1949 Boston Red Sox Replay

September 25. Gm# 149 Fenway Park Boston 2 New York 1

BOSTON RED SOX CLINCH AMERICAN LEAGUE PENNANT!

The Boston Red Sox have clinched the American League pennant and once again, Vern Stephens was the hero.

One day after tying the Stratball record for home runs in a game with 3, Stephens(33) again used the long ball, this time breaking a 1-1 tie with the Yankees by belting a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Stephens’ clout gave a winning margin for Walt Masterson(9-2), who earned the win in relief after taking over for starter, Mickey McDermott, who left after seven inning, with the score tied.

In the bottom of the ninth, with Cliff Mapes on first and two out, Tommy Heinrich hit a fly ball to deep center field. Dom DiMaggio turned and ran, hauling it in just before crashing into the fence for the final out of the game.

Both teams had several chances to score more runs, New York had seven base runners in scoring position, Boston has six, all failed to come home.

Billy Johnson singled in Hank Bauer for the Yankees lone run in the top of the fifth. Boston got their first run when Ted Williams and Stephens hit back to back doubles in the sixth inning.

Now it’s just a matter of playing out the string and improving on individual statistics for the A.L. champions.

The Red Sox and Yankees will play in Yankee Stadium for the finale of this series.

Other American League scores: Chicago 7,2 St. Louis 5, 6; Cleveland 7 Detroit 1; Philadelphia 8, 0 Washington 5, 4.

Standing of the Clubs

Boston/149/99/50/.664/— *

New York/149/90/58/1/.607/8.5

Detroit/152/91/61/.599/9.5

Philadelphia/149/81/68/.544/18

Cleveland/148/79/69/.534/19.5

Chicago/148/62/86/.419/36.5

Washington/149/50/99/.336/49

St. Louis/152/47/104/1/.309/53

* clinched first place