Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 370

with 13 triples and was second with 109 runs and 98 RBI. He was also third in doubles – 35, and fourth in slugging average -.485 and total bases - 267. Again facing the Dodgers in the Series, he had a pair of RBI in the Game 1 victory, and a solo homer in the 10-3 Game 2 win. He came to the plate with the score tied 2-2, the bases loaded and two out in the fourth inning of Game 7, and drove in Phil Rizzuto with the deciding run in a 5-2 win.

Henrich then enjoyed his best years, gradually moving from the outfield to first base. He hit .308 with 25 home runs and 100

RBI in 1948, leading the league in triples and runs, and finishing second in doubles and total bases, and third in slugging. He tied an AL record with four grand slams, and placed sixth in the MVP voting. He was again sixth in the MVP balloting in 1949 after placing third in the AL in home runs and slugging,

often getting crucial hits late in the season as the Yankees captured another flag under new manager Casey Stengel. The new skipper succeeded in getting Henrich to avoid outside curveballs by threatening to send him back to the minor leagues, and he picked up two RBI in a 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on the season's last day, giving New York the pennant by a single game. He caught the final out when Birdie Tebbetts hit a foul pop up near first base. Meeting the Dodgers for a final time in the