This Month In Baseball
October 1875
Edition 5.9
Boston's Day In The Sun
Unbelievable Comeback Crown's Red Stockings Champions
The series had all the intrigue and attention of almost every citizen of the land. Two cities soaked in baseball tradition faced off for the championship of 1875, the rooters of Boston against the stone will of Philadelphia.
The series will go down in history as one of surprise and resolve as it took the full seven games to decide the winner. Even more dramatic however is that the club from Philadelphia, won the first three games and appeared clear to win the title for the National League. Step by step however, the men of Harry Wright did not quit and rallied themselves, to win four games in a row and become champions to relish.
Lip Pike went 4-5 in the opening game in Boston as the Whites punished star pitcher Al Spalding taking the opener easily 8-3. A tight back and forth battle in game two saw Boston fall behind 7-0 in the first only to fight back and come one run short to lose 9-8, and take the series to Philadelphia.
In Philly the Whites continued their fine play. Cy Bentley delighted fans with an brilliant 4-1 win in game three and plans for a coronation and a parade were set in the city of Brotherly Love. Boston had none of it, coming out determined not to be embarrassed defeating a relaxed Phlly team 11-2 to force a game five. Keen to get the series back to Boston, Mike Golden beat Bentley 7-2 and whispers began to circulate that the Reds could turn the entire series around.
In Boston flying high behind a fanbase they truly believed in them, Boston took game six 11-8 punishing Tommy Bond and proving that momentum is a very real thing in this game. The final battle was set for a winner take all game seven, but somehow, it seemed everyone knew what the final outcome would be. Down 2-0 early, Boston did not flinch and would score seven runs the rest of the way achieving the unthinkable and winning a championship that had eluded them for 5 years.
Harry Wright gets all the credit for somehow rallying his team after all hope seemed lost, and even benching his brother George to change the momentum and get his club back on track. It has become obvious, that the Boston players truly would go through the fire for their manager.
Dick Hunt was named player of the series hitting .412 but it was a entire team effort that has Boston celebrating. For Philadelphia, the players were most hurt that they could not bring home the title for their manager, Lip Pike, who had carried them on and off the field all season long.
