Image: West Side Park 1906 World Series

Description: This is a photo taken at West Side Park in Chicago on Thursday, October 11, 1906. It is an action shot from Game 3 of the 1906 World Series, with Cubs pitcher Jack Pfiester pitching to an unknown White Sox batter. The Chicago Daily News collection writeup says that it's from the 1906 Series, but does not identify the game number or the players. However, Pfiester was the Cubs' only left-hand pitcher in the Series. From that info, coupled with play-by-play info from the 1975 book, The World Series, by Cohen, Neft, Johnson and Deutsch, certain facts can be inferred, including the only game situation that fits. It is the top of the 6th inning of Game 3, which is scoreless to that point. The Sox have the bases loaded with less than 2 outs (note the batter squaring for a bunt, and the infield pulled in). That means the batter is either Fielder Jones, who eventually fouled out, or Frank Isbell, who eventually struck out. Jones and Isbell both batted left, so it is unclear who it is in this photo. Some sources say definitively that it is Jones. In any case, with 2 outs, George Rohe (a right-hand batter) would come up and hit a bases-clearing triple to left. The Sox would go on to win 3-0 behind Ed Walsh's complete game shutout. Things being done differently in those days, Pfiester also pitched the full game. Pfiester would be the loser-of-record in 2 of the 4 Cubs losses in that Series. The visibility of shadows indicates that it was a bright and sunny day, and their length indicates that it was fairly late in the afternoon. West Side Park's diamond was at the northwest corner of the property, so this picture is looking southeast, with the sun approaching sunset in the west, i.e. behind the first base stands. At that time, the roof over the stands only extended to about first and third base. This is known from other photos and can also be inferred from this photo. By 1908, the roof and its rooftop seating had been extend to nearly the right field foul pole. and also into the more spacious left field side. The clubhouse building can be seen in the corner of the lot, just to the left of straightaway center field. By 1908, a taller bleacher section had been built in front of it, obscuring it from view from this angle.
Title: West Side Park 1906 World Series
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No