The
1943 World Series matched the defending champion
St. Louis Cardinals against the
New York Yankees, in a rematch of the
1942 Series. The Yankees won the Series in five games for their tenth championship in 21 seasons. It was Yankees' manager
Joe McCarthy's final Series win. This series was also the first to have a 'World Series highlight film' made for it (initially, the films were created as gifts to troops fighting in
World War II, to give them a brief recap of baseball action back home), a tradition which continues to this day.
This Series was scheduled for a 3–4 format due to wartime travel restrictions. The 3–4 format meant there was only one trip between ballparks, but if the Series had ended in a four-game sweep, there would have been three games played in one park and only one in the other.
Due to
World War II both teams' rosters were depleted.
Johnny Beazley,
Jimmy Brown,
Creepy Crespi,
Terry Moore, and
Enos Slaughter were no longer on the Cardinal roster.
Joe DiMaggio,
Phil Rizzuto,
Red Ruffing, and
Buddy Hassett were no longer on the Yankee roster. Also Yankee
Red Rolfe retired to coach at
Dartmouth College.
Cardinal pitchers
Howie Pollet,
Max Lanier, and
Mort Cooper ranked 1-2-3 in the
National League in ERA in 1943 at 1.75, 1.90 and 2.30, respectively.
Summary
Matchups
Game 1
Tuesday, October 5, 1943 at
Yankee Stadium in
Bronx, New York
Game 2
Wednesday, October 6, 1943 at
Yankee Stadium in
Bronx, New YorkThe Cardinals' only victory the same...
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