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In his new book WHEN BOSTON WON THE WORLD SERIES, acclaimed Boston Globe sports columnist Bob Ryan does an excellent job transporting readers back to the fabled Huntington Avenue Grounds, where the first modern World Series took place in 1903. He also brings to life a period when the nation's pastime was revered by all.
Before Fenway Park was built in 1912, the Huntington Avenue Grounds, now the campus of Northeastern University, was the place to see professional baseball in Boston at the time. Ryan masterfully describes how the Hub was the home of both the Boston Pilgrims (American League) and the Boston Beaneaters (National League). He also tells how owners at the time refused to turn away any fan looking to pay the price of admission and how often crowds would spill into the outfield and become the actual ground rules for play.
Meanwhile, Ryan illustrates how Tim Murnane, the Globe's baseball editor at the time, covered the 1903 Boston Pilgrims. By doing tireless research, Ryan explains Murnane's reporting about the Pilgrims' preseason in Macon, Georgia, their tremendous run for the AL pennant and the breathtaking series against Honus Wagner and the 1903 Pittsburgh Pirates.
This important historical look at the first modern "Fall Classic" also touches on other legends in baseball 100 years ago. For instance, Ryan delves into the past of Ban Johnson --- president of the fledgling American League at the time --- and how Boston's ace pitcher Cy Young dominated the entire game until he retired at age 44 in 1911. Another Hall of Famer who Ryan mentions and who Murnane loved to write about at the time was Jimmy Collins. Not only did Collins play just about every game, he was also the team's manager. Murnane routinely referred to Collins in the pages of the Globe as the "Captain" and the team as "Collins' Boys".
The book also contains a brief World Series preview written by Murnane, several photos of players and other important figures, box scores from the 1903 World Series and complete team rosters.
Although the Red Sox haven't won a World Series since 1918, this stellar account of Major League Baseball at its infancy and its impact on the Boston sports culture makes it one not to miss.
--- Reviewed by David Exum, who works as an online news editor/reporter for bostonherald.com in Boston. He is also a diehard Red Sox fan.
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