Baseball in the Pythagorean Universe 1871-Present

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 1 of the 1909 World Series from the West Side Grounds in Chicago. The date is Friday, October 8:

A's 1st: After two out, second baseman Eddie Collins lined a single to left center, but third baseman Frank "Home Run" Baker grounded to Johnny Evers at second to retire the side. After a half, it's A's nothing, Cubs coming up.

Cubs 1st: Evers' two-out single off of A's starter Eddie Plank was negated when center fielder Solly Hofman popped up to Collins at second. Through one in Game 1, we're scoreless.

A's 2nd: A three-up three-down inning for Cubs starter Ed Reulbach. After an inning and a half, there was no score.

Cubs 2nd: First baseman/manager Frank Chance drew a leadoff walk, then was caught stealing for the second out of the inning following third baseman Harry Steinfeldt's pop-up to short. Left fielder Frank Schulte reignited the rally with a base hit that just eluded Plank's reach and scooted into center field, and catcher Jimmy Archer reached base when Baker's throw to first of his grounder pulled Philly first sacker Harry Davis off the bag for an error. Reulbach came to the plate in prime position to help his cause, but he bounced into a fielder's choice to end the inning. After two, it was still A's nothing, Cubs nothing.

A's 3rd: Catcher Paddy Livingston led off with a seeing-eye single to left, then stole second after one out. Reulbach then took a bad step off the pitching rubber in an effort to execute a pickoff and was called for a balk by home plate umpire Jim Johnstone. He protested the call as much as he dared without getting himself ejected, and he was obviously still rattled when he returned to business, as he walked Davis and right fielder Topsy Hartsel to load the bases. He got Collins to bounce into a force play for the second out as Livingston scored to give Philly a 1-0 lead, but his effort to get the third out ended up costing the Cubs another run, as Tinker misplayed Baker's bad-hop grounder and was charged with an error. Davis scored on the play, and the A's led 2-0. Left fielder Danny Murphy was next, but Steinfeldt scooped up his grounder and stepped on third to force Collins and retire the side. Still, the AL champs had struck for two runs and led 2-0 after two and a half.

Cubs 3rd: Right fielder Jimmy Sheckard doubled down the right field line with one out, but remained at second while Evers flew to Rube Oldring in right center and Hofman grounded to short. After three, it was Philly 2, Chicago 0.

A's 4th: Another one-two-three inning for Reulbach, with Oldring's fly to left center being the only ball that left the infield. After three and a half, the A's still led the Cubs 2-0.

Cubs 4th: Schulte beat out an infleld hit to short with two out, but Archer's grounder to Baker at third ended the inning. After four, the Cubs still trailed the A's 2-0.

A's 5th: The Chicago defense spelled trouble for them and success for the A's once again. After one out, Davis slapped a routine ground ball to Steinfeldt. Harry went to throw to first, but couldn't get the ball out of his glove, and Davis was on. Steinfeldt redeemed himself in part with a diving stop of Hartsel's liner for out number two, but Collins hammered a triple to deep center to bring home Davis and extend the A's lead to 3-0. The lead soon grew to 4-0 on Baker's base hit to right center, which scored Collins. Baker was caught trying to steal second to end the inning, but the A's had scored twice more to lead 4-0 halfway through.

Cubs 5th: Sheckard tried to ignite a two-out rally by dumping a double in front of Oldring in center, and Evers beat out an infield hit to short, which put Cubs on the corners. But Hofman snuffed out the uprising by fouling out to Livingston, who made the catch at the third base box seat railing to retire the side. We're now through five with the A's leading 4-0.

A's 6th: Murphy led off the inning by blooping a double into right center. Reulbach then walked Oldring, and after one out Livingston brought Murphy home with a single to left, which gave the visitors a 5-0 lead. Archer then threw Livingston out trying to steal second, but Plank helped himself out by scorching a pitch into the left center power alley for a double. Oldring trotted home, and it was 6-0 Philly. Davis flew to left to retire the side, but two more runs for the A's means that the Cubs' deficit is six after five and a half.

Cubs 6th: Chance's leadoff base hit to left was erased when Steinfeldt grounded into an around-the-horn double play. Schulte then popped to short, retiring the side. Plank had a shutout going through six, and the A's led 6-0.

A's 7th: With one out, Collins grounded a single into left, then stole second. Next up was Baker, whose base hit to left center scored Collins and made it 7-0 Swingins. Cubs reliever Irv Higginbotham struck out Murphy swinging for the second out, but Oldring reached on Tinker's throwing error to keep the inning alive. Higginbotham came back to strike out shortstop Jack Barry (no apparent relation to the later host of The Joker's Wild) to end the inning, but the A's had tacked on another run to lead 7-0 as we stretch at the West Side Grounds.

Cubs 7th: A one-two-three inning for Plank, who's now retired six Cubs in a row. After seven, it's Philly 7, Chi-Town 0.

A's 8th: After one out, Higginbotham walked Plank on five pitches. After two out, Hartsel drew another walk. That brought up Collins, who murdalized a 1-2 pitch far over the fence in right center for a three-run homer which gave the A's a 10-0 lead. Collins was now four for five on the day with three runs scored and five RBIs. Baker followed up the dinger with a base hit, but Murphy grounded to first, retiring the side. Collins' homer has extended the Philadelphia lead to double digits as we move to the last of the eighth.

Cubs 8th: Sheckard led off with a base hit to right, but Evers' line drive found Davis' glove for out number one, and Hofman bounced into a fielder's choice for out number two. Chance's fly to Hartsel in right center retired the side. After eight, the A's still led the Cubs by ten.

A's 9th: Higginbotham led off the inning by hitting Oldring in the arm with a pitch, but Barry lined out to third and both Livingston and Plank popped up to third. The only question left was, could Plank preserve his shutout bid in the bottom of the ninth? After eight and a half, it was still A's 10, Cubs zip.

Cubs 9th: Plank got the first two outs with ease, as Steinfeldt's fly down the left field line was caught by Murphy for out number one and Oldring ran down Archer's deep fly to left center for out number two. Archer's base hit to left extended the game temporarily, but pinch hitter Heinie Zimmerman (batting for Higginbotham) fouled out to Davis at first to wrap things up. Final score: A's 10, Cubs 0, and the A's lead the best-of-seven series one game to none.

The unofficial Player of the Game award went to Plank for pitching a shutout, in spite of the fact that the Cubs had managed nine hits, and also in spite of Collins' offensive heroics. Baker also got a few votes here and there by virtue of his three-for-five, two-RBI afternoon.

Final totals: A's 10-11-1, Cubs 0-9-3.

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

HR- PHA: Collins (1)

The two teams will reconvene tomorrow here at the West Side Grounds for Game 2. Chief Bender will pitch for the A's, while Orval Overall takes the hill for the Cubs.

Next: We look at Game 2.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 2 of the 1909 World Series from the West Side Grounds in Chicago. The date is Saturday, October 9:

A's 1st: Cubs starter Orval Overall got the first two outs quickly, but Eddie Collins continued his scalding-hot series by lining a double to left. Unfortunately, it meant nothing, as Frank Baker's fly ball was caught deep in left center field by Solly Hofman, retiring the side. After a half, it's A's nothing, Cubs next up.

Cubs 1st: Johnny Evers drew a two-out walk against A's starter Chief Bender, but he erased himself in short order by getting caught trying to steal second. After one in Game 2, we're scoreless.

A's 2nd: Danny Murphy spanked Overall's second offering a mile over Hofman's head for a leadoff standup triple. (In most parks, it would have been an upper-deck home run at least, but keep in mind that center field at the West Side Grounds is 560 feet away from home plate.) Murphy came home when Overall threw his second pitch to Rube Oldring halfway to Milwaukee, and the A's led 1-0. Overall settled down to get Oldring and Paddy Livingston on shallow outfield flies and Jack Barry on a grounder to shortstop in between, but the A's have drawn first blood and lead the Cubs 1-0 after an inning and a half.

Cubs 2nd: Hofman drew a leadoff walk, then stole second. But as has been the case all through the series, his teammates couldn't bring him home. Chance went down swinging, Harry Steinfeldt grounded out to third, and Frank Schulte, who started in right field today, grounded to short to retire the side. After two, it's A's 1, Cubs 0.

A's 3rd: A one-two-three inning for Overall, who got the first and third outs (Bender and Topsy Hartsel) on called third strikes and the second out (Harry Davis) on a grounder to short. Through two and a half, it's Philly 1, Chicago 0.

Cubs 3rd: It's Bender's turn to have a one-two-three inning. After three, the A's still lead the Cubs 1-0.

A's 4th: The Swingins went down in order again against Overall, who's now retired nine in a row since giving up the A's run in the second. The highlight of the inning for Overall was fooling Baker for a called third strike; all three of Overall's strikeouts today have been on called third strikes. After three and a half, it's White Elephants 1, Baby Bears 0.

Cubs 4th: Jimmy Sheckard, who moved to left for today's game, led off with an infield hit. Evers' bloop fell in shallow right field for another hit, and Hofman's sharp single to right loaded the bases with nobody out. But once again, the Cubs couldn't take advantage. Chance grounded to Baker, who threw home to force Sheckard for out number one. Steinfeldt's shallow fly to left center was caught by Murphy for out number two, and the runners had to hold. Schulte's easy grounder to short ended the inning with the bases still loaded for Chicago. After four, the A's still led this game 1-0.

A's 5th: The visitors added to their lead. Oldring beat out an infield hit to lead things off, but Barry hit a foul pop to Steinfeldt for the first out and Paddy Livingston struck out swinging for out number two. It fell to Bender to help his own cause, and he did, lofting a double to center that brought home Oldring and gave the AL champs a 2-0 lead. Davis then smacked one into the left center power alley for another double that brought home The Chief and put the A's in front 3-0. Hartsel's popup to short ended the inning, but the A's had scored twoce more, and now led 3-0 halfway through Game 2.

Cubs 5th: Tinker started a two-out rally by lining a double to left center, and Sheckard's single to left put runners on the corners. But Evers stranded both men by flying out to center, which ended the inning. After five, it was still 3-0 A's.

A's 6th: Collins drew a leadoff walk, but Jimmy Archer threw him out trying to steal second. Baker then flew to left center for the second out, and this looked like an easy inning for Overall. Then, the roof caved in. First, Murphy's grounder just eluded his reach and went into center for a hit. Then, Oldring's single to left center put runners at the corners. Third, Barry lined a sharp single to right center that scored Murphy and put the A's up 4-0. After that, Livingston's single past a diving Overall scored Oldring, and it was 5-0 Philly. Orval walked Bender to load the bases, and Davis turned this one into a rout by smacking a double to center. Barry and Livingston both scored, and it was 7-0 A's.

