The 1905 season came to a close with several eye-popping performances and a couple of familiar foes getting ready to do battle in the second-ever World's Championship Series.
The Washington Senators were the big story of 1905. Not only did they demolish their American League competition in winning a third-straight pennant, they did so by winning 110 games and enter the World's Series with not one, but two 30-game winners ready to take the mound. The Senators faced a game challenger in Cleveland. The Blues posted a 94-60 record - identical to that of the National League's champions this season - but still finished 16 games behind the Capital City's powerhouse. And with Harlan Holladay, whose 33 victories led both leagues (his 1.28 ERA was second-best) and Wes Luttier (31 victories - 2nd - and 1.66 ERA - 4th), they simply throttled opposing lineups. The team's ERA was 1.81 and they allowed just 380 runs - a full 46 fewer than the best mark in the National League.
The National League had a thrilling pennant chase for about two-thirds of the season. But in the end, the veteran New York Giants crossed the finish line five games ahead of the Boston Beaneaters with their fourth-straight pennant. The Gotham nine were 94-60, a less impressive record than some of their recent performances, but still tops in their league. The pitching, as usual, was dominant with a 1.98 ERA. The team's Achilles heel (if a four-time champ can be said to have one) is their somewhat lackluster hitting: their .237 average was tied for sixth in the National League. Still with Fred McDonnell (26-9, 1.33 ERA) and Aidan O'Day (25-9, 1.92) hurling, the Giants didn't need to score many runs.
This sets up an interesting World Series between two clubs with absolutely dominating pitching. The big question to consider when thinking back to the 1903 Series between these teams: how much better are the 110-44 Senators now?
HARLAN HOLLADAY, WASHINGTON