Baseball in the Pythagorean Universe 1871-Present

[Garrett Garlits]

Now let's look at 1916:

National League- The National League flag returns to Brooklyn, as the Robins capture the franchise's third pennant and the first under the Robins name. Their winning record is 92-62, a two-game loss, and their margin of victory over the second-place Braves and Giants is three games. The Braves and Giants finish deadlocked at 88-64 due to a one-game slip by the Braves (from 89-63) and a two-game improvement by the Giants (from 86-66). The defending World champion Phillies finish just half a game in back of them at 88-65, making this one of the closest and deepest pennant races in the NL in quite some time.

The only other team in the league to drop as many as three games is the last-place Cardinals, who fall from 60-93 to 57-96 and end up thirty-four and a half games behind the Robins. This marks the tenth last-place finish for the Redbirds in franchise history; at this point, that's a major-league record. As for improvement, the biggest this year belongs to the Cubs, who jump seven games (67-86 to 74-79) but still finish fifth.

The Buccos still finish sixth, dropping one game from 65-89 to 64-90. They finish twenty-eight games behind the Robins, but manage to hold off the Reds for sixth by half a game. The Queen City ballclub improves three games from 60-93 to 63-90.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Robins: 92-62 (-2)
2. (tie) Braves: 88-64- 3 GB (-1)
(tie) Giants: 88-64- 3 GB (+2)
4. Phillies: 88-65- 3.5 GB (-3)
5. Cubs: 74-79- 17.5 GB (+7)
6. Pirates: 64-90- 28 GB (-1)
7. Reds: 63-90- 28.5 GB (+3)
8. Cardinals: 57-96- 34.5 GB (-3)

American League- The Chicago White Sox become the first team in history to win back-to-back pennants in the Pythagorean universe without having won at least one of them in real life. Their one-game improvement (89-65 to 90-64) coupled with a four-game drop by the Red Sox (91-63 to 87-67) results in a three-game margin of victory and the franchise's fourth American League crown. The Tigers hold on to third despite dropping a pair (87-67 to 85-69), and the Browns improve by three (79-75 to 82-72) to take fourth.

The top story in the second division is the fall of the Yankees from fourth to sixth despite dropping only one game (80-74 to 79-75). The other team besides the Browns to leapfrog them is the Indians, who also improve by three (77-77 to 80-74). The seventh-place Sens freeze just short of a .500 season at 76-77.

Not only do the A's finish last again, they become the worst team in AL history to date despite a five-game "improvement" (36-117 to 41-112). They finish forty-eight and a half games behind the White Sox, and at this point in time, only the 1899 Spiders have been more pathetic.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. White Sox: 90-64 (+1)
2. Red Sox: 87-67- 3 GB (-4)
3. Tigers: 85-69- 5 GB (-2)
4. Browns: 82-72- 8 GB (+3)
5. Indians: 80-74- 10 GB (3)
6. Yankees: 79-75- 11 GB (-1)
7. Senators: 76-77- 13.5 GB (0)
8. Athletics: 41-112- 48.5 GB (+5)

The White Sox will meet the National League champion Brooklyn Robins in the World Series, and will have home field advantage as the American League champions. Once again, the format will be 2-2-1-1-1.

Next: We look at Game 1 of the 1916 Series. Rube Marquard will get the start for Brooklyn, while Reb Russell goes for the Sox.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 1 of the 1916 World Series from Comiskey Park in Chicago. The date is Saturday, October 7:

Robins 1st: We have a change right away, as Sox starter Reb Russell hurt his knee during warmups and had to be scratched in favor of Red Faber. Faber took his surprise assignment in stride and retired the Robins in order in the first, ending with a strikeout of right fielder Casey Stengel, who I'm pretty sure we'll hear from again as this timeline progresses. After a half, it's Robins nothing, Sox coming up.

White Sox 1st: Third baseman Fred McMullin poked a one-out single to left, but couldn't move up on Eddie Collins' liner to short for the second out. He tried to steal second on his own, but was easily thrown out by Robins catcher Chief Meyers to end the inning. After one in Game 1, we're scoreless.

Robins 2nd: Second baseman George Cutshaw lined a single to left center with one out, but Faber got the next batter, third baseman Mike Mowrey, to hit into an around-the-horn double play, retiring the side. Through an inning and a half, there's still no score.

White Sox 2nd: Left fielder Shoeless Joe Jackson lined the first pitch he saw off the right field wall for a leadoff double. Robins starter Rube Marquard came back to strike out center fielder Happy Felsch swinging, then got first baseman Jack Ness to lift a harmless fly to left. But Robins left fielder Zack Wheat got a bad jump on the ball, and his attempt at a sliding catch only meant that the ball glanced off of his chest, which meant that he was charged with an error. Jackson moved to third on the play, and he scored on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Zeb Terry, just evading Meyers' tag. It was 1-0 Sox, and it would stay that way after two, as catcher Jack Lapp's fly to center ended the inning.

Robins 3rd: Faber had a one-two-three inning. After two and a half, it's Pale Hose 1, Tweeters 0.

White Sox 3rd: Ditto Marquard, as the Sox maintained a 1-0 lead through three.

Robins 4th: The visitors went out in order again, with Faber striking out center fielder Hy Myers looking and Stengel out swinging, the second time Casey has gone down swinging today. In between, first baseman Jake Daubert popped out to second. We're through three and a half with the White Sox holding on to a 1-0 lead.

White Sox 4th: The Sox added to their lead, mostly due to Brooklyn's sloppy defense. The offense produced the first run, however, as Collins belted a leadoff triple into the right field corner and came home on Shoeless Joe's single to right center, making it 2-0 Chicago. Felsch then dumped a single into right center to put runners on the corners, but was thrown out trying to steal second, the second White Sox baserunner to be caught today. Ness then hit what appeared to be a routine double-play ball down to Cutshaw, but the ball took a bad hop, nicked George's glove, then bounced over his head. Jackson came home to give the Sox a 3-0 lead. Cutshaw was charged with an error on the play.

Ness proceeded to steal second easily, then tried for third a few pitches later. Even an average throw would have nailed him, but Chief's throw sailed into left field. Ness thus trotted home with the fourth White Sox run. Marquard somehow settled down enough to get Terry to ground to first and Lapp to ground to short, but the Robins had given the Sox two of their three runs in the inning due to their sloppiness. After four, it was Chicago 4, Brooklyn 0.

Robins 5th: Wheat led off with a single to left center, but after Cutshaw flew to center for out number one, Zack tried to steal second and was thrown out by Lapp. Mowrey kept the inning alive by beating out a grounder to first for an infield hit, and Olson's base hit to left put runners at first and second. But Chief's line drive was gloved by Collins to retire the side, The Robins hadn't scored despite three hits, and still trailed the home squad by four halfway through.

White Sox 5th: Faber lined a leadoff single to left, but Shano Collins, starting in right field, took a called third strike for out number one. McMullin singled to left to put two men on, but Eddie forced him at second, and Jackson grounded to short to end the inning. After five, it was still Sox 4, Robins 0.

Robins 6th: The visitors came alive, scoring four runs to tie the game. Marquard led off with a single to right, and after Hy drew a walk, Daubert singled to center to load the bases for Stengel. Casey hit one right back to Faber, who fired back to the plate to nab Marquard for out number one. The bases were still loaded for Wheat, but his weak fly to Jackson in left was too shallow to score anyone.

With two out, it was up to Cutshaw, who smacked a base hit to right. Hy scored, and Daubert was following on his heels. Shano's throw and Daubert arrived at the plate simultaneously, and Daubert survived the trainwreck and was declared safe, with Cutshaw advancing to second. It was now 4-2 White Sox, but it didn't stay that way for long, as Mowrey's base hit to left scored both Casey and Cutshaw to tie the game at four. Olson's fly to center ended the inning, but the Robins had scored four runs on four hits, and we had a tie game after five and a half.

White Sox 6th: The AL champs regained the lead. With two out, Terry's bloop fell in left center for a double. Lapp's base hit to right scored him easily, and the Sox led 5-4. Jack Fournier then came up to bat for Faber and singled to right to put two men on, and a tiring Marquard walked Shano to load the bases. The sacks were juiced for McMullin, but Fred's routine grounder to second retired the side. The Sox were in front once more as we headed to the seventh. Score: White Sox 5, Robins 4.

Robins 7th: Hy drew a two-out walk from new Sox pitcher Dave Danforth, then scored when Daubert blooped a double into the left center power alley. Stengel's grounder to second ended the inning, but the Robins had come back to tie the game at five as the Sox faithful took their seventh-inning stretch.

White Sox 7th: Felsch lashed a two-out double to center, but new Robins pitcher Wheezer Dell got Ness to ground to first, which ended the inning. Through seven in Game 1, we're deadlocked at five.

Robins 8th: Mowrey's two-out walk was wasted when Olson flew to center. After seven and a half, it was still AL Champs 5, NL Champs 5.

White Sox 8th: A three up-three down inning for Dell. After eight, we're still tied at five apiece.

Robins 9th: Danforth set the Robins down in order. We're headed to the last of the ninth all-square at five.

White Sox 9th: Eddie singled to right center with two out, but Shoeless Joe tapped to Daubert at first, ending the inning. We're headed for extras in Game 1 with the score tied at five.

Robins 10th: The inning started controversially, as Daubert was rung up for a called third strike by home plate umpire Tommy Connolly on a pitch that was clearly in the dirt. Jake vented his spleen, his liver, and his left kidney before Connolly finally had enough and ejected him. The normally affable manager of the Robins, Wilbert Robinson, donated a body part or two to the cause as well before giving up and going back to the dugout just before he was tossed. Once the game resumed, Danforth got Stengel to ground to third and Wheat to ground to first, retiring the side. After nine and a half, it was still Brooklyn 5, Chicago 5.

White Sox 10th: Felsch led off with a base hit to left against new Brooklyn pitcher Nap Rucker. After Ness struck out, Felsch stole second. Terry then lifted a fly ball to left. Wheat appeared to make the catch, but all of a sudden the ball tumbled out of his glove, and he was charged with an error, his second of the game and the Robins' fourth. With the winning run ninety feet away, Sox manager Pants Rowland sent Buck Weaver up to bat for Lapp. Buck's grounder to short didn't score Felsch from third, but it did advance Terry to second. Ray Schalk was then dispatched to hit for Danforth, but his weak fly to left was grabbed by Wheat to retire the side. The Sox had left the winning run ninety feet away, and it was still a 5-5 game after ten.

Robins 11th: Darkness was approaching fast, so the umpires decided that unless the Robins went out in order, this would be the last half-inning of the day. Mowrey ensured that it would be when his fly to left center off of new Sox pitcher Joe Benz bounced over the wall on a hop for a ground-rule double. Olson then grounded a base hit into left center to bring Mowrey home and give the boys from Brooklyn a 6-5 lead. Olson was thrown out trying to steal second two pitches later, and Chief's fly to left ended the inning. The Sox would have to sleep on their 6-5 deficit overnight, as their last chance wouldn't come until noon on Sunday.

White Sox 11th: Not wanting to waste a pitcher, Robinson sent Game 2 starter Sherry Smith to the hill in an effort to nail down Game 1. Shano led off with a base hit to left, but Chief cut him down trying to steal second for out number one. McMullin's foul pop at the plate was caught by Chief for the second out, but Eddie walked on five pitches to keep the inning alive. Shoeless Joe then grounded a single to right center, and the tying run was at third with the winning run at first for Felsch. Unfortunately, Happy popped the first pitch he saw up behind first base. Fred Merkle, Daubert's replacement, made the catch in foul ground, and that was the game. Final score in eleven: Robins 6, White Sox 5, and the boys from Brooklyn lead the series one game to none.

Olson was the consensus choice for Player of the Game due to his game-winning hit.

Final totals: Robins 6-11-4, White Sox 5-15-0.

W- Rucker (1-0)
L- Benz (0-1)

The teams are already heading out to the field to warm up for Game 2, which starts in a matter of moments. Smith's mound opponent will be Lefty Williams.

Next: We look at Game 2.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 2 of the 1916 World Series from Comiskey Park in Chicago. The date is Sunday, October 8:

Lineup Changes:

Robins- Jimmy Johnston replaces Casey Stengel in right field and bats leadoff, which moves Hy Myers down to the three hole. Also, Otto Miller replaces Chief Meyers behind the plate.

White Sox- The Sox alternated catchers throughout last year's series, and they're doing it again this year, as Ray Schalk replaces Jack Lapp.

Robins 1st: Johnston led off by singling off of Zeb Terry's glove at short. But Schalk made his presence known by throwing Jimmy out trying to steal second. Jake Daubert grounded to his opposite number Jack Ness, and Myers went down swinging to retire the side. After a half, it's Robins nothing, Sox ready to bat.

White Sox 1st: Smith had already pitched the eleventh inning of Game 1, gotten cold, and had to warm up again, so it was no surprise that the Chisox got to him right off the bat. Shano Collins' leadoff fly ball just scraped the top of the wall in left, then came back down in play for a triple. Smith then hit Fred McMullin in the shin with a pitch. Eddie Collins bounced into a 6-4 force play to drive in Shano and put the home squad up 1-0. Smith then settled down and got Shoeless Joe Jackson to bounce into a 6-4-3 double play to retire the side. But the Sox had broken on top 1-0 after one.

