Game 1

Babe Adams vs. Chris Fletcher

At Chicago, October 4^th, 1951

Detroit	1	Boxscore
Chicago	2

Win	Allen Schlueter
Loss	John Curtis
Save

After the Tigers completed their historic late-season run, overtaking Washington in the final weeks, the team headed to Chicago to open its series with the Division Champion Chicago Claymores. With sixteen games separating these teams in the standings, Detroit came in as a decided underdog. But in the opening game, Chris Fletcher was equal to the Claymores’ famed “Slaughtering Slashers,” scattering eight hits and one run across seven and one-third innings. Babe Adams was equally good, allowing only a run-scoring sacrifice fly by Dud Murray in the fifth, which put Detroit up 1-0. In the eighth, Fletcher allowed consecutive singles to Sloan, Corcoran, and Jackson with one-out, the last one tying the game. Ted Abernathy came on and got Mike Gonzales to fly out, and then Arlas Corcoran committed a cardinal sin, getting himself thrown out at third on a two-out steal attempt.

In the ninth, with Schlueter on for Chicago, and the game still tied at 1, the Tigers put Tate at second and Horn at first with nobody out. Concepcion struck out, and then Bill Schied—pinch-hitting for Abernathy—struck out too. Art Repoz then grounded out to first, ending the threat. In the bottom of the inning, John Curtis came on for Detroit. With one-out, Dud Murray dropped a routine fly ball off the bat of Jimmy Rosenthal, putting the winning run at second. Mike Renfroe reached on an infield single, and then Amos Cooper singled to bring home Rosenthal with the winning running, giving Chicago a one game lead in the series.

Game 2

Toots Wilson vs. Don Guzzlet

At Chicago, October 5^th, 1951

Chicago Leads 1 game to 0

Detroit	3	Boxscore
Chicago	6

Win	Toots Wilson
Loss	Don Guzzlet
Save	Kris May

Detroit loaded the bases in the first inning with two-out, but Gene Acevedo could only ground out to shortstop, spoiling a perfect opportunity to change the momentum of the series. Detroit did get on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead on a Bill Sterns double in the third, but Chicago came right back with a solo blast from AL-ROY Mickey Fischer, and an RBI single from Tim Laudner. Guzzlet singled to open the fifth, and then Mickey Fisher went out of his way to make Dud Murray feel better for his mishap in Game 1, turning a fly ball off the bat of Art Repoz into a two-base error. Murray—who looked almost gleeful in the on deck circle—hit a sac fly to bring home the tying run.

In the sixth, Laudner doubled to open the inning, and then Mike Gonzalez put Chicago ahead with a two-run blast, chasing Guzzlet in favor of Ted Abernathy. Art Repoz delivered a home run in the 7^th, cutting the Claymores’ lead to 4-3, but Laudner and Gonzalez struck again in the eighth with a single and a home run, putting Chicago up by three. Kris May came on and shut down Detroit, sending the Tigers back to Rock City down two games.

Game 3

Gary Nolan vs. Bill Hopkins

At Detroit, October 7^th, 1951

Chicago Leads 2 games to 0

Chicago	4	Boxscore
Detroit	3

Win	Bill Hopkins
Loss	Ted Abernathy
Save	Kris May

Chicago got it going early, picking up a pair in the first on RBI singles from Arlas Corcoran and Cuke Jackson. Bill Sterns brought home a run for Detroit in the third with an RBI single, but Mike Mullane struck out with two on, ending the inning, and passing up a rare opportunity for a big inning. After Dud Murray tied the game with a leadoff home run in the fifth, Nolan and Hopkins took control through the seventh. In the eighth, Abernathy relieved Nolan. Corcoran singled, and then with one out, Gonzalez and Gunning singled, loading the bases. Luey Larue then pinch-hit for Hopkins and singled home a pair of runs, putting Chicago up 4-2. In the bottom of the inning, Sterns and Mullane led off with back-to-back singles, but the Tigers could only manage an RBI single from Don Horn. Kris May put the Tigers’ down in order in the 9^th, giving Chicago a 3 games to none lead in the series.

Game 4

Clay Carrol vs. John Viox

At Detroit, October 8^th, 1951

Chicago Leads 3 games to 0

Chicago	8	Boxscore
Detroit	0

Win	John Viox
Loss	Clay Carrol
Save

The Tigers looked as if they’d lost before they ever took the field, as Clay Carrol was rocked for four first inning runs. Mickey Fischer popped out to lead off the game, but then the Claymores struck with four consecutive hits. Amos Cooper doubled, Tim Laudner singled, scoring Cooper, Billy Sloan hit a two-run homer, and then Arlas Corcoran followed with a solo blast of his own. Clearly pressing, the Tiger bats were no match for John Viox, who tossed a complete game four-hitter, allowing just two walks against seven strikeouts. Corcoran added two more RBIs, and Sloan and Laudner each added one more of their own. In completing the sweep, the Claymores earned a trip to their first World Series.