1903 World Series (Game 7)

Actual 1903 World Series ticket.

A series recap of how this special 1903 World Series has gone between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Americans.

• Game 1 (at Boston) - Cy Young shuts down the Pirates in a 4-0 shutout performance that allowed only 5 hits, with 7 strikeouts.

• Buck Freeman's three-run HR off of Pirates' starter Deacon Phillipe during the bottom of the 7th of Game 2, is the difference, as Boston wins 5-2 to take a 2-0 series lead in front of their home crowd.

• Jimmy Sebring's clutch two-run double in Game 3 capped off a 5-run second inning to help the Pirates beat Tom Hughes & the Boston Americans, 6-2.

• Big moment in Game 4 sets up heroics for Duke Farrell. Pittsburgh tries to avoid Buck Freeman's dangerous bat by intentionally walking Freeman -- which set up Farrell's clutch two-run double (off of Deacon Phillippe) in the top of the 6th. Boston forces extras, as Boston wins 4-3 through 10 innings; Boston leads series, 3-1.

• Down 3-0 in Game 5, and down 3-1 in the series -- The Pirates call on pinch-hitter Joe Marshall who belts a two-run HR over the center field wall off of Bill Dinneen, cutting the Boston lead down to 3-2. Boston calls on invincible Cy Young, to watch Young give up a two-run HR to Fred Clarke, over the left field wall. The Pirates call on Sam Leever, who locks down the game with a two-inning Save. Ed Doheny (Pirates starter) gets the victory -- winning 4-3 over Boston.

• The Pirates call on Irvin Wilhelm (who only won 5 games all season) to start the important & crucial Game 6, facing off against Tom Hughes (who got rocked in Game 3) -- while both Cy Young of Boston & Pittsburgh's Sam Leever are not available. Pirates' catcher Ed Phelps (who had no hits through 13 at-bats) hits a two-run HR off of Hughes in the second; Tommy Leach tacks on an insurance RBI single -- while Deacon Phillippe comes in for the save. Pirates win 3-1, and even up the series; A series that Boston appeared to have locked up.

Now it all comes down to this, Game 7 in Boston (at Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds) -- a match-up between Pittsburgh's Sam Leever & Boston's Cy Young.

GAME 7 (at Boston (A))

Sam Leever of the Bucs.

What is quickly becoming evident of a pitcher's duel, the Boston Americans put a lead-off man on in the bottom of the 4th in Patsy Dougherty, who drew a walk from Pittsburgh starter Sam Leever. Freddy Parent bunts Dougherty over to second. Leever facing Jimmy Collins with one out, gets Collins to ground out to first, failing to move over the runner to third -- two outs. Leever decides to intentionally walk the dangerous Buck Freeman (batting .350) to face Chick Stahl (.048) instead. Leever delivers, chopper back to the mound. Leever is up with it, fires to first, and that retires the side.

Top of the 5th - The Bucs' Claude Ritchey delivers the very first hit for either team, with a lead-off double to the right-center gap. Now it will be Kitty Bransfield to face Cy Young -- Young delivers, and it's popped up behind third, one away. Jimmy Sebring who has had some luck against Young, steps in with a .278 batting average, a HR & 6 ribbies; The pitch from Young, checked swing, the ump rings him up, two down. Ed Phelps (last game's hero) hits an easy bouncer to Hobe Ferris at second, he's up with it, to first, out number three.

George LaChance collects the Boston Americans' first hit, a grounder up the middle that splits Honus Wagner & Claude Ritchey. Lou Criger flies out to left, two outs. Cy Young can't help his cause, as he pops up to Honus at short -- three away. No runs, one hit for each team -- heading into the 6th Inning.

The Americans' Cy Young.

Top of the 6th - With two outs, Buck Freeman in left for Boston tries to make a sliding catch, but the ball gets by him, as Fred Clarke rolls into third with a triple -- bringing up Honus Wagner to face off against Cy Young, as the entire stadium is on its feet. The unfortunate thing is, Wagner is struggling, batting .100 in 20 at-bats; Wagner laces a liner to left, Freeman is on the run, he slides for the possible catch - CAUGHT! He made sure he got this one, as Young pumps his fist in excitement!