Robins 2nd: Terry handled all three grounders in this one-two-three inning. After an inning and a half, it's Chicago 1, Brooklyn 0.

White Sox 2nd: After one out, Ness grounded one up the middle and into center for a hit. Terry followed that up with a single to left center. But with runners at the corners, Schalk hit a weak fly to right center and Sox starter Lefty Williams grounded to third. The Sox had missed an opportunity, and after two their lead was still just one.

Robins 3rd: It's Williams' turn for a three up-three down inning. After two and a half, it's White Sox 1, Robins 0.

White Sox 3rd: Shano grounded to second, McMullin was caught looking at strike three, and Eddie flew out to left center. After three, the home squad still held a 1-0 lead.

Robins 4th: For the second straight game, the Robins touched up Chicago pitching for a four-run inning. Johnston led off with a single to left center, which was followed by a Daubert single to left. Williams then walked Myers on five pitches to load the bases and Wheat on five pitches to force in Johnston and tie the score at one. The Sox then gave up a run for an out on George Cutshaw's force play, which scored Daubert and gave Brooklyn a 2-1 lead.

The big blow of the inning followed, as Mike Mowrey screamed a hot line drive into the right center power alley for a double. Myers and Cutshaw both scored easily, and the Robins were up 4-1. Sox skipper Pants Rowland had seen enough from Lefty, and Eddie Cicotte came out of the Chicago pen to get Ivy Olson to pop up to third and strike out Miller swinging to end the inning. But the Robins had scored four runs on three hits and a pair of walks to lead 4-1 after three and a half.

White Sox 4th: Smith retired the AL champs in order. After four, it's Birdies 4, Pale Hose 1.

Robins 5th: Johnston's one-out infield single to third comes to nothing, as both Daubert and Myers fly out to left. After four and a half, the future Bums still hold a 4-1 advantage.

White Sox 5th: The Sox tallied a pair to get back into the game. After two out, Cicotte walked. Shano blooped a single into left center to put runners at first and third, and McMullin followed up with a solid base hit to left which brought home Cicotte and cut the Brooklyn lead to 4-2. Eddie's base hit to right center scored Shano and further reduced the Robins' lead to 4-3. The rally stalled there, as Jackson tapped to first to retire the side. But the Sox had made this a one-run game after five.

Robins 6th: Cicotte enjoyed a one-two-three inning, with the help of center fielder Happy Felsch's diving catch of Wheat's leadoff fly ball. Through five and a half, the Robins clung to a 4-3 lead.

White Sox 6th: The Chisox went out in order again, and it took Smith just ten pitches to do it. After six, the home squad still trailed by one.

Robins 7th: Cicotte got the side out in order again; he's now retired eight Brooklyn batters in a row. At seventh-inning stretch time, the Robins still lead the hometown Sox 4-3.

White Sox 7th: As the inning started, the big question was: How much did Smith have left? The Sox provided the answer in a hurry. Schalk led off with a base hit to left, then stole second. With the tying run in scoring position, Jack Fournier batted for Cicotte, but his liner was smothered by Olson for the first out. Shano was up next, and he stroked a single to left which brought Schalk home with the tying run. Robins manager Wilbert Robinson came out to get Smith, and Wheezer Dell was the new Brooklyn pitcher.

Before Dell could throw a pitch to the plate, Shano was caught stealing second for out number two. McMullin kept the inning going with a single to left, but Eddie's grounder to first ended the inning. We were now deadlocked at four as the eighth inning beckoned.

Robins 8th: Reb Russell, who as you'll recall missed yesterday's start due to a knee injury, was the surprising choice of the Sox as their next pitcher. He got the first two outs, sandwiched around Eddie's boot of a Daubert grounder which allowed Jake to reach. Then Wheat stepped to the plate, took two strikes, and hit the third offering from Russell a mile over the wall in right center for a two-run homer that gave the Robins a 6-4 lead. Cutshaw's liner to McMullin at third ended the inning, but Wheat's homer had given the Robins a two-run lead after seven and a half.

White Sox 8th: Felsch's one-out single to left center was erased when Ness hit into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play. After eight, the Robins still led the Sox 6-4.

Robins 9th: Olson doubled to left with one out, but Schalk threw him out trying to steal third for his second caught stealing of the day. Miller's grounder to third ended the inning. The Sox have one last chance down by a pair.

White Sox 9th: After one out, Schalk beat out an infield hit. Buck Weaver batted for Russell and bounced into a force play, but Shano smacked a ground-rule double to left. With the tying run in scoring position, Dell got McMullin to ground to third on the first pitch, and that was all she wrote. Final score: Robins 6, White Sox 4, and the Brooklynites lead the series two games to none heading home to Ebbets Field for Game 3 on Tuesday.

Wheat's game-winning homer made him the obvious choice for Player of the Game.

Final totals: Robins 6-7-0, White Sox 4-12-1.

W- Dell (1-0)
L- Russell (0-1)

HR- BRO: Wheat (1)

As I just mentioned, the series goes to Ebbets Field for Game 3 on Tuesday. Jim Scott will take the mound for the visitors, while Jack Coombs goes for the homestanders.

Next: We look at Game 3.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 3 of the 1916 World Series from Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. The date is Tuesday, October 10:

Lineup Changes:

White Sox- Jack Lapp is back behind the plate and batting eighth. Also, Buck Weaver replaces Fred McMullin at third base and is batting second.

Robins- Only one, as Casey Stengel is back in right field, replacing Jimmy Johnston. He's batting third, which means that center fielder Hy Myers is back in the leadoff spot.

White Sox 1st: Robins starter Jack Coombs set the AL champs down in order, striking out both Collinses (Shano and Eddie) and getting Weaver to ground to first in between. After a half, the Sox have nothing and the Bums are ready to roll.

Robins 1st: Myers started things off with a clean base hit to center. After one out, he moved to second on a groundout by Stengel, and Game 2 hero Wheat was pitched around and drew a walk. The strategy paid off, as Sox starter Jim Scott struck George Cutshaw out swinging to end the inning. After one in Brooklyn, there's no score.

White Sox 2nd: Jack Ness stroked a two-out single to left center, but Zeb Terry swung and missed at strike three to end the inning. After an inning and a half, it was Sox 0, Robins 0.

Robins 2nd: Catcher Otto Miller started a two-out rally by singling just out of Scott's reach and into center field. Coombs followed up with a base hit to right center, which put Tweety Pies on the corners for Myers. All Hy could manage was a grounder to short, and the Sox were out of the inning. After two, we're still scoreless.

White Sox 3rd: Shano's two-out base hit to left was wasted when Weaver flew out to right center. After two and a half, it's still goose eggs on both sides.

Robins 3rd: The home squad broke through with a three-spot. It all started when Daubert's grounder to short took a bad hop and glanced off of Terry's glove. The official scorer charged Zeb with an error. Next up was Stengel, who got all of Scott's first delivery and smashed it deep to center. Happy Felsch had no chance at it, but a sudden gust of wind kept it in the park. It still dropped in deep center for a triple, which allowed Jake to trot home with the game's first run.

Wheat's liner to short was gloved by Terry for the first out, but Cutshaw's fly to center was deep enough to score Stengel and make it 2-0 Brooklyn. Mike Mowrey was next, and he grounded one down to Terry at short. This time, Zeb dropped the ball as he was attempting to throw to first, and the inning was still alive. Mowrey then stole second, and Ivy Olson scored him with a clean base hit to right. It was 3-0 for the home squad, and Eddie Cicotte began to stir in the Chicago bullpen. Fortunately, Scott needed only one more out to escape the inning, and he got it when he caught Miller looking at strike three. The Robins still led 3-0 after three, and Ebbets Field was a madhouse.

White Sox 4th: Eddie drew a leadoff walk, but was forced by Shoeless Joe, who was in turn forced by Felsch. Ness's pop to Daubert at first retired the side. After three and a half, it was Brooklyn 3, Chicago 0.

Robins 4th: With one out, Myers singled to center, then stole second. Next up was Daubert, who creamed a fly ball to left center. Jackson had to chase the ball almost to the fence, but made the catch and then whirled around and threw to third in an effort to cut down Myers. Hy was safe by less than an eyelash, but most observers still rated that play as the defensive gem of the series so far. Stengel's grounder to third ended the inning. After four, it was still Tweeters 3, Pale Hose 0.

White Sox 5th: A one-two-three inning for Coombs, highlighted by Stengel's diving grab of Lapp's fly ball to right. Halfway through Game 3, the Robins led by three.

Robins 5th: Wheat led off with an infield single, but was forced at second by Cutshaw. Mowrey then walked on five pitches to put two men on. Olson's fly to left was unproductive, but Miller's line single to right drove in Cutshaw with the fourth Brooklyn run. Coombs then helped his own cause with a base hit to center. Mowrey scored, and the Robins led 5-0. By now, Cicotte had been warming up steadily for two innings, so Sox manager Pants Rowland made the move, and Eddie got Myers to pop out to first on the first pitch to end the inning. The Robins had feathered their nest (forgive me) with another pair of runs, and now led 5-0 after five.

White Sox 6th: Another one-two-three inning for Coombs, who's now retired seven in a row. After five and a half, the NL champs still led the AL champs 5-0.

Robins 6th: Cicotte returned the favor. After six, the home squad still leads the visitors by five.

White Sox 7th: Jackson cracked a leadoff double to left, but Coombs retired the next three batters in order. Felsch struck out swinging, Ness hit a comebacker to the mound, and Terry grounded to short. They're stretching in Brooklyn USA with the home squad in control to the tune of 5-0.

Robins 7th: Olson singled to left with two out, but Miller went down swinging to end the inning. After seven, the Robins still held a five-run lead.

White Sox 8th: Lapp drew a leadoff walk. After McMullin (batting for Cicotte) flew to right for the first out, Shano walked on five pitches. That was the signal for Ed Appleton to start throwing in the Brooklyn bullpen. Meanwhile, Weaver's infield hit to short loaded the bases. But Coombs recovered, getting Eddie to pop out to second and Shoeless Joe to ground to short and end the inning with the sacks still jammed. After seven and a half, the Robins' five-run lead was still intact.

Robins 8th: New Sox pitcher Dave Danforth set the home squad down in order. The Sox go to the ninth looking to climb out of a five-run hole.

White Sox 9th: With Appleton ready behind him, Coombs came out to try for the shutout. He got Felsch to fly to right center on the first pitch, but Ness dropped a double into left. Terry grounded to short, with Ness holding at second, and Ray Schalk came out to bat for Lapp. Coombs got two quick strikes on him, but Ray grounded his third pitch onto right for a base hit that scored Ness and put the Sox on the board. Robins manager Wilbert Robinson took the ball from Coombs after that, and Jack departed to a thunderous ovation from the sellout crowd at Ebbets Field.

Appleton's first assignment was Jack Fournier, who was batting for Danforth. Fournier cracked a single to center, which put runners at first and second for Shano. The Chicago right fielder grounded a base hit to left center, which brought home Schalk and cut the Brooklyn lead to 5-2. Appleton then hit Weaver in the arm with a pitch to load the bases.

With potential Game 5 starter Jeff Pfeffer getting loose behind him, Appleton faced Eddie, who worked the count to three balls and no strikes. Needing a strike, Appleton threw one right over the heart of the plate, but Eddie missed it badly, hitting a weak squib to first which Daubert fielded easily, then took to the bag to end the game. Final score: Robins 5, White Sox 2, and the Bums from Brooklyn will look for the sweep in Game 4 here at Ebbets Field tomorrow.

Coombs' performance on the mound earned him Player of the Game consensus, and his two for three day at the plate, complete with run-scoring single, didn't hurt either.

Final totals: Robins 5-10-0, White Sox 2-8-2.

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

With the Robins looking for four in a row, they've tapped Rube Marquard to make his second start of the series tomorrow. The Sox will counter with Joe Benz, who hasn't pitched since September 23.

Next: We look at Game 4.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 4 of the 1916 World Series from Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. The date is Wednesday, October 11:

Lineup Changes:

White Sox- Shano Collins and Shoeless Joe Jackson switch outfield spots, with Shano moving to left and Shoeless Joe taking over in right. Their positions in the batting order (Shano first, Jackson fourth) remain unchanged.

Robins- Jimmy Johnston is back in right field and leading off. Center fielder Hy Myers has moved down to the two hole, and Chief Meyers is catching once again and batting eighth. Most importantly, Jake Daubert woke up this morning with a stiff back and couldn't make it through pregame warmups, so Fred Merkle gets the start at first and will bat third.

White Sox 1st: With one out, Buck Weaver blooped a single to left. Eddie's grounder to short moved him to second with two out, and it was up to Shoeless Joe to keep the inning alive, which he did by legging out an infield hit. Robins starter Rube Marquard then drilled Happy Felsch right below the kneecap with a pitch to load the bases, setting the table for Jack Ness, who grounded a base hit to left. Weaver and Jackson both scored, and the Sox led 2-0. Zeb Terry than worked a five-pitch walk to load the bases, and Larry Cheney began to throw in the Brooklyn bullpen. Fortunately for the Robins, Marquard got them out of the inning by getting Lapp to fly to Hy in right center. The Sox had scored twice, but missed an opportunity to score more and left the bases loaded to boot. Now let's see what the Robins can do.

Robins 1st: Hy singled to right center with one out, but was forced by Merkle, who then stole second. Zack Wheat flew to Felsch in left center to retire the side. After one, it's White Sox 2, Robins 0.

