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Big Six · 01-15-2004, 09:05 PM

Boston Globe, September 29, 1913

BOSTON OPENS SERIES WITH VICTORY
“Smoky Joe” Wood Shines as Sox Win, 6-2

BOSTON—There are few thrills in baseball to equal the beginning of a World Series. I have been fortunate enough to have participated in four of these championship match-ups, and each time, the excitement reaches new heights. And, what better way to begin the Series than with a win, in front of the rooters of Boston.

The “fans” filled Fenway Park, and their support never wavered, from the first pitch to last. I have always felt that the rooters of Boston were the best around, and today they certainly proved it once again.

The game itself turned in the third inning, when Big Ed Konetchy connected with a Roy Hitt delivery for a long homer, good for three runs. Joe Wood was in top form all day long, and his control was very sharp. The Reds are a great hitting club, but Joe held them in check today.

Roy Hitt pitched for the Reds, so the game matched up two men who won more than twenty games during the season. I have never had much success against Hitt, and today was unfortunately not going to change that. The important thing, however, is that several of my teammates hit better!

The Reds scored first. Bob Bescher used his great speed to beat out an infield hit. Joe Burns then shot one down the right field line, and Bescher just beat Chet Chadbourne’s peg to third base. Burns took second on the throw. Eddie Tiemeyer then walked, and with the bases full, clean-up man Mike Mitchell hit a hard grounder right at me. I had no chance to nip Bescher at home, so I quickly flipped the ball to Walt Thomas, who completed the double play with a hard throw over to Konetchy. One more ground ball to me by Rebel Oakes, and the inning was over. Joe did a fine job of pitching out of the jam.

We got the run back for him in our half of the inning. Harry Hooper led off with a hard double into the right field corner, and he went to third when Dick Egan misplayed Roy Jansen’s hard smash. Tris Speaker hit one deep to right, and Harry scored without a throw. I drew a base on balls, the only time Hitt would allow me to visit the basepaths all day. And I did not remain there long, as Konetchy forced me at second. At least, I got the chance to slide and get my uniform dirty!

I came up again in the bottom of the third inning, with runners on second and third and one out. Tris had just belted a long double, and I suppose I became too anxious to drive those runners home and give Joe a lead to work with. Hitt fooled me badly with a change of pace, and I tapped the ball right back to him. I was frustrated with my inability to drive in the run in that situation.

My scowl became a smile, however, as Konetchy hit the very next pitch over the fence in left-center field. I joined my teammates on the field to congratulate him, and Joe said to us, “That’s all you need to do, boys. I’ll take it from here.”

Joe proved true to his word. We decided to do a little more hitting anyway, as Chadbourne drove in two runs with a single in the seventh. With a six-run advantage, Joe allowed the Reds a run in the ninth. Mitchell drove this one in as well, with a ground out that scored Burns from third.

As for myself, Hitt gave me the hoodoo all day. I struck out twice looking and hit an easy ground ball to third in my final three trips to the plate. If anyone cares to know why Roy is regarded as one of the supreme twirlers in the National League, all they need to do is ask this American Leaguer. To-morrow, the Reds will send Jean Dubuc to the hill. Dubuc is a fine young pitcher, but I hope to have better luck with him. We will have Ralph Glaze throwing, and I am confident that he will give us every chance to win the game.

01-15-2004, 09:05 PM	#125 (permalink)
Big Six Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 2,494 Thanks: 146 Thanked 100x in 79 posts	Off to a good start Boston Globe, September 29, 1913 BOSTON OPENS SERIES WITH VICTORY “Smoky Joe” Wood Shines as Sox Win, 6-2 BOSTON—There are few thrills in baseball to equal the beginning of a World Series. I have been fortunate enough to have participated in four of these championship match-ups, and each time, the excitement reaches new heights. And, what better way to begin the Series than with a win, in front of the rooters of Boston. The “fans” filled Fenway Park, and their support never wavered, from the first pitch to last. I have always felt that the rooters of Boston were the best around, and today they certainly proved it once again. The game itself turned in the third inning, when Big Ed Konetchy connected with a Roy Hitt delivery for a long homer, good for three runs. Joe Wood was in top form all day long, and his control was very sharp. The Reds are a great hitting club, but Joe held them in check today. Roy Hitt pitched for the Reds, so the game matched up two men who won more than twenty games during the season. I have never had much success against Hitt, and today was unfortunately not going to change that. The important thing, however, is that several of my teammates hit better! The Reds scored first. Bob Bescher used his great speed to beat out an infield hit. Joe Burns then shot one down the right field line, and Bescher just beat Chet Chadbourne’s peg to third base. Burns took second on the throw. Eddie Tiemeyer then walked, and with the bases full, clean-up man Mike Mitchell hit a hard grounder right at me. I had no chance to nip Bescher at home, so I quickly flipped the ball to Walt Thomas, who completed the double play with a hard throw over to Konetchy. One more ground ball to me by Rebel Oakes, and the inning was over. Joe did a fine job of pitching out of the jam. We got the run back for him in our half of the inning. Harry Hooper led off with a hard double into the right field corner, and he went to third when Dick Egan misplayed Roy Jansen’s hard smash. Tris Speaker hit one deep to right, and Harry scored without a throw. I drew a base on balls, the only time Hitt would allow me to visit the basepaths all day. And I did not remain there long, as Konetchy forced me at second. At least, I got the chance to slide and get my uniform dirty! I came up again in the bottom of the third inning, with runners on second and third and one out. Tris had just belted a long double, and I suppose I became too anxious to drive those runners home and give Joe a lead to work with. Hitt fooled me badly with a change of pace, and I tapped the ball right back to him. I was frustrated with my inability to drive in the run in that situation. My scowl became a smile, however, as Konetchy hit the very next pitch over the fence in left-center field. I joined my teammates on the field to congratulate him, and Joe said to us, “That’s all you need to do, boys. I’ll take it from here.” Joe proved true to his word. We decided to do a little more hitting anyway, as Chadbourne drove in two runs with a single in the seventh. With a six-run advantage, Joe allowed the Reds a run in the ninth. Mitchell drove this one in as well, with a ground out that scored Burns from third. As for myself, Hitt gave me the hoodoo all day. I struck out twice looking and hit an easy ground ball to third in my final three trips to the plate. If anyone cares to know why Roy is regarded as one of the supreme twirlers in the National League, all they need to do is ask this American Leaguer. To-morrow, the Reds will send Jean Dubuc to the hill. Dubuc is a fine young pitcher, but I hope to have better luck with him. We will have Ralph Glaze throwing, and I am confident that he will give us every chance to win the game.