Mathewson pitched for the New York team and Collins, Hall and Bedient
for Boston. The game resulted in a tie, 6 to 6, at the end of the
eleventh inning, being called on account of darkness by Umpire
O'Loughlin, who was acting behind the plate. This contest was remarkable
more for the misplays of the New York players, which gave the Bostons a
chance to save themselves from defeat, than for any undue familiarity
with the pitching of Mathewson. It was the universal opinion of
partisans of both teams that Mathewson deserved to win because he
outpitched his opponents. The weather was fair and the ground in
excellent condition. In the first inning Snodgrass began with a clean
two-base hit into the left field seats but neither Doyle, Becker nor
Murray was able to help him across the plate. A run scored in that
inning, with such a fine start, would probably have won the game for the
Giants.
In Boston's half Hooper hit safely to center field and stole second
base. Yerkes batted a line drive to Fletcher, and had the New York
shortstop held the ball, which was not difficult to catch, Hooper could
easily have been doubled at second, but Fletcher muffed it. Speaker hit
safely toward third base, filling the bases. Lewis batted to Herzog, who
made a fine play on the ball and caught Hooper at the plate. This should
have been the third out and would have retired Boston without a run.
Gardner was put out by a combination play on the part of Mathewson,
Doyle and Merkle, scoring Yerkes, and Stahl came through with a hard
line hit for a base, which scored Speaker and Lewis. The inning netted
Boston three runs, which were not earned.
With one out in the second inning Herzog batted for three bases to
center field and scored on Meyers' single. Fletcher flied out and
Mathewson forced Meyers out. Hooper got a two-base hit in the same
inning, but two were out at the time and Fletcher easily threw out
Yerkes, who was the next batter.
In the fourth inning Murray began with a clean three-base hit to center
field. Merkle fouled out to the third baseman, but Herzog's long fly to
Speaker was an excellent sacrifice and Murray scored. Meyers again hit
for a single, but was left on the bases. The Bostons got this run back
in the last half of the fifth. With one out Hooper hit to center field
for a base, his third hit in succession against Mathewson. Yerkes batted
a three-bagger out of the reach of Snodgrass and Hooper scored. Murray
batted safely in the sixth, with one out, but died trying to steal
second, Carrigan catching for Boston. In the Boston's half of the sixth
Lewis began with a single and got as far as third base, but could not
score.
The Giants started bravely in the seventh when Herzog hit the ball for a
base and stole second. There were three chances to get him home, but
Meyers, who had been hitting Collins hard, failed to make a single and
Fletcher and Mathewson were both retired.
In the eighth the New York players made one of the game rallies for
which they became famed all through the series and went ahead of their
rivals. Snodgrass was the first batter and lifted an easy fly to Lewis.
The Boston player got directly under the ball and made a square muff of
it. Doyle followed along with a sharp hit to center field for a base and
although he was forced out by Becker, the latter drove the ball hard.
Murray came through with a long two-bagger to left center and Snodgrass
and Becker scored. That tied the score and also put an end to Collins'
work in the box; Stahl took him out and substituted Hall. Merkle fouled
weakly to the catcher, but Herzog caught the ball on the nose and hit
sharp and clean to center field for two bases, sending Murray home with
the run which put the Giants in the lead. Another base hit would have
won for New York, but Meyers perished on a hard hit to Wagner, which was
fielded to first ahead of the batter.
Unfortunately for New York, with two out in the last half of the inning
Lewis batted the ball to left field for two bases. Murray made a
desperate effort to get it. He tumbled backward over the fence into the
bleachers and for a few moments there were some who thought that he had
been seriously injured. Gardner followed with a single to center and
Stahl hit to right for a base, but Wagner struck out and the Bostons
were down with only a run.
In the ninth Hall gave a remarkable exhibition. Fletcher and Mathewson
were retired in succession. Then Snodgrass, Doyle and Becker were given
bases on balls, filling the bags. It seemed certain that a run might
score, and perhaps one would have scored had it not been for an
excellent stop by Wagner. Murray hit the ball at him like a shot, but he
got it and retired Becker at second.