Irv Higginbotham finally started throwing in the Chicago pen; meanwhile, Overall walked Hartsel to load the bases. Collins became the tenth man to bat in the inning, but for once he couldn't deliver, as his grounder to short ended the inning. But the A's had managed four runs on five hits and three walks, and after five and a half they led the Cubs 7-0.

Cubs 6th: With one out, Chance beat out a grounder to third for an infield hit. He was forced at second by Steinfeldt for out number two, but Schulte's base hit to right center kept the inning alive for Archer, whose fielder's choice retired the side. After six, it was still A's 7, Cubs 0.

A's 7th: Murphy blooped a one-out single to right center, and after two out Barry grounded a single to left. But Higginbotham struck out Livingston swing to retire the side. As we stretch at the West Side Grounds, the home team still sits in a seven-run hole.

Cubs 7th: Bender set the home squad down in order, with the discouraged Cubs batters swinging at the first pitch on all three outs. After seven, the A's were still in front by a touchdown.

A's 8th: Davis's one-out single to left came to nothing, as Hartsel flew out to right and Collins grounded to short. After seven and a half, it was still A's 7, Cubs 0.

Cubs 8th: Another three up-three down inning for Bender, with Hofman's fly to left being the only ball that leaves the infield. We're through eight with the A's still leading by seven.

A's 9th: Higginbotham set the A's down in order, again with only one ball leaving the infield, in this case Baker's fly to right center. We're heading to the last of the ninth, and the Cubs need seven to tie and eight to win.

Cubs 9th: Bender finished his shutout in style, setting the Cubs down in order for the third straight inning and ending the game having retired the last ten Cubs hitters he faced. Steinfeldt and Archer flew to left (with Archer's fly ending the game), while Schulte popped to Davis at first. Final score: A's 7, Cubs 0, and the A's lead the series two games to none.

Bender's seven-hit shutout netted him Player of the Game consensus, although both Davis (three for five, three RBIs) and Murphy (three for five, two runs scored) received consideration because of their offensive production.

Final totals: A's 7-13-0, Cubs 0-7-0.

W- Bender (1-0)
L- Overall (0-1)

The series will now shift to Shibe Park in Philadelphia for Game 3 on Monday. Harry Krause will start for the home team, while Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown is on tap for the Cubs.

Next: We look at Game 3.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 3 of the 1909 World Series from Shibe Park in Philadelphia. The date is Monday, October 11:

Cubs 1st: The Cubs had their first baserunner with one out when Frank Baker bobbled Jimmy Sheckard's grounder, allowing him to reach. But Johnny Evers bounced into a tailor-made 4-6-3 double play to retire the side. After a half, it's Cubs 0, A's coming up.

A's 1st: Eddie Collins legged out an infield hit with two away, but Baker's grounder to Evers at second killed the rally. We're scoreless after one in Game 3.

Cubs 2nd: Solly Hofman poked a leadoff base hit to right center, and after one out Harry Steinfeldt walked to put two men on. A's starter Harry Krause got out of this jam by getting Frank Schulte, who moved back to left field for this game, to fly out to right center and Jimmy Archer to fly out to left center. After an inning and a half, we have no score.

A's 2nd: Danny Murphy led off the inning by grounding a single to left. Rube Oldring then tagged one to medium depth in right, but Sheckard lost it in the sun and it glanced off of his glove, allowing Oldring to reach. Archer then played patty-cake with a Brown curveball in the dirt, which moved the runners to second and third with nobody out. Jack Barry's grounder to short kept them where they were, but Paddy Livingston's bloop single to left center scored Murphy and gave the A's a 1-0 lead. With runners at the corners and one out, Brown bore down and got Krause to pop to Frank Chance at first for out number two and Harry Davis to fly to left center and end the inning. The A's got one, but missed an opportunity for at least one more. After two, it's A's 1, Cubs 0.

Cubs 3rd: Brown led off with a base hit to right center, then Baker committed his second error of the game when he fluffed Tinker's grounder. Sheckard was next, and Davis fielded his tapper to first and fired to Barry for the force on Tinker. Evers flew to center for out number two; a normal runner may have tried to score, but pitcher Brown stayed put. Hofman's 6-4 fielder's choice ended the inning. After two and a half, it was still A's 1, Cubs 0.

A's 3rd: Topsy Hartsel led off with a double to right and moved to third when Collins' fly pushed Hofman back to the fence in right center before he could make the catch. Brown caught Baker looking for the second out, but Murphy walked to keep the inning alive, only to be caught stealing two pitches later to end the inning. Through three, it was Philly 1, Chicago 0.

Cubs 4th: Steinfeldt's one-out walk ended up meaningless, as Schulte popped up to second and Archer grounded to third to retire the side. After three and a half, the A's still led the Cubs 1-0.

A's 4th: Livingston earned himself a two-out infield single by beating Chance to the first base bag, and Krause drew a walk to put runners at first and second. But Davis's grounder to second ended the inning. Through four, the AL Champs led the NL Champs 1-0.

Cubs 5th: Brown led off the inning with a fly ball to center, which Oldring lost in the sun. Rube tried for a running catch once he eventually found the ball, but it ticked off of his glove, and the A's were charged with their third error of the game. Krause proceeded to bail out his center fielder by striking out Tinker, inducing a fly to center from Sheckard, and getting Evers to tap to first. The A's pitchers have now held the Cubs scoreless for twenty-three consecutive innings. Halfway through Game 3, it's Home 1, Visitors 0.

A's 5th: Brown enjoyed the first one-two-three inning of this game. After five, the A's still clung to a 1-0 lead.

Cubs 6th: This was Krause's first one-two-three inning, as he struck out Hofman and Chance and got Steinfeldt to pop out to Baker at third. After five and a half, the Swingins still led the Cubbies by one.

A's 6th: Another one-two-three inning for Brown, with Oldring's fly to center the only ball that left the ground. After six, it's A's 1, Cubs zip.

Cubs 7th: After one out, Archer walked. Brown tried to bunt him over, but his attempt landed in Davis's glove, and Harry threw to Barry for the force. After Tinker beat out an infield hit, Sheckard ended the team's twenty-four and a third inning scoreless streak by driving a ball deep to left that hopped on the warning track and bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double. Brown was awarded home plate, and the game was tied at one. Evers' grounder to first ended the inning, but the Cubs had finally hit the board in the series. At the seventh inning stretch, affairs were even at one.

A's 7th: The insanity began when Livingston doubled to left. With a chance to retake the lead, A's manager Connie Mack sent Heinie Heitmuller up to bat for Krause, and Heinie lined the first pitch he saw into right center for a base hit. Livingston scored easily, and the A's led 2-1. Irv Higginbotham began to warm up in the Cubs' bullpen, but Brown had to deal with Davis, who singled to left center to put runners at first and second. Hartsel grounded to short for the first out of the inning, which also moved the runners up ninety feet. Collins then brought both of them home with a screaming liner that ended up in left center for a double. It was now 4-1 Philadelphia, and Shibe Park was going stark screaming nuts. Baker's base hit to right brought home Collins with the fifth A's run, and also finished Brown for the afternoon.

Higginbotham had pitched in both previous games in the series to date, and it was clear from the second he took the mound that he had little left in the tank. Murphy and Oldring each walked to load the bases, then Barry lined one right through Irv's legs and into center. Baker and Murphy scored, and the A's had officially broken the game open at 7-1. But there was more to come; Livingston's line single to left center was his fourth hit of the game, and Oldring trotted home to make it 8-1. The pitcher's spot was next, and Mr. Mack stayed with Heitmuller, who smacked his second single to right center of the inning to score Barry and make it 9-1. Higginbotham's nightmare was mercifully completed when Davis singled to right for his second hit of the inning, scoring Livingston and sending the A's into double digits for the second time in the series. Rip Hagerman came out of the Cubs' pen to get Hartsel to ground into a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play, but the home team had erupted for nine runs on nine hits and two walks to open up a gaping 10-1 lead as we finally headed to the top of the eighth.

Cubs 8th: The Cubs staged their own explosion against A's reliever Rube Vickers. It began after one out, when Barry couldn't find the handle on Chance's grounder for the Athletics' fourth error of the game. Steinfeldt's base hit to left center put Cubbies at the lines, and Schulte's infield hit brought the Cubs' manager home with his team's second run. Archer walked to load the bases, and Jimmy Dygert began throwing in the Philly bullpen.

Still down by eight runs, Chance decided to let Hagerman bat for himself, and Rip lined a base hit to center which scored Steinfeldt and cut the A's lead to seven. Then came the big hit of the inning, as Tinker crushed a ball to deep left center. Oldring tried for the catch, but hit the wall face first on the dead run. The bases cleared to cut the A's lead to 10-6, and Tinker ended up at third with a triple, but the concern was with Oldring, who lay motionless for at least five minutes before getting up and slowly regaining his faculties. After an eight-minute delay, he pronounced himself ready to go, and the game continued with Jimmy Dygert the new A's pitcher. Dygert got Sheckard to tap to Davis for out number two on his first pitch, with Tinker scoring to make it a 10-7 game. Evers' fly to left center ended the inning, but the Cubs had scored six runs on four hits, a walk, and an error, and after seven and a half, the score read A's 10, Cubs 7.

A's 8th: After the insanity of the previous two half-innings, this one-two-three inning was a nice change of pace. After eight, it was still Philly 10, Chicago 7.

Cubs 9th: Dygert closed out the Cubs, allowing only a two-out single to left center by Steinfeldt. Schulte's slow roller to Davis ended the game. Final score: A's 10, Cubs 7, and the A's will be looking for the World Series' fifth consecutive sweep tomorrow here at Shibe Park in Game 4.

Livingston's four-for-four afternoon at the plate made him the overwhelming choice for Player of the Game. He also drove in a pair of runs and scored another pair.

Final totals: A's 10-14-4, Cubs 7-9-1.

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

As I just mentioned, the A's will be looking for the sweep tomorrow in Game 4. They'll look to Cy Morgan to pitch them to the world championship, while the Cubs try to stay alive with Jack Pfiester.

Next: We look at Game 4.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

An administrative announcement:

I'm changing my mind about not finishing strike years. After all, if there's any such thing as a tailor-made "what if?" in sports, it's finishing a strike year. I'm going to do so in the Puthagorean universe, since that's why I came to this board in the first place, but I'm going to use the sims I've already created for a similar project on another board that involved our real world. My sims involved the National League, and I'm going to see if I can get permission from the guy who did the American League to use his material so I'm not typing two or three hours a day, which would be too much of a physical drain.

