61. 1921 World Champion New York Giants v. 125. 1909 Philadelphia Athletics
Giants 94-59 Mgr John McGraw
Won NL Pennant
d. Yankees in WS
d. #68 1931 Yankees (MVP-Art Nehf)
Hall of Famers: Dave Bancroft, Frankie Frisch, High Pockets Kelly, Casey Stengel, Ross Youngs, John McGraw
A's 95-58 Mgr. Connie Mack
d. #4 1942 Cardinals (MVP-Harry Krause/Eddie Plank)
Hall of Famers: Home Run Baker, Chief Bender, Eddie Collins, Eddie Plank, Connie Mack
Connie Mack's A's take on John McGraw's Giants - we've seen both the 1904 and the 1912 Giants advance already in this round, we move up a decade for the 1921 version. The 1929 A's fell short in this round so Philadelphia is still looking for a representative in the Round of 32.
Athletics
LF Hartsell (35) 121 2.1
2B Collins (22) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) 146 5.3
RF Murphy (32) 132 3.5
1B Davis (35) 122 3.3
C Livingston (29) 99 2.4
CF Oldring (25) 92 1.1
SS Barry (22) 77 1.6
P Krause (LH) (20) 174 4.8
Bench:
LF Heitmuller (26) 135 1.7
C Thomas (28) 79
SP2 Bender (25) 147 5.5
SP3 Plank (LH) (33) 138 5.3
Platoon in Left. Mack rides the hot bat behind the plate.
Giants-John McGraw
CF Burns (31) 106 2.7
SS Bancroft (30) 118 6.6
1B Kelly (25) 130 3.4
3B Frisch (23) 128 6.6
C Snyder (27) 119 2.9
LF Meusel (28) 116 .9
RF Youngs (24) 128 3.3
2B Rawlings (28) 65 .6
P Barnes (28) 120 2.5
Bench:
C Smith (24) 147 2.6
CF Walker (24) 107 .7
SP2: Nehf (28) (LH) 102 2.2
SP3: Toney (32) 103 2
Platoons here at catcher and center (maybe) for McGraw.
WAR Advantage:
C-Giants
1B-Push
2B-A's
SS-Giants
3B-Giants
LF-A's
CF-Giants
RF-A's
SP1-A's
SP2-A's
SP3-A's
Bullpen-Giants
A's 6 Giants 5 - A's have very slight WAR advantage, the real strength being starting pitching, A's also have Collins, easily the best player in the series. Giants have seed advantage. This is really close...I'll say by a slight, slight margin it's the A's who are the favorites.
GAME ONE
1st: 28 year old RH Jesse Barnes gets the call from McGraw for Game One of this series; 15-9, 3.10 -- Barnes broke in with the Braves six years prior, lost 21 games in 1917 and then he and Larry Doyle moved to New York for Buck Herzog. That turned his career around, he won 25 games in 1919, 20 last year. He and Earl Smith head to the Braves during the '23 season for Hank Gowdy and Mule Watson and he finishes in Brooklyn in '27. 1-2-3
1st: 20 year old lefty Harry Krause was a co-MVP for the A's in Round One, 18-8, 1.39, this is Krause's second year in the bigs and easily, easily the best season he'll have in a five year career, leading the league in ERA. He gives up a one out single to Dave Brancroft, who moves to second on the second out - and then scores on a Frankie Frisch base hit. A's 0 Giants 1
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Frank Snyder draws a one out walk. Snyder's in a catching platoon for McGraw, we likely see him against the A's lefties. He was just 18 when he broke in with the Cards back in '12, became a Giant during the '19 season in a deal for Ferdie Schupp. He'll finish his career back in St Louis in '27. After Irish Meusel reaches on an error, a Ross Youngs single scores Snyder. Krause gets a Johnny Rawlings double play, but it does score the third run. A's 0 Giants 3
3rd: Rube Oldring triples. Oldring broke in with the Yankees in '05, he spends most of the next decade starting in the A's outfield, goes back to New York in 1916 and finishes his career back in Philadelphia in 1918. Barnes gets an out - then a Krause groundout scores Oldring. A's 1 Giants 3
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Frankie Frisch singles. Frisch is 23, broke in two years prior, in 1924 he'll finish 3rd in the NL MVP after moving from third to second and then have a top 10 finish the next year. Prior to 1927 the Giants deal him to the Cardinals for the legendary Rogers Hornsby, in '27 Frisch will be second in the NL MVP and Hornsby will be third. Frisch wins the NL MVP with St Louis in '31, makes All Star teams from '33-35 and retires a Cardinal in '37. Two outs later Meusel walks, that's all.
5th: Harry Davis singles. Davis is a 35 year old first baseman; he broke in with these Giants back in 1895, led the league in triples with the Pirates in '97, the A's took him from the scrap heap in '01 and he's their starting first baseman for a decade, having a couple of big seasons with the bat, led the league in doubles in '02, homers in '04, '05, '06, '07. Outside of a couple of games in Cleveland in '12, Davis remains an Athletic until the end of his career in 1917 when he's 43 years old. That's all Barnes permits. A's 1 Giants 3
5th: Johnny Rawlings hits a one out single. Rawlings is a light hitting second baseman who broke in with the Reds 7 years prior. The Giants got him (and Casey Stengel) this year in a deal with the Phillies and he's off to the Pirates in 1923 where he finishes his career. After the second out, George Burns doubles home Rawlings. Dave Bancroft singles, but it ends here. A's 1 Giants 4
6th: Jack Barry singles. He's a 22 year old shortstop in his second year. He'll pick up a top 10 MVP finish in 1913 and be sold to the Red Sox during the 1915 season. Barry steals second, an out later Topsy Hartsel singles and now it's 4-2. Barnes gets the second out - but then hits Home Run Baker - that ends his day, McGraw goes to get his best bullpen arm, 31 year old lefty Rube Benton with his 2.88 ERA. He ends the threat. A's 2 Giants 4
6th: 1-2-3
7th: Davis singles, but nothing results
7th: Ross Youngs walks with one out, Youngs is a career Giant, up in '17 when he was 20, he's the Giants right fielder virtually his entire career. Leads the league in runs scored in '23, 5th in the MVP race in '25, stops playing during the '26 season and is dead a year later from a kidney infection. Rawlings singles - Curt Walker comes off the bench to hit - he walks, the Giants have the bases loaded and are a base hit away from probably wrapping up game one; but they don't get it. Krause keeps the A's alive today.
8th: Slim Sallee is a 36 year old lefty and the next Giants pitcher, he's got a 3.64 ERA - Sallee spent the first half of his career in St Louis, the Giants bought him during the '16 season, he'll spend 1919 winning a World Series with the Reds and then come back to New York - this is his final season. He gets two and then gives up back to back singles to Hartsell and Collins -- tying runs on base for the A's -- but Sallee slips out.
8th: 24 year old RH Jimmy Dygert gets the call for the A's, he'll be in Philadelphia each of his 6 big league seasons. Next year will be his last. 1-2-3.
9th: 9th inning - Danny Murphy doubles and the A's have the tying run at the plate. Murphy broke in with the Giants at the turn of the century and they sold him to the A's in 1902. He's Philadelphia's second baseman until '08 when he moves to right field. He'll jump to the federal league to finish his career when he's 37 in 1914.
Sallee gets Davis to ground to second - Murphy can't advance. One down.
Paddy Livingston drives a base hit to right - Murphy to third and the A's have them on the corners with one out.
22 year old RH Red Shea comes on looking to close this out. Rube Oldring grounds to short - Giants in double play depth - Bancroft shovels to second for one -- Oldring beats the throw to first - it scores a run and now it is 4-3 Giants with 2 away and the tying run at first.
Oldring had 17 stolen bases on the season and he grabs one now - the A's getting the tying run in scoring position.
Jack Barry comes to the plate. And Shea walks him. That's the potential winning run, but it sets up the force again - first and second. Two out. Giants up a run - we thought this would be a tight, tight series and that's been true today.
Jack Lapp comes off the bench to hit for the pitcher - the A's third string catcher, he only had 56 at bats but he hit .339. Big, big spot -
He pops to Kelly at first and its done.
