Tuesday, March 12, 2013

1910 World Series

Remembering Philadelphia's first World Series champs
"It was a brisk October Sunday afternoon in 1910 at Chicago’s old West Side Park when Athletics pitcher Jack Coombs etched an indelible mark on Philadelphia’s baseball landscape. The right hander, who had already won Games 2 and 3 of the World Series behind a pair of complete games, was staked to a 3-1 series lead over the highly favored Cubs when he was given the ball again in Game 5. A win would not only give the Athletics their first World Series pennant, but also give Philadelphia its first major sports championship. Coombs weaved through the Cubs lineup for eight innings, scattering eight hits. He walked four, struck out four and surrendered two earned runs."
Philadelphia Baseball Review

Philadelphia Won the 1910 World Series Using Only Two Pitchers
"... The Athletics and Cubs were evenly matched. Fielder Jones, the veteran former Chicago White Sox manager, rated the Series a toss up. 'I don't believe anyone is wise who tries to name the winner of the upcoming World Series. If Chance's pitchers are as good as they were in 1907 and 1908, Chicago should have the edge. I know something about Bender, Plank, and Coombs, and that is they are three of the best in the business.' Chief Bender started the first game at Philadelphia. He went the distance, allowing only one unearned run in the ninth inning as the Athletics beat the Cubs, 4-1. The next day, Jack Coombs defeated Mordecai Brown, 9-3, in what was considered a sub par complete game performance. After a day for travel, Coombs started Game 3 on one day's rest. "The big fellow demonstrated that his poor showing in the Tuesday game had been due to lack of work. The lack of it was still apparent at the start of today's battle, but once through the second inning, with a strong margin of runs to work on Coombs struck his gait, and was unbeatable...."
Yahoo

"The 1910 World Series was a series of transition, featuring one team on the way up and another on the way out. On the way out was the Chicago Cubs, looking for one more championship to cap their their run of four National League championships in five years. Like always, the Cubs had a great pitching staff, leading the league in virtually every pitching staff. For once, they added a strong offense, leading the league in home runs and triples. But with most of their stars getting into their 30s (which was old for ballplayers in that era), they were running out of opportunities to win. On the way up was the Philadelphia Athletics. Though they had played in the World Series in 1905, much of their team had turned over by 1910. In their place was talented youngsters, including three-fourths of what would become the $100,000 Infield. Third baseman Frank Baker, shortstop Jack Berry, and second baseman Eddie Collins were in the starting lineup, and first baseman Stuffy McInnis was in his final year as a bench player. Those four would come to be known as the $100,000 Infield because of their eventual combined salaries. Yes, combined. The point is, they were stars, and their careers were just getting started."
The Sambard's Lair

Chief Bender
"A century ago Philadelphia sports fans followed their beloved Athletics as rabidly as the fans of today support their Phillies. The Athletics christened a new baseball stadium, Shibe Park, in 1910. Constructed at a cost of $315,249, the American League franchise shared the field with the National League Phillies. The park, with its distinctive French Renaissance style facade, ornate tower and arched windows, was the envy of the baseball world. A ticket to the 1910 World Series, matching the American League champion A's against the National League Chicago Cubs, was a prize possession. Three days before the series began at Shibe Park, the Tamaqua Courier advised local fans not to venture to the ballpark if they didn't have a ticket to the game. One writer said that Schuylkill County baseball fans would have a difficult time even obtaining a bleacher seat."
The local area was well represented at the 1910 World Series

"The 1910 World Series featured the Philadelphia Athletics and the Chicago Cubs, with the Athletics winning in five games to earn their first championship. Jack Coombs of Philadelphia won three games and Eddie Collins supplied timely hitting. The greatest Cubs team in history closed out its glory years, only ten years into the new century."
Wikipedia

1910 World Series Footage
Game footage of the 1910 World Series between the Philadelphia Athletics and the Chicago Cubs. Eddie Collins, Connie Mack, Frank Chance, Chief Bender, Jack Coombs, Frank Baker,
YouTube

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