I'm also going to put each strike year in its own thread so we can have separate discussions about the events of that particular year. Some of the threads may be short as a result, particularly 1972, but at least they won't get lost in the shuffle. I'll continue to do the postseasons in this thread, which will still be the main one. Of course, the threads for each year will be in the "After 1900" section, but I'll make sure to pimp this thread so we can get some traffic going back and forth.

The first of these years will be 1918, which was actually ended by the government so that the players could be inducted into the military service to fight in World War I. The other four will be the well-known strike years: 1972, 1981, 1994, and 1995. Hopefully there won't be any more!

Look for the 1918 thread coming soon, as well as the continuation of this thread.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's the scoring summary for Game 4 of the 1909 World Series:

A's 2nd: After one out, Danny Murphy reached when Harry Steinfeldt couldn't find the handle on his ground ball. Rube Oldring, in the lineup despite a broken nose sustained in yesterday's collision with the center field wall, grounded a single to right center for a base hit to put runners at first and third. Jack Barry's fielder's choice scored Murphy and gave the A's a 1-0 lead. Paddy Livingston's grounder to third ended the inning. After two, it was A's 1, Cubs 0.

Cubs 3rd: After two out, A's starter Cy Morgan gave up back-to-back walks to Jimmy Sheckard, who moved back to right field today, and Johnny Evers. Solly Hofman then grounded a base hit past a lunging Harry Davis and into right, which scored Sheckard and tied the game at one. Frank Chance's screaming liner would have scored both Hofman and Evers with ease, but it was speared by Barry deep in the shortstop hole for the final out. After two and a half, we were tied at one.

A's 3rd: As Morgan had in the top of the inning, Cubs starter Jack Pfiester got the first two outs in this inning with ease. But he lost Topsy Hartsel on a 3-2 pitch, and Eddie Collins' base hit put runners at first and second. That brought up Frank "Home Run" Baker, whose single to right brought home Hartsel and gave the AL champs a 2-1 lead. Next was Murphy, whose hard single to left center scored Collins and increased the Philly lead to 3-1. Oldring grounded to Steinfeldt to end the inning, but the A's had scored twice to take a 3-1 lead after three.

A's 4th: Barry drew a leadoff walk. Paddy Livingston lined to Chance at first for out number one, and Morgan forced Barry for out number two. But Davis cracked a single to center to keep the inning alive, and Hartsel's bloop fell in front of Sheckard in right to bring home Morgan with the fourth A's run. Pfiester retired Collins on a fly to left center, but the A's had added one to lead 4-1 through four in Game 4.

A's 7th: The A's put the world championship away by scoring three times against Cubs reliever Irv Higginbotham. Davis scorched a line drive into the left center power alley for a leadoff double, and Hartsel's single to right brought him home to make it 5-1 Philadelphia. Hartsel proceeded to steal second two pitches later. Higginbotham finally got an out (which was more than he did yesterday) by getting Collins to ground to short, but Baker's double to center brought Hartsel home and gave the A's a five-run lead. Murphy then lined a base hit to center to score Baker, and this one was officially a laugher at 7-1. Oldring's routine fly to left produced the second out, but Murphy stole second to put himself in scoring position for Barry. But Jack's infield pop to Evers retired the side. The A's had scored three, and the Cubs now trailed by six after seven.

Cubs 8th: Sheckard blooped a leadoff single to left, and Evers lofted a single to center to put two men on. Hofman forced Evers at second for the first out, but Sheckard moved to third, from whence he scored on Chance's fielder's choice. Morgan ended his day by striking out Steinfeldt looking. The Cubs had gotten one, but still trailed 7-2 after seven and a half, and that was the final score.

Morgan's strong eight innings earned him Player of the Game honors, as he gave up just two runs on seven hits. Collins earned Series MVP honors by hitting safely in all four games.

Final totals: A's 7-12-0, Cubs 2-7-1.

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

The American League and the National League have now won three world championships apiece.

Next: We look at the 1910 season.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now for our look at the 1910 season:

National League- Despite a three-game drop (104-50 to 101-53), the Cubs cruise to their second straight pennant and ninth in franchise history, defeating the second-place Giants by eight games. The New Yorkers improve from 91-63 to 93-61 and cut five games off of their real-life deficit. From there, it's another seven and a half to the third-place Pirates, who drop a game (86-67 to 85-68) and finish fifteen and a half out.

Largest drop goes to the Reds, who fall five games (75-79 to 70-84) but stay in fifth place. Biggest improvement goes to the Cardinals for the third time in five years, as they surge from 63-90 to 68-85 (plus five games) and move up from seventh place to sixth.

The Doves' hundred losses exactly gives them the fifth such season in their existence, most in league history. The Cardinals are next with four.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Cubs: 101-53 (-3)
2. Giants: 93-61- 8 GB (+2)
3. Pirates: 85-68- 15.5 GB (-1)
4. Phillies: 80-73- 20.5 GB (+2)
5. Reds: 70-84- 31 GB (-5)
6. Cardinals: 68-85- 32.5 GB (+5)
7. Superbas: 61-93- 40 GB (-3)
8. Doves: 53-100- 47.5 GB (0)

American League- The A's repeat, winning their third overall pennant with a mark of 103-47, a one-game improvement that allows them to set the record for the most wins by an AL team in its brief history. The second-place Tigers improve by two games (86-68 to 88-66), but still finish seventeen games off the pace. They take second from the Highlanders, who drop by four (88-63 to 84-67) and fall to third, where they end up tied with their archrivals, the Red Sox (85-68, four-game improvement) nineteen and a half games from the lead.

The second division sees two improvements: the fifth-place Pale Hose improve by a league-high of five (68-85 to 73-80) and the sixth-place Sens by three (66-85 to 69-82). The Naps freefall by a league-worst eight (71-81 to 63-89) and plunge from fifth place to seventh, while the Browns bring up the rear and just miss being the worst team in AL history with a mark 0f 44-110, a three-game slide that leaves them sixty-one games behind the A's. This breaks by half a game the record set last year by the Sens for most games behind an AL pennant winner.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Athletics: 103-47 (+1)
2. Tigers: 88-66- 17 GB (+2)
3. (tie) Highlanders: 84-67- 19.5 GB (-4)
(tie) Red Sox: 85-68- 19.5 GB (+4)
5. White Sox: 73-80- 31-5 GB (+5)
6. Senators: 69-82- 34.5 GB (+3)
7. Naps: 63-89- 41 GB (-8)
8. Browns: 44-110- 61 GB (-3)

The A's and Cubs meet in the World Series for the second consecutive year, and the A's triumph, defeating the North Siders four games to one to claim their second world championship. This gives the AL a 4-3 lead in Pythagorean World Series. This was just the second Fall Classic in the Pythagorean universe where the losing team managed to win a game.

Next: We look at the 1911 season.

Thoughts?

 

[Don Corleone]

I hate losing the 1909 Series with this format. Hopefully we get one back to offset it.

 

[Garrett Garlits]

I'm sure baseball would have too, LW. Wagner vs, Cobb was a dream matchup and helped produce a seven-game Series, whereas A's-Cubs had no transcendent stars (unless you count Tinker, Evers, and Chance, thanks to Franklin P. Adams' poem) and resulted in a fifth straight sweep (which wasn't planned; I don't figure out "storylines" beforehand and fit my sims around them).

Stay tuned and keep a good thought!

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now for our look at the 1911 season:

National League- The Giants are back on top of the heap, standing pat at 99-54 to win their seventh pennant, two behind the all-time leading Cubs. The freight train headed for Coogan's Bluff from Pittsburgh just comes up short; the Buccos improve by an otherworldly twelve games (85-69 to 97-57), highest total in the league, but still end up two and a half games out of luck. The Cubs freeze at 92-62 to take third; no one else in the league even reaches .500.

Last year's largest improvement becomes this year's largest drop, as the Cardinals fall eight games (75-74 to 67-82) and fall from fifth to sixth. The biggest improvement outside of the Pirates comes from the Rustlers (formerly the Doves), who improve six (44-107 to 50-101), but still finish forty-eight games behind New York. They lose a hundred games for the sixth time (an NL record) and finish last for the sixth time (the Cardinals hold the record with seven).

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Giants: 99-54 (0)
2. Pirates: 97-57- 2.5 GB (+12)
3. Cubs: 92-62- 7.5 GB (0)
4. Phillies: 75-77- 23.5 GB (-4)
5. Reds: 74-79- 25 GB (+4)
6. Cardinals: 67-82- 30 GB (-8)
7. Dodgers: 61-89- 36.5 GB (-3)
8. Rustlers: 50-101- 48 GB (+6)

Name Changes: Brooklyn (Superbas to Dodgers), Boston (Doves to Rustlers)

American League- The A's make it three in a row, taking their fourth pennant with a mark of 99-52, which represents a two-game slide. Finishing second this year are the White Sox, who break a third-place tie with the Red Sox with an eight-game improvement and finish 85-66, fourteen games out. The Tigers fall from second to third courtesy of a seven-game plunge (89-65 to 82-72), while the fourth-place Bostonians improve by two (78-75 to 80-73).

The only team to improve in the second division is the last-place Browns, who still lose a hundred games for the second year in a row despite a seven-game spike (45-107 to 52-100) that leaves them forty-seven and a half games out of first. Both the Naps and Highlanders lose seasons of at least .500 with their drops; the Naps fall by five (80-73 to 75-78), while the Highlanders slide by four (76-76 to 72-80).

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Athletics: 99-52 (-2)
2. White Sox: 85-66- 14 GB (+8)
3. Tigers: 82-72- 18.5 GB (-7)
4. Red Sox: 80-73- 20 GB (+2)
5. Naps: 75-78- 25 GB (-5)
6. Highlanders: 72-80- 27.5 GB (-4)
7. Senators: 63-91- 37.5 GB (-1)
8. Browns: 52-100- 47.5 GB (+7)

The A's repeat as World Champions for the third year in a row, beating the Giants in six games to take the World Series. The American League now has five world championships to the National League's three.

Next: We examine the 1912 season.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now for the 1912 season:

National League- Despite a three-game drop (103-48 to 100-51), the Giants take their second consecutive pennant and eighth overall, moving within one of the Cubs all-time. The second-place Pirates improve from 93-58 to 95-56, but still finish second five games back. The Cubs take the biggest fall, an eight-game plunge from 91-59 to 83-67. Fortunately, no other team in the league breaks .500 for the second year in a row, so they maintain third place, sixteen and a half games back.

