1918 World Series Title

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. Along with the 1905, 1906 and 1907 World Series, the 1918 World Series is one of only four Fall Classics where neither team hit a home run.

In Their Own Story

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the freshly cut grass of Fenway Park as Babe Ruth stepped off the mound after a perfect inning. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of autumn leaves mixed with the chalk dust kicking up from the base paths. In the stands, fans wore their wool caps low against the chill, their cheers muffled by the distant rumble of trains carrying soldiers to the front lines. Ruth wiped his brow, looking toward the dugout where manager Ed Barrow stood stoically. There was no time for a parade tonight; the war waited for no one, but for this moment, the Red Sox were kings of baseball.

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.

Did You Know?

• The 1918 World Series is one of only four Fall Classics where neither team hit a home run.
• The Red Sox scored only nine runs in the entire Series, the fewest runs by the winning team in World Series history.
• Red Sox manager Ed Barrow is the only manager to win a World Series without previously playing in organized baseball.
• After Game 6, it would be some 87 years until the Cubs and Red Sox would play again.