1946 Boston Red Sox season

The 1946 Boston Red Sox season was the 46th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished first in the American League (AL) with a record of 104 wins and 50 losses, and set a franchise record with a 15-game winning streak. This was the team's sixth AL championship, and their first since 1918. In the 1946 World Series, the Red Sox lost to the National League (NL) champion St. Louis Cardinals, whose winning run in the seventh game was scored on Enos Slaughter's famous "Mad Dash".

Regular season

Overview The 1946 Red Sox were led by their All-Star left fielder, Ted Williams, who was in his first year back in the majors after serving as a fighter pilot in World War II. 1946 was Ted Williams first of two MVP seasons, and the only time he ever won a pennant. He was among the league leaders in many offensive categories, with a batting average of .342, 38 home runs and 123 runs batted in.

On April 24, the Red Sox were 6–3, 1 game behind the Yankees and tied for second with the defending world series champion Tigers. Then, from April 25 through May 10, they won 15 games in a row, beating the Yankees twice and sweeping the Tigers in a three-game series. Over this stretch Ted Williams had a batting average of .442, with 4 home runs and 17 runs batted in. On May 10 the Red Sox were 21–3 and leading the American League, games ahead of the Yankees and 8 games ahead of the Tigers. This was their biggest lead in 28 seasons, since winning their last pennant in 1918. The fans took notice as the Red Sox had their highest attendance ever, nearly doubling their previous record. For the first time in Fenway Park history, the Red Sox were averaging over 10,000 fans per game, averaging 18,166 fans per game throughout 1946.

The Red Sox never turned back, winning 12 straight decisions from May 29 through June 11, including their second three-game sweep of the Tigers. On June 11, the Red Sox were 41–9, 10 games ahead of the Yankees. From June 5 through July 21, in 48 games, Ted Williams had a batting average of .399, with 18 home runs and 52 runs batted in. The Red Sox swept the Tigers for the third time that year on July 11–13. On July 14, Williams hit three home runs in a game. The Red Sox swept their rivals, the Yankees, in a double-header at Yankee Stadium on September 2, expanding their lead to games ahead of the Yankees and 18 games ahead of the Tigers. The Red Sox clinched the American League pennant on September 13, off of an inside-the-park home run hit by Ted Williams, the only one of his major-league career. It was their first pennant since 1918, when they won the World Series. The Red Sox ended the season 12 games ahead of the Tigers and 17 games ahead of the Yankees.

While the Red Sox had clinched the American League pennant in September, the St. Louis Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers both finished atop the National League with a record of 96–58, necessitating a three-game playoff.

With the start of the 1946 World Series delayed, The Red Sox played a three-game series against an American League all-star team beginning October 1 at Fenway Park. The Red Sox won two of three, but Williams exacerbated his injury, which plagued him in the ensuing World Series against St. Louis.

Season Log Boston Win Boston LossTie

|- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 1 || April 16 || @ Washington || 6─3 || Tex Hughson (1─0) || Roger Wolff (0─1) || ─ || 1─0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 2 || April 17 || @ Washington || 13─6 || Earl Johnson (1─0) || Walt Masterson (0─1) || ─ || 2─0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 3 || April 18 || @ Washington || 3─1 || Mickey Harris (1─0) || Ray Scarborough (0─1) || ─ || 3─0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 4 || April 20 || Vs. Philadelphia || 1─2 || Tex Hughson (2─0) || Dick Fowler (0─1) || ─ || 4─0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 5 || April 21 (1) || Vs. Philadelphia || 11─12 || Joe Dobson (1─0) || Joe Berry (0─1) || ─ || 5─0 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 6 || April 21 (2) || Vs. Philadelphia || 3─0 || Bobo Newsom (2─0) || Jim Bagby Jr. (0─1) || ─ || 5─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 7 || April 22 || Vs. Philadelphia || 4─5 || Mickey Harris (2─0) || Sid Hudson (0─1) || ─ || 6─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 8 || April 23 || Vs. Philadelphia || 8─2 || Roger Wolff (1─2) || Mike Ryba (1─2) || ─ || 6─2 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 9 || April 24 || Vs. New York || 12─5 || Randy Gumpert (1─1) || Tex Hughson (2─1) || Jake Wade (1) || 6─3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 10 || April 25 || Vs. New York || 5─12 || Joe Dobson (2─0) || Steve Roser (1─1) || ─ || 7─3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 11 || April 26 || @ Philadelphia || 7─0 || Dave Ferriss (1─0) || Dick Fowler (0─2) || ─ || 8─3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 12 || April 28 (1) || @ Philadelphia || 2─1 || Tex Hughson (3─1) || Lou Knerr (0─2) || ─ || 9─3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 13 || April 28 (2) || @ Philadelphia || 5─1 || Mickey Harris (3─0) || Bobo Newsom (2─1) || ─ || 10─3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 14 || April 30 || Vs. Detroit || 0─4 || Joe Dobson (3─0) || Hal Newhouser (3─1) || ─ || 11─3 ||

|- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 15 || May 1 || Vs. Detroit || 1─13 || Dave Ferriss (2─0) || Al Benton (1─2) || ─ || 12─3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 16 || May 2 || Vs. Detroit || 4─5 || Clem Dreisewerd (1─0) || Tommy Bridges (0─1) || ─ || 13─3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 17 || May 3 || Vs. Cleveland || 4─9 || Mickey Harris (4─0) || Red Embree (2─1) || ─ || 14─3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 18 || May 4 || Vs. Cleveland || 2─6 || Jim Bagby Jr. (1─1) || Bob Feller (2─3) || ─ || 15─3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 19 || May 6 (1) || Vs. St. Louis || 5─7 || Dave Ferriss (3─0) || Denny Galehouse (0─4) || ─ || 16─3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 20 || May 6 (2) || Vs. St. Louis || 4─5 || Joe Dobson (4─0) || Stan Ferens (0─2) || ─ || 17─3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 21 || May 7 || Vs. St. Louis || 6─10 || Clem Dreisewerd (2─0) || Tex Shirley (1─2) || ─ || 18─3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 22 || May 8 || Vs. Chicago || 10─14 || Mickey Harris (5─0) || Joe Haynes (1─1) || Dave Ferriss (1) || 19─3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 23 || May 9 || Vs. Chicago || 5─7 || Jim Bagby Jr. (2─1) || Eddie Lopat (2─2) || Mace Brown (1) || 20─3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 24 || May 10 || @ New York || 5─4 || Earl Johnson (2─0) || Joe Page (0─1) || ─ || 21─3 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 25 || May 11 || @ New York || 0─2 || Tiny Bonham (2─0) || Tex Hughson (3─2) || ─ || 21─4 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 26 || May 12 || @ New York || 3─1 || Mickey Harris (6─0) || Spud Chandler (5─1) || ─ || 22─4 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 27 || May 14 || @ Chicago || 3─0 || Dave Ferriss (4─0) || Joe Haynes (1─2) || ─ || 23─4 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 28 || May 15 || @ Chicago || 2─3 || Johnny Rigney (1─1) || Tex Hughson (3─3) || Eddie Smith (1) || 23─5 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 29 || May 16 || @ St Louis || 0─3 || Jack Kramer (2─0) || Joe Dobson (4─1) || ─ || 23─6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 30 || May 18 || @ St Louis || 18─8 || Mickey Harris (7─0) || Tex Shirley (2─3) || ─ || 24─6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 31 || May 19 (1) || @ Detroit || 4─0 || Dave Ferriss (5─0) || Dizzy Trout (3─2) || ─ || 25─6 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 32 || May 19 (2) || @ Detroit || 1─3 || Hal Newhouser (6─1) || Tex Hughson (3─4) || ─ || 25─7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 33 || May 21 || @ Detroit || 6─4 || Earl Johnson (3─0) || Al Benton (1─4) || ─ || 26─7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 34 || May 22 || @ Cleveland || 7─4 || Dave Ferriss (6─0) || Pete Center (0─1) || Tex Hughson (1) || 27─7 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 35 || May 23 || @ Cleveland || 2─3 || Red Embree (4─2) || Randy Heflin (0─1) || ─ || 27─8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 36 || May 25 || Vs. New York || 4─7 || Dave Ferriss (7─0) || Spud Chandler (6─2) || Earl Johnson (1) || 28─8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 37 || May 26 (1) || Vs. New York || 0─1 || Tex Hughson (4─4) || Bill Bevens (2─4) || ─ || 29─8 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 38 || May 26 (2) || Vs. New York || 4─1 || Joe Page (2─1) || Mickey Harris (7─1) || ─ || 29─9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 39 || May 29 || Vs. Philadelphia || 0─2 || Dave Ferriss (8─0) || Phil Marchildon (0─4) || ─ || 30─9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 40 || May 30 (1) || Vs. Washington || 5─6 || Joe Dobson (5─1) || Sid Hudson (1─3) || ─ || 31─9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 41 || May 30 (2) || Vs. Washington || 2─7 || Mickey Harris (8─1) || Ray Scarborough (3─2) || ─ || 32─9 ||

|- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 42 || June 3 (1) || Vs. Chicago || 1─6 || Dave Ferriss (9─0) || Thornton Lee (2─3) || ─ || 33─9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 43 || June 3 (2) || Vs. Chicago || 2─5 || Joe Dobson (6─1) || Eddie Lopat (3─4) || ─ || 34─9 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 44 || June 4 || Vs. St. Louis || 4─9 || Earl Johnson (4─0) || Tex Shirley (3─5) || ─ || 35─9 || |- | 45 || June 5 || Vs. St. Louis || 8─8 || ─ || ─ || ─ || 35─9─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 46 || June 6 || Vs. St. Louis || 4─5 || Mace Brown (1─0) || Ox Miller (1─2) || Dave Ferriss (2) || 36─9─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 47 || June 8 || Vs. Detroit || 4─15 || Joe Dobson (7─1) || Hal Newhouser (9─2) || Bob Klinger (1) || 37─9─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 48 || June 9 (1) || Vs. Detroit || 1─7 || Mickey Harris (9─1) || Dizzy Trout (5─4) || ─ || 38─9─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 49 || June 9 (2) || Vs. Detroit || 6─11 || Dave Ferriss (10─0) || Fred Hutchinson (2─3) || ─ || 39─9─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 50 || June 10 || Vs. Cleveland || 3─6 || Bill Butland (1─0) || Steve Gromek (3─6) || Earl Johnson (2) || 40─9─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 51 || June 11 || Vs. Cleveland || 5─10 || Bob Klinger (1─0) || Red Embree (5─4) || ─ || 41─9─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 52 || June 12 || Vs. Cleveland || 7─2 || Bob Feller (10─4) || Jim Bagby Jr. (2─2) || ─ || 41─10─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 53 || June 14 || @ Chicago || 5─9 || Earl Caldwell (3─2) || Earl Johnson (4─1) || ─ || 41─11─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 54 || June 15 || @ Chicago || 6─7 || Joe Haynes (2─5) || Dave Ferriss (10─1) || Bill Dietrich (1) || 41─12─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | 55 || June 16 (1) || @ Chicago || 6─1 || Tex Hughson (5─4) || Thornton Lee (2─4) || ─ || 42─12─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 56 || June 16 (2) || @ Chicago || 4─7 || Earl Caldwell (4─2) || Jim Bagby Jr. (2─3) || ─ || 42─13─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 57 || June 17 || @ St. Louis || 1─7 || Jack Kramer (7─1) || Mickey Harris (9─2) || ─ || 42─14─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | 58 || June 18 || @ St. Louis || 0─1 || Bob Muncrief (1─2) || Dave Ferriss (10─2) || ─ || 42─15─1 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"