Octobers Heroes - A history of the fall classic

[Lee]

As the title says, this will be focused on each seasons World Series, starting in 1901 forward.


Format

• The series will be the focus, with only standings, stat leaders and award winners posted for the regular season
• Both leagues will have a DH from day 1
• Reserve clause until 1970, then free agency
• No draft until 1970, historical rookies will go to the highest bidder

That is basically it, but if there is anything anyone following wants to see, such as how a player did in a certain season or their career, the White Sox line up in 1932, etc, let me know and I will post those outside of the regular format.

Just a note, this will move fairly slow as I like to watch a lot of games as I go.

[Lee]

	Season Summary 1901
	Predicted Pennant Winners and records
	Milwaukee Brewers	81	59			Philadelphia Phillies	82	58
	Final Standings
	American League	W	L	GB		National League	W	L	GB
	Boston Americans	96	44	-		Philadelphia Phillies	88	52	-
	Baltimore Orioles	75	65	21		Pittsburgh Pirates	78	61	9.5
	Milwaukee Brewers	75	65	21		Brooklyn Superbas	77	63	11
	Chicago White Sox	74	66	22		Cincinnati Reds	71	68	16.5
	Philadelphia Athletics	71	69	25		Chicago Orphans	70	69	17.5
	Detroit Tigers	69	71	27		St Louis Cardinals	68	71	19.5
	Washington Senators	57	86	39		New York Giants	60	80	28
	Cleveland Blues	43	97	53		Boston Beaneaters	46	94	42
	Leaders
	Average					Average
	Nap Lajoie - PHI	.385				Jimmy Sheckard - BRO	.345
	Buck Freeman - BOS	.346				Jesse Burkett - STL	.342
	John McGraw - BAL	.343				Topsy Hartsel - PHI	.341
	HR					HR
	Buck Freeman - BOS	24				Sam Crawford - CIN	15
	Pop Foster - WAS	16				Jimmy Sheckard - BRO	12
	Mike Grady - WAS	14				Ed McFarland - PHI	10
	RBI					RBI
	Buck Freeman - BOS	130				Elmer Flick - PHI	114
	Harry Davis - PHI	107				Ed McFarland - PHI	110
	Nap Lajoie - PHI	106				Jimmy Sheckard - BRO	88
	SB					SB
	Dave Fultz - PHI	54				Frank Chance - CHI	51
	John McGraw - BAL	46				Sammy Strang - NY	44
	Fielder Jones - CHI	39				Topsy Hartsel - PHI	41
	ERA					ERA
	Vic Willis - BOS	2.02				Jesse Tannehill - PIT	1.59
	Cy Young - BOS	2.03				Tom Hughes - CHI	1.91
	Roy Patterson - CHI	2.18				Noodles Hahn - CIN	1.92
	Wins					Wins
	Cy Young - BOS	28				Jesse Tannehill - PIT	26
	Jack Katoll - CHI	23				Noodles Hahn - CIN	22
	Fred Mitchell - BOS	21				Sam Leever - PIT	22
	Awards
	MVP	Buck Freeman RF BOS				MVP	Noodles Hahn P CIN
	Diamond Ace	Cy Young BOS				Diamond Ace	Noodles Hahn CIN
	Rookie of the Year	Roy Patterson P CHI				Rookie of the Year	Tom Hughes P CHI
	World Series Preview
	Defense and pitching was the rallying cry for the Boston Americans as they shredded the AL competition finishing first in runs agains (497), starters ERA (2.44) and defensive efficiency (.703) pulling away from the pack by going 63-20 from July forward and compiling a 51-19 mark at Huntington Avenue grounds. That is not to say they tied for the AL league in home runs (45) and hit .285 as a team, led by MVP Buck Freeman .346-24-130, who put together a season as good as any in history. Cy Young, Vic Willis and George Winter all won 20+ games and 3B Jimmy Collins chipped in with a .298-6-81 year behind Freeman in the Boston lineup. Their opponents in the series took the opposite route as the Phillies ranked first in the NL in runs (788), average (.273) and OBP (.349) while pilferring a 188 bases, good for second best in the senior circuit.The NL was ruled more by pitching, as it's hurlers compiled a league wide ERA of 3.03, compared to 3.52 in the AL, while hitting .265 overall, which was 13 points less than their counterparts in Ban Johnsons upstart league. Still, the Philly nine boasted four players who hit .287 or better led by RF Elmer Flick (.330-6-114, 28 SB) Catcher Ed McFarland (.306-10-110) and CF Roy Thomas (.290-1-48, 25 SB) and five players with 20 or more steals. On the dowside Flick tore ligaments in his thumb with a week left in the season and will miss the series, giving the Phillies hopes a serious kick in the teeth against the best pitching in Baseball.
	World Series
	Game 1	R	H	E
	Philadelphia	3	6	3	WP	White 1-0
	Boston	2	7	1	LP	Young 0-1
	HR - None
