Even though Washington eventually came up short in the 1925 Fall Classic, the Senators' 3-1 Series lead against the Pirates was not without some controversy.
It was game 3, with the Series tied at 1 and the Series' lead at stake. Washington had already used Walter Johnson to win game 1. Stan Coveleski took a tough 3-2 loss for the Nats in game 2.
So here was game 3 in Washington. And it was a real gem of a game! But there was one play that would be talked about for years after.
The Senators sent Alex Ferguson to the mound. It must have sort of seemed like a bad move, as Fergie had led the AL in losses with 17 the previous year. But this was 1925, and Alex pitched for three different teams. Finally landing in Washington, he was good! Here's a breakdown of Ferguson's 1925 W-L, ERA breakdown:
Boston Red Sox: 0-2, 10.91 ERA
New York Yankees: 4-2, 7.79 ERA
Washington Senators: 5-1, 3.25 ERA
Not sure if I would want this guy on the hill at any point in any World Series game. But looking at his numbers with Washington, I guess it's not so bad. And he pitched well here and also in game 6.
But what about his mound opponent for Pittsburgh? Ray Kremer! This guy was a pretty good pitcher, says I! Only in his third year was Ray. But look at his numbers.
1924: 18-10, 3.19 ERA
1925: 17-8, 3.69 ERA
So, a great W% and a pretty good ERA. Looks like a TKO for the Bucs in game 3 of the 1925 Fall Classic.
Pie Traynor made it look that way when he hit a leadoff triple to start the top of the 2nd for Pittsburgh. A sacrifice fly scored him. But leave it to the Judge, as in Joe Judge, to drive home Sam Rice in the bottom of the 3rd to tie it. Rice would be heard from later this game, believe you me!
But once again, reality set in for Alex. In the top of the 4th, the Pirates, undaunted, tallied another run and then loaded the bases. Ferguson had to fan his mound opponent, Kremer, to escape further damage. The Pittsburgh Pirates had the lead again, 2-1.
In the top of the 6th, with runners on the corners and two down, Kremer got another chance at Fergie. This time, he came through by stroking a single to center to extend the Pirates' lead to 3-1. But the Nationals came back in the bottom of the frame as Goose Goslin took Ray deep.
Washington then looked like they might get more, as they got two more hits that inning. Kremer bore down and got out of it, still ahead, 3-2.
After Alex had a 1-2-3 7th, it was time for a dramatic comeback by Washington!
Nemo Leibold, who had played on the infamous 1919 Chicago White Sox (obviously, he was clean in that Series), hitting for Ferguson, drew a walk. After two singles loaded the bases, The Judge tied the game with a sacrifice fly! Joe Harris' second hit of that game, then put the Senators up, 4-3!
Firpo Marberry, the great relief pitcher (Yes, they had them back then, too! Well, some of them) came in to pitch the top of the 8th and K'd the first two Pirate batters. But then Earl Smith didn't go down on strikes!
Actually, he launched one to right. This had a chance to go out. Sam Rice, playing rightfield (actually, Sam had switched from centerfield to right in the top of this fateful inning!) raced over to the wall, reached over, and disappeared from sight!
Had he caught the ball?
Had he dropped the ball as we went over the wall?
The umpires held a conference, where it was ruled that Rice, did in fact, make the catch. And held on to the ball. The Senators were out of the inning with a slim one-run lead.
Marberry loaded the bases on two singles and a hit batter in the top of the ninth. There was only one out. But the man who collected many a save (although, of course, Firpo would not have been aware of it at the time), bore down and got Clyde Barnhart to pop up to catcher Muddy Ruel. Pie Traynor then flied out to Earl McNeely in center.
But what about Rice's catch? Did he really hold on to it?
Rice for years would only say that "The umpire said I did." Then he would smile. Many claimed he didn't. But finally, he said he would reveal the truth about the catch (or no catch) after he died. Sam sent a letter to the Hall Of Fame, to be opened after his death. The truth, lay inside. When he passed away in 1974, the letter was opened.
