Phillies History: Team Wins First World Series Game
By David Hill
The Philadelphia Phillies have historically been a second division team throughout most of their history. On this day in 1915, they finally won their first World Series game.
Throughout most of their history, the Philadelphia Phillies had struggled. Founded in 1883 as the Quakers, they were a relatively decent club for most of the 19th century, although they only had one season where they finished within five games of the division winners. However, during what is considered the modern era of baseball, from 1901 on, they were typically in the second division, far behind the National League champions.
That changed in 1915. A year after finishing in sixth place, 20.5 games out of first, the Phillies won their first pennant. Led by the brilliant pitching of Pete Alexander, and the power bats of Gavvy Cravath and Fred Luderus, the Phillies finished with a 90-62 record, the second most wins in franchise history. That performance allowed them to win the National League by 6.5 games, holding off the Boston Braves.
On this day in 1915, the Phillies played in their first World Series game. Their ace, Alexander, took the mound, facing off against Red Sox pitcher Ernie Shore. In that first game, Philadelphia earned their first World Series victory, earning a 3-1 win over Boston.
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The Phillies got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth. Dode Paskert led off with a base hit, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and went to third on a groundout to second. Possum Whitted then came through with a two out infield single to second to plate Paskert for the first run of the game.
Boston tied the game up in the top of the eighth. Tris Speaker drew a one out walk, and after moving to second on a groundout, scored on Hugh Duffy‘s base hit. The Phillies came right back in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with one out. Cravath plated a run with a groundout, while Luderus had an infield hit to the mound to provide the final margin.
That would be the only game the Phillies would win in the series, as the Red Sox took home the championship in five games. It would also be the only World Series game the Phillies won until 1980, when they became the final original franchise to win the World Series.
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On this day in 1915, the Philadelphia Phillies won their first World Series game. That would be their last one until 1980, 65 years later.