THE 1914 "MIRACLE" BRAVES
 WORLD SERIES, GAME #1
Solid hitting behind Dick Rudolph's pitching
wins it easily for the Braves

October 9, 1914 ... The first game of the World Series was played in Philadelphia under perfect weather conditions and before more than 20,000 fans, who saw the Boston Braves defeat the Athletics in a significant manner, by a score of 7 to 1. Chief Bender was no match today for Dick Rudolph, as the Braves hit him easily, while the Athletics were like putty in the hands of Rudolph, who wavered twice, but managed to pull himself together in grand style. His masterly pitching was cheered by the crowd time and time again. He had the heavy Philly batsman chasing his slow ones that fluttered over the plate.

The beating was perhaps the worst that is ever been handed to an opponent in the opening game of the postseason series. The Boston Braves displayed the better form and are now considered the winning possibility, whereas before the game there were several wagers made that the series would go only four games with the Athletics on the winning end. There was some great work by the infielders and the sweetest kind of baseball was executed in rapid style to the delight of the spectators.

The Braves worked the waiting game on Bender and he was forced to groove the ball or pass batters, and that way of pitching finally proved his undoing. The grounds were in perfect condition as the warm sun came out strongly before the game. Although the Braves looked weak and worried in the first inning of play, they displayed fielding qualities that forced Philadelphia to wake up. With one down and men at first and second, "Home Run" Baker sent a short fly close to the bleachers that Butch Schmidt made a great catch on and then made a perfect throw to Charlie Deal for a doubleplay, as Eddie Murphy tried to go from second to third.

In the second inning Possum Whitted worked Bender for a pass and then Hank Gowdy worked him to a count of three and two. Bender then grooved a fast one over and Hank shot it to center for two bases, scoring Whitted with the first run of the game. Rabbit Maranville singled in Gowdy for the second run before Bender knew what hit him. The two run lead was all the Dick Rudolph needed.

The Athletics lost their best chance in the second inning and their failure to score at least two runs and tie the game had a bad effect on their confidence. With one run in and a man on third and none out, Evers threw Amos Strunk out at the plate. Rudolph then got Jack Barry, who went down on strikes and Bender, the last man up, grounded out.

Leading 2 to 1, Rudolph was now showing great form, striking out four men in the third and fourth innings. Then in the fifth inning, Hank Gowdy tripled and scored on a single by the Rabbit, making it 3 to 1. The Braves then began running away with the game. In the sixth inning the Braves piled it on. With Evers and Joe Connolly on, Whitted took one of Bender's fast ones and drove it on a line to the fence in right-center for three bases, later scoring on Butch Schmidt's single to make it 6 to 1.

With six runs in, Bender was sent to the showers and Weldon Wyckoff was sent in to finish. He held the Braves to two singles, with Eddie Collins allowing one run to score on a double steal with a wild throw to the plate. The crowd, who had seen the Athletics come from behind quite often, began cheering in the seventh inning. Frank Baker reached on a fumble by Johnny Evers and Stuffy McInnis was passed by Rudolph. Otis Strunk next smashed a grounder that Schmidt made a great play on, cutting off a ball that was destined for extra bases. Rudolph then got busy with a slow curve and that handcuffed Barry on strikes. Wally Schang ended the threat by bouncing one back to Rudolph for the easy out.

There was one last chance to cheer in the ninth-inning when Baker led off with a double, but never got past second base. Rudolph got the next three batters easily and walked away with an easy win.

Charlie Deal played a fine game in the field the third-base, filling in for Red Smith, but was unfortunate at the bat, hitting into three doubleplays. Johnny Evers played a great game in the field and Butch Schmidt put up a great all-around effort at first, with his great play in the second inning being the most memorable.

Manager Stallings was a site to behold as he watched like a cat on every move the players and Connie Mack himself made, for he knew how foxy his opponents were. Several times he changed the signals because he knew the Athletics would remember them for the next game.

The first game has gone to the Braves and tomorrow it may be the Athletics who do the hitting. But today it was Dick Rudolph and his beautiful curves that was the story of the game. No pitcher ever has and in all probability no pitcher ever will make the Athletics look quite as bad as Rudolph made them look this afternoon.

Ex-Mayor Fitzgerald and Governor Tener, President of the National League, certainly looked good as they led the parade of Royal Rooters after the game. Uncle Bob Stallings, the uncle of the manager and who requested everybody call him "Uncle Bob", celebrated his 71st birthday and was the first to hop over the fence out of the grandstand, to go over and congratulate his nephew on the victory. He was about the happiest man at the ballpark.

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