	Doc White (18-10, 2.74) and Cy Young (28-6, 2.03) square off in the opener and Cy is undone by two poor innings, as he gives up run in the 1st and a 2 run single to Harry Wolverton in the 5th, though he does pitch out of a bases loaded jam in the 9th. White is consistent, with both of Boston's runs coming after errors. Wolverton is the star for the Philles going 3 for 4, while Roy Thomas has 2 RBI for the winners.Jimmy Collins plates both of Boston's runs with singles in the 3rd and 5th innings.
	Game 2	R	H	E		14 innings
	Philadelphia	3	10	4	LP	White 1-1
	Boston	4	9	1	WP	Young 1-1
	HR - None
	In a puzzling move, Boston brings back Cy Young after a rain out due to dead arms and Philly, after warming up Happy Townsend responds in kind with White. The wear of the season leaves both managers desperate to avoid using lame arms, and these two warriors go 14 innings, giving them each 23 in three days. Philly scores all 3 runs in the 1st, as White's rubber apendage finally gives out in the 14th allowing a leadoff triple to Buck Freeman, followed by a single from Freddy Parent to end it.
	Game 3	R	H	E
	Boston	9	14	2	WP	Willis 1-0
	Philadelphia	3	7	3	LP	Townsend 0-1
	HR - None
	Boston, trailing 3-1 explode for 8 runs in the 5th, driving Happy Townsend from the box as Buck Freeman collects 3 hits and scores a pair of runs to boost his series average to .467. Vic Willis overcame a slow start and was in the zone the last 6 innings, giving up just 2 hits after surrendering 5 in the first 3 innings. Ossee Schreckengost and Tommy Dowd each chip in a pair of RBI for the Sox in a winning cause. Base running was terrible as the teams combine to go just 3 for 8 in steal attempts
	Game 4	R	H	E
	Boston	6	9	6	LP	Willis 1-1
	Philadelphia	7	14	2	WP	Donahue 1-0
	HR - None
	Back comes Willis on no rest and his teammates thank him with 6 errors, while Philly third baseman Harry Wolverton goes 2 for 5 with 2 singles, while adding 3 RBI and scoring once. The win ties things up at 2-2 tie and heavily favored Boston is getting all they can handle. Wolverton had a clutch at-bat in the bottom of the eighth for the Phillies. Coming up with runners on 2nd and 3rd and Philadelphia trailing 6-5, he hit a 2-run single.Wolverton is now hitting .421 in the series.
	Game 5	R	H	E
	Boston	3	8	2	LP	Mitchell 0-1
	Philadelphia	5	8	2	WP	White 2-1
	HR - None
	Doc White, pitching for the 3rd time on three days rest held on after giving up two runs in the top of the 9th to stake the Phillies to a 3-2 series lead. The game was tied at 1-1 going into the bottom of the 8th, when Philadelphia erupted for 4 runs, spearheaded by a one out 2 run single from Ed McFarland that plated Ed Gremminger and Roy Thomas. The Sox then loaded the sacks in the top of the 9th, with no outs, and White walked in Lou Criger, before settling down to close it out.
	Game 6	R	H	E		12 innings
	Philadelphia	2	6	2	LP	White 2-2
	Boston	3	13	3	WP	Young 2-1
	HR - None
	Bert Shettsline brings Doc White back on 1 day of rest again for his 4th series start against Boston's ace and it is another epic extra inning affair. It was apparent to all that White was worn to a nub, but he scrapped with the much sharper Young, whose only slip came in the 6th when the Phillies scored both their runs on 3 of their 6 hits, 2 walks and a throwing error. Boston evened the series when Tommy Dowd stroked a 2 out double, then scored on John Ganzel's walk off single as we go to game 7
	Game 7	R	H	E
	Philadelphia	1	7	4	WP	Young 3-1
	Boston	3	5	2	LP	Townsend 0-2
	HR - None
	With everything on the line, Cy Young works again, this time with no rest, and he officially earns the title of legend, scattering 7 hits and fanning 5 to give the Red Sox histories first World Series crown, winning two straight elimination games. Matter were tied at 1-1 going into the bottom of the 7th when Lou Criger singled, Chick Stahl walked after a fielders choice and C Ossee Shreckengost delivered a clutch triple on an 0-2 count. It was all Young needed as the Red Sox are the World Champions!
	MVP
	Cy Young 3-1, 1.43, 44 IP, 25 K
	Buck Freeman also went .394-0-5, 6 runs scored, but the clear hero for this series is the great Cy Young. For Philly, Harry Wolverton hit .367-0-6, but only scored once and was 0-4 in steal attempts
	Notable Rookies for 1902
	Johnny Evers 2B	Patsy Dougherty LF				Addie Joss P
	Joe Tinker SS	Jimmy Sebring RF				Harry Bemis C

