1907 World Series

Lore & Background

The Cubs came back strong from their shocking loss in the 1906 World Series. The Tigers' young star Ty Cobb came into the Series with the first of his many league batting championships. With pitching dominance over the Tigers and Cobb, the Cubs allowed only three runs in the four games they won, while stealing 18 bases off the rattled Tigers. Each game was umpired by the two-man crew of Hank O'Day and Jack Sheridan.

In Their Own Story

The air at West Side Park hung thick with cut grass, stale tobacco smoke, and the electric tension of a city holding its breath. Frank Chance stood on the dugout steps, cap pulled low, eyes locked on Mordecai Brown winding up for the final out. The Detroit batter swung wildly at a curveball that seemed to drop off the table, missing by a hair. In that split second of silence before the eruption, the wooden bleachers seemed to vibrate with the collective heartbeat of thousands. As the roar finally broke the quiet, Chance didn't need a speech; he simply tipped his cap toward his infielders—the men who had turned double plays all season long like clockwork. The trophy wasn't in hand yet, but as the dust settled on that diamond, it was undeniably clear: for one glorious afternoon, the world belonged to Chicago.

Reader's Guide

The series had been scheduled for two games in Chicago, three games in Detroit, and one game in Chicago (games beyond the first four, only if necessary). Had a seventh game been necessary, its location was to be decided by the league office. After the first game ended in a tie, the series did not move to Detroit until Game 4. Game 1 ended in a tie due to darkness, a World Series first. Game 2 featured the first ejection in World Series history, when Hughie Jennings argued a caught stealing call. Game 3 saw Ed Reulbach scatter six hits. Game 4 included a rain delay and a key hit by pitcher Orval Overall. Game 5 was a 2–0 shutout by Mordecai Brown.

Did You Know?

• The 1907 World Series was the first to include a tie game, called due to darkness after 12 innings.
• Cub player-manager Frank Chance, at age 30, remains the youngest manager to win a World Series title.
• The Tigers were swept in the World Series for the first time in 1907, but they were also swept in 2006 and 2012.
• Ty Cobb, the Tigers' young star, entered the Series as the league batting champion.