Connie Mack's Tune-Up Goes Sideways
A tune-up that backfired, a ninth-inning sprint around the bases, a one-man rescue, and a day when nobody would go home.
Ed. 10.11.26
Connie Mack's Tune-Up Goes Sideways (1910)
The American League wrapped up its 1910 schedule ahead of the National, leaving Connie Mack's pennant-winning A's with time to kill before the World Series. Worried about rust, Mack lined up a series against a team of AL All-Stars, a roster that included Walter Johnson and Tris Speaker. It opened on this day, and the Stars got the better of the champs. Then the A's beat the Cubs in five games for the title. Best practice ever, or worst? Depends who you ask.
Judy Johnson Takes the Long Way Home (1924)
The first World Series between Negro League champions, called the Colored World Series at the time, matched Hilldale against the Kansas City Monarchs. On this day in Kansas City, Hilldale trailed 2-1 going to the ninth against Bullet Rogan. Then Judy Johnson hit one that stayed inside the park and ran all the way home, a three-run homer and a 5-2 win. The Monarchs rallied to take the series anyway. Johnson made it to Cooperstown in 1975.
George Brett Refuses to Lose (1985)
The Royals came home for Game 3 of the ALCS down two games to none against Toronto. George Brett homered, homered again, and finished with four hits in a 6-5 win. Kansas City still fell behind 3-1 in that series and came back. Then it fell behind 3-1 in the World Series and came back again for the franchise's first title. Sixty-one years after Judy Johnson broke Kansas City hearts, this October 11 belonged to Kansas City.
Nobody Goes Home (2012)
Four Division Series, four games, one Thursday. San Francisco won a Game 5 in Cincinnati and Detroit won a Game 5 in Oakland. That night, the other two series were both pushed to Game 5s, one of them after 13 innings. For the first time ever, all four Division Series went the full five games. Fittingly, the two teams that survived on this day, the Giants and the Tigers, met in the World Series.