The largest upswing this year is nine games, by two different teams: The seventh-place Dodgers (formerly Superbas) go from 58-95 to 67-86 and move from seventh place to sixth, while the eighth-place Braves (formerly Rustlers) break the hundred- loss barrier in the positive direction, going from 52-101 to 61-92 and moving into a last-place tie with the Cardinals, who drop two games (from 63-90), and inch down from sixth. This is the Redbirds' eighth all-time last place finish, the Bravos' seventh.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Giants: 100-51 (-3)
2. Pirates: 95-56- 5 GB (+2)
3. Cubs: 83-67- 16.5 GB (-8)
4. Phillies: 74-78- 26.5 GB (+1)
5. Reds: 70-83- 31 GB (-5)
6. Dodgers: 67-86- 34 GB (+9)
7. (tie) Cardinals: 61-92- 40 GB (-2)
(tie) Braves: 61-92- 40 GB (+9)

Name Change: Boston (Rustlers to Braves)

American League- The Red Sox win their second pennant and their first in nine years, dominating the league despite a three-game slide that leaves them with a mark of 102-50, thirteen games ahead of the second-place Sens, who drop a pair themselves (91-61 to 89-63). The defending two-time world champion A's can do no better than third (88-64, two-game drop), while the fourth-place Naps can't get above .500 (76-77, one-game improvement).

The largest amount of movement in the second division comes from the Highlanders, who improve by a league-high six games (50-102 to 56-96) and escape the basement for seventh place. The Browns are thus cellar-bound for the third straight year, but their two-game improvement (53-101 to 55-99) allows them to miss a third straight hundred-loss season. In other news, the fifth-place White Sox lose a winning record with their two-game slide (78-76 to 76-78).

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Red Sox: 102-50 (-3)
2. Senators: 89-63- 13 GB (-2)
3. Athletics: 88-64- 14 GB (-2)
4. Naps: 76-77- 26.5 GB (+1)
5. White Sox: 76-78- 27 GB (-2)
6. Tigers: 71-82- 31.5 GB (+2)
7. Highlanders: 56-96- 46 GB (+6)
8. Browns: 55-99- 48 GB (+2)

The Giants claim their second world championship with a four games to three victory (one tie) over the Red Sox in the World Series. The National League thus moves to within one of its little brother in the world championship derby, 5-4.

Note: The "no ties in postseason" rule was rescinded for the second time prior to the 1912 season. It was back in place in time for 1913.

Next: We examine the 1913 season.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now for the 1913 season:

National League- The Giants get the hat trick, winning their third consecutive pennant and ninth all-time, which ties them with the Cubs. They drop a league-high six games in the process, though, going from 101-51 to 95-57. The Cubs drop two games (88-65 to 86-67) but are still able to finish in a virtual second-place tie with the Pirates (six game-improvement, 78-71 to 84-65) nine and a half games out. That's because the Phils fall by a league-high seven games (88-63 to 81-70) and tumble from an undisputed second to an undisputed fourth.

Biggest improvement goes to the once-again Superbas, who jump seven games (65-84 to 72-77) and move up from sixth to fifth.

The Cardinals finish last for the ninth time at 51-99, forty-three games behind the G-Men. This marks the third time in their history that they've finished with exactly ninety-nine losses.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Giants: 95-57 (-6)
2. (tie) Cubs: 86-67- 9.5 GB (-2)
(tie) Pirates: 84-65- 9.5 GB (+6)
4. Phillies: 81-70- 13.5 GB (-7)
5. Superbas: 72-77- 21.5 GB (+7)
6. Braves: 70-81- 24.5 GB (+1)
7. Reds: 65-88- 30.5 GB (+1)
8. Cardinals: 51-99- 43 GB (0)

Name Change: Brooklyn (Dodgers to Superbas)

American League- The A's get back to the top, winning their fourth American League pennant in five years and fifth overall with a record of 97-56, a one-game improvement that leaves them nine and a half games ahead of the second-place Naps. The Naps also improve by a game (86-66 to 87-65). Finishing third are the Sens, who shed a league-worst nine games (90-64 to 81-73) and lose the runner-up spot as a result. The defending champion Red Sox close out the first division (77-73, two-game drop).

The two big stories in the second division are the loss of a .500 season for the second year in a row by the Chisox as a result of a three-game slide (78-74 to 75-77) and a league-best six-game spike by the Browns (57-96 to 63-90) that bumps them up to seventh. Taking their place in the basement is the New York club, which not only improves by three games (57-94 to 60-91) but debuts its new nickname, the Yankees, which is destined to become the most famous moniker in baseball if not all of American sport.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Athletics: 97-56 (+1)
2. Naps: 87-65- 9.5 GB (+1)
3. Senators: 81-73- 16.5 GB (-9)
4. Red Sox: 77-73- 18.5 GB (-2)
5. White Sox: 75-77- 21.5 GB (-3)
6. Tigers: 67-86- 30 GB (+1)
7. Browns: 63-90- 34 GB (+6)
8. Yankees: 60-91- 36 GB (+3)

Name Change: New York (Highlanders to Yankees)

The A's win their fourth world championship in five years, defeating the Giants four games to one in the World Series. The American League now has six world titles to the National League's four.

Next: We examine the 1914 season in the two established major leagues (the Federal League will be discussed soon).

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here are the Pythagorean World Series matchups so far which differ from real life and their results. Standings positions referred to are from real life:

1905: The National League champion Giants swept the American League runner-up White Sox, who finished two games behind the A's.
1906: The National League champion Cubs swept the American League third place Naps, who finished five games behind the White Sox.
1908: The American League runner-up Naps swept the National League tie for runner-up Giants. The Naps finished half a game behind the Tigers, while the Giants finished tied with the Pirates a game behind the Cubs.

1909: The American League runner-up A's swept the National League runner-up Cubs. The A's finished three and a half games behind the Tigers, while the Cubs finished six and a half games behind the Pirates.

Just an interesting piece of trivia to keep up with as we go along. More coming soon!

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now for our look at the 1914 season in the established major leagues:

National League- The Miracle Braves get the job done as in real life, but it's not a romp anymore. They drop a league-worst five games (94-59 to 89-64), while the defending champion Giants improve by a league-high four (84-70 to 88-66) and make a ten-and-a-half game cakewalk into a one-and-a-half game nail-biter. This is the Boston franchise's fifth pennant and their first as the Braves; their last one was as the Beaneaters seventeen years ago.

The Cardinals drop by two (81-72 to 79-74) but hold on to third. The Cubs tie the Braves' dip, going from 78-76 to 73-81 and falling from an undisputed fourth to a fifth-place tie with the Phils, who drop just one game from 74-80.

The Buccos are back in the hometown space after their three-game improvement (69-85 to 72-82) fails to get them out of seventh place. They finish seventeen and a half games behind the champion Bravos.

The Reds' last place finish marks the first time in nine years (1905 Superbas) that someone other than the Cardinals or the Boston team has finished last.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Braves: 89-64 (-5)
2. Giants: 88-66- 1.5 GB (+4)
3. Cardinals: 79-74- 10 GB (-2)
4. Robins: 77-77- 12.5 GB (+2)
5. (tie) Cubs: 73-81- 16.5 GB (-5)
(tie) Phillies: 73-81- 16.5 GB (-1)
7. Pirates: 72-82- 17.5 GB (+3)
8. Reds: 63-91- 26.5 GB (+3)

Name Change: Brooklyn (Superbas to Robins)

American League-It's five pennants in six years for the Swingin' A's; their 99-53 real-life record is enough for a twelve and a half game romp over the second-place Red Sox, who fall off by four (91-62 to 87-66). The Sens' three-game improvement (81-73 to 84-70) helps them keep third, while the Tigers lose a winning season with a four-game dip (80-73 to 76-77) but still close out the first division.

The second half of the standings contains the league's biggest improvement, as the last-place Naps avert a hundred losses with a seven-game hike (51-102 to 58-95). It also sees the league's biggest falloff, as the seventh-place Browns shed six games (71-82 to 65-88). Finally, the Yanks and White Sox resolve their real-life tie for fifth; the Bronx Bombers improve by five (70-84 to 75-79) while the Pale Hose fall off by three (70-84 to 67-87).

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Athletics: 99-53 (0)
2. Red Sox: 87-66- 12.5 GB (-4)
3. Senators: 84-70- 16 GB (+3)
4. Tigers: 76-77- 23.5 GB (-4)
5. Yankees: 75-79- 25 GB (+5)
6. White Sox: 67-87- 33 GB (-3)
7. Browns: 65-88- 34.5 GB (-6)
8. Naps: 58-95- 41.5 GB (+7)

The Miracle Braves sweep the A's in four games to take the 1914 Fall Classic and give the franchise its first-ever world championship. The score after eleven World Series: Junior Circuit 6, Senior Circuit 5.

Next: We look at the 1915 season in the established major leagues.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now for our look at the 1915 season:

National League- The Phils secure their first National League pennant, improving by two games (90-62 to 92-60) in the process to claim an eleven-game victory over the Pirates and the defending champion Braves, who finish in a virtual tie for second. The Bucs improve by a league-high nine games (73-81 to 82-72), while the Braves slip by two (83-69 to 81-71). The biggest fall takes place in Brooklyn, where the Robins drop seven games, from 80-73 to 73-79. This means that they slide from third to fifth.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Phillies: 92-60 (+2)
2. (tie) Braves: 81-71- 11 GB (-2)
(tie) Pirates: 82-72- 11 GB (+9)
4. Cardinals: 75-78- 17.5 GB (+3)
5. Robins: 73-79- 19 GB (-7)
6. Giants: 71-81- 21 GB (+2)
7. Cubs: 71-82- 21.5 GB (-2)
8. Reds: 68-86- 25 GB (-3)

American League- We have a title change, as the Chicago White Sox improve by seven games (93-61 to 100-54) and move from third place nine and a half games out all the way to the pennant, their third overall. They're helped in this process by the six-game slide of the Red Sox (101-50 to 95-56) and the five-game plunge of the Tigers (100-54 to 95-59). The Bosox finish three and a half back, the Tigers five back. The Sens round out the first division with a two-game bump (85-68 to 87-66).

The Yanks lead off the second division by equaling the Pale Hose's seven-game spike (69-83 to 76-76) which nets them a .500 campaign. The newly-renamed Indians (formerly the Naps) improve by four (57-95 to 61-91), while the Browns fall by the same amount (63-91 to 59-95).

