1901 World Series
Game 1
The Twins shocked the Pittsburgh fans in the 4th inning by taking a 4-run lead off Pirates ace
Rube Waddell (18-8, 3.10 ERA). The Pirates offense chipped away with a run in the bottom of the 4th and another in the 7th off Twins starter
Al Orth (16-12, 3.04 ERA). Then in the 8th inning, the Pirates offense finally came alive when
Mike Smith and
Honus Wagner both doubled to score one run. Then
Fred Clarke hit a 2-run homer to give the Pirates a lead they would not relinquish.
Patsy Flaherty allowed a walk in an otherwise smooth 9th inning to claim the Pirates' first World Series win.
Game 2
Pittsburgh's
Deacon Phillippe (13-10, 4.33 ERA) and Minnesota's
Happy Townsend (17-7, 2.94 ERA) went toe-to-toe in this pitcher's duel. Both pitched 7 innings of 1-run ball. The Pirates claimed victory when centerfielder
Ginger Beaumont hit a solo home run with one out in the 11th inning off Twins closer
Tom Smith.
Game 3
Pirates second baseman
Jimmy Williams hit a 2-out, 2-run homer to break a 1-1 tie in the top of the 6th inning of Twins starter
Casey Patten (16-12, 2.83 ERA). Pittsburgh starter
Sam Leever (17-9, 3.50 ERA) allowed just 5 hits and one walk over eight innings, and Flaherty earned his 2nd World Series save.
Game 4
Pirates right fielder
Mike Smith doubled in a run in the 3rd inning and first baseman
Jake Beckley hit a 2-run homer in the 6th in this 6-3 Series-clinching win. Beckley had spend 14 pennant-less seasons in Pittsburgh, and Smith debuted in 1886 - the first season after Pittsburgh's last pennant - giving him 16 seasons without a pennant until this year. Now both of them can also claim a part in the first ever World Series title.
Recap
Afterward, no one was surprised that the Pirates defeated the fledgling American League's Twins in just 4 games. But everyone was surprised at how close each game was. This may be a good sign that the AL will be competitive with the Senior Circuit much sooner than expected.