Mathewson's Great World Series
In 1905, Matty Pitched Three Shutouts in Six Days
Christy Mathewson started three games, pitched three shutouts, and didn't allow a runner to reach third base in any of the games.
It was the greatest pitching performance in World Series history. In 1905, the Giants’ Christy Mathewson started three games against the Philadelphia Athletics. Mathewson pitched 3 complete game shutouts, didn’t allow a runner to reach third base in any of the games, gave up 14 hits, struck out 18, and walked 1 batter.
Exchanging 3-0 Shutouts
In Game 1, Mathewson pitched a 4-hit shut out as New York won, 3-0 in Philadelphia. The following day in New York, Chief Bender, a Carlisle Indian, returned the compliment as he shut out the National Leaguers on 4 hits in a 3-0 Athletics’ victory. The next day, Game 3 was postponed because the crowd was too small.
A Shutout On ONE Days Rest
When the Series resumed, Mathewson started on two days rest and shut out the Athletics on 4 hits to give the Giants a 2-1 lead in games. The teams returned to New York for Game 4 as Iron Man Joe McGinnity blanked Philadelphia, 1-0. The next day, Mathewson started game 5 in New York, this time on ONE day’s rest. The Giants’ 6’2” right hander shut out the Athletics, 2-0 in a game that took 1 hour and 28 minutes, as the Giants became the first New York team to win the World Series.
Not Much Offense
Every game in the 1905 World Series was a shut out. The Giants scored 15 runs, hit .217, and had a .263 slugging average. The Athletics scored 3 runs, hit .155, and had a .187 slugging average. The Giants’ team ERA was 0.00 (Philadelphia’s 3 runs were unearned) while the Athletics’ ERA was 1.67.
During the season, the Giants batted .273, averaged 5.03 runs a game, and had a .368 slugging average. Their team ERA was 2.39. The Athletics batted .255, averaged 4.10 runs a game, and had a .338 slugging average. Remember that this was the dead ball era, and these were the top offensive teams in their league.
Try to Use the Best
It was a different era, but one thing that has remained constant is that managers attempt to avoid using second-line pitchers. Mathewson worked 27of the World Series’ 45 innings. Philadelphia used only Chief Bender, Eddie Plank, and Andy Coakley. In today’s playoff games, most managers try to use their top three pitchers and sometimes use their ace on “short” rest.
Starting With Two Days Rest
Mathewson starting three games in six days seems inconceivable today, but starting on two days rest occurred as recently as 1968, when Mickey Lolich started and won Game 7 for the Tigers against the Cardinals. In 1967, Boston’s Jim Lonborg started and lost Game 7 to the Cardinals, in 1965, Sandy Koufax started and won Game 7 on two days rest, and in 1964, Bob Gibson and Mel Stottlemyre each started Game 7 on two days rest as the Cardinals beat the Yankees.
Schilling and Beckett Pitched With Three Days Rest
No pitcher will ever again start a World Series or playoff game on two days rest. Managers hesitate greatly when they start a pitcher on three days rest. Bob Brenly was questioned when he decided to pitch Curt Schilling on three days rest twice in 2001, and Jack McKeon faced a similar situation when he used Josh Beckett on three days rest in 2003. Both managers made the right choice.
Breechen and Johnson Each Won the Sixth and Seventh Game of a Series
Many pitchers have won three games in one World Series, but none ever did it in a five game Series. None ever pitched three shutouts, and none pitched two World Series shutouts in three days. But two pitchers started and won Game 6 and then won Game 7. In 1946, Harry Breechen started, completed, and won Game 6 and then won Game 7 in relief. In 2001, Randy Johnson accomplished the feat. But no one will ever pitch two World Series shutouts in three days again.
References:
“Giants Champions, the Score, 2-0; Mathewson’s Superb Work Ends the Inter-League Series.” New York Times. 15 October 1905, p.1.
