‘46 Redbirds sweep ‘67 version in 3 straight

The match-up of the two Cardinal teams in the Division Series did not live up to the hype, as the 1946 team swept the '67 club right out of the post season.

Bob Gibson gave up two runs in the first inning of game one, but settled down as his mates tallied five over the next six innings, giving the '67 club a 5-2 lead heading into the 7th behind Gibby.

Normally this would be a game Gibson would bring home, but this was not the Bob Gibson we saw in the regular year. Gibby walked the lead off man in the seventh, pinch hitter Terry Moore, surrendered a single to Schoendienst, then got an out before "The Man" doubled in a run, and an out later Dick Sisler hit a clutch two run double to tie it. Enos Slaughter hit s three run homer in the ninth for the '46 club to stun the home crowd and take the opener 8-6.

The '46 club played clutch baseball throughout the series, winning game two 4-3 and then taking the finale 5-1. All of the games were well played, but the '46 team consistently came up with the big hit on offense, and big out on defense.

9/2-9/3 – Sportsman Park  |  9/5-Busch Memorial

GAME 1 - 46-STL 8, 67-STL 6
GAME 2 - 46-STL 4, 67-STL 3 
Tied at 3 the '46 squad scored a solo run in the 6th off of '67 starter Steve Carlton, who was victimized by none other than Stan "the Man" Musial.  As he's done all season swingman Murry Dickson came on board to toss 3 scoreless innings to protect his team's 1 run lead and give them a 2-0 series edge as they head cross-town for game 3.

GAME 3 - 46-STL 5, 67-STL 1

Red Munger would go 7 strong shutout innings, but that would not be enough as the usually stoic Dickson blew a save opportunity when Lou Brock tripled and Julian Javier brought him in with a sac fly to tie the game a 1-1.  That solo run gave new life to the '67 crew, but that was not going to last for long as Nelson Briles, in relief of Hughes, gave it all back and then some.  The gritty '46 crew exploded for 4 big runs in the bottom of the 8th.  Three vs Briles and the fourth vs Hal Woodeshick.  After Marty Marion singled and Dickson doubled to put runners on 2nd and 3rd Briles got Schoendienst (his future manager) and Kurowski to strike out.  Rather than risk pitching to Musial, who at this point was 3 for 3 with a homer, Briles intentionally walked Musial to pitch to Enos "Country" Slaughter.  On paper walking Musial was the right move.  No way you let "the Man" beat you.  Unfortunately plan "B" was to face Slaughter, who only had 130 RBI's in 1946, not to mention one of the most hardened competitive streaks in the game.  Slaughter did not take too kindly to the situation and crushed Briles first offering off the wall in right center for a bases clearing triple.  Dick Sisler's RBI single was the punctuation mark on the big inning that turned out to be the final nail in the coffin of the '67 team's season.

--submitted by BikeMike--