 2.”
“Andrew, how long have you been a manager? Trust me. Back in 1924, it was obvious who my #1 was: Walter Johnson. I worked him to the bone to try and get us the win. You know what? He did an outstanding job in relief because I started him in Game 5! Not Game 6!”
“We’re not going with a 4-man rotation! We’re using a 3-man rotation! Charlie will be ready in Game 7! Now I am your boss, and I am ordering you to start Red, Charlie, and Jack [Kraus], in that order! Am I understood?”
Bucky nodded as I made my way out of his car.
*
After the usual pre-game festivities, Game 1 was underway.
Phil Rizzuto singled to start the game off Bill Bevens, but was thrown out trying to stretch his hit into a double. After a Johnny Blatnik flyout, Ron Northey smashed a towering drive into the leftfield bleachers for a home run! Phillies 1, Yankees 0. Gil Hodges grounded out to end the inning.
Red Ruffing walked to the mound, and calmly retired Pee Wee Reese, Tommy Henrich, and Harlond Clift in order. I was looking pretty good.
After walking to lead off the inning, Vern Stephens gets wiped out on a double play, and the Phillies don’t score.
Ruffing retired Joe DiMaggio, Joe Gordon, and Chet Ross on 3 straight groundouts.
The Phillies get retired in order in the top of the third.
Frankie Hayes led off the bottom of the inning with a single. He was still on first 2 outs later, but that’s when Red started getting wild. He walked Pee Wee Reese, then gave up a bases-clearing double to Tommy Henrich. Yankees 2, Phillies 1. Clift and DiMaggio followed with walks, loading the bases. Fortunately, Ruffing found enough in him to strike out Gordon.
Aside from a Northey double, the Phillies were retired without incident in the 4th. The Yankees went 1-2-3 in their half.
Singles by Danny Murtaugh and Red Ruffing go for naught, as both men are stranded thanks to a popout by Phil Rizzuto. Pee Wee Reese reached on an error by Ruffing and stole second, but the Yankees could not get him home.
A 2-out walk is all the Phillies can muster in the 6th.
With 2 outs in the bottom of the 6th, the Yankees offense exploded. 2 singles, a double, a walk, and another single score 3 runs. Yankees 5, Phillies 1.
Bill Bevens finishes the game for the Yankees, while the Bombers tack on 2 more runs in the 7th inning to provide the final margin.
Yankees 7, Phillies 1
Yankees lead series, 1-0
W: Bill Bevens L: Red Ruffing
Code:
Philadelphia Phillies at New York Yankees
September 27, 1944
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + R H E
Phillies (PHI) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 3
Yankees (NYY) 0 0 2 0 0 3 2 0 x 7 6 0
PHILADELPHIA ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
P. Rizzuto (SS) 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J. Blatnik (LF) 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .296
R. Northey (RF) 4 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 .291
G. Hodges (1B) 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .277
V. Stephens (3B) 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 .273
A. Seminick (C) 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .261
D. Murtaugh (2B) 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .277
L. Doby (CF) 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235
R. Ruffing (P) 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .160
E. Murphy (PH) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
J. Page (P) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
TOTALS 31 7 3 1 1 1 4 0
2B: R. Northey 2
HR: R. Northey
GIDP: D. Murtaugh, A. Seminick
PHILADELPHIA ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
R. Ruffing 7.0 6 6 0 7 2 2 143 3.17
J. Page 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 16 6.59
TOTALS 8.0 6 6 0 7 2 3 159
NEW YORK ab h bb r hr bi k sb avg
P. Reese (SS) 4 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 .293
T. Henrich (RF) 5 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 .307
H. Clift (3B) 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 .281
J. DiMaggio (CF) 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 .333
J. Gordon (2B) 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .267
C. Ross (LF) 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .302
F. Hayes (C) 3 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 .259
O. Grimes (1B) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
R. Derry (PH-1B) 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 .241
B. Bevens (P) 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 .141
TOTALS 31 6 6 7 0 6 3 1
2B: T. Henrich, R. Derry
GIDP: J. Gordon
NEW YORK ip h bb hr r er k pit ERA
B. Bevens 9.0 7 3 1 1 1 4 149 3.14
TOTALS 9.0 7 3 1 1 1 4 149
WP: B. Bevens
LP: R. Ruffing
Temperature: 55F
Wind: 8 MPH (right to left)
Attendance: 70,000
Time: 3:24
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