The World Series
  

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The 1945 World Series matched the American League Detroit Tigers against the National League Chicago Cubs. The Tigers won the Series, 4 games to 3, giving them their second championship and first since 1935.

Paul Richards picked up 4 runs batted in in the 7th game of the series, to lead the Tigers to the 9-3 game win, and 4-3 Series win.

The World Series again used the 3-4 wartime setup for home field sites, instead of the normal 2-3-2. Although the major hostilities of World War II had ended, some of the rules were still in effect. Many of the majors' better players were still in military service. Warren Brown, author of a history of the Cubs in 1946, commented on this by titling one chapter "World's Worst Series". He also cited a famous quote of his, referencing himself anonymously and in the third person. When asked who he liked in the Series, he answered, "I don't think either one of them can win it."

In a similar vein, Frank Graham jokingly called this Series "the fat men versus the tall men at the office picnic."

One player decidedly not fitting that description was the Tigers' slugger Hank Greenberg, who had been discharged from military service early. He hit the only two Tigers homers in the Series, and scored 7 runs overall and also drove in 7.

The Curse of the Billy Goat originated in this Series. As of 2007, this is the last appearance for the Chicago Cubs in the Fall Classic. Having last won the Series in 1908, the Cubs own the dubious record of both the longest league pennant drought and the longest World Series drought in history.

The Series was a rematch between the two opponents of the 1935 World Series. In that Series' final game, Stan Hack had led off the top of the ninth inning of Game 6 with a triple but was stranded, and the Cubs lost the game and the Series. Hack was still with the Cubs in 1945. According to Warren Brown's account, Hack was seen surveying the field before the first Series game. When asked what he was doing, Hack responded, "I just wanted to see if I was still standing there on third base."

In an unknowing foreshadowing of their future, the Cubs would win two of three in relatively spacious Briggs Stadium but would lose three of four in the relatively hitter-friendly confines of Wrigley Field.

The 1945 World Series is referenced in the Steve Goodman song "A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request" when Goodman says, "The law of averages says, anything will happen that can, but the last time the Cubs won a National League Pennant was the year we dropped the bomb on Japan."

Records: Detroit Tigers (W: 88, L: 65, Pct: .575, GA: 1 ½) - Chicago Cubs (W: 98, L: 56, Pct: .636, GA: 3)

Managers: Steve O'Neill (Detroit), Charlie Grimm (Chicago)

Umpires: Bill Summers (AL), Lou Jorda (NL), Art Passarella (AL), Jocko Conlan (NL)

Summary

AL Detroit Tigers (4) vs. NL Chicago Cubs (3)

Game	Score	Date	Attendance
1	Chicago 9, Detroit 0	October 3	54,637
2	Detroit 4, Chicago 1	October 4	53,636
3	Chicago 3, Detroit 0	October 5	55,500
4	Detroit 4, Chicago 1	October 6	42,923
5	Detroit 8, Chicago 4	October 7	43,463
6	Chicago 8, Detroit 7 (12 innings)	October 8	41,708
7	Detroit 9, Chicago 3	October 10	41,590

Matchups

Game 1

October 3, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Chicago	4	0	3	0	0	0	2	0	0	9	13	0
Detroit	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0

WP: Hank Borowy (1-0)  LP: Hal Newhouser (0-1)  
HRs:  CHI – Phil Cavarretta (1)

Game 2

October 4, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Chicago	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	7	0
Detroit	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	4	7	0

WP: Virgil Trucks (1-0)  LP: Hank Wyse (0-1)  
HRs:  DET – Hank Greenberg (1)

Game 3

October 5, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Chicago	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	3	8	0
Detroit	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2

WP: Claude Passeau (1-0)  LP: Stubby Overmire (0-1)  


Claude Passeau pitched a complete game one-hitter. The only hit of the game came with two outs in the second inning off the bat of Rudy York. Other Series pitchers in the "low-hit Complete Game Club" are:

>
Name			Team			League		Series
Ed Reulbach		Chicago Cubs		N.L.		1906 World Series (1-hitter)
Bill Bevens		New York Yankees	A.L.		1947 World Series (1-hitter)
Don Larsen		New York Yankees	A.L.		1956 World Series (no-hitter)
Jim Lonborg		Boston Red Sox	        A.L.		1967 World Series (1-hitter)

Game 4

October 6, 1945 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Detroit	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	7	1
Chicago	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	5	1

WP: Dizzy Trout (1-0)  LP: Ray Prim (0-1)  

Game 5

October 7, 1945 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Detroit	0	0	1	0	0	4	1	0	2	8	11	0
Chicago	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	1	4	7	2

WP: Hal Newhouser (1-1)  LP: Hank Borowy (1-1)  

Game 6

October 8, 1945 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	R	H	E
Detroit	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	4	0	0	0	0	7	13	1
Chicago	0	0	0	0	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	1	8	15	3

WP: Hank Borowy (2-1)  LP: Dizzy Trout (1-1)  
HRs:  DET – Hank Greenberg (2)

Game 7

October 10, 1945 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Detroit	5	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	9	9	1
Chicago	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	3	10	1

WP: Hal Newhouser (2-1)  LP: Hank Borowy (2-2)  

