1903 World Series Champion Boston Americans Last year, our country was hit with another devastating terroristic attack, this time at the Boston Marathon as three people were killed and 264 more were injured. Sports are a sanctuary which allow some to temporarily drift off and pay attention to something else which they go through a tough time. Of course, any satisfaction gained through a sporting event is only temporary, as the acts of any event that causes the loss of life can never replace the lives lost.
An act like the bombing last April 15th in Boston will always be towards the top of the memories of those impacted. The city of Boston rose strong and did a hell of a job in the immediate and succeeding time after the bombing occurred. "Boston Strong" became a slogan which the entire city has carried out. It is the symbol of the unity shown which reinforces the fact that even though a terrible act has happened, the city can unite in support of the right cause. The Boston Red Sox winning the 2013 World Series was fitting because it can be remembered as a tribute to the terrible acts on this date in 2013.
The majority of baseball fans know three five major things about the history of baseball in Boston. First is the fact that the Red Sox have won the World Series in 3 of the last 10 seasons (2004, 2007, 2013). Next is the fact that the team did not win the World Series between the years of 1918 and 2004. Many know the fact that Babe Ruth was sold to the Yankees for $125,000 or $100,000 (depending on your method of research). Finally, common knowledge exists of the Red Sox AL Pennants in 1967, 1975 and 1986 with big chances to win the series in 1975 and 1986. In addition, many know about the former National League baseball club in Boston, the Braves, who moved to Milwaukee after the 1952 season and are now known as the Atlanta Braves.
Baseball in Boston did not start with the Red Sox, it started with the Red Stockings. It may not be as simple as you think. The Red Stockings of 1876 were the first major league team in Boston and represented the National League team. What would later become the Braves finished in 4th place out of 8 teams in 1876 with a record of 39-31. The team would finish in 1st place the next two seasons and remained the Red Stockings through the 1882 season. They became the Beaneaters in 1883 and finished in 1st place 6 more times through the 1898 season. This included the first Championship Series which happened in 1892 when the 1st place Beaneaters defeated the 2nd place Cleveland Spiders in 6 games (5-0-1).
The Beaneaters kept their nickname through the 1906 season, where they became the Boston Doves through 1910, the Boston Rustlers in 1911 and the Boston Braves from 1912-1952. They brought the World Series Championship in 1914 and the NL Pennant in 1948. All in all, National League Baseball in Boston lasted 77 years, from 1876-1952.
The American League started its business in 1901, with the Boston Americans one of the 8 original teams. A couple seasons later (1903), the National and American Leagues decided to put its top teams against each other to play in something called the "World Series." The Americans won the AL in 1903 and participated in the first World Series against the NL's Pittsburgh Pirates. The 91-47 Americans defeated the 91-49 Pirates 5 games to 3 in the best of 9.
The first World Series home run was given up by Americans RHP Cy Young, to Pirates RF Jimmy Sebring. The Pirates won the first ever WS game, 7-3, with the American taking 5 of the next 7 games to win the series. Pirates RHP Decon Phillippe started and completed 5 of the 8 games of the series, one in which Honus Wagner led the way for the Pirates. Young and Wagner were two of the four Hall of Famers to play in the game; the other two were each of the teams player managers Jimmy Collins and Fred Clarke. In addition, two umpires of the first World Series, Tom Connolly and Hank O'Day, would later be enshrined into the Hall (O'Day in 2013).
The Red Sox were the most successful team in all of MLB during the beginning of the World Series era. Their championships in 1903, 1912, 1915, 1916 and 1918 gave them 5 of the first 15 World Series Championships. No other team had won more than 3, with the NL's Philadelphia Athletics winning in 1911, 1913 and 1914. The Chicago Cubs were the only MLB team to win two World Series through 1918. Adding in the Boston Braves Championship of 1914, Boston won 6 of the first 15 World Series.
In addition to the Braves returning to the World Series in 1948, where they lost to the Indians, the Red Sox won the AL Pennant in 1946, losing to the St Louis Cardinals. Hall of Famers Warren Spahn (1942, 1946-1952) and Eddie Matthews (1952) played for the Boston Braves and Hank Aaron was signed by the Boston Braves in 1952 before spending his career in Milwaukee and Atlanta. The Red Sox have retired seven numbers, including Hall of Famers Joe Cronin, Bobby Doerr, Ted Williams, Carlton Fisk, Johnny Pesky and Carl Yastrzemski.
