ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The 1944 World Series was all about St. Louis.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the 1944 World Series - an all St. Louis matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and the then-St. Louis Browns that would see the Cardinals emerge victorious over the Browns in six games.
The series was unique as it was the first World Series to be played with both teams residing west of the Mississippi River, only the second series to feature both teams from the same city other than New York and it was a World Series that was played while World War II was still going on.
"It was a wartime effort putting it together," said Ed Wheatley, author and historian, on 'Total Information A.M.' "There was rationing, tickets could only be sold 100 miles away. Just the limited travel and gas usage, etc. There's a whole long list of things."
On Tuesday, Sept. 17, the Missouri History Museum honored the history and legacy of the "Streetcar Series" with a limited time exhibit on Tuesday featuring over 100 memorabilia items from the 1944 World Series.
"You look at it, this was the showcase of baseball for any city. Your two teams both competing in the World Series and it was very special time, with the Cardinals having been in the World Series the previous two World Series in 1942 and 1943," said Wheatley. "This was the Browns first and only trip. They were close in 1922, almost made it on last day of season, but (in 1944) they won the game on the last day of the season. It was a very special time for us."