The Giants took the lead in the tenth and once more it appeared as if
the game would be theirs. Merkle began with a long three-base hit to
center field. Herzog batted to Wagner and Merkle played safe, refusing
to try to score while the batter was being put out at first. Meyers was
given a base on balls and Shafer ran for him. Fletcher lifted a long fly
to left field and Merkle scored from third. Mathewson could not advance
the runners and died on an infield fly. Yerkes was the first batter for
the Bostons and was retired at first base. Speaker hit to deep center
field. There were some scorers who gave the batter but three bases on
the hit, insisting that Wilson, who was then catching for New York,
should have got the throw to the plate and retired the batter. In any
event Wilson missed the ball and Speaker scored. Lewis followed with a
two-bagger, which would have scored Speaker if the latter had not tried
to run home, so Wilson's failure to retrieve the throw became more
conspicuous. Other scorers gave Speaker a clean home run and it is not
far out of the way to say that he deserved the benefit of the doubt.
Neither team scored in the eleventh inning, although Snodgrass was hit
by a pitched ball. He was the first batter. He tried to steal second,
but failed to make it.
This contest was conspicuous because of the wonderfully good fielding of
Doyle and Wagner. The former made two stops along the right field line
which seemed to be not far from superhuman. Wagner killed at least two
safe hits over second base for New York and both of the plays were of
the greatest benefit to the Boston team.
THIRD GAME.
Boston, Oct. 10, 1912.
New York 2; Boston 1.
Hits--Off Marquard 7; O'Brien 6, Bedient 1.
Struck out--Marquard 6, O'Brien 3.
Bases on balls--Marquard 1; O'Brien 3.
Attendance 34,624.
Because of the tie game the teams remained over in Boston and played on
the following day, October 10. The pitchers were Marquard for New York
and O'Brien and Bedient for Boston. Marquard pitched one of the best
games of his career and not a run was made against him until the ninth
inning. By far the most notable play of the game on the field was made
by Devore in the ninth inning, when he ran for more than thirty feet and
caught an almost impossible fly ball which had been batted by Cady. Had
he missed it the Bostons might have scored two runs and won. Devore
began the first inning with a base hit, but was out trying to steal
second. The next two batters were retired. In the second inning Murray
batted the ball to center field for two bases. Merkle's clever sacrifice
put him on third and Herzog's sacrifice fly sent him over the rubber.
Lewis began the inning for Boston with a safe hit, but could not advance
further than second.
In the third Fletcher started with a base on balls and was sacrificed to
second, but was unable to score. In the fourth, with one out, Speaker
batted safely, but was forced out at second. Gardner flied to Murray.
In the fifth Herzog began with a two-base hit to left field. Meyers died
at first, but Fletcher hit safely to right field and Herzog scored.
Fletcher stole second and Marquard was given a base on balls. Devore
forced him out and stole second and Doyle followed with another base on
balls. A long hit would have made the game easy for New York and
Snodgrass tried to get the ball into the bleachers, but Lewis caught it.
Stahl began the Bostons' half of the fifth with a hit, but was out by
ten feet trying to steal second.
In the sixth, with two out, Yerkes hit safely, but Speaker fouled out.
In the seventh, with two out, Stahl batted the ball to left field for
two bases, but Wagner flied to Devore.
In the eighth the Giants looked dangerous again. Devore began with a
base-hit to left field. Doyle flied to Lewis. Snodgrass hit safely to
left field and Murray flied to Lewis. Merkle batted the ball very hard,
but Wagner made a good stop and caught Snodgrass at second. With two out
Hooper got a base on balls for Boston, but it did Boston no good.
In the ninth Herzog was hit by a pitched ball and Meyers swung solidly
to center for a single, after Herzog had died trying to steal. Fletcher
lined to Speaker and Meyers was doubled. In Boston's half, with one out,
Lewis batted to right field for a base. Gardner hit to the same place
for two bases and Lewis scored Boston's only run. Stahl rapped a
grounder to Marquard, who threw Gardner out at third. Wagner should have
been an easy out, and the game would have been over if Merkle had not
dropped a throw to first base. Wagner stole second, no attention being
paid to him, and then Devore made his wonderfully good catch of Cady's
hard drive and the Giants had won their first game in the series.
Marquard outpitched both of his Boston rivals and in only two innings
were the Bostons able to get the first man on the bases.
FOURTH GAME.
New York, Oct. 11, 1912.
Boston 3, New York 1.
Hits--Off Wood 9; off Tesreau 5, Ames 3.
Struck out--Wood 8; Tesreau 5.
Bases on balls--Ames 1, Tesreau 2.
