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The young “Mackmen” took the first game, 3-0 behind the shutout pitching of star left hander Rube Waddell. The “Hubmen” took the next two setting up a showdown between two of the American League’s biggest stars on Thursday afternoon.
The venerable Cy Young – 37-years old and nearing the twilight of his illustrious career would face off against the enigmatic but enormously talented Waddell. Rube – 10 years Young’s junior – was on his way to a major league record 349 strikeouts. (A record that wouldn’t be broken until 1965.) 
Prior to the game, Waddell – ever the showman – promised a group of scribes that he wouldn’t allow a hit. (He would allow TEN – including three triples and two doubles.) Young would be unfazed by the “hayseed.”
The two hurlers would match zeroes until Boston scratched out a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. They would add two more in the seventh for a 3-0 lead. Young retired shortstop Monte Cross and catcher Ossee Schrecongost for the first two outs of the ninth inning.One out away. All that stood in the way between Young and history was the “hayseed” himself – Rube Waddell. Once Waddell was dispatched it was history. 27 up and 27 down. Perfection for the first time in American League history.It was Young’s second of three career no-hitters (1897 and 1908) and the first “modern” perfect game (60 feet, 6 inch pitching distance). Lee Richmond and John Montgomery Ward had pitched the first two perfectos in major-league history – five days apart – June 12 and June 17, 1880 respectively. (However, the pitching distance in 1880 was 45 feet.)
As the season unfolded, 1904 turned out to be one of Young’s finest. He would finish with 26 victories, 10 shutouts, and a 1.97 ERA, leading the Americans to their second consecutive American League pennant. His perfect game came in the midst of a streak of 24 consecutive hitless innings (major-league record) as well as a, then record, streak of 45 consecutive scoreless innings. (The scoreless innings streak has since been surpassed by Doc White, Don Drysdale, and Orel Hershiser.)For one spring afternoon, in a long-forgotten ballpark, the winningest pitcher of all-time was PERFECT!
– Alex Cheremeteff
[For more baseball history, follow me on Twitter: @AlexCheremeteff]
