As a 29-year-old rookie, Verban batted .412 for the Cardinals in the 1944 World Series
and went 3-for-3 in the sixth and final game, driving in the winning run to beat
the Browns. During the Series he requested a better seat for his pregnant wife, who
was put behind a post, but was denied it by the club owner. When the series ended,
Verban told the owner, "Now you can sit behind the post, you meathead."
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Because
of his speed, Verban acquired the nickname The Antelope in the minors. He led the
NL in fielding in 1945 and in fewest strikeouts (eight) while with the Phillies in
1947. A latter-day nationwide group of Cub fans calls itself the Emil Verban Society.
(RTM)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»October 9, 1944:
Emil Verban drives in 3 runs as the Cardinals top
the Browns 3-1 and win the Series in 6 games.
Ted Wilks allows no one to reach base in 323
innings of relief, fanning 4 pinch hitters. George
McQuinn hits .438 for the Series. The winners get
$4,626 each; the Browns take $2,743, the lowest player
shares since 1933.
»May 2, 1946: In St. Louis, Giants manager Mel Ott informs C Clyde Kluttz at breakfast that he has been traded from New York to the Phillies. But Cards manager Eddie Dyer calls Kluttz at lunch to tell him not to pack; St. Louis has just made a trade for him. Kluttz is part of the trades that sends Vince DiMaggio from the Phils to the Giants and 2B Emil Verban from St. Louis to Philadelphia. The Giants then beat the Cards, 5–1, scoring four in the 9th. Dave Koslo tosses a 4-hitter for New York, beating Harry Brecheen. Brecheen fans three in the 3rd -- Buddy Kerr, Koslo, and Bill Rigney -- all on called strikes.
»May 18, 1947:
In St. Louis, the Cards drop a pair to Philadelphia, losing 6–3 and 1–0. Ken Raffensberger wins the nitecap for the Blue Jays with a brilliant complete-game shutout. Ken Heintzelman wins the opener for the Phils. Harry Walker is 5-for-10 in the two games, while Emil Verban (.337) knocks in the winning run in the 12th.