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“DIARY OF A WINNER”
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FENWAY'S FIRST TEAM September 25, 1912 ... And even 100 wins is what the Boston Red Sox accomplished today in beating the New York Highlanders behind Joe Wood, who already had won 32 games. He did the pitching for the Speed Boys and made his own record with 33 wins and 5 losses. Those who have been wondering if Wood was going to show signs of the hard work that he has done in accumulating the 16 straight wins as did Walter Johnson, and as did Rube Marquard after he won his 19 straight, do not have to worry anymore. Wood was as cheerful as could be, and the way he smoked the ball over the plate was something wonderful. Only two singles were made off the Boston star, one by Jack Lelivelt and the other by Harry Wolverton, who pinch-hit for Al Schulz, the New York pitcher. It looked as if Wolverton had been struck out before he got his base hit, but the umpire called the pitch a ball. Hick Cady mildly protested the ruling and Joe was apparently surprised but made no kick. Wolverton fouled off two or three more and then connected with one that he sent into short left field. The best play the game was when Bob Williams was on third and Dutch Sterrett, who was running for Wolverton, was on first. Ezra Midkiff had been struck out and Hal Chase hit a high fly to right-field. Harry Hooper could not see the ball after it left the bat because of the sun and the only other thing he had to guide him at first was the sound of the bat against the ball. He made a couple of quick strides toward the diamond at the same time looking for the ball. He finally got his eye on it and then realized that instead of coming down in the short field it was going deep. Then he turned on his heels and began to sprint toward the corner of the playing field. Harry made the catch at full reach while running at full speed after the ball. He then whirled and doubled Sterrett up at first on a wonderful throw over to Jake Stahl. Williams did not think that Hooper would be able to make the catch, and even if he did so, it did not look like as if it would be possible to double up Sterrett. Williams took it easy coming home and he was five feet away from the plate when Sterrett was nipped at first. Under the circumstances it was as fine a play as Harry Hooper has ever made, and he has made some darn good ones. Being the last play the game however, it was not fully appreciated by the crowd. One thing that was very much appreciated, and which gave much satisfaction, was the fact that Joe Wood was at his best. Al Schulz, a new man with the Highlanders, picked up as a left-hander, also pitched well except in the first and last inning, when the Red Sox made all but one of their hits. In the sixth inning he lost control and passed the first three men up. He got out of that hole pretty well however and would have prevented any scoring, except for a low throw by Hack Simmons to first in attempting to complete a doubleplay, which would have retired the side. The Red Sox sewed up the game in the first inning when they scored four runs. After two men were out, Tris Speaker worked a base on balls, then Duffy Lewis singled and Clyde Engel sent a grounder over near second, on which Tommy McMillan had an easy chance to force Lewis. However he juggled the ball and finally dropped it the ground. He made two or three attempts to pick it up but could not get a handle on it, so Lewis landed safely on the bag and Speaker scored. Then Lewis and Engle worked a double steal and Jake Stahl brought them home with a double into the new seats that were just put in left field. Heinie Wagner doubled to right and scored Jake with the fourth run. The Red Sox fifth run was made in the sixth inning when Engle, Stahl and Wagner were passed in succession to fill the bases. Wood then hit one down to McMillan, who threw to Simmons and forced Wagner at second. On the relay Simmons made a hurried throw to first and the ball went into the dirt so that Hal Chase could not scoop it out and Wood was safe at first with Engle scoring. Speaker lashed out a double in the seventh and stole third, but it was wasted because he could not be brought home. Then in the eighth after two were out, Hick Cady ripped one against the right-field fence and Wood brought him home with a base hit for the sixth Boston run. The World Series will begin at the Polo Grounds in New York at 2 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, October 8th. The second game will be played in Boston the following day and play will alternate each day between the two cities until either New York or Boston has won four of the games. Prices in the sale of tickets will be altogether different in the two cities. The Red Sox will conduct their sale with preferences to all of the season ticket holders. Box seats will be selling for five dollars, grandstand seats for three dollars, the new third base seats for two dollars, and the bleachers (other than in center field) one dollar. Centerfield bleachers will sell for $.50 The advantage of opening home in Boston was lost on a coin flip by President Ban Johnson. On hand was President Brush of the Giants and President McAleer of the Red Sox. |
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