White Sox 2nd: Starter Joe Benz ked off by singling off of the glove of Robins third baseman Mike Mowrey. Shano then lined a double off the wall in left to being him home and give the visitors a 3-0 lead. Weaver's single to left scored Shano to make it 4-0, and that was all Robins manager Wilbert Robinson needed to see from Marquard. Cheney came on to face Eddie, who grounded his first pitch deep in the hole at third. Mowrey made a diving stop, then threw from his knees to first, nabbing Eddie by less than half a step. Shoeless Joe was then caught looking at strike three, and Felsch's more routine grounder to third ended the inning. But the Sox had added two more runs, and after an inning and a half they led the Robins 4-0.

Robins 2nd: Ivy Olson's two-out infield hit was wasted when the Chief went down swinging to end the inning. After two, it's Chicago 4, Brooklyn 0.

White Sox 3rd: Cheney started the inning by nicking Ness's arm with a pitch. He then caught Terry looking at strike three, got Lapp to ground into a force play, and struck Benz out swinging. After two and a half, it's South Siders 4, Bums 0.

Robins 3rd: A one-two-three inning for Benz. After three, the Robins still trailed 4-0.

White Sox 4th: Weaver reached with one out when Olson muffed his grounder, then stole second. But Eddie's line drive found George Cutshaw's glove for out number two, and Jackson grounded to short to end the inning. After three and a half, the White Sox still held a 4-0 lead.

Robins 4th: Merkle smacked a leadoff double to left, moved to third on Wheat's grounder to first, and scored on Cutshaw's double to center to put the National League champs on the board. Cutshaw then stole third, but was stranded there when Mowrey popped to short and Olson flew to left center. The Robins settled for one, and they still trailed the White Sox 4-1 through four.

White Sox 5th: With one out, Ness was hit for the second time by Cheney, this time in the leg, and there was an angry exchange of words between pitcher and batter. Fortunately, no punches were thrown. Once order was restored, Terry went down swinging, and Lapp's fly to right ended the inning. Halfway through Game 4, the White Sox maintained a 4-1 lead.

Robins 5th: Cheney walked after one out, but was forced by Johnston, who stole second. Hy's base hit to left center brought Jimmy home, and the Chicago lead was now 4-2. Merkle's fly to right ended the inning, but the home squad had crept a run closer. After five, it was Sox 4, Tweeters 2.

White Sox 6th: Cheney set the Sox down in order, aided by a beautiful sliding catch by Hy in center of Benz's fly ball. After five and a half, the Sox maintained a two-run lead.

Robins 6th: Wheat led off with a single to left center, but was forced at second when Cutshaw hit a comebacker to Benz and Joe threw to second to double Zack off. Mowrey hit into an around-the-horn double play to end the inning. After six, it was still AL Champs 4, NL Champs 2.

White Sox 7th: After two out, Felsch and Lapp stroked back-to-back singles to left center, which put runners at the corners. Terry's fly ball also found its way to left center, but Hy made the catch to retire the side. As we stretch at Ebbets Field, the visitors still enjoy a 4-2 advantage.

Robins 7th: Benz enjoyed a one-two-three inning. After seven, the home squad still trailed by two.

White Sox 8th: New Brooklyn pitcher Nap Rucker walked Shano with two out, but the Chief caught him trying to steal second to end the inning. After seven and a half, it was still White Sox 4, Robins 2.

Robins 8th: Weaver handled all three outs of the inning at third: Johnston grounded out, Hy lined out, and Merkle popped out. After eight, the White Sox were still in front by a pair.

White Sox 9th: After one out, Eddie grounded a single to left. Shoeless Joe's infield hit put two men on, but Rucker got Felsch to fly to center and Ness to ground to third. The Robins have one last chance against Sox reliever Eddie Cicotte trailing by two.

Robins 9th: Mowrey managed a two-out single to center, but Olson's two-hopper to third ended the game. Final score: White Sox 4, Robins 2, and Brooklyn's lead in the series is now three games to one.

Benz' strong start earned him Player of the Game consensus; he gave up just two runs on six hits through seven innings.

Final totals: White Sox 4-10-0, Robins 2-7-1.

W- Benz (1-1)
L- Marquard (0-1)

The series now heads back to the Windy City for Game 5 on Friday afternoon. Jeff Pfeffer will start for the Robins, who will take their second crack at wrapping up the world championship. The White Sox will counter with Lefty Williams.

Next: We look at Game 5.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 5 of the 1916 World Series from Comiskey Park in Chicago. The date is Friday, October 13:

Lineup Changes:

Robins- Hy Myers is back in the leadoff spot, and Casey Stengel returns to tight field in place of Jimmy Johnston. He'll be batting third. Also, Jake Daubert will try to give it a go despite still being bothered by a sore back. He'll be back at first base and batting second.

White Sox- After Jack Lapp caught both games in Brooklyn, Ray Schalk gets a turn behind the plate today. He'll be batting eighth.

Robins 1st: Hy drew a leadoff walk, but Daubert flew weakly to left and Stengel grounded into a 3-6-3 double play to end the inning. After a half, it's Robins zip, White Sox still to come.

White Sox 1st: It started for the home squad after two out. Eddie Collins sqyubbed a routine grounder to first, but Daubert got a late jump on the ball, then couldn't bend down properly to pick it up, and it squirted through his legs for an error. Robins manager Wilbert Robinson wasted no time calling for the trainer, and it was determined that Daubert couldn't continue. Fred Merkle took his place at first.

Once we got back to business, Eddie stole second. Brooklyn starter Jeff Pfeffer then walked Shoeless Joe Jackson on four pitches. Next up was Happy Felsch, who grounded a base hit into left center to score Eddie and give the home squad a 1-0 lead. Pfeffer got Jack Ness to ground to short, thus retiring the side. But the Sox had still broken on top 1-0 after one in a game they had to win.

Robins 2nd: Zack Wheat led off the inning by smacking a line drive high off the left field wall for a triple. George Cutshaw's grounder to short brought him home and tied the game at one. Mike Mowrey was next, and he hit a line drive of his own that bounced over the wall in left for a ground-rule double. Ivy Olson's line single to right brought him home, and the Robins took a 2-1 lead. Sox starter Lefty Williams was already in trouble and needed some outs fast, and he got two of them on his third pitch to the Chief, who grounded into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play. The Robins had scored twice in the inning to lead 2-1 after an inning and a half.

White Sox 2nd: Zeb Terry's leadoff base hit to right center was erased when Schalk grounded into the game's third double play, this one of the 6-4-3 variety. Williams grounded to short to retire the side. After two, it was Brooklyn 2, Chicago 1.

Robins 3rd: Pfeffer started the inning by helping his own cause with a double to right center. Hy's line drive was caught by Terry for out number one with Pfeffer holding at second, but Merkle's groundout put Jeff ninety feet away with two out. The Robins needed a hit from Stengel to cash him in, and they got a big one, as Ol' Case lined Williams' 1-1 delivery over the center field wall for a two-run homer that put the visitors up 4-1. Wheat's grounder to short ended the inning, but the National League champions' cushion was now three runs as we moved to the bottom of the third.

White Sox 3rd: Pfeffer set the home squad down in order. After three, it's Bums 4, Sox 1.

Robins 4th: Mowrey drew a one-out walk, but Olson flew to left center and the Chief flew to center to end the inning. The Robins still led 4-1 after three and a half.

White Sox 4th: Jackson spanked the first pitch he saw to center for a leadoff double, then came home on Felsch's single to left to cut the Brooklyn lead to 4-2. The Sox seemed poised for a big inning, but they didn't get it; Ness flew to right, Felsch was caught stealing second, and Terry's weak fly to left ended the inning. The Sox thus settled for one, and they trailed 4-2 after four.

Robins 5th: After one out, Hy lined a single to right center. Merkle's grounder to short moved him to second, which allowed Stengel to drive him in with a base hit to right center for his third RBI of the game. It was now 5-2 Brooklyn, and the fun was just beginning. Zack was up next, and he hit what everyone in the park thought was a routine double play ball to Eddie at second. But Eddie dropped the ball before he could even get one. Cutshaw then walked to load the bases, and that was it for Lefty. With the season on the line, Sox manager Pants Rowland went to the bullpen for Eddie Cicotte.

Unfortunately, that turned out to be the wrong answer, as eight of Cicotte's first nine pitches were balls. Mowrey walked on five pitches to force in Stengel, and Olson took four wide ones to force in Zack. The net result was a 7-2 Robins lead with the Chief coming to the plate. Two pitches later, it was 9-2, as the Chief's base hit to left center scored Cutshaw and Mowrey. Pfeffer nearly drove in at least one more run, but his fly to right center was caught on the run by Felsch to retire the side. The total damage: five runs on three hits, an error, and three walks. Halfway through Game 5, we're looking at a 9-2 Brooklyn laugher.

White Sox 5th: Shano singled to left with two out, but Buck Weaver fouled out to Merkle to retire the side. After five, the home squad still trailed by seven.

Robins 6th: Hy led off with a base hit to right against new Sox pitcher Dave Danforth, but he was forced by Merkle, who was in turn forced by Stengel. Wheat's liner was caught by Terry to end the inning. After five and a half, it's still NL Champs 9, AL Champs 2.

White Sox 6th: Eddie drew a leadoff walk. Jackson's base hit to right center put runners at the corners with nobody out, and the Sox' third run came home when Cutshaw fumbled Felsch's grounder, thus scoring Eddie. Ness's infield hit off of Mowrey's glove loaded the bases. The Sox then got two runs on productive outs; Terry's sacrifice fly brought home Shoeless Joe to make it 9-4, and Schalk's grounder to second scored Felsch to make it 9-5. Next, it was Pfeffer's turn to misplace the strike zone, as he walked Fred McMullin (batting for Danforth) and Shano to load the bases. Robinson went to the mound to talk with Pfeffer, who assured Uncle Robbie that all would soon be under control.

Unfortunately, Weaver had other ideas, as he stroked a clean single to right center. Ness and McMullin both scored, and all of a sudden we were looking at a two-run game. This time when Robinson came to the mound, it was with the hook for Pfeffer. Wheezer Dell was the new Brooklyn pitcher, and he got Eddie to fly to right center and retire the side on just two pitches. But the Sox had put up a five-spot with the help of three hits, three walks, and an error, and after six the Brooklyn lead was cut to 9-7.

Robins 7th: A much-needed one-two-three inning for new Sox hurler Wolfgang Mellie. As we stretch at Comiskey, it's Robins 9, Sox 7.

White Sox 7th: It was the Sox' turn to go out in order. Both Jackson and Ness flew to right, and in between Felsch grounded to first. After seven, the home squad was still down by a pair.

Robins 8th: With one out, shortstop Ollie O'Mara, who came into the game with Dell in a double switch, reached second when his line drive to right bounced off of Jackson's glove. Hy's grounder to third kept O'Mara at second, but Mellie's wild pitch moved him to third. It was up to Merkle to drive him home, but no such luck, as Fred's fly to right was caught by Jackson to end the inning. After seven and a half, the Brooklynites still led by two.

White Sox 8th: Another three up-three down inning for Dell, who's now retired seven straight Chicago batters. Special mention goes to Cutshaw, who made a backhanded stab of Schalk's line drive for the second out. As we head to the ninth, it's Birdies 9, Pale Hose 7.

Robins 9th: Cutshaw singled to left with two out, but Mowrey popped to short to end the inning. The Robins are now just three outs away from bringing the world championship back to Brooklyn, but the last three outs are always the hardest. After eight and a half, they still hold a two-run lead.

White Sox 9th: After one out, Weaver singled to right. Eddie's tapper to first moved him up ninety feet, and Shoeless Joe's single just out of Dell's reach and into center field brought Buck home and made this a one-run game. Felsch's infield hit to short put the winning run on base, and in an effort to win the game with one swing Rowland sent Jack Fournier up to bat for Ness. Unfortunately, the strategy backfired, as Fournier's infield pop was caught by Mowrey behind third base to end the game. The Brooklyn Robins were the world champions after nipping the White Sox 9-8 in Game 5, taking the series four games to one.

Stengel was the easy choice for Player of the Game with his home run and three RBIs, but Series MVP was a little harder to determine. It ended up going to Wheat for his game-winning home run in Game 2.

Final totals: Robins 9-10-2, White Sox 8-11-2.

W- Pfeffer (1-0)
L- Williams (0-1)

HR- BRO: Stengel (1)

The National League now leads the all-time World Series race in the Pythagorean universe seven to six. In another interesting fact, there have been four times that a real-life World Series team has met a different team from the other league (in this case, the Sox finished second in real life, two games behind Boston), and they've won all four.

Next: Our long-awaited look at the Federal League.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's the Pythagorean history of the Federal League:

1914: The Indianapolis Hoosiers gain three games (88-65 to 91-62) and maintain their one and a half game victory margin over the Chicago Chi-Feds, who also gain three games (87-67 to 90-64). The biggest gain is four games; the Kansas City Packers improve from 67-84 to 71-80. The biggest loss is five games, as the third-place Baltimore Terrapins plummet from 84-70 and four and half games out to 79-75 and twelve and a half back. There's no movement anywhere in the standings, which is a rarity when Pythagorean records are used.