Composite Box

1945 World Series (4-3): Detroit Tigers (A.L.) over Chicago Cubs (N.L.)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	R	H	E
Detroit Tigers	5	2	1	4	4	4	4	6	2	0	0	0	32	54	5
Chicago Cubs	5	0	4	4	4	2	7	1	1	0	0	1	29	65	6
Total Attendance: 333,457   Average Attendance: 47,639
Winning Player’s Share: – $6,443   Losing Player’s Share – $3,930

Reference(s)

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series. 1st ed. New York: St Martins, 1990. (Neft and Cohen 201-206)

External links

• 1945 World Series at Baseball-Reference.com
• 1945 World Series at WorldSeries.com (MLB.com)
• 1945 World Series at Baseball-Almanac.com
• 1945 World Series box scores and play-by-play at Retrosheet.org
• Detroit Tigers History

•  • [ e] Modern Major League Baseball World Series
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•  • [ e] Detroit Tigers

Detroit, Michigan The Franchise – History • Seasons • Records • Players • Managers and Owners • Broadcasters Ballparks – Boulevard Park • Bennett Park • Navin Field • Briggs/Tiger Stadium • Comerica Park Culture – Gum Time/Big Nate Chew • Rod Allen Rivalries – Toronto Blue Jays • Cleveland Indians • Chicago White Sox • Chicago Cubs • St. Louis Cardinals Important Figures – Ty Cobb • Sam Crawford • Hughie Jennings • Harry Heilmann • Heinie Manush • Charlie Gehringer • Hank Greenberg • Mickey Cochrane • Hal Newhouser • George Kell • Al Kaline • Ernie Harwell • Sparky Anderson • Jim Leyland • Placido Polanco • Magglio Ordonez Retired Numbers – 2 • 5 • 6 • 16 • 23 • 42 Key Personnel: Owner: Mike Ilitch • General Manager: Dave Dombrowski • Manager: Jim Leyland World Series Championships (4) 1935, 1945, 1968, 1984 American League Championships (10) 1907, 1908, 1909, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1968, 1984, 2006 Seasons 1901 • 1902 • 1903 • 1904 • 1905 • 1906 • 1907 • 1908 • 1909 • 1910 • 1911 • 1912 • 1913 • 1914 • 1915 • 1916 • 1917 • 1918 • 1919 • 1920 • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1924 • 1925 • 1926 • 1927 • 1928 • 1929 • 1930 • 1931 • 1932 • 1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1936 • 1937 • 1938 • 1939 • 1940 • 1941 • 1942 • 1943 • 1944 • 1945 • 1946 • 1947 • 1948 • 1949 • 1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 Minor League Affiliates Toledo Mud Hens(AAA) • Erie SeaWolves(AA) • Lakeland Flying Tigers(A) • West Michigan Whitecaps(A) • Oneonta Tigers(A) • Gulf Coast Tigers(Rookie) • DSL Tigers(Rookie)• VSL Tigers(Rookie) Other Assets None

•  • [ e] Chicago Cubs

Chicago, Illinois The Franchise – History • Seasons • Records • Players • Managers and Owners • Broadcasters Ballparks – Lakefront Park • West Side Park • Wrigley Field Culture – Ronnie Woo Woo • Wrigleyville • Wrigley Rooftops • Curse of the Billy Goat • Ex-Cubs Factor • Steve Bartman Rivalries – Cardinals-Cubs rivalry • White Sox-Cubs rivalry • Brewers-Cubs rivalry Important Figures – William Wrigley Jr. • Joe Tinker • Johnny Evers • Frank Chance • Ron Santo • Ernie Banks • Ryne Sandberg • Billy Williams • Sammy Sosa • Harry Caray • Jack Brickhouse Retired Numbers – 10 • 14 • 23 • 26 • 42 Key Personnel – Owner: Tribune Company • General Manager: Jim Hendry • Manager: Lou Piniella World Series Championships (2) 1907 • 1908 National League Championships (16) 1876 • 1880 • 1881 • 1882 • 1885 • 1886 • 1906 • 1907 • 1908 • 1910 • 1918 • 1929 • 1932 • 1935 • 1938 • 1945 Seasons 1870 • 1871 • 1872 • 1873 • 1874 • 1875 • 1876 • 1877 • 1878 • 1879 • 1880 • 1881 • 1882 • 1883 • 1884 • 1885 • 1886 • 1887 • 1888 • 1889 • 1890 • 1891 • 1892 • 1893 • 1894 • 1895 • 1896 • 1897 • 1898 • 1899 • 1900 • 1901 • 1902 • 1903 • 1904 • 1905 • 1906 • 1907 • 1908 • 1909 • 1910 • 1911 • 1912 • 1913 • 1914 • 1915 • 1916 • 1917 • 1918 • 1919 • 1920 • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1924 • 1925 • 1926 • 1927 • 1928 • 1929 • 1930 • 1931 • 1932 • 1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1936 • 1937 • 1938 • 1939 • 1940 • 1941 • 1942 • 1943 • 1944 • 1945 • 1946 • 1947 • 1948 • 1949 • 1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 Minor League Affiliates Iowa Cubs(AAA) • Tennessee Smokies(AA) • Daytona Cubs(A) • Peoria Chiefs(A) • Boise Hawks(A) • Arizona League Cubs(Rookie) • VSL Cubs(Rookie) Other Assets None