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The 13th World Series was the second time that Milwaukee and Indianapolis had met in the finale. Back in 1888, the Brewers won 4-3 in their first and lone appearance. The Clowns had won the crown previously in 1885 against the Chicago White Sox, also in seven games. The Brewers had home field advantage having won four more games than Indy.



The series opened with drama as a pitcher’s duel needed 12 innings. In the bottom half, Willie Keeler hit a solo homer to win it at home 3-2 for the Brewers. Keeler had also hit a solo homer back in the fourth inning. Tom Vickery pitched all 11.1 innings in the loss for Indianapolis. Milwaukee had 7.1 innings from Brickyard Kennedy, then 4.2 scoreless innings from Stub Brown in relief.



Indianapolis evened the series on a 5-0 road win with one of the all-time playoff pitching performances by Lady Baldwin. The 37-year old lefty tossed a one-hit shutout, striking out four with one hit batsmen over 88 pitches. RF Biff Sheehan had two solo homers for the Clowns.



In game three, Indianapolis jumped ahead on a four-run third inning with Fred Clarke’s grand slam. Despite getting only three hits for the game, the Clowns survived for the 4-3 home win to take the series lead. Ed Stein pitched seven innings, giving up three runs (two earned) and five this with six strikeouts. Bill Blair pitched the final two innings clean for the save.



Indianapolis claimed a 2-1 pitcher’s duel in game four to go ahead 3-1 for the series. Fred Clarke had the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. Jouett Meekin pitched seven innings, scaterring eight hits with an unearned run and six Ks. Bill Blair gave up one hit with four Ks in the final two innings in relief. Milwaukee’s Herb Goodall had his own quality start in defeat with two runs allowed in seven innings.



Milwaukee forced the World Series back to their home diamond on a 3-0 road win over Indianapolis in game five. Brickyard Kennedy tossed a five-hit shutout, striking out three with three walks over 122 pitches.



After great pitching was a feature for much of the 1896 World Series, Indianapolis ended things with an offensive explosion in game six. The 11-3 final clinched the series on the road for the Clowns to earn their second title. The run of parity continues with nine different champions in as many years. It was notably only the third title for a National League team.

It was a balanced effort by the offense, although Fred Clarke notably homered and doubled with three runs and two RBI. Lady Baldwin didn’t need to be excellent on the mound, but still tossed a complete game with six hits allowed and three Ks. CF Bill Lange was series MVP going 10-23 with a homer and four RBI. He joins Tony Mullane, Fred Roat, and Dick Johnston as players to win both World Series MVP and LCS MVP in the same postseason run.



Milwaukee’s Willie Keeler notably set a postseason record for total bases (43) and home runs (7). Brewers teammate Tom Parrott set the new playoff high mark of eight doubles.