Pick Off Plays In Cleveland World Series

I was fortunate enough to have met both Phil Rizzuto and Bob Feller, each a truly good man, in my time.

At his charity golf event in 1992, Phil talked of “poor Bob Feller” never winning a World Series game.

He came close, pitched very well, but the great baseball contributor and pitcher, John Sain outdueled Mr. Feller in the Boston Braves’ (1-0) win over the then Cleveland Indians in game 1 of the 1948 World Series.

A pick off play by the Indians was ruled unsuccessful and Tommy Holmes, another baseball great in a better day, drove in the game’s only run soon after.

Apparently in Bob Lemon’s victory in game 2 at Boston, vs the Braves, the Indians pulled off a successful pick off play.

This year in their heartbreaking game 7 loss, an Indians’ player (why embarrass him, has not there been enough?!!) was picked off first base.

Below is a well written caption from a CBS website concerning the play.

Cleveland manager Lou Boudreau (and shortstop) disagrees with the umpire Bill Stewart that Phil Masi, who was pinch running for Bill Salkeld, is safe, October 6, 1948. Masi scored on the next play when Tommy Holmes singled to left field, enabling the Braves to beat the Indians, 1-0.

The play was considered one of the most controversial in World Series history. Masi admitted in his will that he was out.