1924 World Series Game 7: The Fairy Tale Finish

The lowly Washington Senators in their first ever World Series take the 3-time defending NL Champs to the brink

INTRODUCTION From The Sports Time Traveler™

I’ve been following the 1924 Senators since the beginning of the year when newspaper reports around the country announced this would be the final season of the great Walter Johnson, perhaps the finest pitcher in American League history.

Barney, as he is affectionately called in Washington, D.C., had never made it to the World Series, as he pitched for the lowly Senators team that had never made a serious bid for the pennant in any of his prior 17 seasons.

1924 was not expected to be an exception, and in mid-June it appeared it would be yet another season of mediocrity for the team.

But as I previously reported, as the summer approached, suddenly the Senators got hot, like never before. In the link to the article below, that I posted in the first week of July, I described how the Senators went on a 17 - 2 run to take over 1st place from the World Champion New York Yankees. And they were led by Walter “The Big Train” Johnson, as the great hurler was in the middle of a resurgence, pitching at a level not seen since the 1910s.

You can read that story here:

1924 - The Big Train That Could

The Senators fought hard the rest of the season against the Yankees, led by Babe Ruth and the Tigers, led by Ty Cobb. The Senators didn’t clinch the pennant until the 2nd to last day of the season.

When they did clinch, by beating the Red Sox in Boston on September 29th, all of Washington rejoiced:

In the World Series they would face the most formidable opponent possible - The New York Giants. The Giants, led by their legendary manager, John McGraw, had just won their 4th consecutive National League pennant. The Giants had done it by fending off a spirited Brooklyn Dodgers team that had come from 11 games behind on August 11th, to move into a tie for first place on September 4th courtesy of a franchise record 15 game winning streak (a record that stills stands 100 years later).

The Dodgers miraculous race to the top included an unfathomable “quadruple double,” in which they WON DOUBLEHEADERS on FOUR CONSECUTIVE DAYS.

You can read about that in an article I posted last month:

What Does Pennant Fever Look Like in 1924?

The Giants and Senators played a hard fought World Series with thrilling twists and turns.

GAME 1

The first game had drama like it had been scripted in Hollywood.

In the bottom of the 9th, the Senators were down 3 - 2, when shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh hit a run tying double.

Then starting pitcher Walter Johnson came to the plate with 2 outs and Peck on third base. Johnson, a solid hitter (he batted .283 in 1924) had a chance to win the game. He hit a drive to centerfield, but it was caught by George “High Pockets” Kelly (who drove in a NL leading 136 runs).

The game went into extra innings.

Walter Johnson, pitching in his first World Series game, after 18 years in the big leagues, went the entire way. So did Giants pitcher Art Nehf.

In the top of the 12th, Johnson gave up 2 runs on 2 walks and 2 singles. And the Giants took a 4 - 2 lead.

In the bottom of the 12th, the Senators got a run back when their 27 year old player-manager, second baseman Bucky Harris, singled home Mule Shirley.

With 2 outs and Bucky Harris on third base, up came Goose Goslin. The 23 year old left fielder had just finished his 4th season and was at the top of his game. He led the American League with 129 RBIs and had batted .344. But on this day, Goslin grounded out and the Giants took game 1 by a score of 4 - 3.

GAMES 2 - 5

Having defeated “The Big Train,” in Washington, the Giants were now in the driver’s seat. When the series shifted to the old Polo Grounds the Giants took a 2 games to 1 lead.

But the Nationals, as they were officially called in 1924, came back to win game 4 on the road, and tie the series, assuring themselves a return trip to D.C.

Game 5, saw Walter Johnson back on the mound. Here was a chance for Barney to redeem himself and win a World Series game that he must have coveted badly to cap off his stellar career.

But “The Big Train,” gave up 13 hits and 2 walks and lost the game 6 - 2.

Now the series shifted back to D.C., with the Giants, ahead 3 games to 2, needing just one victory to seal their 3rd World Series title in the past 4 seasons.

GAME 6

Bucky Harris, the young player-manger, hit a 2-run single in the bottom of the 5th that put the Nats up 2 - 1.

Pitcher Tom Zachary, who allowed a run scoring single by “High Pockets” Kelly in the 1st, had allowed no runs and 5 hits over the next 7 innings. Going into the top of the 9th the Senators still had the lead at 2 - 1 and were 3 outs away from tying the series.

One big reason the Senators were ahead 2 - 1 going into the 9th was the outfield plays made by veteran Sam Rice.

The New York Daily News reported about Rice’s fielding:

Rice wasn’t done with his outfield heroics as the Daily News article continued:

In the top of the 9th, Zachary got the first Giants’ batter, right fielder, Ross Youngs, who had scored the Giants’ only run in the 1st inning to hit a pop foul for out number one.

Next up was “High Pockets” Kelly. He slashed a grounder through the hole on the right side of the infield for his 2nd hit of the game.

Now came Irish Meusel to the plate. The 31 year old left fielder had driven in 100+ runs for his 3rd straight season for the Giants. But Tom Zachary got him to hit a grounder that forced Meusel at second base. And now the Giants were down to their last out.

