Though very few teams can accurately be called dynasties, the 1940s Cardinals certainly made a strong case. Detractors argue that World War II made the 40s an asterisk decade, with a huge loss of talent and significant changes to the ball and to the game itself. During that era, though, the Cardinals dominated the National League, winning four pennants and three World Series titles, and their rosters included names like Musial and Slaughter.
This is the history of the Cardinals during the 1940s, a decade that saw many of the greatest St. Louis clubs while war and integration significantly altered the game. Chapters follow the Cards year-by-year, covering each season with description, statistics and analysis. Interwoven throughout are the stories of wartime changes, including the loss of general manager Branch Rickey; the death of Judge Landis; the Pacific Coast League’s demand for major league status; the first attempt at a players’ union; and Mexican League talent raids. An appendix offers complete individual hitting and pitching statistics.

A retired marketing director and professor of economics, Mel R. Freese lives in Savannah, Tennessee. He is also the author of Charmed Circle (1997), Magic Numbers (1998) and Glory Years of the St. Louis Cardinals (1999).

Mel R. Freese
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 306
Bibliographic Info: appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2007
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2644-7
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii

Preface      1

ONE. 1940 Beginning of the Forgotten Dynasty      3

TWO. 1941 Almost Number One      28

THREE. 1942 The Cardinals’ Victory Garden      54

FOUR. 1943 Cards Run Away and Hide      81

FIVE. 1944 Almost a New Record      104

SIX. 1945 Cubbyholed      129

SEVEN. 1946 When Johnny Comes Marching Home      155

EIGHT. 1947 Injuries and Illness      191

NINE. 1948 The Great Season      220

TEN. 1949 One Week Too Long      242

Appendix: Statistics      267

Chapter Notes      281

Bibliography      285

Index      287

“congratulations to the author and to McFarland for providing a wonderful historical resource for the baseball fans today”—1190kex.com.