Bucky Veil was the first relief pitcher in the Fall Classic. It was from the very first World Series. Boston vs. Pittsburgh.
After the opening tilt of the 1903 World Series went into the books with two complete games, the second one was different. Veil had only pitched twelve games that season, half the time as a starter.
But after the Pirates' Sam Leever was rocked for two runs in the bottom of the first inning, there was Veil in to try and hold the fort. It would not prove to be an easy task. After getting the first batter out in the bottom of the second, he walked the next batter. Then, he hit one! Was some early Moneyball time about to doom Buck? Fortunately, he got Jimmy Collins and Chick Stahl out to escape that.
But the next two innings were also tough. Veil allowed a single in the bottom of the third. In the fourth, he surrendered another walk, and then Collins singled with two outs. Again, he get Stahl out to end the threat. But things had looked rocky. And the worst was still to come, if you can believe it!
Bucky Freeman led off the bottom of the fifth with a single. When Freddy Parent drew Veil's third walk, things were looking hopeless. A bunt by Candy LaChance not only moved 'em both into scoring position, but Veil could not field it. The bases were loaded for Boston. Not a man out. And still 2-0 for the Americans. The wheels were ready to come off the chariot.
Hobe Ferris hit into a force at home, but the bases were still loaded. Then, it was time for some twin killing! Lou Criger hit a ground ball to second that Claude Ritchey combined with Honus Wagner to turn into an inning-ending double play. But the next inning, Veil would not be so lucky.
In the bottom of the 7th inning, Patsy Dougherty hit a home run to right with one out to make it 3-0, Boston. Collins drew Veil's fourth walk. And he made 'em pay for that by swiping second. Stahn went down on strikes. Bucky Freeman popped up four to first. But the damage had been done. Actually, there was no room for error in this game, period, by Pittsburgh.
Bill Dinneen, with the shutout in his back pocket, had thrown a 1-2-3 top of the 6th. In the 7th inning, he and Veil combined to retire all six batters. Dinneen retired the side in order in the top of the 8th. Veil walked the leadoff man, Criger, to start the bottom of the frame. Dinneen got him to second with a sac bunt. Dougherty did not get this one out of the infield, but he beat out a hit to third. Criger stayed put. Collins ended that by hitting into a double play.
Ed Phelps batted for Veil in the top of the 9th and Dinneen fanned him. Ginger Beaumont popped out to Parent, in short. Parent then took Fred Clarke's roller and threw him out to make it a 3-0 final. Pittsburgh had managed a grand total of three hits this afternoon. None by Wagner.
Dinneen had gone the distance for this masterful performance. While the game was pretty much in the bag from his first pitch, the Pirates did get an pretty good performance from an unlikely source.
Bucky Veil was out of the bigs after the 1904 season (a year where there was no World Series). He never took the mound again in the 1903 Fall Classic, so this was his sole appearance. His major league career was just two short seasons. So, chalk this up an another World Series first by an obscure player!
After the opening tilt of the 1903 World Series went into the books with two complete games, the second one was different. Veil had only pitched twelve games that season, half the time as a starter.
But after the Pirates' Sam Leever was rocked for two runs in the bottom of the first inning, there was Veil in to try and hold the fort. It would not prove to be an easy task. After getting the first batter out in the bottom of the second, he walked the next batter. Then, he hit one! Was some early Moneyball time about to doom Buck? Fortunately, he got Jimmy Collins and Chick Stahl out to escape that.
But the next two innings were also tough. Veil allowed a single in the bottom of the third. In the fourth, he surrendered another walk, and then Collins singled with two outs. Again, he get Stahl out to end the threat. But things had looked rocky. And the worst was still to come, if you can believe it!
Bucky Freeman led off the bottom of the fifth with a single. When Freddy Parent drew Veil's third walk, things were looking hopeless. A bunt by Candy LaChance not only moved 'em both into scoring position, but Veil could not field it. The bases were loaded for Boston. Not a man out. And still 2-0 for the Americans. The wheels were ready to come off the chariot.
Hobe Ferris hit into a force at home, but the bases were still loaded. Then, it was time for some twin killing! Lou Criger hit a ground ball to second that Claude Ritchey combined with Honus Wagner to turn into an inning-ending double play. But the next inning, Veil would not be so lucky.
In the bottom of the 7th inning, Patsy Dougherty hit a home run to right with one out to make it 3-0, Boston. Collins drew Veil's fourth walk. And he made 'em pay for that by swiping second. Stahn went down on strikes. Bucky Freeman popped up four to first. But the damage had been done. Actually, there was no room for error in this game, period, by Pittsburgh.
Bill Dinneen, with the shutout in his back pocket, had thrown a 1-2-3 top of the 6th. In the 7th inning, he and Veil combined to retire all six batters. Dinneen retired the side in order in the top of the 8th. Veil walked the leadoff man, Criger, to start the bottom of the frame. Dinneen got him to second with a sac bunt. Dougherty did not get this one out of the infield, but he beat out a hit to third. Criger stayed put. Collins ended that by hitting into a double play.
Ed Phelps batted for Veil in the top of the 9th and Dinneen fanned him. Ginger Beaumont popped out to Parent, in short. Parent then took Fred Clarke's roller and threw him out to make it a 3-0 final. Pittsburgh had managed a grand total of three hits this afternoon. None by Wagner.
Dinneen had gone the distance for this masterful performance. While the game was pretty much in the bag from his first pitch, the Pirates did get an pretty good performance from an unlikely source.
Bucky Veil was out of the bigs after the 1904 season (a year where there was no World Series). He never took the mound again in the 1903 Fall Classic, so this was his sole appearance. His major league career was just two short seasons. So, chalk this up an another World Series first by an obscure player!
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