A's 3
Giants 4
WP Barnes
LP Krause
The Giants hold on, eke out game one.
Bancroft reached twice
Frisch reached twice
Youngs reached twice
Rawlings reached twice
For the A's...
Hartsel reached twice
Davis reached twice
Barry reached twice
One more in the Polo Grounds - can the A's get the split?
LF Heitmuller (26) 135 1.7
2B Collins (22) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) 146 5.3
RF Murphy (32) 132 3.5
1B Davis (35) 122 3.3
CF Oldring (25) 92 1.1
C Thomas (28) 79
SS Barry (22) 77 1.6
SP2 Bender (25) 147 5.5
RF Youngs (24) 128 3.3
C Smith (24) 147 2.6
3B Frisch (23) 128 6.6
SS Bancroft (30) 118 6.6
1B Kelly (25) 130 3.4
CF Walker (24) 107 .7
LF Meusel (28) 116 .9
2B Rawlings (28) 65 .6
SP2: Nehf (28) (LH) 102 2.2
GAME TWO
1st: 28 year old lefty Art Nehf was MVP of the Giants round 1 win and he can put the club into a real strong position as they make the trip to Philly for game 3. 20-10, 3.63. Came up with the Braves in '15, led the league with 28 complete games in 1918 (different, different times) and then the Giants threw four players and a bunch of cash to get him the next year. Despite being the number two starter on this World Champion Giants team, he was just okay in '21 - in fact he gave up more homers than anyone in the league. The Giants sell him to the Reds in '26, He finishes as a Cub in '29. Heinie Heitmuller opens with a single and comes all the way around to score on an Eddie Collins triple. Home Run Baker grounds out to score the second run. It ends here - good start for Mack's boys. A's 2 Giants 0
1st: The A's turn to a 25 year old RH Chief Bender, 18-8, 1.66 -- he came up at 19 years old in 1903, this year he led the league in strikeout/walk ratio, he's going to lead the league in winning % the next two years. In 1913 he wins 21 and leads the league in saves, 1914 will be his last year with the A's, he jumps to the Federal League and eventually winds up with the Phillies. Bender's last year is 1917, but he comes back 8 years later to pitch an inning with the White Sox. He gives up a one out Earl Smith single, after the second out, Dave Bancroft singles home a run. A's 2 Giants 1
2nd: Nehf hits Rube Oldring; Ira Thomas is catching today for the A's and he singles. Thomas broke in with the Yankees in '06, the A's bought him from the Tigers this year, he'll spend the rest of a ten year big league career in Philadelphia, including a top 10 MVP season in 1911. That's all Nehf allows.
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: 1-2-3
3rd: Nehf helps himself with a double, Ross Youngs singles and two outs later Earl Smith walks - but Bender holds firm.
4th: Oldring doubles with one out, that's all.
4th: Curt Walker's playing center for the Giants today against a RH, he singles with 2 out. he broke in two years ago and was traded during this season to the Phillies for Irish Meusel - it's a quirk of the tournament, Meusel and Walker didn't play with each other but they are both in the Giant lineup today. Walker winds up with the Reds and stays there until the end of his career in 1930. Bender maintains the lead.
5th: 1-2-3
5th: After an out, Nehf singles - he had 18 hits all year and 2 today. Youngs walks and then Bender hits Smith and the Giants have loaded the bases. Frisch grounds out - that scores a run and thats all, but the game is tied. A's 2 Giants 2
6th: Home Run Baker singles. Baker's 23, he was up briefly last year but this is his rookie season and he led the league in triples. He's going to lead the league in homers from '11-14 and have 3 top 10 MVP finishes in that stretch. The A's sell him to the Yankees before the 1916 season and he'll remain a Yankee until the end of his career in 1922, which means he was a Yankee against this Giants team in the World Series. Baker's gunned down attempting to steal second, so he's not on base when Danny Murphy doubles. Harry Davis singles and the A's regain the lead. A's 3 Giants 2
6th: High Pockets Kelly singles. Kelly came up with the Giants when he was 19 six years ago, was briefly a Pirate but then back to New York and he became a starter last season, leading the league in RBI. This year he led the league in homers; in '24 and '25 he will have top 5 MVP finishes and in '27 get sent to the Reds for Edd Roush. He finishes his career as a Dodger in '32. 2 outs later Rawlings singles, that's all.
