World Series: Did You Know?

Roger Peckinpaugh made an error in the eighth game of 1921. And he made some more costly ones in game seven four years later.

Peckinpaugh, looking to help the New York Yankees win their first ever World Series in '21 against the New York Giants, had Babe Ruth and another slugger, Home Run Baker. But after game five in this best-of-nine affair, the Babe wasn't in the starting lineup. He had some knee problems, and an infected arm on top of that. The Yankees led 3-2, but dropped game six 8-5, and game seven 2-1.

Not that the Yankees were any pushovers. They were the designated home team in this Fall Classic, which took place exclusively at the Polo Grounds. Waite Hoyt, 2-0, was on the hill for the American League team. Ruth would make an appearance, later.

So could they send it to a ninth and deciding contest?

The Giants got two on with two outs in the top of the first, and then disaster struck as High Pockets Kelly sent one to short, Peckinpaugh's spot. The ball got through him for an error, and Dave Bancroft scored.

How about Peckinpaugh at the dish? He walked in the bottom of the frame, and the home team soon had runners on second and third with just one out, Roger 90 feet away from crossing the dish. That didn't happen as Bob Meusel popped out and Wally Pipp.

Peckinpaugh gunned out a runner at home in the second, keeping it 1-0. The Yankees played well the rest of the way, and Roger's error was the only one they'd commit. Hoyt pitched well, but so did Giant Art Neft.

The Yankees loaded the bases against him in the last of the fourth on two singles and a walk. All this happened with two outs. But again, no one scored. Peckinpaugh drew a two-out walk the next inning, but was also stranded.

Hoyt retired the last nine man to face him in the game, but the Yankees came to bat in the bottom of the ninth down 1-0. Babe Ruth made a dramatic appearance, batting for Pipp, but grounded out to first. The next batter, Aaron Ward, coaxed a walk from Art Neft. Home Run Baker could win the game with a home run. He hit it well to second basemen Johnny Rawlings. Rawlings made an excellent play, throwing out Baker at first. Ward kept running, and ended up out at third. The Giants won, 1-0, and were the World Series winners in 1921.

Peckinpaugh's team looked like they were going to win four years later. His Washington Senators had won in 1924, and were up three games to one. Back-to-back for Washington? No. The Pittsburgh Pirates, the National League pennant winners that year, won game five at Griffith Stadium, 6-3. Then, at home in Forbes Field, they eked out a 3-2 win. It all came down to game seven.

Washington, with Walter Johnson on the hill, started out fast. They crossed home four times in the top of the first, Roger Peckinpaugh himself with an RBI when he hit into a force. That out, however, was taken away as catcher Earl Smith interfered Roger as he was on his way to first.

Peckinpaugh then got a hit taken away via a great catch by Kiki Cuyler in the top of the third. The Pirates made their move in the bottom of the frame, scoring three times to cut it to 4-3. But only temporarily was it a one-run game. Joe Harris knocked home two runs in the top of the fourth for the Senators with a double, and it was 6-3. And with The Big Train on the hill, it was looking all over!

The Pirates got a run back in the bottom of the fifth on two doubles. Peckinpaugh made a critical error in the seventh, and the Pirates scored two more to tie it. Pie Traynor was nailed at the dish to keep it that way.

Roger hit a home run in the top of the eighth to give Washington the lead again, and Walter Johnson needed just six more outs. Soon, Pittsburgh was down to four outs. Johnson got the first two batters out in the bottom of the frame, and then the wheels came off the chariot.

Earl Smith doubled, Carson Bigbee then was sent up to hit for Earl Smith. Smith doubled and the game was tied, 7-7. A walk brought Max Carey to the plate. Carey sent a ball to short, where Peckinpaugh tried for the inning-ending force. The throw was bad, and all hands were safe. Cuyler hit a ground-rule double to right, and Pittsburgh got two more runs. Washington went down 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth.

The two errors by Roger Peckinpaugh were too many. He'd made six in the previous six games, and the Pirates were World Series champions. At bat, he'd hit just .250 after hitting .417 in the 1924 World Series (Roger hit poorly in 1921, just .179). He'd have to shoulder at least some of the blame for his teams losing in 1921 and 1925.


References


Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 10 Jan. 2017.

Common Denominator: Harmon Killebrew

"0 SH in his career, attempted three times. All against the New York Yankees."

