1903 World Series Game 8

Game 8: Boston: 3 Pittsburgh: 0 (Boston wins 5 games to 3)
WP: Dinneen (3-1)

LP: Phillippe (3-2)

The Pirates had to win Game 8 or they would suffer the humiliation of losing to an American League team. They turned to Deacon Phillippe again for his fifth start in eight games. Boston countered with Bill Dinneen for the fourth time. Phillippe was worn out and it showed. The game was scoreless into the fourth when Hobe Ferris slapped a two-run single. Ferris knocked in the game's third and final run in the sixth with another single. Dinneen only needed one run. He tossed a four hit shutout, his second of the series, and struck out 7, including Honus Wagner to end the series.

If the writers' awarded a World Series MVP in 1903, then Bill Dinneen probably wins. He started four games, won three times, threw two shutouts, and struck out 28 in 35 innings. Cy Young won two games and had the key triple to turn the series around in Game 5. Hall of Famer Jimmy Collins hit .250 for Boston. Chick Stahl batted .303 with a .839 OPS and Patsy Dougherty had a two home run game and .827 OPS.

For the Bucs, Deacon Phillippe started five games and went 3-2. No other pitcher notched a victory. Jimmy Seebring hit .333 with a home run and .855 OPS. The great Honus Wagner managed just .222 with 3 RBI and .582 OPS against Boston pitching. Pittsburgh's other Hall of Famer, Fred Clarke, hit .265 with a .668 OPS.

The Pirates experienced a World Series hangover in 1904 and finished fourth. They returned to the Fall Classic in 1909 where Wagner redeemed himself at a .333 clip. Boston repeated as AL Champs in 1904, but New York Giants dictator John McGraw refused to play the junior circuit in the World Series. As a result, the Sox did not get the opportunity to defend their crown. They would appear in their next World Series in 1912.

1903 World Series Game 7

Game 7: Boston: 7 Pittsburgh: 3 (Boston leads 4-3)
WP: Young (2-1)

LP: Phillippe (3-1)

Pittsburgh was bleeding and desperately needed a win after blowing a 3-1 series lead. They turned to Deacon Phillippe who authored all three of their series victories. It was the fourth and final game in Pittsburgh, with the series looking to return to Boston for Games 8 and 9. Boston handed the ball to Cy Young. The game was not a piece of art as both teams combined for seven errors.

The Americans jumped on Philippe for two in the first. Jimmy Collins and Chick Stahl hit back-to-back triples and Stahl scored on a grounder. Boston added two in the fourth to pretty much put the game away. They led 6-1 in the sixth and 7-2 in the ninth. Pittsburgh scored a slop run in the ninth. Five Boston batsmen slammed triples against the Pirates. Both starters pitched complete games. 

1903 World Series Game 3

Game 3: Pirates: 4 Red Sox: 2 (Pittsburgh leads 2-1)
WP: Phillippe (2-0)

LP: Hughes (0-1)

Deacon Phillippe started his second game of the series on one day of rest. He pitched a complete game 4-hitter as the Pirates took the game 4-2 and a 2-1 series lead. That would never happen today! Claude Richey and Ed Phelps had two hits each for the Pirates. Hall of Famer Jimmy Collins posted two of the Red Sox hits. They managed only four total against Phillippe. 20 game winner Long Tom Hughes lasted only two innings giving up three runs. Cy Young pitched the remaining seven.

1903 World Series overview

The American League formed in 1901 to rival the old National League. Two years later, the two leagues agreed to have their respective champions play in a "world's series" for bragging rights. The Pittsburgh Pirates won their third consecutive NL Pennant in 1903 with a 91-49 record. The Boston Americans, aka Pilgrims, topped the AL with a 91-47 record. The Americans eventually became the Red Sox.

Honus Wagner led the Pirates with a .355 average in the regular season while Deacon Phillippe won 24 games and Sam Leever 25. Player manager Fred Clarke hit .351 for the Bucs. On the other side, Cy Young led the Americans with a 28-9 season. Boston had two other 20-game winners with Bill Dinneen and Long Tom Hughes. Patsy Dougherty (.331) and Buck Freeman (104 RBI) led the Boston offense. Their outfield, which included Dougherty, Freeman, and Chick Stahl might have been the best in baseball at the time.

Many prognasticators believed the outcome depended on injured Honus Wagner. The shortstop suffered a major leg injury in September, which he did not recover from until the following year. The money was on Boston if Wagner did not play. In the end, the Americans won the best-of-nine series in eight games. It is considered one of the wildest World Series in history and turned on a triple by Cy Young.

Jimmy Collins: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1945

Born: January 16, 1870

Debut: April 19, 1895 (Boston Beaneaters)

He emerged as a pioneer in defense at third base.

1895: Loaned to Louisville Colonels

1896: Returned to Boston

1897: Beaneaters win Pennant

1898: Won Home Run crown (15)

1898: Beaneaters win Pennant

1901: Jumped to the Red Sox

1901-06: Managed the Red Sox (455-376 record)

1903: Won World Series

1904: Won Pennant, but Giants refused to play the World Series

1907: Traded from Boston to the Philadelphia A’s

1908: Retired

Died: March 6, 1943

1945: Elected to Hall of Fame (Old Timer’s ballot)

Accomplishments:
1903 World Champion

Played on four pennant winners (Only one World Series)

.294 career hitter

65 home runs

983 RBI

1999 hits

100+ runs scored: 4x

30+ doubles: 4x

42 doubles (1901)

10+ triples: 6x

1898 HR champ (15)

100+ RBI: 2x

23 steals (1903)

426 walks-267 strikeouts

.400 OBP (1897)

Led league in total bases with 286 (1898)

Led league in games played in 1900 (142)

Postseason (1903 World Series): .250, 1 HR, 3 RBI

Managerial Record:
455-376 (.548) with 2 pennants and 1 Championship