Scenes from the Browns and Cardinals 1944 World Series
The final game of the 1944 World Series was played on a chilly Oct. 9 between the National League's ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals and the American League's ºüÀêÊÓƵ Browns at Sportsman's Park. Only 31,630 fans -- almost 3,000 fewer than a full house -- saw the game. The Cardinals won that final game, 3-1, and the series, 4-2.
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Young fans of both teams cheer during Game Four on Oct. 7, 1944. It was a Saturday, so no hooky was necessary. The Cardinals won 5-1, evening the series at two victories each. The photo caption published that day doesn't identify the them as members of the Knot Hole Gang, an old promotion that allowed youngsters into Browns and Cardinals games, but they certainly qualified. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Young fans in line for bleacher tickets on Oct. 3, 1944, one day before Game One of the World Series between the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals and the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Browns. Their plan was to stay overnight on the sidewalk and buy tickets before game time. The Browns had won their only American League pennant that year by beating the New York Yankees on the last game of the regular season. The Cardinals had cruised to their eighth National League title. All six series games were played in Sportsman's Park, at North Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street in north ºüÀêÊÓƵ. At the time, the Browns owned the stadium. The Cardinals were tenants. The Browns won Game One, but the Cardinals took the series in six. The only all-ºüÀêÊÓƵ World Series, it eventually became known as the Streetcar Series. But none of the sportswriters called it that at the time. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Two fans try to get some sleep in the ticket line outside Sportsman's Park during the wee hours before Game One of the World Series on Oct. 4, 1944. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
An informal pep ensemble gets ready to entertain fans waiting outside Sportsman's Park on the night before Game One. Police officers soon made them move to a nearby vacant lot, where they played on. They are, from left, Charles Chaplin of 812 Goodfellow Boulevard, Wright Powell of 2926 Prairie Avenue, Herman J. Weitzbuch of 1519a Burd Avenue, Hillard Gold of 1310 Goodfellow, Jimmy Powell of 2926 Prairie and Bill Schneider of 5025 Wells Avenue. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Fans line up along North Grand Boulevard on the morning of Game One. It rained in the morning, but 33,242 fans saw the Browns win 2-1. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
A streetside view of the line on North Grand before game time Oct. 4, 1944. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Army privates Harold Bryan (left) and Sy Gopman, both of New York city, have tickets for Game One. They were in ºüÀêÊÓƵ on leave from Camp Breckinridge near Morganfield, Ky, and rooted for the Browns. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Fans in the left-field bleachers of Sportsman's Park 2 1/2 hours before the first pitch in Game One. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Fans in the left-field upper deck of Sportsman's Park watch Game 1 of the 1944 World Series between the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Browns and ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals. Pitching for the Browns is Dennis Galehouse. Batting is Danny Litwhiler. Galehouse was the winning pitcher in the 2-1 Browns victory. Post-Dispatch file photo.
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
The litter-filled bleachers shortly after the Browns' Game One victory on Oct. 4, 1944. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Fans play cards in the bleachers before Game Three on Oct. 6, 1944. Hats made of newspaper were popular among bleacher fans. The Cardinals had won Game Two the day before 3-2, but the Browns regained the series lead with a 6-2 win in Game Three before 34,737 fans. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Candidates visit the Browns dugout in Sportsman's Park before Game Three of the 1944 World Series. Seated are, from left, Browns first baseman George McQuinn; U.S. Sen. Harry S Truman of Missouri, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate; Browns second baseman Don Gutteridge; and state Sen. Phil M. Donnelly, D-Lebanon, the Democratic candidate for Missouri governor. Truman and Donnelly won their elections one month later. Truman, who ran with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, would become president six months later, following Roosevelt's death on April 12, 1945.
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Fans leaving Game Three head for streetcars and buses on North Grand Boulevard. The 1944 series often is called the "Streetcar Series," but none of the city's three daily newspapers called it that while it was underway. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Cardinals fans show their joy during Game Five on Oct. 8, 1944, after Ray Sanders hit a solo home run in the sixth inning. Browns fans sit quietly. The Cardinals won 2-0 before 36,588 fans to take a one-game lead in the series. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Children from local Catholic, Protestant and Jewish orphanages meet two of the pros before Game Six on Oct. 9, 1944. In uniform are (left) Cardinals pitcher Mort Cooper and Browns manager Luke Sewell. Chaperones are (from left) David Berger and the Rev. H.L. Byrne. The Cardinals won that day 3-1, taking the World Series in six games. Cooper had pitched a complete game in the Cardinals' Game Five victory. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Arthur Pecher watches Game Six from a homemade perch atop his home at 3641 Dodier Street. It gave him a view over the left-field bleachers. Pecher built his sky view with two 18-foot ladders, ropes and boards. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Rival buttons confirm the expressions on their faces as the Cardinals win Game Six 3-1 to win the World Series on Oct. 9, 1944. A cold front that had moved into ºüÀêÊÓƵ the night before kept down attendance. Only 31,360 fans attended the clincher. It was 52 degrees when the game began. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Cardinals catcher Walker Cooper congratulates Ted Wilks, who pitched the final 3 2/3 innings in the championship victory in Game Six. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Cardinals manager Billy Southworth (center) hugs his winning Game Six pitching staff -- starter Max Lanier (left), who had already taken his shower, and closer Ted Wilks. (Post-Dispatch)
Look Back: Browns, Cardinals 1944 World Series
Fans leaving Sportsman's Park after the Cardinals took the series championship with a 3-1 victory in Game Six on Oct. 9, 1944. (Post-Dispatch)
1944: World Series
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals' Ray Sanders slides home with a run for the Cards in the fourth inning of the sixth World Series game in ºüÀêÊÓƵ against the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Browns, Oct. 9, 1944, in ºüÀêÊÓƵ. Myron Hayworth, Browns' catcher, waits for a possible play on Sanders. Umpire is Bill McGowan. (AP Photo)
1944: All-ºüÀêÊÓƵ World Series
The ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals and the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Browns are shown during third inning action with bases loaded and two out for the Cardinals in World Series opener at Sportsman's Park in ºüÀêÊÓƵ, Mo., Oct. 4, 1944. Danny Litwhiler, left fielder for the Cardinals, hits to Mark Christman, third baseman for the Browns, forcing out Ray Sanders, first baseman of the Cardinals, for the third out. The Browns won the game, 2 to 1. (AP Photo)
1944: Cards vs. Browns
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals' Terry Moore hits a foul in the first inning during their World Series game against the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Browns, Oct. 3, 1944. (AP Photo)
In the only all-ºüÀêÊÓƵ Series ever, 31,630 fans cheered both teams at old Sportsman's Park.Â
On Aug. 24, 1951, owner Bill Veeck decided to let fans hold up "Yes" and "No" signs to make all the managerial decisions during a ºüÀêÊÓƵ Browns game.