1914 World Series (featuring Norwich Bulletin, Oct. 14, 1914)

On Oct. 13, 1914, the Boston Braves beat the Philadelphia Athletics in Fenway Park to win the World Series. This achievement set a record as the first time the World Series was won in just four games. This Oct. 14 Norwich Bulletin report, which misprints the team name as Philadelphia Americans, gives an inning by inning account of the game. The Connecticut Digital Newspaper Project just added 10,000 pages of the Norwich Bulletin to Chronicling America.

The following is a transcription of the full article “Braves Break Baseball Tradition” from the October 13, 1914, article in the Norwich Bulletin.

BRAVES BREAK BASEBALL TRADITION: Boston Decisively Defeated Philadelphia Four Straight Games, Capturing the Championship of the World–Connie Mack’s Great Combination Was Completely Crushed–Captain Evers Won the Last Game, Singling With Two On–Score 3 to 1.

Boston. Oct. 13–The Boston National league club completed the most sensational record in modern professional baseball by defeating the Philadelphia Americans in the fourth and final game of the world’s series at Fenway park today by a score of 8
to 1. Beginning with their rush from last place in the senior league in the middle of July, the Braves have broken traditions and records in the national sport with speed and abandon during the last three months. They emerged late this afternoon champions of the universe, leaving a trail of startling surprises and upsets in their wake which it will be hard to duplicate in years to come.

Mack’s Wonderful Machine Smashed.

Last and far from the least of their accomplishments was the overthrow in four consecutive games of the world famous baseball machine of Connie Mack with its hundred thousand dollar infield, home run heroes and corps of skillfully blended veteran and youthful pitching stars. Tonight the new champions gathered under the management of George Stallings are celebrating their ascent to the championship throne while the wreck of the Athletics baseball juggernaut is bound for the home of William Penn, stupefied by the unlooked-for calamity which temporarily at least, racked it to the smallest cog.

To the victors belong the spoils and the credit, and unexpected as was the crushing defeat, the Mackmen took it in sportsmanlike spirit, praising the winners, and offering no excuses for their failure to hold their National league rivals in check. In fact, none are available, for the Boston club outplayed and out-gamed their more experienced opponents in every game and department or play. The best that could be said of the Athletics by their warmest admirers was that the team neither collectively nor as individuals appeared to get going in the manner shown in previous world’s series.

Braves Achieved Great Feat

To crush completely and decisively the great combination which has represented Philadelphia in the American league in recent years is honor enough for any rival baseball club, but the Braves in their youthful ardor and speed, did ever better, for they established a new world’s series record by winning in succession the four games necessary to clinch the title. Not since the national commission assumed charge of these annual inter-league contests in 1905 has this feat been achieved until today. Several clubs have won four out of five games and in the early days of the Temple cup and National league, vs. American association, straight victories were chronicled. In 1884 Providence defeated the Metropolitans three straight. In 1894 the New York club defeated Baltimore in four games for the Temple cup and two years later Baltimore won four consecutive victories from Cleveland and there the simile ends.

Evers Scored First Run.
The Athletics fought doggedly until the end, and even late in the game of today their adherents, who had made them two‑to‑one favorites in the wagering before the opening contest, confidently believed that they would start a batting rally that would bring about at least a momentary check in the Braves’ headlong run, but the Mackmen’s famous punch appeared to be gone. The new champions were first to score and except for half an inning when the score was tied, held the lead until the end. To Captain Johnny Evers fell the honor of scoring the initial run of the final game of the 1914 series. He opened the fourth session by working Shawkey for a pass; advanced to second on Connolly’s infield out, moved to third on Whitted’s single, and scored on Schmidt’s infield out. The Athletics tied the score in the fifth inning when Barry singled, took second on Schang’s out, and scored on Shawkey’s double. Nothing daunted, the Braves came right back in their half of the same inning and won the game with two additional runs, both made after two were out. Rudolph singled to center, took third on Moran’s double to left, and both came home when Evers singled over second.

