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BACK-TO-BACK WORLD
SERIES CHAMPS
The Red Sox start like champions
April 12, 1916
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The World Champions made a successful start to their 1916 campaign by beating the Philadelphia Athletics 2 to 1 at Fenway Park. The 6000 fans who took a chance on the weather saw a splendid fight between the 1914 champs, who dropped to last place
a year ago, and last year's champs. The dark skies and threat of rain kept the crowd down, but the Royal Rooters were out in full force. The governor, the mayor and hundreds of friends and family were there to see the championship flag raising.
The fans were kept on edge for the first five innings, with both teams continually sparring for an opening, but neither coming through for a run. Babe Ruth started for the Sox and held the visitors to four hits on the day, two for unproductive doubles, both
by Stuffy McInnis. Boston did not score until the fifth inning when Dick Hoblitzell made second base on a wild throw by Charlie Pick, and knocked in by new outfielder Chick Shorten. In the next inning, Jack Barry made it second base on another bad throw by Pick and eventually
scored on Everett Scott's sac fly. Tilly Walker, in his first Red Sox game, collected a base hit and fielded center field perfectly.
Del Gainor has still not reported to the club. He has been sick, but is expected to report within the week. The Royal Rooters presented Bill Carrigan with a horseshoe of flowers in the opening ceremony. The Red Sox players came out and were
wearing sporty new red coats. Duffy Lewis reports that he is ready to play at any time. |
