Scott Fennessy’s 1901 ‘World Series that should have been’

A couple days ago, I posted a detailed summary Scott Fennessy wrote up about his 1901 replay.  If you haven’t read it, I encourage you to do so (here is the link).  Not only is it a great read but there is some good discussion going on in the comments section as well. 

As promised, here is the follow up from Scott… a wrap-up on his World Series. 

-Tom

by Scott Fennessy

While it seemed like forever when I started I finally had finished the season and then compiled all the stats I could, and the light at the end of the tunnel arrived and I was playing my first ever full season World Series. While there was no actual World Series in 1901, the fact that the same teams in reality were the teams that emerged from the season on top in my replay. The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago White Sox. I felt this would be a close series, with the Pirates having the edge in pitching and the Sox in power and speed. So here is the championship game by game.

Game 1 – Chicago, Illinois

The White Sox having the best record in baseball earned the right to home field advantage, and James “Nixey” Callahan got an extra days rest coming in and is raring’ to go. Jack Chesbro will take the hill for the Buccos. The White Sox draw first blood in the bottom of the first on a Fred Hartman RBI double, but Chesbro holds serve and the rally comes to a quick end. The Pirates even the score in the 2nd on Chesbro’s RBI double with 2 out (Chesbro had a good year offensively including a homer so Callahan should not have been so careless), but yet again the Sox come right back in the bottom of the inning when Callahan atones for his mistake with a 2 out RBI single to take back the lead. While Callahan settles in nicely, Chesbro struggles a bit, but does not break, so it was still 2-1 White Sox in the 7th when Jimmy Burke (subbing for the injured Tom Leach) hits a sac fly to tie the game. But yet again the sox come right back to take the lead on a Frank Isbell RBI single with nobody out, but Chesbro grits it out and the rally is snuffed out. Callahan comes out perhaps too pumped up and gets knocked around a bit in the 8th but holds the Pirates to a game tying RBI single by Honus Wagner. After Chesbro pitches a scoreless inning the Pirates are looking for insurance in the 9th and they get it in the form of a single by Burke and a triple by Lefty Davis in the top half of the frame. It would be the difference as Hartman hits another run scoring double but Billy Sullivan whiffs and Sam Mertes pops up to Burke to end the game Pirates win 5-4.

Game 2 – Chicago, Illinois

Once again the White Sox score in the first to take the early lead on an RBI double by Billy Sullivan and a triple by Sam Mertes put them ahead 2-0. The Pirates chip away at the lead in the second with an RBI single by Charles Zimmer and the lead is down to 1. The sox continue to press the advantage as starting pitcher Calvin Griffith smokes an RBI single scoring William Hoy from second and the White Sox lead 3-1. Now it’s the Pirates turn to score immediately afterwards with a series of singles capped by Fred Clarke and Honus Wagner tie the game at 3 each. Deacon Phillippe and Griffith settle in just like the previous games starters do and there is nothing doing until the sox get an RBI Single from Herm McFarland to regain the lead. Griffith continues to coast until William Bransfield ties the game with a 2 out single in the 8th. They then add 3 more runs in the 9th on a 2 RBI single by Clarke and a sac fly by Wagner, and the sox have threats in the final two innings sputter and die with Pittsburgh heading home with a 2-0 series lead. Game 2 final score Pirates 7 White Sox 4.

Game 3 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

“Big Jack” Katoll takes the difficult task of trying to get the White Sox into the series and he comes up big indeed, striking out 4 as the sox shut the Pirates out 4-0. The damage was done in the 3rd inning for the pale hose with a big rally ignited by a lead off triple by Frank Shugart and a 2 RBI single Fred Hartman who again gets injured this game and is finally done for the year after 7 previous injuries Katoll adds an RBI single himself. Mertes drives in a 2 out run in the 5th with a single. Tannehill takes the loss for Pittsburgh. Pirates lead series 2-1

Game 4 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game 1 starters Chesbro and Callahan face each other again and for the 4th time the sox score first with a sac fly from reserve infielder Dave Brain. Brain is injured in the 9th and now the Sox have to use their only remaining reserve the rest of the way. The Pirates get 2 RBI from Honus Wagner on a triple in the 3rd and a single in the 8th. Back to back doubles by reserve George Yeager and starter Chesbro finish the damage and the Pirates are on the verge of the championship leading 3-1. Final score Pirates 3 White Sox 1.

Game 5 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Calvin Griffith and Deacon Phillippe meet again and once again the Sox score first on a Joe Sugden (subbing for the injured Fred Hartman and Dave Brain) in the second. The Pirates however, storm right back batting around on a bunch of singles wrapped around a Phillippe double and take a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the inning. Neither team does anything until the top of the 6th when Billy Sullivan leads off by reaching on an errant throw by Wagner and an RBI double by McFarland.to cut the lead in half, but that was the last gasp for the White Sox as Phillippe allows just one hit in the final 3 innings and the Pirates are my first World Champions, winning the game 4-2 and the series 4-1.

Again, nice job!  Scott, if you ever apply for a job as a sportswriter, I’ll write you a glowing reference letter.  :-)