The Athletics appeared to lose heart and never threatened in the remaining sessions at bat. Due to the shortness of the series, the club owners and national commission divide a smaller sum of money than in any world’s series since 1910. The attendance at today’s game was 34,365 and the receipts $62,653. Of this sum the players received $33,832.52; the club owners $22,555.08 and the national commission $6,265.30.

Total attendance for the series was 111,009, receipts $226,739; players’ share $121,900.94; each club’s share, $40,632.58 and the national commission’s proportion $22,573.

As the winners, the Boston players receive sixty per cent. of $121,900.94, or $73,140.56, while the Athletics, as losers, profit to the extent of $48,760.38.

Of the Boston club, twenty-six players are eligible to share in the prize money, giving each man $2,813.10 should the money be divided evenly. On the Athletics, twenty-four players are entitled to divide the losers’ end, which would give each Mackman $2,031.68 on a share and share alike basis. The players of neither club have, as yet, notified the national commission just how the money will be divided. The players receive less money than has fallen to their lot since the series of 1910. Each of the four umpires receive $1,000, the money coming from the national commission’s percentage of the profit. The world’s series of 1914 is the tenth between the pennant winners of the two major leagues since the national commission, the highest court of baseball, took charge of the annual autumn championship battle in 1905. Today’s victory of the Braves brings about a tie for inter‑league honors, since American league and National league clubs clubs[sic] have now each won five championship pennants. The American league victories and the clubs that won them are as follows:

1906, Chicago; 1910, Philadelphia; 1911, Philadelphia; 1912, Boston; 1913, Philadelphia.

The National League triumphs were won:

1905, New York; 1907, Chicago; 1908, Chicago; 1909, Pittsburgh; 1914, Boston.

In addition to the players, the managers of each team are eligible to a share of the players’ portion of the receipts, so that should Stallings and Mack avail themselves of their privilege, Philadelphia’s share would be divided among 25 men and Boston’s among 27.

Mack Stumbled on Mystic Fourth.
Connie Mack, the Athletics’ leader, is the only manager who to date has won three world’s championships and he appears to have stumbled over the mystic fourth just as Managers McGraw, Jennings, Chance and Mack have all failed to win four league pennants in a row.

The final game was the least exciting of the series. There were few brilliant fielding features that are not seen in games during the league season. Maranville made a great stop and throw on a hard hit ball by Collins and Mann brought cheers on a fine running catch in the outfield.

The batting was also of the ordinary kind. Whitted got two singles, Moran made a double and Evers, Schmidt and Rudolph each got a base hit. Seven of the ten men in the game for the former world’s champions made a hit. It was their best offence of the series. Those failing to connect were Murphy, Schang and Pennock. The latter was at bat only once. The hits made by Walsh and Shawkey were two base drives.

Rudolph struck out seven men, his victims being Oldring, Collins, Walsh, Barry, Shawkey and Schang, the latter twice. There were but three strikeouts against Boston, Evers, Schmidt and Gowdy falling victims to Pennock’s fast curves. Shawkey gave two bases on balls in the five innings he pitched and Pennock also gave two. Rudolph gave one base on balls and made one wild pitch.

Boston Excelled Athletics at Bat.
The new champions excelled the Athletics in hitting, but not in the field. Boston made a total of 16 runs in the four games, 33 hits for a total of 56 bases and four errors. The Athletics gathered together only six runs, made 22 hits for a total of 31 bases and three errors. Boston played one errorless game and the Athletics two. Today’s contest was the first game in the last four world’s series in which both teams played without error.

Evers made seven singles in the series. Gowdy had six hits for a total of fourteen bases. Schmidt made five hits. Baker made four hits in the four games, Murphy three, Collins three, Strang two, McInnis two and Strunk two.