From the How Far The Mighty Have Fallen Department: The defending champion A's finish in the cellar with a mark of 44-108 (one-game improvement), fifty-five games behind the White Sox. This is certainly the biggest fall by a defending pennant winner so far in this thread.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. White Sox: 100-54 (+7)
2. Red Sox: 95-56- 3.5 GB (-6)
3. Tigers: 95-59- 5 GB (-5)
4. Senators: 87-66- 12.5 GB (+2)
5. Yankees: 76-76- 23 GB (+7)
6. Indians: 61-91- 38 GB (+4)
7. Browns: 59-95- 41 GB (-4)
8. Athletics: 44-108- 55 GB (+1)

Name Change: Cleveland (Naps to Indians)

The White Sox will meet the National League champion Phillies in the World Series, with home field advantage going to the Phils. The format will be 2-2-1-1-1. The Phils won the pennant in real life, as noted above, so this matchup features the biggest discrepancy in terms of real-life finish between two opponents so far in the Pythagorean history of the World Series.

Next: We're at Baker Bowl for Game 1 of the Series. Red Faber will take the ball for the visitors, to be opposed by the home squad's Grover Cleveland "Pete" Alexander.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 1 of the 1915 World Series from Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. The date is Friday, October 8:

White Sox 1st: The Chisox threatened right away against Pete Alexander. With one out, shortstop Buck Weaver grounded a single to left. Weaver stole second almost right away, and Alexander walked center fielder Jack Fournier to put two men on with two out. But he got left fielder Shoeless Joe Jackson to hit a three-hopper to shortstop Dave Bancroft, who charged the third hop and got the ball to second baseman Bert Niehoff just in time to force Fournier and end the inning. Fournier protested that he'd gotten in under Niehoff's tag, but his protest fell on the deaf ears of first base umpire Silk O'Loughlin. After a half, it's Sox nothing, Phils ready to hit.

Phillies 1st: Sox starter Red Faber created his own mess when he couldn't handle third baseman Milt Stock's comebacker cleanly, allowing him to reach. Stock stole second, then moved to third on Bancroft's grounder to second. Center fielder Dode Paskert then grounded to third, which forced Stock to stay put. Faber pitched a little too carefully to center fielder Gavvy Cravath and walked him on a 3-2 pitch, and first baseman Fred Luderus made sure he paid for it, lining a base hit to right center that scored Stock and gave the Phils a 1-0 lead. Left fielder Possum Whitted's grounder to second ended the inning, but the Phils had broken on top 1-0 after one.

White Sox 2nd: First baseman Shano Collins' leadoff blooper fell in right center field for a double, but after third baseman Lena Bleckburne's grounder to short failed to move him over, he decided to take matters into his own hands by trying to steal third and was thrown out by two full steps. Catcher Wally Mayer struck out swinging to end the inning. After an inning and a half, it's Phillies 1, White Sox 0.

Phillies 2nd: A one-two-three inning for Faber. After two, the Phils still led the White Sox 1-0.

White Sox 3rd: Faber tried to help his own cause with a leadoff single to right center, but Alexander came back to strike out right fielder Happy Felsch. Weaver bounced into a force play to take care of Faber for the second out, and second baseman Eddie Collins' tapper to Luderus at first retired the side. After two and a half, it was Phils 1, Chisox 0.

Phillies 3rd: Bancroft and Paskert drew back-to-back walks with one out, but Faber caught Cravath looking at an emery ball for strike three, and Luderus' pop to Eddie at second ended the threat. After three, the Fightins led the Pale Hose 1-0.

White Sox 4th: Fournier drew a leadoff walk. but Phils catcher Ed Burns caught him trying to steal second, his second caught stealing of the day so far. Jackson's single to left kept the inning going, but Alexander struck out both Shano and Blackburne to retire the side. Through three and a half, it's Philly 1, Chicago 0.

Phillies 4th: Weaver misplayed Whitted's leadoff grounder, which allowed Possum to reach. He then stole second, but after Niehoff went down swinging, he tried to steal third and was erased on a close play. Burns' grounder to third ended the inning. Faber has thus held the home team to one hit through four innings. After four, it's Quakers 1, South Siders 0.

White Sox 5th: With one out, Faber singled to right for his second hit of the game. An unfazed Alexander struck out Felsch for out number two, but Weaver lined a single to right to keep the inning going. It was all for naught, though, as Eddie was fooled by a fastball in the dirt for strike three, which gave Alexander seven punchouts through five innings. We're halfway through Game 1 with the Phils clinging to a 1-0 lead.

Phillies 5th: Stock walked with one out, but Bancroft forced him at second, and Paskert grounded to Weaver at short to retire the side. After five, it's Phils 1, Sox 0.

White Sox 6th: Fournier's leadoff single to right was wasted when Shoeless Joe grounded into a 3-6-3 double play. Shano's fly to shallow left retired the side. Through five and a half, the Phils still led by one.

Phillies 6th: After Cravath's fly was chased down by Fournier in the left-center power alley for out number one, Luderus singled to right and Whitted singled to left center, thus putting runners at the corners. Whitted then stole second to put both himself and Luderus in scoring position for Niehoff, whose line single to left delivered them both home and gave the Phils a 3-0 lead. Niehoff then stole second, but two hot line drives that would have most likely scored him were gloved for outs: Burns's was speared by Shano, and Alexander's was handled by Faber in self-defense to retire the side. But the Phils had scored twice more to lead 3-0 after six.

White Sox 7th: Alexander got the first two outs with ease, and it was only because Faber had gotten hits in both of his at-bats so far that Sox manager Pants Rowland allowed him to hit for himself. Red promptly smacked a double to left for his third hit of the day, and Felsch followed up by slapping a grounder past a diving Alexander and into center for a hit. Faber scored, and the Sox were on the board. Weaver beat out an infield hit to put the tying run on base, but Eddie's grounder to Luderus at first retired the side. As we stretch at Baker Bowl, the Phils' lead over the Sox stands at 3-1.

Phillies 7th: A revitalized Faber struck out Stock and Bancroft, and Paskert flew to Fournier in left center to retire the side. After seven, it's NL Champs 3, AL Champs 1.

White Sox 8th: Alexander started the inning by mowing Fournier down on three pitches, but he got a fastball a little too close to Jackson's power zone, and Shoeless Joe deposited it over the wall in right center for a home run to make this a one-run game. Shano then became Pete's ninth strikeout victim, and Blackburne's grounder to second ended the inning. After seven and a half, it's Philadelphia 3, Chicago 2.

Phillies 8th: Faber had next to nothing left, and the Phils wasted no time taking advantage. Cravath drew a leadoff walk, and Luderus's single to right center put runners at first and third. Whitted forced Luderus at second for out number one, with Gavvy scoring to give the Phils a 4-2 lead. Mellie Wolfgang was throwing in the White Sox bullpen by now, but Whitted getting caught stealing second for the second out of the inning made it possible that Faber could finish things up without causing too much more damage. But Red promptly gave up a single to Niehoff and a walk to Burns, and Gleason made the change to Wolfgang, hoping that Phils manager Pat Moran would thus feel compelled to pinch hit for Alexander. But Moran resisted the temptation, and Pete justified his faith by grounding a base hit to right center. Niehoff scored easily, and the Phils led 5-2. Pete inexplicably tried to steal second two pitches later and was thrown out by a mile, but he'd done the job with his bat, giving himself a three-run lead to work with as the Sox came to bat one last time.

White Sox 9th: Alexander took care of the Sox with dispatch, getting Mayer and pinch hitter Eddie Murphy (batting for Mellie) to fly to Whitted in right center, then striking out Felsch to end the ballgame. Pete finished his day with ten strikeouts, and the Phils finished theirs with a 5-2 win, thus taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

Alexander was the unanimous choice among ballpark observers for Player of the Game. The Sox had managed eleven hits off of him, but could only scratch across two runs, and his ten strikeouts put him over the top, not to mention his run-scoring single in the eighth.

Final totals: Phillies 5-7-0, White Sox 2-11-2.

W- Alexander (1-0)
L- Faber (0-1)

HR- CWS: Jackson (1)

Game 2 will be here at Baker Bowl tomorrow, and the Phils will send Erskine Mayer to the mound. The White Sox will counter with their ace, Jim Scott.

Next: We look at Game 2.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 2 of the 1915 World Series from Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. The date is Saturday, October 9:

Lineup Changes: Just one, as Ray Schalk will catch for the Sox in place of Wally Mayer.

White Sox 1st: Phils starter Erskine Mayer got the first two outs with ease, but Eddie Collins reached when his bunt attempt in front of the plate was thrown away by catcher Ed Burns. Eddie stole second, and a rattled Mayer then walked Jack Fournier and Shoeless Joe Jackson to load the bases. Next up was Shano Collins, who hit a low-hanging bloop that barely cleared the infield, but managed to drop on the left field line. No Philly outfielder came to get it until left field umpire Silk O'Loughlin called it fair, and by the time Whitted had picked it up Eddie and Fournier had already scored and Jackson was chugging around third. There ended up being no throw, and the Sox were out to a 3-0 lead.

Next up was Lena Blackburne, who socked the first pitch he saw into the left field corner. Shano scored, and it was four-zip Chicago. After Schalk drew a walk, Jim Scott lined the first pitch he saw right at second baseman Bert Niehoff to retire the side, but the Sox had plated four runs on two hits, an error, and three walks to lead 4-0 before the Phils could do a thing about it.

Phillies 1st: Just like Mayer, Scott got the first two outs of the inning in short order. But he walked Dode Paskert, and Gavvy Cravath's single to left center put runners at first and third. Fred Luderus followed up with a sharp single to center, which scored Paskert with the first Philly run. Whitted came to the plate representing the tying run, but his fly was caught by Fournier in right center to retire the side. The Phils had gotten a run back, but still trailed 4-1 after one.

White Sox 2nd: For the third straight half-inning, we got a two-out rally, as Eddie beat out an infield hit. Fournier's single to right center put Hose on the corners for Jackson, but Shoeless Joe's easy fly to right was caught by Whitted to retire the side. After one and a half, it was Sox 4, Phillies 1.

Phillies 2nd: Niehoff led off with a base hit to right center, but was caught trying to steal second for the first out. The inning fizzled from there, as Burns grounded to Shano at first and Mayer struck out swinging. After two, it was still Sox 4, Phils 1.

White Sox 3rd: Mayer hit Schalk in the shin with a pitch after two out, but Scott's grounder to second ended the inning. The American League kingpins still held a 4-1 lead through two and a half.

Phillies 3rd: After one out, Dave Bancroft doubled to right. Paskert's pop to third was good for out number two, but Cravath walked on five pitches, then Luderus rapped an infield hit to load the bases. A base hit from Whitted would have put the Phils back in the game, but he flew to Felsch in right to end the inning and leave the bases loaded. After three, it was still Chicago 4, Philadelphia 1.

