Scott Fennessy’s 1902 World Series: Pirates win series in wild outing

October 17, 1902

Pittsburgh, PA

The A’s continued to stave off elimination after a solid pitching performance by Eddie Plank in game 5, but despite winning two of three at home, the mood on the train to Pittsburgh was one of pessimism as the biggest weakness on the team was pitching after their big two lefties. Bert Husting was very hittable, and their only B starter is a J-4, so he cannot start this game.

Today’s game features Bert Husting, a CW vs. Jesse Tannehill, a very talented AYZ who is also a great hitter in what looks like a total mismatch, and it was in game 3 in Philly. The A’s need to get off to a good start, and that’s just what they do. Tullos Hartsel rips a towering homer off of Tannehill with one out in the top of the inning and the visitors jump out to a quick 1-0 lead as Tannehill settles down as quickly as the outburst began.

The Pirates reacted far differently than what you would expect after the top of the inning. Instead of looking down, they looked angry and vengeful, and they exploded on Husting instantly. Tommy Leach hits a one hop smash that bounces off of Lafayette Cross’ glove at third, and the throw pulls Jasper Davis off the bag to keep the ball from going into the stands and Leach is on via an error.

Beaumont hits a grounder to second, but Leach was off with the pitch, so there was only one play for Danny Murphy, and that was to first for the out. Honus Wagner then hits a single to left center field for an RBI single. Fred Clarke hits a fly ball to right for out number two, but Husting loses his control and issues a 5 pitch walk to Bill Bransfield and John O’Connor, who had struggled all season comes through again, and slams a 2-2 fastball into the right center gap for an RBI triple and suddenly the lead has moved to the home team 3-1 Pittsburgh. As expected Connie Mack has the bullpen up already, but Lefty Davis grounds out to end the inning.

The A’s have kept their hitting ways as Lafayette Cross hits a floater over Wagner’s head into left for a single, and Mack calls for the hit and run. Ossee Shreckengost gets a slider that stays flat and “Shreck” drills it over Davis’ head in left field for an RBI double. Murphy moves the runner to third with one out and Monte Cross hits one just deep enough into center for the slow footed Philadelphia catcher to score the tying run. Husting stays in the game and grounds out to end the inning.

Mack would instantly regret this choice as Claude Ritchey hits a single up the middle and steals second shortly afterward. This was a bit of a surprise to Shreckengost and Husting as Ritchey only had 16 for the season. Tannehill gets a hanging curve and this is ripped into the left center gap, but Hartsel rushes over and cuts it off and holds Tannehill to a single, but Ritchey scores the go ahead run, and the bullpen is back up again. Leach grounds out and Tannehill moves to second with two outs, but the Pirates are not done yet. Beaumont hits an RBI single to center and a disgusted Mack comes to the mound and Husting is done for the day.

In comes Odie Porter, a CW. The way the Pirates have been swinging the bat he does not want to use his best option, and for now he gets away with it. Although Porter walked Wagner on 4 pitches he gets out of the inning with no further damage and the score is now 5-3 Pittsburgh.

Tannehill finally settles down and the A’s go quickly in the top of the third. Porter walked Lefty Davis, but surprised this reporter with a quiet outing as neither team scored in the fourth inning either. Tannehill had retired 10 hitters in a row before walking light hitting shortstop Monte Cross, but pinch hitter Mike Powers’ towering fly ball was caught at the left field warning track to end the inning. Relief pitcher Fred Mitchell, a C hurler is called upon to keep the Pirates hitters in check.

Mitchell gets a solid 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the 5th inning, but his teammates cannot help in the top of the 6th as Tannehill has really found his groove. After getting two quick outs in the bottom of the inning he loses Tannehill on a borderline pitch and walks Leach in a 10 pitch classic, and Beaumont slaps a single the opposite way into left field for an RBI single to give the Pirates a 6-3 lead. Mack comes in with the quick hook and throws a wrench in Clarke’s game by bringing in in Clarence Quinn, a DZ in hopes of regaining the strike zone, and Wagner pops up to end the inning.

Tannehill continues to cruise, and has now retired 18 of the last 19 hitters as the Pirates cling to a two run lead in the bottom of the 7th inning. Bill Bransfield gets a one out single to center and tries to steal second. O’Connor rips what looks like a certain single when Monte Cross makes a great diving stop and fires to first for the out. Bransfield has to stay at second as Cross makes his second amazing play of this series. Lefty Davis walks, but Claude Ritchey grounds out to end the inning.

Just when it looks like the Pirates have the game won the A’s make their comeback. After getting two quick outs, Dave Fultz hits a single to left and steals second base easily. Hartsel hits what was almost his second homer of the day, but it hits high off the wall for an RBI double and the lead is cut to just one run. Unfortunately powerhouse Jasper Davis, who has not done as well as hoped for this series grounds out to end the rally. Pitcher Howard Wilson, a B pitcher, the best remaining in the bullpen is called in to keep the team close in the bottom of the 8th.

Wilson gets the pitcher out, and some in attendance were somewhat surprised he was not pinch hit for, but Tannehill has been great all year and Clarke wants to see if he can go the distance with a 2 run lead in the top of the ninth. He grounds out to Davis at first, and Tommy Leach, who has never been a star, but always a threat for .300 and decent power rips Wilson’s third pitch of the at bat for a crucial home run. The lead is back to two as the inning ends shortly afterwards.

Ralph Seybold, the MLB homer king hits a fly ball to deep center field, but Ginger Beaumont makes a great running play for out number one and the anticipation builds. Lafayette Cross hits a single to right and the tying run is at the plate. Ossee Shreckengost hits a grounder just past a diving Tommy Leach to put runners on first and third. Ed Dohney immediately gets up in the bullpen, and it looks like he may be needed as Danny Murphy hits a left to right that scores Cross, and runners are on first and second base.

Clarke trots in from right field to stall for Doheny, but the umpire chases him back to his position after a brief chat as Monte Cross is due up. Cross is not much of a hitter, but Connie Mack has already used up his best pinch hitters, so Cross will have to make due. Monte rips a bullet towards the hole, but Wagner makes a great backhanded grab, throws to second for one, Ritchey makes the throw towards first with Murphy practically in his face and Bransfield gets the relay just in time for a double play, and the Pirates have won the World Series!

The Pirates all mash together just in front of first base as the A’s walk off the field. When interviewed afterwards Connie Mack grudgingly congratulated the Pirates and wished he had used Jud Castro as a pinch hitter in the 5th as he had more power and perhaps the fly ball that Powers hit would have been a home run instead.

And Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Pirates, who now have baseball’s first Dynasty! They have now won three in a row. While I won’t be getting to 1904 for a while, we do know the Giants won my 1905 replay, so the most they can win is 4. Ginger Beaumont is named MVP for the series.

OK, so now you finally get the answer to the question I always dodge while doing this replay. “What is the next season you have planned?” Well I had originally had 1904 on tap, the Cubs playoff run last year really got me excited, so I am putting the way back machine away, as I cannot go further back in time anyway, and cranking the time machine all the way forward. I am doing 2015. That’s right folks, “Mr. Deadball” is doing a season in the 21st century!

Can I do better than Joe Maddon? We’ll find out. I have a lot of things to do, but I plan on having a full Cubs update as I did in 1905.