Wednesday, June 10, 2015

World Series: Did You Know?

The fewest ever gathered to see a Fall Classic game was from way back in 1908. Game five, Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers. Sadly, fans barely got to see an hour of Ty Cobb. The Georgia Peach and his teammates were up against a splendid performance from Orval Overall. Not enough people came to see it, and the game itself didn't have enough time.

Orval, however, was in a pitcher's duel in this game, which clinched the second straight Fall Classic for Chicago. They have not won one since.

Frank Chance gave Chicago the lead for good with a single in the top of the first off Bill Donovan. Bill would finish the game with ten hits allowed but only two runs scored.

Overall, however, had things going from the get-go. The batter walked in the bottom of the first, but a strikeout followed. Sam Crawford singled, but Detroit would manage only two more hits the rest of the way. And here's where Overall made history.

He fanned Cobb. Then he followed that with a K of Claude Rossman. However, the ball got away from Johnny Kling, and Rossman made it to first. The bases were loaded. But it only prolonged the agony for Detroit. Germany Schaefer fanned, and Overall became the first and only pitcher for fan four batters in one inning in a Fall Classic game.

Donovan kept Detroit in this, and even drew a walk and stole second in the bottom of the second. But try as he might, he couldn't inspire any offence from him teammates. Another player from Chicago's famed double-play poem, Johnny Evers, singled home the second and final run for the Cubs in the top of the fifth with a double. In the bottom of the frame, Detroit stranded a single by Bill Coughlin and a double hit by their leadodd hitter, Matty McIntyre. The Tigers were no-hit the rest of the game.

Donovan got out of the top of the seventh, when a single struck a baserunner. Evers, credited with the hit, was promptly picked off first by Bill. But Overall got 'em 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame, and did the same to Detroit in the next two innings. It was just that easy for him. When the game ended, after just 85 minutes, Orval had a three-hitter, a shutout, ten K's and four walks. Chicago, in as quick as manner as ever seen in the Fall Classic, had a World Series triumph in record time! Baseball is a sport about good timing, eh? Well, the fans weren't in tune to what was going on in that time of year in Detroit. Even with characters like Cobb, Donovan and Schaefer, only 6,210 fans took this one in. Who would have thought it would be the last time the Cubs won?


References


Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Retrosheet. Web. 10 June. 2016.  <www.retrosheet.org>

Snyder, John S. World Series!: Great Moments and Dubious Achievements. San Francisco: Chronicle, 1995. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 10 June. 2016.

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