1948: Braves crush Indians 11–5 – World Series Game 5 (Mutual)

Images shown during this broadcast: • 1948 World Series – Game 5: Boston Braves vs. Cleveland Indians – General view of Cleveland Stadium during Game 5 of the 1948 World Series between the Boston Braves and Cleveland Indians in front of a sold out crowd of 86,288 people on October 10, 1948, at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. • 1948 World Series – Game 5: Boston Braves vs. Cleveland Indians – Manager Lou Boudreau #5 of the Cleveland Indians hands the ball to relief pitcher Satchel Paige #29 during Game 5 of the 1948 World Series against the Boston Braves on October 10, 1948, at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Complete original Mutual Broadcasting System radio broadcast of Game 5 of the 1948 World Series, played at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 10, 1948. The Boston Braves defeated the Cleveland Indians 11–5 to cut the Indians’ series lead to 3–2. The broadcast features Mel Allen and Jim Britt, with Gillette as the sponsor. Game summary – a home run barrage and a Braves blowout: • Top of the 1st (Braves score 3): Tommy Holmes singled. Alvin Dark beat out an infield hit. Bob Elliott then hit a three‑run home run to right field – his first of two homers on the day. Braves lead 3–0. • Bottom of the 1st (Indians score 1): Dale Mitchell led off with a home run to right‑center. 3–1 Braves. • Top of the 3rd (Braves score 1): Bob Elliott hit his second consecutive home run (to left field), driving in his fourth run of the game. Braves lead 4–1. • Bottom of the 4th (Indians score 4 to take 5–4 lead): Joe Gordon singled, Ken Keltner walked, Walt Judnick singled (scoring Gordon). With one out, Jim Hegan hit a three‑run home run to left field, scoring Keltner and Judnick. That chased starter Nelson Potter. Warren Spahn relieved. Indians lead 5–4. • Top of the 6th (Braves tie it 5–5): Bill Salkeld led off with a home run to right field. • Top of the 7th (Braves explode for 6 runs, take 11–5 lead): Tommy Holmes singled, Al Dark sacrificed, Earl Torgeson singled (scoring Holmes) – Braves lead 6–5. After a walk, Marv Rickert singled (scoring two more) – 8–5. Mike McCormick singled (scoring another) – 9–5. Eddie Stanky blooped a single to right (scoring another) – 10–5. Warren Spahn hit a sacrifice fly to center (scoring the 11th run). Satchel Paige made his first World Series appearance (a balk was called on him). The Braves sent 13 men to the plate in the inning. • The rest of the game: Warren Spahn shut down the Indians after the 4th inning, allowing only one hit (a double by Lou Boudreau in the 8th) over 5⅔ innings of relief. He struck out six and walked none. Notable moments: • Six home runs in the game: Elliott (2), Mitchell, Hegan, Salkeld – a total of 6 homers (4 by the Braves, 2 by the Indians). This broke the previous World Series single‑game record of 5 homers (set in 1928 and 1932). • Bob Elliott’s two homers: He drove in 4 runs, raising his Series RBI total to 5 (he would finish with 5). • Warren Spahn’s masterful relief: He entered with one out in the 4th, his team trailing 5–4, and proceeded to pitch 5⅔ innings of one‑hit, shutout relief, striking out six. He also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. • Satchel Paige’s World Series debut: At an age variously reported as 40 to 50+, Paige pitched 1⅓ innings, allowing no hits, one walk, and one balk. He retired the side in the 8th. • Attendance: 86,288 – a new World Series record (and the largest crowd ever to see a baseball game at the time). Starting lineups (as announced): • Boston Braves – Tommy Holmes (RF), Alvin Dark (SS), Earl Torgeson (1B), Bob Elliott (3B), Marv Rickert (LF), Bill Salkeld (C), Mike McCormick (CF), Eddie Stanky (2B), Nelson Potter (P). Later: Warren Spahn (P), others. • Cleveland Indians – Dale Mitchell (LF), Larry Doby (CF), Lou Boudreau (SS), Joe Gordon (2B), Ken Keltner (3B), Walt Judnick (RF), Eddie Robinson (1B), Jim Hegan (C), Bob Feller (P). Later: Ed Klieman, Russ Christopher, Satchel Paige, Bob Muncrief, Al Rosen (PH), Ray Boone (PH), Hal Peck (RF), Joe Tipton (PH). Pitching summary: • Braves – Nelson Potter (3⅓ IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 K); Warren Spahn (W, 5⅔ IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K). • Indians – Bob Feller (L, 6⅓ IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 5 K); Ed Klieman (0 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K); Russ Christopher (0⅓ IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K); Satchel Paige (1⅓ IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K); Bob Muncrief (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K). Series context: The Indians led the series 3–1 entering this game. The Braves’ win forced a Game 6 in Boston. The Indians would win Game 6 (with Bob Lemon pitching) to clinch the World Championship. Subscribe for more vintage baseball broadcasts and historical audio. #WorldSeries #1948WorldSeries #Indians #Braves #MutualBroadcasting #VintageBaseball