1918 World Series Title
The 1918 World Series was the championship series in Major League Baseball for the 1918 season. The 15th edition of the World Series, it matched the American League (AL) champion Boston Red Sox against the National League (NL) champion Chicago Cubs. The Red Sox beat the Cubs four games to two.
Quick Facts
- Championship year
- 1918
- Opponent
- Chicago Cubs
- Series result
- Red Sox won 4 games to 2
- Key player
- Babe Ruth (Pitcher/Outfielder)
- Manager
- Ed Barrow
- Home field
- Fenway Park
- Historical significance
- Last Red Sox title until 2004
Lore & Background
The Series was held early in September because of the World War I 'Work or Fight' order that forced the premature end of the regular season on September 2, and remains the only World Series to be played entirely in September. The Series was marred by players threatening to strike due to low gate receipts. During the seventh-inning stretch of Game 1, the band began playing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' because the country was involved in World War I. The song would be named the national anthem of the United States in 1931. The Red Sox scored only nine runs in the entire Series, the fewest runs by the winning team in World Series history. The 1918 World Series is one of a handful of Fall Classics where neither team hit a home run, though it is no longer the only one.
Reader's Guide
The Red Sox won the series despite a team batting average of .186, lowest for a winning club in World Series history. The winning pitcher of Game 1 was Babe Ruth, who pitched a shutout. The Chicago home games were played at Comiskey Park. The Red Sox returned to Fenway Park for the 1918 series. The 1918 championship would be the last Red Sox win until 2004. The Cubs would not win their next World Series until 2016.
More in World Series & Records
Elsewhere in Boston Red Sox
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced