The 1948 Major League Baseball season was predicted to be a close race between the Yankees and Red Sox.

[4] Most of the American League managers had the Yankees finishing first, followed by the Red Sox, Indians, and Detroit Tigers.

[12] The Indians chose rookie Gene Bearden to start against Boston in the tie-breaker, despite only having one day of rest, as he had beaten the Red Sox twice that season, and the Red Sox chose Denny Galehouse, passing on Mel Parnell, who had beaten the Indians on three separate occasions that season.

American League MVP Lou Boudreau then hit a home run off Galehouse to make the score 1–0.

The Red Sox expected a bunt, but instead the third baseman hit his 31st home run of the season to put the Indians ahead, 4–1.

Stephens struck out, but Bobby Doerr hit his 27th home run of the season to make the score 6–3.

Bearden then hit a fly ball to Williams, who dropped it, allowing Hegan to score and making it 7–3 in the Indians' favor.

Indians' Manager Lou Boudreau dedicated the victory to pitcher Don Black, who suffered a cerebral hemorrhage the previous month.

[16] The Red Sox's defeat disappointed Boston fans, who had been rooting the entire season for an All-Boston World Series.

Before the October 4 game, the oddsmakers gave the Red Sox the advantage, meaning that an all-Boston World Series was likely.

As a result, Dom DiMaggio and Vern Stephens led the league with 155 games played, which could not have been equaled except by another Red Sox or Indians player.

[18] DiMaggio's four at-bats in the game also gave him the league lead with 648, four ahead of Bob Dillinger of the St. Louis Browns.