1906 World Series – Game Five
October 13, 1906 at West Side Grounds
White Sox 8, Cubs 6 White Sox Lead Best of Seven Series 3-2
In the first four games, the White Sox scored six runs total. In game five alone, they scored eight runs and they needed every one of those runs because Ed Walsh was touched up for six runs. The White Sox almost lost this game on the field because they made six errors which led to five unearned runs.
The White Sox didn’t waste much time in this one. In the top of the first, Ed Hahn led off with a single and he moved to second on Fielder Jones bunt. Frank Isbell then doubled him home and just like that, the White Sox had a 1-0 lead on Cubs starter Ed Reulbach.
The Cubs answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Solly Hofman singled and then he moved to second on a bunt. Frank Schulte then hit an infield single to put runners at first and second before Frank Chance was hit by a pitch to load up the bases. Harry Steinfeldt then forced Chance but a throwing error by Frank Isbell allowed Hofman and Schulte to scamper home. Joe Tinker then laid down a bunt but Walsh threw it away and that allowed Steinfeldt to score. So just like that, an inning had gone by and it was already 3-1 Cubs.
The White Sox picked themselves back up in the third inning. Isbell doubled again and he scored on George Davis’ double. Jack Pfiester came in to reliever Reulbach and while he struck out George Rohe, he then hit Jiggs Donahue to put runners at first and second. Patsy Dougherty forced Donahue to put runners at the corners with two outs and then Davis stole home (Dougherty stole second for a double steal) to tie the game up 3-3.
In the top of the fourth, the White Sox struck again. Walsh led off with a walk and he was forced out by Ed Hahn. Fielder Jones singled and Hahn moved to second and then Isbell doubled for the third time today to drive home Hahn to give the White Sox a 4-3 lead. Davis then cleared the bases with a double of his own and before you knew it, the score was 6-3. Orval Overall came in to pitch for Pfeister and he walked Rohe, then Donahue doubled and Davis scored to cap off a four run inning.
Tinker scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 7-4. The White Sox then added some insurance in the sixth inning. Isbell doubled for the fourth time in the game and he scored on Rohe’s RBI single. Shulte’s two run double in the bottom of the sixth made it 8-6, but that was the closest the Cubs would get.
The White Sox were one win away from the franchise’s first World Series win. And if they did it tomorrow, they’d get it done in front of their home crowd.
