Braves History: 1914 Team Wins Two in a Row for First Time
By David Hill
The 1914 Miracle Braves had one of the most improbable comebacks in MLB history to win the pennant, and the World Series. The start to their season was so bad, it took until this day for the team to win consecutive games.
One could understand if fans of the Boston Braves did not expect much of the team heading into the 1914 campaign. The Braves finished in last place each season from 1909 through 1912, and improved enough to finish fifth in 1913. However, those fans hoping for a resurgent 1914 seemed destined to be disappointed.
Boston got off to a rough start, and were sitting at 5-18 heading into the game on this day. The Braves had already suffered through five and seven game losing streaks, and had been outscored by their opponents 107 to 63. They were shut out six times in those first 24 games (there was a 1-1 tie) and were already 11.5 games out of first.
To further illustrate how rough the season had been, it took until this day in 1914 for the Braves to win consecutive games. Otto Hess threw his only shutout of the year, as Boston defeated the Cubs by a 2-0 score. The Braves would promptly lose their next game, 2-1, to fall 12.5 games back, as those positive feelings were fleeting.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
The Braves reached their nadir on July 4. After being swept in a doubleheader against the Brooklyn Robins, dropping to 15 games out of first. At 26-40, it was time to look forward to 1915, and hope that would be the year that Boston would become relevant in the National League once more.
From that point, Boston was virtually unstoppable. They ended the season on a 68-19 run, going from 15 games out to winning the division by 10.5 games. Members of the Braves swept the first three spots in the National League Chalmers Award, the precursor to the MVP, with Johnny Evers taking home to hardware. Then, they went on to sweep the juggernaut known as the Philadelphia Athletics, as the Miracle Braves won the franchise’s first World Series.
Next: Catcher still sore spot for DBacks
On this day in 1914, no one knew what would come for the Braves, especially since it took this point in the year for the team to win consecutive games for the first time.