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luckymann · 07-03-2021, 10:32 AM

Philadelphia Athletics (88-52) v Pittsburgh Pirates (81-59)

You know there’s not a lot of difference between the 1902 A’s and the 1901 O’s. They are a classy unit who can beat you in any number of ways. Perhaps the main point of differential is the fact that they have clearly the best player in the AL, and arguably all of MLB, in Nap Lajoie. Only truly special players win Triple Crowns, as he has just done, and if he stays hot in this series we are going to be in all sorts of trouble.

Still, we have our own weapons led by our own true superstar in Dutchie Wagner. He had an underwhelming World Series last year and never really hit the heights we expect of him through the 1902 regular season. Now would be the ideal time for him to do so.

And in fact, even beyond the Wagner-Lajoie correlation, these two sides match up fairly even on paper, both statistically as well as personnel-wise: Plank-Phillippe; Chesbro-Sudhoff; Clarke-Beaumont; Dolan- Seybold; Steinfeldt-McGann. As is usually the case, it will come down to whichever side takes their chances and does the little things as well as the big.

I’m going to risk O’Neill, even though he suffered that foot contusion. The medical staff and Mike himself all seem to think there’s no damage there, so that’s how we’ll roll – at least to begin with. Phillippe to start Game 1. Apart from that, no other changes.

Game 1 in Pittsburgh
Deacon Phillippe (25-11) v Eddie Plank (28-7)

Not the start we were looking for as Phillippe surrenders a run before even getting an out with Lajoie singling it in.

Our bats stay quiet and when they double their lead in the 4th our plight worsens. But we cop a break when Lajoie proves he is human after all and muffs a grounder with two out to extend the inning and Seybold makes them pay with a run-scoring triple, just our second hit of the game.

We tie it at 2 in the next on a sac fly by Murphy and then Cap Clarke comes through with a two-out single to score another run and give us the lead for the first time in the game. A HBP to Wagner and another single by Williams makes it 4-2.

We extend our lead again in the 7th on three straight hits, with Wagner singling it in, then Steinfeldt all but puts them away with a two-out two-run two-bagger to make it 7-2. That ends Plank’s game.

Light rain had made the field slippery, but still, Steinfeldt’s two errors in the 8th are hard to take, and we are lucky to only concede the one run.

With Phillippe at 120 pitches and due up to bat, I decide to hit for him and let the pen close it out. Altrock lets two get aboard, but Malarkey comes in and gets Lajoie to ground out to end it. A positive beginning but there’s a long way to go.

Pittsburgh 7, Philadelphia 3.

BOX SCORE

Game 2 in Pittsburgh
Jack Chesbro (18-18) v Willie Sudhoff (16-15)

Pittsburgh leads series 1-0

Jack has been good and bad throughout the regular season. Let’s hope the good Jack comes out to play tonight and for the remainder of the Series.

He gets a scoreless 1st and we go ahead on an inside-the-park home run by Wagner, who seems much more focused than in recent times. But then they respond with a run in the 2nd to tie it back up again, and I’m not liking what I’m seeing when Chesbro gives up a hit to their pitcher, even though it leads to nothing.

The next inning doesn’t change my opinion as he gives up three straight hits and the go-ahead run but he recovers to keep it at that. By this point they have outhit us seven to two, and when we give up a totally pointless run on a double to their pitcher followed by an idiotic throwing error by Maloney, we are further in the hole at 3-1.

Wagner again sparks us to life, tripling and scoring on a Williams single, and another trip with two out by Steinfeldt gets us back square with them. But they are just pounding Chesbro, and go straight back ahead with a run on two hits, and again we dodge a major bullet when they leave the bags full.

Sudhoff gets his third hit, another double, and I have seen all I want to see when Chesbro then gives up a single to score him and make it 5-3. I bring Owen on in relief.

Wagner and Williams get aboard with none out in the home 6th. A Seybold groundout scores one and then Sudhoff is forced from the game with an injury. When play resumes, Steinfeldt knots it up once again with a single.

After both sides threaten without scoring in the 7th, we fall behind yet again in the next as their relentless offence just keeps churning out hits. This time, however, we have no response and they take the game by a run to tie the series at one.

Philadelphia 6, Pittsburgh 5.

