Baseball in the Pythagorean Universe 1871-Present

Now it's time for Game 2 of the 1905 World Series from the Polo Grounds in New York:

White Sox 1st: Giants starter Joe McGinnity had an easy first inning, as he retired the Sox on just six pitches. Jiggs Donahue and George Davis each grounded to Dan McGann at first, and second baseman Gus Dundon (starting in place of Frank Isbell) squibbed a comebacker to McGinnity to end the inning. After a half, it's visitors zip, home squad coming up.

Giants 1st: Sox manager Fielder Jones caught a lot of flack for starting Nick Altrock after using him in Game 1, even for just an inning. But Altrock acquitted himself well in the first, pitching around a one-out error by Dundon, who bobbled George Browne's grounder. Altrock came back to retire Mike Donlin on a fly ball to right, and Sox catcher Billy Sullivan (starting in place of Ed McFarland) made his presence known by throwing out Browne at third to retire the side. That's three runners caught by the Sox so far in the series. After one, we're scoreless.

White Sox 2nd: It was another easy inning for McGinnity, who retired the side in order. Left fielder Ducky Holmes (starting in place of Nixey Callahan) was the only one to hit a ball in the air, and his lazy infield pop-up was caught by second baseman Billy Gilbert. After one and a half, there was still no score.

Giants 2nd: The home team broke on top. With one out, Sam Mertes grounded one into right field for a base hit, then stole second. Next up was shortstop Bill Dahlen, who smacked a line drive to right that fell in for a double. Mertes scored with ease, and it was 1-0 New York. Unfortunately, Dahlen was thrown out trying to steal third for the second out, and Art Devlin's grounder to second ended the inning. But after two, the G-Men led 1-0.

White Sox 3rd: The Pale Hose managed to get a baserunner, as Gilbert's throw to first of Altrock's tapper pulled McGann off the base. But McGinnity got Donahue to ground to second, and Gilbert made the play cleanly to retire the side. Earlier in the inning, Lee Tannehill hit the hardest ball of the game so far deep to center, but Donlin stayed with it and made the catch just before the wall. Through two and a half, the boys from Coogan's Bluff led 1-0.

Giants 3rd: Roger Bresnahan's two-out single to left was wasted, as Browne tapped back to Altrock to retire the side. Through three, it was 1-0 Giants.

White Sox 4th: The Sox managed a mini-rally when Gundon beat out a routine tapper to first with a surprising burst of speed. Devlin gloved Sullivan's line shot for out number two, but Gundon stole second, and a Holmes base hit would have tied things up. But Ducky only managed a shallow fly to Donlin, and the side was out. After three and a half, it was New York 1, Chicago 0.

Giants 4th: With one out, McGann grounded one past a diving Tannrehill for a hit. Dan then stole second, and Sullivan's throw got away from Gundon, allowing him to take third as well. But Mertes' liner was gloved by Davis for out number two, and after Dahlen walked, Davis backhanded Devlin's grounder, then threw to first just in time to nab the Giants' third baseman and end the inning. After four, the Giants held on to a 1-0 lead.

White Sox 5th: Tannehill lined a two-out single to left, but McGinnity got Altrock to fly weakly to right center, ending the inning. Halfway through, the Giants clung to a 1-0 advantage.

Giants 5th: McGinnity continued the hot series at the plate for the Giants' pitchers by smacking Altrock's first pitch to him down the left field line for a one-out double. But Altrock came back to retire Bresnahan on a fly ball to Jones in left center and Browne on a foul pop behind third that was caught by Tannehill. After five, the NL champs still led the AL champs 1-0.

White Sox 6th: It was a one-two-three inning for McGinnity, with Donahue's fly to left center being the hardest-hit ball. The Giants maintained their 1-0 lead through five and a half.

Giants 6th: Mertes tried to start something by grounding a two-out single to left, but he was mown down at second by Sullivan to end the inning, the fifth New York runner to suffer that fate in this series so far. It was still 1-0 Giants after six.

White Sox 7th: It was another three up-three down inning for McGinnity, who extended his consecutive batters retired streak to seven. Sullivan grounded to first, Holmes grounded to second, and Jomes grounded to third. As they stretched at the Polo Grounds, it was Coogan's Bluffers 1, South Siders 0.

Giants 7th: The National League champions got all the insurance they needed in this inning. After two out, Gilbert's fly ball to left dropped in for a hit. McGinnity then poked a medium-depth fly ball to right. Danny Green sprinted over and camped under the ball, but couldn't catch it cleanly. McGinnity ended up at second, and Gilbert stopped at third as the official scorer gave Green an error. Jones then ordered Bresnahan to be intentionally walked, and the bases were loaded for Browne, whose bloop just managed to avoid an oncoming Jones for a base hit. Gilbert and McGinnity both scored, and the Giants now led 3-0. Browne was subsequently thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning, but he'd more than done his job. After seven, it was Giants 3, White Sox 0.

White Sox 8th: Tannehill lined a one-out single to left for his second hit of the game and the team's third, but instead of sending up a pinch hitter, Jones let Altrock bat, and the Sox hurler flew out harmlessly to left center for out number two. Donahue's grounder to short ended the inning. After seven and a half, the Giants still led by a field goal.

Giants 8th: McGann drew a one-out free pass, but Mertes' fly to center was too shallow to move him. and he then got picked off by Altrock to end the inning, which makes seven Giants runners thrown out by the Sox so far in the series. After eight, it was NYG 3, CWS 0.

White Sox 9th: McGinnity closed the game out in style, getting Davis to ground to second, Gundon to ground to short, and Ed McFarland, batting for Sullivan, to fly to Mertes in left. McGinnity thus finished a three-hit shutout in just ninety-three pitches, and the Giants took a two games to none lead in the series. Final score: Giants 3, White Sox 0.

McGinnity was acclaimed as the unofficial MVP of Game 2 for his superlative performance on the mound, not to mention his hit and run scored offensively.

Final totals: Giants 3-8-1, White Sox 0-3-3.

W- McGinnity (1-0)
L- Altrock (0-1)

Next: The series heads back to the Windy City for Game 3 on October 15.

Thoughts?
 
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Now it's time for Game 3 of the 1905 World Series from the South Side Grounds in Chicago:

Giants 1st: The visitors teed off right away against Chicago starter Frank Smith. Roger Bresnahan drew a leadoff walk, then moved to third on George Browne's hard single to left center. Mike Donlin then grounded a possible double play ball to shortstop George Davis, but the Sox ended up getting nothing, as Browne's foot beat Davis's to the bag at second and George's throw to first was late as well. Bresnahan scored, and it was 1-0 New York. Dan McGann's deep fly to right was run down at the wall by the Sox' Danny Green, but it still moved Browne to third.

Then, the Sox' defense failed them, as catcher Ed McFarland had Donlin out at second, only for his throw to go into center field. Browne was able to jog home, and the Giants led 2-0, with Donlin now at third. It got even worse, as a Smith sinker skidded away from McFarland. By the time he found it, Donlin had waltzed home with the third New York run on what was officially called a passed ball. Smith settled down enough to get Sam Mertes to ground to Lee Tannehill at third, and Bill Dahlen's infield fly was also caught by Tannehill to retire the side. But the G-Men had broken on top for the third game in a row, as they led 3-0 with the home team coming to bat.

White Sox 1st: Giants starter Christy Mathewson set the Pale Hose down in order, with the hardest-hit ball being Frank Isbell's medium-depth fly to left center. After one, the Giants were still up 3-0.

Giants 2nd: Art Devlin's leadoff walk was wasted when he became the eighth Giant thrown out trying to steal in this series. But Billy Gilbert rescued the rally with a ground single to left center. Mathewson's liner back to the mound almost undressed Smith like Charlie Brown forty-five years before Charles Schulz even invented Peanuts, but Frank managed to make the stab for out number two. Bresnahan drew his second walk of the game to keep the inning alive, and Browne brought home Gilbert with a line single to right center; it's now 4-0 Giants. Donlin's grounder to Donahue ended the inning, but the Giants had still tacked on a run, and they led 4-0 through an inning and a half.

White Sox 2nd: Nixey Callahan picked up the first hit of the game for the Pale Hose with his one-out single to right center, then stole second. But Jones grounded to short, and Mathewson struck out Green swinging to end the inning. After two, it was New York 4, Chicago 0.

Giants 3rd: Smith had a much-needed one-two-three inning: McGann grounded to first, Mertes grounded to second, and Dahlen lined to first. The Giants had a 4-0 lead through two and a half.

White Sox 3rd: Tannehill, who had two of the three Chicago hits in Game 2, led off with a base hit to left. Then the Sox were the beneficiaries of bad defense for a change, as Smith tried to bunt Tannehill over but could only chip it in front of the plate. Bresnahan thought he had an eternity, so instead of throwing to first to get Smith, he let go a lollipop to try to get Tannehill at second, only for it to glide over Isbell's head. Tannehill ended up at third, and Smith made it all the way to second. Jiggs Donahue's routine grounder to short scored Tannehill to cut the Giants' lead to three, and Davis' grounder into left center put runners back at the corners for Isbell. But Isbell's liner ended up coming right at Dahlen, who made the play for one out, then flipped the ball to third to double up Smith and end the inning. Through three, it was Giants 4, White Sox 1.

Giants 4th: Mathewson's two-out walk was wasted when Bresnahan grounded to short to retire the side. After three and a half, it was G-Men 4, Pale Hose 1.

White Sox 4th: Mathewson breezed through a three up- three sown inning, with the highlight being his strikeout of Callahan on a ball two feet in the dirt. We're through four with the Giants leading 4-1.

Giants 5th: After two out, McGann's grounder found the right field grass for a hit, and Smith then walked Mertes to put two on. But Dahlen's foul pop to third was caught by Tannehill to end the inning. Halfway through Game 3, it's Giants 4, White Sox 1.

White Sox 5th: Another one-two-three inning for Big Six, who's now retired eight in a row. After five, it's NL Champs 4, AL Champs 1.

Giants 6th: After one out, Gilbert drew a walk. Mathewson's comebacker fooled Smith for a moment, and Frank tried to throw to second before he got a firm grip on the ball. It ended up being to high for Isbell and ricocheting into short center, which allowed Christy to reach and Gilbert to take second. But neither Bresnahan nor Browne could capitalize; Bresnahan flew to center, and Browne flew to right to end the inning. After five and a half, the Giants maintained a 4-1 lead.

White Sox 6th: Davis singled to right after one out, then stole second and moved to third on Isbell's infield out. But McFarland flew out to Browne in center to retire the side. The Sox still trailed 4-1 after six.

Giants 7th: Donlin's leadoff single to left was erased when McGann grounds into a 4-6-3 double play, and Mertes' fly to shallow right center ended the inning. As we stretch on the South Side, it's 4-1 Giants.

White Sox 7th: Callahan drew a leadoff walk, and after one out Green blooped a single to right center to put Hose on the corners. Tannehill's fly to left was too shallow to be productive, and Jones sent up Gus Dundon to bat for Smith. Gus grounded the first pitch he saw right back to Mathewson, retiring the side. The Sox' threat thus came to nothing, and they still trailed by three after seven.