Our local entry, the Pittsburgh Rebels, gains a game (64-86 to 65-85), but still finishes sixth, twenty-four and a half games behind the Hoosiers.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Indianapolis Hoosiers: 91-62 (+3)
2. Chicago Chi-Feds: 90-64- 1.5 GB (+3)
3. Buffalo Buffeds: 78-73- 12 GB (-2)
4. Baltimore Terrapins: 79-75- 12.5 GB (-5)
5. Brooklyn Tip-Tops: 75-79- 16.5 GB (-2)
6. Kansas City Packers: 71-80- 19 GB (+4)
7. Pittsburgh Rebels: 65-85- 24.5 GB (+1)
8. St. Louis Terriers: 61-90- 29 GB (-1)

1915: In real life, this was the first time in MLB history that a playoff could have been used to determine a pennant winner (although it wasn't, to the best of my knowledge), as the Whales (86-66) and the St. Louis Terriers (87-67) finished in a virtual tie for first place, with our Rebels (86-67) just half a game back in third. But in the Pythagorean universe, the Terriers gain three games to finish 90-64 and take the pennant by a game over the Whales, who gain two games themselves to 88-64 only for it not to be enough. The Rebels lose just one game to 85-68, but still find themselves in third place, finishing four and a half out.

The biggest loss is five games, by two different teams: the Packers fall from 81-72 and fourth place to 76-77 and fifth place, while the Buffalo Blues fall from 74-78 (good for sixth) to 69-83 (good for seventh). The biggest improvement comes from the last-place Terrapins. who go from 47-107 to 55-99, a gain of eight games. Unfortunately, they still finish last, nineteen games behind the seventh-place Brooklyn Tip-Tops and thirty-five games behind the Terriers.

The defending champion Hoosiers have moved to Newark and become the Peppers. They lose a game (80-72 to 79-73) but rise from fifth to fourth due to the Packers' collapse.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Terriers: 90-64 (+3)
2. Whales: 88-64- 1 GB (+2)
3. Rebels: 85-68- 4.5 GB (-1)
4. Peppers: 79-73- 10 GB (-1)
5. Packers: 76-77- 13.5 GB (-5)
6. Tip-Tops: 73-79- 16 GB (+3)
7. Blues: 69-83- 20 GB (-5)
8. Terrapins: 55-99- 35 GB (+8)

Name Changes: Chicago (Chi-Feds to Whales), Buffalo (Buffeds to Blues), Newark (Hoosiers to Peppers)

Moved: Peppers (Indianapolis to Newark)

Note: Baseball Reference has the Newark team's nickname listed in the singular, but I've also seen it plural in other places, so I'm going with the plural because it makes the most grammatical sense.

Note: This race was unfinished. The Whales still had two games to play, and if they'd won both, they would have tied the Terriers at 90-64, thus necessitating a playoff. Both games are against the Peppers in Chicago, so there will be a doubleheader on October 5 at Weeghman Park.

Next: The Whales try to force a playoff as they entertain the Peppers.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's the action for Game 1 of the doubleheader between the Peppers and Whales on October 5:

Peppers 3, Whales 2

The pennant belongs to the Terriers, as the Peppers held on to nip the Whales at Weeghman Park. The winning runs were scored in the top of the third. With his team down 2-1, Peppers catcher Emil Huhn led off the inning with a double to right. Pitcher Earl Moseley bunted him over to third, and he scored on a triple by left fielder Al Scheer to toe the game at two. Scheer came home on third baseman Germany Schaefer's infield hit. Right fielder Gil Whitehouse's sacrifice fly in the first drove in the other Newark run. Moseley went all the way on the mound, giving up two runs on four hits while walking three and striking out seven. Scheer led the offense, going two for three with an RBI and scoring twice.

The Whales got both of their runs in the last of the first on a base hit by center fielder Dutch Zwilling and an RBI groundout by catcher Art Wilson. Zwilling provided most of the offense for Chicago, getting two of their three hits. The others belonged to right fielder Max Flack and pitcher Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown, who gave up three runs on four hits in a complete-game loss.

W- Moseley (17-15)
L- Brown (18-9)

The Whales took out their frustration at missing out on the pennant in Game 2, scoring six times in the first on their way to a 7-4 win in the final Federal League game ever played. Second baseman Rollie Zeider led the way with three hits, two runs scored, and two RBIs, and Mike Prendergast was the winning pitcher. The final out in Federal League history was recorded by Schaefer, who grounded out to Whales third baseman Charlie Pechous.

The final standings:

Terriers: 90-64
Whales: 89-65- 1 GB

Next: We go back to the established major leagues with a look at 1917.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's our look at the 1917 season:

National League- The Giants become the first National League team to win ten pennants, cruising to a thirteen-game triumph over the second-place Phils with a record of 100-54 (two-game improvement). The Phils drop a game (87-65 to 86-66), but still finish second by eleven games in a league where no other team breaks .500. The tight race for third goes to the Reds, who drop two games (78-76 to 76-78), but beat out the Cubs (one-game improvement, 74-80 to 75-79) and Braves (two-game improvement, 72-81 to 74-79).

The biggest fall goes to the Cardinals, who drop eleven games (82-70 to 71-81) and flop all the way from third to sixth. The biggest upswing is had by the hometown team, which spurts from 51-103 to 60-94, a nine-game surge. But the Buccos still finish last, ten and a half games behind the seventh-place Robins and forty games behind the Giants.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Giants: 100-54 (+2)
2. Phillies: 86-66- 13 GB (-1)
3. Reds: 76-78- 24 GB (-2)
4. Cubs: 75-79- 25 GB (+1)
5. Braves: 74-79- 25.5 GB (+2)
6. Cardinals: 71-81- 28 GB (-11)
7. Robins: 69-82- 29.5 GB (-1)
8. Pirates: 60-94- 40 GB (+9)

American League- The White Sox make it three flags in a row and five overall, improving by a game (100-54 to 101-53) and romping by ten games over the second-place Red Sox, who stand pat at 90-62. The Tigers and Indians swap third and fourth places to round out the first division, as the Bless You Boys' six-game spike (78-75 to 84-69) coincides with the Tribe's six-game plunge (88-66 to 82-72).

Two teams in the second division move while the other two lock themselves in. This costs the Browns, who stand motionless at 57-97 and watch the A's pass them on the way up and out of the cellar with a three-game improvement (55-98 to 58-95). The fifth-place Sens don't move either (74-79), but the Yanks' one-game improvement (71-82 to 72-81) isn't enough to pass them.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. White Sox: 101-53 (+1)
2. Red Sox: 90-62- 10 GB (0)
3. Tigers: 84-69- 16.5 GB (+6)
4. Indians: 82-72- 19 GB (-6)
5. Senators: 74-79- 26.5 GB (0)
6. Yankees: 72-81- 28.5 GB (+1)
7. Athletics: 58-95- 42.5 GB (+3)
8. Browns: 57-97- 44 GB (0)

After two near-misses, the White Sox finally won the world championship, defeating the Giants in a six-game World Series. The Pythagorean World Series tally now stands at seven titles for each league.

1918 is being discussed in its own thread, so our next post will cover 1919.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now for our look at the 1919 season:

National League- The Reds stay on top, winning their initial National League flag by six games over the Giants despite dropping a league-high four games (96-44 to 92-48). The Giants drop just one game (87-53 to 86-54). The Cubs improve by two games (75-65 to 77-63) to maintain third.

Largest upswing goes to the Redbirds, who improve by four, going from 54-83 to 58-79 and moving up from seventh to sixth.

The Buccos drop just one game (71-68 to 70-69) but slide from fourth to fifth due to a two-game spurt from the Robins, who take fourth by moving from 69-71 to 71-69. The home squad finishes its year twenty-one and a half games behind the champion Reds.

The season was shortened to a hundred and forty games due to the aftereffects of the worldwide flu epidemic, which had started the previous year and was still raging at the time.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. Reds: 92-48 (-4)
2. Giants: 86-54- 6 GB (-1)
3. Cubs: 77-63- 15 GB (+2)
4. Robins: 71-69- 21 GB (+2)
5. Pirates: 70-69- 21.5 GB (-1)
6. Cardinals: 58-79- 32.5 GB (+4)
7. Braves: 57-82- 34.5 GB (0)
8. Phillies: 49-88- 41.5 GB (+2)

American League- The White Sox make their way back up to the top, taking their fourth AL pennant in five seasons and their sixth overall with a record of 84-56, a four-game drop. The second-place Indians drop four as well (84-55 to 80-59) and thus finish three and a half games back, just as in real life. The Yankees hold on to third despite a two-game slide (80-59 to 78-61) and the Tigers keep fourth despite a league-high six-game dive (80-60 to 74-66).

The second division sees the league's biggest improvement, as the seventh-place Sens soar by ten (56-84 to 66-74). The real-life tie for fifth between the Browns and Red Sox is also broken in favor of the defending champions, as they pick up four games (66-71 to 70-67) while the Brownies drop one (67-72 to 66-73). Last place belongs to the A's for the fifth year in a row, but at least they improve by five games (36-104 to 41-99), which is enough to avoid another hundred-loss campaign. They still finish forty-three games behind the Chisox.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. White Sox: 84-56 (-4)
2. Indians: 80-59- 3.5 GB (-4)
3. Yankees: 78-61- 5.5 GB (-2)
4. Tigers: 74-66- 10 GB (-6)
5. Red Sox: 70-67- 12.5 GB (+4)
6. Browns: 66-73- 17.5 GB (-1)
7. Senators: 66-74- 18 GB (+10)
8. Athletics: 41-99- 43 GB (+5)

Many things about baseball's history have been or will be altered in this timeline, but the Black Sox aren't one of them. The Reds still take the World Series five games to three, and the Sox still fix the series. Each league has now won eight world championships.

An interesting question to ponder: Would certain members of a team that had earned a World Series share in four of the past five seasons (as the Sox have in this universe) have felt the need to fix the 1919 Series to make more money for themselves and get back at a tightwad owner like Charlie Comiskey, as was the case in real life?

Next: We enter the live ball era with a look at 1920.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's our look at the 1920 season:

National League- We have our third disputed pennant in National League history, as the Robins stand pat while their crosstown rivals the Giants, who finished second in real life, improve by a league-best seven games to tie them at 93-61. This is the fourth pennant for Brooklyn (three undisputed) and the eleventh for the Giants (nine undisputed), tying them once again with the Cubs for most in league history. There would certainly have been a playoff this year for the right to go to the World Series, more than likely a best-of-three affair, which was standard operating procedure for the NL at least until 1962 and probably until divisional play and the League Championship Series debuted in 1969.

The Reds improve by three (82-71 to 85-68) to stay third, seven and a half out. Biggest swoon of the year goes to the home team, which falls from 75-79 to 74-80 and from fourth to sixth, nineteen games off the pace. Just two games separate the fourth-place Cardinals from the sixth-place Bucs.

The Phils lose the race for last with the Braves by half a game, 60-93 to 59-93. This marks the Boston franchise's eighth last-place finish and their first since 1912. In real life, it was the Braves who finished a half-game up on the Futile Phils.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. (tie) Robins: 93-61 (0)
(tie) Giants: 93-61 (+7)
3. Reds: 85-68- 7.5 GB (+3)
4. Cardinals: 76-78- 17 GB (+1)
5. Cubs: 75-79- 18 GB (0)
6, Pirates: 74-80- 19 GB (-5)
7. Phillies: 60-93- 32.5 GB (-2)
8. Braves: 59-93- 33 GB (-3)

According to the rules of the Pythagorean universe, the winner of the season series gets home-field advantage in all pennant playoffs, and the Robins won the season series with the Giants fifteen games to seven. Therefore, Ebbets Field will host two games out of a possible three. Which ones? We'll discuss that after we see the American League standings, for reasons that will become plain.

American League- This year provides in the Pythagorean universe what no year ever has in real life: two ties for playoff spots. In this case, both pennants will be decided by playoffs, as the Indians and New York Yankees deadlock for the top spot at 97-57. The Tribe drops a game, while the Yanks improve by two. This is the Yankees' first pennant of any kind, while the Cleveland franchise takes its fourth (third undisputed). The defending champion White Sox finish third despite a league-high seven-game plunge (96-58 to 89-65), while the Browns get over .500 and hold on to fourth with a three-game bump (76-77 to 79-74).

No meaningful movement in the second division; the big story is that the A's become the first AL team to finish last in six consecutive seasons despite this year's two-game improvement (48-106 to 50-104). They end up forty-seven games out of first place. As a further note, the crosstown Phillies have finished last once during this streak: last year (1919). Your author will leave you to determine among yourselves whether that makes Philadelphia the worst baseball town in the world.

FINAL STANDINGS:

1. (tie) Yankees: 97-57 (+2)
(tie) Indians: 97-57 (-1)
3. White Sox: 89-65- 8 GB (-7)
4. Browns: 79-74- 17.5 GB (+3)
5. Red Sox: 72-81- 24.5 GB (0)
6. Senators: 69-83- 27 GB (+1)
7. Tigers: 60-94- 37 GB (-1)
8. Athletics: 50-104- 47 GB (+2)

The winner of the playoff between the Yankees and the Indians will meet the winner of the National League playoff between the Giants and the Robins in the World Series, which will be a best-of-nine. The National League champions will have home field advantage, and the format will be 3-4-2.

The Yankees will have home-field advantage in the one-game American League playoff, having defeated the Indians thirteen games to nine in the season series. When the AL playoff will be played depends on the Robins' choice of home dates, since the Giants and the Yankees share the Polo Grounds. If they choose to go Brooklyn-Manhattan-Brooklyn, the AL playoff would be played on Monday, October 4. If they go Manhattan-Brooklyn-Brooklyn, the AL will have to wait until either October 5 or 6.