7th: Rube Benton appears again for New York - he gives up a single to Thomas and a double to Jack Barry that extends the A's lead. A's 4 Giants 2
7th: 1-2-3
8th: Slim Sallee is the third Giants pitcher, 1-2-3
8th: 1-2-3, Bender finishing strong
9th: Oldring doubles again and an out later scores on an error and that might do it. Red Shea enters, the Giants going with the same bullpen rotation in both games, It ends the inning but this one might be in the books. A's 5 Giants 2
9th: 1-2-3
A's 5
Giants 2
WP Bender
LP Nehf
The A's earn the split on the road and the series will head to Philadelphia for games 3-4 after the Bender complete game win.
For the A's...
Hartsel reached twice
Davis has reached three times
Oldring reached twice in game 2
Thomas reached twice in game 2
Barry has reached three times
For the Giants
Bancroft has reached three x
Frisch reached twice
Youngs has reached 4x
Smith has reached twice
Rawlings has reached three x
CF Burns (31) 106 2.7
SS Bancroft (30) 118 6.6
1B Kelly (25) 130 3.4
3B Frisch (23) 128 6.6
C Smith (24) 147 2.6
LF Meusel (28) 116 .9
RF Youngs (24) 128 3.3
2B Rawlings (28) 65 .6
SP3: Toney (32) 103 2
LF Hartsell (35) 121 2.1
2B Collins (22) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) 146 5.3
RF Murphy (32) 132 3.5
1B Davis (35) 122 3.3
CF Oldring (25) 92 1.1
SS Barry (22) 77 1.6
C Thomas (28) 79
SP3 Plank (LH) (33) 138 5.3
GAME THREE
1st: Shibe Park. Philadelphia. Pivotal game 3 and on the mound is 33 year old lefty Eddie Plank. 19-10, 1.76. Broke in back in '01, won 20+ every year from '02-05. Led the league in winning % in '06. Shutouts in '07. This year is the best ERA mark of his 17 year career. Plank jumps to the Federal League in '15, and finishes with the Browns in 1917 at the age of 41. He gives up a 2 out double to High Pockets Kelly, but that's it.
1st: Plank's opposite number is 32 year old RH Fred Toney, 18-11, 3.61, he broke in as a Cub in '11, the Giants bought him from the Reds last year, he'll spend his final season in St Louis in '23. Eddie Collins doubles with one out, he's left at third.
2nd: Irish Meusel leads off with a single, he broke in with the Senators back in '14, as mentioned last game, the Giants got him during this season from the Phillies for Curt Walker. Two years from now he leads the league in RBI and he retires as a Dodger in '27. Two outs later he's standing at third - and then he scores when Toney reaches on an error. Giants 1 A's 0
2nd: Harry Davis walks, two outs later Irv Thomas singles, but it ends here.
3rd: Kelly reaches on a one out error, after the second out, Earl Smith singles, that's all.
3rd: Topsy Hartsel walks, he broke in with Louisville back in '98 (their last season is '89 and many will become Pirates) Hartsel's first year in Philadelphia is '02, when he leads the league in both stolen bases and runs scored. In 1905, Hartsel leads the league in OBP and does it again in '07 - he's 35 this year, at the end of his really productive run, and he finishes in 1911. Eddie Collins singles, his first two hit day, Baker then walks and the A's are in business with the bases loaded. Danny Murphy singles and that drives in two. Toney walks Davis - there's still nobody out -- Oldring then doubles - that scores two more and still - still nobody out. Why were the A's favored in this series - starting pitching advantage - this ends Toney's day, 23 year old RH Rosy Ryan has a 3.73 ERA and he's next - he gives up a single to Barry that scores one more run. It ends here. Giants 1 A's 6
4th: 1-2-3
4th: After an out, Eddie Collins doubles again, that's his third hit of the day. Eddie Collins will have a 25 year big league career. It starts in 1906 when he's 19, he became a starter last year and this year is easily the team's best player. He leads the league in stolen bases next year, finishes 3rd for the MVP in both 1911 and 1913 and wins it in 1914. You may have noticed a lot of A's sell offs about this time - and it happens here, Collins, coming off the NL MVP and only 28 years old is sold to the White Sox - he'll have 3 top 5 finishes from '22-24 and at the age of 40 return to the A's to finish his career, his last season is '30. The A's don't add to the lead.