White Sox 4th: The Sox added to their lead thanks to yet another two-out uprising. Eddie drew a walk, and Fournier's single to left pit runners on first and third for Jackson again, Unlike in the second inning, the Shoeless One delivered, grounding a single to right to score Eddie and give the Sox a 5-1 lead. Shano struck out to end the inning, but the Chicago lead was four once more as we headed to the last of the fourth.

Phillies 4th: After one out, Burns walked on four pitches. Phils skipper Pat Moran decided that it was too early to go to his bullpen just yet, so Mayer batted for himself and grounded a single just out of Scott's reach and into center field. Milt Stock's single to left loaded the bases for the second inning in a row, but once again the Phils failed to come through, as Bancroft went down swinging and Paskert flew to Fournier in short left center. The Sox had dodged another bullet, and after four they still led by four.

White Sox 5th: Schalk drew a one-out free pass, but was forced at second by Scott, and Felsch struck out swinging to retire the side. Through four and a half, it was Sox 5, Phils 1.

Phillies 5th: Whitted reached with two out when Weaver fumbled his grounder, then stole second. But Niehoff's infield pop was caught by Bancroft to retire the side. After five, it was AL Champs 5, NL Champs 1.

White Sox 6th: Yet more two-out magic allowed the Sox to expand their lead. Fournier walked, then stole second. Mayer then walked Jackson, and George McQullan, who had been warming up on and off since the first inning, stood ready to come in. Shano lined one back through the box into center to bring home Fournier and make it 6-1 Sox, and Blackburne ended Mayer's day with a base hit to left which chased home Jackson and made it 7-1. Schalk's pop to third against McQuillan retired the side, but this one was now a laugher for the visitors, who led 7-1 after five and a half.

Phillies 6th: Pinch hitter Beals Becker, batting for McQuillan, worked a one-out walk, but Schalk cut him down trying to steal second, and Stock's routine fly to left center ended the inning. After six, it was still Sox 7, Phils 1.

White Sox 7th: Weaver worked a two-out walk against new Philly reliever Stan Baumgartner, and Eddie's sharp single to left center moved him to third. But Fournier flew to Paskert in right center to end the threat. It's time to stretch at Baker Bowl, and the home squad's on the wrong end of a 7-1 score.

Phillies 7th: Paskert blooped a one-out single to right, and Cravath followed that up by grounding a single to center. But with runners at first and third, Luderus grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to retire the side. Another opportunity was thus wasted for the home squad, who still trailed 7-1 after seven.

White Sox 8th: Shano's one-out single to right was erased when he was caught stealing second, but Blackburne kept the inning alive by grounding a single to left. Schalk then bounced one over the wall in right for a ground-rule double that put runners at second and third, and Baumgartner walked Scott to load the bases for Felsch. Happy grounded to Luderus at first, and the side was retired. After seven and a half, it was Sox 7, Phils 1.

Phillies 8th: Niehoff's one-out single to left came to nothing when Burns' wicked liner was gloved by Weaver for the second out and pinch hitter Bobby Byrne (batting for Baumgartner) struck out swinging. After eight, the White Sox still held a six-run lead.

White Sox 9th: Weaver and Eddie beat out back-to-back infield hits to third to start the inning, but new Philly hurler Ben Tincup retired Fournier on a fly to left, Jackson on a fly to center, and Shano on a fly to right center. We're headed to the last of the ninth with the Phils looking to crawl out of a six-run hole.

Phillies 9th: Stock beat out a leadoff infield hit, then Bancroft drew a walk. Paskert forced Bancroft at second, but a rapidly tiring Scott walked Cravath to load the bases. Luderus then lifted a fly ball to right, and Felsch tried for a running catch, but the ball bounded past him. Stock and Paskert scored, and the Sox' lead was 7-3. That was all for Scott, as Ed Walsh came on to try and close things out. He gave up a fourth run when Whitted's grounder to second scored Cravath, but struck out Niehoff swinging to end the game. Final score: White Sox 7, Phillies 4, and the series heads to Comiskey Park on Monday tied at a game apiece.

Shano was the popular choice for Player of the Game, as he went three for six with four RBIs, with his big hit being the bases-clearing double in the first.

The Windy City will host Game 3 on Monday afternoon, with Eddie Cicotte set to take the mound for the home team, opposed by the Phils' Pete Alexander.

Final totals: White Sox 7-14-1, Phillies 4-12-1.

W- Scott (1-0)
L- Mayer (0-1)

Next: We look at Game 3.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 3 of the 1915 World Series from Comiskey Park in Chicago. The date is Monday, October 11:

Lineup Changes: Two, both for the Sox. Wally Mayer's back behind the plate in place of Ray Schalk, and Eddie Murphy makes his first start of the Series in right field, replacing Happy Felsch.

Phillies 1st: Milt Stock singled off of shortstop Buck Weaver's glove to lead off the game, moved to second on Dave Bancroft's grounder to first, and went to third when Dode Paskert did the same. Gavvy Cravath's hard single to left center brought him home, and it was 1-0 Philly. Fred Luderus grounded to first to end the inning, as Shano Collins handled all three putouts himself. After a half, it was Phillies 1, Sox coming to bat.

White Sox 1st: Eddie Collins' two-out single to right was wasted when Jack Fournier grounded to Bert Niehoff at second, ending the inning. After one, the Phils led the Pale Hose 1-0.

Phillies 2nd: Possum Whitted led off the inning with an infield hit, then stole second. Niehoff was up next, and he lined one back through the box and into center, scoring Whitted to make it 2-0 Phillies. Ed Burns grounded into a double play, but Pate Alexander kept the inning alive by singling to right. Stock then singled to left to put two men on, but Bancroft's pop to Lena Blackburne at third ended the inning. The Phils had added a run, though, and they led 2-0 after an inning and a half.

White Sox 2nd: Blackburne's two-out walk was wasted when Mayer flew out to left center. After two, it was Philadelphia 2, Chicago 0.

Phillies 3rd: The NL champs went down in order against Eddie Cicotte. Through two and a half, they hold a 2-0 lead.

White Sox 3rd: Ditto the AL kingpins against Pete Alexander. After three, it's Phils 2, Sox 0.

Phillies 4th: The Phils used a little two-out magic to add to their lead. Burns singled to left center, then scored when Alexander's bloop in the same general area fell in for a double. It was now 3-0 Philadelphia. Stock's grounder to short ended the inning, but the Sox were down three after three and a half.

White Sox 4th: Fournier worked a one-out walk, then stole second. Jackson walked as well, and after Shano took a called third strike for the second out, Niehoff muffed Blackburne's easy grounder to load the bases. Alexander worked carefully to Mayer despite the bases being loaded, and Wally took ball four to force in Fournier and put the Sox on the board. Pete then struck out his mound opponent Cicotte on three pitches to retire the side. After four, it's Phillies 3, White Sox 1.

Phillies 5th: Another one-two-three inning for Cicotte, with Bancroft and Cravath's grounders to short sandwiched between Paskert's fly to left center which chased Fournier back to the warning track before he made the catch. Halfway through Game 3, the Phils led the Sox 3-1.

White Sox 5th: Luderus made all three putouts in this three up-three down inning, retiring Murphy and Eddie on simple grounders and spearing Weaver's line drive. Through five, it's still 3-1 Fightins.

Phillies 6th: Whitted smacked a ground-rule double to left center after one out, held at second when Niehoff grounded to short for the second out, and scored on Burns' seeing-eye single to left to give the Phils a 4-1 lead. Alexander put a charge into the first pitch he saw, whacking it deep to right center, but Fournier ran it down in the power alley to retire the side. After five and a half, it's Phillies 4, White Sox 1.

White Sox 6th: Shoeless Joe's one-out single to center was erased when he was thrown out by Burns trying to steal second. Shano grounded to short to end the inning. The Phils still held a 4-1 lead through six.

Phillies 7th: The National League champions picked up a pair of runs after two out. Paskert blooped a double to left center, then moved to third on Cravath's infield hit. With Ed Walsh ready in the Sox bullpen, Cicotte had to get Luderus to stay in the game. Instead, Luderus torched a double to center to score Paskert and Cravath and put the visitors up 6-1. That was it for Cicotte; Walsh induced Whitted to ground to first, retiring the side. The Phils had scored twice more to lead by five as the Comiskey faithful stretched.

White Sox 7th: A one-two-three inning for Alexander, highlighted by Whitted's shoetop grab of Blackburne's sinking liner leading off the inning. After seven, it's Philly 6, Chitown 1.

Phillies 8th: Niehoff led off with a bloop single to center, moved to second on Burns' groundout, then stole third. Alexander then slapped a routine grounder to short, but it ticked off of Weaver's glove for an error. Niehoff scored on the play, and the Phils led 7-1. Walsh got Stock to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to retire the side. After seven and a half, the Phils had increased their lead to half a dozen.

White Sox 8th: Murphy's leadoff single to right led nowhere, as Stock retired Weaver on a popup and Fournier on a groundout, while Eddie flew to right in between. After eight, it was Phillies 7, Chisox 1.

Phillies 9th: Bancroft drew a leadoff walk, but was caught stealing second to end the inning, In between, Paskert flew out to Fournier in deep left center and Walsh struck Cravath out swinging. We head to the last of the ninth with the National League champions up by six.

White Sox 9th: Alexander set down the Sox in order to wrap things up, with Blackburne tapping to Luderus to end the game. Shoeless Joe's leadoff fly ball to right center chased Cravath back to the wall, but Gavvy had a bead on it all the way and made the catch. The final score: Phillies 7, White Sox 1, and the Phils now lead the series two games to one.

Alexander was the near-unanimous choice for Player of the Game according to ballpark observers. His three-hitter came just three days after he scattered eleven hits in his Game 1 victory, and Phils manager Pat Moran was second-guessed about the decision to pitch him again so soon from the time it was made public. Nice way to shut up your critics, eh, baseball fans?

Final totals: Phillies 7-14-1, White Sox 1-3-1.

W- Alexander (2-0)
L- Cicotte (0-1)

Game 4 will be here at Comiskey Park tomorrow, with George Chalmers expected to start for the Phils against the Sox' Reb Russell.

Next: We look at Game 4.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 4 of the 1915 World Series from Comiskey Park in Chicago. The date is Tuesday, October 12:

Lineup Changes: Only one; the Sox continue to alternate Wally Mayer and Ray Schalk behind the plate. Today, it's Schalk's turn.