Hack Wilson, the Giants’ center fielder was up next. A rookie, Wilson would later go on to set the major league baseball record of 190 RBIs in 1930. But in 1924 he was just a promising young rookie who had batted .295 in 107 games. In this game he was 2 for 3 and he was batting .333 for the series.

Tom Zachary bore down to pitch to Hack Willson.

The New York Daily News reported on what happened next:

Pandemonium ensued in Griffith Stadium as the series was tied at 3 games all.

Here was the back page of the New York Daily News:

And that brings us to yesterday’s game, which was played, 100 years ago this week on October 10, 1924.

The byline is October 11, as that is the day of the newspaper accounts that covered the game.

I made a virtual trip back in time to experience this epic game 7 for myself.

GRIFFITH STADIUM, WASHINGTON D.C. - October 11, 1924

I’m here at Griffith Stadium for the biggest game in the history of this Washington Nationals franchise (known more commonly outside of D.C. as the Senators).

The excitement is palpable. President Coolidge is here for the game.

Never before has this franchise reached the World Series or even been close to it.

And never before has their hero, one of the most beloved baseball men in America, Walter “The Big Train” Johnson, been a part of a World Series.

For Barney (his nickname here in Washington), it’s been a bittersweet World Series so far. He has lost 2 games. But his Nationals team has battled to a 3 games all tie.

Sadly, Walter Johnson may have already pitched his final game. Multiple reports indicate that he is planning to call it a career after 18 seasons after today, whether the Senators win or lose. And he just pitched in game 5 in New York 2 days ago.

Starting today for Washington is George Mogridge. Mogridge was the winner of game 4.

Today is the tiebreaker. One game for the World Series championship.

There hasn’t been a game like this one since back in 1912, when the Red Sox won the tiebreaking game against these same Giants, led by the same manager John McGraw.

Through the first 3 innings the game was a pitchers duel. Only one runner on either team had reached 2nd base.

Then in the top of the 4th inning, Bucky Harris, the player-manager, came to the plate with one out to face Giants’ starter Virgil Barnes. Harris was not a power hitter. He had hit just 1 home run in the entire 1924 season. But Harris picked a sensational time to hit his 2nd home run of the year. His blow to deep left field put the Nationals ahead 1 - 0.

Mogridge pitched strong through the first 5 innings and the Senators held the lead.

SENATORS 1 GIANTS 0 - end of 5 innings

In the top of the 6th, things went awry for Mogridge. He gave up a walk to Ross Youngs and a single to “High Pockets” Kelly.

Harris decided to pull Mogridge in favor of Firpo Marberry. Marberry had started and lost game 3. But he had pitched in 2 other games and had only allowed 1 earned run in the 5 innings he had pitched in the series so far.

In this inning, Firpo didn’t allow an earned run, but due to 2 errors, 3 Giants crossed the plate, and New York had a 3 - 1 lead.

Virgil Barnes, pitching superbly for the Giants, only allowing 3 hits through 7 innings (2 hitsby Harris including the home run and 1 hit to Goose Goslin).

Things were looking grim for the Griffs (as they are often called, as Griffith is the last name of the Washington club’s owner).

GIANTS 3 SENATORS 1 - end of 7 innings

Marberry didn’t allow a hit in the top of the 8th and the Senators came up in the bottom of the inning with their 6th, 7th and 8th batters in the line up.

Shortstop Ossie Bluege hit a foul popup behind home plate that was caught for out number 1. The Giants were now 5 outs away from winning the World Series.

Now Harris had Nemo Leibold pinch hit for third baseman Tommy Taylor, Leibold came through with a double. A moment later catcher Muddy Ruel singled and suddenly the Senators had runners on second and third with just 1 out.

Now it was the pitcher’s turn at bat, and Harris lifted Firpo Marberry, who had yielded no earned runs in 3 innings of work, for pinch hitter Bennie Tate. Tate was walked, loading the bases.

The Senators now had the top of the order and rookie Earl McNeely the sensational centerfield rookie came up. McNeely had come up late in the season from the Pacific Coast League and had batted .330 in 43 games. But in this trip to the plate, McNeely flew out to short left field. Too short to score a run.

The Senators still had the bases loaded but now there were 2 outs.

Up to the plate came the manager, Bucky Harris.

Harris was only a .268 hitter on the season. But in the most pressure packed plate appearance of his life Bucky bingled a ball through the hole in the left side of the infield. It was a seeing eye ground ball single that scored 2 runs and tied the game at 3.

The next batter, Sam Rice, grounded out to end the inning.

GIANTS 3 SENATORS 3 - end of 8th inning

It was on to the 9th inning. The game was tied.

A World Series title was up for grabs.

Bucky Harris now had one of the most important managerial decisions of his life. He had to bring in a new pitcher for the 9th inning.

He called for “The Big Train.”

Walter Johnson, had lost game 1 pitching 12 innings. That was just 6 days ago.

Walter Johnson had lost game 5, pitching 8 innings. That was just 2 days ago.

Prior to that, Walter Johnson had won 377 major league baseball games, all for the Senators, going back to 1907.

