Washington DC Baseball

[GeoPoto]

As had happened prior to the third game in Washington, it rained in Pittsburgh and the seventh game was postponed one day, with the decisive contest rescheduled for Thursday, October 15, 1925. It was still wet and cold, but Commissioner Landis in his infinite wisdom ordered the game played in a steady rain. It was thought that never had such an important game been played in such conditions. It was, wrote James R. Harrison in the New York Times, "a perfect day for water polo."

Bucky Harris' decision concerning whom to start was easier to make this time. In his statement to reporters, he announced that Washington was going to come back with the greatest pitcher the game had ever known. Walter Johnson, on three days' rest and with a sore leg, pronounced himself ready. Babe Ruth, covering the Series from his apartment in New York, thought he spoke for all American Leaguers when he said that Walter was not just respected by the players, but loved by them. Ruth admitted he'd be rooting for a man he called the greatest character in baseball.

Vic Aldridge, who had been steady in winning games two and five, was out again for this, the big one. The Pirates certainly had momentum on their side, and the fans on their side, but it was the Senators who struck first, and struck hard, again in the first inning. Sam Rice led off with a single over second base. Bucky Harris, still hampered by the spiked hand, flew out softly to left, but Aldridge then uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Rice to take second. Aldridge was wild -- he walked Goslin and then lost control of another pitch, moving the runners up to second and third. Moon Harris walked, loading the bases. Joe Judge, always selective, worked the count full and then earned a fourth ball from Aldridge, and the Nats had their first run.

Ossie Bluege was next up and singled cleanly, bringing in Goslin and precipitating Aldridge's exit. Aldridge had finally met his Waterloo and was replaces by "Jughandle Johnny" Morrison, he of the sweeping curveball. Morrison was another character on a team of characters -- a heavy drinker, he would, in the two coming seasons, be suspended by the Pirates for apparently feigning illness and running off to his home in the Kentucky hills. Morrison had given up two hits and a run in one inning in a mop-up role in game one, and had allowed five hits and a walk, but no runs, in the 4-0 loss to Walter Johnson in the fourth game.

The righthanded Morrison lured Roger Peckinpaugh into batting the ball into the ground with the bases full. This was another of the strange plays in this Series. Catcher Earl Smith had apparently tipped Peck's bat, and Peck was awarded first, Joe Harris scoring the third run of the first inning. The roof caved in just a bit more for the Pirates and poor Morrison, as Eddie Moore booted a roller off the bat of Muddy Ruel, who was enjoying a much better World Series from an offensive standpoint than he had in 1924. Moore's muff brought in Joe Judge, but Morrison then fanned Walter Johnson. Despite his great season at the plate, Barney would go 1-for-11 for the Series. Sam Rice, up next, lofted a fly to left to end the inning.

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