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“ Before the season, the Yankees were picked to finish no better than third and after the suspension of Durocher, the Dodgers' chances were considered no better than the Yankees'. It required great patience and tact, to say nothing of a deep knowledge of baseball, to bring the two clubs through on top.
The Yankees, based on their 1946 showing, had little to recommend them. They were weak at first base and not strong at third. Joe DiMaggio, their top player, was laid up with a heel injury that made it doubtful whether he could play. Neither Phil Rizzuto nor George Stirnweiss, the second-base combination, had shown signs of returning to their previous form. Spurgeon Chandler appeared to be the only reliable pitcher the Yankees had and they lacked a competent catcher.
The outlook was anything but bright and the Yankees got away poorly. DiMaggio remained in Florida, waiting for his heel to heal. George McQuinn, who had been released outright the previous fall by the Philadelphia Athletics, signed with the Yankees and was installed at first base after a few weeks. The veteran Bill Johnson returned to third.
Harris discovered that in Frank (Spec) Shea, a right-handed recruit, he had a pitcher who could win in the big leagues. As Shea kept winning, the Yankees began to find themselves. In June they started on a winning streak that carried through 19 straight games and set them up in first place, where they stayed the remainder of the season.
Early in July both Shea and Chandler were sidelined with arm trouble. Then Charlie Keller, the club's longest hitter, had to retire for the season ...” (continued) |
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Major League Baseball!