BOX SCORE

Game 3 in Philadelphia
Chick Fraser (18-17) v Mike O’Neill (15-12)

Series tied 1-1

They have lost Sudhoff for the rest of the Series and most, if not all, of next season as well with a UCL tear. Tough break. It was only knowing we had the travel day coming up that allowed me the luxury of deploying the pen so early in Game 2. With a three-game run ahead of us, I certainly don’t want to have to do so tonight. But if O’Neill shows any signs of not being right my hand may well be forced in that regard.

We fall behind early again, as they post a run on two hits in the second and then another in the third.

Then the heavens open and the game is delayed for more than an hour.

When play resumes, so does their unstoppable hit machine, as they go three up in the 4th. Our bats, on the other hand, are ominously quiet, with just 3 hits thru 5, and when Lajoie homers to add another run to their lead we just look beat.

We finally get a run in the 8th on a Murphy single and then get a rally going in the 9th. With Wagner and Williams aboard and none out, Dexter – hitting for a dreadful Seybold who is 1-for-10 to this point – doubles one in, and he represents the tying run. Then McIntyre, also hitting 100 in the Series, triples them both in and we’ve somehow drawn level with the go-ahead run now at third with one out. But Maloney and Courtney fail to bring him in and we waste a golden chance to nick it.

They get a man on in the home half but don’t capitalise and it goes into extra innings. But not for long, as Owen gives up a leadoff trip in the 10th and a passed ball walks it off for them. We were messy and ill-disciplined tonight and paid the price.

Philadelphia 5, Pittsburgh 4 (10 innings)

BOX SCORE

Game 4 in Philadelphia
Eddie Plank (0-1) v Deacon Phillippe (1-0)

Philadelphia leads series 2-1

After a tentative first couple, we take the lead in the 3rd on a two-out Murphy single. Lajoie triples and scores on a Beaumont single in the 4th to tie it at 1 and they start up again, adding another on two hits. Then Wagner boots one and only a turned DP gets us out of the inning just the one behind.

No change until the top 7th when we get the bases full with no outs and tie the game when McGann makes an error at 1B. We look to have wasted another chance when a runner is doubled up at home, but Clarke saves our bacon with a 2-run single. Then Phillippe comes through in the next with a two-out RBI single to make it 5-2.

Clarke makes a dreadful misplay in the home 8th but then redeems himself with an outstanding throw to mow down Lajoie trying to score. Then we make three more errors in the 9th to put our game total at a disgraceful 7 and, more importantly, bring up Lajoie as the winning run with one out. After deliberating as long as I can I stick with Deacon. He gets Nap but then they tie it with a hit and I’m about to self-destruct.

In the top 10th we make two outs quickly, but then McIntyre walks and Dexter delivers one of the biggest hits of his career, a double that scores the run all the way from first.

Malarkey comes in to pitch and gives up a leadoff single. He gets one out but a single moves the tying run to third with one out. But we escape somehow a game we deserved to neither win nor lose, as he gets a GIDP to end it.

Pittsburgh 6, Baltimore 5 (10 innings)

BOX SCORE

Game 5 in Pittsburgh
Jack Chesbro (0-0) v Snake Wiltse (0-0)

Series tied 2-2

My heart rate is still elevated from that 9th inning last night when the first pitch is thrown, not the ideal frame of mind with Jack Chesbro on the mound. Even though he’s now 1-for-15, with the lefty on the mound I have little choice but to keep Seybold in the lineup and hope he comes good. Come Draft time I shall be looking to improve our bench options, that’s for sure.

Dexter is having some series, and he triples and scores the game’s first run on a single by Chesbro, who is no slouch with the bat (he hit 239 with 19 RBI in the regular season). A Murphy double scores him but Wagner and Williams fail to bring Danny in. Those are the ones that’ll kill you in this type of contest and sure enough they get on the board with a run in the 4th.

Seybold, who had singled earlier, finally finds his swing, homering to lead off the 6th and restore our 2-run lead. But then Chesbro loses his shape in the 7th and they tag him for 2 runs on 4 hits to tie the game at 3.

For the third game in a row, we sort it out in extra innings.
In the top 10th, we load the bases with one out. I hit Maloney for McIntyre, who is struggling with form, but he strikes out and Dexter grounds out and we miss our chance.

Chesbro, fantastic in this one, comes out after 10.

Murphy doubles and Clarke triples to get us the go-ahead run in the 11th. A passed ball gets us a buffer run.

McJames comes in for his first appearance of the Series, pitches a scoreless inning for the save to send us home needing one more win to get the bikkies.

