If, But Only for One Year
1948 Cleveland IndiansHome Fields: Municipal Stadium
World ChampionsHit: #3 R, #1 BA
W - 97 L - 58Pitch: #1 OR, ERA
Manager: Lou BoudreauDef: #1 FA

It had been 28 years since the last Cleveland Indians World Championship or, for that matter, fall classic appearance. In 1948, several Indians players had their career-best seasons. In a tight three team American League pennant race, the Indians and Red Sox finished the regular season with identical records. Cleveland won a one game playoff at Fenway Park spoiling what would have been an all Boston World Series.

The Indians were led by player-manager and shortstop Lou Boudreau who had the best season of his career and was named AL MVP. He hit .355, 18 HR and 106 RBI. Paired with second baseman Joe Gordon who hit .280, 32 HR and 124 RBI they formed what some believe is the most lethal keystone combo of all-time. Both were also stellar defensive players. Throw in third baseman Ken Keltner having his best year hitting .297, 31 HR and 119 RBI along with first baseman Eddie Robinson's 16 HR and 83 RBI you have one the very best all-time infields. If, but only for one season.

The Indians lineup featured five future Hall of Famers: Boudreau and Larry Doby plus pitchers Bob Feller, Bob Lemon and the legendary Satchel Paige. Lemon won 20 while Feller added 19. Rookie knuckleballer Gene Bearden also won 20 - he only won only 25 games the rest of his career, never more than 8 in a season.

1948 was quite a year for baseball. The one game playoff between the Tribe and Red Sox was the first in American League history. The World Series was only the second one ever broadcast on television (the games were carried by NBC and announced by Red Barber). It was also significant that the Indians featured a pair of African-Americans, Doby and Paige (a rookie at age 42!). Both played key roles during the season and in the World Series.

In the World Series, the Indians faced the Boston Braves who featured the great pitchers Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain. Game 1 at Braves Field matched Feller and Sain in a great pitchers duel which stood scoreless in the bottom of the eighth inning. The key play was an attempted pickoff at second base; pinch runner Phil Masi was ruled safe. Photographs later proved the runner to be out and, to add insult to injury, Masi eventually scored the only run of the game.

Rather than come undone at their game one misfortune, the Tribe regrouped. Lemon shut the Braves down the next day for a 4-1 triumph and Bearden followed up in Game 3 by tossing a five hit shutout for a 2-0 win. The series wound up going six games with the Tribe prevailing. Lemon won the finale with Bearden preserving the victory in relief. Doby was Cleveland's top batter at .318 with a homer.

Thanks to Pat in Ohio for writing this page.

Pos Player Bats AB H R HR RBI BA    AL Rank
C Jim Hegan R 472 117 60 14 61 .248  
1B Eddie Robinson L 493 125 53 16 83 .254  
2B Joe Gordon R 550 154 96 32 124 .280    #2 HR, #4 RBI
SS Lou Boudreau R 560 199 116 18 106 .355    #2 BA, #5 R
3B Ken Keltner R 558 166 91 31 119 .297    #3 RBI
LF Dale Mitchell L 608 204 82 4 56 .336    #3 BA
CF Thurman Tucker L 242 63 52 1 19 .260  
RF Larry Doby L 439 132 83 14 66 .300    
                   
OF Allie Clark R 271 84 43 9 38 .310  
OF-1B Walt Judnich L 218 56 36 2 29 .257  
OF Hank Edwards L 160 43 27 3 18 .269  
2B-1B-SS Johnny Berardino R 147 28 19 2 10 .190  
C Joe Tipton R 90 26 11 1 13 .289  
OF Bob Kennedy R 73 22 10 0 5 .301  
OF Hal Peck L 63 18 12 0 8 .286  
 
Total: Team   5446 1534 840 155 801 .282  
  League Average   42155 11212 5841 710 5500 .266  


Pitcher Throw G IP W L ERA PCT    AL Rank
  Bob Lemon R 43 294 20 14 2.82 .588    #2t W, #1 IP, #3 ERA
  Bob Feller R 44 280 19 15 3.57 .559    #4t W, #2 IP, #1 K
  Gene Bearden L 37 230 20 7 2.43 .741    #1 ERA, #2t W, #2 PCT
  Steve Gromek R 38 130 9 3 2.84 .750  
  Sam Zoldak L 23 106 9 6 2.80 .600  
  Eddie Klieman R 44 80 3 2 2.59 .600  
  Satchel Paige R 21 73 6 1 2.47 .857  
  Bob Muncreif R 21 72 5 4 4.00 .556  
  Russ Christopher R 45 59 3 2 2.90 .600  
  Don Black R 18 52 2 2 5.37 .500  
             
Total: Team       97 58 3.22    
  League Average           4.29    

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