Pittsburgh Pirates History: Pirates Win First World Series Game
By David Hill
The first game in World Series history was played on this day in 1903, when the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox faced off to determine the MLB championship. Pittsburgh came away with the victory in the first contest, winning by a 7-3 score.
When the American League established itself as a major league to rival the National League, there was a great deal of animosity between the two leagues. American League squads raided their National League brethren, attempting to poach top players with higher contracts. Infuriated by the upstarts, the National League attempted to squash their competition, but they were unable to do so.
As such, two years later, they came to an uneasy agreement. The two leagues would stop raiding one another and work together, with the season champions facing off in a World Series. This profitable and extremely marketable matchup would help both leagues, allowing greater earning potential.
That first World Series game was played on this day in 1903. The Pittsburgh Pirates, who finished the season with a 91-49 record, won the National League by 6.5 games over the Giants. Meanwhile, the Boston Americans, later known as the Red Sox, went 91-47, dominating the American League as they won the pennant by 14.5 games.
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Given the Americans dominance, where they led the American League in both runs and ERA, it was expected that they would defeat their National League counterparts. That is not to say that the Pirates were slouches by any stretch of the imagination; indeed, they led the National League in runs and were second in ERA. However, the Americans were a more dominant team on paper.
That did not matter in the first game of the World Series. The Pirates jumped on Cy Young early, taking advantage of a two out error by Hobe Ferris to score four runs in the first. Deacon Phillippe shut down the powerful Americans lineup, striking out ten en route to the 7-3 victory.
It was a game of many firsts. Ginger Beaumont was the first batter in World Series action, flying out to center in the plate appearance. Tommy Leach scored the first run, as Honus Wagner picked up the RBI on his base hit. Jimmy Sebring, who had four homers all year, hit the first home run, an inside the park hit to center in the top of the seventh to close out the Pirates scoring. However, the Americans had the last laugh, taking the best of nine series in eight games.
Next: Look back at the Cubs first World Series team
The World Series was born on this day in 1903, as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Boston Americans. Now, 113 years later, this game may well be the most recognizable sporting event in the world.