Monday, January 27, 2014

World Series: Did You Know?

Walter Johnson lost his first two World Series starts.

The Big Train and his Senators finally made it to the Fall Classic in 1924. But John McGraw's New York Giants were ready to pounce on anyone. For a while, it was a question of whether Washington could finally win a World Series and if Walter Johnson could win one crummy game!

Having given their cross town rivals The Yankees all they could handle in 1921, '22 and '23, here the Giants were again. Walter Johnson seemed to be a little less than overpowering in his first two outing of this Fall Classic. Here's someone who drove fear into men like Ty Cobb, Shoeless Joe Jackson and even Babe Ruth. Now on the big stage, Johnson seemed to be unable to be up to the task!

Johnson didn't pitch too badly in game 1. But it was Art Neft who opposed him. Neft just had a knack for being clutch in the World Series.

In any event, the Giants quickly build and early 2-0 lead. Washington rallied with single tallies in the bottom of the 6th and 9th. The Sens were lucky to get that second run because they were 2 outs away from losing. But a clutch hit by Roger Peckinpaugh tied the game.

The game went to the 12th inning. There, 3 hits and 2 walks gave Neft a 4-2 lead. Washington scored once in the bottom of the frame, but lost 4-3. Johnson gave up 14 hits and 6 walks in 12 innings. He also fanned 10.

New York and Washington alternated victories in the first four games. And with the Series tied at 2, Johnson took the hill in the crucial game 5. The Series lead was at stake!

And Johnson came up short again!

He managed to go the distance, but gave up 13 hits, 6 runs and 2 walks. Only 4 of the runs were earned, but Johnson only managed to K only 3 batters. Something was wrong here. Washington lost, 6-2. The Giants were once again being, the Giants when it came to the World Series.

But the Nationals dug deep and won a narrow game 6, 2-1 over Neft. It was on to game 7. Johnson did not start.

The Senators, at home, trailed 3-2 in the bottom of the 8th when Bucky Harris tied it with a clutch hit. Walter Johnson took the hill in the 9th. He almost lost it right there!

The Giants got runners to second and third before the Big Train dug down deep and ended that. New York got the leadoff man on in the 10th before a strikeout and double play ended the danger. The Giants also got a runner on in the 11th before The Big Train came through. Again, in the 12th, it was a hit by the Giants' Irish Meusel that looked like trouble. But once again, the ageless Johnson escaped. The Sens also seemed to be unable to score all awhile. So close! Would Walter and Washington be denied?

In the bottom of the frame, two Senator doubles and two costly Giant errors brought to an end one of the most exciting World Series games and Series. Johnson finally had his first World Series win. Johnson had gone 4 innings, given up 3 hits and 3 walks (5 K's), but ended up the winning pitcher. The Big Train had finally brought the Washington Senators to the promised land!

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