Thursday, December 2, 2010

The 1887 World Series: The Home Club Had Matters All Its Own Way

The first game for the championship of the world was played here today by St. Louis, the champion club of the American Association, and Detroit, the champion of the League. It rained almost to the time of calling play, but a crowd of 12,000 or 13,000 was present. The excitement was intense and as the home club had matters all its own way from the start there was unbounded enthusiasm. Caruthers pitched a great game, four hits and one base on balls being all that were received off of him. Two umpires officiated, Gaffney calling strikes and Kelly base decisions on the Browns, and then changing positions when Detroit was at the bat.

In the first inning Latham opened for St. Louis with a hit, and made a beautiful steal to second; Gleason got a base on balls and a wild pitch put the runners on second and third. O'Neill's hit sent Latham home; Comiskey gave White a fly and Caruthers' hit brought Gleason in; Foutz and Welch were out from pitcher to first.

For the Detroits Richardson after three strikes fouled out, and Twitchell and Rowe went out from second to first.

No more runs were made until the fifth inning, when Comiskey made a hit, and Getzein's wild throw sent him to second. Caruthers bunted the ball and beat it to first, and stole second. Foutz' fly scored Comiskey and sent Caruthers to third. Robinson made a three-bagger to left, the finest hit of the game, Welch scoring. Bushong's hit sent Robinson in and Latham batted to Richardson, who overthrew first , and Bushong scored. Gleason was thrown out.

The Detroits made their only run in the ninth, when Getzein opened with a two-bagger. Richardson sent him to third with a fly to right, and Twitchell brought him home. Rowe hit to Gleason and a double play brought the game to a close. The Browns did not make a misplay of any descriptions. Robinson and Gleason did brilliant field work, as did White for the visitors.
-Boston Globe, October 11, 1887

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