[Lee]

	Season Summary 1902
	Predicted Pennant Winners and records
	Baltimore Orioles	97	43			Brooklyn Superbas	86	54
	Final Standings
	American League	W	L	GB		National League	W	L	GB
	Boston Americans	91	49	-		St Louis Cardinals	83	58	-	*Won 1 game playoff over Pittsburgh
	St Louis Browns	82	58	9		Pittsburgh Pirates	82	59	1
	Baltimore Orioles	81	59	10		Cincinnati Reds	80	60	2.5
	Philadelphia Athletics	67	73	24		Philadelphia Phillies	72	68	10.5
	Detroit Tigers	66	74	25		New York Giants	68	72	14.5
	Chicago White Sox	59	81	32		Brooklyn Superbas	66	74	16.5
	Cleveland Bronchos	57	83	34		Boston Beaneaters	58	82	24.5
	Washington Senators	57	83	34		Chicago Orphans	52	88	30.5
	Leaders
	Average					Average
	Nap Lajoie - PHI	.392				Jesse Burkett - STL	.360
	Freddy Parent - BOS	.347				John Dobbs - CIN	.338
	Mike Donlin - BAL	.332				Sam Crawford - CIN	.333
	HR					HR
	Buck Freeman - BOS	11				Sam Crawford - CIN	14
	Nap Lajoie - PHI	10				Jesse Burkett - STL	9
	Wid Conroy - STL	9				Gene DeMontreville - NY	7
	RBI					RBI
	Jimmy Williams	103				Harry Bay - CIN	90
	Buck Freeman - BOS	99				Jake Beckley - CIN	85
	Mike Donlin - BAL	90				Ed McFarland - PHI	83
	SB					SB
	Zaza Harvey - CHI	48				Frank Chance - CHI	49
	Mike Donlin - BAL	44				Dan McGann - STL	46
	Tommy Dowd - BOS	42				Ducky Holmes - CIN	41
	ERA					ERA
	Fred Mitchell - BOS	1.81				Ed Murphy - STL	1.71
	Cy Young - BOS	2.00				Rube Waddell - PIT	1.84
	Harry Howell - BAL	2.17				Jack Chesbro - PIT	1.98
	Wins					Wins
	Harry Howell - BAL	27				Ed Murphy - STL	25
	Chap McFarland - DET	25				Rube Waddell - PIT	25
	Cy Young - BOS	25				Noodles Hahn - CIN	23
	Awards
	MVP	Nap Lajoie PHI				MVP	Jesse Burkett STL
	Diamond Ace	Cy Young BOS				Diamond Ace	Rube Waddell PIT
	Rookie of the Year	SS Ernie Courtney STL				Rookie of the Year	SS Joe Tinker PHI
	World Series Preview
	The scribes were way off in their pre-season predictions as Boston roared to their second straight AL pennant, while Brooklyn finished in the second division in the NL, while Pittsburgh and St Louis battled down to the wire, requring a 1 game playoff to decide the senior league champion. Pre-Season NL favorite Brooklyn was decimated by injury losing 3 position players to long term injuries as well as staff ace and two time 20 game winner Deacon Phillippe, though rookie Addie Joss (14-20, 2.45) showed potential. St Louis blasted Pittsburgh 7-0 in the one game playoff to decide the pennant as Ed Murphy (25-8, 1.71) bested Pirate ace Rube Waddell (25-11, 1.84), who failed to get out of the 5th inning. The Cards were led by lynchpins Jesse Burkett (.360-9-79) in LF and 1B Dan McGann (.307-4-62), surrounded by a lineup of solid, though not spectacular players. After Murphy, Jack Harper and Jack Powell both tallied 19 wins.The Boston 9, though not as dominant as 1901, were once again the class of the AL led by ageless wonder Cy Young (25-11, 2.00) and fellow 20 game winners Vic Willis (23-11, 2.69) and Fred Mitchell (21-13, 1.81). Freddy Parent exploded in his 2nd season hitting .347 with a .403 OBP, with Buck Freeman (.314-11-99) again pacing the team in RBI, with RF Jimmy Sebring (.275-5-83) and LF Tommy Dowd (.307-4-51) making solid contributions.Other notable rookies in 1902: Joe Tinker PHI(N) 258-2-68, Harry Bemis BOS(A) .297-0-24, Johnny Evers NY .275-0-43
	World Series
	Game 1	R	H	E
	St Louis	6	10	2	WP	Murphy 1-0
	Boston	4	9	2	LP	Young 0-1
	HR - None
	Neither Murphy or Young was overly sharp in this one and both fell victim their teams defensive woes as each were tagged with 3 unearned runs as the Americans drop the series opener for the second year in a row. 1B Dan McGann paced the NL champs driving in 3 runs, with 2B Dick Padden, a .238 hitter during the regular season knocked in what proved to be the winning tallies with a 2 RBI single in the 7th. For the losers Tommy Dowd collected three of their nine hits and knocked in 2 runs as well.