Patsy Dougherty gave Ginger Beaumont a run for his money & to the wall, as Beaumont chases it down and catches the ball right up against the fence -- The Pirates dugout quickly went quiet on that one. Another fly to the track, this one to right, as Beaumont catches Freddy Parent's fly to right-center. Jimmy Collins dribbles a roller to the left of the mound, Sam Leever can't reach it, Honus Wagner races in, grabs & throws it in one motion -- not in time! Collins beats the two-out throw, bringing up Buck Freeman. Decisions, decisions... and once again, an intentional walk to Freeman, as they elect to pitch to Chick Stahl (1-for-22), moving the speedy Collins to second, in scoring position. Boston will go down it's bench -- it will be Charley "Duke" Farrell, who is 2-for-2, with a double, triple, 4 RBI & a walk. Leever decides to face him, delivers, it's hit hard, but right at Wagner, Wagner flips to second for the force -- out! They strand the runners, still anyone's game after 6 innings.

7th Inning stretch - Boston 0, Pittsburgh 0 (2 hits a piece); Cy Young has 5 K's & 2 BB's -- while Sam Leever has only one strikeout, with three walks allowed (two intentional walks to Buck Freeman). Young (3-1) entered the game with a 1.52 ERA through 23.2 innings this series, with 17 K's; Leever (1-2) entered at a 2.25 ERA through 20 innings, 7 K's. Both are pitching a masterpiece, we'll see who comes out on top.

A two-out double for Boston in the bottom of the 8th for Freddy Parent (off of Sam Leever). Leever to face the struggling Jimmy Collins (batting .192) -- belts it over Ginger Beaumont's head in center, off the base of the wall, Parent will score easily, Collins is racing to third, the tag & he's safe! Boston has taken a crucial 1-0 lead here in the bottom-half of the 8th inning! Leever will intentionally walk Buck Freeman for the third time, all they need is one out, Leever to face Jake Stahl (who came in on defense for Chick Stahl) will come to the plate... or maybe not, Boston will go to the bench for Aleck Smith; Smith batted ,303 during the season in 33 at-bats for the Americans -- he is 1-for-1 this series, with a double. Leever to the plate, Smith flies it to right, Sebring is over and catches it, final out of the 8th. Boston 1, Pittsburgh 0

A big hit for Jimmy Collins.

It's up to the dangerous part of the Pirates' batting order in the top of the 9th, in Ginger Beaumont (.192), Fred Clarke (.308) & Honus Wagner (.095) to get at least one run against Cy Young, who has had an epic series -- Young's ERA is down to 1.14 through 31.2 innings! Jack O'Brien is in right for Boston, as George Stone takes over in left. The lefty Beaumont flies to center for the first out, bringing up Clarke, who has a HR & 3 RBI this series, with a double & triple. Young delivers to Clarke, fly ball, center field, should be no trouble, Patsy Dougherty brings it down, two away. It's all up to Honus Wagner, the pitch from Young, it's hopped to the right side, LaChance behind first fields it on the big bounce, the throw to Young running to first -- OUT! BOSTON WINS IT! The Boston Americans foil the Pirates' bid for a repeat! 

Cy Young has pitched a series for the ages, that will likely be talked for ages! 4 victories, all by Young! He is named the World Series MVP, as if there was any doubt, as Boston holds off a surge by the Pirates -- the Pirates trailing 3-1, came back, tied the series up, and Game 7 went to the bottom of the 8th scoreless, until Jimmy Collins' RBI triple (following Freddy Parent's lead-off double). Sam Leever is credited with the loss, his 3rd for the series, as he went 1-3 in the 1903 World Series. People will be talking though, about how Honus Wagner failed to show up this series.

The Pirates have now gone to three consecutive World Series with mixed results:

• 1901 World Series: Chicago White Sox defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3.
• 1902 World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Philadelphia Athletics, 4-0.
• 1903 World Series: Boston Americans defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3.

It would have been interesting to see what could have been, if they were able to bring back Jack Chesbro & Jesse Tannehill (who both departed for greener pastures). None the less, the Pirates made a historic run from 1901-1903.

Now can the Boston Americans go back to the series in 1904, for a chance to become the first to repeat?