Stewart found success again with "The Stratton Story" (1949), playing baseball champion Monty Stratton opposite June Allyson. It became the sixth-highest-grossing film of 1949 and was well received by the critics. "The New York Times" noted, ""The Stratton Story" was the best thing that has yet happened to Mr. Stewart in his post-war film career...he gives such a winning performance that it is almost impossible to imagine any one else playing the role." Stewart's other 1949 release saw him reunited with Spencer Tracy in the World War II film "Malaya" (1949). It was a commercial failure and received mixed reviews.