Washington DC Baseball

[ValKehl]

Holland Creameries and W573 cards of Goose:

[GeoPoto]

The Nats had regained home-field advantage, with Walter Johnson set to go the next day in the third and last game to be contested in New York. Concerned about Ralph Miller's two errors in two days and Bluege's miscue while playing out of position at short, Johnson himself approached Peckinpaugh and urged him to play. Peck assured him that he had no mobility at all and that he couldn't play, but Johnson felt that Peck would be of value if only because his presence in the lineup would allow Bluege to return to third. Peckinpaugh did not play, however.

Game five started off with a bang when lead-off hitter Earl McNeely bashed a rocket off the lefthander, Jack Bentley. The 18-year-old rookie third baseman, Fred Lindstrom, leapt and snared the missile -- a fantastic catch by all accounts. After Harris and Rice harmlessly made outs, Lindstrom, who was to hit .333 in this, his first World Series, led off in the bottom of the inning with a single to left off Walter Johnson. Barney recovered by first getting Frankie Frisch to foul out to third baseman Ralph Miller, who was starting his second consecutive game because of Peckinpaugh's injury. Miller had played partial seasons for the Phillies in '20 and '21, and the 1924 World Series would be his swan song. He logged only 26 official at-bats for the 1924 Washington Senators, and 11 of them came in the World Series.

The third-place hitter, Ross Youngs, flew out to McNeely in center field. Lindstrom then took off for second, but Muddy Ruel cut him down, ending the inning. After an uneventful second in which Goose Goslin's infield single was the only hit on either side, the dignified Walter Johnson approached the plate. Again he got an ovation -- many New York fans had stood when he took the mound at the start of the game. Eighty percent of New York, according to Grantland Rice, was rooting for this man.

The Big Train drove the ball all the way to the left field wall, but the locomotive broke down and fell as he was rounding first. Running was not Walter's forte, and it was often said that he ran as if he was still behind the plow back on the farm. Hack Wilson pegged the ball to Frisch at second, who then relayed to Terry to intercept the Big Train. Following the out, McNeely and Harris managed to get on, but were stranded. Johnson's difficulties intensified in the bottom of the inning when Travis Jackson, the good-hitting Bentley, and Lindstrom, all singled. And it certainly could have been worse. With still just one out, Sam Rice caught a liner in right field off the bat of Ross Youngs, and then threw the ball to Johnson. The pitcher's relay to the plate caught Bentley trying to score and put an end to the shenanigans.

The Senators, down 1-0, struck right back. Joe Judge banged a single off the right field wall behind Youngs and was sacrificed to second by Bluege. Judge took third when Muddy Ruel grounded to short, bringing up Ralph Miller, 1-for-7 in the Series so far. The harried Miller came through, singling along the right field foul line. He didn't stop at first, however, and he should have. But the score was now tied.

Opposing second basemen Frankie Frisch and Bucky Harris square off in the 1924 World Series:

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1679556339

[ValKehl]

I believe this 1925 Holland Creameries card to be Ralph Miller's only card issued during his playing days, and it's card #1 in this 18-card set. Unsurprisingly, I'd love to obtain a nicer example of this card.

[GeoPoto]

The 12 innings Johnson had thrown in the first game of the Series had no doubt taken their toll. Having struck out 12 in that game, Johnson could come back with only three in game five. He was lucky to get out of the fourth inning without surrendering the lead, as Bill Terrt had tripled to deep right with only one out. However, in the fifth, after giving up a single to catcher Hank Gowdey, Jack Bentley, the "not-quite Babe Ruth," rocked Johnson for a towering home run into the right field seats. It was estimated that the ball landed about a foot fair and a foot inside the upper-deck railing down the short right field line.

Shortstop Bluege, whom Johnson would have loved to have seen at his familiar spot at third, was in cahoots with Bucky Harris to turn a gorgeous double play to get Walter out of the inning without further damage. In the seventh, the Nats turned another defensive gem. Lindstron and Youngs, who'd both singles, stood on the corners with two out. McGraw called for another double steal, and this time Ruel went immediately to second with his peg, stopping Youngs, the slower of the two baserunners, dead in his tracks. As Youngs retreated and a rundown involving Harris and Joe judge ensued, Lindstrom broke for the plate. Harris made the right decision, gunning the ball home to prevent Lindstrom from scoring before the last out was made. It was a close play, but Ruel held on to the ball and the seventh inning ended with the score unchanged.