Attendance 36,502.
The fourth game of the series was played in New York on the following
day. For most of the forenoon it looked as if there would be no game
because of rain. Toward noon it cleared up slightly and although the
ground was a little soft it was decided to play, in view of the fact
that so many spectators had come a long distance to witness the contest.
The soft ground was in favor of the Boston players, for the ball was
batted very hard by New York most of the afternoon, but the diamond held
and the infielders were able to get a good grasp on grounders which
would ordinarily have been very difficult to handle. Tesreau pitched for
New York and Wood for Boston, as was the case in the opening game of the
series. Hooper, who batted with much success on the Polo Grounds, began
with a single to center and although Yerkes was safe on Meyers' wild
throw the Giants got out of a bad predicament handily because of the
excellent stops which were made by Fletcher of hits by Speaker and
Lewis. With one out in New York's half of the inning Doyle batted
safely, but Snodgrass forced him out.
Gardner began the second inning with a three-base hit to right field and
scored on a wild pitch. The next three batters were retired in order.
With one out for New York, Merkle singled and stole second, but was not
helped to get home.
The third was started by a single by Wood and Hooper was given a base on
balls. Yerkes bunted and Tesreau whipped the ball to third base ahead of
Wood. Doyle and Fletcher made two fine stops and Speaker and Lewis were
retired.
Boston added another run in the fourth inning, being assisted by
Tesreau's wildness. Gardner, who batted first, was given a base on
balls. Stahl forced him out at second. Then Stahl stole second, to the
immediate surprise of the Boston players and the chagrin of the New York
catcher. Wagner's out at first helped him along and when Cady pushed a
weak single to center field, just out of the reach of the players, Stahl
scored. Wood was retired by Murray.
With one out in the fifth Yerkes batted for a base, but was thrown out
at second on Speaker's grounder and Speaker died trying to steal. New
York had one out in the same inning, when Herzog hit safely, but neither
Meyers nor Fletcher could help him.
In the sixth the New York players began with a rush. Tesreau, the first
batter, hit for a base. Devore followed with another single. Doyle with
a "clean up" could have won for the Giants, but he lifted a high fly to
Yerkes. Snodgrass batted to Yerkes, who made an extraordinarily good
stop and threw Devore out at second. Murray forced Snodgrass at second
and all. New York's early advantage went for naught.
In the seventh the Giants scored their only run. After Merkle had struck
out, Herzog batted for a base. Meyers lifted a terrific line drive to
center field, but Speaker got under the ball. Fletcher hit hard and safe
to right field for two bases and Herzog scored. McCormick batted for a
base, but Fletcher, trying to score on the ball, was thrown out at the
plate by Yerkes.
In the eighth, with two out, Snodgrass was safe on Wagner's fumble.
Murray rapped a single to left field but Merkle struck out. With two out
for Boston Speaker batted a double to left field and was left. Ames
pitched in the eighth for New York. In the ninth the Giants were scored
upon again when Gardner hit for a single to center field. Stahl
sacrificed, Wagner was given a base on balls and Cady forced Wagner,
while Gardner was scoring.
FIFTH GAME.
Boston, Oct. 12. 1912.
Boston 2; New York 1.
Hits--Off Mathewson 5; Bedient 3.
Struck out--Mathewson 2; Bedient 4.
Bases on balls--Bedient 3.
Attendance 34,683.
The game was played on Saturday with Mathewson in the box for New York
and Bedient for Boston. As was the case in the former game pitched by
Mathewson in Boston, the verdict was general that perfect support would
have won the contest for him, even though the score was but 2 to 1 in
favor of Boston. Devore received a base on balls in the first inning and
after Doyle was out on a long fly to right was forced out by Snodgrass
in a double play. By the way this game was played under very adverse
conditions so far as the weather was concerned. It was cold and gloomy.
Hooper, the first Boston batter, as usual, began with his single to
center field. Yerkes flied out to shortstop. Speaker hit safely and
Lewis batted to Herzog, who made a beautiful stop on third, and touched
the base ahead of Hooper. Gardner struck out.
In the second inning Murray started off with a base on balls and the
next three batters were retired in succession. With one out for Boston,
Wagner batted safely to right field. The next two men were retired
without reaching first.
With one out in the third, Mathewson batted a single to center field and
Devore followed with a base on balls, but Bedient got the next two
batters.
