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- #1. The Last Time The Chicago Cubs Would Win A World Series For 108 Years
- #2. The 1908 World Series Saw The Smallest Attendance.
- #3. Joe Tinker Smashed A Home Run In Game 2 Which Was The First Since The 1903 World Series.
- #4. Ty Cobb Improved In The 1908 World Series
- #5. Mordecai Brown and Orval Overall Were Brilliant
- #6. Frank Chance Played And Managed For The Cubs
- #7 The Detroit Tigers Would Be The First Team To Lose Back-to-Back Championships
#1. The Last Time The Chicago Cubs Would Win A World Series For 108 Years
The Chicago Cubs were the most dominant team in both leagues during the first years of the World Series. They dominated the National League in 1906 and suffered an upset to the White Sox.
They then made it back to the World Series in 1907 and easily beat the Detroit Tigers, and in 1908, after Merkle's Boner, they returned again and would again beat the Tigers.
They three-peated as National League champions and seemed to be poised to continue their dominance.
However, something odd happened, and the Cubs would go on the longest drought without winning a World Series in MLB history.
The team would go on to appear in seven World Series: in 1910, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935, 1938, and 1945, losing each time.
#2. The 1908 World Series Saw The Smallest Attendance.
The World Series had become a success after it formed for the 1903 World Series. Fans enjoyed the game and believed it was perfect to crown someone as a champion. After the 1904 World Series, when the Giants boycotted the game, the fans were angry, and due to their anger, the two leagues came together and created an agreement to play the 1905 World Series.
However, due to a ticket scalping scandal, the fans turned on the 1908 World Series and boycotted the games. The final game was held in Detroit, and only 6,210 fans attended the game. This would be the lowest attendance in World Series history.
Even the 2020 World Series, during a global pandemic, had more fans present than this one.
#3. Joe Tinker Smashed A Home Run In Game 2 Which Was The First Since The 1903 World Series.
Joe Tinker smashed a home run in the bottom of the eighth inning that would break the tie and begin a 6-run rally that would secure the victory for the Chicago Cubs.
This would not be considered significant except that the last person to hit a home run was Patsy Dougherty in the 1903 World Series.
Tinker's home run was also the first home run in a World Series since the 1905 agreement between the leagues.
#4. Ty Cobb Improved In The 1908 World Series
The postseason in baseball has always been more of a struggle for hitters than the regular season. A player may go into a slump for 7 games and then bounce back without the fans never really recognizing it.
The World Series does not work like that. Hitters are going up some of the best pitchers and rotations in the league, and every pitch is scrutinized.
In the 1907 World Series, Cobb, along with other teammates, struggled. His biggest offensive play was a triple.
In 1908, he rebounded and posted an excellent .368 average, along with driving in 4 runs and 2 stolen bases.
#5. Mordecai Brown and Orval Overall Were Brilliant
Mordecai Brown and Orval Overall were the winning pitchers for each of the Cubs wins in the series.
Despite a slow start in Game 1 and needing the offense to bail him out, Brown pulled out the victory and went on to throw a shutout in Game 4.
Overall was lights out. Allowing just 1 run in Game 2 and then shutting the Tigers out to win the series in Game 5.
Overall set a record with 10 strikeouts in a World Series game.
#6. Frank Chance Played And Managed For The Cubs
Chance was a player/manager for the Cubs dynasty and made up 1 part of the notorious double-play combination known as Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance.
He was known for his strong leadership qualities and was affectionately known as a "Peerless Leader."
Under his guidance, the Cubs would win two World Series Championships and appear in four of them.
#7 The Detroit Tigers Would Be The First Team To Lose Back-to-Back Championships
Hughie Jennings and his team would meet the Cubs for the second straight year and lose for the second straight year.
Despite an exciting end to a great American League season, the Tigers would come up short and be stifled by Cubs pitching and great defense.
They would return the following year to play in the 1909 World Series.