Simulated 1919 World Series Game 5 – Cincinnati Grabs 3-2 Lead, Winning 1-0 Pitchers’ Duel

Welcome to the afternoon of Monday, October 6, 1919, at Chicago’s Old Comiskey Park (it wasn’t called “Old” then), for the fifth game of the simulated 1919 World Series (Now With Fewer Gamblers). Today’s game, with the Series tied at two games apiece, matched Hod Eller for the visiting Reds against Lefty Williams, who lost Game 2.

The Reds mounted a slight threat in the top of the third when pitcher Hod Eller reached on an error by Hall of Fame second baseman Eddie Collins. After Morrie Rath popped out, Jake Daubert singled Eller to third, but Heinie Groh ended the inning by flying out. The Reds threatened a bit more seriously in the top of the fourth. Greasy Neale got a one-out walk. After Larry Kopf flew out, Neale stole second. With the base open, the White Sox walked Rube Bressler, and catcher Bill Rariden loaded the bases with a short single. But Reds manager Pat Moran wasn’t quite ready to replace his starter, and with Hod Eller up with two outs, Lefty Williams closed down the inning with a strikeout.

Everything went quietly for the rest of regulation, with Hod Eller working on a three hitter and Lefty Williams giving up a good many more hits but preventing any of them from turning into real threats. We headed into the tenth with Morrie Rath leading off for Cincinnati with a single. Rath was caught stealing with Jake Daubert at the plate, but Daubert then singled and advanced to second on an error by Sox third baseman Buck Weaver. Groh then scored the first run of the game with a base hit. With that, Kid Gleason finally pulled Lefty Williams in favor of Grover Lowdermilk.

In the bottom of the tenth, Pat Moran sent Hod Eller back out to attempt to finish up the ten inning shut out. He quickly got two outs on a fly out by Shano Collins and a strikeout for Chick Gandil. Eddie Murphy – no, not that one – pinch hit for Swede Risberg and sent a double off the wall, but with the tying run in scoring position, Ray Schalk ended the game by lining out.

The ten-inning pitchers’ duel lasted only an hour and thirty-nine minutes. Attendance at Old Comiskey was 34,723.

Image courtesy of Pixabay by Comfreak (no changes).