Cleveland Municipal Stadium, September 12, 1954 – Record crowd sees Indians battle the Yankees

A record attendance of 86,563 Cleveland fans piled in to see a key Sunday doubleheader against the New York Yankees. Going into the game the first-place Indians have a comfortable 7.5 game lead ahead of the Yankees but were still looking to put more distance between them and the defending World Champs. In the first game, the Tribe’s Bob Lemon would pitch six-hit ball in a 4-1 win to improve his season record to 22-6. In the second game, it would be Cleveland’s other ace Early Wynn who would earn his 21st win of the season by striking out 12 Yankees in a 3-2 game. The Indians reserve outfielder Wally Westlake was the hero of the game with a 2-run double in the 5th inning that was the difference maker.

The Indians would finish with a historic 111-43 season, besting the 1927 New York Yankees 110-win season. But despite the very impressive regular season, in the World Series they would in humbling fashion get swept in four games by the New York Giants.