1918 World Series
Game 1
The Giants came out swinging and tagged Tigers starter
Lefty Williams for 7 runs over 4 innings. Meanwhile,
Dick Rudolph pitched a complete game allowing just one unearned run. Giants first baseman
George Kelly went 4-for-4.
Game 2
Today it was Detroit's turn to turn up the offensive heat. They clubbed San Francisco's rookie starter
Waite Hoyt for 7 runs in 4 innings and they added 6 more runs off reliever
Doc Crandall. Detroit starter
Hooks Dauss allowed only one unearned run over 7 innings to earn the win.
Game 3
What an exciting game! The Tigers took a 2-0 lead with a 2-run home run by
George Burns in the first inning off
Rube Marquard. Marquard then settled down and did not allow another run over the next 5 innings. Meanwhile, Detroit's
Eddie Cicotte was sharp, allowing just one run over 7 innings. However, Tigers closer
Hub Pernoll allowed a solo homer to the first batter he faced in the 9th inning,
Dave Robertson, and San Francisco tied the game 2-2. The Tigers loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the 9th, but reliever
Louis Drucke struck out pinch hitter
George Harper to end the threat.
In the top of the 10th,
Bernie Boland entered the game for Detroit and got two quick outs. Then he allowed a single to the other
George Burns and Burns advanced to third on a passed ball and then a wild pitch. That at-bat resulted in a walk for
Heinie Groh and then
Ross Youngs doubled home Burns to take a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the 10th, the Giants brought in shaky closer
George Smith who got an out and then allowed a single to Detroit's George Burns.
Ty Cobb, who had been hitting just .167 on the Series, stepped up a drove a 2-run homer to win the game.
Game 4
This was another ugly game for the Tigers pitching staff as
Howard Ehmke allowed 7 runs (6 earned) over 5 innings. San Francisco's
Jeff Tesreau tossed 7 innings and allowed just 2 runs. Heinie Groh hit two home runs for the Giants and Dave Robertson went 3-for-5 with a home run of his own.
Game 5
Detroit led this game 3-0 after 6 innings behind Lefty Williams. Then in the 7th, Williams allowed four hits and a walk, plating three runs and tying the game. In the top of the 9th, Giants shortstop
Gene Paulette hit an RBI double off reliever
Alex Main. Then with 2 outs, Paulette scored on a double by George Burns to give San Fran a 5-3 lead. In the bottom of the 9th, Giants reliever
Al Demaree walked two batters and
Bobby Veach reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Demaree then walked in a run and the Giants turned to closer George Smith to face Detroit's 3-4-5 hitters. Amazingly, he got Ty Cobb to ground into a 4-2 force play. Then
Harry Heilmann popped up to second base and
Baby Doll Jacobson grounded out to 3rd to end the game and give the Giants a 3-2 Series lead on their way home to San Francisco.
Game 6
The Tigers offense jumped out early on Waite Hoyt again, this time scoring 5 runs in 5 innings. Hooks Dauss pitched well again, allowing just 2 runs over 7 innings. The Tigers offense hit 4 home runs to the dismay of the San Francisco crowd and the Series is now tied 3-3.
Game 7
What an incredible finish! The Tigers jumped out to a 5-0 lead after 3 innings off Rube Marquard. The Giants came back to score three runs to make it 5-3, but that is all they got in 7 innings off Eddie Cicotte. In the bottom of the 8th, Detroit setup man
Bugs Raymond relieved Cicotte and promptly gave up a single and a game-tying 2-run homer to Heinie Groh. Raymond did settle down and wound up allowing no more runs over 2 1/3 innings, but the damage was done. In the top of the 11th, pinch hitter
Wally Pipp hit a leadoff double off Jeff Tesreau. He was removed for pinch runner
Donie Bush. After a strikeout, Bush scored on a double from George Burns. Tesreau then struck out the remaining two batters, Cobb and Heilmann, but Detroit had the lead. Tigers closer Hub Pernoll took the mound in the bottom of the 11th and got three straight outs to seal the win and claim Detroit's first ever World Series title!
Recap
Both teams hit very well in the series with both teams winning two blowouts each. The difference then was the fact that Detroit won two of the three close games thanks to a slightly more reliable bullpen. Neither team is known for their bullpens and San Francisco is believed to have better starting pitching, but Detroit's starters performed better as a whole. It is hard to pick a Giants weakness exploited by Detroit. Rather, I believe this was an evenly matched, exciting, hard-fought World Series.
Series MVP
Hooks Dauss, SP, DET: 2-0, 14.0 IP, 6 BB, 10 K, 1.29 ERA
