Jump to:
- #1. The Second World Series To Go Eight Games
- #2. Considered The Best World Series Of The Decade
- #3. Smoky Joe Wood Was The Best Pitcher Of The Series
- #4. New Attendance Record
- #5. Game 7 Had Two Bounce Home Runs
- #6. First Win of Four In The Decade For The Red Sox
- #7. John McGraw Would Lose His Second Straight World Series
#1. The Second World Series To Go Eight Games
The 1903 World Series was a best of 9 series, which is what caused the series to go eight games. The 1912 World Series went 8 games due to a tie.
The tie occurred because there was no field lighting when the sun went down. This caused the game to end in a tie.
Game 2 was the game that ended in a tie. The Giants had taken the lead in the top of the 10th only to surrender the tying run in the bottom half of the inning. This run would play a critical role in the series.
#2. Considered The Best World Series Of The Decade
Every game was close, with the exception of Game 7 when The Giants got to Smoky Joe Wood. Each game had its ups and downs and controversial calls.
The pivotal play of the series went to Fred Snodgrass of the New York Giants, who dropped a routine fly ball that would set up the go-ahead run. The error was called the $30,000 error due to the difference in win shares.
Boston had taken a 3-1 series lead only to see it evaporate as the Giants forced a Game 8 to break the tie. The Red Sox would go on to win their second World Series. Ironically, they were the only team to compete in both 8-game series.
#3. Smoky Joe Wood Was The Best Pitcher Of The Series
At this point in Baseball History, it is rare that Christy Mathewson would not be the best pitcher in a World Series that featured him. However, this series belonged to Smoky Joe Wood.
Smoky Joe won his first two starts and then received a pounding in Game 7 when the Giants lit him up for 11 runs. He would come into Game 8 and pitch relief and hold the Giants scoreless to give the Red Sox the win.
Incredibly, Mathewson still put up better stats than Smoky Joe, but his efforts did not turn into a win. Smoky Joe had a 4.50 ERA, while Mathewson posted a .94 ERA. He pitched 22 innings, Mathewson 38 innings.
Smoky Joe's stats would look different if not for Game 7. However, at the end of the series, he had 3 wins and 1 loss. Mathewson was 0-2.
#4. New Attendance Record
The series went 8 games, which was two more than the 1911 World Series, which would make sense that they would set new records at the ticket office.
However, they would average more fans per game than any previous World Series.
This would further show baseball's rise in popularity.
#5. Game 7 Had Two Bounce Home Runs
The only home runs that were hit in the 1912 World Series occurred in Game 7. They were bounce home runs, which is when a ball hits the ground and bounces over the fence.
This would eventually change to a ground-rule double in 1931, but at this time, it was a home run. It was the first time one happened in World Series history and the only time two happened in the same game.
Larry Doyle and Larry Gardner were the two players who executed the bounce home runs.
#6. First Win of Four In The Decade For The Red Sox
The Red Sox would become one of the teams of the decade. They would go on to play in 4 World Series matchups and win them all.
The only team that would come close would be Philadelphia Athletics, who won three championships.
The end of the decade would be the last time they would win, and the Curse of the Bambino would became etched in Baseball folklore.
#7. John McGraw Would Lose His Second Straight World Series
The guy who boycotted the 1904 World Series only to come back and win the 1905 World Series found himself on the losing end again.
McGraw had made a name for himself with his brand of baseball. He would go on to appear in multiple championship games throughout the decade and lose them all.
His fortune would change in the 1920s when he would become one of the only managers to befuddle Babe Ruth.