That would be the Minnesota Twins' Harmon Killebrew, who actually started his career when they were still in Washington in 1954, but not becoming a regular until '59. Washington moved to Minny in 1961,

Killebrew lead the American League in home runs for the first time in 1959. It would be the first of six seasons he'd do that. But it was the only time he did it while the franchise was in Washington. That same year was Killebrew's first attempt to get a sac bunt.

April 22nd, and Killebrew's Senators were hosting Mickey Mantle's New York Yankees. It was Whitey Ford for the Yankees and Bill Fischer for the Senators. It was a long night. The Yankees couldn't get it going.

Harmon had two hits and a walk. But Ford was clutch. After nine innings, it was scoreless. In the top of the 14th, Moose Skowron gave Whitey Ford a 1-0 lead with a home run. The Twins needed to answer that tally in the bottom of the frame.

Norm Zauchin got it started out on the right foot with a single. Harmon Killebrew was next. He forced Zauchin at second with a bunt. The Senators got a two-out single, and Harmon was at second representing the tying run. Ford got pinch hitter Ron Samford to ground out to second. A tough 1-0 loss.

The Yankees, if you can believe it, didn't win the pennant that year. But they were back in the hunt in 1960. Killebrew and company came to town on May 28th to try and stop 'em.

Jim Kaat was going for the Senators, and he did quite a job for a while. Jim Coates was just the Yankees' pitcher. He was fairly good for a few years, but you'd think the Sens could get something off him, right?

Killebrew lashed a double off him in the top of the second. He ended up stranded. Harmon walked his next trip up, only to be stranded again. Top of the sixth, another walk for him. Jim Lemon moved to second as a result. A double play erased Killebrew. Lemon was stranded at third as Earl Battey popped to short.

Bottom of the sixth, and The Mick broke the 0-0 game. Home run. Mantle then fanned his second time up that inning, to end it. By that time, the Bronx Bombers had added three more runs. Roger Maris hit a home run the next inning, and it was 5-0. Where was the great Twins, err Sens, offence?

Bob Allison walked to start the top of the eighth. Julio Becquer doubled him to third. Allison hit a sac fly to Mantle in centre. Becquer made it to third. Killebrew was up. A home run here and it's 5-3.

And then we got a ballgame.

Not so fast. Killebrew bunted. Foul. On the third strike. Dan Dobbek was retired on a scorcher to left. Coates got 'em 1-2-3 in the ninth for a tidy 5-1 win.

Killebrew was now in Minnesota for the 1962 season. It was August 13th. But the Yankees were still the Yankees. They'd won it all in 1961 and looking to repeat. Jim Bouton was on the hill for New York. Jack Kralick was opposing him. Killebrew singled home the game's first run in the bottom of the first.

New York tied it via a solo Tom Tresh home run in the third. In the bottom of the frame, Killebrew came up with runners on the corners and not a man out. He tried to avoid the double play and bunted foul for strike three. Minnesota never scored a run that inning.

Harmon and the Twins weren't about to be denied. Almost by himself, he beat the Yankees. He ended the game 4-5 with 5 RBIs. The home team won, 6-4. So just one bat at bat. New York went on to the pennant and won the World Series in seven games over the San Francisco Giants.

Killebrew and company had to wait until 1965 to dethrone New York. They took the pennant as the Yankees slid down to below .500 that year. Alas, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale of the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Minnesota Twins in seven games.

Killebrew lead the AL in home runs in 1962, 1963 and 1964. He tied Carl Yastremzki in 1967 with 44. No one was tied with Harmon in 1969, as he took home the MVP via 49 long balls. The Twins made it back to the postseason, only to lose to the Baltimore Orioles in the first-ever American League Champion Series. Mantle had retired the year before, never making it to the World Series his last four seasons.

Harmon had one last great season in 1971, as he topped the league in RBIs with 119. He ended his career as a teammate of George Brett's in 1975, but he hit just .199 for Kansas. Brett had 9 sacrifice hits in that season alone.

Still, Killebrew ended his career with 573 home runs, 12th on the all-time list. They didn't pay him to move the runners over. They paid him to crush the ball.


References


Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 05 Dec. 2016.

World Series: Did You Know?

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?

World Series: Did You Know?

Ralph Miller was the first player born on February 29th to play in the Fall Classic.

Called up from the minors in July, he only got into 9 games for the Washington Senators in 1924. But this was one year the Sens were not last in the Amercian League. But they were still first in war and first in peace. The right time for Miller time was 1924! The New York Giants could not have cared that they were up against a team that had a player born on a leap year

But he didn't do much in the 9 games as he batted .133 with 0 RBIs. He would do only a little better in that year's Fall Classic.

