1908 World Series Game 5

Cubs: 2 Tigers: 0

W: Overall (2-0)

L: Donovan (0-2)
The Cubs scored single runs in the first and fifth. Hall of Famers Frank Chance and Johnny Evers each singled in runs. Orval Overall became the first pitcher to strike out four batters in an inning. In 2013, Anibal Sanchez became the second hurler to do so in a postseason game. Overall remains the only one to accomplish the feat in the World Series. Overall threw a 3-hitter and struck out 10. Tiger starter Wild Bill Donovan also tossed a complete game in a losing effort. The final game drew only 6,210 fans. Chicagoans stayed away from the ballpark to protest the club's ticket scalping scheme.

There was no World Series MVP in 1908. The award had not been created yet. However, Frank Chance might have won it had the award existed. He batted .421 with 2 RBI and .921 OPS. Three-Finger Brown was another candidate with a 2-0 record and 0.00 ERA in 11 innings. The final candidate, Orval Overall, went 2-0 with a 0.98 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 18.1 innings.

Other players with good World Series for the Cubs included Johnny Evers (.350, 2 RBI, .381 OBP), Solly Hofman (.316 and 4 RBI), and Wildfire Schulte (.389, 2 RBI, .950 OPS). Ty Cobb was the only Tiger hitter that performed well. The Georgia Peach batted .368 with 4 RBI, and .821 OPS. George Mullin pitched a complete game victory, struck out 8, and allowed no earned runs in his only start.

The Tigers returned to the World Series in 1909, but did not win a Fall Classic until 1935. Chicago has yet to win another World Series despite seven NL Pennants from 1910-1945. They have not won a pennant since 1945.

Florida Marlins Top 10 Moments

Marlins: 6 Dodgers: 3 (April 5, 1993): The Marlins won their first game 6-3 over the Dodgers behind Charlie Hough. Jeff Conine was the hitting star going 4-for-4. Walt Weiss had two hits and two RBI. Benito Santiago also had two hits and one RBI. Bryan Harvey finished up for the save. Florida finished their inaugural season 64-98.


Al Leiter’s no-hitter (May 11, 1996): The Colorado Rockies could rake. On May 11, 1996, their bats fell silent in the face of Al Leiter. The lefty walked just two without surrendering a hit in Florida’s 11-0 destruction of Colorado. It was the first no-hitter in Marlins’ history.

Livan strikes out 15 (Game 5 NLCS October 12, 1997): With the help of a generous strike zone, Livan Hernandez struck out 15 Atlanta Braves en route to a 2-1 victory. Amazingly, Hernandez surrendered three hits and a run. Umpire Eric Gregg was the main story. His strike zone that day was ridiculously large.

The Marlins win the Pennant (Game 6 NLCS October 14, 1997): The fish took the momentum they gained in Game 5 and parlayed it into a 7-4 victory over the two-time defending NL Champion Braves. The victory ended Atlanta’s stranglehold on the NL Pennant and sent Florida to its first World Series.

Edgar Renteria’s Single (Game 7 World Series October 26, 1997): Edgar Renteria ended an exciting World Series between the Marlins and Indians with a walk off single in the 11th inning of Game 7. The Fish trailed 2-1 in the 9th. However, Cleveland could not hold onto the lead. Tony Fernandez committed a key error leading to the tying run and sending the game into extra innings. Thirteen years later, Renteria had the key hit for the Giants in their improbable World Series victory.

Pudge holds the ball (Game 4 NLDS October 4, 2003): The Marlins defeated the Giants in an exciting four game NLDS. The Giants won the first contest 2-0. Florida bounced back for a 9-5 win in Game 2. Game 3 went 12 before Florida rallied for 2 in the final frame. In Game 4, they led 7-5 in the 9th and almost blew it. Ugeth Urbina allowed one run and had the tying run thrown out at home to earn the world’s ugliest save. J.T. Snow plowed into Ivan Rodriguez who held on to the ball for the win. The game eliminated the NL Champion Giants and advanced the Fish to the LCS.

Bartman (Game 6 NLCS October 14, 2003): The Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908. They have not appeared in a Fall Classic since 1945. In 2003, they were a couple of outs away from advancing. Then, a ball sailed toward the stands and the rest is history. The Cubs collapsed. The Marlins forced Game 7.

Marlins: 9 Cubs: 6 (Game 7 NLCS October 15, 2003): The Marlins and Cubs entered into a slugfest to win the pennant. Cubs starter Kerry Wood did not have his good stuff, but did hit a homer. It was not enough. Miguel Cabrera homered for the Marlins, Brad Penny and Josh Beckett pitched 5 relief innings surrendering one run, and the Fish won their second pennant.

Fish upset Yanks (Game 6 World Series October 25, 2003): In one of the biggest upsets in World Series history, the Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in six games. Josh Beckett won Series MVP with a 1-1 record, complete game shutout in Game 6, 19 strikeouts in 16 innings, and a 0.796 WHIP. Brad Penny won 2 games for the Fish.

Anibal Sanchez No-Hitter (September 6, 2006): The Diamondbacks were used to good pitching. The franchise boasted Schilling and Johnson. However, it was Marlin Anibal Sanchez who pitched like an ace on September 6, 2006. Sanchez won his seventh game allowing four walks and no hits. Not bad for a rookie who made his debut that June 25. He finished the year 10-3 and would not complete a full major league season until 2010. The Fish won 2-0.