Thursday, June 18, 2015

World Series: Did You Know?

Frank Baker hit home runs in back-to-back games in the 1911 Fall Classic. He more than made up for failing to hit any the year before. Frank became the first player to do that. And while he had been beaten to the "Two home runs, one game", he showed in '11 that he was one of the most feared sluggers in the game.

Frank had hit 11 round-trippers that year, which led the American League. He also helped the Philadelphia Athletics win 101 games that year. They face the New York Giants in the Fall Classic. And while their were several pitcher's duels, Frank's performance stood out.

Frank failed to hit any long balls in game one at New York, which went to Christy Mathewson and the Giants, 2-1 over Chief Bender. In game two at Philadelphia, Frank hit a two-run home run off Rube Marquard. It was another pitcher's duel, but this time, Philadelphia won, 3-0. Eddie Plank pitched the shutout for Philly.

Game three was back in New York, and Baker hit a dramatic home run. Mathewson was back on the hill, and looking for a shutout. He had three in 1903, and looked like a threat to pitch one every time he took the hill in a World Series game. Why not one right at home?

Christy was working on a five-hit shutout as New York took a 1-0 lead into the top of the ninth. The series lead was on the line. Eddie Collins started the inning by grounding out. Two outs away from a 2-1 series lead.

But Frank Baker hit a home run to the right field stands, tying this thing up. Mathewson held on from there, and the game went on to the eleventh. The A's scored twice in the top of that inning to break the 1-1 deadlock, and the Giants came roaring back in the bottom of the frame. A double and an error made it 3-2. But then Beals Becker was caught stealing second to end it.

The A's managed to win two of the next three games to win it all, but Baker did not hit another home run. The Giants were no doubt careful from then on in when pitching to him, fearful of another four-bagger. But no matter what the Giants and others team did after 1911, they couldn't deny that Frank Baker had more than earned the nickname, "Home Run"


References

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/yr1911ws.shtml


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