As it turned out, the choice was taken out of the Robins' hands by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Citing his powers to do what was best for the game of baseball, he ordered the NL series to open at Ebbets Field so that the AL playoff could be played at the Polo Grounds on October 4. The main reason was because the Yankees hadn't played since September 29, and Landis saw no reason to make them wait any longer.

In his book Bums: An Oral History of the Brooklyn Dodgers, author Peter Golenbock stated that according to his research, the Robins were fine with that decision; they wanted the Giants to feel the pressure of having to go on the road and possibly lose Game 1, then be put in a do-or-die situation in front of their home fans in Game 2.

Will what became known as the "Landis strategy" work as the Robins intended? We'll find out next time when we begin our playoff coverage. Stay tuned!

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's the scoring summary for Game 1 of the National League playoff from Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. The date is Monday, October 4. Before we get into that, though, let's record the umpires for posterity, since there wasn't a playoff in real life:

Home Plate: Bill Klem
First Base: Cy Rigler
Second Base: Bob Hart
Third Base: Bob Emslie

Giants 3rd: The G-Men drew first blood. After one out, starting pitcher Art Nehf smacked a double to right center. He held at second while left fielder George Burns grounded to short for the second out, then scored on shortstop Dave Bancroft's single to left. Right fielder Lee King grounded to third to end the inning, but the Giants had taken a 1-0 lead over their hated rivals after two and a half.

Giants 4th: The visitors added to their lead. Third baseman Frankie Frisch led off with a single to right, then stole second. This brought up first baseman George Kelly, who singled past a diving Rube Marquard (the Robins' starting pitcher) and into center field. The Fordham Flash scored to give the Giants a 2-0 lead. Center fielder Ross Youngs' liner was caught by Brooklyn first baseman Ed Konetchy for out number one, but second baseman Roy Grimes' infield out moved Kelly to second and brought up catcher Frank Snyder, who lasered a ball off the wall in left center field for a double. Kelly scored with ease, and it was 3-0 Giants. Nehf's fly to right ended the inning, but the Brooklyn deficit was now three after three and a half.

Robins 5th: Center fielder Hy Myers led off by dumping a single into left on the fly. He then stole second, and moved to third when Snyder got a little too much on his throw and it sailed into center field. Konetchy's sacrifice fly produced the first Robin run, but Nehf settled down to strike out shortstop Bill McCabe swinging and retire catcher Otto Miller on a grounder to short. After five, the Robins have cut into the Giants' lead slightly; it's 3-1.

Giants 8th: The G-Men put the game away against Robin reliever Al Mamaux. After one out, Bancroft singled to left. He was forced by King, but Frisch's base hit to right center put runners on the corners for Kelly, whose clean single to left center scored King with the fourth New York run. Kelly then stole second, and Youngs officially put the game in the laugher column by grounding a base hit into right center that scored Frisch and Kelly and gave the Giants a 6-1 lead. That was the end for Mamaux, but the beating continued against new Brooklyn pitcher Clarence Mitchell.

Grimes' single to right put runners back on the corners, and Snyder brought the seventh Giant run home by scoring Youngs with his bloop hit to center. Nehf's liner to short ended the inning, but the Giants have put up a four-spot here in the eighth with the help of six hits, and after seven and a half, they lead their crosstown rivals 7-1.

Robins 8th: The home squad closed out the day's scoring by making the final tally a bit more respectable. Bernie Neis, batting for Mitchell, led off the inning with an infield single. Second baseman Ivy Olson's base hit to right center put runners at first and second, and Neis moved to third when Olson was forced by third baseman Jimmy Johnston. Right fielder Tommy Griffith's line drive was speared by Konetchy for the second out. and the runners held. but left fielder Zack Wheat, one of the remaining heroes from the team's world championship of 1916, singled to right to score Neis and cut the Giants' lead to five. Myers then singled off of Bancroft's glove at short, which allowed Johnston to score the Robins' third run.

Giants manager John McGraw decided that Nehf had had enough, and it took new pitcher Bill Hubbell (no relation to future Giants mound legend Carl) just two pitches to get Konetchy to ground to second and end the inning. Final score in Game 1: Giants 7, Robins 3, and the Giants lead the best-of-three playoff one game to none, with a chance to win the pennant in front of their followers at the Polo Grounds tomorrow.

Nehf was the consensus choice for Player of the Game following his performance on the mound: three runs on nine hits over seven and two-thirds innings.

Final totals: Giants 7-13-1, Robins 3-10-0.

W- Nehf (22-12)
L- Marquard (10-8)

Game 2 of the playoff will be tomorrow at the Polo Grounds, as I just mentioned. Jeff Pfeffer will be on the mound for the visitors, while Phil Douglas will try and pitch the Giants to the pennant.

Next: We look at the Indians-Yankees American League playoff.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's the scoring summary for the American League pennant playoff between the Indians and the Yankees from the Polo Grounds in New York. The date is Monday, October 4.

First, the umpires:

Home Plate: Billy Evans
First Base: Tommy Connolly
Second Base: Brick Owens
Third Base: Ollie Chill

Yankees 1st: The home squad broke the ice. Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh squibbed the first pitch of the game down to third, but Tribe third baseman Larry Gardner dropped the ball trying to get it out of his glove, and Peckinpaugh was on. First baseman Wally Pipp lined a single to right to put two men on, and after center fielder Babe Ruth flew to Tris Speaker in right center for the first out, second baseman Del Pratt's grounder to short moved both runners up ninety feet. Left fielder Duffy Lewis then lined a single to left that brought Peckinpaugh home to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead. Cleveland starter Stan Coveleski got third baseman Bob Meusel to fly to right, retiring the side with runners still at first and third, but the Yankees had scored first.

Indians 6th: The Tribe tied the game on the very first pitch of the inning, as Speaker launched a drive that landed in the second deck in right center field. Estimated distance based on newspaper articles of the day: well over four hundred and seventy feet. The Tribe threatened to make more noise after one out when Gardner singled to right. First baseman George Burns (not the same man who played for the Giants earlier) walked, and shortstop Joe Sewell's grounder to third moved the runners to second and third. Yankee manager Miller Huggins had catcher Les Nunamaker walked intentionally to load the bases and bring up Coveleski, and the strategy worked when Stan grounded to short, ending the inning. But Speaker's blast had made it a brand-new game after five and a half: Tribe 1, Yanks 1.

Indians 7th: Left fielder Charlie Jameson led off by golfing one over the mound for a base hit. Second baseman Bill Wambsganss was next, and his picture-perfect sacrifice bunt moved Jameson to second. Speaker's infield hit put runners at the corners, and right fielder Elmer Smith unsnapped the tie by dumping a base hit into left to score Jameson and put the Indians up 2-1. That finished Yankee starter Bob Shawkey for the day, and new pitcher Rip Collins got Gardner to hit one right back to him which he promptly threw to second for the force on Smith, then retired Burns on a fly to right center. As we stretch at the Polo Grounds, the Indians have taken a 2-1 lead.

Indians 9th: The Tribe got an insurance run that helped them put the pennant away. Wambsganss led off by grounding one deep in the hole at third. Meusel fielded the ball cleanly, but his throw to first pulled Pipp off the bag for an error. Wambsganss was forced by Speaker, and after Smith walked he was forced by Gardner, which allowed Speaker to go to third. Burns brought Tris home with a seeing-eye single to left, which put the Tribe up 3-1; it was Burns' third hit of the day. Sewell's grounder to second ended the inning, but the Tribe had enough to win the pennant. Pipp's grounder to third was the final out in the last of the ninth. Final score: Indians 3, Yankees 1.

Burns' three-hit day at the plate and Coveleski's one-run, five-hit performance over seven and-two-thirds innings were enough to split the Player of the Game consensus.

Final totals: Indians 3-9-3, Yankees 1-5-2.

W- Coveleski (25-14)
L- Shawkey (19-14)

HR- CLE: Speaker (9)

Next: We look at Game 2 of the National League playoff.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's the scoring summary for Game 2 of the National League pennant playoff from the Polo Grounds in New York. The date is Tuesday, October 5.

Before we begin, here are today's umpires:

Home Plate: Cy Rigler
First Base: Bob Hart
Second Base: Bob Emslie
Third Base: Bill Klem

Robins 9th: This was the game's only scoring inning. Giants starter Jesse Barnes, a late replacement for Phil Douglas, had blanked the Robins on four hits through eight innings, while Robins starter Jeff Pfeffer had shut out the Giants on three hits through eight. But Robins third baseman Jimmy Johnston spanked Barnes' first pitch of the ninth down the left field line for a leadoff double. He moved to third on right fielder Tommy Griffith's tapper to first, then came home when left fielder Zack Wheat's grounder eluded Barnes' glove and snaked into center field for a base hit. Wheat was later thrown out trying to steal second, and center fielder Hy Myers' grounder to short ended the inning.

The Giants put two men on in the ninth, but Pfeffer pitched his way out of trouble and finished with a four-hit shutout. Final score: Robins 1, Giants 0, and the playoff moves back to Ebbets Field for the third and deciding game tomorrow. Fred Toney will pitch for the G-Men, while ace Burleigh Grimes will go for Brooklyn. The winner of this game will take on the Cleveland Indians at their home park in Game 1 of the World Series on Thursday.

Wheat and Pfeffer split the Player of the Game consensus.

Final totals: Robins 1-6-0, Giants 0-4-1.

W- Pfeffer (17-9)
L- Barnes (20-16)

Next: We look at Game 3.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Here's the scoring summary for Game 3 of the National League pennant playoff from Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. The date is Wednesday, October 6.

Here are the umpires:

Home Plate: Bob Hart
First Base: Bob Emslie
Second Base: Bill Klem
Third Base: Cy Rigler

Giants 1st: Left fielder George Burns spanked the game's second pitch deep into the right center field power alley for a leadoff triple. Shortstop Dave Bancroft flied to right, but Tommy Griffith caught the ball in shallow right, so Burns had to hold. Right fielder Ross Youngs drew a walk to put runners on the corners, and third baseman Frankie Frisch's high infield pop looked like it might be trouble. But Robins second baseman Pete Kilduff fought off the sun and wind long enough to make the catch for out number two. That brought up first baseman George Kelly, who cracked a single to right to bring in Burns and give the G-Men a 1-0 lead. Grimes struck center fielder Lee King out looking to end the inning, but the Giants had drawn first blood right off the bat.

Giants 5th: The Giants widened their lead significantly. After one out, Burns' grounder to third was bobbled by Johnston, and Jimmy's throw to first was far too late to get George. Bamcroft made the Robins pay immediately by serving one into right center field that dropped for a double. Burns scored, and it was 2-0 New York. Youngs then grounded a sharp single to center to score Bancroft and make it 3-0. Robins manager Wilbert Robinson came to the mound to talk to Grimes, but whatever his words of wisdom were, they did no good, as Frisch lined Burleigh's 1-2 spitter over the short wall in right for a two-run homer.

Now it was five-zip, and Clarence Mitchell was starting to warm in the Brooklyn bullpen. Grimes managed to get out of the inning with no further damage, as Kelly flied to left and Myers made a diving catch of King's fly to center, ending the inning. The Giants totaled four runs on three hits and an error, and halfway through this do-or-die Game 3, they led the Robins 5-0.

Giants 6th: With one out, catcher Frank Snyder singled to left. after starting pitcher Fred Toney flied to left for the second out, Burns' single to left center put G-Men on the corners. Burns then stole second, and Bancroft cleared the bases with a single to right. Snyder and Burns both came around, and the visitors led 7-0. Youngs' pop to Ed Konetchy at first retired the side, but the Giants had added two more runs to lead 7-0 after five and a half at Ebbets Field.

Robins 7th: Konetchy put Brooklyn on the board by whacking Toney's first pitch of the inning over the left center field wall for a home run. The Robins needed plenty more where that came from, however, so they set to work. Kilduff singled to left center, but was forced by catcher Otto Miller. Pinch hitter Chuck Ward, batting for Mitchell, drew a walk, but he was forced at second by shortstop Ivy Olson. Johnston then hit a fly ball down the left field line, but Burns moved a few steps to his left and made the catch, retiring the side. Konetchy's homer allowed the Robins to avoid the shutout, but they still trailed by six after seven.

Giants 8th: Second baseman Roy Grimes (no relation to Burleigh) drew a leadoff walk, Myers made another fine sliding catch, this time against Snyder, for out number one, but Toney brought Roy home with a double to right that made it 8-1. Burns then collected his second triple of the day, this one a carom job off the wall in right, that allowed Toney to score run number nine. Bancroft then drove in his fourth run of the afternoon with a base hit to left center that brought Burns home and put the Giants in double digits. Youngs' groundout moved Bancroft to second, but Frisch's grounder to short ended the inning. Tally three more for the boys from Manhattan, who now enjoyed a 10-1 lead after seven and a half.