He would have a chance to win one more in what many expected would be his last game.

Johnson came to the mound in the top of the 9th. He got the first batter, Freddie Lindstrom to hit a pop foul for out number 1. Now came up Frankie Frisch - “The Fordham Flash.” The 26 year old Frisch was in his prime. He had finished 3rd in the MVP voting. Frisch crushed a Johnson pitch to deep right center for a triple.

Johnson was in trouble. There was a Giants runner on third with just 1 out.

Next up was Ross Youngs. Youngs had hit .356 for the season and was 5th in the MVP voting. Harris elected to have Johnson walk Youngs so he could get to righty hitter George “High Pockets” Kelly.

The strategic decision worked. Johnson struck out High Pockets and then got Irish Meusel another righty batter to ground out. Johnson was out of the inning. He had stranded Frisch on third base. The game was still tied at 3.

Now the Senators could win the World Series in the bottom of the 9th.

Goose Goslin, one of the most prolific hitters in baseball came to the plate. He grounded out. Next up was first baseman Joe Judge, a .324 hitter. He hit a line drive single to centerfield. The World Series winning run was now on first with 1 out.

Next up was Ossie Bluege. He hit a grounder, but an error on the play enabled Joe Judge to race all the way to third base, while Bluege was safe at first.

Now the Senators had runners on first and third with 1 out.

Joe Judge was 90 feet away from winning the World Series.

The Giants changed pitchers at this point. John McGraw removed starter Art Nehf, a lefty, for Hugh McQuillan, a righty, so he could face righty hitter Ralph Miller.

Miller had played in a total of 9 games all season. He was only in the game because Harris had pinch hit for the starting third baseman earlier in the game.

Miller hit a double play ball and the Giants had survived the inning.

Both teams had put a man on third base in the 9th of a tie game.

Both pitching staffs had stranded that man on third.

And game 7 went into extra innings.

In the top of the 10th, Walter Johnson walked the leadoff hitter, Hack Wilson, but then struck out Travis Jackson and got Hank Gowdy to hit into a double play.

In the bottom of the 10th McQuillan got the Nats 1-2-3.

In the top of the 11th, Johnson again allowed the leadoff hitter to get on, giving up a single Heinie Groh. But after a bunt moved Groh over to second base, Johnson struck out Frankie Frisch.

With 1 out and a man on second, manager Harris, playing second base, again instructed Johnson to walk Ross Youngs so he could pitch to “High Pockets.”

Again Harris’ strategy worked as Johnson struck out “High Pockets” Kelly. Johnson managed to get out of the 11th inning.

In the bottom of the 11th, John McGraw replaced his pitcher bringing in Jack Bentley. Bentley got the first 2 batters to fly out. Then Goose Goslin came up with 2 outs and belted a ball to right center for a double. Joe Judge was then intentionally walked.

The Senators had men on first and second and 2 outs for Ossie Bluege. But Bluege grounded to shortstop and the force out was made at second base to end the threat.

GIANTS 3 SENATORS 3 - end of 11 innings

In the top of the 12th, Walter Johnson allowed the leadoff man to get on for the 3rd straight inning as Irish Meusel singled to right. Then he got the next 3 batters out and once more the Senators had a chance to win the World Series as the game moved to the bottom of the 12th inning.

After Ralph Miller grounded out, Muddy Ruel doubled to left field. The winning run was on second base.

Now came Walter Johnson to the plate. Barney could win the World Series with a hit.

He hit an infield grounder. Ruel stayed at second base, but the throw to first was bungled and Johnson was safe.

Next up was the rookie, Earl McNeely, who had started the season playing for Sacramento on the Pacific Coast League.

McNeely hit a grounder that “bounded over the head of eighteen-year old Freddy Lindstrom at third and on into left field,” according syndicated sports writer Damon Runyon.

Muddy Ruel race around third and scored to win the World Series for Washington!

Here’s how it was recounted by John A. Dugan in the Washington Herald:

Walter Johnson was the winning pitcher.

In fitting fashion, “The Big Train,” had finally won a World Series game and it was the clincher.

Johnson had just completed a story book season with a story book finish.

He had gone 23 - 7 and won the MVP award.

And now he had won the World Series, by pitching 4 scoreless innings in relief to get the win and cap off his brilliant career.

A career that many believe has just concluded.

The city of Washington was enthralled with their heroes on the ball field.

President Coolidge was quoted in a page 1 article in the Washington Herald indicating, “I do not recollect a more exciting world series.”

Another article on the front page of the Washington Herald was titled, “City a Bedlam Over Victory.”

It was reported that, “The parade of a pennant wild city was on. It lasted half the night.”

And of course many sportswriters praised Walter Johnson’s performance.

Heinie Miller wrote this article in the Washington Herald.

Walter Johnson was a hero from coast to coast.

Here was a front page story and picture featuring Walter Johnson in the Los Angeles Times:

And so comes to a close one of the greatest seasons in baseball history and one of the greatest finishes in baseball history.

It’s a story no one would ever believe if it hadn’t happened.

But it did - precisely 100 years ago.

Thanks for reading.