100. 1922 World Champion New York Giants v. 125. 1909 Philadelphia Athletics
This series should seem familiar; in the last round, the A's knocked off the '21 Giants. This is it for the Giants; if they lose here they are out of the tournament. It's the last Philadelphia team in the field as well.
Giants 93-61 (Pythag 95-59) Mgr. John McGraw
Won NL Pennant
d. Yankees 4-0-1 in World Series
d. #29 1954 Indians 2-1 (MVP-Earl Smith)
d. #93 1921 Yankees 3-1 (MVP-Casey Stengel/Earl Smith)
Hall of Famers: Dave Bancroft, Frankie Frisch, Travis Jackson, High Pockets Kelly, Casey Stengel, Ross Youngs, John McGraw
The '22 Giants went back to back, beating the Yankees the season before as well. It's McGraw's last World Champion.
A's 95-58 (Pythag 102-51) Mgr. Connie Mack
d. #4 1942 Cardinals 2-1 (MVP-Harry Krause/Eddie Plank)
d. #61 1921 Giants 3-1 (MVP Jack Barry/Simon Nicholls)
Hall of Famers: Home Run Baker, Chief Bender, Eddie Collins, Eddie Plank, Connie Mack
The A's had a 102-51 pythag and finished 3 1/2 behind the Tigers.
Athletics
LF Hartsell (35) (LH) 121 2.1
2B Collins (22) (LH) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) (LH) 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
CF Ganley (34) (LH) 55
SP2 Bender (25) 147 5.5
SP3 Plank (LH) (33) 138 5.3
Platoon in Left. Mack rides the hot bat behind the plate. Morgan's the 4th starter if the A's advance.
Giants
2B Frisch (24) (SH) 110 4.4
SS Bancroft (31) (SH) 109 6.6
CF Stengel (31) (LH) 154 2.6
LF Meusel (29) 122 2.6
1B Kelly (26) 118 3.8
C Snyder (28) 122
RF Youngs (25) (LH) 120 3.4
3B Groh (32) 80 1.9
P Douglas (32) 153 2.6
Bench:
C Smith (25) (LH) 118 1.3
2B Rawlings (29) 86
OF Cunningham (27) 100
OF Shinners (26) 59
SP2 Nehf (25) (LH) 122 3
SP3 Barnes (29) 115 1.5
Giants have a catching platoon and will start with Groh at third, but if he doesn't hit, Rawlings moves into the lineup and Frisch shifts to third. The RH McQuillan gets tabbed as the 4th starter if the Giants make the Regional Final.
Lineups:
C-Push, we might see 4 catchers in this series.
1B-Kelly, by a tick over Davis
2B-Collins, easily the best player in the series
SS-Bancroft, top Giants player in the series
3B-Baker, not close
LF-Push, the A's platoon matching Meusel
CF-Stengel
RF-Push, Giants have slight position player advantage overall
SP1-Krause
SP2-Bender
SP3-Plank, A's have dramatic advantage in starting pitching
Pen-Giants
A's 5 Giants 4, A's have WAR advantage, driven by the real edge they have in starting pitching; they also have top position player. Giants have minor seed advantage giving them home field...we'll say the A's are favored to advance. Either team is likely an underdog in the Regional Final.
GAME ONE
1st: The proud Giants organization, playing baseball since the 1870s, is down to one team in the tournament. 32 year old RH Phil Douglas stands on the Polo Grounds mound. 11-4, 2.63. It's his last year in the bigs; he led the league in ERA, ERA+, WHIP and H/9. He gives up a 2 out single to Home Run Baker and nothing else.
1st: 20 year old lefty Harry Krause gets the call for the A's. 18-8, 1.39. Krause broke in last year but he's in his rookie season. He led the league in both ERA and ERA+. The two top ERAs in their respective seasons going at it in game one. He walks Frankie Frisch; then gets the next 3.
2nd: Paddy Livingston singles with one out. Livingston's 99 OPS+ is 27 points north of his career average. After the second out Jack Barry doubles and the A's are on the board. A's 1 Giants 0
2nd: Frank Snyder singles with one out. Snyder's catching against the lefties in this series; his lifetime batting average was .265 - this year, he hit .343. After the second out Heinie Groh singles. That's all.
3rd: Home Run Baker doubles with 2 away. Baker broke in last year but this is his rookie season. He led the league in triples, despite the nickname. Danny Murphy walks, that's all.
3rd: With one out, Dave Bancroft doubles. Bancroft will be at home when the series shifts to Philadelphia - he spent the first 5+ years of his career with the Phillies, coming to the Giants in '20. Brancroft hit .321 this year, the high mark for his 16 year career. Casey Stengel singles, Irish Meusel singles and the score is tied. A's 1 Giants 1
4th: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Eddie Collins singles with 2 away; it's the 22 year old second baseman's second full big league season, he had a 170 OPS+. Douglas stops it here.
5th: Krause was co-MVP of the A's round one win and he and Douglas are in a good one here in game one. Frankie Frisch singles with one away. He and Collins matchup future Hall of Fame second basemen; Frisch is 24, in this third full year. Frisch led the league in steals last year and hit .327 this year - from '21-'31, Frisch hit at least .300 each season. After the second out, Casey singles again. Meusel then singles home his second run of the day to give the Giants the lead. A's 1 Giants 2
6th: 1-2-3
6th: Ross Youngs singles with one away, Youngs is in the middle of a 10 year big league career, all spent with the Giants. He hit .331 this year; 9 of those 10 seasons, Young hit over .300. That's it and we head to the 7th.
7th: 24 year old RH Rosy Ryan enters for McGraw as he turns the game over to his pen; 17 wins and a 3.02 ERA. Rube Oldring greets him with a base hit. Thats all.
7th: Mack also goes to his pen to get Jimmy Dygert, 24 year old RH, 9 wins, 2.42. Frisch singles with one out, after the second out Bancroft walks, that's all.
8th: Super tight game one at the Polo Grounds, Region 4 Semi-Finals. Collins singles with one away and swipes second -- he comes around to score on a Baker base hit and it's tied. McGraw to the pen for 24 year old RH Claude Jonnard, 6 wins and a 3.84 ERA. He gets through it. A's 2 Giants 2
8th: Irish Meusel's driven home both Giants runs and he singles here. Like Bancroft, Meusel came to the Giants from the Phillies, so he'll be familiar with Philadelphia when the series shifts. This is his first full Giants season, he hit .331. Dygert gets the next 3 and we head to the 9th.
9th: Jonnard gets one - and then Rube Oldring homers to left center! Oldring breaks the 2-2 tie with a 9th inning home run - huge celebration in the A's dugout as Mack's boys are now just 3 outs from taking game one. Jonnard hits Jack Barry, that brings McGraw out, the next Giants pitcher is 25 year old RH Virgil Barnes, 3.48. He ends it. A's 3 Giants 2
9th: Dygert stays on for his third inning of relief.
Groh is first - grounds to Collins.
Earl Smith comes off the bench to hit - grounds to Collins.
With 2 out - Frankie Frisch singles sharply to right -
Mack goes to the pen, 30 year old RH Rube Vickers, 3.40.
And Vickers gets Bancroft to ground to Collins, onto first - ballgame.
A's 3
Giants 2
WP Dygert
LP Jonnard
Sv Vickers
Tight game one at the Polo Grounds goes to the A's on Oldring's homer in the 9th.
Collins 2x
Baker 3x/double
Murphy 1x
Livingston 1x
Oldring 2x/HR
Barry 2x/double
Frisch 4x
Bancroft 2x/double
Stengel 2x
Meusel 3x
Snyder 1x
Youngs 1x
Groh 1x
RF Murphy (32) 132 3.5
2B Collins (22) (LH) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) (LH) 146 5.3
1B Davis (35) 122 3.3
LF Hartsell (35) (LH) 121 2.1
C Livingston (29) 99 2.4
CF Oldring (25) 92 1.1
SS Barry (22) 77 1.6
SP2 Bender (25) 147 5.5
CF Stengel (31) (LH) 154 2.6
RF Youngs (25) (LH) 120 3.4
C Smith (25) (LH) 118 1.3
LF Meusel (29) 122 2.6
2B Frisch (24) (SH) 110 4.4
SS Bancroft (31) (SH) 109 6.6
1B Kelly (26) 118 3.8
3B Groh (32) 80 1.9
SP2 Nehf (25) (LH) 122 3
GAME TWO
1st: Tough game one loss for the Giants; they look to rebound with 29 year old lefty Art Nehf. 19-13, 3.29. Good World Series this year for Nehf, 1-0, 2.25 in two starts. He walks Danny Murphy; two outs later Home Run Baker singles, that's all.
1st: Chief Bender gets the ball for the A's, 18-8, 1.66. Bender led the league in FIP and K/BB. Casey Stengel singles, Earl Smith is catching against the RH today and after an out, he singles. Irish Meusel grounds out, it scores a run. Frankie Frisch singles, that's all. A's 0 Giants 1
2nd: 1-2-3
2nd: 1-2-3
3rd: Bender walks with one away. Murphy singles, Nehf escapes.
3rd: Stengel singles again. Casey played in just 83 games this season, but had a 154 OPS+, the best on the club, in that time. .368/.436/.564 is his slashline. Bender holds them.
4th: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3, another taut game at the Polo Grounds, two evenly matched clubs.
5th: 1-2-3, 8 straight for Nehf.
5th: Nehf walks after an out, here's Stengel again, his third hit of the day, Ross Youngs walks and the bases are loaded with Giants. Bender gets out of it.
6th: Every inning, every at bat in this series a cliffhanger. Eddie Collins singles with one away, steals second -- and he comes around to score on a Baker double. A's 1 Giants 1
6th: Frankie Frisch walks and steals second, his battle with Collins continues, two outs later Heinie Groh singles home Frisch and the Giants take the lead. McGraw goes to his bench, Bill Cunningham pinch singles -- and here's Stengel again - another hit, 4 singles on the day for Casey and it scores another run. A's 1 Giants 3
7th: Rosy Ryan again from the pen for the Giants. He gets 2 then Jack Barry singles. That's all.
7th: Jimmy Dygert again from the pen for the A's, he walks Earl Smith - and then Irish Meusel bombs a two run shot to right center. That might even up this series. Frankie Frisch follows with a homer to right and it's 6-1. Dave Bancroft walks. 2 outs later Heinie Groh walks. That's all -- big inning for the Giants A's 1 Giants 6
8th: Murphy singles. That's all.
8th: Rube Vickers again from the Philly pen. He walks Earl Smith and then it's Meusel one more time, doubles to right center -- Smith chugs all the way around and it's another Giants run. A's 1 Giants 7
9th: Topsy Hartsel singles, an injury to Heitmuller kept Hartsel in the lineup today against a lefty, Hartsel's 35, led the league in walks the previous 4 seasons. Ryan finishes it up.
A's 1
Giants 7
WP Nehf
LP Bender
Sv Ryan
Back to back homers from Meusel and Frisch put this one out of reach and we head to Philly all tied at 1.
Frisch 7x/HR
Bancroft 3x/double
Stengel 6x
Meusel 5x/HR, double
Snyder 1x
Youngs 2x
Groh 3x
Smith 3x
Collins 3x
Baker 5x/ 2 doubles
Murphy 4x
Hartsel 1x
Barry 1x
Livingston 1x
Oldring 2x/HR
Barry 2x/double
2B Frisch (24) (SH) 110 4.4
SS Bancroft (31) (SH) 109 6.6
CF Stengel (31) (LH) 154 2.6
LF Meusel (29) 122 2.6
1B Kelly (26) 118 3.8
C Snyder (28) 122
RF Youngs (25) (LH) 120 3.4
3B Groh (32) 80 1.9
SP3 Barnes (29) 115 1.5
LF Hartsell (35) (LH) 121 2.1
2B Collins (22) (LH) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) (LH) 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 The series shifts to Philadelphia for games 3 and 4. The A's send Eddie Plank to the mound. 33 year old lefty. 19-10, 1.76. With a 133 ERA+, 1909 was Plank's top season to that date. 1-2-3
1st: 29 year old RH Jesse Barnes gets the ball for the Giants. 13-8, 3.51. Barnes went 10 innings in the '22 Series, 1.80 ERA. Topsy Hartsel singles. Eddie Collins singles. An out later a Danny Murphy sac fly gives the A's the lead. Giants 0 A's 1
2nd: Frank Snyder is back behind the plate today and he singles with 2 away. That's it.
2nd: Ira Thomas is behind the plate for the A's today for the first time in the series and he singles with 2 out. That's it.
3rd: Frankie Frisch singles with 2 away, he's reached 8 times, leading both teams. That's it.
3rd: Collins singles with one away, that's all.
4th: Casey Stengel singles, he's reached 7 times. After an out, High Pockets Kelly doubles him home to tie the game. Kelly hit .328 this year, his career high. Giants 1 A's 1
4th: Rube Oldring singles with one away, that's it.
