The 1925 Fall Classic had the only instance in postseason history of a batter hitting out of turn! The Washington Senators, the beneficence of this missed call, still lost the World Series, but this was the first of two plays in this game that must have seemed like the umpires were helping the Senators win. How they could miss the first call is understandable, as it ended up being the right declaration. The second mistake, how can you miss?
Game three of the 1925 Fall Classic saw the Senators and Pittsburgh Pirates tied with one win apiece. Pittsburgh took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh, with the hometown Nats coming to the dish to try and tie it up. It was a big moment in a great World Series. But somehow, something happened that shouldn't have.
Nemo Leibold pinch hit for pitcher Alex Ferguson to lead off the inning. Washington needed to get the first batter on. Leibold, a member of the ill-fated 1919 Chicago White Sox, did just that and walked. Earl McNeely came in to run. Nothing wrong so far.
Sam Rice flew out. Bucky Harris singled, and so did Goose Goslin. Bases loaded. A sac fly scored McNeely and another single scored Harris. 3-2, Washington after seven. Still no problem. But after the third out of this inning, something happened to begin the top of the eighth.
Firpo Marberry came into pitch, and double-switched with Joe Harris in right. So he was now batting fifth, McNeely, though, went into to play centre, switching with Sam Rice who went to the vacant right field. McNeely was, of course, hitting in the ninth spot. The spot the pitcher normally bats in.
Again, there was no problem as Marberry did the job in the top of the eighth. Marberry got 'em 1-2-3 that inning, fanning the first two batters he faced.
Roger Peckinpaugh grounded out to start the bottom of the eighth for the Senators. Muddy Ruel singled to left. Here's where McNeely bats right? Wrong. The Senators sent up Marberry, even though he was hitting fifth. He got the bunt down and moved Muddy to second, but he should have been out automatically for batting out of turn. Sam Rice ended the inning by grounding out.
The Pirates almost took the lead in the top of the ninth, as they loaded 'em up with only two outs. But a pop up and a fly ball ended that. Washington won, 3-2 and were up two games to one.
The Senators also got a great catch by Sam Rice in centre in the top of the sixth, but years later he confirmed the play was legit. Some witnesses weren't sure he'd held on to the ball. Had he not, the Pirates would have scored two runs that inning, not one, as the ruling would have been a home run.
The World Series causes great excitement. Even among players, owners and even umpires. The men who dish out the decisions are also human like you and me. They make mistakes. And yes, it is unfortunate in the heat of the moment when it happens. Think of that pickoff play in game one of '48. Or that tag by Kelly Gruber in game three of '92 that would have completed the triple play. Ask Red Sox fans about how game three of '75 ended. You get the idea. Sometimes the fate of your team rests in the hands of umpires. They are allowed to be wrong once out of a hundred times, right? Just as long as they don't do it in October, eh?
Game three of the 1925 Fall Classic saw the Senators and Pittsburgh Pirates tied with one win apiece. Pittsburgh took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh, with the hometown Nats coming to the dish to try and tie it up. It was a big moment in a great World Series. But somehow, something happened that shouldn't have.
Nemo Leibold pinch hit for pitcher Alex Ferguson to lead off the inning. Washington needed to get the first batter on. Leibold, a member of the ill-fated 1919 Chicago White Sox, did just that and walked. Earl McNeely came in to run. Nothing wrong so far.
Sam Rice flew out. Bucky Harris singled, and so did Goose Goslin. Bases loaded. A sac fly scored McNeely and another single scored Harris. 3-2, Washington after seven. Still no problem. But after the third out of this inning, something happened to begin the top of the eighth.
Firpo Marberry came into pitch, and double-switched with Joe Harris in right. So he was now batting fifth, McNeely, though, went into to play centre, switching with Sam Rice who went to the vacant right field. McNeely was, of course, hitting in the ninth spot. The spot the pitcher normally bats in.
Again, there was no problem as Marberry did the job in the top of the eighth. Marberry got 'em 1-2-3 that inning, fanning the first two batters he faced.
Roger Peckinpaugh grounded out to start the bottom of the eighth for the Senators. Muddy Ruel singled to left. Here's where McNeely bats right? Wrong. The Senators sent up Marberry, even though he was hitting fifth. He got the bunt down and moved Muddy to second, but he should have been out automatically for batting out of turn. Sam Rice ended the inning by grounding out.
The Pirates almost took the lead in the top of the ninth, as they loaded 'em up with only two outs. But a pop up and a fly ball ended that. Washington won, 3-2 and were up two games to one.
The Senators also got a great catch by Sam Rice in centre in the top of the sixth, but years later he confirmed the play was legit. Some witnesses weren't sure he'd held on to the ball. Had he not, the Pirates would have scored two runs that inning, not one, as the ruling would have been a home run.
The World Series causes great excitement. Even among players, owners and even umpires. The men who dish out the decisions are also human like you and me. They make mistakes. And yes, it is unfortunate in the heat of the moment when it happens. Think of that pickoff play in game one of '48. Or that tag by Kelly Gruber in game three of '92 that would have completed the triple play. Ask Red Sox fans about how game three of '75 ended. You get the idea. Sometimes the fate of your team rests in the hands of umpires. They are allowed to be wrong once out of a hundred times, right? Just as long as they don't do it in October, eh?
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