Pittsburgh 5, Baltimore 3 (11 innings)

BOX SCORE

Game 6 in Pittsburgh
Mike O’Neill (0-0) v Chick Fraser (1-0)

Pittsburgh leads series 3-2

It goes without saying we don’t want to face Plank in a Game 7. So it’s up to Mike to wrap it up in six. I decide to play Maloney in CF in place of McIntyre, with Dexter behind the plate.

That all changes when Cap is hit by a pitch and has to leave the game. We regather and Wagner puts us ahead with a groundout and another one by Williams makes it 2-0. O’Neill starts strongly, but then our defence lets him, and us, down in the 4th with Wagner throwing one into the dugout to gift them a run.

They return the favour and we bring one in on a Maloney groundout in the home half. O’Neill walks to keep the inning alive and another error loads them up, but McIntyre can only ground out weakly to strand them all.

We stretch our lead to 3 in the bottom 5th on a run-scoring double by Seybold and then that man Dexter comes up trumps again with a two-out single to plate one and make it 5-1. Singles to Maloney and then O’Neill bring yet another one in for us. Then Murphy, such a champion, blows it even wider open with a two-out two-run two-bagger. 8-1, but still lots of time for them to come back, especially with their lineup.

O’Neill gets into trouble when he gives up a triple to Lajoie, but fortune favours us as Maloney throws an absolute bullet to double him up at home.

We load them up with one out in the 6th but for once Dexter can’t get it done, GIDP to douse the threat. But it matters little when Wagner bombs out a 3-run dinger in the next.

O’Neill has been just superb and with a 10-run advantage I would love to let him finish it. But at 130+ pitches and with everything to lose from the idea, I go to the pen instead. Mr Conservative wins out. At least Irwin makes it worthwhile with a single, and then an error by their CF gets us yet another run. A McIntyre single loads the bases and Wagner puts an exclamation point on a truly magical day for the club with a 3-run double. They don’t stop there, however, as Seybold singes one in, our 20th hit of the game, that makes it 16-1.

I give Deacon Phillippe the honour of finishing the game, which he does to give us our second World Championship.

Amazing!

Pittsburgh 16, Philadelphia 1

PITTSBURGH WINS SERIES 4-2.

SERIES MVP: Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh)

