On Tuesday, October 6th, 1903 after two days of rest, Pittsburgh Pirate Deacon Phillippe threw his third complete game victory of the series against Boston American Bill Dinneen, who was making his second start of the series. The Pirates won the game and took a commanding 3–1 series lead. But they would end up losing the first World Series as they lost the next four games to Boston (it was an 8-game series).

On our July trip to Pittsburgh this August, we came across this sign commemorating the first World Series in 1903 between the National League Pittsburgh Pirates and the American League Boston Americans (Red Sox). The sign was between PNC Park and whatever the new Steelers stadiums is known as. Here is a picture of the sign.

The first World Series featured four future Hall of Famers:

• Jimmy Collins (BOS)
• Cy Young (BOS)
• Fred Clarke (PIT)
• Honus Wagner (PIT)

The legendary Honus Wagner, who has a .328 lifetime batting average, went just 6 for 27 in the 1903 Series for a .222 BA. He would only play in one more World Series in his career, the 1909 Series. In 1909 he hit much better, going 8 for 24 for a .333 BA helping the Pirates prevail over the Detroit Tigers.

The other legend in the series, Cy Young, won 2 of his 3 outings and had a 1.85 ERA. It would end up being the only World Series Cy Young would ever pitch in.

While I am showing photos from my trip to Pittsburgh, here is one more. This is one of the Honus Wagner statue at PNC Park.

Below is a chart from Wikipedia with some particulars about the first World Series. How fun would it be to go back in a Time Machine and see a few of these games?