Miller's first game was game 3. Roger Peckinpaugh was out of the game game in the bottom of the third. But the Senators were behind 2-0. Miller took over at shortstop.

With one out, Hack Wilson hit into a double play that Miller helped turn. Alas, a run scored and it was now 3-0 for the Giants at home. What could Ralph do about it?

Well, he got Washington on the board. In the top of the 4th with the bases loaded and just one out, Miller sent a fly to left that scored Sam Rice. The Sens scored another run on a walk with the bases loaded again that inning. It was still 3-2, New York, but Washington was back in the game.

Miller added a single in the 6th, and then walked in the 8th. Washington trailed 5-2 by the time Miller walked. They did manage to score a run to cut it to 5-3. With two down, Miller was on third and Mule Shirley was on first. But Nemo Leibold grounded out to end the inning.

The Senators got the run back in the bottom of the frame. But Washington scored another run and had the bases loaded with just one out in the top of the 9th. And guess who was up?

Miller popped out to third. And when Muddy Ruel grounded into a force at third, Washington had lost the game.

Game four saw Miller play the whole game at third base. But he was about to embark on an 0-4 afternoon.

Batting in the 8th spot, Miller came up to the plate in the top of the second. Miller grounded out to leave two runners on in the second. With one out in the fourth, he flied out with a man on second. He was the last out in a 1-2-3 6th. In the bottom of the 7th, Ralph made an error. His final plate appearance was a pop out. But Washington won the game, 7-4. The Fall Classic was a classic alright. It was tied two games apiece.

In game five, it was Miller time at third and again batting in the eight spot. The Senators needed this game, or they would have to win games six and seven at home. It was also Walter Johnson on the hill here, so he would likely not get another start. Again, that's why this game was so important.

In the top of the second with the game scoreless, Miller was the last out as he grounded to second. This left two men on. But in the top of the fourth with two outs, Ralph came through. His single tied the game. However, he got too aggressive on the base paths. When he tried for second on the hit, Miller ended up being the dead duck!

New York took the lead again with two runs off The Big Train in the bottom of the fifth. Amazingly enough, Walter Johnson gave up the two on a home run by opposing pitcher Jack Bentley. It just wasn't his day!

In the top of the 7th, it was Muddy Ruel who walked. Ralph was up representing the tying run. All he could do was ground out, but it did move Ruel to second. Johnson batted for himself and flied out. Another walk, this time to Earl McNeely, got the tying run to first. But the Senators could do nothing more that inning.

Washington got one run back in the top of the 8th as Goose Goslin hit a home run of his own. The next batter, Joe Judge singled. A ground out moved him to second. An single and this thing would be tied. But Washington failed to do so.

In the bottom of the frame, New York lit up Johnson for three more runs to put this game out of reach. Nemo Leibold batted for Miller and flew out to center in the 9th. Washington was shutout in that inning. The Giants were one win away from the 1924 World Series Championship. But that win never came!

Miller did not play in game six, which Washington won 2-1. In game six, the score was tied at three after eight. Ralph came in to the game a defensive replacement in the top of the 9th. Amazingly enough, there was also a new pitcher for this inning: Walter Johnson!

Miller made the innings first putout on a pop fly to third. He also threw out Irish Meusel at first to end the inning. But the Giants had runners on second and third before out number three!

It was then Washington's turn to try and win it. Washington had runners on first and third with just one out. A single, or a deep fly would win the game and the first championship for the Senators. Miller was the batter. Art Nehf was replaced on the mound by Hugh McQuillan. Amazingly enough, he did exactly what was needed. Miller hit into a double play. Clutch pitching!

Miller batted in the bottom of the 12th and was retired. But this proved to be the only out the Giants got. Washington won in dramatic fashion, although, it was New York that somehow made two errors in the inning. It was Earl McNeely with the walk-off single!

So Miller did little.He hit just .182, 2 RBIs, 2 hits and 1 walk. Game seven of the 1924 World Series would prove to be Miller's last at the MLB level. But he got a ring. Tthe Washington Senators finally get it done, as well.

And yes, 1924 was also a leap year. That's all the Sens needed to win it all. Leap year player, leap year Fall Classic!


References

Sports Reference LLC.  Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.

World Series: Did You Know?

