1904 World Series (Game 1)

There was a lot of buzz that the New York Giants' Manager John McGraw and team owner John T. Brush wanted no part of this World Series, but something must have changed their minds, because the Boston Americans' Cy Young and Giants' Jim McGinnity are warming up -- with the fans all trickling into the Polo Grounds.

The American League has won two of the three previous World Series, the Boston Americans are the defending World Champions, after defeating the 1903 Pittsburgh Pirates in a seven-game epic series, which witnessed Boston's Cy Young to win a record 4 games (he also lost one game, while winning a game in relief).

The New York Giants are the first N.L. Champion, not named the Pittsburgh Pirates to represent the National League in what is being dubbed "The Fall Classic".

GAME 1 (at New York (N) - Polo Grounds)

Cy Young still making history.

This game goes as advertised & predicted, a pitcher's duel is set in motion between Cy Young and Jim McGinnity.

Cy Young was pitching a no-hitter into the 5th inning, when Sam Mertes broke it up with a single to right. This game would go to extras, and have a couple long balls that would fall short, Roger Bresnahan smacked one deep to right during the bottom of the 9th, but it was taken at the wall by Boston's Buck Freeman.

Top of the 10th, Lou Criger gets caught napping at the plate, a called third strike, which he did not like, while walking back to the dugout, he shouted something at the plate umpire & was ejected. Following the K of Criger, pitcher Cy Young takes matters in his hand at the plate, and hits a ball to left, the left fielder Sam Mertes tries to make a sliding catch, but misses the catch, as the ball bounces to the wall, Young will make it all the way to third; Ruled a triple for Young. Al Selbach would hit a single over the second baseman Billy Gilbert's head, as Young scores easily. Selbach steals second, while Jimmy Collins is at the plate; Collins grounds out, advancing Selbach to third. Chick Stahl hits a RBI triple, to score in Selbach. McGinnity eventually gets out of trouble, but he & his Giants are down, 2-0.

Bottom of the 10th, Sam Mertes beats out a infield grounder to second. Runner is in motion, Bill Dahlen shows great bat control, and executes the hit & run perfectly. Runners on the corner, Billy Gilbert hits a grounder to the pitcher's mound, Cy Young is up with it, throws to first, out number one, while Dahlen moves to second, Mertes holds at third.

McGraw put the game in his hands, literally.

With weak-hitting right-handed John Warner coming to the plate, Manager John McGraw (a lefty) decides to pinch-hit himself over strong right-handed hitter Jack Dunn; McGraw wants to counter the righty Cy. McGraw sends a pretty deep fly to center, which is caught by Boston's Chick Stahl -- The Giants tag up, Mertes is coming home, the throw, the collision at the plate and he's OUT! Double Play to end the game, did McGraw's ego get the best of him?

What a start to the series, they'll be talking about this one for some time, it may be the spark that Boston was seeking against the favored New York Giants. Cy Young has now won 5 career World Series game in its brief history.