BOX SCORE

07-03-2021, 10:32 AM	#38
luckymann Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 13,646	1902 World Series Philadelphia Athletics (88-52) v Pittsburgh Pirates (81-59) You know there’s not a lot of difference between the 1902 A’s and the 1901 O’s. They are a classy unit who can beat you in any number of ways. Perhaps the main point of differential is the fact that they have clearly the best player in the AL, and arguably all of MLB, in Nap Lajoie. Only truly special players win Triple Crowns, as he has just done, and if he stays hot in this series we are going to be in all sorts of trouble. Still, we have our own weapons led by our own true superstar in Dutchie Wagner. He had an underwhelming World Series last year and never really hit the heights we expect of him through the 1902 regular season. Now would be the ideal time for him to do so. And in fact, even beyond the Wagner-Lajoie correlation, these two sides match up fairly even on paper, both statistically as well as personnel-wise: Plank-Phillippe; Chesbro-Sudhoff; Clarke-Beaumont; Dolan- Seybold; Steinfeldt-McGann. As is usually the case, it will come down to whichever side takes their chances and does the little things as well as the big. I’m going to risk O’Neill, even though he suffered that foot contusion. The medical staff and Mike himself all seem to think there’s no damage there, so that’s how we’ll roll – at least to begin with. Phillippe to start Game 1. Apart from that, no other changes. Game 1 in Pittsburgh *Deacon Phillippe (25-11) v Eddie Plank (28-7)* Not the start we were looking for as Phillippe surrenders a run before even getting an out with Lajoie singling it in. Our bats stay quiet and when they double their lead in the 4th our plight worsens. But we cop a break when Lajoie proves he is human after all and muffs a grounder with two out to extend the inning and Seybold makes them pay with a run-scoring triple, just our second hit of the game. We tie it at 2 in the next on a sac fly by Murphy and then Cap Clarke comes through with a two-out single to score another run and give us the lead for the first time in the game. A HBP to Wagner and another single by Williams makes it 4-2. We extend our lead again in the 7th on three straight hits, with Wagner singling it in, then Steinfeldt all but puts them away with a two-out two-run two-bagger to make it 7-2. That ends Plank’s game. Light rain had made the field slippery, but still, Steinfeldt’s two errors in the 8th are hard to take, and we are lucky to only concede the one run. With Phillippe at 120 pitches and due up to bat, I decide to hit for him and let the pen close it out. Altrock lets two get aboard, but Malarkey comes in and gets Lajoie to ground out to end it. A positive beginning but there’s a long way to go. Pittsburgh 7, Philadelphia 3. BOX SCORE Game 2 in Pittsburgh *Jack Chesbro (18-18) v Willie Sudhoff (16-15)* Pittsburgh leads series 1-0 Jack has been good and bad throughout the regular season. Let’s hope the good Jack comes out to play tonight and for the remainder of the Series. He gets a scoreless 1st and we go ahead on an inside-the-park home run by Wagner, who seems much more focused than in recent times. But then they respond with a run in the 2nd to tie it back up again, and I’m not liking what I’m seeing when Chesbro gives up a hit to their pitcher, even though it leads to nothing. The next inning doesn’t change my opinion as he gives up three straight hits and the go-ahead run but he recovers to keep it at that. By this point they have outhit us seven to two, and when we give up a totally pointless run on a double to their pitcher followed by an idiotic throwing error by Maloney, we are further in the hole at 3-1. Wagner again sparks us to life, tripling and scoring on a Williams single, and another trip with two out by Steinfeldt gets us back square with them. But they are just pounding Chesbro, and go straight back ahead with a run on two hits, and again we dodge a major bullet when they leave the bags full. Sudhoff gets his third hit, another double, and I have seen all I want to see when Chesbro then gives up a single to score him and make it 5-3. I bring Owen on in relief. Wagner and Williams get aboard with none out in the home 6th. A Seybold groundout scores one and then Sudhoff is forced from the game with an injury. When play resumes, Steinfeldt knots it up once again with a single. After both sides threaten without scoring in the 7th, we fall behind yet again in the next as their relentless offence just keeps churning out hits. This time, however, we have no response and they take the game by a run to tie the series at one. Philadelphia 6, Pittsburgh 5. BOX SCORE Game 3 in Philadelphia *Chick Fraser (18-17) v Mike O’Neill (15-12)* Series tied 1-1 They have lost Sudhoff for the rest of the Series and most, if not all, of next season as well with a UCL tear. Tough break. It was only knowing we had the travel day coming up that allowed me the luxury of deploying the pen so early in Game 2. With a three-game run ahead of us, I certainly don’t want to have to do so tonight. But if O’Neill shows any signs of not being right my hand may well be forced in that regard. We fall behind early again, as they post a run on two hits in the second and then another in the third. Then the heavens open and the game is delayed for more than an hour. When play resumes, so does their unstoppable hit machine, as they go three up in the 4th. Our bats, on the other hand, are ominously quiet, with just 3 hits thru 5, and when Lajoie homers to add another run to their lead we just look beat. We finally get a run in the 8th on a Murphy single and then get a rally going in the 9th. With Wagner and Williams aboard and none out, Dexter – hitting for a dreadful Seybold who is 1-for-10 to this point – doubles one in, and he represents the tying run. Then McIntyre, also hitting 100 in the Series, triples them both in and we’ve somehow drawn level with the go-ahead run now at third with one out. But Maloney and Courtney fail to bring him in and we waste a golden