[Big Six]

(Note: John Mason was a teammate of Pat's at Richmond, with whom Pat became friends. Mason never made it to the major leagues and retired from baseball in 1908.)



Putnam Hotel
447 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts

Mr. John Mason
307 Selvidge Street
Dalton, Georgia

September 30, 1909


Dear John,

I had been meaning to write to you for some time, and I figured that this evening was as good an opportunity as I might have for some time. Tomorrow morning we will be boarding the train for New York, traveling there for the next games in the World’s Series. I am sure you have been following the results in the local papers. Allow me to add my own observations, if you will!

Even if these games were not the first two of a championship series, I would rank them among the most exciting ones I have ever encountered! Both of them went into extra innings, and both of them were won by the right team, from my way of looking at things. The pitching has been superb on each side, and both teams have played with such pep that the rooters have surely had a good deal.

The first game, on Sunday, we sent Pruiett out to face Matty. Both men were in good form, and neither side scored until the eighth inning, when Devlin hit one between Chadbourne and Speaker and circled the bases before we got the ball back in. We tied it up in exciting fashion in the bottom of the ninth, when Matty passed me and Speaker ripped a triple with two men out. The rooters nearly screamed themselves hoarse.

The 1-1 score held up until the FOURTEENTH inning! McGraw removed Matty, who had worked like a horse, and put in Marquard. We greeted him rudely, for sure. Heinie Wagner hit a double, and Pruiett went to the plate for himself. Tex won his own game with a base hit, and the rooters carried him off the field on their shoulders.

Today, it was Harris for us, and Wiltse for the New Yorkers. They scored twice off Joe in the top of the first, but we got one run back for him in our half. Wiltse is tough, but in the third inning, he had to leave the game, as his elbow troubled him. Taylor went to the hill, and he held us right there. Malarkey came on next, and he did the same, until, wouldn’t you know it, the ninth inning again! And, I am proud to say, I was the man who scored the tying run once again. Has my luck been running well, or not? I opened the inning with a single, stole second base, and scored when Cravath hit to left.

The eleventh was the lucky inning for us today. Chadbourne was the hero, when he drove in Konetchy with a double to win the game. Chadbourne got the ride to the clubhouse today, courtesy of the rooters.

Can you believe it? One game 2-1, the other 3-2. Fourteen innings one day, eleven the next. There have been only three errors in the two games, and none of them have affected the outcome. The play on both sides has been worthy of a World’s Series, for sure!

I hope we fare as well in New York as we have in Boston. We won’t have last ups, which have come in handy for us so far. I should end this letter now so I can get some rest, unless I am simply too nervous to sleep. None of the boys are going out drinking tonight, as they realize how important the next few days are. That World Series bonus will go a long way toward making things easier for me! Remind me to write to you about a girl I have become quite attached to in my next letter.

Again, I hope this finds you well, enjoying autumn back in the South. I wish you could be with us for this, as I am sure you do as well.

Your pal,
Pat