Shoeless Joe Jackson scored the first run of the first game of the infamous 1919 Fall Classic. He also scored the first run of game three and eight. In game seven, Joe drove home the first two runs. He also scored the second White Sox run of game six and second last run in game eight. Joe is always the most famous name from this World Series between the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds. And it's usually for the wrong reasons. But that's not what this post is for.
The White Sox got behind in game on in Cincinnati. The Reds scored in the bottom of the frame after Chicago put a "0" in the top half. Jackson led of the top of the second with a grounder to short. It should have been the first out, but Larry Koft threw wild to first. Next thing you know, Joe is in scoring position at second. When Chick Gandil followed with a single, Jackson scored to tie it. This proved to be the only run Chicago scored in game one, and Cincy scored eight times from here on in.
Chicago was down two games to none by the time the action made it to Chicago's Comiskey Park for game three. But with the game scoreless in the bottom of the second, Jackson singled. An error on a bunt moved Jackson to third as they tried to force him at second. As he had in game one, Gandil singled. But this time, not only did Jackson score, but Happy Felsch did too! The White Sox were punishing the Reds' for bad fielding, too, it seemed. What goes around, comes back around. Chicago actually only scored one more run after this (And Jackson was not involved) the rest of the way. But the Reds were unable to score of Dickie Kerr. Kerr would win two games in the 1919 Fall Classic for Chicago.
But when Cincinnati got a shutout of their own in game four, they were up two games again. Another shutout the next game, and the Reds were home free. Or so it seemed.
It seemed like it was all over he next game for good measure, as the Reds wasted little time in going up 4-0. Up 4-1 in games, and with a four run lead? At home? Cincy could not have asked for more. Well, actually they could have. In the bottom of the first, Heinie overran third and was nailed past the bag by some alert Chicago defence. That ran the Reds out of the inning. They still got four runs, of course. However, Chicago refused to stay down. They tallied a run in the top of the fifth. But in doing so, they also ran themselves out of the inning. A sac fly with the bases loaded and only one out made it 4-1. But when Dickie Kerr decided to try for second on the fly, thinking the Reds wouldn't concern themselves with him, Kerr made a huge mistake. Ray Schalk, who was already on second, wasn't trying for third. Needless to say, Kerr was out. And Cincinnati was out of a potentially big inning.
After Kerr held the Reds scoreless in the bottom of the frame (And having been in trouble all game long), Chicago went back to work in the top of the sixth. Joe Jackson singled home Buck Weaver to make it 4-2. With Joe on first and not a man out, Happy Felsch singled him home. The Reds eventually got out of the inning, but not before Chicago tied it at four. This one was destined for extras.
Weaver led off the tenth with a double. Jackson singled, but Weaver did not score, because it was only a bunt as Jackson was trying to advance him. When Swede Risberg lined to short, Jackson was a dead duck between second and third. It did not matter as Kerr got 'em 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame. Chicago still trailed four games to two, and game seven was in Cincinnati again.
But it didn't matter to Eddie Cicotte. He limited the Reds to seven hits and just one run. Shoeless Joe drove in Shano Collins in the top of the first, and the White Sox were ahead for good. Jackson added an RBI single in the top of the second to plate the White Sox's second run. Cicotte, pitching brilliantly, was the winner, 4-1. It was back to Chicago for game eight.
And Cincinnati put game eight away early. They scored early. And often.
The Reds put up a nice, easy "4" on the scoreboard in the top of the first. Chicago put two on for Jackson with one out in the bottom of the frame. Jackson sent one the other way in foul territory, but shortstop Larry Koft got to it and made a nice catch. The Reds tacked on another run in the top of the second.
Jackson came through with a home run in next plate appearance. But the bases were empty. It was 5-1, Cincinnati. Soon, it was 10-1.
Jackson and his teammates were not done. In the bottom of the eighth, as it had been in the bottom of the first, Joe came up with two on and one out. This times, he came through. Actually, Jackson drove 'em both home with a double. That made it 10-3. A triple by Chick Gandil scored Jackson. The White Sox scored one more time that inning to go from down nine to being doubled up, 10-5.
