1915 Boston Red Sox: Core Talent

1915 Boston Red Sox: Core Talent

1915 Boston Red Sox: Core Talent

The 1915 Boston Red Sox went 101-50 in the regular season, finishing 2.5 games ahead of the Detroit Tigers to win the American League pennant. The Red Sox went 14-8 against the Tigers in head-to-head play, and they were 55-20 at home and 46-30 on the road. According to the team’s 1915 season page on Baseball-Reference, it was a club with a great core of talent that could carry the team in crucial parts of a game.

A Deep and Productive Lineup

Center fielder Tris Speaker batted .322 with 69 RBIs, 176 hits, 25 doubles, 12 triples and 29 stolen bases. Left fielder Duffy Lewis batted .291 with 76 RBIs, 162 hits, 31 doubles, 7 triples and 14 stolen bases. First baseman Dick Hoblitzell batted .283 with 61 RBIs, 113 hits, 15 doubles and 12 triples. Catcher Hick Cady batted .278 with 10 doubles in 78 games.

Second baseman Jack Barry had 13 doubles. Second baseman Charles “Heinie” Wagner had 11 doubles and 8 stolen bases. Third baseman Larry Gardner had 111 hits, 14 doubles, 6 triples and 11 stolen bases. Infielder Hal Janvrin had 85 hits and 9 doubles in 99 games. Right fielder Harry Hooper had 162 hits, 31 doubles, 7 triples and 14 stolen bases. Shortstop Everett Scott had 11 doubles. First baseman Del Gainer batted .295 with 8 triples and 7 stolen bases in 82 games.

A Dominant Pitching Staff

The Starting Rotation

Starting pitcher Rube Foster went 19-8 with 82 strikeouts and a 2.11 ERA, recording 21 complete games and 5 shutouts. Ernie Shore went 19-8 with 102 strikeouts and a 1.64 ERA, recording 17 complete games and 4 shutouts.

George Herman “Babe” Ruth was only in his second year of professional baseball in 1915, the second year of his six-year stint in Boston. Even at the age of 20, Ruth showed what a solid pitcher he was. He went 18-8 with 112 strikeouts and a 2.44 ERA, recording 16 complete games and 1 shutout. In 42 games at the plate, Ruth batted .315 with 4 home runs and 10 doubles.

Hubert “Dutch” Leonard went 15-7 with 116 strikeouts and a 2.36 ERA, recording 10 complete games and 2 shutouts. “Smoky” Joe Wood went 15-5 with a 1.49 ERA, recording 10 complete games and 3 shutouts.

The Bullpen

Closer Carl Mays went 6-5 with 2 complete games, 7 saves and a 2.60 ERA. Relief pitcher Ray Collins had 2 complete games and 2 saves. Vean Gregg went 4-2 with 3 complete games, 1 shutout, 3 saves and a 3.36 ERA.

The 1915 World Series Against the Phillies

The 1915 World Series felt different compared to previous Fall Classics. The Red Sox used Braves Field as their home ballpark, while the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies played in a bandbox called the Baker Bowl, a ballpark infamous for its very short right field.

Game 1: Phillies Strike First

In Game 1 on October 8 at the Baker Bowl, the Phillies won 3-1. In the bottom of the 4th inning, left fielder George “Possum” Whitted had an RBI infield single. In the top of the 8th, Duffy Lewis had an RBI single, and in the bottom of the 8th, right fielder Gavvy Cravath had an RBI groundout, followed by an RBI infield single by first baseman Fred Luderus.

Game 2: Foster Helps Himself

In Game 2 on October 9, the Red Sox responded with a 2-1 victory. Rube Foster pitched a complete game, giving up 3 hits and 1 run while recording 8 strikeouts. In the top of the 1st inning, Tris Speaker was caught attempting to steal second base, and Harry Hooper was caught attempting to steal home plate. However, a throwing error allowed Hooper to score. After Luderus had an RBI double in the bottom of the 5th, Foster helped himself out with an RBI single in the top of the 9th.

Game 3: Lewis Walks It Off

In Game 3 on October 11 at Braves Field, the Red Sox won 2-1. Dutch Leonard pitched a complete game, giving up 3 hits and 1 run while recording 6 strikeouts. In the top of the 3rd inning, shortstop Dave Bancroft had an RBI single. In the bottom of the 4th, Dick Hoblitzell had a sacrifice fly, and in the bottom of the 9th, Duffy Lewis had a walk-off RBI single.

Game 4: Shore Goes the Distance

In Game 4 on October 12, the Red Sox won 2-1. Ernie Shore pitched a complete game of his own, giving up 7 hits, 4 walks and 1 run while recording 4 strikeouts. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Harry Hooper had an RBI infield single, and in the bottom of the 6th, Duffy Lewis had an RBI double. In the top of the 8th, Fred Luderus had an RBI single.

Game 5: A Hard-Earned Title

Returning to the Baker Bowl for Game 5 on October 13, the Red Sox put away the Phillies with a 5-4 victory, but this last win had to be earned. In the bottom of the 1st inning, Fred Luderus had a 2-run double. Jack Barry had an RBI single in the top of the 2nd, and Harry Hooper hit a solo home run in the top of the 3rd. In the bottom of the 4th, Luderus hit a solo home run of his own, and catcher Ed Burns followed with an RBI single.

At this point, the Phillies were up 4-2, but the Red Sox woke up just in time. Duffy Lewis rose to the occasion and launched a 2-run home run in the top of the 8th to tie the game at 4-4. Then Harry Hooper hit a solo home run in the top of the 9th to give the 1915 Boston Red Sox the third World Series championship in franchise history.