Heroes Carried Off the Field.
Despite the rather mediocre play of the final game the enthusiasm of the thousands of spectators furnished a thrilling climax when the last Athletic was put out and championship honors were assured for the Braves. Cheering throngs piled out of the stands and bleachers and rushed across the field to the Boston bench, but the Mackmen were first to the dugout and were shaking hands and congratulating their late opponents before the first of the fans reached the scene. Once the crowd gathered force, the police had difficulty in holding it in check. Gowdy, Maranville, Captain Evers and other heroes of the series were lifted on the fans’ shoulders while a roar of applause went up that could be heard on Boston Common.

Rooters Paraded the Field.
The Royal Rooters’ brigade formed and with the band and its Indian clad leaders at the head marched around the field cheering the empty bench where but a few minutes before the Mackmen had conferred on the last bit of baseball strategy and then joined the thousands paying homage to the Braves. Mayor Curley, President Gaffney and Manager Stallings all made short speeches in response to the cheers of the fans an[sic] it was almost dusk before the last celebrator ceased to whoop and snake‑dance about the bases.

Weather conditions at the closing game were not as suitable for fast baseball as in the preceding contests. The temperature had taken a sharp drop over night and players and fans awoke to find the tang of autumn in the air and conditions more suitable for football than baseball. Heavy gray‑white clouds blocked out huge portions of the blue sky and the sun when it broke through failed to warm up the atmosphere to any extent. A stiff northwest wind whipped flags and pennants about the poles and stands and made heavy wraps, sweaters and even steamer rugs almost a necessity for the first time since the series began.

The wise ones had figured out that Connie Mack would send Bender back at the Braves to stave off final defeat, and there was some surprise when Bob Shawkey came out of the Athletics’ dugout and started to warm up. Rudolph had been picked to bring home the bacon for Braves.

The only change in the batting orders was the switching again of Gowdy and Deal, the former batting sixth and the latter eighth.

First Inning.

Rudolph opened the game by groov­ing a strike on Eddie Murphy. The next pitch was a ball. Murphy drove the third one straight at Evers and was out at first. Oldring, who had been a poor performer at the bat in the series, sent up a high foul to Gowdy and walked disgustedly to the bench. Collins [illegible] a single over second and was left at first as Baker sent a high fly to Whitted in center field.

Boston’s first turn at bat was shot[sic]. Moran chopped a grounder at Baker and was thrown out. Evers also offered Baker a grounder and “Stuffy” McInnis made a fine pickup of the third baseman’s low throw, the Braves captain walking to the bench. Connolly flied out to Oldring.

Second Inning.
It looked like trouble for Rudolph in the Athletics’ second inning. McInnis tapped a slow roller which Deal ran in on, making a fine throw to first for the out. Walsh, playing for Amos Strunk, who has an abscess on his hand, slammed a two base hit against the fence, bounding in the stands in left field. Connolly seemed to misjudge the ball as it struck low enough for him to have caught it. Jack Barry was tossed out, Maranville to Schmidt, Walsh being unable to advance on the out.

The National League champions got a man on in their half of the second after two were out, but he failed to advance. Whitted sent a hot linner[sic] that Oldring ran in to get. Schmidt punched a grounder to Shawkey and was retired at first. Gowdy waited and was given a base on balls. He was forced out at second by Maranville, Barry making the toss to Collins.

Third Inning.
Shawkey opened Philadelphia’s third inning by striking out. Murphy went out on a quick scoop and throw by Deal. Rube Oldring made the Philadelphia fans rejoice by getting his first hit in the series, a clean single to center field. He tried to steal second and was out on Gowdy’s fine throw to Maranville.

The Braves went out in one, two, three order in the third. Deal raised a fly to Oldring. Rudolph poked a grounder at Barry and was thrown out. Moran went out the same way.

