1907 World Series
Encyclopedia
The 1907 World Series featured the Chicago Cubs
and the Detroit Tigers
, with the Cubs winning the Series four games to none (with one tie) for their first championship.
The Cubs came back strong from their shocking loss in the 1906 World Series
. The Tigers' young star Ty Cobb
came into the Series with the first of his many league batting championships. With pitching dominance over the Tigers and Cobb, the Cubs allowed only three runs in the four games they won, while stealing 18 bases off the rattled Tigers.
Tigers pitcher "Wild Bill" Donovan struck out twelve Cubs in Game 1. Although that matched Ed Walsh
's total in Game 3 against the Cubs in , it was across twelve innings. Donovan struck out just ten Cubs in the first nine innings of the game.
in Chicago, Illinois
The Tigers scored three runs, in large part to three Chicago errors, in the eighth inning and held a 3–1 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. The Cubs loaded the bases on a single, walk and infield error with one out. Detroit conceded a run on a ground ball for the second out and Cub player-manager Frank Chance
then used pinch-hitter Del Howard
to bat for Joe Tinker
. Howard struck out against Wild Bill Donovan (25–4 in the regular season) but the ball got away from catcher Boss Schmidt
, allowing Harry Steinfeldt
to score the tying run. Donovan got the next batter but the damage to Detroit has been done. The teams then played three scoreless innings before the game was called on account of darkness and declared a tie, a first for the World Series. The Cubs committed five errors and struck out twelve times in the game, but nine stolen base attempts (seven successful) and five bunts (two for hits) set an aggressive offensive tone that will pressure the Tigers for the remainder of the series.
in Chicago, Illinois
George Mullin
, a 20-game winner and loser for Detroit in 1907 and who had walked over 100 batters in each of his last five seasons, issues a bases-loaded walk in the second inning to tie the game at 1–1. Chicago scores two more in the fourth on a single, sacrifice bunt, RBI single, stolen base and double to take a 3–1 lead. Jack Pfiester
, while allowing ten hits, benefits from two double plays and battery-mate Johnny Kling
throwing out three base stealers in gaining the win for the Cubs. Joe Tinker
had a run scored and an RBI for Chicago, after being pinch-hit for in the ninth inning of Game 1.
in Chicago, Illinois
Cub pitcher Ed Reulbach
scatters six hits as Chicago jumps on Tiger starter Ed Siever
for four runs on seven hits in only four innings in route to the victory. Johnny Evers
has three hits, including two doubles, as the Cubs take a 2–0 lead in the series.
Detroit held a 1–0 lead on a triple by twenty year old batting champion Ty Cobb
and an RBI single by Claude Rossman
before a rain delay in the fifth inning. When play resumed, Chicago baserunners reached via an error and a walk. After Joe Tinker
sacrificed, pitcher Orval Overall
drove both runners home on a single to right field. The Cubs scored three more in the seventh without hitting the ball out of the infield on four bunts (two for hits) and two ground balls. 23-game winner Overall was masterful after the rain delay, allowing only one hit in Detroit's final five innings, giving Chicago a commanding 3–0 lead in the series .
Chicago wrapped up the series with a 2–0 victory as Mordecai Brown
pitched a seven-hit shutout. The Cubs scored a run in the first inning on a walk, stolen base and RBI single by Harry Steinfeldt
and scored again in the second on an error, a single, a double-steal and a ground ball out to drive in the final run. Detroit had runners on second and third with one out in the fourth inning, but could not score and never seriously threatened after that.
This Series would be the closest to a four-game sweep until the first true Series sweep in .
(N.L.) over Detroit Tigers
(A.L.)
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
and the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, with the Cubs winning the Series four games to none (with one tie) for their first championship.
The Cubs came back strong from their shocking loss in the 1906 World Series
1906 World Series
- Game 1 :Tuesday, October 9, 1906 at West Side Grounds in Chicago, IllinoisCubs hurler Mordecai Brown was sent to continue the dominance against Nick Altrock. Both pitchers pitched a perfect game through three innings. The Cubs had a runner at second, but couldn't score in the fourth...
. The Tigers' young star Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
came into the Series with the first of his many league batting championships. With pitching dominance over the Tigers and Cobb, the Cubs allowed only three runs in the four games they won, while stealing 18 bases off the rattled Tigers.
Tigers pitcher "Wild Bill" Donovan struck out twelve Cubs in Game 1. Although that matched Ed Walsh
Ed Walsh
Edward Augustine Walsh was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He holds the record for lowest career ERA, 1.82.-Baseball career:Born in Plains Township, Pennsylvania, Walsh had a brief though remarkable major league career...
's total in Game 3 against the Cubs in , it was across twelve innings. Donovan struck out just ten Cubs in the first nine innings of the game.
Summary
Game 1
Tuesday, October 8, 1907 at West Side GroundsWest Side Park
West Side Park was the name used for two different baseball parks that formerly stood in Chicago, Illinois. They were both home fields of the team now known as the Chicago Cubs of the National League. Both parks witnessed championship baseball...
in Chicago, Illinois
The Tigers scored three runs, in large part to three Chicago errors, in the eighth inning and held a 3–1 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. The Cubs loaded the bases on a single, walk and infield error with one out. Detroit conceded a run on a ground ball for the second out and Cub player-manager Frank Chance
Frank Chance
Frank Leroy Chance was a Major League Baseball player at the turn of the 20th century. Performing the roles of first baseman and manager, Chance led the Chicago Cubs to four National League championships in the span of five years and earned the nickname "The Peerless Leader".Chance was elected to...
then used pinch-hitter Del Howard
Del Howard
George Elmer "Del" Howard was a Major League Baseball player from 1905 to 1909. He would play for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Beaneaters/Doves, and Chicago Cubs. Howard appeared in 536 games and retired with six home runs and a lifetime .263 batting average.-External links:...
to bat for Joe Tinker
Joe Tinker
Joseph Bert Tinker was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He is best known for his years with the Chicago Cubs dynasty which won four pennants between 1906 and 1910; and for his feud with double play partner Johnny Evers. Tinker was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in...