5th: Heinie Groh walks. This is Groh's first year back in New York after spending the fat end of his career with the Reds. It's probably the worst season of his career where he actually got playing time. An out later Frisch singles him home and the Giants take the lead. Frisch steals second, then scores on a Dave Bancroft single. Stengel singles again, the Giants have it going in the 5th -- Meusel grounds out and it scores a run. The Giants pull in front. Giants 4 A's 1
5th: Hartsel singles with 2 away, that's it.
6th: 1-2-3
6th: Danny Murphy doubles with one away; that's all. Strong outing for Barnes, the Giants up 3 headed to the 7th.
7th: Bancroft singles with 2 out, steals second - and scores on a Stengel base hit. 3 more hits today for Stengel, he and Frisch just keep getting on base. Giants 5 A's 1
7th: 1-2-3
8th: Kelly walks, that's it.
8th: Collins singles with one away - that's it - Barnes outpitching Plank today and the Giants are 3 outs away from the win.
9th: Groh singles. McGraw leaves Barnes in to bunt him over -- and here's Frankie Frisch again, singling home Groh and it's 6-1. Bancroft follows with a run scoring double, the Giants are about to go up 2-1. Stengel follows with a triple - Stengel and Frisch just keep doing it. Plank's day is finally over. Rube Vickers comes on. Meusel doubles to score another run. Kelly singles to score another run. Floodgates, open. Snyder singles - Youngs grounds out to score one more run - the Giants send 10 to the plate and tore this game totally open. Giants 11 A's 1
9th: 1-2-3, wooosh.
Giants 11
A's 1
WP Barnes
LP Plank
Complete game win for Barnes, the Giants pound out 16 hits and are now a game from advancing.
Frisch 10x/HR
Bancroft 6x/ 2 doubles
Stengel 10x/triple
Meusel 6x/HR, 2 doubles
Kelly 3x/double
Snyder 3x
Youngs 2x
Groh 5x
Smith 3x
Collins 6x
Baker 5x/ 2 doubles
Murphy 5x/double
Hartsel 3x
Barry 1x
Livingston 1x
Oldring 3x/HR
Barry 2x/double
Thomas 1x
2B Frisch (24) (SH) 110 4.4
SS Bancroft (31) (SH) 109 6.6
CF Stengel (31) (LH) 154 2.6
LF Meusel (29) 122 2.6
1B Kelly (26) 118 3.8
C Snyder (28) 122
RF Youngs (25) (LH) 120 3.4
3B Groh (32) 80 1.9
P Douglas (32) 153 2.6
LF Hartsell (35) (LH) 121 2.1
2B Collins (22) (LH) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) (LH) 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 The game one starters return; Harry Krause trying to send this series back to New York. Dave Bancroft reaches on a one out error, Casey Stengel singles - he has reached 11 times - Irish Meusel grounds out and the Giants score a run. Giants 1 A's 0
1st: Can Phil Douglas end this series for McGraw and the Giants? 1-2-3
2nd: Ross Youngs triples with one out - his first extra base hit. But he dies at third.
2nd: Danny Murphy reaches on an error, Harry Davis draws a walk, Paddy Livingston draws a walk and the A's have them loaded with nobody out. Douglas gets 2 -- but then Harry Krause, who did not hit a home run in his 5 year big league career -- hits a Grand Slam off Douglas. That wakes this crowd up - the A's have life here in game 4. Giants 1 A's 4
3rd: After pulling away in games 2 and 3 this was looking like the Giants series - but the unlikely Krause grand slam maybe changes this entire situation. Stengel singles with 2 away, that's 12 times on base. That's it. Giants 1 A's 4
3rd: Eddie Collins singles and steals second, the A's don't score.
4th: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
5th: Bancroft walks with one away, but that's all.
5th: Krause reaches on an error, Douglas gets the next two - but then Home Run Baker bombs a two run homer to right center - they are dancing in the aisles here at Shibe Park, it sure looks like we're headed back to New York for the showdown. Giants 1 A's 6
6th: Youngs singles with 2 out, that's all.
6th: 26 year old RH Carmen Hill for the Giants; 4.76. Harry Davis singles, that's all.
7th: 1-2-3, Krause cruising.
7th: 20 year old RH Jack Scott takes the ball for the Giants, 8 wins and a 4.42 ERA. Hartsel singles with one away, that's it.