Phillies 1st: The excitement began on the second pitch of the game, when Milt Stock cracked a fly ball to the deepest part of center field. Jack Fournier went to make the catch, but stumbled and fell, and the ball dropped on the warning track. There were a few moments of confusion in the outfield, and by the time Eddie Murphy came over from right and retrieved the ball to throw it back in to the infield, Stock had rounded third and was headed home. Murphy's throw came in on a bounce, and Schalk had no play. The Phils led 1-0 just like that. Fournier managed to rise after a couple of moments, and signaled to the bench that he was good to go.

After one out, Dode Paskert walked to rekindle the rally. Gavvy Cravath's hard base hit to left put Phils on the corners, Luderus' pop to short was good for out number two with the runners holding, but Whitted slapped another ball to Weaver, then busted tail down the line at first. Buck's throw was late by half a step, and Paskert scored on the play to give the NL champs a 2-0 lead. Niehoff's fly to left center was caught by Shoeless Joe Jackson to end the inning, but the Phils had scored twice. Now it was the Sox' turn at bat.

White Sox 1st: Phils starter George Chalmers got the first two outs with ease, then seemed to lose the strike zone, as he issued back-to-back walks to Eddie Collins and Fournier. Shoeless Joe's base hit to left scored Eddie and put the AL champs on the board, but Shano Collins lined the first pitch he saw right at shortstop Dave Bancroft to end the inning. The Sox had gotten one run back, but still trailed 2-1 after an inning.

Phillies 2nd: Ed Burns led off with a single to left, but was picked off by Schalk for the first out if the inning. Sox starter Reb Russell got Chalmers to ground to first and struck Stock out swinging to retire the side. After one and a half, it's Phillies 2, White Sox 1.

White Sox 2nd: Lena Blackburne's leadoff walk was erased when Schalk grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Russell then struck out on three pitches. After two, it's Philly 2, Chicago 1.

Phillies 3rd: With one out, Paskert beat out an infield grounder. Cravath's wounded duck of a fly ball then dropped in left center for a double to bring Dode home and give the Phils a 3-1 lead. Luderus then followed with a double of his own to bring home Gavvy and make it 4-1 Philadelphia. Three pitches later, Possum Whitted grounded one just out of Russell's lunging reach for a base hit. Luderus scored easily, and the Philly lead was 5-1. Ed Walsh was warming in the Sox bullpen by now, and all of Comiskey Park knew that Russell's time was short unless he pulled up his socks and got some outs in a hurry. He got two on the very next pitch, as Bert Niehoff grounded into an around-the-horn inning-ending double play. Still, the Phils had done three runs' worth of damage, and held a 5-1 lead through two and a half.

White Sox 3rd: Eddie drew a two-out walk, but ended the inning a short time later when he was caught trying to steal second. After three, the Phils led the Sox 5-1.

Phillies 4th: The visitors went down in order against Russell. After three and a half, it's Phils 5, Sox 1.

White Sox 4th: Chalmers enjoyed a one-two-three inning of his own, highlighted by Luderus' leaping spear of Fournier's line drive. After four, it's NL Champs 5, AL Champs 1.

Phillies 5th: With one out, Paskert blooped a single to left center. Cravath forced Dode at second, then stole second himself. Luderus walked to put two men on, but Whitted's grounder to short ended the inning. Halfway through Game 4, it's Fightins 5, Pale Hose 1.

White Sox 5th: Blackburne led off with a base hit to right center, and after one out he was sacrificed to second by Russell. Murphy's comebacker to Chalmers ended the inning. After five, the Phils still led the Sox by four.

Phillies 6th: Burns' one-out single to left center was rubbed out when Chalmers grounded into a 3-6-3 double play. Through five and a half, the Phils still held a 5-1 lead.

White Sox 6th: With one out, Eddie grounded a single to center, then stole second. Fournier's groundout moved him to third, but Shoeless Joe flew weakly to Cravath in right to end the inning. After six, the Pale Hose still trailed by four.

Phillies 7th: The National League champions added another insurance run. With one out, Bancroft grounded a single to left. Dave then stole second, and to make matters worse, Schalk's throw bounced off of Eddie's glove and into center field, allowing Bancroft to go to third. After Paskert walked, Cravath smacked a single to left which scored Bancroft and put the Phils up 6-1. That was it for Russell; Walsh needed just one pitch to induce a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play from Luderus. But the Phils had increased their lead to five, and it was a somber crowd that stretched at Comiskey.

White Sox 7th: Blackburne singled to left center with one out, but was stranded at first as Schalk flew to center and Walsh, batting for himself, flew to left. After seven, the Phils still led the Sox 6-1.

Phillies 8th: A three up-three down inning for Walsh. Through seven and a half, the Phils still held a five-run lead.

White Sox 8th: The five-run lead I just mentioned was erased, much to the delight of the Comiskey faithful. Murphy led off with a single to right center, but was forced by Weaver. Eddie walked to put two men on, and Fournier's infield hit loaded the bases. Chalmers walked Shoeless Joe on five pitches to force in Weaver, and that was the end of his day.

New pitcher George McQuillan fell behind Shano 3-0, then threw one right down the middle, assuming he would be taking. Instead, Shano blasted the offering high off the wall in left. The bases cleared, Shano ended up at third with a triple, and we had a one-run game on our hands. Blackburne's sacrifice fly brought Shano home to tie things up at six, McQuillan was then lifted for Stan Baumgartner, and Stan got into his own mess when Schalk legged out an infield single. Sensing a chance to take the lead, Sox manager Pants Rowland sent Happy Felsch up to bat for Walsh, but Happy's grounder to short ended the inning. Still, the Chisox had come back with five runs on four hits and two walks to tie the game at six through eight innings.

Phillies 9th: New Sox hurler Mellie Wolfgang was greeted by pinch hitter Beals Becker, batting for Baumgartner. Becker singled off of Blackburne's glove at third, which brought up Stock. Observers said that the ball Milt hit here was even harder than his inside-the-park home run. That's debatable, but the fact is that said ball ended up in the left field corner. Becker scored to give Philly the lead back, and Stock made it all the way to third with a triple. Bancroft's tap to first scored Stock with the Phils' eighth run, and after Paskert grounded to short for out number two, Cravath singled to left. Luderus' liner was caught by Blackburne to end the inning, but the Phils had a two-run lead entering the last of the ninth, and Pete Alexander was coming out of the bullpen to protect it.

White Sox 9th: It took Pete just seven pitches to set the Sox down in order. Murphy flew to center, Weaver flew to left center, and Eddie grounded to second to wrap things up. Final score: Phillies 8, White Sox 6, and the Phils now have a three games to one lead in the series.

I'm going to go against WhatIf Sports for Player of the Game. It has Cravath, who went four for five and had two RBIs, but the obvious choice has to be Stock, who not only got the game-winning hit, but an inside-the-park home run to boot.

The series heads back to Baker Bowl on Thursday for Game 5. Joe Benz will pitch for the visiting Sox, while Erskine Mayer will make his second start of the series for the Phils, who hope to clinch the world championship in front of their home fans.

Final totals: Phillies: 8-15-0, White Sox 6-8-1.

W- Baumgartner (1-0)
L- Wolfgang (0-1)

HR- PHI: Stock (1)

Next: We look at Game 5.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 5 of the 1915 World Series from Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. The date is Thursday, October 14:

White Sox 1st: Eddie Murphy led off the game with a bloop single to left, but was eventually forced by Eddie Collins, who in turn was caught stealing to end the inning. After a half, it was White Sox nothing, Phils coming up.

Phillies 1st: Sox pitcher Joe Benz started the Phils off by retiring them in order. After one, there's no score.

White Sox 2nd: Shano Collins' two-out single was wasted when he was caught stealing to end the inning. After an inning and a half, we were still scoreless.

Phillies 2nd: Fred Luderus singled to right with one out, but was stranded when Possum Whitted flew to right center and Bert Niehoff grounded to third. Through two innings, it was still aught to aught.

White Sox 3rd: The Sox broke on top against Phils starter Erskine Mayer. Lena Blackburne led things off by blooping a single to left center. He then stole second, but had to hold when Ray Schalk's liner was gloved by Dave Bancroft at short for out number one. Benz grounded to short for the second out, but Mayer walked both Murphy and Buck Weaver to load the bases for Eddie, who slapped a base hit into left. Blackburne and Murphy both scored, and the Sox had a 2-0 lead. Jack Fournier was next, and his liner was targeted for the right field corner until it was gloved by a lunging Luderus to retire the side. The Sox thus had to settle for a pair, but still led 2-0 after two and a half.

Phillies 3rd: Another one-to-three inning for Benz, as Ed Burns grounded to short and Mayer and Milt Stock flew to Fournier in left center. After three, it was Chisox 2, Fightins 0.

White Sox 4th: Shoeless Joe Jackson led off by grounding a single into right center. Shano Collins' fly to center was too shallow to advance him, but Blackburne's grounder to short did the trick. Mayer then lost Schalk on a 3-2 pitch, which brought Benz to the plate in a position to help his cause greatly. This he did, as his bloop dropped in the left center power alley for a double. Jackson and Schalk both scored, and it was 4-0 Sox. It soon became 5-0 when Murphy boomed a triple off the wall in left center to bring home Benz. George McQuillan began to throw in the Philly bullpen, and he put a rush on it when Mayer walked Weaver. But Eddie killed the rally by flying to center for the final out. The Sox had added three, and after three and a half they led the Phils 5-0.

Phillies 4th: After two out, Cravath doubled to right. Luderus drew a walk, and Whitted's single to right loaded the bases. Bert Niehoff then brought the Philly partisans to their feet by whacking one to deep right. But the ball hung in the air just long enough so that Murphy could glove it for the third out. The Phils had left the bases loaded, and still trailed 5-0 after four.

White Sox 5th: Fournier started the inning by legging out an infield hit to third. Jackson's bloop single to right put Hose on the corners with nobody out, and McQuillan began loosening again in the Philly pen. Shano then doubled to left to score Fournier and Shoeless Joe and give the Sox a seven-run lead. Balckburne's sharp single to center brought Shano home with Chicago's eighth run and also spelled the end for Mayer. New pitcher McQuillan promptly walked Schalk, but came back to strike out Benz for out number one. Murphy's ground single to left scored Blackburne to make it 9-0. and McQuillan made matters worse by walking Weaver to reload the bases. Eddie grounded the first pitch he saw right up the middle for a single, which scored Schalk and Murphy with runs ten and eleven. The Sox had batted around, and there was still just one out.