. Howard struck out against Wild Bill Donovan (25–4 in the regular season) but the ball got away from catcher Boss Schmidt
Boss Schmidt
Charles "Boss" Schmidt was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers ....
, allowing Harry Steinfeldt
Harry Steinfeldt
Harry M. Steinfeldt was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs and Boston Rustlers . Steinfeldt batted and threw right-handed. He was born in St...
to score the tying run. Donovan got the next batter but the damage to Detroit has been done. The teams then played three scoreless innings before the game was called on account of darkness and declared a tie, a first for the World Series. The Cubs committed five errors and struck out twelve times in the game, but nine stolen base attempts (seven successful) and five bunts (two for hits) set an aggressive offensive tone that will pressure the Tigers for the remainder of the series.
Game 2
Wednesday, October 9, 1907 at West Side GroundsWest Side Park
West Side Park was the name used for two different baseball parks that formerly stood in Chicago, Illinois. They were both home fields of the team now known as the Chicago Cubs of the National League. Both parks witnessed championship baseball...
in Chicago, Illinois
George Mullin
George Mullin (baseball)
George Joseph Mullin was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played fourteen seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Washington Senators of the American League and the Indianapolis Hoosiers/Newark Pepper of the Federal League.-Career Overview:Mullin holds the Detroit Tigers...
, a 20-game winner and loser for Detroit in 1907 and who had walked over 100 batters in each of his last five seasons, issues a bases-loaded walk in the second inning to tie the game at 1–1. Chicago scores two more in the fourth on a single, sacrifice bunt, RBI single, stolen base and double to take a 3–1 lead. Jack Pfiester
Jack Pfiester
John Albert Pfiester , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1903-1911....
, while allowing ten hits, benefits from two double plays and battery-mate Johnny Kling
Johnny Kling
John Kling was a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs , Boston Rustlers & Braves , and Cincinnati Reds .-Early years:John Gransfield Kling was born and raised in Kansas City, the son of John and...
throwing out three base stealers in gaining the win for the Cubs. Joe Tinker
Joe Tinker
Joseph Bert Tinker was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He is best known for his years with the Chicago Cubs dynasty which won four pennants between 1906 and 1910; and for his feud with double play partner Johnny Evers. Tinker was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in...
had a run scored and an RBI for Chicago, after being pinch-hit for in the ninth inning of Game 1.
Game 3
Thursday, October 10, 1907 at West Side GroundsWest Side Park
West Side Park was the name used for two different baseball parks that formerly stood in Chicago, Illinois. They were both home fields of the team now known as the Chicago Cubs of the National League. Both parks witnessed championship baseball...
in Chicago, Illinois
Cub pitcher Ed Reulbach
Ed Reulbach
Edward Marvin "Big Ed" Reulbach was a major league baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs during their glory years of the early 1900s....
scatters six hits as Chicago jumps on Tiger starter Ed Siever
Ed Siever
Edward Tilden Siever was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played seven seasons with the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Browns . Born in Goddard, Kansas, Siever had four good seasons and one phenomenal season in his brief major league career...
for four runs on seven hits in only four innings in route to the victory. Johnny Evers
Johnny Evers
John Joseph Evers was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1946...
has three hits, including two doubles, as the Cubs take a 2–0 lead in the series.
Game 4
Friday, October 11, 1907 at Bennett Park in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
Detroit held a 1–0 lead on a triple by twenty year old batting champion Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
and an RBI single by Claude Rossman
Claude Rossman
Claude R. Rossman was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball. He played five seasons in the American League with the Cleveland Naps , Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Browns...
before a rain delay in the fifth inning. When play resumed, Chicago baserunners reached via an error and a walk. After Joe Tinker
Joe Tinker
Joseph Bert Tinker was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He is best known for his years with the Chicago Cubs dynasty which won four pennants between 1906 and 1910; and for his feud with double play partner Johnny Evers. Tinker was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in...
sacrificed, pitcher Orval Overall
Orval Overall
Orval Overall was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was a member of the Chicago Cubs dynasty of the early 1900s.-Biography:...
drove both runners home on a single to right field. The Cubs scored three more in the seventh without hitting the ball out of the infield on four bunts (two for hits) and two ground balls. 23-game winner Overall was masterful after the rain delay, allowing only one hit in Detroit's final five innings, giving Chicago a commanding 3–0 lead in the series .
Game 5
Saturday, October 12, 1907 at Bennett Park in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
Chicago wrapped up the series with a 2–0 victory as Mordecai Brown
Mordecai Brown
Mordecai Peter Centennial Brown , nicknamed "Three Finger" or "Miner", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher at the turn of the 20th century. Due to a farm-machinery accident in his youth, Brown lost parts of two fingers on his right hand and eventually acquired his nickname as a result...
pitched a seven-hit shutout. The Cubs scored a run in the first inning on a walk, stolen base and RBI single by Harry Steinfeldt
Harry Steinfeldt
Harry M. Steinfeldt was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs and Boston Rustlers . Steinfeldt batted and threw right-handed. He was born in St...
and scored again in the second on an error, a single, a double-steal and a ground ball out to drive in the final run. Detroit had runners on second and third with one out in the fourth inning, but could not score and never seriously threatened after that.
This Series would be the closest to a four-game sweep until the first true Series sweep in .
Composite box
1907 World Series (4–0–1): Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(N.L.) over Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(A.L.)