On this day, 73 years ago, the New York Yankees completed a 4-1 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals to capture their 10th World Series title in 21 seasons.
World War II meant that both teams’ rosters were depleted with the military draft taking away the services of several players, including Joe DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto, Enos Slaughter and Johnny Beazley.
Because of wartime travel restrictions, the Series remained in New York for Game 3 and a record 69,990 people watched the Yankees go up 2-1 in the Series. The Yanks clinched the Series in Game 5, as Spud Chandler put in a 10-hit shutout, with New York winning 2-0 on Bill Dickey’s two-run homer in the sixth.
More memorable events on this day:
1902: The first day of the inaugural Test between South Africa and Australia takes place in Johannesburg.
1971: Stan Smith gives the USA an unassailable 3-1 victory over Romania in Davis cup, beating Ion Tiriac in straight sets in North Carolina.
1975: The New York Islanders’ Bryan Trottier scores his first NHL hat-trick against the Los Angeles Kings in his second NHL game.
1980: The Dallas Mavericks open their first season in the NBA with a 103-92 victory at home against interstate rivals San Antonio.
