"On the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1914 World Series and New York Yankees in 1927."
That would be Herb Pennock and Bob Shawkey. They were on the receiving end of a sweep, but years later, would more than atone for it.
The Philadelphia A's of the early 1910s were basically a dynasty. One of the earlier ones. They'd won it all in 1910, 1911, and 1913 (Pennock was there that season). But in 1914, they looked liked they'd add a fourth World Series to the decade.
It didn't happen. The surprising Boston Braves made it to the grand finale for the first time, and then proceeded to shock 'em. The Athletics didn't win a game despite the presence of Bob Shawkey and Herb Pennock. Not to mention Bullet Joe Bush and Chief Bender. That was a great pitching staff.
But the Fall Classic was a Brave New World for the National Leaguers, and they went about their business in a confident manner. Outside of the first contest, all the games were close. But try as they might, they couldn't stop Boston. Shawkey took the loss in the clincher, despite some stellar relief from Pennock.
Shawkey found himself on the New York Yankees the next season, before Pennock and Babe Ruth. It took New York until 1921 to make it to the Fall Classic. Ruth and co. seemed primed, with The Bambino having won it three times with the Boston Red Sox. But it was their cross-town rivals who prevailed that year and in 1922.
Poor Bob. He had to absorbe another World Series game lost in 1921. He did not get decision at all in 1922, as the Yankees failed to win a game. The next year, Herb Pennock was with Bob, having joined Babe Ruth on the Boston Red Sox in 1915. Shawkey won one game against the Giants in their third go-around, and Pennock won two. The Bronx Bomber won their first Fall Classic in six games.
Shawkey was being used less, however. When New York next made it to the World Series, he was only 8-7. This was 1926, so we still have a year to go. Pennock continued to contribute much in the postseason. While Shawkey lost his only decision to the St. Louis Cardinals in October of '26, Pennock registered another two wins. He was now 4-0 in the Fall Classic on the Yankees. However, it was St. Louis that prevailed in seven games.
So Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and some amazing pitchers were back with a vengeance in 1927. Only, Shawkey really wasn't. He'd only appeared in 29 games in '26 (10 starts), and '27 was worse. Despite a fine 2.89 ERA, he was behind the likes of Pennock, Waite Hoyt, Urban Shocker,Dutch Ruether, George Pipgras and closer Wilcy Moore. There was no need for Shawkey, who was now really more of one of the two roles with the team: Pitcher and pitching coach!
The coach was named to the Yankees postseason roster, as New York faced an overmatched Pittsburgh Pirates team. Shawkey would not be needed. All the Bronx Bombers needed was the pitching of Pipgras, Pennock, Moore and Hoyt. It was all over in just four games.
References
Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
Retrosheet. Web. 15 Mar. 2016. <www.retrosheet.org>
That would be Herb Pennock and Bob Shawkey. They were on the receiving end of a sweep, but years later, would more than atone for it.
The Philadelphia A's of the early 1910s were basically a dynasty. One of the earlier ones. They'd won it all in 1910, 1911, and 1913 (Pennock was there that season). But in 1914, they looked liked they'd add a fourth World Series to the decade.
It didn't happen. The surprising Boston Braves made it to the grand finale for the first time, and then proceeded to shock 'em. The Athletics didn't win a game despite the presence of Bob Shawkey and Herb Pennock. Not to mention Bullet Joe Bush and Chief Bender. That was a great pitching staff.
But the Fall Classic was a Brave New World for the National Leaguers, and they went about their business in a confident manner. Outside of the first contest, all the games were close. But try as they might, they couldn't stop Boston. Shawkey took the loss in the clincher, despite some stellar relief from Pennock.
Shawkey found himself on the New York Yankees the next season, before Pennock and Babe Ruth. It took New York until 1921 to make it to the Fall Classic. Ruth and co. seemed primed, with The Bambino having won it three times with the Boston Red Sox. But it was their cross-town rivals who prevailed that year and in 1922.
Poor Bob. He had to absorbe another World Series game lost in 1921. He did not get decision at all in 1922, as the Yankees failed to win a game. The next year, Herb Pennock was with Bob, having joined Babe Ruth on the Boston Red Sox in 1915. Shawkey won one game against the Giants in their third go-around, and Pennock won two. The Bronx Bomber won their first Fall Classic in six games.
Shawkey was being used less, however. When New York next made it to the World Series, he was only 8-7. This was 1926, so we still have a year to go. Pennock continued to contribute much in the postseason. While Shawkey lost his only decision to the St. Louis Cardinals in October of '26, Pennock registered another two wins. He was now 4-0 in the Fall Classic on the Yankees. However, it was St. Louis that prevailed in seven games.
So Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and some amazing pitchers were back with a vengeance in 1927. Only, Shawkey really wasn't. He'd only appeared in 29 games in '26 (10 starts), and '27 was worse. Despite a fine 2.89 ERA, he was behind the likes of Pennock, Waite Hoyt, Urban Shocker,Dutch Ruether, George Pipgras and closer Wilcy Moore. There was no need for Shawkey, who was now really more of one of the two roles with the team: Pitcher and pitching coach!
The coach was named to the Yankees postseason roster, as New York faced an overmatched Pittsburgh Pirates team. Shawkey would not be needed. All the Bronx Bombers needed was the pitching of Pipgras, Pennock, Moore and Hoyt. It was all over in just four games.
References
Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
Retrosheet. Web. 15 Mar. 2016. <www.retrosheet.org>
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