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?

World Series: Did You Know?

The Pittsburgh Pirates were the first team to come back from a 3 games to 1 deficit (in a best of seven format) to win the World Series. It was 1925, and the Washington Senators were looking for a repeat! And their side-arming righty was awesome here!

Long before the days of Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr and Sidney Crosby breaking Washington's hearts again and again in the NHL playoffs, the Sens took a 3-1 lead in the 1925 Fall Classic. Walter Johnson looked unhittable. In winning his first two starts (game 4 was a shutout gem) he certainly added to his status as one of the game's all-time greats! But baseball was about to repeat what I saw in hockey from 1992 on between Washington and Pittsburgh: Pitt on the brink, and coming back to win!

In game 5, it was back-and-forth, with each team touching home twice after 6 innings. In the top of the 7th, the Bucs finally broke through with a lead of more than a run when they scored twice. But Sam Rice's single in the bottom of the frame brought Washington back to within a single run, 4-3.

The Pirates were not to be denied, however. Stuffy McInnis singled home a run in the top of the 8th to restore the two-run lead. Another run in the top of the 9th meant this thing was heading back to Steeltown for game 6. And maybe, game 7!

Game 6 was a great pitcher's duel, and Washington looked ready to win it. They scored a run in the top of the 1st and the top of the 2nd. The way unheralded Alex Ferguson was pitching, it looked like curtains for the Pirates. Fergie had beaten Pittsburgh 4-3 in game 3, as the Senators must have had a lot of faith in him. Why not? It was a fine 6-hitter over 7 innings there. Here, the Pirates couldn't touch him in the first 2 innings.

But in the bottom of the 3rd, the Pirates tied it. Pie Traynor drove home the second run with a single. Fergie bore down after than, and Pitt got just one more run on a solo home run by Eddie Moore in the 5th. That made it 3-2 for the Bucs. Alex finished the game going 7 strong innings. He allowed 7 hits, but just 3 runs and 2 walks. He fanned 6. Win Ballou came in for Washington and easily retired the Pirates in the bottom of the 8th. Washington had gotten the pitching they needed to win this game.

But what the Senators didn't have was the hitting. Ray Kremer did not allow another run after the second inning. He finished the game by going all 9 innings. Washington managed just 6 hits, 2 runs and 1 walk. Ray fanned only 3 but also faced just 33 batters in the game. This thing was going the distance.

With Walter Johnson on the hill for the Nats, game 7 should have been a cinch for the Sens. But it was not to be.

The game never should have been played. It was raining hard. There was fog. But the game was played, anyway. Everyone might as well been blind!

The Senators lost 9-7 despite having leads of 4-0, 6-3 and even 7-6 in after 7 1/2. Johnson went the distance, gave up 15 hits, but only 5 of the runs were earned. He walked only 1, but could fan only 3.

Ray Kremer won this game too, but it was in relief. No one really pitched well, but given then conditions, it would be a tall order to do that. No one could see anything, including the umpires.

I guess you could point the finger at the Senators' Roger Peckinpaugh. He made 2 errors on the day and 8 overall in the Series. He did, however, hit a home run to give the Sens a 7-6 lead. That was Washington's last lead of the game. In the first inning, Roger reached first on a rare occurrence: catcher's interference! That, too, led to a run. As you can see, no one could see what was going on out there!

But my favourite Walter Johnson story (ever) is The Big Train, having watched some real tragedy unfold in the bottom of the 8th (with the Senators but 4 outs away from winning the 1925 Fall Classic), show such great character. With two outs, the Pirates tied it. Peckinpaugh's second error (Roger's first was in the 7th, and Pittsburgh scored twice that inning to pull within a run, 6-5) allowed the Bucs to score twice more and conclude the scoring. The Big Train waited for Peckinpaugh, and in one of the game's most touching moments, put his arms around him. Can you imagine doing that for someone who sort of cost you the game and the Fall Classic with his fielding?

The Senators were retired 1-2-3 in the top of the 9th. The Pirates had come back all the way from 3-1 down!

World Series: Did You Know?

The Big Train then won his first two starts of the 1925 World Series. He almost brought the Senators back-to-back World Series. But it was not quite to be.

Taking the hill in game 1 of the 1925 Fall Classic against Pittsburgh, Walter made sure the Pirates didn't have a chance!

