A few days ago, Giants' ace Madison Bumgarner capped off a historically impressive World Series performance, bringing the Commissioner's Trophy to San Francisco for the third time in five years. In doing so, he added his name to an elite list of legendary big-gamers in the fall classic. The list goes all the way back to Denton True "Cy" Young, who pitched in the very first World Series 111 years ago. Today, inspired by the Bumgarner's recent heroics, I'd like to take you on a virtual road trip to October of 1903, when the mighty Cy Young and his Boston Americans took on Honus Wagner and the rest of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first championship series between the American and National leagues.
The road trip starts where the series started, in Boston, Massachusetts. With the Americans and the Pirates firmly established at the top of their respective leagues by August, the two team owners (not the league presidents) agreed to meet up after the season for a best-of-nine competition. The first three games were played at the Huntington Avenue Grounds, home of Boston's recently established American League team. For us to visit the ballpark, which was demolished in 1912, we have to travel to the site now occupied by Northeastern University. Near the former location of the batter's box is a plaque shaped like a home plate. More notably, a life-sized statue of Cy Young stands where there used to be a pitcher's mound (photo above). On a nearby building, a second plaque marks the location of the left field foul pole. Inside, enthusiasts of the sport can find a really interesting display case of Boston baseball memorabilia from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 
Although Cy Young was the main attraction for local fans during the first three games of the series, he was out-pitched by his opponent Deacon Phillippe - who remarkably tossed two complete games with only one day of rest between them. With the Pirates up two games to one, the series moved to Pittsburgh's Exposition Park. Phillippe once again took the ball and, on two days rest, threw his third complete game victory of the series. Cy Young started the next game for Boston and was his usual dominant self. Young and Phillippe matched up again two games later, and this time it was Cy Young who out-pitched his exhausted counterpart, giving the series lead to Boston. Anyone looking for remnants of Exposition Park today won't find much more than a couple of historical markers placed near its former site.
Just outside of Pittsburgh, baseball fans can visit the town of Carnegie, Pennsylvania. It was here that a man named Albert Wagner enlisted his younger brother, Johannes, to fill a spot for the depleted local baseball team. Johannes' mother called him Hans, but the nickname didn't stick until the pronunciation shifted to "Honus". Wagner became a star player for the Pirates and is widely considered one of the greatest of all time. Unfortunately for the team, the star hobbled into the interleague series with nagging injuries and was a non-entity throughout. After leading the National League with a .355 average, he could only manage .222 against Boston's pitching. His poor performance drew criticism from the fans and reportedly deeply affected the player's own psyche. In 1904, a healthy Wagner once again led the league in batting (.349), but he knew the only thing that could redeem his reputation was another shot at a World Series. In present day Carnegie, a small room in a local museum honors the hometown hero with old photos, newspaper clippings, and other memorabilia from his playing days. It's definitely worth the drive into the suburbs. Those unable to get outside of the city can still pay tribute to the legendary shortstop by visiting his statue outside the main gate of the Pirate's current home, PNC Park.
The series returned to Boston with the Americans having the upper hand four games to three. But for the purpose of our road trip, I suggest a different route. About 100 miles due west of Pittsburgh, residents of Newcomerstown, Ohio welcome visitors to the former home of Boston's ace pitcher. It was here where a youthful Denton Young developed the fastball that earned him the nickname "Cyclone" (later shortened to Cy). I'd recommend going in June when the town hosts its annual Cy Young Days Festival. Every year the events are led by a different Cy Young Award recipient (I was there for Bob Turley and Dean Chance in 2011). Much like Carnegie does for Honus Wagner, Newcomerstown dedicates a small room in its history museum to its local celebrity. The exhibit includes memorabilia from throughout his life and 22-year baseball career, including a few items from the 1903 series. A little further from downtown is a park with an old baseball field and a small monument dedicated to the game's most famous pitcher. The town's older residents will tell you stories of their encounters with the Hall of Famers, before his passing in 1955.
Back in Boston, Cy Young sat out the eighth game of the series, having already started three plus an appearance in relief. Honus Wagner struck out to end the contest, delivering the best-of-nine match to the American League champions; five games to three. The losing pitcher was none other than rubber-armed Deacon Phillippe, bringing his inning total up to 44 over five games pitched. The rest of the Pirates' staff combined for 26 innings.
Where Are They Now?:
The World Series - The 1903 series was an arrangement between two teams, not the two leagues. With no such arrangement in place the following year, the next World Series didn't take place again until 1905. At that point, it became a formalized part of the season (restructured as best-of-seven) and took place every year thenceforth until the strike-shortened season of 1994.
The Boston Americans - In 1908, the team officially adopted the nickname Red Sox. Additional World Series championships came in 1912, 1915, 1916, and 1918 before falling victim to the infamous Curse of the Bambino that lasted all the way up until 2004.
The Pittsburgh Pirates - The Pirates had to wait six more years to capture its first championship, beating the Detroit Tigers in seven games. In recent past, the team is perhaps most well-known for its unfortunate record of 20 consecutive losing seasons. Honus Wagner - Wagner did get his second chance at a World Series in 1909. This time he had much better results, hitting .333 with 6 RBIs and 6 stolen bases (outperforming fellow Hall-of-Famer Ty Cobb). Around the same time, he appeared on a rare baseball card that remains one of the most valuable and coveted cards in sports history: the T206. In 1936, Wagner was one of five players inducted into the Hall of Fame's inaugural class.
Cy Young - Young's record of 511 wins continues to stand and will likely never be broken (Tim Hudson, at 39 years old, has the most wins of any active pitcher with 214). Young is remembered through the award that bears his name, given annually to the two pitchers deemed to have had the best season in their respective leagues.
Deacon Phillippe - Despite an exceptional 13 year career with the Pirates, the relatively unknown Phillippe had the misfortune of playing in the shadow of two of the greatest pitchers ever: Cy Young and Walter Johnson. His line of descendants includes present-day actor Ryan Phillippe. In October of 2003, exactly 100 years after the first World Series was played, Ryan and Reese Witherspoon had their second child together (a boy). They named him Deacon.
More photos from our 1903 World Series road trip can be viewed here.
