This time, we’re at Philadelphia’s Columbia Park for Game 1 of the (Simulated) 1902 ALCS. Red Donahue is the starter for the St. Louis Browns, and one of my favorite players, Hall of Famer Rube Waddell is taking the mound for the Philadelphia Athletics. The weather is marginal, but there’s still a good crowd in the house for this one.
The Athletics mounted a mild threat in the bottom of the first as Dave Fultz led off with a base hit and Socks Seybold reached on a one-base error by St. Louis second baseman Dave Padden. Donahue then retired the side on a pop out and a fly ball. The Athletics ran themselves out of a possible threat in the bottom of the third when Dave Fultz got his second base hit of the day but was then caught stealing before the next hitter, Lave Cross, lined a base hit. The Athletics nearly broke through on a single swing of the bat when Philadelphia center fielder Danny Murphy hit a booming fly to deep left field, but St. Louis’ Jesse Burkett pulled in the fly with his back against the wall.
Meanwhile, Rube Waddell was dominating the Browns’ hitters. As he chugged into the top of the eighth, Waddell was one base hit – a fourth inning single by Charlie Hemphill – away from a perfect game. Given that Hemphill was immediately caught stealing, Waddell faced the minimum 21 hitters in the first seven innings.
Jesse Burkett opened the eighth by lining a double for the Browns’ second hit. But Waddell bore down, getting John Anderson on a line out and Emmet Heidrick on a pop up. Waddell walked Matt Kahoe intentionally and then got Barry McCormick on a called third strike.
The Athletics’ eighth got started when Dave Fultz reached again on a one-out walk. Fultz immediately stole second. Socks Seybold reached on a one-base error by Red Donahue. Harry Davis walked to load the bases and Danny Murphy then brought in the first two runs of the game with a double.
The Browns started the ninth by sending Jimmy McAleer up to hit for pitcher Red Donahue. Waddell struck out McAleer. Shortstop Bobby Wallace was the Browns’ third base hit, singling to left, but Waddell then closed out the masterpiece, getting Dave Padden on a fly ball and retiring Charlie Hemphill on an easy ground ball.
So after one game of the 1902 (Simulated) ALCS, it’s Athletics off to a one-game-to-none lead.
Image courtesy of Pixabay by LLCRGH (no changes).