1906 World Series - Game One
October 9, 1906 at West Side Grounds
White Sox 2, Cubs 1 White Sox Lead Best of Seven Series 1-0
The White Sox spent their whole season making up for poor hitting with great pitching, hence the nickname “The Hitless Wonders.” The Cubs, on the other hand, won a National League and franchise record 116 games with both hitting and defense. They not only led the National League in runs scored, but they also had an amazing team ERA of 1.75. Led by Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown, Frank Chance, and Johnny Evers, few people in Chicago probably expected much from the surprising White Sox in both team’s first World Series. Of course that’s why they play the games.
Brown got the game one start for the Cubs while Nick Altrock threw for the White Sox. True to form, the White Sox pulled it out with just enough hitting, some great pitching and a break or two along the way.
Both Brown and Altrock were unhittable early in the game. It wasn’t until the bottom of the fourth when Frank Schulte singled that either team got a hit. And even that “rally” was cut short when Schulte was gunned down trying to steal second base.
The White Sox finally got things started in the fifth inning. George Rohe led off with a triple for the White Sox first World Series hit. Jiggs Donahue struck out and then Patsy Dougherty reached first on a fielders choice and Rohe scored on Johnny Kling’s error at the plate. Kling then allowed Dougherty to reach second on a passed ball before Brown got Billy Sullivan and Lee Tannehill to ground out.
Altrock put the Cubs down in order in the fifth and the sixth looked like it might be a big inning for the White Sox. Altrock drew a walk and he moved to second on Rohe’s bunt. Fielder Jones then singled but Nick Altrock was gunned down at the plate. Jones moved to second on the play at the plate and then he moved to third on Kling’s second passed ball of the game. Frank Isbell then singled home Jones to make it 2-0 lead.
The Cubs didn’t lay down though. Kling reached base on a walk and moved to second on Brown’s single. Solly Hofman moved them both over with a bunt before Kling scored on Altrock’s wild pitch. The next two Cubs went down in order and the rally was squelched, but the Cubs had cut the White Sox lead to just a single run.
Fortunately for the Sox, Altrock settled down and threw the final three innings without much of a threat. The Cubs did get a man over to second in the eight, but it was two outs. Altrock finished the game and gave up only four hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
