at bat. In 1945 he will homer in his final major league at bat and become the only player in MLB history to do both. September 13 – In the second inning of a doubleheader at Braves Field, Lennie Merullo commits four errors in the second inning of the Chicago Cubs' 12-8 victory over the Boston Braves. Merullo had just been informed by Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley that his wife had just delivered their first child, son Len Jr. The next day, the Chicago newspapers suggest that the newborn be nicknamed "Boots" in honor of the occasion. September 27 – The St. Louis Cardinals clinch the National League pennant on the last day of the regular season by defeating the Chicago Cubs, 9-2, in the first game of a double header at Sportsman's Park, St. Louis. The Cardinals also win Game 2 of the double header and finish the season with a record of 106-48, giving them the most victories by any National League team since Pittsburgh's 110 wins in 1909. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Dodgers win their season finale, 4-3, against Philadelphia to end the season in second place at 104-50. September 29 – The Kansas City Monarchs defeat the Washington-Homestead Grays 9 to 5 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia and sweep the 1942 Negro World Series four games to none. Satchel Paige pitches 5 hitless innings in relief to shut down the Grays and clinch the title. October–December October 5 – The St. Louis Cardinals defeat the New York Yankees, 4-2, in Game 5 of the World Series to win their fourth World Championship, four games to one. The loss was the Yankees' first since the 1926 World Series to the Cardinals. They had won eight Series in the interim. November 1 – The Brooklyn Dodgers name Branch Rickey as the team president, replacing Larry MacPhail who enters the military service. Rickey had resigned as vice-president of the St. Louis Cardinals only three days earlier. December 1 – At major league meetings in Chicago, World War II travel restrictions are the order of the day. Owners decide to restrict travel to a three-trip schedule rather than the customary four. Spring training in 1943 will be limited to locations north of the Potomac or Ohio rivers and east of the Mississippi. Movies The Pride of the Yankees Births January January 1 – Bill Bethea January 3 – Epy Guerrero