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DUTCH LEONARD,
HOOKS DAUSS &
HARRY HOOPER |
WORLD CHAMPS AGAIN
The Red Sox beat the Tigers in extra innings
September 18, 1915
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Fenway Park was the scene of one of the most exciting games ever played in this city, before 37,528 fans, the largest crowd ever to see a ball game. The chorus of cheers could be heard across the Charles River when Duffy Lewis crossed the plate in the 12th inning with the only run scored
in the game, giving the Sox one more game in their lead over the Tigers in the American League. For 11 innings both teams worked hard and fought for every inch of advantage to get a man around the bases. One mistake would cost the game and everyone knew it. It happened in the
12th inning when Harry Coveleski let up just a little and was taken advantage of by the Red Sox, who skillfully worked in the winning run.
The game itself was obviously a pitcher's battle. Hughie Jennings saved Coveleski for this game and his pitcher threw a masterpiece and it was not his fault that his teammates could not take advantage of the Red Sox pitcher. Ernie Shore also pitched a
remarkable game, especially when he needed to pull himself out of a hole. Remarkable catches by Tris Speaker and Harry Hooper helped Shore in his work. With a man on in the ninth inning, Ty Cobb drove the ball to left center where Speaker made a catch going at full speed
right in front of the crowd. Hooper then grabbed a drive off Sam Crawford's bat in deep right field in the middle of the crowd.
Boston had a great chance to score in the 10th inning when Jack Barry led off with a double. Cady then hit a ground ball to George Burns at first base who threw the ball to third trying to get Barry, who got in a rundown and lost, instead of getting Cady.
Cady tried for second base during the rundown and he too was tagged out. It clearly now became the case that the first team to score would win.
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TY COBB SLIDES BACK TO FIRST |
As the sun was going down and the long shadows started creeping across the infield, Ty Cobb came to the plate in the 12th inning and drove the ball into the crowd in right field for two bases. Bobby Veach safely bunted Cobb to third base and Sam Crawford came
to the plate. A meeting at the mound resulted in an intentional pass to the big slugger. With the bases loaded the Boston infield closed in with Marty Kavanaugh at the plate. He miscued and hit the ball to Everett Scott who pegged it home where Cady tagged the plate for the
force of Cobb. Ralph Young now up with the bases still loaded. He hit the ball down to Del Gainor at first who threw again to the plate to force Veach for the second out. Kavanaugh in his excitement rounded second and headed for third, and without realizing it ran past Sam
Crawford ahead of him for the automatic third out. The fans were perplexed not understanding the rule but were happy to see the Red Sox players walking off the field smiling having escaped without a scratch.
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WATCHING OUTSIDE ABOVE
LANSDOWNE ST |
The cheers of the crowd increased when Duffy Lewis opened up the bottom of the 12th inning with a sharp single to center. Larry Gardner was ordered to lay down a bunt and did it so well that he beat the throw to first base for a hit. Barry successfully
laid down another sacrifice bunt moving Lewis and Gardner up a base as he was thrown out at first. Hick Cady was then intentionally walked top load the bases. Bill Carrigan brought himself in to pinch hit for the weak hitting Shore. He was in for two strikes and two balls
before he sent a fast grounder to the left of second base that Donie Bush grabbed and tossed to second in a perfect doubleplay set up. But Ralph Young knowing he had to complete the doubleplay or lose the game, dropped the ball allowing Lewis to score the winning run. |
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