1946 MLB images

[abravesfan]

1946 Boston Red Sox

This is the first of a number of threads sharing MLB images grouped together by year, in an attempt to leave a pictorial record. Invite contributors to make new posts that fill gaps or provide enhanced alternatives. I am a supporter of colorized images.

Starting with the American League champions for 1946 the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox uniform that year was significant as it was the year the Red Sox introduced piping white around the B on the cap.

Catfish Metkovich

Although he played in less than 100 games Metkovich was the starting right fielder and lead-off hitter. 1946 was 25 year old Metkovich's last year with the Red Sox moving on to Cleveland in 1947. Despite his reduced playing time only one other right fielder committed more errors.

Left hander, 30 year old Hal Wagner was the starting catcher on the pennant winning team and normally batted eighth in the lineup. Finished 10th in the League in receiving 69 bases on balls. Led American League catchers in putouts.

[abravesfan]

Johnny Pesky

Starting shortstop and batted second in the lineup. Surprisingly Pesky was named to only 1 All-Star team and 1946 was that year. He lead the League with 208 hits and his .335 average was third highest, second in runs scored with 115 and third with 43 doubles. That year he also became the first American Leaguer to score 6 runs in a game and amassed 11 consecutive hits.

[abravesfan]

Ted Williams

Hall of Fame starting left-fielder and third place hitter. AL MVP in 1946 and League leader with 343 total bases. League leader in runs scored with 142 and 156 bases on balls, second with a .342 batting average, 38 home runs and 123 RBI and fourth in doubles with 37. Slugged .667 and amassed a .497 on base percentage to lead the League. However, hit by a pitch on his elbow shortly before the World Series reducing his impact to a mere .200 hitter in the Series.

[abravesfan]

Bobby Doerr

Clean-up hitter and starting second-baseman. Played second-base in all of his Major League games. Batted In 116 runs during the regular season, as also applies to RBI third Red Sox to finish in the top 5 in runs scored with 95 and fifth in doubles with 34. 1946 marked one of Doerr's 9 All-Star Game appearances.

[abravesfan]

Rudy York

Red Sox 5th place hitter and starting first-baseman. Third team member, joining Williams and Doerr to drive in over 100 runs in 1946. Colorized image by Krantzbucks is depicted. Pivotal figure in the Red Sox pennant on his first year with the team. July 27, 1946 was the day he slugged 2 grand slams in 1 game. However, 1946 was York's only full season with the Red Sox despite his game winning home run in the 10th inning of the Game 1 World Series and a 3 run homer in Game 3.

[abravesfan]

Dom DiMaggio

Red Sox usual 6th place hitter and starting centre-fielder. .316 hitter in 1946 with a .393 on base percentage both fifth best in the league on the Red Sox's awaited return team to the World Series. Doubled in the eighth inning of game 7 to tie the game 3-3 but twisted his ankle running out the hit, forcing his removal from the game. The scene was thus set as with a replacement in the outfield who did not equate with his speed or arm strength the way was left for Enos Slaughter to achieve enduring fame with his "dash" for the Series winning run.

[abravesfan]

Pinky Higgins

Higgins final year in the majors was split between Detroit and the Red Sox. Shared time with Rip Russell at third-base.

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Hal Wagner

Left hander, 30 year old Hal Wagner was the starting catcher on the pennant winning team and normally batted eighth in the lineup. Finished 10th in the League in receiving 69 bases on balls. Led American League catchers in putouts.

[abravesfan]

Rip Russell 1946

Shared time with Higgins as starting third-baseman on the 46 Red Sox normally batting 7th. This was Russell's first year on the team.

[abravesfan]

Dave Ferriss

Asthmatic sufferer whose career was adversely affected by this condition. 25 game winner, tops on the team, and his 1946 .806 winning percentage was the basis of his labelling as the best pitcher in the League for the year. Repeated his 1945 feat of winning his first 10 starts in 1946, equal second in the League with 6 shutouts. His 26 complete games was the third most in the League. Combined with Hughson, Harris and Dobson to establish the 1946 pitching staff as the best in the League for 1946. Shut out the Cardinals in game 3 that featured York's home run. However, knocked out of Game 7 after conceding 3 runs in the first 5 innings of the final game.

[abravesfan]

Tex Hughson 1946

The second 20 game winner on the '46 Red Sox, one of 4 pitchers to post 6 shutouts second best in the League. Best control pitcher in the League based on his fewest walks per game level of 1.65 while striking out the third most batters in the League, 172. Hughson started Game 1 of the World Series where he pitched 9 innings, the Red Sox won the game in the tenth. Unfortunately 1946 was the last effective year of his career as he was stricken with arm issues in 1947.

[cinemaodyssey]

Culberson, Leon.jpg Leon Culberson. He patrolled Center Field for the 1946 Red Sox.

Culberson, Leon.jpg

[abravesfan]

Mickey Harris 1946

Left hander with 17 wins in 1946, his career year and only season where he reached double digits in victories. Posted the fourth best win-loss percentage in the League .654. Colorized image provided by simarc.

[cinemaodyssey]

Johnny Lazor, who was a utility Outfielder.

[cinemaodyssey]

McBride, Tom.jpg Tom McBride, another utility Outfielder.