Giants 8th: Dahlen drew a leadoff walk from Sox reliever Roy Patterson, then stole second. Devlin's tapper to Donahue at first moved Dahlen to third, then after a walk to Gilbert, Mathewson dumped a single into right to bring home Dahlen and put the visitors up 5-1. Bresnahan's much sharper single to left scored Gilbert and gave New York a five-run lead, then Browne's fly ball to right was juggled and dropped by Green. Danny managed to keep the ball in front of him to prevent anyone from scoring, but the bases were loaded.

Donlin's fly ball to right center was tracked down by Green in the power alley, and Mathewson trotted home to increase the Giants' lead to 7-1. McGann's grounder to first ended the inning, but the Giants had tacked on three runs and now led 7-1 heading into the last of the eighth.

White Sox 8th: Donahue grounded a leadoff hit into right center, and Isbell singled to right after one out. But McFarland's foul pop was caught by McGann for the second out, and Mertes tracked down Callahan's deep fly ball in the left-center power alley to end the inning. After eight, the Giants led the Sox 7-1.

Giants 9th: Patterson set the Giants down in order; only Mertes' fly ball to left center got out of the infield. The home squad had one last chance at Mathewson, but they had a six-run deficit to make up.

White Sox 9th: Jones beat out a grounder to third for a leadoff infield hit, and Green's base hit to left put two on with nobody out. Devlin speared Tannehill's line drive for the first out, but Mathewson walked pinch hitter George Rohe to load the bases. Donahue bounced into a fielder's choice to score Jones with Chicago's second run, but with just one out to get, Mathewson got wild again, walking Davis to reload the bases.

With reliever Claude Elliott about ready in the Giants' bullpen, skipper John McGraw decided to let his ace have one more chance to close things out himself. But Isbell ruined that strategy by scorching a line drive off the top of the center field wall. The bases cleared to cut the New York lead to 7-5, and Isbell ended up at third with a triple. McGraw could wait no longer to relieve Mathewson, who hasn't been at his best in either start in this World Series so far.

With Elliott now pitching, Billy Sullivan came out of the Sox' dugout to bat for McFarland. His day lasted exactly two pitches, as he tapped to McGann at first, who flipped to a covering Elliott for the final out of the game. Final score: Giants 7, White Sox 5, and the Giants lead the series three games to none. They can finish a series sweep and win the world championship with a victory in Game 4 at the Polo Grounds on October 17.

In spite of Donlin's two hits and two RBIs, the "unofficial" MVP of the game was Mathewson again, even though he gave up five runs on ten hits and looked shaky for a good portion of the game.

Final totals: Giants 7-8-1, White Sox 5-10-3.

W- Mathewson (2-0)
L- Smith (0-1)

Next: The Giants try for the world title on their home turf in Game 4.

Thoughts?
 
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Now it's time for Game 4 of the 1905 World Series from the Polo Grounds in New York:

White Sox 1st: The visitors went down in order against Joe McGinnity on three groundouts. After a half, the Sox have nothing, the Giants are going to the rack.

Giants 1st: For the second straight game, Roger Bresnahan drew a leadoff walk. After George Browne struck out, Mike Donlin scalded a line drive into center for a hit, but Bresnahan stumbled going around second and had to stop there. Sox starter Ed Walsh then retired Dan McGann on a shallow fly down the left field line and got Sam Mertes to pop out to third baseman Lee Tannehill. After an inning in Game 4, there was no score.

White Sox 2nd: Another one-two-three inning for McGinnity, featuring his strikeout of Billy Sullivan and the first ball hit out of the infield by Chicago: Fielder Jones' shallow fly to left center. Through an inning and a half, Game 4 was scoreless.

Giants 2nd: It was the Giants' turn to go down in order, as Bill Dahlen and Art Devlin each flew out to left center and Billy Gilbert grounded to short. There was still no score after two.

White Sox 3rd: After two out, Devlin fielded Walsh's grounder and threw to first, but McGann couldn't scoop the throw out of the dirt, and the Sox' pitcher was on. Not for long, though, as McGinnity struck out Jiggs Donahue swinging to end the inning. After two and a half, it was Chicago 0, New York 0.

Giants 3rd: The G-Men were retired in order again, and Walsh has now retired eight straight New York batters. After three, we still have matching goose eggs.

White Sox 4th: For the first time in the series, the Sox took the lead. Gus Dundon, once again starting at second, singled to left after one out, then moved all the way to third when Bresanahan overthrew Gilbert on a caught stealing attempt. Sullivan then sent Mertes into the left field corner to catch his fly ball, and Dundon was able to score with ease and give the Sox a 1-0 lead. Ducky Holmes' tapper to first ended the inning, but the Sox had a 1-0 lead after three and a half.

Giants 4th: Donlin led off by grounding one past Donahue and down the right field line for a double. McGann then flew out to Danny Green in right, with Donlin moving to third. But there he stayed, as Mertes grounded to second and Dahlen popped to short. After four, it was White Sox 1, Giants 0.

White Sox 5th: Tannehill's two-out single was erased when Walsh bounced into an inning-ending fielder's choice. Halfway through Game 4, the American League champs held on to a 1-0 lead.

Giants 5th: After one out, Gilbert dropped a fly ball into left center for a double. But it ended up going for naught, as McGinnity's liner was gloved by Dundon for the second out and Bresnahan popped up to Donahue, ending the inning. After five, the Sox still led 1-0.

White Sox 6th: George Davis lined a one-out base hit to right. Dundon's infield out moved him to second, and Sullivan's single past a diving Devlin put Hose on the corners with two out. But left fielder Holmes never saw a pitch, as Sullivan was caught trying to steal second to end the threat. After five and a half, the White Sox clung to a 1-0 lead.

Giants 6th: After two out, McGann and Mertes smacked back-to-back singles to put runners at first and third. But Dahlen's fly to left ended the rally and stranded them both. After six, it was Pale Hose 1, G-Men 0.

White Sox 7th: It was a one-two-three inning for McGinnity, as Holmes popped to third and both Jones and Green grounded to first. As the Polo Grounds stretched, the home team was down 1-0.

Giants 7th: It was Walsh's turn to enjoy a one-two-three inning. The big play was Dundon's gloving of Devlin's leadoff liner. To the surprise of most, Giants manager John McGraw left McGinnity in the game when his turn at bat came, and he flew to Jones in center to end the inning. After seven, the South Siders clung to a 1-0 lead.

White Sox 8th: Donahue's two-out walk was wasted when Davis grounded to McGann at first, retiring the side. After seven and a half, the White Sox still led the Giants 1-0.

Giants 8th: The home team tied it up, knocking Walsh out of the game in the process. Bresnahan led off with a base hit to right. Browne then hit a grounder to Davis, but the ball took a bad hop and just missed putting a dent in Davis's left ear. Since the ball had touched his glove on the way by, Davis was charged with an error. Donlin's fielder's choice erased Browne, and all McGann could manage was a shallow fly to Green in right center. But Mertes came through with a line drive into left center for a hit. Bresnahan came home to tie the game at one as the Polo Grounds erupted. Jones removed Walsh in favor of Roy Patterson. Dahlen had the chance to put his team in front and three outs from the world championship, but his grounder to Dundon at second ended the inning. Still, the Giants had managed to tie the game at one after eight.

White Sox 9th: A one-two-three inning for McGinnity, with the highlight being his second strikeout of Sullivan on the day. We're headed to the bottom of the ninth tied at one.

Giants 9th: Devlin led off with a base hit to left center, but was thrown out trying to steal second, which is too common an occurrence for the Giants in the series. After Gilbert grounded to short for out number two, Giants skipper John McGraw, in need of a baserunner, sent Sammy Strang up to bat for McGinnity, and was rewarded when Strang legged out an infield hit. But Patterson got Bresnahan to bounce into a fielder's choice to end the inning. For the first time in baseball history, a postseason game is going extra innings, as we're tied at one after nine.

White Sox 10th: Jones greeted reliever Claude Elliott with a base hit to right. Green then grounded a single to right center, and Browne just missed throwing Jones out at third by a hair. Tannehill's infield out put two Sox in scoring position. and Nixey Callahan was sent up to bat for Patterson. He screamed a hot liner down toward first, but McGann played the ball perfectly and sucked it up for out number two. Donahue's fly to right ended the inning. After nine and a half, this game was still tied at one apiece.

Giants 10th: Previously unused Frank Owen came in to pitch for the Sox, and Browne immediately worked a walk. Donlin then singled to right to put two men on, and McGann's grounder to third moved the runners up ninety feet. With the Polo Grounds a sea of sound and fury, Owen got rattled and walked Dahlen to load the bases. Next up was Devlin, and he served a 1-1 pitch up the middle and into center. Browne raced home, and the Giants were world champions by the score of 2-1 in ten innings, sweeping the series in four straight games.

Devlin was the unanimous choice for both "unofficial" awards: Player of Game 4 and Series MVP.

Final totals: Giants 2-11-2, White Sox 1-6-1.

W- Elliott (1-0)
L- Owen (0-1)

Congratulations to the World Champions of baseball for 1905, the New York Giants!

The all-time world championship count now stands at American League 1, National League 1.

Next: We look at the 1906 season.

Thoughts?
 
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Now let's look at 1906:

National League- The Cubs celebrate the twentieth anniversary of their last pennant by going 115-37, a one-game drop from real life, to win their sixth flag and first as the Cubs. The Pirates take second, improving by three games from 93-60 to 96-57 and finishing nineteen and a half games back. The defending world champion Giants take a six-game plunge, falling from 96-56 to 90-62 and from second place to third. This equals the plunge of the Superbas from 66-86 to 60-92 and from fifth place to sixth.

Biggest improvement goes to the Cardinals, who add six games (52-98 to 58-92). Unfortunately, this isn't enough to move them out of seventh place, though they still finish thirteen and a half games ahead of the last-place Eaters.

The dominance of the Cubs makes the fact that three teams (Superbas, Cardinals, Eaters) finished fifty games or more out almost forgivable, but the Eaters deserve special mention, as they give the 1899 Spiders a merry chase for the record number of games behind a pennant winner before settling for a record of 45-106, sixty-nine and a half games behind the Cubs and just a game and a half less than the Spiders finished behind the Superbas seven years ago.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Cubs: 115-37 (-1)
2. Pirates: 96-57- 19.5 GB (+3)
3. Giants: 90-62- 25 GB (-6)
4. Phillies: 72-81- 43.5 GB (+1)
5. Reds: 69-82- 45.5 GB (+5)
6. Superbas: 60-82- 50 GB (-6)
7. Cardinals: 59-82- 51 GB (+6)
8. Beaneaters: 45-106- 69.5 GB (-4)

American League-
We have our third consecutive championship change, as the Cleveland Naps improve by nine games (89-64 to 98-55) and come up from third place to take the franchise's second pennant in three years. The "Hitless Wonder" White Sox drop three games (93-58 to 90-61) and finish second seven games off the pace, and the Highlanders drop the same amount (90-61 to 87-64) and fall from second to third. The Browns spike by six (76-73 to 82-67) and take fourth.

