1943 World Series recap

Yankees defeat Cardinals, 4 games to 1

September 27th, 2022

Despite World War II, which seriously depleted every Major League Baseball roster, the Yankees and Cardinals both repeated as league champs. The New Yorkers were, of course, out for revenge, as they'd fallen to St. Louis in a short five-game World Series a year earlier.

The Yankees got off to a good start in Game 1 as starter Spud Chandler allowed just two runs and seven hits while going the distance. Cardinal starter Hal Lanier pitched well, too, but hurt his own cause with an error in the fourth which led to a pair of unearned runs and a wild pitch in the sixth leading to another. Final: Yankees 4, Cardinals 2.

Game 2 saw St. Louis shortstop Marty Marion hit a solo homer in the third, first baseman Ray Sanders blast a two-run clout in the fourth and the Cards hold on for a 4-3 decision to even the Series at one game apiece.

Because of wartime travel restrictions, the Series remained in New York for Game 3. Good thing, too, as 69,990 customers in Yankee Stadium set a new World Series attendance record. All those fans went home happy, too, as the Bombers scored five in the eighth on their way to a 6-2 triumph. Third baseman Billy Johnson contributed the key blow, a bases-loaded triple, and Hank Borowy earned the win with eight strong innings.

The Series finally moved to St. Louis for Game 4, but it did the Cardinals little good. They could score just once off Yankees starter Marius Russo, who also scored the go-ahead run after doubling to lead off the eighth inning. With the potential tying run on second base, Russo retired Lou Klein to end the 2-1 contest.

And the Yanks clinched the Series in Game 5, as Spud Chandler improved upon his Game 1 performance with a 10-hit shutout, with New York winning 2-0 on Bill Dickey's two-run homer in the sixth.

Managers: Joe McCarthy, NYY; Billy Southworth, STL