1943 World Series
Encyclopedia
The 1943 World Series matched the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals
against the New York Yankees
, in a rematch of the 1942 Series
. The Yankees won the Series in five games for their tenth championship in 21 seasons. It was Yankees' manager Joe McCarthy's final Series win. This series was also the first to have a 'World Series highlight film' made for it (initially, the films were created as gifts to troops fighting in World War II
, to give them a brief recap of baseball action back home), a tradition which continues to this day.
This Series was scheduled for a 3–4 format due to wartime travel restrictions. The 3–4 format meant there was only one trip between ballparks, but if the Series had ended in a four-game sweep, there would have been three games played in one park and only one in the other.
Due to World War II, both teams' rosters were depleted. Johnny Beazley
, Jimmy Brown, Creepy Crespi
, Terry Moore
, and Enos Slaughter
were no longer on the Cardinal roster. Joe DiMaggio
, Phil Rizzuto
, Red Ruffing
, and Buddy Hassett
were no longer on the Yankee roster. Also Yankee Red Rolfe
retired to coach at Dartmouth College
.
Cardinal pitchers Howie Pollet
, Max Lanier
, and Mort Cooper
ranked 1–2–3 in the National League
in ERA in 1943 at 1.75, 1.90 and 2.30, respectively.
The Cardinals' only victory the same day as the death of Mort
& Walker Cooper
's father, Robert.
in St. Louis, Missouri
in St. Louis, Missouri
Murry Dickson
, who helped close the door on the Cardinals by allowing no hits while on the mound, was on a ten day pass from the United States Army
.
(A.L.) over St. Louis Cardinals
(N.L.)
1943 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 62nd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 52nd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 105-49 during the season and finished 1st in the National League. In the World Series, they met the New York Yankees. They lost the series in 5...
against the New York Yankees
1943 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 41st season in New York, and its 43rd season overall. The team finished with a record of 98-56, winning their 14th pennant, finishing 13.5 games ahead of the Washington Senators. Managed by Joe McCarthy, the Yankees played at Yankee Stadium. In the World...
, in a rematch of the 1942 Series
1942 World Series
The 1942 World Series featured the defending champion New York Yankees against the St. Louis Cardinals, with the Cardinals winning the Series in five games for their first championship since and their fourth overall....
. The Yankees won the Series in five games for their tenth championship in 21 seasons. It was Yankees' manager Joe McCarthy's final Series win. This series was also the first to have a 'World Series highlight film' made for it (initially, the films were created as gifts to troops fighting in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, to give them a brief recap of baseball action back home), a tradition which continues to this day.
This Series was scheduled for a 3–4 format due to wartime travel restrictions. The 3–4 format meant there was only one trip between ballparks, but if the Series had ended in a four-game sweep, there would have been three games played in one park and only one in the other.
Due to World War II, both teams' rosters were depleted. Johnny Beazley
Johnny Beazley
John Andrew Beazley was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Braves...
, Jimmy Brown, Creepy Crespi
Creepy Crespi
Frank Angelo Joseph "Creepy" Crespi , was a Major League Baseball player who played infielder from - for the St. Louis Cardinals...
, Terry Moore
Terry Moore (baseball)
Terry Bluford Moore was a Major League Baseball center fielder. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1935–42 and 1946-48.-Playing career:...
, and Enos Slaughter
Enos Slaughter
Enos Bradsher Slaughter , nicknamed "Country", was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 19-year baseball career, he played from 1938–1942 and 1946-1959 for four different teams, but is noted primarily for his time with the St...
were no longer on the Cardinal roster. Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
, Phil Rizzuto
Phil Rizzuto
Philip Francis Rizzuto , nicknamed "The Scooter", was an American Major League Baseball shortstop. He spent his entire 13-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
, Red Ruffing
Red Ruffing
Charles Herbert "Red" Ruffing was a Major League Baseball pitcher most remembered for his time with the highly successful New York Yankees teams of the 1930s and 1940s...
, and Buddy Hassett
Buddy Hassett
John Aloysius "Buddy" Hassett , was a professional baseball player who played first base in Major League Baseball from 1936-1942....
were no longer on the Yankee roster. Also Yankee Red Rolfe
Red Rolfe
Robert Abial "Red" Rolfe was an American third baseman, manager and front-office executive in Major League Baseball. A native of Penacook, New Hampshire, he is one of the most prominent players to come from the Granite State...
retired to coach at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
.
Cardinal pitchers Howie Pollet
Howie Pollet
Howard Joseph Pollet was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the 1940s and 1950s. A three-time All-Star in , and , he twice he led the National League in earned run average .Born in New Orleans, Pollet signed his first professional contract with the St...
, Max Lanier
Max Lanier
Hubert Max Lanier was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals. He led the National League in earned run average in , and was the winning pitcher of the clinching game in the 1944 World Series against the crosstown St. Louis...
, and Mort Cooper
Mort Cooper
Morton Cecil Cooper was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals...
ranked 1–2–3 in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in ERA in 1943 at 1.75, 1.90 and 2.30, respectively.
Summary
Game 1
Tuesday, October 5, 1943 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkGame 2
Wednesday, October 6, 1943 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkThe Cardinals' only victory the same day as the death of Mort
Mort Cooper
Morton Cecil Cooper was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals...
& Walker Cooper
Walker Cooper
William Walker Cooper was an American professional baseball player. He was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for six National League teams from 1940 to 1957...
's father, Robert.
Game 3
Thursday, October 7, 1943 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkGame 4
Sunday, October 10, 1943 at Sportsman's Park (III)Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, all but one of which were located on the same piece of land, the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :From...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
Game 5
Monday, October 11, 1943 at Sportsman's Park (III)Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, all but one of which were located on the same piece of land, the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :From...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
Murry Dickson
Murry Dickson
Murry Monroe Dickson was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the 1940s and 1950s...
, who helped close the door on the Cardinals by allowing no hits while on the mound, was on a ten day pass from the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
.
Composite box
1943 World Series (4–1): New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(A.L.) over St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(N.L.)