The second division sees just one improvement, as the seventh-place Sens receive a three-game bump (55-95 to 58-92). The Tigers fall by a league-high six (71-78 to 65-84) but still finish sixth. The Americans take up the basement, becoming the second AL team to lose a hundred games as they freeze at 49-105, forty-nine and a half games behind Cleveland.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Naps: 98-55 (+9)
2. White Sox: 90-61- 7 GB (-3)
3. Highlanders: 87-64- 10 GB (-3)
4. Browns: 82-67- 14 GB (+6)
5. Athletics: 75-70- 19 GB (-3)
6. Tigers: 65-84- 31 GB (-6)
7. Senators: 58-92- 38.5 GB (+3)
8. Americans: 49-105- 49.5 GB (0)

The Naps will take on the National League champion Cubs in the Fall Classic. This year, the teams will alternate home games, with home field going to the Cubs as National League champions.

Note: I highly doubt that a World Series between a Chicago team and a Cleveland team would have featured alternating home games like the real-life crosstown series between the Sox and Cubs did, but I'm fairly sure that the NL would still have had home field advantage.

Next: We begin the 1906 World Series with Game 1 at Chicago's West Side Grounds.

Thoughts?
 
Now it's time for Game 1 of the 1906 World Series from the West Side Grounds in Chicago. The date is Tuesday, October 9:

Naps 1st: Cubs starter Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown set the visitors down in order. Shortstop Terry Turner grounded to third, and both first baseman Claude Rossman and second baseman/manager Nap Lajoie tapped to first. After half an inning, it's Naps 0, Cubs ready to bat.

Cubs 1st: The Cubs scratched out a run against Naps starter Bob Rhoads. Center fielder Solly Hofman led off with an infield hit, then stole second. Left fielder Jimmy Sheckard lifted a fly ball to left center, which was caught by Naps left fielder Elmer Flick for the first out of the inning; on the play, Hofman moved to third. After a walk to right fielder Frank Schulte, first baseman Frank Chance bounced to Turner, who flipped to second for the force on Schulte as Hofman scored to put the Cubs up 1-0. Turner then caught the liner of third baseman Harry Steinfeldt to end the inning. After one, it's Cubs 1, Naps 0.

Naps 2nd: Another one-two-three inning for Brown, who's retired the first six Cleveland batters. Left fielder Elmer Flick grounded to Joe Tinker at short, center fielder Bunk Congalton's liner was gloved by Tinker, and third baseman Bill Bradley struck out swinging. After an inning and a half, the Cubs led 1-0.

Cubs 2nd: The Cubs added another run. After one out, second baseman Johnny Evers drew a walk, then stole second. That brought up catcher Johnny Kling, who lined a base hit to left field that brought Evers home and gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead. Brown's hot smash was gloved by Bradley for the first out, and after Kling stole second, Hofman flew to center, ending the inning. After two, it was Chicago 2, Cleveland 0.

Naps 3rd: The AL champs go out in order for the third inning in a row. Catcher Harry Bemis grounded to Steinfeldt at third, right fielder Jim Jackson popped to Tinker at short, and Rhoads hit a comebacker to Brown to retire the side. After two and a half, the Cubs still led 2-0.

Cubs 3rd: The Cubs went out in order this time, with the highlight being Chance's fly to center which chased Congalton to the base of the wall before he could make the catch. After three, it's NL Champs 2, AL Champs 0.

Naps 4th: The West Side Grounds was humming after this half-inning, as Brown retired the Naps in order yet again, giving him a perfect game through four innings. Turner grounded to second, Rossman grounded to first, and Lajoie grounded to short. After three and a half, it was still 2-0 Cubs.

Cubs 4th: Tinker beat out an infield hit with one away, but was erased by Evers' fielder's choice. Rhoads then caught Kling looking to end the inning. After four, it was Chicago 2, Cleveland 0.

Naps 5th: Brown's consecutive batters retired streak reached thirteen when Flick struck out swinging to lead off the inning, but Congalton worked a walk to end the perfect game after four and a third. Brown persevered, getting Bradley to ground into a 5-4-3 inning-ending double play. Through four and a half, he and the Cubs led the Naps 2-0.

Cubs 5th: A one-two-three inning for Rhoads, as Brown grounded to second, Hofman grounded to third, and Sheckard flew to right center. The Cubs led 2-0 through five.

Naps 6th: Brown was back on a roll, as Bemis popped to Steinfeldt behind third, Jackson fouled out to Steinfeldt, and Rhodes flew to Hofman in left center. Brown had a no-hitter through six, and the Cubs had a 2-0 lead.

Cubs 6th: Steinfeldt's two-out single to center was wasted when Tinker grounded to second to end the inning. Rhoads' performance would normally be getting rave reviews, but Three-Finger's the story as we head to the seventh with the Cubs up 2-0.

Naps 7th: Turner drew a leadoff walk, and Rossman came the closest to getting a hit off Brown so far when he just missed beating out his fielder's choice by half a step. Lajoie's around-the-horn double play ended the inning, and the no-hitter had lived through seven. Brown got a standing ovation as the seventh-inning stretch came to the West Side Grounds with the home team in front 2-0.

Cubs 7th: Brown reached base with two out when Jackson juggled, then dropped, his fly ball, but Hofman's grounder to second ended the inning. After seven, it was Cubs 2, Naps 0.

Naps 8th: Another three up-three down inning for Three-Finger, as Flick and Bradley's pops to short were sandwiched around Congalton's grounder to third. Brown's just three out away from a no-hitter as we go to the last of the eighth with the home squad up 2-0.

Cubs 8th: Sheckard led off by beating out an infield hit, but didn't move after that, as Schulte flew to right, Chance flew to left, and Steinfeldt grounded to third. The stage now belonged to Three-Finger Brown; could he finish off the greatest performance of his career? After eight, the Cubs led the Naps 2-0.

Naps 9th: Bemis's pop-up was caught by Tinker for out number one. Brown had out number two in his pocket when Jackson tapped weakly in front of the plate, but Kling couldn't field the ball and Jackson reached first. Harry Bay then batted for Rhoads and bounced into a force play for out number two, which meant that Turner was the Naps' last chance. But Brown got him to ground to Steinfeldt at third, and history was made! Brown had allowed just three baserunners and finished his day's work in ninety-three pitches. As a point of interest, Rhoads took just ninety-six pitches to complete his own superb effort.

If you don't know who the "unofficial" Player of the Game was, you haven't been paying attention.

The Cubs lead the best-of-seven series one game to none, and the teams will reconvene in Cleveland on Thursday for Game 2. Ed Reulbach will start for the Cubs, while Otto Hess will pitch for the Naps.

Final totals: Cubs 2-5-1, Naps 0-0-1.

W- Brown (1-0)
L- Rhoads (0-1)

Next: We look at Game 2.

Thoughts?
 
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It's time for Game 2 of the 1906 World Series from League Park in Cleveland. The date is Thursday, October 11:

Cubs 1st: After one out, Naps starter Otto Hess hit Jimmy Sheckard in the elbow with a pitch. Frank Schulte's fielder's choice erased him, and Frank promptly stole second. Then skipper Frank Chance was nailed in the back with a pitch. But it all went for naught, as Harry Steinfeldt's grounder to second ended the inning with no damage done. After a half, it's Cubs nothing, Naps coming up.

Naps 1st: First baseman Claude Rossman drew a one-out walk against Cubs starter Ed Reulbach, but was forced by Nap Lajoie. Elmer Flick, starting this game in center, drew another walk to put two men on, but right fielder Bunk Congalton grounded one down to third, where Steinfeldt stepped on the bag to force Lajoie and end the inning. The Naps have now gone ten innings without a hit against Chicago pitching in this series, and we're scoreless after one.

Cubs 2nd: Hess hit his third batter of the game when he nailed catcher Johnny Kling in the leg after two out, but Kling was caught stealing second to end the inning. In other news, Tinker's fly to right sent Congalton all the way to the fence before he could make the catch. After an inning and a half, there was no score.

Naps 2nd: Harry Bemis got on when Johnny Evers couldn't find the handle on his grounder, but was forced by Jim Jackson, who's starting this game in left. Evers redeemed himself by fielding Hess's grounder cleanly to retire the side. After two, we're still scoreless, and the Naps have gone eleven consecutive innings without a hit.

Cubs 3rd: Hess muffed Solly Hofman's one-out comebacker, and the Cubs center fielder stole second as Sheckard struck out. But Schulte's shallow fly to right ended the inning. After two and a half, there's no score, and neither team has a hit.

Naps 3rd: The Cleveland hitless streak ended at eleven and a third innings, as Rossman dropped a fly ball in front of Schulte that went for a one-out double. Lajoie then skied a double of his own to center, which scored Rossman and gave the home team a 1-0 lead. Flick walked to put runners at first and second for Congalton, but Bunk grounded into a Evers-Tinker-Chance double play to end the inning, After two and a half in Game 2, the American League champs led the National League champs 1-0.

Cubs 4th: Chance led off the inning with a routine one-hopper to second. But it wasn't so routine for Lajoie, who misplayed it, allowing the Cubs' skipper to reach. Chance then stole second, and Hess's control took a coffee break, as he walked Steinfeldt and Tinker to load the bases for Evers. Johnny blooped a 1-0 pitch in front of a charging Flick in left center, and the ball scooted past Elmer and all the way to the wall, clearing the bases and giving the Cubs a 3-1 lead. Kling's grounder to third held Evers at second, but he moved to third on Reulbach's fly to center. Hofman couldn't bring Evers home; his foul pop was caught by Bill Bradley behind third base to end the inning. Still, the Cubs had put up a three-spot, and they led the Naps 3-1 after three and a half.

Naps 4th: A one-two-three inning for Reulbach, with Bradley and Bemis tapping to first and Jackson taking Sheckard to the warning track in left. After four, it's Cubbies 3, Nappies 1.

Cubs 5th: The visitors went out in apple-pie order, as Hess is finally starting to settle down just a bit. Halfway through this one, the Cubs have a two-run advantage.

Naps 5th: Reulbach rolled on, as Hess grounded to second and both Terry Turner and Rossman went out on foul pops to Steinfeldt at third. The Cubs maintained a 3-1 lead after five.

Cubs 6th: Hess set the visitors down one-two-three again, and he's now retired seven straight while Reulbach has set down the last eight Cleveland batters. It's a pitcher's duel after five and a half, and the Cubs hold a 3-1 lead.

Naps 6th: Flick's one-out grounder was fumbled by Tinker, but no damage was done. as Congalton flied to left and Bradley grounded to short. After six, it's Cubs 3, Naps 1.

Cubs 7th: Another one-two-three inning for Hess, who's now retired ten in a row and has held the Cubs to just one hit through seven. Unfortunately, that one hit is what has the Naps trailing by two as we stretch at League Park.

Naps 7th: Jackson started a one-out rally with a clean single to center, and was bunted over to second by Hess. Turner then walked to put the tying run on base, but Rossman ended the threat with his weak comebacker to Reulbach. After seven, the Cubs led the Naps 3-1.

Cubs 8th: With two out, Chance beat out an infield hit. Steinfeldt grounded one into right center for another hit. which moved Chance to third. Steinfeldt then stole second. But Tinker's grounder to short left two Cubs in scoring position. After seven and a half, it was Chicago 3, Cleveland 1.

Naps 8th: Lajoie and Flick greeted Reulbach with back-to-back base hits, and Congalton's grounder to first put the tying run in scoring position with one out. But Bradley's fly to Schulte was too shallow to do any good, and Bemis grounded to short to end the inning with runners left at second and third. After eight, the Naps trailed the Cubs 3-1.

