Gene Mauch of the Chicago Cubs slides safely by Braves catcher Bill Salkfeld. Mauch came home on a two-run single by pitcher Ralph Hamner to give Chicago a 3-0 second inning lead. The Cubs would score two more times in the frame for an early five-run lead chasing Hall of Famer Spahn to an early shower. But Boston would rally back to win the first game of the Thursday doubleheader 7-6.
In the nightcap the Braves once again fell behind to the Cubs trailing 7-3 heading to the eighth inning when once again they rallied, this time tying the game with four runs. They would win it in the bottom of the ninth on a bases loaded walk by Salkfeld to complete the sweep and improve the first-place Braves record to 30-22.
And that was the kind of year it was for the 1948 Boston Braves, they would stun many by winning their first National League pennant since 1914, the year of the Miracle Braves. But in the World Series their good fortune would run short falling the Cleveland Indians in six games.
Also in the photo is umpire Lee Ballanfant and Braves second baseman Hank Schenz (with two bats in hand) who was the on deck hitter.
