Scott Fennessy’s 1902 World Series: Pirates push Athletics to edge in game 3

Jesse Tannehill

October 11, 1902

Philadelphia, PA

The series shifts to Philadelphia as the Pirates look to take advantage of the biggest hole in the Philadelphia armor; pitching depth. While Rube Waddell and Eddie Plank are true aces, Bert Husting is at best an innings eater. Rated as a CW he struggled mightily at times, but with the rest of the pitchers rated as J-4’s Connie Mack did not have a lot of choices, and Bert to his credit did put up the occasional solid start.

Fred Clarke counters with perhaps his best overall pitcher, Jesse Tannehill. Known as “Powder” for his blazing fastball, he is an AYZ who is a solid hitter too. Although the dice were not kind to him during the regular season he had a 0-1, 0-1 with 7’s at 22, 33, 44 and 55, plus a 10 at 15. Things are not looking good as the “greatest show on earth” has yet to score a run this series.

The Pirates get off to a good start as Tommy Leach and Ginger Beaumont hook up on a couple of singles and put runners on the corners via the hit and run with nobody out and Honus Wagner at the plate. Pittsburgh’s most reliable slugger rips a hard grounder towards the hole between the shortstop position and the bag at second, but Monte Cross, who despite having lost a step or two with age makes a solid play and tosses the ball to second baseman Danny Murphy who leaps over a hard charging Beaumont for a beautiful double play. Unfortunately Leach scores and the Pirates take a quick 1-0 lead. Clarke pops one into shallow left field where Ralph Seybold makes the catch just inside foul territory to end the inning.

The home crowd fans are finally given something to cheer about in the bottom of the first when Dave Fultz leads off with a single to left. Despite being kept close at first by Tannehill and Bransfield he steals second well ahead of John O’Connor’s throw and scores on Ralph Seybold’s single to center with two out and the A’s have both their first run and lead in this series. Third baseman Lafayette Cross then smokes a hard liner just over Bill Bransfield’s leaping try and this rolls into the corner. Clarke corrals the ball and fires it back in, but Cross has a stand up triple and the A’s now lead 2-0. Ossee Shreckengost grounds to Claude Ritchey at second to end the inning, but things are finally looking good for Philly.

The Pirates get a hit with two out in the second but go down scoreless and Tannehill gets a perfect inning and the score remains unchanged. The A’s had a chance to pad the lead with two outs in the 4th when Shreckengost was on second after a one out single when Monte Cross hit a dying quail that looked like it was going to drop in front of Clarke when Claude Ritchey makes a stunning diving grab to end the threat.

Husting finally begins to wear down in the 5th inning. After allowing back to back singles to Ritchey and Tannehill he begins to focus too much on the batter and Tannehill gets a big lead and decides to go for second. Although it was a very close play, Shreckengost’s throw was a little off the mark, which forced Cross’ tag to be on the shoulder instead of the hand and Tannehill is safe at second. Husting gets a visit from a furious Connie Mack the second the safe signal is made and seemed to get his attention temporarily as he strikes out Leach and Beaumont on 6 pitches. Unfortunately Wagner rips a triple to deep right center and has a stand up triple and the lead is reclaimed by the visitors. Clarke flies out to shallow left, but the Pirates are now up 3-2.

The A’s strand Fultz on second with one out and a tiring Husting takes the mound again. Bill Bransfield and John O’Connor get back to back singles and runners are on the corners, and unlike before Bert IS focused on the runners. In fact so much that he balks and Bransfield scores with O’Connor taking second. Two quick outs happen but then Tannehill gets his third hit of the day and O’Connor scores easily and the lead is now 5-2 as the inning ends one batter later.

Just when this looks like a whipping though Ralph Seybold, the AL home run king slams an 0-2 fastball to deep center field for a home run and the A’s bench seems to come alive. Lafayette Cross hits a double high off the left field wall and scores on a pair of ground outs and as Monte Cross grounds weakly to Leach at third the game is suddenly 5-4 Pirates after 6 innings of played.

Husting grinds out two more scoreless innings and Tannehill regains his form as we go to the top of the 9th inning. Leach hits a soft single over Murphy’s head into right and runners are on the corners with no outs after Beaumont gets his second hit of the day. Husting gets a bit wild and walks Wagner to load the bases. Clarke hits a drive deep down the line in left and Tullos Hartsel makes a fine catch at the wall in the corner for the out, but Leach scores and Mack goes to the bullpen at last.

Odie Porter, like Husting is a CW, but he makes quick work of Bransfield and O’Connor and Mack has to be questioning leaving his starter in so long. Tannehill gets a quick inning and the game is over, a tough 6-4 victory and the A’s suddenly find their entire season resting on the strong left arm of Rube Waddell.

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