Cubs 9th: Kling grounded a one-out single to left, and Chance sent Jimmy Slagle up to bat for Reulbach. Kling stole second before the first pitch, but had to hold there when Slagle's liner was snagged by Lajoie for out number two. Hofman's fly to center ended the inning. The Naps had one last chance against new Cubs pitcher Orval Overall in the bottom of the ninth trailing 3-1.

Naps 9th: Overall closed out the Naps on just seven pitches. Jackson flew out to left center, Harry Bay (batting for Hess) flew to left, and Turner grounded to second to end the game. The Cubs had beaten the Naps 3-1 and now lead the best-of-seven series two games to none.

Evers' double in the fourth was enough to net him Player of the Game consensus, although some votes were also cast for Reulbach, who held the Naps to one run on five hits over eight innings.

Final totals: Cubs 3-4-2, Naps 1-5-3.

W- Reulbach (1-0)
L- Hess (0-1)

The teams now head back to Chicago for Game 3 on Saturday. Jack Pfiester gets the start for the Cubs, to be opposed by the Naps' Addie Joss.

Next: We look at Game 3.

Thoughts?
 
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Now it's time for Game 3 of the 1906 World Series from the West Side Grounds in Chicago. The date is Saturday, October 13:

Naps 1st: Things got off to a good start for Cleveland when Terry Turner spanked Cubs starter Jack Pfiester's first pitch over the wall in right center on a hop for a ground-rule double. But he stayed there, as Claude Rossman grounded to short, Nap Lajoie grounded to third, and Elmer Flick tapped to first to retire the side. After a half, the visitors had nothing and it was the home team's turn to bat.

Cubs 1st: After one out, Jimmy Sheckard grounded one past Rossman at first and into right field for a hit. Frank Schulte singled up the middle to put runners on the corners, and Frank Chance's deep fly to left center brought home Sheckard with the game's first run. Naps starter Addie Joss got Harry Steinfeldt to ground to second, which ended the inning, but the Cubs had put across a run and led 1-0 after one in Game 3.

Naps 2nd: The Naps got something going when Bunk Congalton, who was in center field for this game, grounded a leadoff base hit back through the box. Soon after, he stole second, and Cubs catcher Johnny Kling's throw eluded Johnny Evers and went into center field, which allowed Congalton to take third. But just like Turner in the first, the Naps offense left him stranded. Bill Bradley liner was gloved by Joe Tinker at short for out number one, Harry Bemis's fly ball to right center was caught in medium depth by Cubs center fielder Solly Hofman for out number two, and right fielder Jim Jackson grounded to Evers to end the inning. After one and a half, it was Cubs 1, Naps 0.

Cubs 2nd: Kling cracked a two-out single to left center, but got greedy and was thrown out trying to steal second by Bemis, retiring the side. After two, the Cubs led the Naps 1-0.

Naps 3rd: A one-two-three inning for Pfiester, who's retired the last six Cleveland hitters in a row. Through two and a half, the Cubs held on to a 1-0 lead.

Cubs 3rd: A nightmare inning for Joss and the Naps. Hofman walked after one out, then stole second. Sheckard then plunked a base hit between an incoming Jackson and an outgoing Turner to score Solly, and the Chicago lead was 2-0. Then up stepped Schulte, who got all of Joss's hanging curveball and deposited it over the center field wall an otherworldly 560 feet away to give the Cubs a 4-0 lead.

They still weren't finished, as Chance dropped a double in approximately the same spot as Sheckard's earlier single. Manager Lajoie went to the mound to talk to Joss, but whatever he said, it didn't work. First, Bemis couldn't handle a spitball and was charged with a passed ball, sending Chance to third. With the infield playing in, Steinfeldt's grounder almost eluded Turner at short, but Terry dove to his left to smother the ball, then sidearmed it to first just in time for the out. But two pitches later, Tinker dumped a base hit into left to bring home Chance and put the Cubs up 5-0. Evers beat out an infield hit to keep the inning alive, but Kling grounded to short, and after giving up four runs on five hits, Joss was out of the inning. But after three, his Cleveland teammates faced a 5-0 deficit.

Naps 4th: Elmer Flick, in left field for this game, reached base with one out when Kling couldn't handle his slow roller in front of the plate. But Comgalton lined out to Tinker at short, and Flick ran the Naps out of the inning when Kling nabbed him trying to steal second. After three and a half, it's Cubs 5, Naps 0.

Cubs 4th: Joss has a much-needed three up-three down inning, as Pfiester and Sheckard's shallow fly balls were sandwiched around Hofman's grounder to second. After four, the NL champs lead the AL champs 5-0.

Naps 5th: The inning started auspiciously for the Naps when Tinker muffed Bradley's grounder, allowing him to reach. Bemis forced him at second, but Jackson walked to put two men on. Then it all came crashing to a halt, as a double steal attempt failed when Bemis was gunned down. Jackson still went to second on the play, but was left there when pinch hitter Harry Bay, batting for Joss, popped to Evers. After four and a half, the Cubs were still comfortably in front 5-0.

Cubs 5th: Cleveland reliever Harry Eells was greeted by Schulte's ground-rule double over the fence in left center. Before he could recover from that, Chance belted a ball to deep center that fell in. By the time Congalton had chased it down in the deepest part of the ballpark, Schulte had trotted home to make it 6-0 Chicago and Chance was standing at third with a triple. Steinfeldt's line single to right gave the Cubs their seventh run, and it became 8-0 when Tinker lined a double into the left center power alley to score Steinfeldt. Eells finally got an out when Tinker grounded to short, but Kling's seeing-eye base hit to right scored Tinker to make it 9-0 Cubs. The inning finally ended when Pfiester grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, but the Cubs had delighted their partisans by putting up another four-spot. After five, it was Chicago 9, Cleveland 0.

Naps 6th: Turner's leadoff single was erased when Rossman grounded into an Evers-to-Tinker-to-Chance double play. Lajoie's grounder to short retired the side. After five and a half, it was Cubbies 9, Nappies 0.

Cubs 6th: Sheckard started the next Chicago rally with a base hit to right center, and moved to second on Schulte's grounder to first which just missed being an infield hit by an eyelash. Chance's infield hit to third put Cubbies on the corners, but Steinfeldt's grounder to third left both runners stranded and ended the inning. After six, the homestanders still had a 9-0 advantage.

Naps 7th: Flick drew a leadoff walk, but was eventually forced by Bradley. Bemis's grounder to third ended the inning. At the seventh-inning stretch, it was still 9-0 Cubs.

Cubs 7th: Tinker's leadoff single was negated when Evers grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Kling's bouncer to second ended the inning. After seven, the Cubs were still in control to the tune of 9-0.

Naps 8th: A one-two-three inning for Pfiester, as Jackson and pinch hitter George Stovall (batting for Eells) grounded to short and Turner popped to first. After seven and a half, the Naps trailed the Cubs 9-0.

Cubs 8th: Naps reliever Earl Moore enjoyed a one-two-three inning, with Pfiester's scalding line drive to Lajoie at second being the closest thing to a hit. Speaking of Pfiester, he only needed three outs to finish a gem as the Cubs took a nine-run lead into the top of the ninth.

Naps 9th: Pfiester finished the Naps in one-two-three fashion, as Rossman grounded to second, Lajoie's shallow fly to right center was caught by Hofman, and Flick tapped to Chance at first to close things out. Pfiester had tossed a three-hit shutout in exactly one hundred pitches, and the Cubs' 9-0 victory gave them a three games to none lead in the series and the opportunity to win the world championship on Monday in Cleveland.

Pfiester was the "unofficial" Player of the Game, although quite a few Cubs had stellar days at the plate, most notably manager Chance, who was a perfect three for three with two runs batted in and another two scored.

Final totals: Cubs 9-16-3, Naps 0-3-0.

W- Pfiester (1-0)
L- Joss (0-1)

HR- CHC: Schulte (1)

Game 4 will be at League Park in Cleveland on Monday, with Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown looking to repeat his no-hit success for the Cubs and Bill Bernhard looking to save the season for the Naps.

Next: We look at Game 4.

Thoughts?
 
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Great Timeline.

Wonderful to see my Cleveland Indians (even though they still got their name from Nap Lajoie at this point), get two American League pennants that they never had in our timeline. Now if they could just win the World Series...
 
Well, they're in a bit of trouble for '06, but I can tell you that we haven't heard the last of Cleveland one way or the other, and we won't have to wait until they become the Indians either.

Thanks for reading!
 
It's time now for Game 4 of the 1906 World Series from League Park in Cleveland. The date is Monday, October 15:

Cubs 1st: Naps starter Bill Bernhard started his team off on the right foot by retiring the Cubs one-two-three. Solly Hofman and Jimmy Sheckard grounded to Bill Bradley at third, while Frank Schulte grounded to second. After a half, it's Cubs nothing, Naps set to weigh in.

Naps 1st: Three-Finger Brown picked up right where he left off in Game 1, retiring the Naps on order for his tenth straight no-hit inning in the series. Terry Turner and Nap Lajoie struck out swinging, while Claude Rossman grounded to short. After one, Game 4 is scoreless.

Cubs 2nd: Another three up-three down inning for Bernhard, with only Frank Chance's fly to right leaving the infield. Through an inning and a half, there's no score.

Naps 2nd: Brown's dreams of a second no-hitter ended when center fielder Elmer Flick beat out a leadoff grounder to short for a hit. He then stole second, and right fielder Bunk Congalton's tapper to first moved him over to third. Bradley then stroked a solid single to right, and Flick came home with ease to give the AL champs a 1-0 lead. Bradley then stole second successfully, but went to the well once too often and was thrown out trying to steal third. Harry Bemis's grounder to second retired the side. After two, the Naps led the Cubs 1-0.

Cubs 3rd: Johnny Evers led off the inning by lining a single to right center, then stole second. That's where he remained for the rest of the frame, as Johnny Kling grounded out to third, Brown grounded to short, and Hofman flew weakly to left. The Naps thus kept their 1-0 lead through two and a half.

Naps 3rd: Turner singled to right after two out, and picked up an extra base after stealing second when Kling overthrew Evers and the ball went into center field. But Brown bore down and struck out Rossman swinging to end the inning. After three, it's Cleveland 1, Chicago 0.

Cubs 4th: Chance negated his own two-out single to right when he was thrown out trying to steal second, ending the inning. Each team has thus lost a baserunner in the game, and after three and a half the Naps maintain a 1-0 lead.

Naps 4th: Congalton tried to start a two-out rally with a single to left, but Harry Steinfeldt speared Bradley's hot liner to retire the side. After four, the Nappies lead the Cubbies 1-0.

Cubs 5th: Joe Tinker drew a one-out walk, then disaster came up to bite the Naps. Evers bounced a routine comebacker to Bernhard, but the ball slipped out of Bill's hand and dribbled toward second, then hit the corner of the bag and took a high hop over Lajoie's head. By the time the dust had settled, Tinker was at third, Evers was at second, and only lightning reflexes from Lajoie had saved at least one run. Hofman fixed that with a single up the middle, which brought both Tinker and Evers home and gave the Cubs the lead, 2-1. Sheckard's grounder to second ended the inning, but the Cubs had taken a 2-1 lead halfway through Game 4.

