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The Classic 1926 World Series
Our tour through the World Series stops today in the exciting 1926 World Series. It’s usually remembered for Babe Ruth’s the ill-advised attempt to steal second base that ended the series; and for “Old Pete” Alexander coming in relief – possibly nursing a “hangover” – to nail down the Cardinal victory in Game Seven.
The Series pitted the National League champion Cardinals (89-65 .578), managed by Rogers Hornsby, against the American League champion Yankees (91-63 .591), managed by Miller Huggins. The Cardinals won four-games-to-three. The Series took place from October 2 to 10, 1926 at Yankee Stadium and Sportsman’s Park. This was the first World Series appearance for the Cardinals, and the first of eleven World Series championships in their history; while the Yankees were in their fourth World Series in six years. Cards’ manager Rogers Hornsby chose Grover Cleveland “Old Pete” Alexander to start Game Six, and then used him in relief to close out Game Seven. Behind Alexander, the Cardinals won the final two games of the series.
In the Yanks’ 10–5 Game Four win, Babe Ruth hit three home runs, a World Series record equaled only four times since. This was the Series that featured the famous “Johnny Sylvester home run call.” According to newspaper reports, Ruth had promised a sickly boy named Johnny Sylvester that he’d hit a home run for him in Game Four. After Ruth’s three-homer game, the boy’s condition miraculously improved. The newspapers’ account of the story is disputed by many contemporary baseball historians, but it remains one of the most beloved anecdotes in baseball lore.
In the decisive Game Seven, the Yankees were trailing 3–2 in the bottom of the ninth inning and down to their last out. Ruth walked, bringing up Bob Meusel, a .315 hitter that year. Meusel also had success in Game Six against Alexander, with a double and triple. Just as Meusel was awaiting the first pitch, Ruth made the bold move of trying to steal second. Meusel swung and missed, and Cardinals’ catcher Bob O’Farrell threw the ball to second baseman Hornsby who laid the tag on Ruth, who was out by a good 10 feet. The game – and the World Series – was over.
As Hornsby recalled later, Ruth “didn’t say a word. He didn’t even look around or up at me. He just picked himself up and walked away. It is still the only time a World Series has ended with a runner being caught stealing. Ruth explained later that he attempted the steal because he thought no one would expect it. He hoped that if he got to second he could have an easier chance at scoring if Meusel hit a single into the outfield.
Game Seven is also remembered as the famous game in which manager Rogers Hornsby called upon “Old Pete” Alexander in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, the Cardinals were clinging to a 3-2 lead with Tony Lazzeri at the plate. There’s always been much debate as to whether Alexander was sleeping off a hangover in the bull pen when Hornsby made the call. Alexander struck Lazzeri out – after Lazzeri hit a long shot to left that just missed being a home run – and then held the Yankees scoreless over the next two innings to preserve the win.
The Series featured a multitude of future Hall-of-Famers: Grover Cleveland Alexander, Jim Bottomley, Chick Hafey, Jesse Haines, Rogers Hornsby, Billy Southworth; Miller Huggins, Earle Combs, Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Herb Pennock, Babe Ruth, Waite Hoyt. Umpires Bill Klem, and Hank O’Day.
-Gary Livacari
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Photo Credits: Public domain
Information edited from the 1926 World Series Wikipedia page.
