Editor’s note: Fenway Park opened on April 20, 1912. NESN.com will be celebrating Fenway’s 100-year anniversary with unique content from now until April 20, 2012.
The Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park hosted the first American League playoff game in 1948.
The Sox finished tied atop the AL, sharing the best record in the league with the Cleveland Indians. The Indians, though, took down the Sox in the one-game playoff with a spot in the World Series on the line at Fenway on Oct. 4.
A Red Sox win would have set up a cross-town matchup with the Boston Braves in the Series.
Ted Williams led the team to its 96-59 record with a .369 batting average. Johnny Pesky moved over to third base to make room for Vern Stephens, who led the team with 27 homers and 137 RBIs. It was Joe McCarthy's first season as skipper.
Before the '48 season started, Fenway renovated several aspects of the stadium. Both clubhouses received improvements, a one-room level for umpires was added, and restrooms adjacent to the skybox were added.
In non-baseball action, the Boston Yanks hosted the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steels, Chicago Bears, and Washington Redskins, while the Boston University football team welcomed Syracuse, Iowa, and New York University to Fenway.
For more information on Fenway Park, visit Fenway Park 100.