It was not until the eighth that the Nats closed the gap. With one out and still trailing 3-1, Goose Goslin hit his third home run of the Series, this one up against the upper tier of the grandstand in right. The Goose was coming through in a major way -- his infield single in the second inning was his sixth hit in a row in the World Series, a record which would still be standing at century's end. This home run also tied Babe Ruth's then record of three home runs in a single World Series. Joe Judge promptly followed Goslin's blast with a single to right to chase Bentley. John McGraw called upon Hugh McQuillan, the starter and winner in game three. McQuillan did the job, inducing both Bluege and Ruel to ground out to the infield, which got the Giants out of the inning hanging on to their 3-2 lead.

This all became academic in the bottom of the eighth, when Kelly singled and Terry was walked by Johnson. This was only the second walk allowed by Johnson on the day, but before it was over he gave up 13 hits and also hit a batter. With men on first and second, no one out, and the Giants looking to pad their lead, Hack Wilson bunted. Johnson picked the ball up but fumbled, loading the bases. The game turned on that play and the Giants pushed three runs across on a flyout, a bloop single, and Lindstrom's fourth hit of the day, for a 6-2 final.

As things turned sour for the Nats and Walter Johnson, the Polo Grounds crowd, behind Walter all day, was stunned. Is this what could befall a hero? Past his prime, the once great pitcher had not once but twice failed to make good on a shot at glory. Pressed by reporters during the train ride back to Washington, Bucky Harris defended his decision not to pull Walter from the game despite the 13 hits and only three strikeouts. Harris blared that he wouldn't have made Walter Johnson take the long walk back to the clubhouse even if it had meant winning all of the games of the World Series.

When the Big Train made the trek at the end of the game, he looked particularly haggard and discouraged. In the clubhouse, Johnson lamented his second straight failure despite the fact that he would have willingly cut off his right arm to win that day. Muddy Ruel tried to boost his morale, reminding the great one that the Series was still far from over. What may have counted more was the firm advice proffered by Clark Griffith on the train ride back to Washington. Clutching Johnson's pitching arm, Griffith told him to forget about trying to help his friends find tickets for the next day's game. There may be another opportunity for him yet.

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1679648726

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by GeoPoto

The 12 innings Johnson had thrown in the first game of the Series had no doubt taken their toll. Having struck out 12 in that game, Johnson could come back with only three in game five. He was lucky to get out of the fourth inning without surrendering the lead, as Bill Terrt had tripled to deep right with only one out. However, in the fifth, after giving up a single to catcher Hank Gowdey, Jack Bentley, the "not-quite Babe Ruth," rocked Johnson for a towering home run into the right field seats. It was estimated that the ball landed about a foot fair and a foot inside the upper-deck railing down the short right field line. Shortstop Bluege, whom Johnson would have loved to have seen at his familiar spot at third, was in cahoots with Bucky Harris to turn a gorgeous double play to get Walter out of the inning without further damage. In the seventh, the Nats turned another defensive gem. Lindstron and Youngs, who'd both singles, stood on the corners with two out. McGraw called for another double steal, and this time Ruel went immediately to second with his peg, stopping Youngs, the slower of the two baserunners, dead in his tracks. As Youngs retreated and a rundown involving Harris and Joe judge ensued, Lindstrom broke for the plate. Harris made the right decision, gunning the ball home to prevent Lindstrom from scoring before the last out was made. It was a close play, but Ruel held on to the ball and the seventh inning ended with the score unchanged. It was not until the eighth that the Nats closed the gap. With one out and still trailing 3-1, Goose Goslin hit his third home run of the Series, this one up against the upper tier of the grandstand in right. The Goose was coming through in a major way -- his infield single in the second inning was his sixth hit in a row in the World Series, a record which would still be standing at century's end. This home run also tied Babe Ruth's then record of three home runs in a single World Series. Joe Judge promptly followed Goslin's blast with a single to right to chase Bentley. John McGraw called upon Hugh McQuillan, the starter and winner in game three. McQuillan did the job, inducing both Bluege and Ruel to ground out to the infield, which got the Giants out of the inning hanging on to their 3-2 lead. This all became academic in the bottom of the eighth, when Kelly singled and Terry was walked by Johnson. This was only the second walk allowed by Johnson on the day, but before it was over he gave up 13 hits and also hit a batter. With men on first and second, no one out, and the Giants looking to pad their lead, Hack Wilson bunted. Johnson picked the ball up but fumbled, loading the bases. The game turned on that play and the Giants pushed three runs across on a flyout, a bloop single, and Lindstrom's fourth hit of the day, for a 6-2 final. As things turned sour for the Nats and Walter Johnson, the Polo Grounds crowd, behind Walter all day, was stunned. Is this what could befall a hero? Past his prime, the once great pitcher had not once but twice failed to make good on a shot at glory. Pressed by reporters during the train ride back to Washington, Bucky Harris defended his decision not to pull Walter from the game despite the 13 hits and only three strikeouts. Harris blared that he wouldn't have made Walter Johnson take the long walk back to the clubhouse even if it had meant winning all of the games of the World Series. When the Big Train made the trek at the end of the game, he looked particularly haggard and discouraged. In the clubhouse, Johnson lamented his second straight failure despite the fact that he would have willingly cut off his right arm to win that day. Muddy Ruel tried to boost his morale, reminding the great one that the Series was still far from over. What may have counted more was the firm advice proffered by Clark Griffith on the train ride back to Washington. Clutching Johnson's pitching arm, Griffith told him to forget about trying to help his friends find tickets for the next day's game. There may be another opportunity for him yet.

