1945 World Series Game 7

Lore & Background

The Curse of the Billy Goat originated in this Series before the start of Game 4. Having last won the Series in 1908, the Cubs owned the dubious record of both the longest league pennant drought and the longest World Series drought in history, not winning (or appearing in) another World Series until 2016. The Series was a rematch of the 1935 World Series. In that year's Game 6, Stan Hack led off the top of the ninth inning with a triple, but was stranded. The Cubs lost the game and the Series. Hack was still with the Cubs in 1945. According to Warren Brown's account, Hack was seen surveying the field before the first Series game. When asked what he was doing, Hack responded, 'I just wanted to see if I was still standing there on third base.'

In Their Own Story

The wind howled off Lake Michigan, whipping through the ivy-covered brick walls of Wrigley Field. In the seventh inning, the score had already turned against the North Siders, and a collective groan rose from the stands as another Detroit batter found the gap. Phil Cavarretta watched from first base, his cap pulled low, knowing the dream was slipping away with every pitch thrown by Newhouser. The crowd, once singing in unison, fell into a heavy silence as the Tigers celebrated their victory, leaving the Cubs players to walk off the field under the weight of another missed opportunity.

Reader's Guide

Game 7: The Cubs went with the overworked Borowy, who lasted just three batters, each of whom singled, the last of which scored a run. Paul Derringer replaced him, intentionally walked Roy Cullenbine with one out to load the bases, then one out later, walked Jimmy Outlaw before Paul Richards cleared the bases with a three-run double. The Cubs got a run in the bottom of the first on Phil Cavarretta's RBI single with two on off Hal Newhouser, but in the second, Derringer allowed a two-out single, then three consecutive walks to force in another run. The Cubs got another run in the fourth when Cavarretta singled and scored on Andy Pafko's triple. In the seventh, Cullenbine drew a leadoff walk off Paul Erickson and scored on Paul Richards's two-out double. The Tigers won 9–3.

Did You Know?

• The 1945 World Series used the 3–4 wartime setup for home field sites, instead of the normal 2–3–2.
• Warren Brown, author of a history of the Cubs in 1946, titled a chapter 'World's Worst Series' and famously said, 'I don't think either one of them can win it.'
• Frank Graham jokingly called this Series 'the fat men versus the tall men at the office picnic.'
• Hank Greenberg hit the only two Tigers homers in the Series, scoring seven runs and driving in seven.
• The Series matched the league MVPs: Phil Cavarretta of the National League and Hal Newhouser of the American League.