Who needs a World Series?
1904 New York GiantsHome Field: Polo Grounds IV
N.L. ChampionsHit: #1 R, BA
W - 106 L - 47Pitch: #1 OR, ERA
Manager: John McGrawDef: #1 FA

John McGraw and Christy Mathewson have been called baseball's odd couple. Manager McGraw, whose nickname of Little Napoleon, said it all. He was controversial, outspoken, and brash, but was also a brilliant field general. Mathewson, the club's star pitcher for more than a decade, was a true gentleman and a fan favorite.

The Giants finished 1904 with a 106-47 record, 13 games better than second place Chicago. Mathewson's 33 wins was topped by Joe "Iron Man" McGinnity's 35 victories. McGinnity also led the loop with a 1.61 ERA. In addition to boasting the league's best pitching, the Giants led the loop in every major offensive category plus stolen bases and doubles (but not triples). Shortstop Bill Dahlen and left fielder Sam Mertes ranked one-two in the National League in RBIs. Another outfielder, George Browne, was tops in runs scored.

A year earlier, the National and American Leagues had made peace, and their respective champions had played in the first World Series. Boston, the 1904 American League champions, challenged the Giants to a World Series showdown. New York's owner, John T. Brush, refused the challenge, feeling that he did not wish to play against a "minor" league team.

Part of this decision also stemmed from McGraw's own ill feelings towards American League President Ban Johnson. You see, McGraw had managed the American League Baltimore Orioles just two years earlier and had been suspended by Johnson after one of his many run-ins with umpires. In response, McGraw quit the team and joined the Giants, bringing with him star players in McGinnity, Roger Bresnahan, and Dan McGann. Whatever the underlying reason, it meant no World Series in 1904.

The Giants repeated as National League champions a year later and this time agreed to play a World Series. The New Yorkers overwhelmed Connie Mack's Philadelphia A's winning four games to one. All four Giant victories were shutouts.

              John McGraw                           Christy Mathewson


Pos Player Bats AB H R HR RBI BA    NL Rank
C Jack Warner L 287 57 29 1 15 .199  
1B Dan McGann B 517 148 81 6 71 .286  
2B Billy Gilbert R 478 121 57 1 54 .253  
SS Bill Dahlen R 523 140 70 2 80 .268    #1 RBI
3B Art Devlin R 474 133 81 1 66 .281  
LF Sam Mertes R 532 147 83 4 78 .276    #2 RBI
CF-1B Roger Bresnahan R 402 114 81 5 33 .284  
RF George Browne L 596 169 99 4 39 .284    #1 R
                   
C-1B Frank Bowerman R 289 67 38 2 27 .232  
OF Moose McCormick L 203 54 28 1 26 .266  
3B-SS-2B Jack Dunn R 181 56 27 1 19 .309  
OF Mike Donlin L 132 37 17 2 14 .280  
                   
Total: Team   5150 1347 744 31 564 .262  
  League Average   41010 10225 4874 175 3826 .249  

Pitcher Throw G IP W L ERA PCT    NL Rank
  Joe McGinnity R 51 408 35 8 1.61 .814    #1 W, ERA
  Christy Mathewson R 48 368 33 12 2.03 .733 #2 W, #1 K
  Dummy Taylor R 37 296 21 15 2.34 .583  
  Hooks Wiltse L 24 165 13 3 2.84 .813  
  Red Ames R 16 115 4 6 2.27 .400  
                   
Total: Team       106 47 2.17    
  League Average           2.73    

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