Giants 9th: After one out against reliever George Mohart, King walked. Grimes' single to left center put runners at the corners, and Snyder walked on four pitches to load the bases. Leading by nine, Giants manager John McGraw excused Toney and sent Benny Kauff up to bat for him. Another four-pitch walk from Mohart forced in King, and it was 11-1 G-Men. Mohart then threw one in the general direction of Newark, which scored Grimes with the twelfth New York run. Three more balls put Burns on base to load them up for Bancroft, who had already driven in four runs on the day. Number five came on his fielder's choice, which cashed in Snyder and made this a 13-1 ballgame. Youngs' fly to right ended the inning, but the Giants had plated three more runs, which meant that the Robins needed twelve to tie and thirteen to win in the last of the ninth.

Robins 9th: Jesse Winters, who hadn't pitched since September 14, was McGraw's choice for mop-up duty, and it took a while for him to get rid of his rust. Miller singled to center, then Winters hit Bernie Neis (batting for Mohart) in the leg with a pitch. Another Newark Special wild pitch put runners at second and third with nobody out, but Jesse warmed to his task. He gave up two runs with his first two outs, as Olson's fly to right pushed Youngs back to the warning track and scored Miller with Brooklyn's second run, and Johnston's grounder to third plated Neis with the Robins' third tally. But Griffith's pop to Larry Doyle, in at second for Grimes, ended the game and won the Giants the National League pennant in dominating fashion. Final score: Giants 13, Robins 3. The G-Men take the pennant two games to one, and head home tomorrow to begin the World Series against the Cleveland Indians.

Bancroft's three-for-six, five-RBI day won him Player of the Game consensus, but Burns also had a good case, as he ended his day three for five with four runs scored and an RBI.

Final totals: Giants 13-15-1, Robins 3-9-1.

W- Toney (22-11)
L- Grimes (23-12)

HR- NYG: Frisch (5)
BRO: Konetchy (6)

The World Series begins tomorrow at the Polo Grounds, and both starting pitchers are coming back on just two days' rest: Stan Coveleski for the Tribe and Art Nehf for the Giants.

Next: We look at Game 1 of the best-of-nine World Series.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 1 of the 1920 World Series from the Polo Grounds in New York. The date is Thursday, October 7:

Indians 1st: Giants starter Art Nehf began the series in style by retiring the side in order. After a half, it's Tribe nothing, G-Men coming to bat.

Giants 1st: After one out, shortstop Dave Bancroft picked up where he'd left off in the National League playoff by spanking a double to center. Indians starter Stan Coveleski struck out right fielder Ross Youngs for the second out, but third baseman Frankie Frisch launched the first pitch he saw to deep left center, where it dropped and rolled to the wall. Bancroft scored to give the Giants a 1-0 lead, and the Fordham Flash checked in at third with a triple. First baseman George Kelly's grounder to third ended the inning, but the home squad had drawn first blood. After one, it was Giants 1, Indians 0.

Indians 2nd: The Tribe began a two-out rally when right fielder Smokey Joe Wood grounded a single to left. Next up was shortstop Joe Sewell, who lashed a triple into almost the same spot as Frisch's earlier three-bagger. It produced the same result too, as Wood scored to tie the game at one. Nehf then pitched around catcher Steve O'Neill, eventually walking him to get to Coveleski. The strategy worked, as Stan's weak grounder to third ended the inning. After an inning and a half, we're tied at one.

Giants 2nd: Catcher Earl Smith's infield hit was wasted when Nehf grounded to Tribe second baseman Bill Wambsganss to retire the side. We're still even at one through two.

Indians 3rd: Another one-two-three inning for Nehf, with the highlight being his three-pitch strikeout of center fielder Tris Speaker. After two and a half, it's Indians 1, Giants 1.

Giants 3rd: With one out, Wambsganss muffed Bancroft's grounder, allowing Dave to reach. Youngs' sharp single up the middle put Giants at first and third, and Frisch broke the tie when he cued a base hit off the glove of Cleveland third baseman Larry Gardner, bringing home Bancroft. Coveleski rebounded to catch Kelly looking at a third strike and get right fielder Lee King to swing at ball four on a 3-2 count to retire the side. But the Giants have regained the lead at the end of three; it's New York 2, Cleveland 1.

Indians 4th: Wood started another two-out rally by lining a double to left. Sewell followed with a two-bagger of his own, this one to center, which cashed in Smokey Joe and tied the game at two. This time, Nehf didn't even bother trying to pitch to O'Neill, choosing to walk him intentionally instead. The move paid off, as Coveleski forced his battery mate at second to end the inning. Through three and a half, we're all square at two.

Giants 4th: The National League champs had the start of something big when second baseman Larry Doyle beat out an infield grounder for a hit and Smith drew a walk. Nehf's grounder to third moved everyone up ninety feet, but left fielder George Burns grounded to short and Bancroft popped to Gardner at third to end the inning. After four, we're still tied at two.

Indians 5th: Speaker's two-out double down the left field line came a-cropper when left fielder George Burns (a different player with the same name as the New York first baseman) grounded to third. Earlier in the inning, King had provided the play of the day so far with his shoetop catch of Wambsganss' fly to left center. Halfway through Game 1, it's Indians 2, Giants 2.

Giants 5th: Youngs drew a leadoff walk, but was thrown out by O'Neill trying to steal second for the second out of the inning. Before that, Frisch lined to Wambsganss at second. After that, Kelly struck out swinging. After five, we're still deadlocked at two.

Indians 6th: Gardner lined a leadoff single to center, but was forced at second by Wood, who was in turn forced by Sewell. O'Neill went down swinging to retire the side. After five and a half, we still have a 2-2 tie.

Giants 6th: A one-two-three inning for Coveleski. After six, it's AL Champs 2, NL Champs 2.

Indians 7th: The visitors went down in order for the third time in the game. Elmer Smith batted for Coveleski and grounded to third, as did Wambsganss to end the inning, while left fielder Joe Evans lined to second in between. As we stretch at the Polo Grounds, our 2-2 deadlock continues.

Giants 7th: New Cleveland pitcher Dave Niehaus set the Giants down in order, and the Cleveland staff has now retired the last eight New York hitters in a row. We're through seven and all tied up at two.

Indians 8th: Speaker worked a leadoff walk, and Burns' base hit to left put runners on the corners with nobody out. Gardner bounced into a fielder's choice, which eliminated Burns but allowed Tris to score the go-ahead run. Nehf got Wood to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning, but the visitors took a 3-2 lead into the last of the eighth.

Giants 8th: Youngs lined a leadoff single to center, then moved to third on Frisch's single to right. Kelly bounced into a 6-4 force play to wipe Frisch off the books, but Youngs still scored to tie the game at three. King's infield hit to short put two men on again, but Giants manager John McGraw's aggressive nature came back to bite him when he ordered a double steal, only for Kelly to get a late jump off of second and get himself thrown out by a good five feet. Doyle's weak grounder to first ended the inning. After eight, we're once again deadlocked, this time at three.

Indians 9th: Sewell's leadoff walk was erased when O'Neill grounded into an around-the-horn double play. Pinch hitter Doc Johnston's fly to right ended the inning. We're headed to the bottom of the ninth tied 3-3.

Giants 9th: Earl drew a leadoff walk, and pinch hitter Frank Snyder (batting for reliever Phil Douglas) bunted him over to second. This brought up Burns, who lined the first pitch he saw from reliever George Uhle into the left center gap. Earl was off on contact, and neither Evans nor Speaker had a play at the plate. Final score: Giants 4, Indians 3, and New York leads the series one game to none.

Burns' game-winning hit made him the consensus choice for Player of the Game. although Frisch also had a good case with his three hits and two RBIs.

Final totals: Giants 4-10-0, Indians 3-7-1.

W- Douglas (1-0)
L- Uhle (0-1)

Game 2 of this series will take place tomorrow here at the Polo Grounds. Jim Bagby will take the hill for the visitors, while the home squad counters with Rube Benton.

Next: We look at Game 2.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 2 of the 1920 World Series from the Polo Grounds in New York. The date is Friday, October 8:

Lineup Changes:

Indians- First, Charlie Jamieson gets the start in left field, replacing Joe Evans. Second, Doc Johnston takes over at first base for George Burns. Finally, Elmer Smith starts in right field for Smokey Joe Wood.

Giants- Frank Snyder is behind the plate in place of Earl Smith.

Indians 1st: After two out, Giants starter Rube Benton gave up back-to-back walks to Tris Speaker and Elmer Smith. But Larry Gardner's tapper to George Kelly at first ended the inning. After a half, the visitors have nothing and the home team's ready to hit.

Giants 1st: Indians starter Jim Bagby set the home squad down in order. After one in Game 2, we're scoreless.

Indians 2nd: A three up-three down frame for Benton. We have no score through an inning and a half.

Giants 2nd: After one out, Kelly got all of a Bagby offering over the plate and sent it down the left field line. Jamieson stayed with the ball all the way into the corner, then jumped for it, but it was two rows ahead of him for a home run that put the home squad up 1-0. Bagby came back to get King looking at strike three for the second out, but his breaking ball on the 1-1 pitch to Larry Doyle didn't break, and Doyle crushed it to deep left center. Jamieson took one halfhearted look at it, then wished it bon voy-agee, as Bugs Bunny would later put it. The Giants now led 2-0, and the inning continued for New York when Snyder walked. All Benton could manage was a weak fly down the left field line, which was easily caught by Jamieson for the third out. But the Giants had gone yard twice, and they led 2-0 after two,

Indians 3rd: Another one-two-three inning for Benton, highlighted by Kelly going into the Cleveland dugout to snare Jamieson's infield pop. The Giants' first sacker emerged unscathed to a healthy ovation, and the Giants kept their 2-0 lead after two and a half.

Giants 3rd: After two out, Ross Youngs walked. Frankie Frisch lined a single to left that put runners on the corners, then stole second. But Kelly's fly to center was caught easily by Speaker to end the inning. After three, the Giants still led the Indians 2-0.

Indians 4th: Speaker's leadoff infield single was the Tribe's first hit of the game. Smith walked, but was forced by Gardner at second. Johnston went down swinging for out number two, leaving it up to Joe Sewell. The Indians shortstop came through with a line drive base hit to left that scored Speaker and put the Indians on the board. Catcher Steve O'Neill was next, and he blooped a single of his own into left that brought home Gardner and tied the game at two. Bagby ended the threat with a shallow fly to left, but the Tribe had tied the score at two after three and a half.

Giants 4th: After two out, Snyder singled up the middle. Bagby then walked his mound opponent Benton, but left fielder George Burns put an end to the threat by grounding to third. Gardner stepped on the bag to force Snyder, and the side was retired. After four, it's Giants 2, Indians 2.

Indians 5th: The Tribe took the lead. Jamieson worked a leadoff walk, then was bunted over to second by Wambsganss. Speaker's clean base hit to right brought Jamieson home with the third Cleveland run, and the inning continued when Smith drew a base on balls. But Benton got Gardner to ground into a 3-6-3 double play to end the inning without any further damage. Halfway through Game 2, it's Tribe 3, G-Men 2.

Giants 5th: The home squad went out in order: Dave Bancroft and Frisch grounded to third sandwiched around Youngs' liner to Wambsganss at second. After five, the Indians lead the Giants 3-2.

Indians 6th: After one out, Sewell snuck a single through the hole between first and second and into right center. Benton caught O'Neill looking for his second called strikeout of the inning, but George Burns batted for Bagby and singled to right center to put runners back on the corners. Jamieson then forced Burns at second to retire the side. The Tribe clings to a one-run lead through five and a half.

Giants 6th: New Indians pitcher Duster Mails retired the National League champions in order, surviving a tense moment when Kelly's fly ball to left sent Jamieson back to the warning track before he could make the catch. After six, the AL champs led the NL Champs 3-2.

Indians 7th: Speaker singled to center with one out, but he was stranded at first when Smith flew to center and Gardner grounded to first. As we stretch at the Polo Grounds, the visitors still cling to a 3-2 lead.

Giants 7th: After one out, Benny Kauff batted for Benton and singled to left. But he was forced by Burns, and Johnston gloved Bancroft's hot liner to end the inning. After seven, the Giants still trailed by one.

Indians 8th: Johnston led off the inning with a base hit to right. Sewell's liner was speared by Doyle for out number one, but O'Neill's grounder to third took a bad hop off of Frisch's glove, allowing Steve to reach. Joe Evans batted for Mails and flew to right center for the second out, but Jamieson beat out an infield single to load the bases. Wambsganss could only manage a weak roller to first, and the Tribe was out, having left the bases loaded. After seven and a half, we still had a one-run game.

Giants 8th: New Indians pitcher Dave Niehaus set the Giants down one-two-three, all on flies to Speaker. After eight, the Indians still led by one.

Indians 9th: Speaker ticked a leadoff single off of Frisch's glove for his fourth hit of the game, and Smith worked a walk from Giants reliever Phil Douglas to put two men on. But Gardner forced Smith at second, then tried to steal second himself and was gunned down by Snyder. Johnston's grounder to second ended the inning. The Giants had one more chance against Niehaus down 3-2.

Giants 9th: Snyder grounded a two-out single to left center, but pinch hitter Fred Lear, batting for Douglas, tapped to Gardner at third to end the game. Final score: Indians 3, Giants 2, and this series is tied at a game apiece.

Speaker's four-for-four afternoon made him the overwhelming choice for Player of the Game according to ballpark observers.

Final totals: Indians 3-10-0, Giants 2-6-1.

W- Bagby (1-0)
L- Benton (0-1)

HR- NYG: Kelly (1), Doyle (1)

Game 3 will be tomorrow here at the Polo Grounds, with Ray Caldwell taking the mound for the Tribe and Fred Toney toeing the slab for the G-Men.

Next: We look at Game 3.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 3 of the 1920 World Series from the Polo Grounds in New York. The date is Saturday, October 9:

Lineup Changes:

Indians- The Tribe's going back to its Game 1 lineup. That means Joe Evans leads off in left field, George Burns bats cleanup and plays first base, and Smokey Joe Wood bats sixth and plays right field.

Giants- Just one change, as Earl Smith takes his turn behind the plate.

Indians 1st: Tris Speaker drew a two-out walk, then stole second. Burns then hit a scorching line drive; unfortunately, it landed in Frankie Frisch's glove to retire the side. After a half, it's Tribe nothing, G-Men coming up.

Giants 1st: The New York version of George Burns started things off by lining Cleveland starter Ray Caldwell's second pitch of the game into right field for a double. Dave Bancroft's fly to center was too shallow to advance him, but the Indians took care of that themselves when catcher Steve O'Neill was charged with a passed ball on a pitch in the dirt. Ross Youngs was next, and he drilled another double to right. Burns scored with ease, and the Giants led 1-0. Youngs then stole third, but he was stranded there when Frisch and George "High Pockets" Kelly each grounded to second, ending the inning. After one, it's the Giants who have broken on top 1-0.

Indians 2nd: Larry Gardner led off the inning by blooping a single to right. Wood's grounder to short moved him to second, and Joe Sewell's base hit to right put runners on the corners with one out. O'Neill's medium-depth fly to left didn't help the cause, but Caldwell dropped a base hit into right on the fly which brought home Gardner and tied the game at one. Evans grounded to third to end the inning with runners on the corners, but the Tribe had tied the game at one after an inning and a half.

Giants 2nd: The home squad went down in order. We're still tied at one after two.

Indians 3rd: After one out, the Tribe survived a scare when Giants starter Fred Toney's inside fastball hit Speaker in the head. Tris was momentarily stunned, but eventually shook it off and went to first base. Burns' infield hit put two men on, then Gardner slapped one down to Bancroft at short. Seeing Burns come in spikes-up, Dave panicked momentarily and dropped the ball, which meant that everybody was safe. Wood then smacked a double into the gap in left center, which cleared the bases and sent the Tribe out in front 4-1. Sewell was next, and he hit one on the ground to Bancroft. This time, Dave was ready, but the ball rolled right through his outstretched glove. Since it had touched the glove, he was charged with his second error in three batters. O'Neill made the Giants pay, ripping a double to left that brought home Wood and Sewell and extended the Cleveland lead to 6-1.

Toney came back to catch Caldwell looking for the second out of the inning, but Evans' base hit up the middle scored O'Neill with the seventh Cleveland run and also ended Toney's afternoon. New Giants pitcher Jesse Winters got Wambsganss to fly to Lee King in right center for the final out, but the visitors had scored six runs on four hits, two errors and a hit batsman to lead 7-1 after two and a half.

Giants 3rd: Burns' one-out double to right was wasted when Bancroft lined to short and Youngs grounded to second. After three, it's Cleveland 7, New York 1.

Indians 4th: Speaker's leadoff walk was erased when Burns grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. But Gardner kept the rally going with a base hit to right. Wood then grounded to Frisch at third, but Frankie muffed it for the Giants' third error of the game. Sewell's base hit to right scored Gardner, and the Indians led 8-1. O'Neill's fly to center ended the inning, but Game 3 was fast becoming a laugher, much to the chagrin of the Bew York faithful. After three and a half, the AL champs lead by a touchdown.

Giants 4th: Caldwell not only gets the side out in order, but does so in just five pitches, with only Frisch (fly to center) taking more than one. After four, the Tribe is cruising to the tune of 8-1.

Indians 5th: Evans drew a one-out walk. Wambsganss' single to center put runners on the corners, and Speaker's fielder's choice brought Evans home to make it 9-1 Cleveland. Burns dumped a base hit into left center to put runners back at first and third, then Gardner tagged a high fly ball to deep right center. Youngs gave chase, but couldn't come up with it, and it dropped and rolled around in the alley long enough to score Speaker and Burns and allow Gardner to reach third with a triple. Wood's grounder to third ended the inning, but three more runs for the Indians had officially made this a blowout. After four and a half, the Tribe led 11-1.

Giants 5th: Doyle led things off with a base hit to left, but was forced by Smith. Benny Kauff batted for Winters and served a base hit into right to put two men on, and Burns' grounder to short moved them to second and third. But there they stayed, as Bancroft grounded to third to end the inning. After five, it was Cleveland 11, New York 1.

Indians 6th: Sewell welcomed new Giants pitcher Bill Hubbell to the proceedings by belting a triple off the top of the left field wall. O'Neill then drew a walk. Caldwell brought home Sewell with a fly ball to right, and the Cleveland lead was 12-1. O'Neill moved to third on Evans' grounder to second, and scored when Wambsganss belted the second triple off the inning, this one deep into the right center power alley. With his team now up by a dozen runs, Speaker removed himself from the game to have the lump on his head tended to, and Charlie Jamieson batted for him, grounding to second to end the inning. After five and a half, the Indians now held a 13-1 lead.

Giants 6th: Youngs spanked a leadoff double to right, then came home on Frisch's base hit to right. Kelly legged out an infield hit, but was erased when King grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Frisch moved to third on the twin killing, but was stranded there when Doyle grounded to short to end the inning. The Giants had gotten back on the board, but still trailed 13-2 after six.

Indians 7th: A one-two-three inning for Hubbell, with Wood's fly to deep center providing the only flash of excitement. As we stretch at the Polo Grounds, the visitors still hold an eleven-run lead.

Giants 7th: Smith stroked a leadoff single to right. After Snyder (batting for Hubbell) went down swinging for out number one, Burns walked, and Bancroft's base hit to center loaded the bases for Youngs, who smacked a 2-0 fastball down the right field line. Wood tried for it, but the ball carried and carried until it was over the fence for a grand slam, the third New York home run of the series. The Polo Grounds was on its feet as Caldwell departed, but Bob Clark came out of the Cleveland pen to retire Frisch on a fly caught on the left field line by Evans and Kelly on a lazy pop to first. Still, the Giants had shown some signs of life, and they only trailed 13-6 after seven.

Indians 8th: After one out, O'Neill singled to right. Elmer Smith batted for Clark and singled to right center to put two men on, and Evans' base hit to left loaded the sacks for Wambsganss. But all Bill could manage was a grounder to Kelly, who fired to the plate to double up O'Neill, then took the return throw in plenty of time to turn the double play. After seven and a half, it was still Indians 13, Giants 6.

Giants 8th: King lined a leadoff double to right, then scored when Doyle did the same. Smith's base hit to left center brought home Doyle, and all of a sudden the Cleveland lead was 13-8. Fred Lear then batted for reliever Phil Douglas and took a called third strike for out number one. Burns' liner was gloved by Gardner for out number two, and Bancroft ended the inning by flying to right. But the Giants had crept two runs closer to trail 13-8 after eight.

Indians 9th: After one out, Burns singled to right center. Gardner's base hit to center put runners on the corners, and Wood's single to right center, his fourth hit of the game, scored Burns with the Tribe's fourteenth run. New Giants pitcher Pol Perritt rebounded to strike Sewell out swinging and retire O'Neill on a grounder to third, but the Indians had picked up an insurance run they never figured to need. We're going to the last of the ninth with the boys from Coogan's Bluff in a 14-8 hole.

Giants 9th: Indians reliever Elmer Myers set the Giants down in order, with Kelly's tapper to defensive replacement Doc Johnston at first as the final out. Final score: Indians 14, Giants 8, and the Tribe leads the series two games to one.

Wood was the consensus choice for Player of the Game, mostly because his bases-clearing double had broken the game open in the third. He finished the day two for six with four runs batted in.

Final totals: Indians 14-20-0, Giants 8-14-3.

W- Caldwell (1-0)
L- Toney (0-1)

HR- NYG: Youngs (1)

Game 4 will be at Dunn Field in Cleveland on Monday. It'll be a Game 1 rematch on the mound, with Art Nehf pitching for the Giants and Stan Coveleski for the Indians.

Next: We look at Game 4.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 4 of the 1920 World Series from Dunn Field in Cleveland. The date is Monday, October 11:

Lineup Changes:

Giants- It's Frank Snyder's turn to catch, and he'll be batting eighth. Also, Roy Grimes replaces Larry Doyle at second base, and he'll bat seventh.

Indians- They're using the same lineup they did in Game 2: Charlie Jamieson leading off in left, Elmer Smith batting cleanup in right, and Doc Johnston batting sixth at first base. In other news, Tris Speaker is fine after getting hit in the head with a Fred Toney pitch in Game 3, and he'll be batting third and playing center field as usual.

Giants 1st: Indians starter Stan Coveleski started his day with a one-two-three inning. After a half, it's Giants nothing, Tribe coming up.

Indians 1st: Ditto for Giants starter Art Nehf. We're scoreless after one in Game 4.

Giants 2nd: After one out, High Pockets Kelly became the game's first baserunner by blooping a double down the right field line. Lee King's grounder to short held him at second, but Grimes walked to put two men on for Snyder. Frank scalded the first pitch, but it went right into the glove of Larry Gardner at third to end the inning. After an inning and a half, there's still no score.

Indians 2nd: Another one-two-three inning for Nehf. After two, there's still no score.

Giants 3rd: The boys from New York got on the board in a big way. Nehf drew a leadoff walk. Left fielder George Burns bounced a routine two-hopper to Joe Sewell at short, but the ball took a bad hop, leaving Sewell unable to make a play and putting runners at first and second. Dave Bancroft's single to right center loaded the bases, and Ross Youngs' fielder's choice scored Nehf with the game's first run. Next up was Frisch, who smacked a single to left center. Burns scored, and it was 2-0 New York. Frisch took off running with the first pitch to Kelly, and made it. The ball, meanwhile made it into center field. Speaker quickly retrieved the ball and threw to the plate to try to get Youngs, but Ross beat Steve O'Neill's tag by a step and a half, and the Giants led 3-0.

Once Kelly got back into the box, he stroked a double to right, which brought home Frisch to make it 4-0. Coveleski came back to strike out King and Grimes swinging to retire the side, but the visitors had scored four times with the help of four hits and two Cleveland errors, and they led 4-0 after two and a half.

Indians 3rd: The AL champs got back into the game in a hurry. Sewell's double to right led things off, then Nehf hit O'Neill in the shin to put two on. Coveleski bunted the runners over, and Jamieson brought them both in with a wicked line drive into eight center that went for a double. It was now 4-2, and the Tribe wasn't finished yet. Nehf uncorked one that went to the backstop, which put Jamieson at third, and Bill Wambsganss drove him in with a base hit to right. It was now a one-run affair, and Speaker's groundout put Wambsganss in scoring position for Smith. Elmer belted an ominous-sounding fly to deep center, but King got a bead on the ball and made a relatively easy catch to retire the side. Still, we have a contest after three: Giants 4, Indians 3.

Giants 4th: Snyder led off with a base hit to center. Nehf then stroked a single to right to put runners at first and second. Burns was next, and his sharp single to left brought Snyder home with the fifth New York run. Bancroft flew to left for the first out, but Youngs' bloop found the grass in left, which loaded the bases for Frisch. The Fordham Flash slapped the first pitch he saw past a diving Coveleski and into center. Nehf and Burns both came home, and the G-Men led 7-3. Kelly then forced Frisch, which allowed Youngs to score and make it an 8-3 game. King then drew a walk to keep the inning going, Grimes' fly to center retired the side, but the Giants had scored four more times to make their lead five after three and a half.

Indians 4th: Gardner lined a leadoff single to right center, but was caught stealing second almost immediately. Johnston's slow roller to first and Sewell's fly to center retired the side. After four, it's Giants 8, Indians 3.

Giants 5th: Snyder led off with a base hit to right center. Nehf's base hit to right put runners at first and secnd for the second inning in a row. By now, Bob Clark was just about ready in the Indians bullpen, but Coveleski hung tough and struck out Burns for out number one. Unfortunately for Stan and the Tribe, that only delayed the inevitable briefly, as Bancroft drove Coveleski's last pitch of the day into the left center power alley. Snyder scored with ease, and Nehf ignored manager John McGraw's stop sign and went around third anyway. Sewell cut off Jamieson's throw to the plate, thinking that Nehf was being held up, then fired home once he saw Art coming. But it was too late; Nehf beat the throw easily, and the Giants led 10-3.

Clark didn't have it any easier, as Youngs walked on five pitches. Then he threw a curve when O'Neill was expecting a fastball, and the resulting wild pitch moved the runners up ninety feet. Frisch then banged a triple off the left field wall to score both Bancroft and Youngs, and the Giant lead was 12-3. Kelly's base hit to left center scored Frisch to make the New York lead ten and also finished Clark for the day. New pitcher Elmer Myers got King to ground into an around-the-horn double play, which finally ended the inning. But the Giants had scored five more runs, and halfway through Game 4 they led their hosts 13-3.

Indians 5th: Jamieson drew a two-out walk, but was stranded when Wambsganss flew to left. After five, the Indians still trailed by ten.

Giants 6th: Grimes drew a leadoff walk, but was erased when Snyder grounded into an around-the-horn double play. Nehf fouled out to O'Neill to retire the side. After five and a half, it was still New York 13, Cleveland 3.