The Washington Senators got a run in the top of the 2nd on a Joe Harris home run. Then the Nats tallied two more in the top of the 5th on a 2-run single by Sam Rice. Pie Traynor then took away Johnson's shutout bid in the bottom of the frame with a 4-bagger. But it was still 3-1, Washington.

But that would be the only run the Bucs got!

Settling down into clutch mode, it was a 1-2-3 6th and 1-2-3 7th for Johnson. In the 8th, the Pirates got a 1-out single. Then they sent pinch hitter Stuffy McInnis to the plate. But The Big Train fanned him and got Eddie Moore to ground out.

In the top of the 9th, the Senators plated another man to make it 4-1. The, in the bottom of the frame, Pittsburgh got two men on when Johnson hit a batter and gave up a single. There was only 1 out, but Johnson retired the next two batters. Johnson had looked so masterful out there: 5 hits, 1 walk, 10 K's!

And Johnson was not done.

In game 3, with the Senators up 2 games to 1 in the Series, Johnson was even better. The Senators scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 3rd. The Pirates' pitchers managed to hold the Nats at bay the rest of the way. But Walter Johnson was just too good here. Johnson gave the Senators' fans a World Series moment they would not soon forget.

He gave up a walk in the top of the first. In the top of the 2nd, it was 2 hits by Pittsburgh. In the 7th, the Bucs got 2 more. They would end the day with 6 hits. But none of them would lead to any scoring and neither did anything else. Johnson, despite only 2 K's this time, had blanked the Pirates. He was 37 years old at the time.

The Senators were up 3-1 in the Series. But it was not quite to be. The Pirates came back and took game 7 away from Johnson and Washington. But the Big Train had pitched nearly 2 shutouts and brought the Senators so much respectability with his pitching.

World Series: Did You Know?

Walter Johnson lost his first two World Series starts.

The Big Train and his Senators finally made it to the Fall Classic in 1924. But John McGraw's New York Giants were ready to pounce on anyone. For a while, it was a question of whether Washington could finally win a World Series and if Walter Johnson could win one crummy game!

Having given their cross town rivals The Yankees all they could handle in 1921, '22 and '23, here the Giants were again. Walter Johnson seemed to be a little less than overpowering in his first two outing of this Fall Classic. Here's someone who drove fear into men like Ty Cobb, Shoeless Joe Jackson and even Babe Ruth. Now on the big stage, Johnson seemed to be unable to be up to the task!

Johnson didn't pitch too badly in game 1. But it was Art Neft who opposed him. Neft just had a knack for being clutch in the World Series.

In any event, the Giants quickly build and early 2-0 lead. Washington rallied with single tallies in the bottom of the 6th and 9th. The Sens were lucky to get that second run because they were 2 outs away from losing. But a clutch hit by Roger Peckinpaugh tied the game.

The game went to the 12th inning. There, 3 hits and 2 walks gave Neft a 4-2 lead. Washington scored once in the bottom of the frame, but lost 4-3. Johnson gave up 14 hits and 6 walks in 12 innings. He also fanned 10.

New York and Washington alternated victories in the first four games. And with the Series tied at 2, Johnson took the hill in the crucial game 5. The Series lead was at stake!

And Johnson came up short again!

He managed to go the distance, but gave up 13 hits, 6 runs and 2 walks. Only 4 of the runs were earned, but Johnson only managed to K only 3 batters. Something was wrong here. Washington lost, 6-2. The Giants were once again being, the Giants when it came to the World Series.

But the Nationals dug deep and won a narrow game 6, 2-1 over Neft. It was on to game 7. Johnson did not start.

The Senators, at home, trailed 3-2 in the bottom of the 8th when Bucky Harris tied it with a clutch hit. Walter Johnson took the hill in the 9th. He almost lost it right there!

The Giants got runners to second and third before the Big Train dug down deep and ended that. New York got the leadoff man on in the 10th before a strikeout and double play ended the danger. The Giants also got a runner on in the 11th before The Big Train came through. Again, in the 12th, it was a hit by the Giants' Irish Meusel that looked like trouble. But once again, the ageless Johnson escaped. The Sens also seemed to be unable to score all awhile. So close! Would Walter and Washington be denied?

In the bottom of the frame, two Senator doubles and two costly Giant errors brought to an end one of the most exciting World Series games and Series. Johnson finally had his first World Series win. Johnson had gone 4 innings, given up 3 hits and 3 walks (5 K's), but ended up the winning pitcher. The Big Train had finally brought the Washington Senators to the promised land!