1901 World Series (Games 4-5)

Game 4 (at Pittsburgh)

The attention on the Pirates' lack of offense seems ludicrous entering Game 3, when considering nothing much is being noted about the White Sox having no more than 7 hits in a single-game, so far in the first three games. The Pirates had 15 hits in Game 3 alone, nearly matches the White Sox' series total of 19.

Also not much chirping coming from the Chicago dugout.

The Pirates looked as if they were going to repeat their first-inning magic in yesterday's game as Jimmy Callahan walks the Bucs' lead-off man Al Davis, while Fred Clarke executes the hit & run, followed by an RBI single by Ginger Beaumont. But the inning died shortly after a line-out scorched by Honus Wagner to 2B-Sam Mertes, and with Kitty Bransfield hitting into a inning-ending double-play.

The Pirates up 2-0 in the bottom of the second, buy extra insurance by having George Merritt, a pitcher, to pinch-hit for the weak-hitting catcher Charlie Zimmer. The move was a good call, as Merritt hits this one into the left field corner, knocking in two runs on an triple -- making it 4-0. Callahan gets out of more trouble, by striking out Deacon Phillippe and Al Davis for the final outs.

Callahan yanked 5 Innings, 4 runs, 7 hits for pinch-hitter.

The White Sox' John McAleese takes the mound, with 2 outs & the bases loaded, Fred Clarke collects an RBI single to make it 5-0 for some extra insurance.

Sam Mertes' HR attempt in right field was robbed by a leaping Beaumont. Billy Hoy on the next play, with two outs in the 7th, smacks a double into the gap, that double ends up breaking Deacon Phillippe's bid for a no-hitter.

The Pirates tack on some more runs, as the White Sox break up the shutout with an RBI triple by Sam Mertes.

Complete-game victory for Phillippe, with 3 K's & only 2 hits, walk & run allowed. Jimmy Callahan is credited with the loss; Series even 2-2. Three Pirates had 3 hits each in this game (Clarke, Bransfield & Tommy Leach)

Game 5 (at Pittsburgh)

The Pirates who have collected a combined 31 hits, the last two games, surprised the press when their lineup was announced. Al Davis has been struggling, and was moved to the 6th slot, while Kitty Bransfield was moved from the 5th slot to the #2 slot, moving Fred Clarke up to the lead-off spot. Will this mess with a red-hot lineup, time will tell.

The Pirates came up in the bottom of the 3rd, down 1-0, when the Pirates collected back-to-back triples by their starting pitcher Jack Chesbro and Fred Clarke. Honus Wagner would get himself an RBI double, as the Pirates make it a 3-1 lead, Honus Wagner ended the inning prematurely when he ran through the 3rd Base Coach's stop sign, getting thrown out by right fielder Billy Hoy's strong arm at the plate.

The White Sox' Fred Hartman hits an RBI double during the top of the 5th to trim the lead to 3-2.

The Sox keep clawing as the Pirates' early missed opportunities are coming back to bite them back. Top of the 8th, lead-off single by Fielder Jones to right, which is followed by a textbook hit & run by Fred Hartman. 1st & 3rd, no outs, and up to the plate comes Sam Mertes, who is 2-for-3 for the day. Chesbro delivers, and the Pirates are caught off-guard by a bunting Mertes, as the bun rolls towards third, the third baseman Tommy Leach waves it to go foul, but it stays, and the run scores, and Mertes is easily safe at first -- the game is knotted up 3-3. Fred Clarke (also the manager) comes running in from center, he's going with the southpaw Jesse Tannehill come in and face the batch of lefties coming to the plate for the Sox. Billy Hoy lands a successful sacrifice bunt, moving the runners up to 2nd & 3rd, with one out. Clarke will have Tannehill intentionally walk Herm McFarland (who had 4 HR's) to deal with less dangerous Frank Isbell (.257 average in 1901), looking for that double-play. Tannehill delivers, the ball is hit towards Leach, deep at third, he runs up and touches third base for the force, as the White Sox take the lead 4-3. The inning finally ends for the Pirates.

Chicago's Patterson: 2 wins, 1.93 ERA.

The bottom of the 8th, and the White Sox' pitcher Clark Griffith (and manager) will come in at relief for the White Sox. It is Griffith's 3rd appearance & he has a generous ERA of 6.52. He will face the tying run in Honus Wagner. Griffith starts off with back-to-back ground-outs by Wagner & Tommy Leach to 2B-Sam Mertes -- then strikes out Al Davis to retire the side.

Jimmy Callahan comes in for the save opportunity for the White Sox, he has one save, one loss, and a 4.50 ERA in 3 games this series. He will face the weaker part of the lineup in Ritchey, O'Connor and Tannehill. Claude Ritchey has had an excellent series actually, and leads off with a single, making him 7-for-12 (.582 avg) this series. Clarke elects for Charles Yeager to pinch-hit for catcher Jack O'Connor, and will likely take over catching duty, if the game continues. Yeager hits it to 3B-Hartman, who throws over to second and gets Ritchey on the force, Yeager safe at first. The Pirates pinch-run Jimmy Burke for Yeager, which will make Charlie Zimmer the catcher if this one goes to extras. The Pirates will keep with the platoon advantage of Tannehill to hit against the righty Callahan on the mound, instead of going with the better hitter in pitcher George Merritt. Tannehill coaxes a bases-on-balls, moving the tying run to second, putting the winning run on first, while the dangerous Fred Clarke comes to the plate. Clarke hits a shallow fly to center, Burke decides to not test Fielder Jones' arm. Callahan gets Kitty Bransfield to hit a lazy fly to left to end the game.

Chicago takes a 3-2 series lead, back to Chicago, first road win for either team this series. So the Pirates have their backs against the wall as they will take a train back to Chicago.