Digital Extra: The Journal's 175th Anniversary

07.21.2004

1946. Bosox shoo-in to win '46 series

Finally.

The Red Sox were back in the World Series.

After winning the 1918 championship, the Boston Red Sox went 28 years without a pennant, until capturing the American League flag in 1946.

The Red Sox were so heavily favored against the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, it was inconceivable they could lose.

"The experts and the odds-makers say the Boston Sockers have everything -- hitting and pitching and reserve strength. And they have precedent, too: all five of Boston's previous pennant winners went on to grab the world's championship," The Journal reported as the Series began Oct. 6, 1946.

But Journal writer F.C. Matzek couldn't leave well-enough alone.

He had to add:

"Things are lined up so preponderantly in favor of the Sox it is almost scary."

Talk about tempting the jinx.

The Cards fought their way to a seventh game. Cardinals ace pitcher Harry Brecheen shut down the Red Sox in the deciding game. Boston shortstop Johnny Pesky was blamed for holding the ball and allowing Enos Slaughter to score the winning run.

The Journal moaned the next day:

"The Bosox had waited 28 long, and sometimes dreary, years for this 1946 chance at the crown but thanks in largest measure to the left-handed pitching wizardry of Brecheen, they now are doomed to wait at least one more year."