1917 World Series
Game 1
In the first ever intra-city World Series, the Cubs scored 4 runs in the 4th inning off
Joe Benz to take a quick 5-0 lead. However, the White Sox hit two home runs in the bottom of the inning off
Dutch Ruether to narrow the score to 5-3. The score remained that way until the bottom of the 8th when
Ping Bodie hit a 3-run homer to give the White Sox 6-5 lead.
Harry Suter then came on to get the save.
Game 2
White Sox starter
Reb Russell tossed a 4-hit complete game in which he allowed just 1 earned run and no walks. His opponent,
Ed Reulbach was hammered for 7 runs in just 4 innings. Six of those runs came off two
Jack Fournier home runs, including a grand slam in the 3rd.
Game 3
The White Sox offense jumped on Cubs starter
Jimmy Lavender quickly in this one, scoring 8 runs in the first five innings. Meanwhile, White Sox starter
Ed Walsh allowed just 3 runs over 8 1/3 innings. Cubs left fielder
Vic Saier did hit two home runs, but both were solo shots. The White Sox hit three homers as a team with Bodie's 3-run shot in the 5th being the nail in the Cubs' coffin.
Game 4
This game was very exciting with the score going back and forth. Both teams sent out some of their best pitchers. The White Sox threw out
Phil Douglas as a starter with top-notch relievers
Mellie Wolfgang and Harry Suter following him. The Cubs sent
Fred Toney to the hill with closer
Zip Zabel getting his first World Series action. With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 8th, the Cubs took a lead when Saier hit a solo homer off Wolfgang. In the top of the 9th, the White Sox got the run back with a solo homer by Bodie off Zabel. None of it mattered though after Cubs pinch hitter
Doc Miller led off the bottom of the 9th with a single off Suter. After he was bunted to second, Miller scored the winning run when catcher
Bubbles Hargrave singled into left-center field.
Game 5
Game 5 was a pitching duel between
Jim Scott of the White Sox and
George Pierce of the Cubs. The only runs came in the top of the 6th when the White Sox scraped across a pair, including an RBI single by Scott himself. Scott then went on to finish a complete game shutout, allowing just 4 hits and 2 walks along with 7 K's as the White Sox clinched their second World Series win in three years!
Recap
Jack Fournier and Ping Bodie were both impressive, combining to hit 7 home runs and drive in 18. But, we already knew the Cubs pitching was a question mark. I am most impressed by how decisively the White Sox pitching staff shut down the mighty Cubs offense. They tossed two complete games and Ed Walsh pitched into the 9th in his start. This was a completely dominating performance by the White Sox.
Series MVP
Jack Fournier, 1B, CHA: .471 AVG, .545 OBP, 1.176 SLG, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 7 R
