Tuesday, May 22, 2018

World Series: Did You Know?

Well, I was wrong about something earlier. Now, it's time to set the record straight.

I mentioned earlier some time back, that George Gibson was the first Canadian to appear in the Fall Classic. That is, in fact, not true. There was a switch-hitter from New Brunswick who appeared three years earlier in the World Series (1906). It should be noted, however, that Gibson was the first Canadian-born player to appear in every game in the Fall Classic. Not a cameo as you will see with Bill O'Neill.

O'Neill was on the 1906 Chicago White Sox. Known as the "Hitless Wonders," the team hit just .230 in the regular season. John hit only .248 in 1906. But still, that was better than some of his teammates.

But after playing 94 regular season games, Billy did a lot of watching in the World Series as his Chicago White Sox faced their pals across town: The Chicago Cubs!

So poor hitting wasn't about to stop 'em! The AL winners scored just 2 runs in a 2-1 win in game one, but got beaten badly, 7-1 in game three. However...In the Cubbies home park, West Side Grounds, it was the National League team that starved for hits, and our boy's cameo.

Ed Walsh, the Pale Hose starter, went the distance. Hits allowed? 2 K's? 12. For good measure, Ed even scored a run. Outside of the first inning, the Cubs were held hitless! It should be noted, the White Sox managed only 4 hits themselves off Jack Pfiester. And the game itself was scoreless through five.

And that's when the wheels came off the Cubs' chariot.

Lee Tannehill got it all started by singling to lead off. Ed Walsh, the pitcher having a great game, walked. Right fielder Ed Hahn was hit by a pitch, loading 'em up! Bill O'Neill came in to run for the right fielder.

Jack Pfiester retired the next 2 batters. But then he gave up a bases-clearing triple to George Rohe. That, of course, was the game's only scoring play.

O'Neill stayed in the game, in right. Pfiester got him to pop to third in the top of the 8th. As it turns out, neither team scored again. Bill only got to make one putout in the remaining 4 innings.

The White Sox went on to win the 1906 World Series in 6 games, as the all-Chicago Fall Classic went to the AL side of things.


References


Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 22 May. 2018.

Nowlin, Bill. “John O'Neill.” Society for American Baseball Research, Society for American Baseball Research, <sabr.org/bioproj/person/b6cd442a>. 22 May. 2018.

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