Naps 5th: Bemis's fly to deep right provided the only excitement of this one-two-three inning for Brown. We're through five with the Cubs leading the Naps 2-1.

Cubs 6th: Schulte's leadoff grounder to third handcuffed Bradley, and by the tine he got a handle on it he had no play at first. Chance then golfed one over a partition set up in right center to control the overflow crowd, which was an automatlc ground-rule double. Schulte was forced to stop at third, but Steinfeldt brought him home on the first pitch he (Steinfeldt) saw with a sacrifice fly. The play at the plate was close, but Frank was ruled safe and the Cubs had a 3-1 lead. Meanwhile, Chance ended up at third, but he was stranded there as Tinker grounded to third and Evers grounded to first. The Cubs had had to settle for one, but they now led 3-1 as we went to the last of the sixth.

Naps 6th: Another one-two-three inning for Brown, who's now retired seven in a row, After six, it's Cubs 3, Naps 1.

Cubs 7th: The Cubs picked up yet another insurance run. Kling led off with a base hit to left center, but was forced by Brown. Hofman popped up to Rossman at first for the second out, leaving the matter up to Sheckard. Jimmy stepped up to be counted, drilling the first pitch he saw deep into the right center power alley. Three-Finger chugged around the bases with the fourth Cubs run, and Sheckard ended up at third with a triple. Schulte's tapper to the mound ended the inning, but the Naps now faced a three- run deficit as their faithful stretched for what could be the last time this season.

Naps 7th: Congalton's one-out single was erased when Bradley hit into a Chance-Tinker-Chance double play. After seven, it's Cubs 4, Naps 1.

Cubs 8th: The Cubs added yet another insurance run against a tiring Bernhard. Chance grounded a leadoff single to left, then stole second. Steinfeldt's single to left center brought him home, and the Cubs now led 5-1. Tinker's perfect sacrifice bunt moved Steinfeldt to second, but Evers popped weakly to first and Kling grounded to second, retiring the side. The Cubs now led 5-1 entering the last of the eighth.

Naps 8th: A one-two-three inning for Brown: Bemis lined to Short, Jackson tapped to first, and pinch hitter Harry Bay (batting for Bernhard) lined to second. We head to the ninth with the Cubs still leading 5-1.

Cubs 9th: Sheckard drew a leadoff walk against Naps reliever Harry Eels. Chance's line drive was gloved by Eels in self-defense for the first out, but Sheckard stole second and moved to third when Eels' pickoff throw sailed into center field. Steinfeldt and Klimg drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, and Schulte lined a single to right that scored Sheckard and Steinfeldt and put the Cubs up 7-1, with Kling moving to third. Schulte was thrown out trying to steal second for out number two, and Tinker struck out swinging to end the inning. The Cubs pick up a pair of runs on a hit, three walks, and a throwing error while leaving Kling at third, and they head to the bottom of the ninth with a six-run lead.

Naos 9th: After two out, Lajoie blasted a triple off the wall in right center. Flick and Congalton drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, but Bradley grounded to Steinfeldt at third to end the game with the bases still loaded and give the Cubs the world championship in a four-game sweep. Our final: Cubs 7, Naps 1.

Brown's pair of complete games earned him the Series' unofficial MVP award.

The National League has just won its second world championship to the American League's one, and they've won the last eight World Series games in a row.

Next: We look at the 1907 season.

Note: I completed this game using another sim after I lost the first one.

Thoughts?
 
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Now let's look at the 1907 season:

National League-
The Cubbies go back-to-back, winning their seventh overall pennant despite taking a league-high five-game drop (107-45 to 102-50). This is still enough to finish eleven games ahead of the second-place Pirates, who improve by a game (91-63 to 92-62). The Giants' three-game improvement (82-71 to 85-68) is enough to get them third, as the real-life third-place Phils drop four games (83-64 to 79-68) and tumble to fourth. Biggest improvement goes to the Reds, who pick up eleven games and go from 66-87 and sixth place to 77-76, which gets them fifth.

As well-deserved as the Cardinals' reputation for excellence is today, so was their reputation for futility early in their existence. This year, they become the first club in National League history to finish fifty games out or more a whopping six times, four of them since their name change to Cardinals.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Cubs: 102-50 (-5)
2. Pirates: 92-62- 11 GB (+1)
3. Giants: 85-68- 17.5 GB (+3)
4. Phillies: 79-68- 20.5 GB (-4)
5. Reds: 77-76- 25.5 GB (+11)
6. Superbas: 63-85- 37 GB (-2)
7. Doves: 57-91- 43 GB (-1)
8. Cardinals: 51-102- 51.5 GB (-1)

Name Change: Boston (Beaneaters to Doves)

American League- The Tigers take their first-ever pennant, finishing with a record of 93-57, a one-game improvement. They finish three and a half games ahead of the second-place White Sox, who improve by three (87-64 to 90-61). The A's slip from second to third after plunging by seven (88-57 to 81-64), while the defending champion Naps top them (and the rest of the league) with an eight-game drop (85-67 to 77-75) to finish fourth.

The Browns and Highlanders switch places at the top of the second division, with the Brownies surging by five games (69-83 to 74-78) to take fifth, while the Highlanders drop by three (70-78 to 67-81) and finish sixth. The seventh-place Americans improve by three (59-90 to 62-87), while the Sens check the boxes but avoid a hundred-loss campaign with a five-game upswing (49-102 to 54-97). They finish thirty-nine and a half games behind the Tigers.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Tigers: 93-57 (+1)
2. White Sox: 90-61- 3.5 GB (-3)
3. Athletics: 81-64- 9.5 GB (-7)
4. Naps: 77-75- 17 GB (-8)
5. Browns: 74-78- 20 GB (+5)
6. Highlanders: 67-81- 25 GB (-3)
7. Americans: 62-87- 30.5 GB (+3)
8. Senators: 54-97- 39.5 GB (+5)

Note: This race was unfinished. The Tigers still had four games to play when the season ended, the White Sox three. The Tigers had clinched at least a tie for the pennant, however, so it would have taken four Detroit losses and three Chicago wins to force a playoff.

The Cubs become the National League's first credited world champions, sweeping the Tigers in four straight to win the Fall Classic (Game 1 was played twice, with the first try ending in a 3-3 twelve-inning tie; the "no-ties" rule went through one of its brief repeals that year). The National League has now won three world championships to the American League's one.

Next: We finish the 1907 AL pennant race.

Thoughts?
 
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We pick up the American League race on October 8. The Tigers are starting a three-game makeup series against the A's in Philadelphia with a doubleheader, while the White Sox have followed the Naps, their last regular season opponent, back to Cleveland for a single makeup game. One win by the Tigers or a White Sox loss clinches the pennant for Detroit.

Here's Game 1 from Columbia Park:

Athletics 9, Tigers 1

The clinching will have to wait for later in the day, as the A's controlled Game 1 from start to finish. Second baseman Jimmy Collins paced the Philly offense, going three for four and driving in three runs. His big hit was a two-run single in the fifth that extended the home squad's lead to 9-0. He also drove in a run as part of a four-run Philly third. Left fielder Topsy Hartsel and right fielder Rube Oldring each had two hits, drove in a pair of runs, and scored twice. Hartsel opened the scoring with his two-run homer in the last of the first, while Oldring singled in both of his runs in the third. In all, the A's scored four runs on six hits in that inning. Center fielder Socks Seybold went two for four and scored a pair of runs as well.

On the mound, winning pitcher Jimmy Dygert went all the way, giving up just one run on seven hits. Second baseman Germany Schaefer knocked in that run for Detroit with a seventh-inning single, while third baseman Bill Coughlin was the only Tiger with more than one hit. Starting pitcher Wild Bill Donovan took the loss, giving up all nine Philly runs on thirteen hits in just five innings.

W- Dygert (22-8)
L- Donovan (25-5)

HR- PHI: Hartsel (4)

Now for the report from Cleveland:

Naps 3, White Sox 2

The Naps scored three times in the bottom of the seventh to erase a 2-0 Chicago lead, then held on to hand the American League pennant to the Tigers. It all started with one out, when Sox shortstop George Davis couldn't find the handle on a grounder from center fielder Elmer Flick. A walk to second baseman Nap Lajoie put two runners on, then catcher Nig Clarke ripped a double to right center to bring Flick home at cut the Sox' lead to 2-1. Next up was first baseman George Stovall, whose bloop to right fell squarely on the right field line and rolled into the corner. Lajoie and Clarke both came home, and the Naps had a 3-2 lead. The Sox had the tying run at third in the eighth and at second in the ninth, but couldn't score either time.

The Sox scored one run on a Cleveland throwing error in the second and the other on catcher Billy Sullivan's home run in the seventh, which gave the Sox a 2-0 lead at the time. The Naps' rally made a winner out of starting pitcher Jake Thielman, who gave up two runs on just two hits through seven innings. Ed Walsh took the loss for Chicago after giving up three runs on three hits and four walks over six and a third innings.

W- Thielman (12-8)
L- Walsh (24-19)

HR- CWS: Sullivan (1)

The Tigers didn't know that they'd clinched until after Game 2 at Columbia Park, and the news took some of the sting out of the fact that they'd just been swept by the A's. First baseman Harry Davis knocked in the winning run in the last of the ninth to give the Swingins a 3-2 win. The Tigers had tied the game in the top of the ninth on a home run by Coughlin. Oldring drove in the other two runs for the A's.

The final standings:

Tigers: 93-59
White Sox: 90-62- 3 GB

Next: We look at the 1908 season.

Thoughts?
 
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Now it's time to look at the 1908 season:

National League- We have a title change, as the New York Giants improve three games (98-56 to 101-53) to win their sixth pennant. The real-life champion Cubs drop a game (99-55 to 98-56) and fall to second three games out. The Pirates take a five-game drop (98-56 to 93-61) to finish in third place by themselves.

Biggest improvement goes to the Doves (formerly the Beaneaters) who improve by four (63-91 to 67-87), but remain in sixth place. Biggest fall goes to the last-place Cardinals, who drop from 49-105 to 43-111, a six-game fall that leaves them fifty-eight games behind the boys from the Polo Grounds, their seventh finish fifty or more games behind a pennant winner.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Giants: 101-53 (+3)
2. Cubs: 98-56- 3 GB (-1)
3. Pirates: 93-61- 8 GB (-5)
4. Phillies: 86-68- 15 GB (+3)
5. Reds: 69-85- 32 GB (-4)
6. Doves: 67-87- 34 GB (+4)
7. Superbas: 55-99- 46 GB (+2)
8. Cardinals: 43-111- 58 GB (-6)

This is one of the first years where a well-known baseball event is affected in the Pythagorean universe. In this case, Fred Merkle's famous baserunning boner ended up not costing the Giants the pennant; in fact, the game most likely wouldn't have had to be replayed, since the Giants won by three games.

American League- The Cleveland Naps become the first AL franchise to claim three pennants, as they improve by a pair (90-64 to 92-62) to take the flag by three and a half games over the Tigers, who drop two games (90-63 to 88-65). The White Sox maintain third despite falling by three (88-64 to 85-67) and the Browns stay fourth with a one-game bump (83-69 to 84-68).

The big news out of the second division is the nine-game upswing by the fifth-place Red Sox, formerly the Americans. They go from 75-79 to 84-70; unfortunately, that's not enough to get them out of fifth. The A's and Sens switch places, with the Sens taking sixth thanks to a one-game hike (67-85 to 68-84), while the A's fall to seventh with a two-game drop (68-85 to 66-87). The Highlanders bring up the rear, falling by three games (51-103 to 48-106) and finishing forty-four games behind the Naps.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Naps: 92-62 (+2)
2. Tigers: 88-65- 3.5 GB (-2)
3. White Sox: 85-67- 6 GB (-3)
4. Browns: 84-68- 7 GB (+1)
5. Red Sox: 84-70- 8 GB (+9)
6. Senators: 68-84- 23 GB (+1)
7. Athletics: 66-87- 25.5 GB (-2)
8. Highlanders: 48-106- 44 GB (-3)

Name Change: Boston (Americans to Red Sox)

We'll get the Naps-Giants World Series matchup that we were deprived of four years ago, with the Giants having home field as National League champions. Because of the scheduling format of 1-2-2-2, however, the series will begin at League Park in Cleveland on Saturday, October 10. Hooks Wiltse will start for the Giants, with Charlie Chech opposing him for the Naps, who will be looking to end the National League's streak of twelve consecutive wins (plus a tie) in World Series games.

Next: We look at Game 1.

Thoughts?
 
Now it's time for Game 1 of the 1908 World Series from League Park in Cleveland. The date is Saturday, October 10:

Giants 1st: The National League champs went down in order: shortstop Al Bridwell flew out to right, second baseman Larry Doyle popped up to third, and left fielder Mike Donlin grounded out to third. After a half, it's Giants nothing, Naps coming up.

Naps 1st: Left fielder Josh Clarke drew a leadoff walk, but was thrown out trying to steal second by Giants catcher Roger Bresnahan. Catcher Nig Clarke restored the rally temporarily by grounding a base hit to right center, but second baseman/manager Nap Lajoie popped to short and first baseman George Stovall flew to right center, which retired the side. After one in Game 1, we're scoreless.

Giants 2nd: Another one-two-three inning for Naps starter Charlie Chech: Bresnahan grounded to Bill Bradley at third, right fielder Moose McCormick flew to right center, and center fielder Cy Seymour popped to short. Through an inning and a half, there was no score.

Naps 2nd: After one out, Giants starter Hooks Wiltse walked Bradley on five pitches. That brought up right fielder Joe Birmingham, who socked a 1-0 pitch down the left field line. Donlin gave chase, but ran out of room at the wall, where to his surprise it just got over for a two-run homer. The Naps led 2-0, and Wiltse's troubles continued when shortstop George Perring dropped a fly ball in front of Donlin for a single. Chech tried to bunt him over, but his half-swing produced a weak dribbler in front of the plate that Bresnahan pounced on, then threw to second for the force. Josh's grounder to first ended the inning. But Birmingham's home run had the Naps in front 2-0 after two. (Note: When two players in a game have the same last name, I'll refer to each of them by their first name to avoid confusion.)

Giants 3rd: First baseman Fred Tenney's leadoff flyball dropped in center for a double. Chech then walked 1905 World Series hero Art Devlin on five pitches. Wiltse then dropped a bunt down the first base line. Stovall and everyone else at League Park thought it would go foul, but it rolled fair at the last second. A quick-thinking Stovall saw Devlin easing into second and threw a strike to Perring to nab him by two steps. Runners were still at the corners with one out, but Bridwell popped up to short and Doyle grounded out to second. After two and a half, it was Cleveland 2, New York 0.

Naps 3rd: Stovall's two-out single to right was erased when center fielder Bill Hinchman bounced into an inning-ending fielder's choice. After three, the Naps still led the Giants 2-0.

Giants 4th: Donlin belted the first pitch he saw off the top of the left field wall for a triple, but had to hold at third while Bresnahan flew to left and McCormick flew to center. It was up to Seymour to bring Mike home, and he accomplished his mission with a seeing-eye base hit past a lunging Stovall and into right field. Cleveland's lead was now 2-1, and Seymour kept things going by stealing second. But Tenney's roller to Stovall at first ended matters. After three and a half, it's Nappies 2, Giants 1.

Naps 4th: Birmingham reached base with one out when McCormick juggled and dropped his fly ball for a two-base error. Perring's fly ball chased McCormick back to the fence in center, but this time Moose made the catch, with Birmingham advancing to third. Chech hit the ball hard, but right at shortstop Bridwell to end the inning. Through four, the Naps lead the Giants 2-1.

Giants 5th: Devlin's liner to second was the closest thing to action in a one-two-three inning for Chech. Halfway through Game 1, it's AL Champs 2, NL Champs 1.

Naps 5th: Lajoie stroked a two-out single, but Stovall's routine grounder to short retired the side on the very next pitch. After five, it was Naps 2, Giants 1.

Giants 6th: Donlin lined a one-out base hit to right center, which set up the defensive play of the game so far, as Josh made a diving bellywhopper catch on Bresnahan's fly ball before it could drop in front of him for another hit. McCormick's single to right put two men on, but Seymour's weak grounder to second ended the New York threat. The visitors still trailed 2-1 after five and a half.

Naps 6th: Hinchman rapped a one-out single to right center, then moved to second on Bradley's infield out. He ended up stranded there, as Birmingham flew to left and Perring grounded to short. The Naps still led the Giants 2-1 after six.

Giants 7th: After one out, Devlin scalded a drive to deep center. Hinchman got a bad jump on the ball in the first place, then lost it in the sun. His weak attempt at a diving catch only resulted in him being charged with a two-base error. Needing some offense, Giants manager John McGraw sent Buck Herzog up to bat for Wiltse, and Herzog came through with a single to center that put G-Men at the corners with one out. But Chech got Bridwell to bounce into a 6-4-3 double play to get the Naps out of the inning. League Park is already on its feet for the seventh inning stretch, as their heroes lead the Giants 2-1.

Naps 7th: With one out, Josh grounded a base hit to right, then stole second. Nig then cued one through the shortstop hole and into left center. Josh never stopped running, and scored with ease to give the Naps a 3-1 lead. Lajoie was next, and his line single to left moved Nig to third. Stovall's second-to-short fielder's choice brought Nig home with the fourth Cleveland run, and George proceeded to steal second. But Giants reliever Dummy Taylor struck out Hinchman swinging to end the inning. The Naps had added two more runs, and now led the Giants 4-1 after seven.

Giants 8th: Bresnahan's two-out single to right center came to nothing, as McCormick's weak fly to right ended the inning. After seven and a half, it was still Naps 4, Giants 1.

Naps 8th: With two out, Perring lined a hard base hit to left. Next. with Terry Turner batting for Chech, Bresnahan tried to catch Perring stealing second, only for his throw to bounce off of Doyle's glove and land in short center. Perring hustled all the way to third on the play, but Turner's grounder to third retired the side with no further damage. After eight, the Naps still enjoyed a three-run lead.

Giants 9th: With one out, Tenney singled to right center against Naps reliever Jake Ryan. Josh then became the second Cleveland outfielder to lose a ball in the sun today, as Devlin's grounder landed about ten feet to his left after an attempt at another diving catch. Devlin only ended up at first, and Ryan cleaned up the mess in a hurry by inducing pinch hitter Tom Needham (batting for Taylor) to hit a comebacker to the mound, which turned into a 1-4-3 game-ending double play. Final score: Naps 4, Giants 1, and the Naps lead the best-of-seven series one game to none.

Chech was the near-unanimous choice for Player of the Game after giving up just one run over seven hits in eight innings of work, although some consideration was also given to Birmingham because of his home run, which was still a rare event at the time.

As a historical note, the National League's string of thirteen consecutive World Series games without a loss (which included the tie in last year's Game 1) has been snapped. The AL's last win came in Game 8 of the '03 Series, when the Boston Americans wrapped up baseball's first official world championship against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

W- Chech (1-0)
L- Wiltse (0-1)

HR- CLE: Birmingham (1)

Final totals: Naps 4-10-2, Giants 1-8-2.

The two teams will travel to New York's Polo Grounds for the next two games. Game 2 will be on Monday, with Red Ames starting for the Giants and Bob Rhoads for the Naps.

Next: We look at Game 2.

Thoughts?
 
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Now it's time for Game 2 of the 1908 World Series from the Polo Grounds in New York. The date is Monday, October 12:

Naps 1st: Josh Clarke drew a leadoff walk against Giants starter Red Ames, then stole second. He held there while Nig Clarke flew out to right center, then moved to third when Nap Lajoie beat out an infield hit. George Stovall then bounced into a force play, which scored Josh to give the Naps a 1-0 lead. Bill Hinchman's grounder to short ended the inning. After a half, the Naps lead the soon-to-bat Giants 1-0.

Giants 1st: Al Bridwell lined Naps' starter Bob Rhoads' first pitch into right field for a hard single, but that was all the G-Men managed in the inning. A special mention goes to Naps right fielder Joe Birmingham for his running catch of Giants left fielder Spike Shannon's fly ball for the second out. After one, it's Naps 1, Giants 0.

Naps 2nd: A three-up three-down inning for Ames, as Shannon made a pair of catches on the left field line to retire Bill Bradley and George Perring. while Birmingham grounded to short. Through an inning and a half, it was Cleveland 1, New York 0.

Giants 2nd: The home team took the lead with a pair of tallies. Mike Donlin, starting this game in right field, belted a leadoff triple to deep center, then came home to tie the game when center fielder Cy Seymour beat out a grounder to third by half a step. After a brief argument from Lajoie, the game continued with Fred Tenney's clean single to center, which put runners at first and second. Art Devlin then grounded a single to left for the Giants' third straight hit, which plated Seymour and gave the G-Men a 2-1 lead.

Ames' weak sacrifice bunt attempt nonetheless got the job done when Nig chose to force Devlin at second for out number one, The Giants ended up leaving runners at the corners, though, as Bridwell flew to right and second baseman Larry Doyle grounded to third. The Giants still scored twice to take a 2-1 lead through two.

Naps 3rd: Rhoads led off the inning by singling just out of Devlin's reach. Josh then worked a walk, and Nig's single to left loaded the bases. Ames had Lajoie down two strikes, then watched in horror as home plate umpire Bill Klem stopped giving him the low strike, which meant that the next four pitches were balls and the game was tied at two as Rhoads crossed the plate. Ames started getting the ball up and the Naps feasted on it, as after two long fouls Stovall starched a ball down the left field line that bounce over the wall for a ground-rule double. Both Clarkes scored, and the Naps led 4-2. Hinchman then smacked one into the right center power alley to bring home Lajoie and Stovall and pad the Naps' lead to 6-2. By this time, Joe McGinnity. who had pitched so brilliantly in the 1905 Series, was ready in the New York pen, and manager John McGraw reluctantly made the move.

McGinnity got the first out of the inning when Bradley flew to right center, but he turned around and walked Birmingham on five pitches. Perring's fly to right held the runners where they were, but Rhoads collected his second hit of the inning with a bloop that fell in front of Shannon in left center. Hinchman scored, and the Naps led 7-2. Josh's grounder to first ended the inning, but not before the visitors had scored six runs on five hits and three walks. After two and a half, the AL Champs led the NL Champs 7-2.

Giants 3rd: Shannon's leadoff single to left was erased when Roger Bresnahan grounded into a 3-6-3 double play. Donlin then lined a single to right center, then proceeded to run the Giants out of the inning by getting thrown out at second. After three, it was Naps 7, Giants 2.

Naps 4th: McGinnity got the first two outs of the inning with ease, but ran into trouble when he hit Stovall in the knee with a pitch. George then stole second. Hinchman brought him home in style, creaming a 1-2 pitch far over the center field wall for the Naps' second home run of the series to give them a 9-2 lead. A short piece of recently-found footage of the home run was studied by the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and with the aid of modern technology the ball was estimated to have traveled well over five hundred feet.

After the home run, McGinnity hit Bradley in the knee with a pitch for his second hit batsman of the inning, but Birmingham's fly to deep right was caught at the warning track by Devlin to retire the side. Hinchman's homer has made this one into a laugher through three and a half, as the Naps lead the Giants 9-2.

Giants 4th: Devlin drew a two-out walk, then moved to second when Nig threw a pickoff attempt into right field. McGinnity's hot liner to Perring at short retired the side. After four, it was still 9-2 Naps.

Naps 5th: Rhoads collected his third hit of the day with one out by beating out a grounder to short, and Josh's single to right center put two men on. After Nig popped to second for out number two, Lajoie helped his team's cause by dumping a base hit between an outgoing Devlin and an incoming Shannon. Rhoads scored with ease, and the Naps had hit double digits. Stovall's grounder to first ended the inning, but chalk up another run for the visitors, who lead 10-2 halfway through Game 2.

Giants 5th: Rhoads set the Giants down in order. After five, the Naps still held an eight-run lead.

Naps 6th: Bradley ripped a one-out double to center, but remained at second while Birmingham grounded to third and Perring lined out to short. The Naps still led the Giants 10-2 after five and a half.

Giants 6th: The G-Men clawed their way back into the game against a tiring Rhoads. Bresnahan drew a leadoff walk, then moved to second on Donlin's single to right. Seymour followed with another single to right. Birmingham got to the ball in a hurry and fired a strike to the plate, but Bresnahan slid just under Nig's tag to score New York's third run, with Seymour advancing to second. Tenney's fly ball then dropped in right center for a hit, which scored Donlin and Seymour and made the Cleveland lead 10-5.

Reliever Cy Falkenberg was throwing in the Cleveland pen by this point, and he started getting ready in a hurry when Devlin's fly to right dropped on the warning track and bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double, which ended up saving the Naps a run for the moment. Since his team was still down by five, McGraw decided to let McGinnity hit for himself, and Joe came through with a bloop base hit to left center that scored Tenney and made it a 10-6 ballgame. That was it for Rhoads, who still hadn't gotten an out in the inning.

Falkenberg got the Naps out of the inning jiffy quick, needing just four pitches to get Bridwell to fly to right center and Doyle to hit into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. Still, the home team had scored four runs on five hits, and after six innings of this barnburner, it was Naps 10, Giants 6.

Naps 7th: After one out, Josh lined a single to left center, but was caught stealing by Bresnahan. Nig restarted the rally with a line single to right center, then scored on Lajoie's ringing double to left, though Shannon's throw made it close at the plate. It was now 11-6 Cleveland, and it soon became 12-6 when the Naps' namesake scored on Stovall's ground single into left center. McGinnity was then lifted in favor of Dummy Taylor, who caught a break when Bresnahan gunned down Stovall at second to end the inning. As we stretch on Coogan's Bluff, the Naps have scored two more insurance runs and now lead the Giants 12-6.

Giants 7th: Falkenberg enjoyed a one-two-three inning, with Shannon's liner to short providing the frame's only solid contact. After seven, it was Cleveland 12, New York 6.

Naps 8th: Birmingham's two-out walk was erased when he was thrown out trying to steal second for Bresnahan's third caught stealing in the last two innings. The Naps still led the Giants 12-6 after seven and a half.

Giants 8th: Falkenberg retired the Giants in order, which brought his consecutive batters retired streak to nine. The Giants still trail by half a dozen as we move to the top of the ninth.

Naps 9th: Josh drew a two-out walk, but the inning ended when Nig grounded to first. We head to the last of the ninth with darkness fast approaching and Cleveland leading New York 12-6.

Giants 9th: Jake Thielman tried to close things out for the Naps, but the G-Men refused to make it easy for him. Pinch hitter Buck Herzog, batting for Taylor, led off by lining a single to right center. After Hinchman ran down Bridwell's fly to right center in the power alley for out number one, Doyle smashed a triple off the center field wall, missing a home run by a foot. Herzog scored to cut the Naps' lead to 12-7, and Jake Ryan started throwing in the Cleveland bullpen just in case.

Shannon's pop to first got Thielman the second out, and Bresnahan's fly ball to right figured to end the game. But Birmingham's apparent catch was ruled a trap by umpire Tommy Connolly, and Doyle scored to make it a 12-8 game. But the Giants got no farther, as Donlin's routine grounder to short ended the game. Final score: Naps 12, Giants 8, and the Naps now lead the series two games to none.

Hinchman was the consensus Player of the Game, with his home run and four RBIs.

Final totals: Naps 12-15-2, Giants 8-14-0.

W- Rhoads (1-0)
L- Ames (0-1)

HR- CLE: Hinchman (1)

Game 3 will be tomorrow here at the Polo Grounds, with Christy Mathewson scheduled to pitch for the home team against the Naps' Addie Joss.

Next: We look at Game 3.

Thoughts?
 
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Now it's time for Game 3 of the 1908 World Series from the Polo Grounds in New York. The date is Tuesday, October 13:

Naps 1st: Josh Clarke drew a leadoff walk against Giants starter Christy Mathewson, but bad luck befell the American League champs, as consecutive line drives by Nig Clarke and Nap Lajoie found the gloves of shortstop Al Bridwell and second baseman Larry Doyle respectively. To make matters worse, Giants catcher Roger Bresnahan threw Josh out trying to steal second, thus ending the inning. After a half, it's Naps nothing, Giants coming up.

Giants 1st: Naps starter Addie Joss enjoyed a one-two-three inning, as Bridwell flew to left center, Doyle lined to Lajoie at second, and Mike Donlin, starting in left field, hit a fly ball down the left field line that was caught by Josh for the third out. After one in Game 3, there was no score.

Naps 2nd: The inning started well for Cleveland when Bridwell short-hopped Fred Tenney at first with his throw on George Stovall's grounder, allowing the Cleveland first sacker to reach. Bresnahan bailed out his shortstop by throwing Stovall out trying to steal second, but a bloop single to left by Game 2 hero Bill Hinchman restarted the rally. Bill Bradley then launched a fly ball deep to center, but it died in the extra deep center field of the Polo Grounds, allowing Cy Seymour to make the catch for out number two. Joe Birmingham's grounder to third retired the side. After an inning and a half, we were still scoreless.

Giants 2nd: Bresnahan drew a leadoff walk, then in a textbook case of turnabout being fair play, he was thrown out trying to steal second by Nig. Right fielder Moose McCormick then hit a routine fly to left. Josh reached up to make the catch, only for the ball to hit the pocket of his glove and bounce out. Moose had run full speed out of the batter's box, and he ended up and second by the time Josh had made the throw back to the infield. Josh was charged with an error on the play.

McCormick then stole third, and after Seymour flew to left, Tenney ripped a double into the gap in left center to bring home the Moose and give the home squad a 1-0 lead. Art Devlin's grounder to second ended the inning, but the National League champions had broken on top 1-0 after two.

Naps 3rd: George Perring led off the inning with a line single to right, then Joss bunted him over to second. But the threat stalled there, as Josh popped out to second and Nig struck out swinging. After two and a half, it was Giants 1, Naps 0.

Giants 3rd: A one-two-three inning for Joss. After three, it was still 1-0 Giants.

Naps 4th: After one out, Stovall grounded a single to right center. Hinchman's grounder to third moved him to second, and Mathewson hit Bradley in the arm with a pitch to put two on. But Birmingham's liner to Bridwell at short ended the inning with no damage done. After three and a half, it's Giants 1, Nappies 0.

Giants 4th: Bresnahan's one-out single past a diving Bradley was all for naught, as McCormick flew to right and Seymour flew to left. The home team still led 1-0 through four.

Naps 5th: After one out, Joss helped his own cause by grounding a single into left center. Josh and Nig each followed with base hits of their own, and suddenly the bases were loaded for skipper Lajoie. Mathewson took all the drama out of the situation by hitting Nap in the ankle with the first pitch he threw, which brought Joss home and tied the game. Stovall then bounced into a short-to-second fielder's choice, which plated Josh and gave the Naps a 2-1 lead. Hinchman's grounder to second ended the inning, but the Naps had scored twice to take a 2-1 lead halfway through Game 3.

Giants 5th: Mathewson's two-out single to left was negated when Bridwell popped out to Stovall, ending the inning. After five, the Naps still led the Giants 2-1.

Naps 6th: Birmingham lined a single to left center with one out, then Perring screamed a line drive to center that got past Seymour. Birmingham scored to give the Naps a two-run lead, and the only reason it wasn't larger was because Cy tracked the ball down and fired a strike to Doyle, which kept Perring at second with a double. Unfortunately for the Naps, they were unable to build the lead any further, as Joss grounded to third and Josh flew to right to retire the side. The Naps settled for one, but still led the Giants 3-1 after five and a half.

Giants 6th: After two out, Bresnahan beat out an infield hit to short, then got a good jump and tried to steal second. Nig was spooked and threw the ball into center field, which allowed Bresnahan to go to third. But Stovall caught McCormick's foul pop to retire the side. A special tip of the hat goes to Joss, who managed to field Donlin's comebacker while off-balance and still throw him out at first. After six, it was Cleveland 3, New York 1.

Naps 7th: Lajoie lined a one-out single to left, but Stovall fouled out to first and Hinchman popped up to short. As we stretch on Coogan's Bluff. the AL champs hold a two-run lead.

Giants 7th: Devlin managed to beat out a two-out infield hit, and manager John McGraw sent up Buck Herzog to bat for Mathewson. Buck could only manage a fly to Birmingham in right, and after seven the Naps still led 3-1.

Naps 8th: Birmingham singled to left with one out, but was gunned down trying to steal second by Bresnahan. Perring's shallow fly to right center ended the inning. After seven and a half, it was still AL Champs 3, NL Champs 1.

Giants 8th: Doyle's single to right was erased when Donlin bounced into a force play, and Bresnahan grounded to short to end the inning. Perring handled all three chances in the frame, and after eight his Naps still held a 3-1 advantage.

Naps 9th: A one-two-three inning for Giants reliever Dummy Taylor, and much like Perring handled all three defensive chances in the last of the eighth, his counterpart Bridwell did so here. The Giants have one last chance against Joss in the bottom of the ninth, needing two to tie and three to win.

Giants 9th: McCormick led off by grounding a single into left center. Seymour then sent a high fly to deep left center that looked as if it might be a game-tying home run, but it held up long enough for Hinchman to make the catch for the first out. Tenney flew to left for out number two, but Devlin kept the inning alive and put the tying run on base with another single to left center. Tom Needham came up to bat for Taylor, and Cy Falkenberg began to throw in the Cleveland bullpen. But he wasn't needed, as Needham flew to Josh in shallow left center to end the game. Final score: Naps 3, Giants 1, and we have a possibility of a fourth straight series sweep on Thursday at League Park.

Joss was the consensus choice for Player of the Game, as he pitched a complete game while scattering eight hits and a walk without giving up an earned run, and also had a hit and scored a run at the plate.

Final totals: Naps 3-10-2, Giants 1-8-1.

Game 4 will be on Thursday at League Park, as I just mentioned. Glenn Liebhardt will try to pitch the Naps to the world championship, while Hooks Wiltse tries to save the Giants' season.

Next: We look at Game 4.

Thoughts?
 
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Now it's time for Game 4 of the 1908 World Series from League Park in Cleveland. The date is Thursday, October 15:

Giants 1st: The visitors hit Naps starter Glenn Liebhardt hard right out of the box. Al Bridwell lined his first pitch into tight field for a base hit, and Larry Doyle scorched his third pitch, which luckily for the Naps landed in George Perring's glove for the first out. Mike Donlin's base hit put G-Men at the corners, and Liebhardt looked to be in trouble early. But he fooled Roger Bresnahan on a spitter in the dirt for a strikeout, then got Spike Shannon (who's starting in left field while Donlin moves to right) to fly out to left, ending the inning. After a half, it's NL Champs 0, AL Champs ready to hack.

Naps 1st: Giants starter Hooks Wiltse got the first two outs with ease, then walked Nap Lajoie on five pitches. George Stovall's hard single to left center put runners at the corners, and Bill Hinchman drew a walk to load the bases. But Bill Bradlet grounded easily to Fred Tenney at first, and the home team had left the bases loaded. After one, there was no score.

Giants 2nd: The Giants broke on top. Cy Seymour blooped a leadoff single to right, and a walk to Tenney put two men on. Art Devlin's fly ball was caught by Naps left fielder Josh Clarke for out number one, with Seymour moving to third on a close play. From there, Wiltse helped his own cause by grounding a base hit into left to bring home Seymour and give the Giants a 1-0 lead. Bridwell's sharp single to center scored Tenney, and it was 2-0 New York in a blink. But just as he had in the first, Liebhardt righted the ship, getting Doyle to fly to right and Donlin to bounce into an inning-ending fielder's choice. After an inning and a half, it was Giants 2, Naps 0.

Naps 2nd: Wiltse enjoyed a rather nondescript one-two-three inning. After two, the Giants led the Naps 2-0.

Giants 3rd: Bresnahan led off by working a walk. Shannon's perfect sacrifice bunt moved him to second, and a bas hit by Setmour just out of Liebhardt's reach put Giants at the corners. But the rally was snuffed out in a twinkling when Tenney grounded into a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play. The Giants still held a 2-0 lead through two and a half.

Naps 3rd: Josh led things off by torching a drive deep into the power alley in left center for a triple. Then came Nig, whose simple grounder to second brought Josh home and cut the New York lead to 2-1. Lajoie then rekindled the rally by grounding a single to left center, and Stovall's lined single to right put Naps on the corners with one out. Next up was Hinchman, who slapped a ground ball down to Tenney at first, Tenney then threw to Bridwell at second for one, and Bridwell braved a football-style chop block from an incoming Stovall to get the ball back to Tenney for the inning-ending double play. We're through three in Game 4 with the Giants up 2-1.

Giants 4th: Finally, a one-two-three inning for Liebhardt, who appears to be settling down. After three and a half, it's G-Men 2, Nappies 1.

Naps 4th: Perring's two-out single to right center led to squat, as Liebhardt flew to Seymour in center to end the inning. After four, it was New York 2, Cleveland 1.

Giants 5th: Doyle stroked a leadoff single to right, then stole second. He held his ground while Donlin flew out to right center, then stole third. After a walk to Bresnahan, Shannon bounced into a 4-6 fielder's choice, which scored Doyle and extended the Giants' lead to 3-1. Nig then got the Naps out of the inning by catching Shannon trying to steal second. But the Giants had added a run, and halfway through Game 4 they led 3-1.

Naps 5th: Nig drew a one-out walk, then moved to third when Lajoie cracked a double to right center. Runners were at second and third with one out, and there they would stay while Stovall popped to Bridwell at short and Hinchman grounded to third. After five, the Giants maintained a 3-1 lead.

Giants 6th: Seymour led off with a base hit to right center, but Tenney popped to second and Devlin grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. After five, it was Coogan's Bluffers 3, Lake Erie's Finest 1.

Naps 6th: Joe Birmingham drew a one-out walk, then stole second just as Perring struck out. Liebhardt's shallow fly to left ended the inning. After six, it was still Giants 3, Naps 1.

Giants 7th: Liebhardt had a three up-three down inning: he caught Wiltse looking, Bridwell grounded to short, and Doyle flew to right center. As we stretch at League Park, the Giants still enjoy a two-run advantage.

Naps 7th: Lajoie dropped a double down the left field line with two out, but Stovall flew to left center to end the inning. Through seven complete, the Naps still trailed by a pair.

Giants 8th: With one out, Bresnahan scalded a double into the left center power alley, then stole third. Shannon then belted a triple off the wall in left, which scored Bresnahan with the fourth New York run. That signaled the end of the day for Liebhardt, who was relieved by Cy Falkenberg. The new Naps hurler got Seymour to fly to center for out number two. Tenney drew a walk, but Devlin grounded to first to end the inning. The Giants have added another insurance run, and now lead the Naps 4-1 after seven and a half.

Naps 8th: The home team went down in order: Hinchman grounded a comebacker to Wiltse, Bradley grounded to short, and Birmingham grounded to third. After eight, it was still Giants 4, Naps 1.

Giants 9th: A one-two-three inning for new Naps pitcher Jake Thielman. Pinch hitter Moose McCormick (batting for Wiltse) fouls out to Bradley, Bridwell flies to right center, and Doyle flies to right. We head to the bottom of the ninth in Game 4 with the Giants leading the Naps 4-1.

Naps 9th: This is the most infamous half-inning in baseball history to date, known throughout baseball for years after as "McGraw's Boner". The Giants manager sent Dummy Taylor in to close out the Naps, and Taylor got the first two outs with ease. Then the roof caved in, as Josh singled to right center, Nig singled to right, and Lajoie walked to load the bases. With the championship-winning run at the plate for the Naps, there was no one warming in the New York bullpen, which meant that it was Taylor's game to win or lose. Dummy gave up a run-scoring single to Stovall (with Josh scoring) to make it 4-2, and Hinchman's seeing-eye single to left brought Nig home to cut the New York lead to one.

Finally, McGraw sent Joe McGinnity down to the Giants bullpen to warm up, but it was too late, as Taylor proceeded to walk Bradley on four pitches to force home Lajoie and tie the game at four. Even with McGinnity now warming up double time, the next batter, Birmingham, belonged to a tiring and badly rattled Taylor. Dummy got ahead of the Cleveland right fielder 0-2, then threw two low in the dirt to even the count. Birmingham appeared to offer at the 2-2 pitch, but plate umpire Tommy Connolly called it ball three, saying that Birmingham had pulled his bat back in time. After a long foul ball, Taylor's second 3-2 offering was just off the outside corner for ball four, and the Naps were World Champions, taking Game 4 by the score of 5-4 and sweeping the series in four straight.

Much like Devlin in 1905, Birmingham's Series-winning heroics netted him the unofficial Series MVP award, and his home run in Game 2 didn't hurt his candidacy either.

Final totals: Naps 5-11-0, Giants 4-10-0.

W- Thielman (1-0)
L- Taylor (0-1)

This is the American League's second world championship, but the National League still leads overall in that category, 3-2.

Next: We look at the 1909 season.

Thoughts?
 
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Now for our look at the 1909 season:

National League- Another title change, as the Chicago Cubs improve by five games (104-49 to 109-44) and capture pennant number eight. The real-life champion Pirates fall from 110-42 to 105-47, a five-game slide that lands them in second place, three and a half games behind the Cubs. The biggest fall goes to the defending champion Giants, who fall from 92-61 to 86-67 (minus six) but still hold on to third by nine games over the Reds. who stay where they are at 77-76. In other plunge news, the Superbas' two-game slip means that they finish with exactly a hundred defeats (55-98 to 53-100).

Biggest improvement goes to the Cardinals, who surge by six games (54-98 to 60-92) and move into sixth place, seven and a half games ahead of Brooklyn and thirteen and a half games in front of the last-place Doves, who finish sixty or more games behind a pennant winner for the second time in four years.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Cubs: 109-44 (+5)
2. Pirates: 105-47- 3.5 GB (-5)
3. Giants: 86-67- 23 GB (-6)
4. Reds: 77-76- 32 GB (0)
5. Phillies: 76-77- 33 GB (+2)
6. Cardinals: 60-92- 48.5 GB (+6)
7. Superbas: 53-100- 56 GB (-2)
8. Doves: 47- 106- 62 GB (+2)

American League- We have our fifth change in the last six seasons, as the Philadelphia Athletics claim their second pennant and become the league's first team to win a hundred or more games. Their final record is 102-51, a league-best seven-game improvement, and their margin of victory over the second-place Tigers is five and a half games. The boys from Detroit drop a pair (98-64 to 96-56). The Red Sox hold on to third despite a six-game nosedive (88-63 to 82-69), while the fourth-place White Sox improve by a pair (78-74 to 80-72).

In the second division, the Highlanders' two-game bump (74-77 to 76-75) moves them over .500, while the defending champion Naps never get it going and finish at 71-82 and in sixth place, just like in real life. The seventh-place Browns fall off by four (61-89 to 57-93), while the Sens set a new AL record for futility, dropping a game to end up at 41-111, sixty and a half games behind the A's. At this point in time, they're the second-worst team in MLB history behind the 1899 Spiders.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Athletics: 102-51 (+7)
2. Tigers: 96-56- 5.5 GB (-2)
3. Red Sox: 82-69- 19 GB (-6)
4. White Sox: 80-72- 21.5 GB (+2)
5. Highlanders: 76-75- 25 GB (+2)
6. Naps: 71-82- 31 GB (0)
7. Browns: 57-93- 43.5 GB (-4)
8. Senators: 41-111- 60.5 GB (-1)

We get a completely different World Series from the one in real life for the second consecutive year; instead of the Pirates meeting the Tigers, it will be the A's battling the Cubs. The A's will have home field advantage as the American League champs, and the format will be National 1-2, American 3-4, National 5, American 6-7.

Next: We begin the 1909 World Series at the West Side Grounds in Chicago. Ed Reulbach will start for the Cubs, to be opposed by the Athletics' Eddie Plank.

Thoughts?
 
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They'll have plenty of chances between now (1909) and 2016, that's for sure. When I originally did this topic (minus the sims) for another board, I believe that they ended up the team with the most National League pennants.

Note: Just so everyone knows, I did most of the non-sim work and some of the regular season sims in this timeline for another board, but it is my original work. The postseason sims are brand new to this board and created exclusively for this timeline.
 
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