Larry Doby’s Grand Slam puts first game out of reach. Eddie Yost, now comfortably situated in the lead-off position doubled to left. Al Kozar followed with a single to right that scored Yost and Kozar went to second on the throw home. Yost scored the second run of the inning when Bud Stewart singled. That was the highlight for Washington. The Tribe took their turn. Dale Mitchell singled to left. Thurman Tucker walked. Starter Sid Hudson gets Lou Boudreau to foul out to Mickey Vernon but then hits Joe Gordon to load the bases. Hudson adds to his misery by walking Ken Keltner, thus forcing in a run. Then up steps Larry Doby. On one swing he clears the bases. Hudson gets the next two outs but the damage is done. Five runs are in and Gene Bearden cruises to an easy win. Dick Welteorth replaces Hudson in the sixth. Carden Gillenwater hits a home run to left in the third but it is too little and too late.
Player Profile – Carden Gillenwater
Gillenwater was born in Riceville, Tennessee. During the summer of 1936, Gillenwter attended a Cardinals tryout camp and was good enough to be signed. In 1937 he went to St. Petersburg for spring training. For the next three seasons, he played in the Cardinals farm system. In 1940 he played just five games for the Cardinals. He returned to the majors with the Dodgers in 1943 but only played in eight games. He played for the Braves in 1945 and 1946. In 1945 he was hurt breaking up a double play and sent home to recover. In 1946 he was farmed out to the minors, playing for Milwaukee in the American Association He rediscovered his batting eye, clubbing 28 home runs in 1947. In December it was said that Gillenwater would prove a big headache to Boston. Not because he dislikes Milwaukee or its fans, he wants freedom the Braves. In March Gillenwater was a hold out.
He was purchased from the Braves by Washington on 12 May for a reported price of $30,000. A good athlete and in Milwaukee his competitive spirit was said to be an inspiration to his teammates. He is a natural athlete with a strong arm. He proved he had power for Milwaukee in 1947/ Washington fans hope can do the same in Washington. His first name is his mother’s maiden name.
Did you know? When Gillenwater was 15 years old he went to sit in a tree with other boys outside the ball park in Knoxville to watch an exhibition game between the New York Yankees and a Knoxville team. Babe Ruth hit a home run that he caught the ball with his bare hands. Ten minutes later two men dressed in suits came up to the tree. “Which one of you caught that ball?” they asked. Gillenwater thinking they were policemen threw them the baseball and jumped down from the tree. The men, however, were not police. One was from the Yankees’ front office; the other was the president of the Southern League.
The 1948 Project
The 1948 Project will be a winter long project Karen and Kevin Flynn will be running in conjunction with a bigger project the folks over at DidTheTribeWinLastNight.com are running this winter.
Did The Tribe Win Last Night is a wonderful website that covers everything about the Cleveland Indians baseball club. Starting September 22, 2013 they are going to start winter project where they are retelling of the Cleveland Indians 1948 World Series Season.
