Shift work

In case you are wondering, the exaggerated defensive shifts that have been so ridiculously popular with managers in today’s game make their debut 77 years ago today as Cleveland player-manager Lou Boudreau rolls out the strategy in the second game of a double-header at Boston’s Fenway Park.

Boudreau’s goal is to stop the Red Sox’s magnificent Ted Williams.

Williams – seen here two days later against Bob Feller and that shifty Cleveland defense – goes 1-for-2 against the shift for the first time with a double, pair of walks and a groundout to Boudreau playing on the right-field side of second base in the Red Sox’s 6-4 victory.

Historians note that Williams goes 2-for-5 two days later against Feller with a pair of groundouts into the shift in a game Cleveland wins 6-3.