The third was the inning which broke the backs of the Giants. Hooper
batted the ball to left center for three bases. Yerkes followed with a
triple to center and Hooper scored. Speaker contributed with a ground
hit, which Doyle should have got, but fumbled. Had he recovered the ball
Boston would have made but one run in the inning. As it was, Yerkes
scored on the misplay and that run lost the game for the Giants. The
next two batters were retired and for the remainder of the contest
Boston never had a man on first base, Mathewson pitching marvelous ball,
by far the best game of the series, as it should easily have been a one
run contest with not a base on balls nor a wild pitch.
In the seventh inning Merkle began with a two-base hit to left field
Herzog flied out to Wagner. Meyers flied out, but McCormick who batted
for Fletcher, made a hit and Merkle scored. That spurt gave the Giants
their sole run and they returned to New York that night with the series
three to one against them.
SIXTH GAME.
New York, Oct. 14, 1912
New York 5; Boston 2.
Hits--Off Marquard 7; O'Brien 6, Collins 5.
Struck out--Marquard 3; O'Brien 1, Collins 1.
Bases on balls--Marquard 1.
Attendance 30,622.
With a Sunday in which to rest the series was resumed in New York on
Monday, October 14. Marquard pitched for the Giants and O'Brien for the
Bostons. Rest seemed to have recuperated the New York players more than
their opponents. In the first inning of the game the Giants scored five
runs and the contest was never in doubt after that. O'Brien made a
costly balk in the first inning and the Boston players generally seemed
to be less energetic and less confident than would have been expected
from a team which had but one game to win to make the championship
assured.
The first inning really settled the outcome of the contest. After the
Giants had made five runs Boston played through the other eight innings
perfunctorily. The crowd of Boston enthusiasts, which had come to New
York to see the finishing touches put on the Giants, was bitterly
disappointed, while the New York enthusiasts, not over hopeful on
account of the disposition of the Giants to blunder badly at vital
moments, were at least in a much better frame of mind because of the
rally by their team.
Hooper was first at bat and as usual hit for a base. He was caught
napping off first. Yerkes was easily retired. Speaker was given a base
on balls and Lewis flied out.
In New York's half Devore was retired at first. Doyle hit safely to
center field. He stole second after Snodgrass struck out. Murray batted
a single to left field and Doyle went to third. O'Brien made a palpable
balk and Doyle scored from third, Murray going to second. Merkle banged
a hard double to right field, Herzog followed with a double to left
field, Meyers singled to left field, and actually stole second under the
noses of the Boston players. Fletcher singled to right field and Meyers
scored the fifth run of the inning; the other men who had crossed the
plate being Doyle, Murray, Merkle and Herzog.
In Boston's half of the second inning the Boston players scored twice
and that was all they made in the game. Gardner was safe at first on
Marquard's wild throw; Stahl singled to center. The next two batters
were easily retired, but Engle, who batted for O'Brien, hit to left
field for two bases, Devore missing the ball by pushing it away from him
as he was running into it, and Gardner and Stahl scored.
Boston began the third inning and the fourth inning with singles, but
the runners failed to get around. In the eighth, with one out, Yerkes
made a single, but was unable to score.
With one out in the third for New York, Murray singled to right field,
but was out trying to stretch the hit. Merkle hit for a base to left
field and was out trying to steal.
In the fourth, with one out, Meyers batted to left field for three
bases, but was unable to score. These latter hits were made against
Collins, who had taken O'Brien's place in the box.
Devore began the fifth with a hit, but Doyle flied to short, and Devore
was doubled off first in a play from right field. Collins continued to
be effective in the next three innings, but the mischief had been done,
so far as Boston was concerned, and the Red Sox simply did not have a
rally in them.
The teams again took a special train for Boston after the game and the
remainder of the cavalcade followed over at midnight.
SEVENTH GAME.
Boston, Oct. 15, 1912.
New York 11; Boston 4.
Hits--Off Tesreau 9; Wood 7, Hall 9.
Struck-out--Tesreau 6; Hall 1.
Bases on balls--Hall 5; Tesreau 5.
Attendance 32,630.
