Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview
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Damn Yankees
Page 27
going to win. The team then won 13 of its next 14 games, well establishing themselves as league leader.
"If we're going to win the pennant, we've got to start thinking we're not as good as we think we are." - Casey Stengel
DiMaggio returned from injury on June 28 after missing 65 games. He hit four home runs in three games to help sweep Boston and extend the Yankees' league lead. Despite DiMaggio's return, the lineup remained plagued with injuries. After consulting with Stengel, Weiss obtained Johnny Mize from the Giants, but he was soon sidelined with a separated shoulder. The Red Sox tied the Yankees for first place by sweeping a two game set at Fenway September 24th and 25th. The Red Sox took the lead the following day with a comeback win in a makeup game, as Stengel lost his
temper at the umpire for the first time in Yankee uniform. Although he was not ejected, he was fined by the league.
The season came down to a two game set with the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, with the home team one game behind and needing to win both. Stengel, during the 1949 season, had shown himself more inclined than his peers to bring in a relief pitcher.
For the length of the season, the 1949 Yankees team was seen as "underdogs," a face off that fueled the beginning of the modern Yankees – Red Sox rivalry.