By Ron Griffitts
Contributing columnist
In fall 1914, the Philadelphia Athletics (99-53-6) managed by Connie Mack, who was also a team owner, met the Boston Braves (94-59-5) managed by George Stallings in the World Series.
The Athletics were led on offense by Stuffy McInnis (.314 BA, 95 RBI, 74 S, 25 SB), Eddie Collins (.344 BA, 85 RBI, 122 RS, 58 SB, 14 3B, 97 BB), Home Run Baker (.319 BA, 9 HR, 89 RBI, 84 RS, 10 3B) and Eddie Murphy (.272 BA, 101 RS, 36 SB, 9 3B).
Their pitching staff was led by Bob Shawkey (15-8, 2.73 ERA), Joe Bush (17-13), Eddie Plank (15-7, 2.87 ERA), Weldon Wyckoff (11-7), Charles Bender (17-3, 2.26 ERA) and Herb Pennock (11-4, 2.79 ERA).
The Braves were led in batting by Charles Schmidt (.285 BA, 71 RBI, 9 3B), Johnny Evers (.279 BA, 81 RS, 87 BB), Rabbit Maranville (78 RBI, 74 RS, 28 SB,) and Joe Connolly (.306 BS, 9 HR, 65 RBI, 64 RS, 10 3B).
The Braves’ pitching staff consisted of Dick Rudolph (26-10, 2.35 ERA), Bill James (26-7, 1.90 ERA) and Lefty Tyler (16-13, 2.69 ERA).
Game one was in Shibe Park in Philadelphia with Dick Rudolph starting for Boston and Charles Bender for the Athletics. The Braves surprised the defending champion A’s with a 7-1 win behind two RBI’s each by Charles Whitted and Rabbit Maranville and a complete game five-hitter by Rudolph as the Braves went up 1-0 in the series.
Game two was a much closer game as Eddie Plank started against Bill James for Boston and the game was scoreless going into the top of the ninth inning. The Braves got a run as Les Mann singled in Charlie Deal and the Athletics did not score in the bottom of the inning for a 1-0 win and 2-0 series lead.
For game three, the teams moved to Fenway Park in Boston with Joe Bush starting for Philadelphia and Lefty Tyler for the Braves. The game was tied after nine innings with both starters still pitching. Each team scored two runs in the tenth and the game was tied 4-4 going into the twelfth inning.
Hank Gowdy led off the bottom of the inning with a ground rule double. Les Mann was sent in to run for him and scored on an error on Herbie Moran’s sacrifice bunt as the Braves win their third straight game 5-4. Gowdy also had a solo home run in the tenth inning for Boston.
Game four was much of the same good pitching by Boston. Dick Rudolph was back and pitched his second complete of the series allowing only one run while Johnny Evers singled in Rudolph and Herbie Moran to give the Braves a 3-1 lead which was the final score. The Miracle Boston Braves, who were in last place in the National League in the middle of the season and had rallied to win the pennant, continued their good play by sweeping the Athletics for the World Series title.
The Braves did not return to the Fall Classic until 1948 with Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain. An aging Satchel Paige was a relief pitcher on that team.
The Athletics were back in in 1929 when Lefty Gove, Al Simmons and Jimmy Foxx were their stars. Connie Mack continued to manage the Athletics until 1950 having been at the helm of the A’s for fifty years.
Statistics for this article were from baseball-reference.com and sabr.org.