Jackson batted one more time in the game. The scored was still the same, and there were again two on. But this time, it was the bottom of the ninth, and there was also two outs. Jackson grounded out to end this Fall Classic. A fitting ending, as it turned out.
References
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 12 August 2015.
The White Sox got behind in game on in Cincinnati. The Reds scored in the bottom of the frame after Chicago put a "0" in the top half. Jackson led of the top of the second with a grounder to short. It should have been the first out, but Larry Koft threw wild to first. Next thing you know, Joe is in scoring position at second. When Chick Gandil followed with a single, Jackson scored to tie it. This proved to be the only run Chicago scored in game one, and Cincy scored eight times from here on in.
Chicago was down two games to none by the time the action made it to Chicago's Comiskey Park for game three. But with the game scoreless in the bottom of the second, Jackson singled. An error on a bunt moved Jackson to third as they tried to force him at second. As he had in game one, Gandil singled. But this time, not only did Jackson score, but Happy Felsch did too! The White Sox were punishing the Reds' for bad fielding, too, it seemed. What goes around, comes back around. Chicago actually only scored one more run after this (And Jackson was not involved) the rest of the way. But the Reds were unable to score of Dickie Kerr. Kerr would win two games in the 1919 Fall Classic for Chicago.
But when Cincinnati got a shutout of their own in game four, they were up two games again. Another shutout the next game, and the Reds were home free. Or so it seemed.
It seemed like it was all over he next game for good measure, as the Reds wasted little time in going up 4-0. Up 4-1 in games, and with a four run lead? At home? Cincy could not have asked for more. Well, actually they could have. In the bottom of the first, Heinie overran third and was nailed past the bag by some alert Chicago defence. That ran the Reds out of the inning. They still got four runs, of course. However, Chicago refused to stay down. They tallied a run in the top of the fifth. But in doing so, they also ran themselves out of the inning. A sac fly with the bases loaded and only one out made it 4-1. But when Dickie Kerr decided to try for second on the fly, thinking the Reds wouldn't concern themselves with him, Kerr made a huge mistake. Ray Schalk, who was already on second, wasn't trying for third. Needless to say, Kerr was out. And Cincinnati was out of a potentially big inning.
After Kerr held the Reds scoreless in the bottom of the frame (And having been in trouble all game long), Chicago went back to work in the top of the sixth. Joe Jackson singled home Buck Weaver to make it 4-2. With Joe on first and not a man out, Happy Felsch singled him home. The Reds eventually got out of the inning, but not before Chicago tied it at four. This one was destined for extras.
Weaver led off the tenth with a double. Jackson singled, but Weaver did not score, because it was only a bunt as Jackson was trying to advance him. When Swede Risberg lined to short, Jackson was a dead duck between second and third. It did not matter as Kerr got 'em 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame. Chicago still trailed four games to two, and game seven was in Cincinnati again.
But it didn't matter to Eddie Cicotte. He limited the Reds to seven hits and just one run. Shoeless Joe drove in Shano Collins in the top of the first, and the White Sox were ahead for good. Jackson added an RBI single in the top of the second to plate the White Sox's second run. Cicotte, pitching brilliantly, was the winner, 4-1. It was back to Chicago for game eight.
And Cincinnati put game eight away early. They scored early. And often.
The Reds put up a nice, easy "4" on the scoreboard in the top of the first. Chicago put two on for Jackson with one out in the bottom of the frame. Jackson sent one the other way in foul territory, but shortstop Larry Koft got to it and made a nice catch. The Reds tacked on another run in the top of the second.
Jackson came through with a home run in next plate appearance. But the bases were empty. It was 5-1, Cincinnati. Soon, it was 10-1.
Jackson and his teammates were not done. In the bottom of the eighth, as it had been in the bottom of the first, Joe came up with two on and one out. This times, he came through. Actually, Jackson drove 'em both home with a double. That made it 10-3. A triple by Chick Gandil scored Jackson. The White Sox scored one more time that inning to go from down nine to being doubled up, 10-5.
Jackson batted one more time in the game. The scored was still the same, and there were again two on. But this time, it was the bottom of the ninth, and there was also two outs. Jackson grounded out to end this Fall Classic. A fitting ending, as it turned out.
References
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 12 August 2015.
No comments:
Post a Comment