	Game 2	R	H	E		10 innings
	St Louis	3	5	2	LP	Murphy 1-1
	Boston	4	11	3	WP	Young 1-1
	HR - None
	In what is becoming a rather odd trend, both managers choose to trot out their aces again (This also happened in 1901) and this time it is Young who defies fatigue and the 146 pitches he threw in game 1 to out duel Murphy in 10 innings. Young scatters 5 hits, fans 4 and does not allow an earned run as the series draws even. SS Freddy Parent and 3B Charlie Buelow both collect 2 hits for the Bostonians, while Dan McGann doubles home 2 for the Cards, later scoring on C Fred Jacklitsch's single
	Game 3	R	H	E
	Boston	4	9	4	WP	Willis 1-0
	St Louis	2	8	1	LP	Murphy 1-2
	HR - None
	After a day off the teams shift to St Louis and amidst a sea of howls from the stands, Murphy is on the mound again for home team and he is completely outpitched by a well rested Vic Willis, who strikes out 5 on his way to a complete game victory. RF Jimmy Sebring, hitting .417 in the series to this point cracks a 2 run double in the 5th scoring Buck Freeman and SS Freddy Parent (who scores twice on the day) to provide Willis and the Americans with the winning margin.
	Game 4	R	H	E		11 innings
	Boston	2	8	1	WP	Young 2-1
	St Louis	0	7	0	LP	Powell 0-1
	HR - None
	St Louis skipper Patsy Donovan finally trots out someone not named Murphy, and Jack Powell goes toe to toe with a well rested (2 days) Cy Young before finally giving out in the 11th inning. After C Ossee Schreckgost singles to start the 11th, 1B Buck Freeman triples him home and then scores after Jimmy Sebring walks and 2B Hobe Ferris singles, giving Boston all they need. Series leaders to date are SS Freddy Parent for Boston at .353, while Dan McGann of the Cardinals leads all batters with 6 RBI
	Game 5	R	H	E
	Boston	4	7	3	WP	Willis 2-0
	St Louis	1	7	1	LP	Powell 0-2
	HR - None
	Vic Willis is back on the hill for the Americans, while Jack Powell goes again for the Cardinals in yet another baffling move by manager Donovan, who has well rested 19 game winner Jack Harper available and his move likely costs his team the series as Powell, strong through 5, implodes in the 6th, giving up all 4 runs as SS Freddy Parent starts off the scoring with a 2 run single and DH John Ganzel tops it off with a run scoring double that plates Hobe Ferris as Boston are World Champions again!
	MVP
	Cy Young 2-1, 0.90, 30 IP, 0.83 WHIP
	Buck Freeman had another good series at .375-0-2, 3 runs scored, Hobe Ferris hit just .238 for the winners, but drove in 5 runs, while Dan McGann went .333-0-6, with 2 runs and 2 steals for St Louis
	Notable Rookies for 1903
	Mordecai Brown P	Jake Stahl 1B				Chief Bender P
	Jack Pfiester P	Doc Gessler CF				Red Ames P
	Musings
	AL ROTY Ernie Courtney hit .280-2-57, with 62 runs scored for the St Louis Browns. In real life he hit .225 in his rookie season for the Boston Braves and ended up with a .245 career average over 6 seasons for 5 different teams. His best season was 1905 when he hit .275 with 2 HR and 77 RBI for the Philadelphia Phillies in 601 at bats. Will be interesting to see if he becomes more in the replay

[Lee]

Hall of fame voting sees three new members added in 1903


Cap Anson - 3418 hits, .333 BA, 97 HR, 2076 RBI - 97.2% of ballots (1st year)
Roger Connor - 2467 hits, .317 BA, 138 HR, 1322 RBI - 88.8% of ballots (1st year)
Pud Galvin - 364-310, 2.86 ERA, 1806 strikeouts, 1.19 WHIP - 75.7% of ballots (2nd year)


They join previous inductees
John Clarkson - 1902
Tony Mullane - 1902
Tim Keefe - 1902
Bobby Mathews - 1902