The day certainly called for a celebration. After three consecutive years of finishing as runners-up behind New York, Cleveland was poised for their first pennant in six years, and just their second since 1920. Especially gratifying was the fact that their closest competitors this season were the Yankees, this day's guests. Since the Indians' 1948 championship, the Yankees had dominated both the American and the National League, winning five straight world's championships.

With only a dozen remaining regular-season games, the Tribe now led second-place New York by 6.5 games. For the Yankees to retain any notion of their former lofty status, they needed to sweep this doubleheader; not an impossible task considering they led the season series 11-9. On the other hand, Cleveland fans saw the twin-bill as the world champions' last gasp and came to savor their demise. Cleveland's heroes were led by eventual league leaders Bobby Avila (.341) and Larry Doby (32 HRs, 126 RBIs), plus Al Rosen (.300, 24 HRs, 102 RBIs) and a terrific pitching staff. That corps included Bob Lemon, Early Wynn. Mike Garcia, Art Houtemann, Bob Feller, Hal Newhouser, Don Mossi, and Ray Narleski. Lemon and Wynn finished with eight of their team's 11 victories over New York this season.

In 1954, no baseball park's capacity exceeded that of Municipal Stadium, boasting accommodations for 73,811. This day saw those provisions pushed beyond the limit as bright warm weather helped encourage an avalanche of humanity to descend upon the 23-year-old structure. By the time the turnstiles had stopped clicking, 84,587 avid supporters had paid their money, and another 1,976 had entered via complimentary passes. Those 86,563 total attendees represent the largest crowd to have ever witnessed a major-league baseball game. (The previous regular season "paid" attendance record had also been attained in Municipal Stadium on June 20, 1948.) Many of the participants in this milestone were uncomfortable, however, over 12,000 being without seats. Fans packed the aisles, stood 10-11 rows deep behind the wire outfield fences, and 3-5 rows deep in the walkways. The three sections of green bleacher seats normally reserved for a hitter's background were reduced by one-half. Remarkably, still other hopefuls were turned away at the gates, which closed after the seventh inning of the opener rather than the customary fifth frame of the nightcap. As mind numbing as this throng was, The Cleveland Press expected that these figures would be exceeded by upcoming World Series turnouts. (They weren't.)

Crowds of this size also led to some astonishing food consumption. The Berlo Vending Company, which handled the concessions, estimated that five tons, or approximately 100,000 wieners, were consumed in addition to about 85,000 bottles of beer.

Cleveland won both ends of the twin bill, virtually clinching the pennant. It was the first time this year the Yankees had been so swept and was especially satisfying for the Indians to beat their old nemesis Allie Reynolds in the opener. Because of superb Cleveland pitching, most baseball mavens then predicted a World's Championship for the Indians regardless of who prevailed in the still-contested National League race. Alas, the Giants made quick work of Cleveland in a four-game World Series sweep, thanks in large part to some Dusty Rhodes heroics and a much publicized over-the-shoulder catch by Willie Mays.

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