Reliving a classic World Series

Posted Oct 18, 2009 by Bob D'Angelo

Updated Oct 18, 2009 at 04:13 PM

The 1912 World Series certainly was a classic. Whether it was “first fall classic,” as New York Post columnist Mike Vaccaro asserts in his new book, is open to debate.

Some purists might point to Christy Mathewson’s three shutout victories in the 1905 World Series as a classic.

The 1912 series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Giants went eight games (Game 2 ended in a tie), and was not decided until the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 8. In this series, there were enough mental lapses, questionable plays and dubious management decisions to make a baseball purist scratch his head.

But there was some good baseball played, too.

Throw in some pugs (Red Sox owner Jimmy McAleer), politicians (Boston mayor John “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald) and some fervent fans (Michael “Nuf Ced” McGreevey and Boston’s Royal Rooters), and there are plenty of simmering subplots.

“The First Fall Classic: The Red Sox, the Giants, and the Cast of Players, Pugs, and Politicos Who Reinvented the World Series in 1912,” (Doubleday, $26.95) almost reads like a suspense novel, building to a satisfying conclusion. Drawing from mostly solid research and a rich array of characters, Vaccaro does a wonderful job placing the Series in its proper context.

Vaccaro writes about the broader picture, too: the 1912 presidential election and the sensational trial of New York policeman Charles Becker, accused of killing a small-time gangster.

Vaccaro’s most compelling story line — and certainly the most controversial — revolves around Game 6. Boston held a 3-1 series lead and Manager Jake Stahl was primed to start ace Smoky Joe Wood at New York’s Polo Grounds to clinch the title.

But McAleer, salivating at the prospect of a Series-clinching win in front of a packed crowd at Fenway Park, ordered Stahl to pitch Buck O’Brien.

O’Brien, hung over from a night on the town, never had a chance as the Giants scored five runs in the top of the first inning en route to a 5-2 victory.

Was the fix on?

Wood, looking as if he was lobbing the ball, was rocked in Game 7. The smell of a fix seemed even more pungent, or, perhaps Wood simply was making a none-too-subtle statement to his team’s owner.

That forced a winner-take-all Game 8, which featured a memorable sequence of events that gave the Red Sox the Series crown.

In the bottom of the 10th with New York holding a one-run lead, Giants outfielder Fred Snodgrass inexplicably muffed a fly ball, then followed it up with a tremendous catch. Then, Tris Speaker’s pop foul fell between first baseman Fred Merkle and catcher Chief Meyers. The Red Sox, given a reprieve, tied the game and then won it on a sacrifice fly.

The tragic hero in this book is Mathewson, who had an 0.94 ERA (he allowed 11 runs, but only three were earned) but went 0-2. But even Mathewson made mistakes: his gaffe on Speaker’s pop foul (he called Meyers to take the ball, when Merkle had the easier play) changed the complexion of Game 8.

For all of the rich narrative and interesting subplots, there are a few unfortunate mistakes.

In a few places, Vaccaro notes that Mathewson won 363 games during his career, when in fact, he won 373.

He refers to Al Bridwell as “Birdwell” when recounting the infamous “Merkle’s boner” play in 1908.

Vaccaro also writes about a play from the 1911 World Series, claiming that Snodgrass spiked Frank Baker at second base in the 10th inning of Game 3. Snodgrass did spike Baker; however, the play took place at third base, as Baker was the Philadelphia Athletics’ star third baseman.

It was Merkle who was caught stealing at second to end the inning.

It does not detract from Vaccaro’s overall effort. Classic series? Perhaps Vaccaro hit the nail on the head after all.