McQuillan's last act was to walk Fournier and load the bases yet again. Eppa Rixey was brought in for the first time in this series to restore order, but the first pitch he threw to Shoeless Joe was smacked into right for another two-run single, with Weaver and Eddie scoring. The Chicago lead was now 13-0, and it would get still worse for the Phils, as Rixey walked Shano on four straight pitches to load the bases for the third time in the inning. Blackburne's fly to right center was caught by Dode Paskert for the second out, but Fournier still trotted home with the Sox' fourteenth run. Schalk also flew to Paskert, but Dode had to go back to the warning track to make the catch and end the inning. The damage: nine runs on seven hits and four walks, with two men left on base. Halfway through this one, the Sox led the Phils 14-0.

Phillies 5th: Benz showed no ill effects from his long break, retiring the Phils in order for the third time in five innings. After five, the Chicago lead was still fourteen.

White Sox 6th: Murphy singled to right with one out, but was forced by Weaver. Eddie grounded to short to retire the side. Through five and a half, it was AL Champs 14, NL Champs 0.

Phillies 6th: Benz continued on his roll, retiring the Phils in order for the second straight inning. Bancroft grounded to first, Paskert flew to left, and Cravath grounded to third. After six, the Phils' hole was still fourteen runs deep.

White Sox 7th: Fournier grounded a leadoff single to right center, but was forced by Jackson, who was in turn forced by Shano. Blackburne popped to Bancroft at short to retire the side. As we stretch at Baker Bowl, it's still Sox 14, Phils 0.

Phillies 7th: The Phils went three up-three down again, and Benz has now retired the last ten Philly batters he's faced. In this inning, Luderus struck out swinging, Whitted grounded to second, and Niehoff looked at strike three. After seven, it was Chicago 14, Philadelphia 0.

White Sox 8th: Murphy's two-out walk came to nothing when Weaver grounded to first. Through seven and a half, the Sox still led by two touchdowns.

Phillies 8th: Burns led off with a single to left, but was forced by Bobby Byrne, who was in at third for Stock and batting ninth. Reliever Ben Tincup grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to retire the side. After eight, the Phils still trailed by fourteen.

White Sox 9th: After one out, Fournier walked. Jackson's base hit to right put runners at first and third, and Shano's sacrifice fly brought Fournier home with Chicago's fifteenth run. Number sixteen scored on Blackburne's single to left, which brought home Shoeless Joe. Schalk's grounder to short ended the inning, but the Sox had added two more runs to lead by sixteen after eight and a half.

Phillies 9th: With one out, Paskert beat out an infield hit to short, and after Cravath flew to left for out number two, Luderus singled to left to put two on. But Whitted's grounder to second ended the game. Final score: White Sox 16, Phillies 0, and the Phils' lead in the series is now three games to two.

Despite the Chicago offense producing sixteen runs on eighteen hits, Benz was the near-unanimous choice for Player of the Game because of his six-hit shutout, not to mention his two-run single in the fourth.

Final totals: White Sox 16-18-0, Phillies 0-6-0.

W- Benz (1-0)
L- Mayer (0-2)

Game 6 will be back at Comiskey Park on Saturday. Pete Alexander will start for the Phils, while Jim Scott will pitch for the Sox.

Next: We look at Game 6.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 6 of the 1915 World Series from Comiskey Park in Chicago. The date is Saturday, October 16:

Lineup Changes: Just one, as the Sox continue to switch catchers. Ray Schalk's caught the last two games, so this one belongs to Wally Mayer.

Umpires: I usually don't list the umpires for a game because they're the same as they were in real life. But since there was no real-life Game 6 in 1915, here's the rundown:

Home Plate: Cy Rigler (National League)
First Base: Billy Evans (American League)
Left Field: Silk O'Loughlin (American League)
Right Field: Bill Klem (National League)

Phillies 1st: The Phils got to Sox starter Jim Scott right away. Milt Stock opened the game with a ground single to left, and Dave Bancroft followed up with a ground single to right center. Dode Paskert's grounder to short moved the runners up a base, but Sox third baseman Lena Blackburne went almost halfway to home plate to grab Gavvy Cravath's grounder and prevent a run from scoring. Scott couldn't use the prosperity, though, as he walked Fred Luderus to load the bases, then hit Possum Whitted in the arm to force in Stock and give the NL champs a 1-0 lead. With the bases still loaded, Bert Niehoff tagged one to deep left center, but the ball died on the warning track, allowing Jack Fournier to make the catch and retire the side. The Phils had to settle for one, but they led 1-0 after a half with the Sox ready for action.

White Sox 1st: Eddie Collins singled to right center with two out, but was thrown out trying to steal second by Philly catcher Ed Burns to end the inning. After one, it was Phils 1, Sox 0.

Phillies 2nd: Stock reached with two out when Buck Weaver couldn't find the handle on his grounder, but Bancroft grounded to Eddie at second to retire the side. After one and a half, the Phillies still led 1-0.

White Sox 2nd: Fournier belted the first pitch he saw from Philly starter Pete Alexander deep to center for a leadoff stand-up triple. Next was Shoeless Joe Jackson, whose sacrifice fly to right center brought Fournier home to tie the game at one, Shano Collins' single to right kept the rally going, and Blackburne drew a five-pitch walk to put two men on. But Alexander recovered to get Mayer out on an infield pop to second and Scott on a grounder to short. The home squad had to settle for a 1-1 tie after two.

Phillies 3rd: The 1-1 tie didn't last long, as with one out Cravath took Scott deep over the wall in left center for his first home run of the series to put the Phils back in front 2-1. After Luderus grounded to third for the second out, the Phils caught a break when Murphy couldn't catch Whitted's fly ball cleanly, allowing him to reach. But Niehoff's weak fly to left ended the inning before any further damage could be done. Cravath's long ball has given the visitors a 2-1 lead through two and a half in Game 6.

White Sox 3rd: The Pale Hose came back to retie the game. With one out, Weaver snuck a single into right. Eddie's sharp single to center put runners on the corners, and Fournier's even sharper single to center brought Buck home to tie the game at two. With runners still at first and third, Alexander came back to strike out Jackson and get Shano to ground to third, ending the inning. But the home team has fought their way back to square things at two after three.

Phillies 4th: A one-two-three inning for Scott. Through three and a half, we remain tied at two.

White Sox 4th: Ditto for Alexander. It's a 2-2 tie through four.

Phillies 5th: Bancroft's leadoff single to right was erased when Paskert grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Cravath flew to right to retire the side. Halfway through Game 6, we remain deadlocked at two.

White Sox 5th: Murphy's leadoff single to right was wiped out when he was caught stealing second for the first out of the inning. Paskert caught Weaver's deep fly to center at the wall, and Eddie grounded to second for the third out. After five, it was Phils 2, Sox 2.

Phillies 6th: With one out, Whitted singled to left. After two out, a Scott curveball was too much for Mayer to handle, and it bounced off of his glove. Wally smothered the ball before it could go far, but he was still charged with a passed ball, which allowed Possum to go to second. Burns drew a walk to put two on, but Scott struck his mound opponent Alexander out on three pitches to end the inning. After five and a half, it was still Philly 2, Chicago 2.

White Sox 6th: Alexander set the Sox down in order with help from Bancroft's chest-high grab of Shoeless Joe's line drive. Through six. it's still a 2-2 tie in the Windy City.

Phillies 7th: Bancroft walked with one out, but Mayer threw him out trying to steal second for out number two. Paskert lined to Shano for out number three. As we stretch at Comiskey, we're still tied at two.

White Sox 7th: Another one-two-three inning for Alexander, who's now retired eight straight Chicago batters. We're through seven, and it's still NL Champs 2, AL Champs 2.

Phillies 8th: The visitors went out in order: Cravath grounded to third, Luderus popped to short, and Whitted flew to right. After seven and a half, each side still has two.

White Sox 8th: Alexander had his third straight three up-three down inning, which means that he has now retired eleven in a row. Niehoff did his part to keep the streak alive by making a leaping grab of Weaver's liner for the second out. We're headed to the ninth still tied at two.

Phillies 9th: With one out, Burns singled to left. This put Phils skipper Pat Moran into a quandary: Did he remove his ace, who was on a roll of eleven batters retired in a row, for a pinch hitter to help his chances to score the go-ahead run, or did he trust Pete to keep shutting down the Sox for at least another inning or two? Moran chose the latter, and Pete popped to Shano in foul ground for out number two. Stock's grounder to third ended the inning. We're headed to the bottom of the ninth with the score still tied at two. Due up for the Sox: Fournier. Shoeless Joe, and Shano.

White Sox 9th: Alexander's incredible streak reached fourteen straight, although Fournier's fly ball chased Paskert back to the wall before Dode could make the catch. We're headed for extra innings with the score Phillies 2, White Sox 2.

Phillies 10th: Bancroft drew a leadoff walk, and Ed Walsh immediately began throwing in the White Sox bullpen. With Paskert at the plate, Bancroft took off for second on the first pitch and made it easily, then strolled to third when Mayer's throw ended up in center field. A base hit from Cravath would give the Phils the lead, but Gavvy did better than that; he lined Scott's 2-1 offering over the wall in right center for his second home run of the game to give the Phils a 4-2 lead. Jim's day was done one pitch too late.

Walsh gave up a two-out single to Whitted, but Niehoff grounded to first to retire the side. Cravath's second home run of the game had given the Phils a 4-2 lead heading to the bottom of the tenth, but did Pete have one last big inning in him?

White Sox 10th: The answer to the above question was yes. Blackburne's leadoff single broke the streak, and Ben Tincup began throwing in the Philly bullpen just in case. But Pete needed just four more pitches to settle the matter. Schalk (batting for Mayer) took just one pitch to ground into a 5-4-3 double play, and pinch hitter Braggo Roth (batting for Walsh) was blown away on three pitches for the final out. Final score for both the game (in ten innings) and the series: Phillies 4, White Sox 2.

Even though Cravath had accomplished the rare-for-the-time feat of homering twice in Game 6, with one of them being the Series winner. there was no doubt as to who the Series MVP was, as Alexander won three games for the Phils and saved a fourth (though saves wouldn't be an official stat for another fifty-four years). Most veteran observers said that it was the single greatest multi-game pitching performance in baseball history.

Final totals: Phillies 4-8-0, White Sox 2-8-3.

W- Alexander (3-0)
L- Scott (1-1)

HR- PHI: Cravath 2 (2)

The all-time Pythagorean World Series chase is now tied, as both leagues have six world champions.

Next: We take a look at 1916.

Note: I'll do the Federal League the first chance I get when I'm not simming a World Series; it'll be a nice excuse for me to take a day off.

Thoughts?