The seventh game was played on Fenway Park, with Wood pitching for
Boston and Tesreau for the Giants. Wood pitched for one inning and was
hammered in every direction by the New York players, who ran riot on the
field. They simply overwhelmed Boston and this contest, more than any
other in the series, was so "one sided" as to be devoid of interest,
except to the New York fans, who were eager to see the Giants win the
championship. Devore, the first batter, hit safely to left field. Doyle
rapped a single to center. Devore and Doyle made a double steal and that
began the fireworks. Snodgrass pushed a double to right field. Murray's
hit was a sacrifice. Merkle singled to center field. Herzog batted to
Wood and Merkle was run down between second and third. Meyers singled to
left field, Fletcher doubled to right field, and Tesreau made his first
hit of the series, a single to left field. That counted all told six
runs for the Giants and Tesreau added cruelty to the sufferings of the
Red Sox by trying to steal second base and almost making it.
In the second inning Gardner made a home run. Hall took the place of
Wood in the box for Boston and Devore was given a base on balls. He
stole second and Doyle got a base on balls. Devore was caught napping,
but Snodgrass singled to right, scoring Doyle. The two next batters were
retired.
In the third Hall was safe on Fletcher's wild throw and Hooper singled
but neither scored. Herzog and Meyers began with singles for New York,
but neither of them got home. With one out in the fourth, Gardner was
hit by a pitched ball and Stahl singled to left field. Neither of these
players scored.
In the fifth Hall began with a two-bagger to left. Hooper was given a
base on balls and was forced out by Yerkes. Speaker was given a base on
balls. The next two batters were retired, leaving Hall on third. There
were two out for New York when Meyers made his third single, but he
failed to get home.
With one out in the sixth for Boston Wagner hit safely, but Cady was
easily retired. Hall was given a base on balls, but Hooper struck out,
ending the inning. In New York's half, with one out, Devore was given a
base on balls. Doyle batted the ball over the fence in right field for a
home run and Devore scored ahead of him.
In Boston's half of the seventh, with one out, Speaker singled to
center. Lewis batted to left field for two bases. That put Speaker on
third. While Fletcher was getting Gardner out of the way, Speaker scored
and Lewis reached home on Doyle's fumble of Stahl's grounder. In New
York's half of this inning Merkle began with a single to center. Herzog
flied to left field. Meyers made his fourth single of the afternoon, but
Fletcher flied to right field. Tesreau hit to right for a base and
Merkle scored.
In the eighth Doyle muffed Cady's fly. Hall singled to right. Hooper's
sacrifice fly gave Cady a run, Doyle began for New York with a single,
but the next three batters were retired in order.
In the ninth Herzog began with a base on balls. Wilson, who was
catching, singled to center. He was doubled up with Fletcher on a long
fly hit. Herzog, however, eventually scored his run, which was the
seventh of the game for New York.
In this contest the Giants ran bases with such daring that they had the
Boston players confused and uncertain. Cady did not know whether to
throw the ball or hold it, and the general exhibition of speed on the
bases which was made by New York was characteristic of the team's dash
in the race for the championship of the National League, and a system
which the Boston players could not fathom.
EIGHTH GAME.
Boston, Oct. 16, 1912.
Boston 3; New York 2 (ten innings.)
Hits--Off Bedient 6, Wood 3; Mathewson 8.
Struck out--Bedient 2, Wood 2; Mathewson 4.
Bases on balls--Bedient 3, Wood 1; Mathewson 5.
Attendance 16,970.
On the following day, before the smallest crowd of the series, the final
game was played in Boston. Many Boston fans, disgruntled at the manner
in which some of them had been seated, deliberately remained away. The
air was cold and bleak and in addition to all the rest the enthusiasts
of Boston had given up the fight. Which merely goes to show the
uncertainty of Base Ball. The New York players unquestionably had the
championship won for nine and one half innings of the final game and
then, by the simplest of errors, overturned all of the good which they
had accomplished in their wonderful rally of the two days preceding.
After outplaying the Bostons in a manner which showed some thing of the
caliber of the teams when both were going at top speed, the New York
team stopped short. As one wit dryly put it: "Boston did not win the
championship, but New York lost it."
Mathewson pitched for New York and Bedient for Boston until the end of
the seventh inning.
With two out for the Giants in the first Snodgrass was given a base on
balls, but Murray was retired. Two were out for Boston when Speaker hit
for a single to right field, but Lewis struck out. Again in the second
two were out for New York when Meyers was safe on Speaker's muff.
Fletcher singled over second, but Mathewson flied out.