One of the most iconic moments in baseball history occurred during the Classic 1946 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox. Enos Slaughter’s “Mad Dash” in Game 7 of the series has become one of the most memorable plays in baseball lore.
The 1946 World Series was a highly anticipated matchup between two powerhouse teams. The Cardinals were led by legendary player-manager Eddie Dyer, while the Red Sox featured a roster filled with future Hall of Famers including Ted Williams and Bobby Doerr.
The series was tied at three games apiece heading into Game 7, which was played at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis on October 15, 1946. The game was a tense back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading blows throughout the game.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, with the score tied at 3-3, Enos Slaughter stepped up to the plate for the Cardinals. With two outs and a runner on first, Slaughter hit a line drive into the right-center field gap. As the ball rolled all the way to the wall, Slaughter decided to make a bold move and try to score all the way from first base.
What happened next would go down in baseball history. As Slaughter rounded third base and headed for home, the Red Sox fielders made a critical error by mishandling the relay throw to the catcher. Slaughter slid into home plate just ahead of the tag, scoring the go-ahead run for the Cardinals.
The “Mad Dash” by Enos Slaughter stunned the Red Sox and the baseball world. The Cardinals held on to win Game 7 by a score of 4-3, clinching the World Series championship.
Slaughter’s daring baserunning and the Cardinals’ victory in Game 7 of the 1946 World Series have become legendary moments in baseball history. The “Mad Dash” is remembered as one of the most thrilling and daring plays in World Series history, showcasing the excitement and drama that can only come from America’s pastime.
Enos Slaughter’s heroics in the 1946 World Series will forever be etched in the annals of baseball history, and his “Mad Dash” will continue to be celebrated by baseball fans for generations to come.