It might have seemed like mere fatherly consolation from Griffith after Johnson's disastrous defeat in game 5, but there's no doubt in my mind that Griff meant it 100% when he said, "Go home and get some rest, Walter. We might need you."

[GeoPoto]

The fact remained that the Washington Senators were going home with their backs up against the proverbial wall, and their boy manager had better think of something smart real quick. Bucky Harris turned, in this time of desperate need, to Jonathan Thompson Walton Zachary, who'd won the second game of the Series and pitched to within one out of a complete game. The long-necked Southerner had made use of his elaborate handle when he had pitched in the major leagues under an assumed name. As a member of the Philadelphia A's in 1918, he had been known as Zach Walton. At the time, he had been intent on protecting his eligibility to play college ball.

McGraw's choice as starting pitcher for the sixth game was just as obvious as Harris's. He had Art Nehf ready to go. Nehf had been sitting since the 12-inning win over Johnson in game one. McGraw had kept him back one game to let him recover, and that could have been interpreted as a good move since the Giants had won the fifth contest anyway.

Five thousand fans greeted the sagging Senators at the train station upon their return to Washington, and the 34,254 fans who populated Griffith Stadium for game six numbered among them President and Mrs. Coolidge, who took their seats for the third consecutive game. The crowd's mightiest cheer was for Roger Peckinpaugh, who took the shortstop position after missing two games with a charley horse, which had caused him much pain in his left thigh for three days. Peck was saying he was ready to break a leg to get back in action. The limb was bandaged and strapped so tightly to keep it upright that Peck could hardly feel his foot touch the ground.

This game was very exciting right off the bat, as half the games had been so far. After Lindstrom led off with a bunt on which Bluege, back at his familiar position, made a nice play to throw him out, Frank Frisch crashed a solid double along the line in right. Zachary got Ross Youngs to bounce right to him and then cooly turned toward to catch Frisch in a rundown -- Youngs made it to second on the play. The crowd was immediately disquieted again when George Kelly singled off Zachary to bring in the first run. Sam Rice then had to make a fine running one-handed catch on a drive by Irish Meusel to end the first half-inning.

Zachary was never in any trouble in this game again. He allowed only five hits and just one runner to get to second the whole rest of the way. Not only were there no walks, Zachary never even got to ball three with any hitter during the entire game. But his mates weren't doing anything for him offensively. The Nats had gotten four different baserunners on in the bottom of the first inning, but Harris forced McNeely and then got himself picked off. Except for Peckinpaugh's single off Lindstrom's shoe in the second inning, the Nats went down 1-2-3 in each inning until the fifth.

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1679737004

[ValKehl]

Another 1925 Holland Creameries card I'd love to upgrade: