1903 WORLD SERIES: NEW YORK HIGHLANDERS vs BOSTON BEANEATERS
The first World Series appearance for each of these clubs. The New York franchise had enjoyed some decent success while based in Baltimore the past two seasons, finishing 3 games out of first in 1901 and just 1 game behind eventual world champion Boston(A) last year. Meanwhile, the Beaneaters pennant is a bit of a surprise to say the least. Boston was sixth in the National League, a whooping 35 games out of first place in 1901. Last season was a little better but they still finished in fourth place. However, consistant pitching was enough to get them into the Series this year. Can those Boston arms hold up against the mighty Highlander bats is the big question heading into the 1903 Series.
Injuries will play a key role in the series as the Beaneaters will be without 2 of their 3 starting pitchers. Both Vic Willis and Deacon Phillippe will likely miss the entire series.
Veteran Kid Nicholls (9-8, 2.42) will have no problem stepping into the rotation but there is much concern in Boston about whether untested Togie Pittenger (4-2, 3.19)will be able to do the job.
Meanwhile, the Highlanders got bad news on the eve of the series when it was learned that Honus Wagner's injury suffered in the final game of the season would be severe enough to end his season.
GAME 1 - Boston pitcher Bill Dineen wins the game with his arm and his bat. Dineen allows just 8 hits and his 2 run single in the 6th proves the difference as Boston beats New York 4-3 in the opener. Happy Townsend takes the loss. Bill Keister has 3 of the Highlander hits.
GAME 2 - Kid Nichols allows a pair of New York doubles in the first inning but is nearly perfect the rest of the way. Like Dineen ahead of him Nichols provides the key hit, a 2 run single in the third. It stands up as Boston beats rookie Barney Wolfe and the Highlanders 3-1 to sweep the first 2 games in New York.
GAME 3 - The seldom used Togie Pittenger appears to be in over his head starting a World Series game against the great Joe McGinnity. However, Pittenger keeps the Beaneaters in the game, trailing just 1-0 through 5 innings. Boston manufactures a run in the sixth to tie the game and in the 7th McGinnity makes a mistake. He hangs a 1 out curveball that Boston outfielder Duff Cooley rips into the rightfield corner. By the time Highlander outfielder Cy Seymour tracks the ball down Cooley is steaming into third base. Pat Carney follows with a weak grounder to second that is enough to plate Cooley with the eventual winning run. Pittenger shuts down the Highlander bats the rest of the way and it ends 2-1 Boston. The Beaneaters are just one win away from pulling off a huge upset.
GAME 4 - Townsend and New York lead Dineen and Boston 3-2 heading into the bottom of the 9th but a couple of walks and a clutch single from Pat Carney ties the game with the Beaneaters down to their final out. Neither team can score in the 10th but in the top of the 11th the Beaneaters shoot themselves in the foot. Errors from Fred Tenney and Jimmy Sheckard help New York score 3 times in the frame. Happy Townsend retires the Boston side without incident in the bottom of the 11th and the Highlanders cling to life following a 6-3 win.
GAME 5 - Steve Brodie drives in 4 as New York hammers Kid Nichols 6-1. Nichols was cruising along thru the 7th before allowing 5 runs in two innings. Barney Wolfe allowed 7 hits in earning the victory. The series shifts back to New York with Boston still needing just 1 victory.
GAME 6 - Pittenger is terrific allowing just 3 hits. Unfortunately for Boston supporters McGinnity pitches just as well surrendering only 1 run on 8 hits. Two of the hits Pittenger gave up were triples to Mike Donlin and each time they resulted in a run being scored so the Highlanders win the game 2-1 and now having won 3 straight the series is deadlocked. Donlin was the hero with an rbi and a run to go with his pair of three-baggers.
GAME 7 - Dineen and Townsend hook up for the third time in the series. Having dropped 3 straight, Boston's fragile psyche suffers a blow in the second when Bill Keister singles to lead off the inning. Back to back doubles from Cy Seymour and Roger Bresnahan make it 2-0 New York. Boston gamely tries to crawl back into the game but in the end the Highlanders prevail 6-3, completing an improbbale comeback after just as unexpectedly dropping the first 3 games.
With 5 rbi's and a .379 batting average, New York shortstop Bill Keister is named the series MVP.
The Braves fell just short in a season no one expected them to get anywhere near this far. You cant blame the loss on Nichols or Pittenger but one can't help but wonder if things would have turned out differently had Vic Willis and Deacon Phillippe been healthy for the series. Between them they won 40 games this season. Willis will not be back in a Boston uniform next season. He is a free agent but the rest of the cast should remain the same. It is unlikely to expect Boston to repeat but it was highly unlikely they would have won the pennant this year.
The Highlanders are loaded with talent but will likely lose Joe McGinnity and Roger Bresnahan to free agency. If they can replace those players there is no reason New York wont be a team to reckon with for several seasons.
Next up 1904 and the schedule expands to 154 games.
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