Indians 6th: Nehf retired the side in order, getting Speaker and Gardner to ground to short and striking out Smith in between. After six, the visitors still led by double digits.

Giants 7th: Bancroft drew a one-out walk against new Indians pitcher Dave Niehaus, but was forced by Youngs. Frisch dumped a base hit into right center to put runners on the corners, but Kelly's fly to Speaker in right center ended the inning. As we stretched by Lake Erie, it was still G-Men 13, Tribe 3.

Indians 7th: The home squad appeared to catch a break when Grimes muffed Sewell's one-out grounder, and O'Neill's infield out moved Joe to second. George Burns then batted for Niehaus and beat out an infield hit, but Jamieson's lazy infield pop was caught by Grimes to retire the side. After seven, the Giants still held a ten-run lead.

Giants 8th: After one out, Gardner tried to play Grimes' bad-hop grounder, only to drop it for an error. Snyder's base hit to left put runners on the corners, and McGraw rather surprisingly allowed Nehf to bat for himself. Art made the decision pay off by scorching a liner over Jamieson's head in left. By the time Charlie got to the ball, Nehf was at third with a triple, and both Grimes and Snyder had scored ahead of him to make it a 15-3 game. Burns' routine grounder to second scored Nehf with the sixteenth New York run, then Bancroft restarted the merry-go-round by singling off of Gardner's glove. Youngs smacked a double to right to score Bancroft and make it 17-3, and that was all for new Indians pitcher Tony Faeth. In fact, that was all for the Cleveland bullpen, period. Speaker put Jamieson in center, brought Joe Evans in to play left, and took the mound himself.

The first batter he faced was Frisch, who legged out the inning's second infield hit. Kelly's base hit up the middle brought Youngs home with the eighteenth Giants run. and then all hell broke loose, as Speaker hit King right in the side of the head with a pitch. Lee wasted no time charging the mound, and there were actual haymakers being thrown before anyone could stop them. One of them caught King in the jaw and knocked him silly, and Speaker then declared that any other Giant who wanted the same treatment could come and get him. McGraw tried to take him up on it, but was held back, and the umpires managed to prevent any further injuries. Speaker was. of course, ejected, King was helped off the field, and the new Cleveland pitcher was former hurler Smokey Joe Wood.

Wood didn't exactly throw water on the flames, as Grimes smacked his third offering to right for a hit. Frisch and Kelly scored, and the Giants now led 20-3. Snyder followed with a base hit to right to bring in pinch runner Jesse Barnes with blackjack (run number twenty-one), and Nehf's second hit of the inning, a single to right, scored Grimes with the twenty-second Giants run. Burns grounded to first to end the inning, but New York had sent fourteen men to the plate and scored nine runs on nine hits accompanied by an error and a hit batsman and still left two men on base. After seven and a half, the score was Giants 22, Indians 3.

Indians 8th: A one-two-three inning for Nehf in the last half-inning of the day. The game was suspended for darkness after eight with the Giants up by nineteen.

Giants 9th: When the game resumed on Tuesday, Youngs drew a one-out walk. Frisch's fly to right was caught at the track by Smith for out number two, but Sewell kept the inning alive by booting Kelly's grounder. Benny Kauff, who took over in center for King, ended the inning by bouncing into a force play. The Indians thus need to score twenty runs in the bottom of the ninth to win this one.

Indians 9th: Gardner drew a leadoff walk, but Johnston grounded one back to Nehf, who turned it into a 1-6-3 double play. Sewell socked a double to left to keep microscopic hope alive, but O'Neill's comebacker dashed that hope. Final score: Giants 22, Indians 3, and this series is tied at two games apiece.

Nehf won Player of the Game consenus, not only for his two-day complete game but for his day at the plate: four for five plus a walk, with four runs scored and three RBIs in what most likely is the best offensive day for a pitcher ever in the postseason regardless of universe. (Note: WhatIf gave the award to Frisch, who was five for seven with three runs scored and five RBIs.)

Final totals: Giants 22-24-1, Indians 3-6-4.

W- Nehf (1-0)
L- Coveleski (0-1)

The series will continue in just a few minutes with Game 5. The Giants will send Barnes to the hill, to be opposed by the Tribe's Jim Bagby.

Next: We look at Game 5.

Thoughts?

 

[Garrett Garlits]

Now it's time for Game 5 of the 1920 World Series from Dunn Field in Cleveland. Game 4 was just completed a while ago, and the lineups are now ready for Game 5:

Lineup Changes:

Giants- The practice of alternating catchers continues; it's Earl Smith's turn today, and he'll be batting eighth. Also, Larry Doyle is back at second base in place of Roy Grimes and batting seventh. In other news, Lee King is in the lineup after his altercation with Tris Speaker in Game 4. He's in center field and batting sixth.

Giants 1st: George Burns grounded the first pitch of the game into left center field for a base hit, then stole second. He moved to third on Dave Bancroft's infield out, but stayed there as Ross Youngs grounded to Doc Johnston at first and Frankie Frisch's liner was caught by Larry Gardner at third to end the inning. After a half, it's Giants nothing, Indians coming up.

Indians 1st: Giants starter Jesse Barnes enjoyed a three up-three down inning, helped out by Dave Bancroft's smothering of Bill Wambsganss' grounder in the shortstop hole. Bancroft threw to first just in time to nail Wambsganss by less than half a step. We're scoreless after one in Game 5.

Giants 2nd: High Pockets Kelly gave the visitors a 1-0 lead with the second pitch of the inning, which he deposited over the right field wall for the Giants' fourth home run of the series and his second. King kept things going by singling to left, but he was forced by Doyle, who was in turn forced by Smith. Barnes struck out on three pitches to retire the side. But Kelly's longball has given the NL champs a 1-0 lead after an inning and a half.

Indians 2nd: Elmer led off the inning by socking a ball well over the head of Burns in left. He never stopped running out of the box, and ended up at third with a triple. Gardner's popup was caught by Bancroft for the first out, but Johnston doubled to right to score Elmer and tie the game at one. Joe Sewell's tapper to first moved Johnston to third with two out, and Barnes compounded the situation by issuing back-to-back walks to Steve O'Neill and starting pitcher Jim Bagby. The bases were thus loaded for Charlie Jamieson, but Youngs caught his routine fly for the final out. After two, it was Giants 1, Indians 1.

Giants 3rd: For the second straight inning, Bagby gave up a leadoff homer, this one to Burns, whose drive to deep center cleared the fence with plenty of room to spare. (Dead center at Dunn Field was 420 feet.) Bancroft followed with a clean single to left center, but he was forced by Youngs. Frisch then hit a routine double play ball to Sewell at short, but Joe couldn't get a clean handle on the ball, and the Giants had two men on. Kelly's base hit up the middle scored Youngs to make it 3-1 New York, with Frisch moving to third. The Indians traded an out for the next Giants run, as King's grounder to short scored Frisch to make it 4-1. Doyle then stroked a base hit to right to bring home Kelly and make it 5-1.

George Uhle began to throw in the Cleveland bullpen, but Bagby still had to face Earl, who grounded a base hit to center which put runners back on the corners. Barnes was next, and he lined a base hit to right center which scored Doyle and made the Giants' lead five. Burns grounded to short to end the inning, but the Giants had sent ten men to the plate and scored five times on six hits to lead 6-1 after two and a half.

Indians 3rd: Wambsganss led off with a base hit to center, and for the second inning in a row Barnes issued back-to-back walks to load the bases, this time to Speaker and Elmer. Gardner's single to right center scored Wambsganss and Speaker to make it a 6-3 game, and the Tribe got Elmer home when Johnston grounded into a 4-6-3 double play. Sewell kept the inning going with a double into the left center power alley, and Pol Perritt began throwing in the Giants bullpen. O'Neill ended the threat by grounding to second. Still, the Indians had fought their way back into the game with three runs, and they only trailed the Giants by two after three.

Giants 4th: After one out, Youngs beat out an infield hit. He then stole second, and for the second time in the series O'Neill's caught- stealing throw ended up in center field, which allowed Ross to go to third. Frisch then grounded a ball deep in the hole at short. Sewell fielded the ball, but Frisch beat the throw to first base by a step. and Youngs crossed the plate to make it 7-4. Kelly's roller to first moved Frisch to second, and The Fordham Flash went to third when Wambsganss muffed King's potential double play grounder. Doyle then notched the third infield hit of the inning for the Giants, with Frisch scoring to make it 8-4. That was all for Bagby.

Uhle came in and immediately got behind Earl three balls and no strikes. When he threw one down the middle in an effort to get a strike, Earl laced it down the left field line. King and Doyle both scored, and Earl ended up at second with a double. Barnes' grounder to short ended the inning, but the Giants had hit double figures for the second consecutive day. After three and a half, it was New York 10, Cleveland 4.

Indians 4th: A one-two-three inning for Barnes. After four, the Giants still lead by six.

Giants 5th: Uhle retired the visitors on three routine fly balls. Halfway through, it's still G-Men 10, Tribe 4.

Indians 5th: Another out-in-order inning for Barnes. who's now retired seven Cleveland hitters in a row. After five, the Tribe still trails by half a dozen.

Giants 6th: The fourth one-two-three half-inning in a row. Frisch lined to Wambsganss at second, Kelly was called out on strikes, and King grounded to first. After five and a half, it's still NL Champs 10, AL Champs 4.

Indians 6th: O'Neill broke the streak of fifteen consecutive combined outs with his two-out single to left, but pinch hitter Smokey Joe Wood (batting for Uhle) flew to King in right center to end the inning. After six, the Giants still held a 10-4 lead.

Giants 7th: Doyle's leadoff base hit to right was erased when O'Neill threw him out trying to steal second. Earl tapped to first for the second out, and Frank Snyder (batting for Barnes) grounded to second. As we stretch at Dunn Field, the home squad still trails 10-4.

Indians 7th: Jamieson led off with a seeing-eye single to left, but was forced by Wambsganss. After Speaker flew to right center, Elmer singled to left center to keep the inning alive. But Gardner's pop to third was caught by Frisch to end the inning with runners still on the corners. After seven, the Giants continue to lead the Indians 10-4.

Giants 8th: After one out, Bancroft singled to center. Youngs drew a walk to put two men on, and Frisch scalded a ball that was headed for the right field corner until Johnston smothered it for out number two. Indians reliever Bob Clark then walked Kelly to load the bases for King. Lee also drew a base on balls, which forced in Bancroft and made it 11-4 New York. Clark then left the game in favor of Dave Niehaus, but the new Cleveland hurler's second pitch was smacked into left by Doyle, then rolled all the way to the wall. The bases emptied, Doyle had a double, and the Giants' lead was 14-4. Elmer's line drive into the left center power alley allowed him to exchange places with Doyle, and it was 15-4. Benny Kauff batted for Perritt and flew to right to end the inning, but the Giants had scored five times on three hits and a pair of walks, and after seven and a half, the Giants are enjoying their second straight rout to the tune of 15-4.

Indians 8th: Johnston greeted new Giants pitcher Jesse Winters with a base hit to left center. Sewell drew a walk, and O'Neill's single to left loaded the bases. Joe Evans then batted for Niehaus, and his ground single to right scored Johnston to make it 15-5. Sewell scored on Jamieson's grounder to second to make it 15-6, and after Winters hit Wambsganss in the leg with a pitch, Speaker bounced into a force play to bring home O'Neill and cut the Cleveland deficit to eight. Bill Hubbell was almost ready in the New York bullpen, but not ready enough, as Elmer launched Winters' 3-1 pitch over the right center field wall for a three-run homer. All of a sudden, the Giants' lead was down to 15-10 and Dunn Field was electric.

Winters departed, but Hubbell was greeted by a base hit from Gardner. Two pitches later, Johnston tattooed his second hit of the inning, a fly ball over Burns' head in left that bounced up against the fence. Gardner scored the eleventh Cleveland run, and Johnston ended up at third with a triple. Sewell thus had a chance to drive him with the twelfth run for the Tribe. Unfortunately, he got a little too far under Hubbell's first-pitch fastball, and Burns made the catch in shallow left to retire the side. But the Indians had erupted for seven runs on six hits, a walk, and a hit batsman. We're through eight and in the midst of another barnburner: Giants 15, Indians 11.

For the second day in a row, the game was stopped for darkness after eight innings. Play resumed on Wednesday with the top of the ninth.

Giants 9th: With one out, Bancroft walked against new Cleveland pitcher Elmer Myers. Youngs' double to right brought him home, and the New York lead was 16-11. Youngs then moved to third on Frisch's groundout, but Kelly struck out to end the inning. Will the Giants need the insurance run they just got? The way this series is going, it's wise not to bet against it. Going to the last of the ninth, they lead 16-11.

Indians 9th: New Giants pitcher Phil Douglas set the Tribe down in order, with Jamieson's grounder to third being the final out. Final score: Giants 16, Indians 11, and the Giants lead the series three games to two.

Doyle was the consensus choice for Player of the Game after going four for five with five RBIs and three runs scored.

Final totals: Giants 16-18-1, Indians 11-14-3.

W- Barnes (1-0)
L- Bagby (1-1)

HR- NYG: Kelly (2), Burns (1)
CLE: Smith (1)

Game 6 will start shortly here at Dunn Field. Fred Toney will pitch for the Giants, and Duster Mails will start for the Tribe.

Next: We look at Game 6.

Thoughts?