WARD LEADS GIANTS OVER BROOKLYN

Posted by Ron on Oct 26, 2011 | 0 comments

JOHN MONTGOMERY WARD

BROOKLYN, N.Y.  (Oct. 26, 1889) Bill “Adonis” Terry pitched Brooklyn to within one inning  of taking a commanding lead in the World’s Series yesterday, but New York’s John Montgomery Ward rode to a late-inning rescue to deadlock the post-season classic at 3 games to 3.

            Terry, a 22-game winner this season, was magnificent as he held the heavy-hitting Giants scoreless through eight innings at Washington Park.  Meantime, Brooklyn took a 1 to 0 lead in the top of the second inning off Hank O’Day.  George Pinkney singled, and Joe Visner slapped another base hit to left field, but Pinkney was thrown out trying to go to third.  Terry singled to send Visner home, but reserve shortstop Jumbo Davis hit into a double play to end the inning.  Davis was playing in place of George “Germany” Smith, who was out “sick.”  Translation: He had a hangover from the previous night’s team banquet.

            Terry and O’Day then dueled into the ninth inning, with Terry giving up only three hits.  When Terry retired the first two Giants in the top of the ninth, victory was almost in hand for the Bridegrooms.  The Adonis had two strikes on star shortstop John Montgomery Ward, New York’s last hope, when Ward slapped a bounding single to right field.  Then, with Visner behind the plate instead of the injured Bob Clark, Ward stole second base and then third base.  Roger Connor slapped a ground ball to shortstop Davis that Germany Smith normally would have gobbled up to nail down the win.  But Davis muffed the ball. Giants fans roared as Ward raced home to tie the game at 1 to 1.

            The teams remained tied going into the 11^th inning.   Mike  Slattery, filling in for the injured George Gore, slapped a single to right field. After Terry retired the next batter, Buck Ewing sacrificed Slattery to second base.  Again, the batter was Monte Ward.  This time Ward socked a ground ball to shortstop Davis and streaked for first like a deer.  The throw by Davis to first was too late. Meantime, Slattery rounded third and raced home to put New York up 2 to 1.

            O’Day set Brooklyn down scoreless in the bottom of the llth inning to give New York the crucial win. As the teams left the field, the New York fans cheered their hero, “Ward, Ward, Johnny Ward.”