chance to nick it. They get a man on in the home half but don’t capitalise and it goes into extra innings. But not for long, as Owen gives up a leadoff trip in the 10th and a passed ball walks it off for them. We were messy and ill-disciplined tonight and paid the price. Philadelphia 5, Pittsburgh 4 (10 innings) BOX SCORE Game 4 in Philadelphia *Eddie Plank (0-1) v Deacon Phillippe (1-0)* Philadelphia leads series 2-1 After a tentative first couple, we take the lead in the 3rd on a two-out Murphy single. Lajoie triples and scores on a Beaumont single in the 4th to tie it at 1 and they start up again, adding another on two hits. Then Wagner boots one and only a turned DP gets us out of the inning just the one behind. No change until the top 7th when we get the bases full with no outs and tie the game when McGann makes an error at 1B. We look to have wasted another chance when a runner is doubled up at home, but Clarke saves our bacon with a 2-run single. Then Phillippe comes through in the next with a two-out RBI single to make it 5-2. Clarke makes a dreadful misplay in the home 8th but then redeems himself with an outstanding throw to mow down Lajoie trying to score. Then we make three more errors in the 9th to put our game total at a disgraceful 7 and, more importantly, bring up Lajoie as the winning run with one out. After deliberating as long as I can I stick with Deacon. He gets Nap but then they tie it with a hit and I’m about to self-destruct. In the top 10th we make two outs quickly, but then McIntyre walks and Dexter delivers one of the biggest hits of his career, a double that scores the run all the way from first. Malarkey comes in to pitch and gives up a leadoff single. He gets one out but a single moves the tying run to third with one out. But we escape somehow a game we deserved to neither win nor lose, as he gets a GIDP to end it. Pittsburgh 6, Baltimore 5 (10 innings) BOX SCORE Game 5 in Pittsburgh *Jack Chesbro (0-0) v Snake Wiltse (0-0)* Series tied 2-2 My heart rate is still elevated from that 9th inning last night when the first pitch is thrown, not the ideal frame of mind with Jack Chesbro on the mound. Even though he’s now 1-for-15, with the lefty on the mound I have little choice but to keep Seybold in the lineup and hope he comes good. Come Draft time I shall be looking to improve our bench options, that’s for sure. Dexter is having some series, and he triples and scores the game’s first run on a single by Chesbro, who is no slouch with the bat (he hit 239 with 19 RBI in the regular season). A Murphy double scores him but Wagner and Williams fail to bring Danny in. Those are the ones that’ll kill you in this type of contest and sure enough they get on the board with a run in the 4th. Seybold, who had singled earlier, finally finds his swing, homering to lead off the 6th and restore our 2-run lead. But then Chesbro loses his shape in the 7th and they tag him for 2 runs on 4 hits to tie the game at 3. For the third game in a row, we sort it out in extra innings. In the top 10th, we load the bases with one out. I hit Maloney for McIntyre, who is struggling with form, but he strikes out and Dexter grounds out and we miss our chance. Chesbro, fantastic in this one, comes out after 10. Murphy doubles and Clarke triples to get us the go-ahead run in the 11th. A passed ball gets us a buffer run. McJames comes in for his first appearance of the Series, pitches a scoreless inning for the save to send us home needing one more win to get the bikkies. Pittsburgh 5, Baltimore 3 (11 innings) BOX SCORE Game 6 in Pittsburgh *Mike O’Neill (0-0) v Chick Fraser (1-0)* Pittsburgh leads series 3-2 It goes without saying we don’t want to face Plank in a Game 7. So it’s up to Mike to wrap it up in six. I decide to play Maloney in CF in place of McIntyre, with Dexter behind the plate. That all changes when Cap is hit by a pitch and has to leave the game. We regather and Wagner puts us ahead with a groundout and another one by Williams makes it 2-0. O’Neill starts strongly, but then our defence lets him, and us, down in the 4th with Wagner throwing one into the dugout to gift them a run. They return the favour and we bring one in on a Maloney groundout in the home half. O’Neill walks to keep the inning alive and another error loads them up, but McIntyre can only ground out weakly to strand them all. We stretch our lead to 3 in the bottom 5th on a run-scoring double by Seybold and then that man Dexter comes up trumps again with a two-out single to plate one and make it 5-1. Singles to Maloney and then O’Neill bring yet another one in for us. Then Murphy, such a champion, blows it even wider open with a two-out two-run two-bagger. 8-1, but still lots of time for them to come back, especially with their lineup. O’Neill gets into trouble when he gives up a triple to Lajoie, but fortune favours us as Maloney throws an absolute bullet to double him up at home. We load them up with one out in the 6th but for once Dexter can’t get it done, GIDP to douse the threat. But it matters little when Wagner bombs out a 3-run dinger in the next. O’Neill has been just superb and with a 10-run advantage I would love to let him finish it. But at 130+ pitches and with everything to lose from the idea, I go to the pen instead. Mr Conservative wins out. At least Irwin makes it worthwhile with a single, and then an error by their CF gets us yet another run. A McIntyre single loads the bases and Wagner puts an exclamation point on a truly magical day for the club with a 3-run double. They don’t stop there, however, as Seybold singes one in, our 20th hit of the game, that makes it 16-1. I give Deacon Phillippe the honour of finishing the game, which he does to give us our second World Championship. Amazing! Pittsburgh 16, Philadelphia 1 PITTSBURGH WINS SERIES 4-2. SERIES MVP: Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh) BOX SCORE Attached Images __________________ HISTORICAL DO-OVERS A'S RED SOX DODGERS CUSTOM SAVES ECLIPSE LEAGUE MOON SHOT LEAGUE EVERYMAN LEAGUE LGB USBA Last edited by luckymann; 07-03-2021 at 10:34 AM.