Slaughter's Mad Dash
Encyclopedia
The Mad Dash, or Slaughter's Mad Dash, refers to an event in the eighth inning
of the seventh game of the 1946 World Series
between the St. Louis Cardinals
and the Boston Red Sox
.
in St. Louis, Missouri
on October 15, 1946. After Dom Dimaggio drove in two runs in the top of the eighth, the score was tied at 3. Dimaggio pulled a hamstring during the play and was forced to the bench. Leon Culberson took over for him in center field when the St. Louis half of the inning began, with the game still tied at 3. St. Louis outfielder
Enos Slaughter
led off with a single, but neither of the next two batters were able to either get a hit of their own or advance the runner. With one out left in the inning, Cardinal outfielder Harry Walker
stepped to the plate. After he had worked the count to two balls and one strike, a hitter's count, the Cardinals called for a hit-and-run
.
Leon Culberson
was the first to reach the ball. As he threw a relay to shortstop
Johnny Pesky
, Slaughter rounded third base
, running right through the stop sign being given by third base coach Mike González, heading for home plate
.
What exactly happened when Pesky turned around is still a matter of contention. Some claim that Pesky, assuming that Slaughter would not be running home, checked Walker at first base instead of immediately firing home, while others contend that Pesky was so shocked to see Slaughter on his way to score that he had a mental lapse that accounted for the delay. Whatever the reason, the delay and a weak and rushed throw home allowed Slaughter to score just as Red Sox catcher
Roy Partee
caught it up the line from home plate.
The run put the Cardinals ahead 4-3 and proved to be the winning run.
describing the play for a re-created radio broadcast:
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
of the seventh game of the 1946 World Series
1946 World Series
-Game 1:Sunday, October 6, 1946 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, MissouriThe Red Sox won Game 1 when Rudy York hit a home run into the left field bleachers.-Game 2:Monday, October 7, 1946 at Sportsman's Park in St...
between the 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...
and the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
.
Background
The game was played in Sportsman's ParkSportsman'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...
on October 15, 1946. After Dom Dimaggio drove in two runs in the top of the eighth, the score was tied at 3. Dimaggio pulled a hamstring during the play and was forced to the bench. Leon Culberson took over for him in center field when the St. Louis half of the inning began, with the game still tied at 3. St. Louis outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
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...
led off with a single, but neither of the next two batters were able to either get a hit of their own or advance the runner. With one out left in the inning, Cardinal outfielder Harry Walker
Harry Walker
Harry William Walker, known to baseball fans of the middle 20th century as "Harry the Hat" , was an American baseball player, manager and coach.-Early life and family:...
stepped to the plate. After he had worked the count to two balls and one strike, a hitter's count, the Cardinals called for a hit-and-run
Hit and run (baseball)
A hit and run is a high risk/high reward offensive strategy used in baseball.When the offense has a baserunner on first base , the runner on first breaks for second as the pitch is thrown...
.
The play
As the runner started, Walker lined the ball to left-center field. Red Sox center fielderCenter fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
Leon Culberson
Leon Culberson
Delbert Leon Culberson was a Major League baseball outfielder. He was born in Halls, GA.Culberson hit for the cycle on July 3, 1943. In 1946, he appeared in the World Series for the Boston Red Sox and was the outfielder who fielded Harry Walker's hit that resulted in Slaughter's Mad Dash.He died...
was the first to reach the ball. As he threw a relay to shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Johnny Pesky
Johnny Pesky
John Michael Pesky , nicknamed "The Needle" and "Mr. Red Sox", was a Major League Baseball shortstop, third baseman, and manager. During a 10-year career, he played in 1942 and from 1946-1954 for three different teams. He missed all of the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons while serving in World War...
, Slaughter rounded third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
, running right through the stop sign being given by third base coach Mike González, heading for home plate
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
.
What exactly happened when Pesky turned around is still a matter of contention. Some claim that Pesky, assuming that Slaughter would not be running home, checked Walker at first base instead of immediately firing home, while others contend that Pesky was so shocked to see Slaughter on his way to score that he had a mental lapse that accounted for the delay. Whatever the reason, the delay and a weak and rushed throw home allowed Slaughter to score just as Red Sox catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Roy Partee
Roy Partee
Roy Robert Partee was a backup catcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Browns . Listed at 5' 10" Weight: 180 lb., Partee batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Los Angeles, California to father Clair C...
caught it up the line from home plate.
The run put the Cardinals ahead 4-3 and proved to be the winning run.
The call
Mel AllenMel Allen
Mel Allen was an American sportscaster, best known for his long tenure as the primary play-by-play announcer for the New York Yankees. During the peak of his career in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, Allen was arguably the most prominent member of his profession, his voice familiar to millions...
describing the play for a re-created radio broadcast:
- "Enos Slaughter is on first base with two away. Harry Walker at bat. Bob Klinger on the mound. He takes the stretch. Here's the pitch... there goes Slaughter. The ball is swung on, there's a line drive going into left-center field. It's in there for a base hit. Culberson fumbles the ball momentarily and Slaughter charges around second, heads for third. Pesky goes into short left field to take the relay from Culberson... And here comes Enos Slaughter rounding third, he's going to try for home. Here comes the throw and it is not in time. Slaughter scores!"
External links
- Sporting News' 25 Greatest Baseball Moments
- http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/redsox/2009-05-08-dom-dimaggio-obit_N.htm