The Cardinals won 106 games, claiming the pennant and then beating the Yankees in the World Series. The Dodgers won 104 games, one of the highest totals ever for a second-place club. The Cardinals were led by star outfielder Enos Slaughter, pitcher Mort Cooper, and a rookie outfielder named Stan Musial. Cooper had probably the best season of any National League pitcher in the decade, and edged out Slaughter for the MVP Award.

        Slaughter was 26, and had the best season of his career. Both he and Johnny Mize went to war in the off-season, and didn't return until 1946. A player usually reaches his prime between the ages 25-30; Slaughter had the heart of that prime period cut right out of his career. "Country" returned in 1946, and was a fine player for many years. Slaughter played until he was 43, spending his final years as a backup with the mighty Yankee teams of the 1950's. He retired with 2383 career hits, and was eventually inducted into the Hall Of Fame.
        Slaughter's argument for the Hall Of Fame is not overwhelming, but he has a case. Those three years in the war cost him at least 500 career hits, and maybe another batting or RBI title. Slaughter was very highly regarded in his time, and at one point was an All-Star for ten consecutive seasons.
        The Cardinals had a brilliant young nucleus at this time; along with Slaughter and Musial, the Cards also had youngsters Marty Marion and Walker Cooper. Led by manager Billy Southworth, the Cardinals won four pennants and three World Series over the next five years, and were the most successful National League team of the decade.
        For the second year in a row, I think that Stan Hack was the only serious MVP candidate among the infielders. Hack was among the more underrated players of his era; he played 16 years, all of them with the Cubs, and collected over 2000 career hits. "Smiling Stan" hit only 57 homers in his career, but he had plenty of singles, doubles, walks and stolen bases. Seven times he scored over 100 runs in a season. The Cubs won three pennants with Hack in their lineup; they haven't won any since he retired.
        The Dodgers had a disappointing finish to their season, but this was the dawn of a great era for them, the best years they would have in Brooklyn. One of their young stars was Pee Wee Reese, who at age 24 had his first good season as a regular. Reese was another player who went to war next season, and the Dodgers' fortunes sank; but Reese came back in 1946, and the team started to win again.
        Another Dodger, Mickey Owen, finished fourth in the MVP vote; only Slaughter and Mel Ott received more votes among the players. There was probably a good reason for this, but I don't know what it was. The previous season, Owen committed a passed ball in Game Three of the World Series, opening the door for a Yankee victory. Maybe this was a sympathy vote.