He caught it and held on to it!
Just had to get it off his chest after death, eh?
It was game 3, with the Series tied at 1 and the Series' lead at stake. Washington had already used Walter Johnson to win game 1. Stan Coveleski took a tough 3-2 loss for the Nats in game 2.
So here was game 3 in Washington. And it was a real gem of a game! But there was one play that would be talked about for years after.
The Senators sent Alex Ferguson to the mound. It must have sort of seemed like a bad move, as Fergie had led the AL in losses with 17 the previous year. But this was 1925, and Alex pitched for three different teams. Finally landing in Washington, he was good! Here's a breakdown of Ferguson's 1925 W-L, ERA breakdown:
Boston Red Sox: 0-2, 10.91 ERA
New York Yankees: 4-2, 7.79 ERA
Washington Senators: 5-1, 3.25 ERA
Not sure if I would want this guy on the hill at any point in any World Series game. But looking at his numbers with Washington, I guess it's not so bad. And he pitched well here and also in game 6.
But what about his mound opponent for Pittsburgh? Ray Kremer! This guy was a pretty good pitcher, says I! Only in his third year was Ray. But look at his numbers.
1924: 18-10, 3.19 ERA
1925: 17-8, 3.69 ERA
So, a great W% and a pretty good ERA. Looks like a TKO for the Bucs in game 3 of the 1925 Fall Classic.
Pie Traynor made it look that way when he hit a leadoff triple to start the top of the 2nd for Pittsburgh. A sacrifice fly scored him. But leave it to the Judge, as in Joe Judge, to drive home Sam Rice in the bottom of the 3rd to tie it. Rice would be heard from later this game, believe you me!
But once again, reality set in for Alex. In the top of the 4th, the Pirates, undaunted, tallied another run and then loaded the bases. Ferguson had to fan his mound opponent, Kremer, to escape further damage. The Pittsburgh Pirates had the lead again, 2-1.
In the top of the 6th, with runners on the corners and two down, Kremer got another chance at Fergie. This time, he came through by stroking a single to center to extend the Pirates' lead to 3-1. But the Nationals came back in the bottom of the frame as Goose Goslin took Ray deep.
Washington then looked like they might get more, as they got two more hits that inning. Kremer bore down and got out of it, still ahead, 3-2.
After Alex had a 1-2-3 7th, it was time for a dramatic comeback by Washington!
Nemo Leibold, who had played on the infamous 1919 Chicago White Sox (obviously, he was clean in that Series), hitting for Ferguson, drew a walk. After two singles loaded the bases, The Judge tied the game with a sacrifice fly! Joe Harris' second hit of that game, then put the Senators up, 4-3!
Firpo Marberry, the great relief pitcher (Yes, they had them back then, too! Well, some of them) came in to pitch the top of the 8th and K'd the first two Pirate batters. But then Earl Smith didn't go down on strikes!
Actually, he launched one to right. This had a chance to go out. Sam Rice, playing rightfield (actually, Sam had switched from centerfield to right in the top of this fateful inning!) raced over to the wall, reached over, and disappeared from sight!
Had he caught the ball?
Had he dropped the ball as we went over the wall?
The umpires held a conference, where it was ruled that Rice, did in fact, make the catch. And held on to the ball. The Senators were out of the inning with a slim one-run lead.
Marberry loaded the bases on two singles and a hit batter in the top of the ninth. There was only one out. But the man who collected many a save (although, of course, Firpo would not have been aware of it at the time), bore down and got Clyde Barnhart to pop up to catcher Muddy Ruel. Pie Traynor then flied out to Earl McNeely in center.
But what about Rice's catch? Did he really hold on to it?
Rice for years would only say that "The umpire said I did." Then he would smile. Many claimed he didn't. But finally, he said he would reveal the truth about the catch (or no catch) after he died. Sam sent a letter to the Hall Of Fame, to be opened after his death. The truth, lay inside. When he passed away in 1974, the letter was opened.
He caught it and held on to it!
Just had to get it off his chest after death, eh?
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