St. Louis Cardinals First World Series Title
Grover Cleveland Alexander Stops Lazzeri, Yankee Offense in 1926
Oct 10, 2009
Not many ball clubs have five future Hall of Famers on their roster, but the 1926 St. Louis Cardinals could do just that. Led by their manager and second baseman Rogers Hornsby, the other future enshrines were Jim Bottomley, Chick Hafey, Billy Southworth and Grover Cleveland Alexander.
Cardinals Win the 1926 National League Pennant
The Redbirds beat Cincinnati by two games in a hard fought battle for the National League pennant that wasn’t decided until the last few days of the seasons. In the World Series, the Cardinals met Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and the rest of the Yankees fierce lineup, a group the papers of the day had dubbed “Murderers Row.”
The Cardinals strategy for dealing with Ruth was simple: don’t give him anything to hit. It backfired. In addition to 11 walks, Ruth hit 4 home runs and drove in 5 runs when he did get a chance to swing the lumber. But Ruth wouldn’t be the hero. Much to the contrary.
Yankees and Cardinals Split First 6 Games of 1926 World Series
The Yankees took Game 1 in a pitchers’ duel. In Game 2, Hornsby called on 39-year old Grover Cleveland Alexander, a hard-drinking, hard-playing, grizzled veteran who had given his life and health to the game. Alexander threw a complete game, surrendered just two runs and beat the man with the greatest name in baseball history, Urban Shocker.
St. Louis won Game 3, and the Yankees bounced back, taking Games 4 and 5. In Game 4, Ruth blasted three home runs. Two solo jobs and a two-run dinger to put things out of reach in the 6th. No one had ever hit three home runs in a World Series game before.
Game 5 was another classic mound duel. Both the Yankees’ Herb Pennock the Cardinals’ Billy Shardell were brilliant. At the end of regulation, the game was tied 2-2. In the top of the 10th, Tony Lazzeri hit a sac fly that scored Mark Koenig and put the Yankees ahead 3 games to 2 with the Series heading back to their House.
Hornsby called on Alexander in Game 6, and once again, the 327-game winner (footnote) delivered. Old Pete went the whole way in the Cardinals surprise 10-2 bludgeoning of the Yankees.
A Classic Game 7 Highlighted by Alexander vs. Lazzeri
It was in Game 7 that Alexander would cement his image for all time as a World Series Hero. Most would think that 2 complete game wins would be enough. The night after his victory, Alexander certainly felt that way, or at least he behaved that way. Thinking he wouldn’t be pitching for months, the old-timer went out and reportedly had more than a few drinks that evening. So many so that while he watched pitcher Jesse Hains warm up for his Game 7 start he complained that he was still a bit drunk and was happy to be able to sit this one out.
But in the bottom of the 7th inning, the Yankees loaded the bases. Although there were two outs, the dangerous Tony Lazzeri was at the plate, and starter Jesse Hains had developed a blister on his pitching hand. With a full bullpen of rested pitchers, Manager Hornsby called on Alexander.
Alexander walked in slowly as the Yankee crowd let him have it. A single and their team would take the lead. Surely, many in those stands must have thought that this old guy can’t stop the Yankees bats two days in a row. Those people would have been wrong. Alexander fanned the Yankees second baseman. The threat was done. Alexander shut down the Yankees in the eighth and got two quick outs in the ninth. Then he walked Ruth, which brought Bob Meusel to the plate.
Muesel was a tough hitter who was overshadowed by Ruth and Gehrig and even Lazzeri and Earl Combs, but he was still a dangerous hitter. He batted .315 and knocked in 86 runs that year. But, as Alexander threw his first pitch, Ruth surprised everyone on the house by breaking for second. Never one to be confused with Ron LeFlore or Slidin’ Billy Hamilton, and despite his good jump and the element of surprise, catcher Pat O’Farrell threw him out. Game over. World Series over. Cardinals Win! Cardinals Win!!!
In the Series aftermath, Ruth explained that he hoped the element of surprise would carry him into scoring position. It didn’t. And his botched steal helped the Cardinals win the first of their 10 World Series titles.
