50 best MLB teams that didn’t win the World Series
For the first time in more than a quarter of a century, the 1946 Boston Red Sox won the American League pennant and made it to the World Series. Unfortunately for Boston, the Sox would come up short in what would prove to be the first of many disappointing postseason failures.
After waiting through a three-game playoff series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers, and then leading three games to two before the World Series shifted to St. Louis, the Red Sox lost to the Cardinals 4-1 and 4-3 in Game 6 and Game 7, respectively, at Sportsman’s Park. Just one win away from the franchise’s first World Championship since 1918, it would be another 21 years before the Red Sox had a chance to play for a World Championship, and another 58 years before they would win one.
The 1946 season was a great one for Ted Williams, who won the first of his two AL MVP Awards with a .342/.497/.667 slash (he led the Majors in OBP and slugging) with 38 home runs, 123 RBI and a Major League-leading 142 runs scored. The 27-year old Williams hadn’t missed a beat despite not playing since 1942 because of his military service in World War II.
Other than Williams, the Red Sox were led offensively by Johnny Pesky (.335/.401/.427), Dom DiMaggio (.316/.393/.427), Bobby Doerr (18 HR, 116 RBI) and Rudy York (17 HR, 119 RBI). Tex Hughson (20-11, 2.75) and Dave Ferriss (25-6, 3.25) led a pitching staff that won a total of 104 games – good for a 12-game cushion in the AL standings over the Detroit Tigers.
Next: 1962 Los Angeles Dodgers