1945 World Series Overview: Highlights and Notable Performances
The 1945 World Series featured the Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers, showcasing a mix of exceptional and poor performances. The Cubs entered as the favored team due to a stronger lineup, but struggles soon emerged. Despite Hank Wyse’s impressive 22 wins for Chicago during the regular season, he was ineffective in the Series. The Cubs significantly relied on Hank Borowy, who joined from the New York Yankees mid-season. He pitched in four games but was inconsistent, notably letting down the team when needed most. Statistically, this Series revealed weak hitting, evidenced by Detroit’s team average of .290 and the Cubs' inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Paul Derringer and Ray Prim, with a combined 29 regular-season wins, also could not deliver when it mattered. Newhouser from Detroit had an outstanding season, leading in effectiveness.