1913 World Series
Encyclopedia
In the 1913 World Series, the Philadelphia Athletics
beat the New York Giants
four games to one.
The A's pitching gave the edge to a closer-than-it-looked Series in 1913. The great Christy Mathewson
lost his Series swan song
in the final game to an old college rival and eventual fellow Baseball Hall of Fame member, Eddie Plank
.
The Giants thus became the first National League
team since the Chicago Cubs
(–) to win three consecutive pennants. They were also the second club (following the Detroit Tigers
(–) to lose three consecutive World Series; and, as of 2010, the last to do so.
The Series itself was an ironic face-off, as the Giants and A's would eventually become crosstown rivals
. The A's would win again in a four-game sweep in the 1989 World Series
, famous for the earthquake that struck before Game 3, which would be the last victory for the A's.
in Manhattan, New York
In the opener, Home Run Baker drove in three runs with three hits, including a home run. Frank apparently liked his nickname and wanted to hang on to it.
Mathewson and Plank matched craft and guile, and after nine innings it was as it had been at the beginning: 0–0. In the bottom of the ninth, the Giants had put on a stirring baseball version of the "goal-line stand". With none out, the A's had Amos Strunk
on third and Jack Barry
on second. The next batter, Jack Lapp
, grounded to first, where Hooks Wiltse
, a pitcher, was filling in. Wiltse made a good stop and threw home to nab Strunk. With Barry on third now and Lapp on first, Plank grounded to Wiltse and Hooks fired home again, getting a sliding Barry. Mathewson retired the next batter, and the game went into extra innings. In the top of the tenth, the Giants scored three runs, with Matty sprinkling a bit more stardust over his legend by singling in the winning run.
in Manhattan, New York
in Manhattan, New York
(A.L.) over New York Giants
(N.L.)
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
beat the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
four games to one.
The A's pitching gave the edge to a closer-than-it-looked Series in 1913. The great Christy Mathewson
Christy Mathewson
Christopher "Christy" Mathewson , nicknamed "Big Six", "The Christian Gentleman", or "Matty", was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire career in what is known as the dead-ball era...
lost his Series swan song
Swan song
"Swan song" is a metaphorical phrase for a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement. The phrase refers to an ancient belief that the Mute Swan is completely silent during its lifetime until the moment just before death, when it sings one beautiful song...
in the final game to an old college rival and eventual fellow Baseball Hall of Fame member, Eddie Plank
Eddie Plank
Edward Stewart Plank , nicknamed "Gettysburg Eddie", was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is the first left-handed pitcher to win 200 games and then 300 games, and now ranks third in all-time wins among left-handers with 326 career victories and first all-time in career shutouts by a...
.
The Giants thus became the first National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
team since the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(–) to win three consecutive pennants. They were also the second club (following the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(–) to lose three consecutive World Series; and, as of 2010, the last to do so.
The Series itself was an ironic face-off, as the Giants and A's would eventually become crosstown rivals
Crosstown rivalry
In sports, a crosstown rivalry is a rivalry between two teams in the same metropolitan area. It is a term primarily used in the United States and Canada. They are called "crosstown rivalries" because in most cases, they are held in large cities or metropolitan areas where each team represents a...
. The A's would win again in a four-game sweep in the 1989 World Series
1989 World Series
†: Game 3 was originally slated for October 17 at 5:35 pm; however, it was postponed when an earthquake occurred at 5:04 pm.-Game 1:Saturday, October 14, 1989 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California...
, famous for the earthquake that struck before Game 3, which would be the last victory for the A's.
Summary
Matchups
Game 1
Tuesday, October 7, 1913 at Polo Grounds (IV)Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
in Manhattan, New York
In the opener, Home Run Baker drove in three runs with three hits, including a home run. Frank apparently liked his nickname and wanted to hang on to it.
Game 2
Wednesday, October 8, 1913 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
Mathewson and Plank matched craft and guile, and after nine innings it was as it had been at the beginning: 0–0. In the bottom of the ninth, the Giants had put on a stirring baseball version of the "goal-line stand". With none out, the A's had Amos Strunk
Amos Strunk
Amos Aaron Strunk was a center fielder who played in Major League Baseball from through . A member of four World Series champion teams, Strunk batted and threw left-handed...
on third and Jack Barry
Jack Barry (baseball)
John Joseph "Jack" Barry was an American shortstop, second baseman, and manager in Major League Baseball, and later a college baseball coach...
on second. The next batter, Jack Lapp
Jack Lapp
John Walker Lapp was a professional baseball player who played catcher in the major leagues from 1908 to 1916...
, grounded to first, where Hooks Wiltse
Hooks Wiltse
George Leroy "Hooks" Wiltse was a pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1904 to 1915. He was the brother of pitcher Snake Wiltse....
, a pitcher, was filling in. Wiltse made a good stop and threw home to nab Strunk. With Barry on third now and Lapp on first, Plank grounded to Wiltse and Hooks fired home again, getting a sliding Barry. Mathewson retired the next batter, and the game went into extra innings. In the top of the tenth, the Giants scored three runs, with Matty sprinkling a bit more stardust over his legend by singling in the winning run.
Game 3
Thursday, October 9, 1913 at Polo Grounds (IV)Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
in Manhattan, New York
Game 4
Friday, October 10, 1913 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
Game 5
Saturday, October 11, 1913 at Polo Grounds (IV)Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
in Manhattan, New York
Composite box
1913 World Series (4–1): Philadelphia AthleticsOakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(A.L.) over New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(N.L.)