1919 World Series Replay: Game 9

By Mike Lynch

CHICAGO-A better script could not have been written, nor a better play choreographed. If not for the corroboration of the 33,000 fans at Chicago's Comiskey Park that witnessed Game 9 of this 1919 World Series, it is doubtful that the following account could be believed. Believe this: Game 9 was, without a doubt, the most exciting game these eyes have ever seen and will most certainly go down in history as the greatest World Series game ever played. It is truly unfortunate that only one team could emerge victorious, for both teams deserved the cherished trophy. But only one team could come out on top and, to the home throng's chagrin, it was the Cincinnati Reds who tasted champagne in the end, holding on for a spellbinding, hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

White Sox manager Kid Gleason handed the ball to young lefty Dickie Kerr after toying with the idea of bringing Eddie Cicotte back with a right arm that benefited from only one day of rest. Gleason thought better of it, however, and his team's hopes rested with a man who had pitched with mixed results heading into the contest. Cincinnati skipper Pat Moran countered with Jimmy Ring, who had been masterful in Game 4, shutting out the Sox with a complete game five-hitter. Both tacticians had their respective aces on alert, though, in case either starter ran into trouble.

It looked as if Ring would need immediate assistance when he found himself on the ropes in the bottom of the first frame. Second baseman Eddie Collins blooped a single to center with one out, then raced safely to third on third baseman Buck Weaver's safety to shallow right center field. Ring wisely pitched around left fielder Joe Jackson to load the bases, but still had Happy Felsch to deal with and only one out. Felsch hit a scorching grounder to third sacker Heinie Groh, who pegged a strike to second baseman Morrie Rath, who, in turn, fired a bullet to first baseman Jake Daubert for the nifty 5-to-4-to-3 double play.

Buoyed by their around-the-horn inning-ender, the Reds jumped on Kerr in their next at bat. Left fielder Pat Duncan belted his sixth double of the series, but held fast on shortstop Larry Kopf's ground out to third. He wouldn't remain there long, however. Right fielder Greasy Neale poked a shot safely down the right field line and, although Chicago right fielder Nemo Leibold was able to hold his counterpart to a single, Duncan was able to come around to score without a throw.

The Reds' hurler almost coughed up his lead in the bottom of the inning, when he loaded the bases again on a two-out single to catcher Ray Schalk and consecutive walks to Kerr and Leibold. But the ever-dangerous Collins failed to put the White Sox on the board, grounding out to end the inning.

One-and-a-half innings had been played and scoring chances were plentiful. But that would end in a hurry as both pitchers began the arduous task of retiring each other's batters. The next four innings featured pitching and defense, with each team stranding at least one runner in every half-inning but the bottom of the fourth, when Ring set down the White Sox in order. But only one man, Duncan, who doubled again in the sixth, was able to reach second base.

The Reds almost doubled their lead in the seventh, when catcher Ivey Wingo smacked a two-bagger to right to open the frame and ended up on third thanks to shortstop Swede Risberg's throwing error. Only first baseman Chick Gandil's quick reflexes saved a run as he was able to knock the throw down and keep the ball within reach, forcing Wingo to hold his ground. But Kerr worked his way out of danger with the help of Risberg, who atoned for his mistake with a nifty grab of Daubert's grounder that led to a 6-to-4-to-3 double play.

After Ring shut the White Sox down in their half of the seventh, allowing only a walk to Schalk, Gleason made a decision that could have proved fatal if it backfired. A tired, but game, Cicotte strode to the mound to face the Reds in the top of the eighth, replacing Kerr, who had been removed for pinch-hitter Fred McMullin earlier in the inning.

The crowd responded with rabid appreciation for both Kerr, who had fashioned a gutsy performance, and their ace, who would be taking the mound for the final time in this 1919 campaign. The din was quelled immediately, however, as Cincinnati's first two batters, Groh and Roush, greeted the 29-game winner with back-to-back singles, putting runners at first and third. But in a pitch sequence from which legends are made, Cicotte retired the next three batters, striking out Neale to end the inning and bringing the crowd to its collective feet.

Refusing to budge, Ring set down the Chicagoans in the eighth, surrendering a second hit to Jackson before taking a seat in the visitor's dugout without a blemish on his scoreless record. Cicotte wearily dragged his spent arm to the mound one last time and battled through another half-inning that found Reds on base. But the cagey veteran showed the boys from Cincinnati why he was the class of the American League by shutting down Daubert and Groh and setting up a half-inning that will be recounted by hundreds of thousands of fans who will claim to have witnessed it firsthand.

Ring had logged 17 consecutive scoreless innings against the White Sox heading into the ninth, so, with a 1-0 lead, there was no reason for Moran to consider bringing in a rested pitcher, but he advised Dutch Ruether to warm up just in case. Ruether quickened his pace when Gandil smashed a high drive toward left that brought the Comiskey faithful off their seats in frenzied anticipation. The ball met the left field wall before Duncan could reach it and Gandil was standing on second base with the tying run and nobody out.

Moran went against the book and ordered an intentional pass to Risberg, putting the potential winning run on base, but setting up a force play in the process. Gleason countered by signaling for a sacrifice bunt, which Schalk skillfully laid down, advancing his teammates to second and third. Ring had thrown 119 quality pitches in the biggest game of his life, but Moran could ask for only four more and pinch-hitter Shano Collins was on with the White Sox' second intentional walk of the inning, loading the bases with only one out.

Ring handed the ball to Ruether and headed for a seat in Cincinnati's dugout, where his teammates congratulated him with genuine appreciation, before returning their attention to their new pitcher. Leibold stepped into the batter's box with a hit and a walk to his credit in three previous trips to the plate. The crowd couldn't decide whether to continue its frantic cheering or hold its breath, waiting to explode in delirium, so they did both.

Ruether delivered and Leibold connected, directing the ball to the worst possible place on the diamond for a team holding on for dear life-right back to the pitcher. Ruether gloved the bounder and threw to Wingo, who stepped on home plate for the force, then fired a perfect strike to Daubert for the third and final out and the Reds were World Series champions for the first time in their storied history. 

Game 9
10/10/1919:
Cincinnati at Chicago (A)

BATTING:

Doubles: P. Duncan 2 (2, 2nd inning off Kerr, 0 on, 0 out, 6th inning off Kerr, 0 on, 1 out.) I. Wingo (1, 7th inning off Kerr, 0 on, 0 out.)
Runs Batted In: G. Neale (1)

Stolen Bases: L. Kopf (1), G. Neale (1)

BATTING:
Doubles: C. Gandil (1, 9th inning off Ring, 0 on, 0 out.)
Caught Stealing: H. Felsch (1)
Sacrifice Hits: R. Schalk (1)

FIELDING:
Errors: S. Risberg (1)

PITCHING:

Attendance: 33,000

Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune