10 Wacky World Series Facts

By Bethany Holtz on November 2, 2014

Photo Credit: Rob Carr via Getty Images

With the close of the 2014 World Series, the long wait until baseball returns with spring training has commenced.  To help alleviate the pain of five agonizing months without baseball, I decided to brush up on my baseball records. It should come as no surprise that America’s favorite past-time is a sport as rich in history as it is rich in wild, crazy facts. Many things from unbelievable plays to games played in snow blizzards came up in my research.  It was hard to pick the best baseball moments to share, but after consulting a few avid baseball fanatics and deciding to focus on the World Series, I was able to compile ten of the wackiest World Series facts for your enjoyment.

10. Lowest Attendance at a World Series Game

In the final game of the 1908 World Series matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers a record low of 6,210 fans were in attendance. West Side Park, intermittent home to the Chicago Cubs from 1885 to 1915, had an estimated capacity of 16,000 patrons. Attendance in Chicago was reportedly affected by a ticket-scalping scheme that had fans boycotting multiple games in the series. Unfortunately for the Cubs, it would be the last World Series that they would win to date. The Cubs have appeared in seven World Series since but have been turned away each time.

9. Coldest World Series Game on Record

On October 22, 1997, the Florida Marlins and Cleveland Indians suffered through the coldest World Series game on record. After playing Games 1 and 2 in balmy 80 degree weather, the teams played in Cleveland, Ohio at a record low of 38 degrees. Snow flurries fell throughout the game and wind chill was recorded at 18 degrees. It was so cold that ice patches even began to form on the infield. Of course, it should be noted that MLB did not record weather until the 1970s, making it possible that colder games may have occurred.

8. Longest World Series Game

Game 3 of the 2005 World Series played between the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros was the longest World Series game in length and tied for most innings in a World Series game. The game lasted 14 innings over the course of five hours and 41 minutes before Chicago pulled ahead to win 7-5.

7.  Most Home Runs in a Single World Series

Two players share the title of home run leaders in a single World Series. In 1977, Yankees Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson became the World Series home run leader when he recorded five home runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  In 2009, Phillies second baseman Chase Utley tied Jackson’s record when he also hit five homers– ironically against the New York Yankees.

6. Unassisted Triple Play in a World Series Game

In Game 5 of the 1920 World Series, the Cleveland Indians completed the only triple play to ever occur in a World Series game. The play was unassisted and completed by Cleveland’s second basemen, Bill Wambsganss. Wambsganss accomplished the amazing play by catching a line drive off of Brooklyn Dodger Clarence Mitchell, stepping on second base to put out Pete Kilduff, and tagging Otto Miller running from first base. Wambsganss’ play was the second of 15 unassisted triple plays in major-league history and remains the only unassisted triple play in postseason play.

5. No –Hitter in a World Series Game

In 1956, Don Larson pitched the only perfect game in World Series history for the New York Yankees. Yankees won the game 2-0. Larson’s no-hitter was the sixth perfect no-hitter pitched in MLB history and one of only two no-hitters to occur in postseason play. Only 23 perfect games have occurred in major league history.

4. Mickey Mantle steals all the Titles for World Series Career Records

Legendary Yankee Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle is undoubtedly one of baseball’s all time greatest players. He holds an impressive amount of regular and postseason records that are too numerous to list. In the World Series alone, he holds the career World Series records for runs scored (42), total bases (123), home runs (18), RBIs (40), walks (43), and strikeouts (54). Wow!

3. World Series Won by a Team Not from the United States

In 1992, the World Series was won by a team based outside of the U.S. for the first time in major league history. The series was won by the Toronto Blue Jays in game six against the Atlanta Braves. The 1992 World Series also marks the first series to have games played outside of the US.

2. Black Sox Scandal

If it’s possible to decide that throwing the World Series is a good idea, the 1919 Black Sox Scandal should prove otherwise. In the series matchup between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds, eight White Sox players were accused of intentionally losing games in exchange for money. The players were acquitted in court, but banned from baseball for life. I sure hope the money was worth the humiliation!

1. Years without a World Series

What is crazier than a year without a World Series? Nothing! Since the first modern World Series in 1903, the series has only been canceled twice. In 1994, the most recent World Series to be canceled was the result of an ongoing strike by the Major League Baseball Players Association. At the end of the season, the Montreal Expos and New York Yankees held the best records for their associated leagues. The first World Series to be canceled occurred in 1904 when a business rivalry between the American and the National League sparked some disagreements. John McGraw, manager of the National League champion New York Giants, and John T. Brush, owner of the Giants, made the decision that the Giants would not be playing any American League team.  McGraw claimed that the Giants were already world champions and the winner of the “only real major league.”  How self-absorbed is that?

Information gathered from: National Baseball Hall of Fame (http://baseballhall.org/), ESPN (http://espn.go.com/), Major League Baseball (http://mlb.mlb.com/home), and Baseball Digest.

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