Fourth Inning.
The Athletics got two hits in the fourth inning, but did not have the punch to put a man across the plate. Collins opened up with a sharp grounder to Johnny Evers and was easily out. Baker smashed a hot drive at Schmidt, which the bag[sic] first baseman could not handle. Play was stopped while Schmidt regained his equilibrium, the ball evidently having struck him in the face. McInnis ripped a single into left field and Baker made a dash to third and beat Connolly’s throw. On the throw in McInnis tried to reach second but was out, Connolly to Deal to Evers. With two out, the Athletics did not look so dangerous. Rudolph was cheered as he struck out Walsh.

Boston scored its first run in its half of the fourth inning. Evers drew a base on balls, and went to second on Connolly’s out Collins to McInnis. The Philadelphia second baseman intended trying for a double play but momentarily juggled the ball and caught Connolly only in the nick of time. Whitted shot a hard drive at Collins and the ball was deflected sufficiently by the fielder to permit Whitted to heach[sic] first and Evers third. Collins in trying to field the ball turned his ankle and play was stopped for a few minutes. He limped to his position and play was resumed. Then came the first real cheer of the Boston fans. Schmidt shoved a slow grounder at Barry, who threw the Boston first baseman out as Evers crossed the plate. Whitted moved to second on the out and was left there when Shawkey threw out Gowdy. Up to this time the Athletics had made five hits without scoring, while Boston manufactured a run out of a base on balls, an out, a short single and a second out.

Braves Put the Title on Ice.
Barry made his first and only hit of the series in the opening of the fifth inning. It was a single which Maranville could not handle in time to beat the Athletics’ shortstop. Barry went to second on Schang’s out, Evers to Schmidt, and came home with the Athletics’ only run on Shawkey’s big two base drive to left center. Murphy was an easy out, Evers to Schmidt, Shawkey moving up to third. Oldring swung at wide balls and was out on strikes.

The new world’s champions won the title in their half of the fifth inning. Maranville went out, Barry to McInnis and Baker threw out Deal. Rudolph brought cheers from the fans by shooting a single into center field and th[sic] rooters were brought to their feet when Moran drove a two base hit to left field on which Rudolph took third. The big crowd made much noise as Captain Evers stepped to the plate. Moran took a big lead off second and then the Braves’ captain after two strikes, dropped a single into center field on which both Rudolph and Moran scored. The Royal Rooters band struck up a lively tune and Connie Mack sent Pennock, Wyckoff and Bressler out to warm up. The crowd rooted for Connolly to hit, but while he was at bat, Shawkey by a quick throw nipped Evers off first and the side was out. out.[sic]

Pennock Replaces Shawkey.
The Athletics looked a bit dejected as they came off the field. There was a noticeable increase in the enthusiasm of the Boston players as they took their positions in the sixth with a two run lead and their pitcher going fine. Maranville robbed Collins of a base hit by sprinting over back of second, picking up a sharp hit ground cutter and tossing out the Athletics’ speedy runner while off his balance. Baker raised a high foul to Deal and McInnis was thrown out on another fine fielding play by Maranville.

Herbie Pennock, one of the Mackmen’s left handers, replaced Shawkey and Mann was sent in by Manager Stallings to bat for Connolly against the left‑handed pitching. Mann flied out to Walsh, Whitted singled to left field and went to third on Schmidt’s wicked drive at Collins for one base, the ball being too hot for Collins to handle. Gowdy fell a victim to strikes and a moment later Schmidt was caught between first and second, Pennock to McInnis, to Collins to McInnis, retiring the side.

Seventh Inning.
Mann went into left field in Connolly’s place in the seventh inning. Walsh received a base on balls and went to second on a wild pitch. Barry struck out and on the play Gowdy threw to second and caught Walsh off the bag for a double play, Evers taking the throw. Schang again struck out.

Boston’s seventh inning was quickly over, although one man reached first. Maranville was thrown out by Collins and Deal retired by Baker. Udolph[sic] was given a base on balls and was left at first, as Moran fouled out to Baker.

