Odds & Honors

Big Hank Greenberg rubbed a lucky piece of bone on his bat, strode thoughtfully to the plate, and slammed a grand-slam homer into the left field bleachers. That did it: Hank's 13th home run (in 78 games since his Army discharge) finally clinched the American League pennant for the Detroit Tigers, on the last day of the season. The 6-to-3 win over the St. Louis Browns was No. 25 for Lefty Hal Newhouser, who had relieved fast-bailer Virgil ("Fire") Trucks, fresh out of Navy blues.

Although the solemn Tigers had stumbled and bumbled before applying the clincher, betters made them 13 to 10 favorites over their World Series rivals, the Chicago Cubs. Thanks to Pitcher Hank Borowy (and with the compliments of Yankee Boss Larry MacPhail, who decided in mid-season that he needed $100,000 more than he needed an outstanding pitcher like Borowy), the Cubs copped their pennant a day earlier--after giving Chicagoans almost as many palpitations as Detroiters had ruffered.

Both clubs had other names on the year-end honor rolls:

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