5th: Dave Bancroft singles with one out, Bancroft is 30, he broke in with the Phillies in 1915 and last year the Giants and Phillies swapped shortstops with Art Fletcher heading to Philly. He'll be a Giant through '23 and then go to the Braves (with Stengel) - he'll have two top 10 MVP finishes in Boston and finish his career back with the Giants in 1930. It ends here.
5th: Davis singles, an out later Barry is driving home the A's 7th run with a base hit. Giants 1 A's 7
6th: After two out, Youngs and Rawlings hit back to back singles, but today is just not the Giants day.
6th: After two outs, there's Collins with a single, his 4th hit, that's all.
7th: George Burns singles. Burns came up in '11, was 4th in the MVP in '14, led the league in runs scored in '16 and '17 and '19 and '20. This is his last year with the club, he's dealt to the Reds for Heinie Groh and finishes with the Phillies in '25. Nothing results.
7th: Red Shea gets the call next, 1-2-3
8th: Frisch singles/Smith walks. Meusel then singles to score a run and there's a glimmer...a glimmer of hope. After an out, a Rawlings groundout scores another run, That's all. Giants 3 A's 7
8th: Rube Benton gets the call, Barry walks - after an out, Henie Heitmuller, pinch hitting, walks, and then a Hartsell single scores a run. Collins and Baker then single back to back, each scoring a run - the A's have ended the game. Slim Sallee enters, gets one, then walks Davis, gives up a 2 run scoring single to Oldring and then a 2 run Double to Barry, the A's have batted around. Giants 3 A's 14
9th: 30 year old RH Rube Vickers enters and walks Burns, Bancroft then singles, and Kelly doubles to score 2. It ends here.
Giants 5
A's 14
WP Plank
LP Toney
Everything's close until it's not, the A's busted this series wide open in game 3.
For the A's...
Hartsel has reached 4x
Collins had 5 game 3 hits
Baker reached 2x in game 3
Davis has reached 7x
Oldring reached 4x in game 2-3 and had 4 game 3 RBI
Thomas reached 3x game 2-3
Barry has reached 7x with 5 game 3 RBI
For the Giants
Burns reached 2x in game 3
Bancroft has reached 5 x
Kelly reached 2x in game 3
Frisch reached 3x
Youngs has reached 5x
Smith has reached 4x
Meusel reached 2x in game 3
Rawlings has reached 4x
One more in Philadelphia - the game 1 pitchers return, can the Giants stay alive?
CF Burns (31) 106 2.7
SS Bancroft (30) 118 6.6
1B Kelly (25) 130 3.4
3B Frisch (23) 128 6.6
C Smith (24) 147 2.6
LF Meusel (28) 116 .9
RF Youngs (24) 128 3.3
2B Rawlings (28) 65 .6
P Barnes (28) 120 2.5
LF Hartsell (35) 121 2.1
2B Collins (22) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) 146 5.3
RF Murphy (32) 132 3.5
1B Davis (35) 122 3.3
C Livingston (29) 99 2.4
CF Oldring (25) 92 1.1
SS Barry (22) 77 1.6
P Krause (LH) (20) 174 4.8
GAME FOUR
1st: Harry Krause returns, looking to end the series and advance the first A's team forward. Burns and Bancroft each reach via error to start, an out later Frisch singles and the Giants have loaded the bases in the must win game. Smith singles - and that scores 2. Meusel singles - it scores a run, that's all, the Giants have the lead. Giants 3 A's 0
1st: Jesse Barnes is staked to the big early lead; Hartsel singles, that's all.
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: Oldring had 2 doubles in game and doubles here with 2 out, but that's it.
3rd: Bancroft walks/Kelly singles - are the Giants about to tie this series? After an out, a Smith sac fly scores a run - Smith started the series in a platoon but he's playing every day now and has 3 RBI already today. Giants 4 A's 0
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
4th: Baker singles - two outs later Davis doubles but nothing results.
