May 22, 1948

Tomorrow the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees may make baseball history when the two do battle at Cleveland Stadium. It might be the largest crowd in baseball history to ever witness a game. The Indians are expecting around 80,000 for the Sunday doubleheader.

The ticket office has 30,000 general admission tickets available beginning at 9 a.m. on Sunday at the Stadium. All box and reserved seating already has been sold. Arrangements have been made to move the bullpens from beyond the outfield walls into foul ground so that fans have extra space to stand during the game.

The largest paid attendance of all time was set in New York on May 30, 1938, for a doubleheader between the Yankees and Boston Red Sox. A crowd of 81,841 filled Yankees Stadium. In 1946, the Indians and Yankees drew the highest total paid for a game at the Stadium with 74,529 spectators. The Indians rivaled that on opening day this year with 73,163.

Cleveland did draw more than 80,000 when the Stadium opened in 1932, but the battle between the Tribe’s Mel Harder and Philadelphia Athletics’ Lefty Grove only had 73,911 paying customers. The others were admitted on passes.

This is New York’s first trip to Cleveland this year and only Sunday appearance of the season. The Indians will start Tribe ace Bob Feller and Don Black, while the Yankees will counter with Allie Reynolds and Ed Lopat. Feller and Reynolds will likely face off in the first game, each searching for their sixth victory of the season.

Today’s game with the Boston Red Sox is Ladies’ Day. Women and children can see the game for free this afternoon.

Photo: The Conlon Collection