1947 Season Review

American League

New York ran away with the American League pennant, topping Detroit by twelve games. The biggest surprise of the season came farther down in the final standings. Philadelphia was still in the second division after finishing in fifth place, but their 78-76 record marked their first winning season since 1933. This was especially impressive as the Athletics had just lost 105 games in 1946. Taking their place at the bottom of the league were the St. Louis Browns, who finished in last place for the first time since 1939.

Joe DiMaggio won his third MVP award and first since 1941. He beat Ted Williams, who won the triple crown but played for the third place team, by just one point as Williams was also left entirely off of one ballot. One of the other top vote getters was Joe Page, reliever extraordinaire. Page appeared in 56 games, going 14-8 with a 2.48 ERA almost entirely out of the bullpen.

National League

Brooklyn made history when Jackie Robinson started on Opening Day, breaking baseball's color barrier. There may not have been a better man to do it, as Robinson survived the hostility fans and fellow players showed him and won Rookie of the Year. He then continued to set new firsts as the first black player in the World Series when the Dodgers won the pennant by five games over St. Louis. The most exciting team in town may have been the Giants, however, as they scored the most runs in the majors but also allowed the second most. Pennsylvania fans were very disappointed as the Pirates and Phillies tied for last place.

Boston's Bob Elliott was named MVP in his first season since being traded from Pittsburgh. However, he may not even have been the best player on his team as Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain both won 21 games. Neither pitcher could catch Ewell Blackwell, though, as he won 22 times and would have earned a triple crown had Spahn not edged him out for a better ERA. Blackwell did all those while playing for a Cincinnati team that finished with a losing record. Johnny Mize and Ralph Kiner tied for the home run crown at 51 homers apiece.

World Series

The Yankees ended a four year World Series drought, tied for the longest since winning the franchise's first in 1923, by defeating the crosstown Dodgers in seven games. The most iconic moments of the series actually went against the eventual victors. In game four, Bill Bevens was one out away from a no-hitter when Cookie Lavagetto hit a pinch-hit, walk-off double for a 3-2 Dodgers win. Then, in game six, Brooklyn left fielder Al Gionfriddo caught a deep blast from Joe DiMaggio before crashing into the bullpen gate to preserve an 8-6 Dodgers win. But in the end, it wouldn't matter as New York took game seven. The first ever televised World Series, it was able to seen live in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington DC.