5th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Krause.
5th: Oldring reaches on an error, steals second, and then scores on a Barry double - Jack Barry had 23 RBI all year and six in games 3-4. Krause then reached on an error and a Hartsell triple scores 2 - the A's slice the lead to 4-3. Barnes is done in favor of Rosy Ryan - he gives up a Collins single and the A's have come all the way back to tie this score. Giants 4 A's 4
6th: Smith singles with one out and then Meusel doubled him home - the Giants get right back on the horse and regain the lead. Meusel then steals third - really daring by the Giants; Youngs walks, a Rawlings sac fly scores a run and the Giants are unwilling to let up in this must win. Giants 6 A's 4
6th: Davis walks, two outs later Oldring walks - Barry then singles and that brings in Rube Benton to pitch and Heinie Heitmuller to hit. He singles - it scores a run, it ends here. Giants 6 A's 5
7th: Jimmy Dygert enters for the A's -tight game 4 entering the last 3 innings; after an out, he gives up a single to Bancroft and a walk to Kelly. Frisch then singles and the Giants have the bases loaded, just one out - can they extend the lead? They do not.
7th: Collins reaches by error and an out later Murphy walks -- that's the potential go ahead run on base with just one out - but Benton escapes.
8th: Youngs singles. That's it.
8th: Slim Sallee is next for the Giants - 6 outs from extending this series - he gives up a two out single to Barry, that's all.
9th: We are 3 outs from heading to the Polo Grounds for Game 5. But first - Rube Vickers enters to face the Giants; after an out he walks Bancroft and Kelly - but the Giants don't extend the lead and we head to the bottom.
9th: Irv Thomas comes off the bench to hit - he flies to center. One out.
Topsy Hartsel then triples - that is his second triple of the day; Hartsel started the series in a platoon but that has ended - two triples in game 4 and the tying run is 90 feet away.
And Eddie Collins singles. 6-6.
Red Shea gets the call - the Giants going deep into their pen every day; he gets through it and we head to extras. Giants 6 A's 6
10th: The A's 5th starter is 25 year old RH Jack Coombs, 12-11, 2.32 and Mack tabs him to start the 10th. He walks Meusel, then gets two, 29 year old Eddie Brown is the Giants 5th OF and he comes on to hit for the pitchers spot -- and he triples home the go ahead run. This Giants team will not die today - they have fought all day to force this series back to the Polo Grounds for Game 5 and once again have taken the lead. Giants 7 A's 6
10th: McGraw's depleted the pen - so it's game 3 starter Fred Toney who is tasked with closing this out - he didn't make it through 3 innings so probably has something left in his arm -
Murphy reaches via error.
Davis grounds to third - that's one out, Murphy moving to second, that's the tying run in scoring position with just one out.
Livingson grounds to short. Two away. Murphy still standing at second.
Oldring goes down 2 strikes -- the Giants one strike away from tying this series.
But Oldring singles. And then Barry walks and the bases are loaded. Two out. Giants up a run in game 4.
Utilityman Simon Nicholls hit .211 in 71 at bats during the regular season - but he gets the call to hit for the pitcher here.
And he singles to left. Murphy scores. Oldring rounds third - Meusel throws home - Smith blocks the plate -- there is a massive collision at the plate --- and Smith drops the ball.
Safe. Ballgame.
Giants 7
A's 8
WP Coombs
LP Toney
Pandemonium at Shibe Park - the A's advance into the next round with a bottom of the tenth inning comeback and a two run single from the very last man on the roster.
For the A's...
Hartsel reached 7x w/2 triples in game 4
Collins had 7 hits in the last 2 games
Davis reached 9x
Oldring reached 7x in game 2-4 and had 4 game 3 RBI
Barry reached 11x with 5 game 3 RBI
Co-MVPs here. Jack Barry and his backup Simon Nicholls. Both light hitting shortstops. Barry reached 11 times, the top offensive player in this series from either team and Nicholls came off the bench with a 2 run walkoff single to win this series.
Team #13 into the next round - the '09 A's.
