Sain put up a record of 20-14 in 1946, and the Brave was fifth in MVP voting. The righthander won 21 Games in 1947, was an All-Star, and along with Warren Spahn, he helped make Boston a bona fide contender. After those two good years, Sain became part of baseball folklore with his 1948 year. A poem by Gerald V. Hern of the Boston Post became nationally known, which extolled the virtues of Sain and Spahn:
“First we’ll use Spahn
Then we’ll use Sain
Then an off day
Followed by rain
Back will come Spahn
Followed by Sain
And followed
We hope
By two days of rain”
Sain and Spahn were untouchable late in the season where they took the Braves to a National League Pennant. Boston didn’t win, but Sain was phenomenal in the World Series, with a 1-1 record, and a 1.06 ERA. For his work in the regular season, Sain was second in MVP voting.
Sain had another 20 Win year for Boston in 1950, but he was dealt to the New York Yankees in the following year. With New York, he was used in the bullpen, leading the AL in Saves in 1954, and he was a member of three straight World Series Championships (1952-54).
It should be mentioned that Sain was a decent hitter for a hurler as he had a lifetime Batting Average on .245, and led the NL in Sacrifice Hits in the 1948 Season.
Sain retired with a record of 139-116, which doesn’t seem that great, but there was a five-year stretch where he was among the best starters in the game. There are Hall of Famers who can’t say that.
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