Rudolph Getting Better and Better.
With the seventh inning over, it looked as if nothing could prevent Boston from winning the series. Rudolph, who had been touched up for seven hits in the first five innings, seemed to have the Athletics’ measure as he appeared to be pitching stronger. Pennock was an easy out, Evers to Schmidt. Murphy flied out to Mann, who made a fine running catch toward centerfield. Oldring flied out to Evers.

Captain Evers, first up in the eighth for Boston, took his strikeout good‑naturedly. Mann was thrown out by Collins, but Whitted was given a base on balls. Whitted stole second, the only steal of the game, and moved up to third on Schang’s passed ball. Schmidt ended the inning by striking out.

Athletics’ Artillery of No Use.
The Athletics’ erstwhile heavy artillery, Collins, Baker and McInnis, who all hit over .300 in the American League season, came up in the ninth in a last desperate effort. They made a sorry showing. Collins struck out. Baker bounced a grounder to Evers and was thrown out. McInnis swiped at the ball and hit it toward Deal. The third baseman was on it like a flash, whipped it across to Schmidt and the monarchs of baseball fell from their throne.

Following is the official score:

Philadelphia.

	ab.	r.	h.	po.	a.	e.
Murphy, rf.	4	0	0	0	0	0
Oldring, lf.	4	0	1	3	0	0
Collins, 2b.	4	0	1	1	4	0
Baker, 3b.	4	0	1	1	4	0
McInnis, 1b.	4	0	1	15	1	0
Walsh, cf.	2	0	1	1	0	0
Barry, ss.	3	1	1	0	5	0
Schang, c.	3	0	0	3	0	0
Shawkey, p.	3	0	1	0	3	0
Pennock, p.	1
Totals	31	1

Boston.

	ab.	r.	h.	po.
Moran, rf.	4	1	1	0	0	0
Evers, 2b.	3	1	1	3	6	0
Connolly, lf.	2	0	0	0	1	0
Mann, lf.	2	0	0	1	0	0
Whitted, cf.	3	0	2	1	0	0
Schmidt, 1b.	4	0	1	12	0	0
Gowdy, c.	2	0	0	8	2	0
Maranville, ss.	3	0	0	1	3	0
Deal, 3b.	3	0	0	1	4	0
Rudolph, p.	2	1	1	0	0	0
Totals	23	3	6	27	16	0

Innings:
Philadelphia 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0  — 1
Boston 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 x — 3

Two base hits — Walsh, Shawkey, Moran. Hits — Off Shawkey, 4 in 5 innings; off Pennock, 2 in 3 innings. Stolen base — Whitted. Double play — Gowdy and Evers. Left on bases — Philadelphia 4, Boston 5. First base [four lines of illegible text].

White Sox 5, Cubs 3.
Chicago, Oct. 13. The Chicago American League tied the local National League representatives for the championship of Chicago today when they won by 5 to 3. The standing of the clubs is now 3 and 3.

Score: R H E
Americans 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 — 5 5 3
Nationals 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 — 3 10 6

Benz, Cicotte and Schalk; Vaughn, Zabel and Bresnahan.

34,365 See Final Game.
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass., Oct. 13.—The official attendance and receipts for today’s game is as follows:
Attendance 34,365.

[illegible text]

Players’ share, $88,382.62
Each club’s share $11,277.54.

Total for series four games:
Attendance 111,009.

Receipts $226,739.
Players’ share $121,900.94.
National commission’s share $22,673.
Each club’s share $40,632.58.

New Champs Will Tour South America.
Boston, Oct. 13. The world’s champion Boston Nationals will make a tour of South America next year, according to an announcement made today by Frederico Alfonso Pezet, Peruvian minister to the United States, at a baseball dinner given by the chamber of commerce.

Mr. Pezet said that Manager Stallings of the champions had informed him that he would send two teams to make the tour. The minister expressed the belief that the trip would be the means of furthering trade between this country and South American republics.