8th: 1-2-3, 7 straight for Krause - the crowd roaring as he comes off the mound
8th: Danny Murphy homers - that's the cherry, we will see you for Game 5. Giants 1 A's 7
9th: Rube Vickers to finish. He walks Snyder, Youngs singles, Groh walks. Bases full of Giants and nobody out here in the 9th. Earl Smith comes on to hit --- he grounds out to score a run. Frisch grounds out to score a run - but that means there are now 2 out. Jimmy Dygert gets the call from Mack - he gives up a Bancroft double. 2 on, 2 out, 2 in - Giants trail 7-3, Stengel flies out to the track and its done.
Giants 3
A's 7
WP Krause
LP Douglas
The A;s get just 5 hits but 3 were homers and one of them is a grand slam from winning pitcher Krause and we head back to the Polo Grounds for the showdown game.
Collins 7x
Baker 6x/ 2 doubles, HR
Murphy 6x/double, HR
Hartsel 4x
Davis 2x
Barry 1x
Livingston 2x
Oldring 3x/HR
Barry 2x/double
Thomas 1x
Krause grand slam
Frisch 10x/HR
Bancroft 8x/ 3 doubles
Stengel 12x/triple
Meusel 7x/HR, 2 doubles
Kelly 3x/double
Snyder 4x
Youngs 5x/triple
Groh 6x
Smith 3x
RF Murphy (32) 132 3.5
2B Collins (22) (LH) 170 9.9
3B Baker (23) (LH) 146 5.3
LF Heitmuller (26) 135 1.7
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
CF Stengel (31) (LH) 154 2.6
RF Youngs (25) (LH) 120 3.4
C Smith (25) (LH) 118 1.3
LF Meusel (29) 122 2.6
2B Frisch (24) (SH) 110 4.4
SS Bancroft (31) (SH) 109 6.6
1B Kelly (26) 118 3.8
3B Groh (32) 80 1.9
SP2 Nehf (25) (LH) 122 3
GAME FIVE
1st: It all comes down to this; the final John McGraw team in the tournament agains the final Connie Mack team, winner moves on, loser goes home. Game 2 starter Art Nehf for the Giants. Danny Murphy reaches on an error, swipes second, scores on an Eddie Collins base hit and it's the A's who jump out on top. Home Run Baker follows with a one out single and that's all. A's 1 Giants 0
1st: Chief Bender for the A's - 1-2-3
2nd: Harry Davis singles; steals second and after an out scores on an Ira Thomas base hit. Philadelphia is running and scoring here in game 5. Jack Barry walks. That's all. A's 2 Giants 0
2nd: Irish Meusel singles, he's now reached 8 times. After an out, Dave Bancroft walks. High Pockets Kelly comes through with a base hit to score a run. A's 2 Giants 1
3rd: Eddie Collins triples - the best player in the series stepping up in the big spot. Nehf gets one and then Harry Heitmuller, making his first start, doubles and the A's get that run back. Harry Davis singles again and it's 4-1 and the A's are threatening to end it early. A's 4 Giants 1
3rd: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3
4th: 1-2-3, Bender sets down 8 straight Giants.
5th: Murphy singles, 2 outs later Baker singles - but Nehf gets out of it.
5th: Nehf singles with 2 out, Stengel walks - but that's all. And the Giants are running out of outs.
6th: Davis singles. An out later Thomas walks. Nehf gets through it.
6th: The Giants have 3 hits today. Earl Smith reaches on an error - after an out, he comes around to score on a Frankie Frisch triple - Frisch rolled through the first 3 games but hadn't reached since, and the second A's error of the inning scores Frisch and the deficit is cut to a run. A's 4 Giants 3
7th: With one out, Collins walks and then steals second - Eddie Collins doing all he can today; Home Run Baker doubles him home and the A's get a run back. Rosy Ryan comes in from the pen for McGraw -- he gives up a Heitmuller double and it's 6-3 A's. Athletics 6 Giants 3
7th: 1-2-3, that might do it
8th: Claude Jonnard for the Giants - Barry singles with 1 away. That's it.
8th: The A's are 6 outs away, Meusel singles with 2 out, but that's it.
9th: Jonnard hits Collins - who then steals second and scores on another Baker base hit and that's your ballgame. Heitmuller singles - it ends here A's 7 Giants 3
9th: 1-2-3
A's 7
Giants 3
WP Bender
LP Nehf
Complete game 5 hitter for Chief Bender ends the series.
Collins 11x/triple
Baker 10x/ 3 doubles, HR
Murphy 7x/double, HR
Three hitting stars in the series; Baker and Collins pulling out in front in game 5, but the MVP is Krause, both for the pitching in games 1 and 4 but also the big blow of the series, his grand slam that turned it all around.