Boston has a huge place in baseball history. Not just with the Red Sox, but with the early history of the Americans as well as its longer history in the National League.
An act like the bombing last April 15th in Boston will always be towards the top of the memories of those impacted. The city of Boston rose strong and did a hell of a job in the immediate and succeeding time after the bombing occurred. "Boston Strong" became a slogan which the entire city has carried out. It is the symbol of the unity shown which reinforces the fact that even though a terrible act has happened, the city can unite in support of the right cause. The Boston Red Sox winning the 2013 World Series was fitting because it can be remembered as a tribute to the terrible acts on this date in 2013.
The majority of baseball fans know three five major things about the history of baseball in Boston. First is the fact that the Red Sox have won the World Series in 3 of the last 10 seasons (2004, 2007, 2013). Next is the fact that the team did not win the World Series between the years of 1918 and 2004. Many know the fact that Babe Ruth was sold to the Yankees for $125,000 or $100,000 (depending on your method of research). Finally, common knowledge exists of the Red Sox AL Pennants in 1967, 1975 and 1986 with big chances to win the series in 1975 and 1986. In addition, many know about the former National League baseball club in Boston, the Braves, who moved to Milwaukee after the 1952 season and are now known as the Atlanta Braves.
Baseball in Boston did not start with the Red Sox, it started with the Red Stockings. It may not be as simple as you think. The Red Stockings of 1876 were the first major league team in Boston and represented the National League team. What would later become the Braves finished in 4th place out of 8 teams in 1876 with a record of 39-31. The team would finish in 1st place the next two seasons and remained the Red Stockings through the 1882 season. They became the Beaneaters in 1883 and finished in 1st place 6 more times through the 1898 season. This included the first Championship Series which happened in 1892 when the 1st place Beaneaters defeated the 2nd place Cleveland Spiders in 6 games (5-0-1).
The Beaneaters kept their nickname through the 1906 season, where they became the Boston Doves through 1910, the Boston Rustlers in 1911 and the Boston Braves from 1912-1952. They brought the World Series Championship in 1914 and the NL Pennant in 1948. All in all, National League Baseball in Boston lasted 77 years, from 1876-1952.
The American League started its business in 1901, with the Boston Americans one of the 8 original teams. A couple seasons later (1903), the National and American Leagues decided to put its top teams against each other to play in something called the "World Series." The Americans won the AL in 1903 and participated in the first World Series against the NL's Pittsburgh Pirates. The 91-47 Americans defeated the 91-49 Pirates 5 games to 3 in the best of 9.
The first World Series home run was given up by Americans RHP Cy Young, to Pirates RF Jimmy Sebring. The Pirates won the first ever WS game, 7-3, with the American taking 5 of the next 7 games to win the series. Pirates RHP Decon Phillippe started and completed 5 of the 8 games of the series, one in which Honus Wagner led the way for the Pirates. Young and Wagner were two of the four Hall of Famers to play in the game; the other two were each of the teams player managers Jimmy Collins and Fred Clarke. In addition, two umpires of the first World Series, Tom Connolly and Hank O'Day, would later be enshrined into the Hall (O'Day in 2013).
The Red Sox were the most successful team in all of MLB during the beginning of the World Series era. Their championships in 1903, 1912, 1915, 1916 and 1918 gave them 5 of the first 15 World Series Championships. No other team had won more than 3, with the NL's Philadelphia Athletics winning in 1911, 1913 and 1914. The Chicago Cubs were the only MLB team to win two World Series through 1918. Adding in the Boston Braves Championship of 1914, Boston won 6 of the first 15 World Series.
In addition to the Braves returning to the World Series in 1948, where they lost to the Indians, the Red Sox won the AL Pennant in 1946, losing to the St Louis Cardinals. Hall of Famers Warren Spahn (1942, 1946-1952) and Eddie Matthews (1952) played for the Boston Braves and Hank Aaron was signed by the Boston Braves in 1952 before spending his career in Milwaukee and Atlanta. The Red Sox have retired seven numbers, including Hall of Famers Joe Cronin, Bobby Doerr, Ted Williams, Carlton Fisk, Johnny Pesky and Carl Yastrzemski.
Boston has a huge place in baseball history. Not just with the Red Sox, but with the early history of the Americans as well as its longer history in the National League.
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