The Red Sox grab first place ... the Braves and the Sox
are both in first place for the first time in 32 years

ON THIS DATE (July 25, 1948) ... The rampaging Red Sox turned back the Cleveland Indians, 3 to 0, for a sweep of the three-game series, before 32,190 frenzied onlookers at Fenway Park. Sox ace, Joe Dobson, whitewashed Cleveland for the club's 12th straight win and 15th in the homestand of 16 games. As a result, the Red Sox are in sole possession of first place by .004 percentage points in the American League. The runner-up Philadelphia Athletics split a doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers.

So the Red Sox cap a 55 day, 53 game run since May 31st, when they were 11 1/2 games out, by winning 40 and losing 13. With the Braves splitting a doubleheader in St. Louis, Boston finds both their baseball teams in first place since September 4, 1916.

Joe Dobson won his 13th game of the year, his fourth shutout, with command in a variety of pitches. He was best served however by Dom DiMaggio. The Little Professor roamed far and wide to gather in seven flyballs, two of which bordered on being miraculous, and coming at the most opportune moments. His fielding saved at least three runs. In addition DiMaggio belted a home run off Satchel Paige, who was pitching his first major-league game in Boston.  Ted Williams, walking twice, singling and being hit by a pitch ball was forced to retire in the Indians eighth when his right leg tightened up after it was struck by Steve Gromek's fastball in the third. It was very interesting to see Ted Williams, one of the stars of major league baseball, that against Satchel Paige, one of the stars of the Negro Leagues.

The Red Sox picked up two runs quickly in the first inning when Johnny Pesky doubled into the right-center field hole, Williams walked, and Bobby Doerr belted a triple to right-center, to knock in his 17th and 18th runs in the 16 game homestand. DiMaggio's home run off Paige in the seventh was the last run of the game.

Although Dobson was pitching proficiently on the mound, there were moments when he needed help and DiMaggio provided it. In the visitors second, with two aboard, Johnny Berardino belted what appeared to be a certain off-the-wall double. It did reach the wall and DiMaggio all but hurled himself back against the fence to backhand the ball, ending the threat. He again made a great play, as he cut in behind deep shortstop to snare a low line drive off the bat of pitcher Gromek in the third. Dale Mitchell then followed with a single and DiMaggio continued to prove to be a magnet for flyballs catching five more.

Dobson threw 113 pitches and had fine control of his curve. The Red Sox in the field, have only had four miscues in the last 20 games. Bobby Doerr has gone 35 games without an error, with 38 putouts and 117 assists.