1926 World Series – Game Two
October 3, 1926 at Yankee Stadium
Cardinals 6, Yankees 2 Best of Seven Series Tied 1-1
Grover Alexander took the mound for the Cardinals in game two of the World Series and he got off to a shaky start. After a scoreless first inning, the Yankees touched Alexander up for two runs on three hits and just like that, the game was 2-0.
The Cardinals answered in the top of the third. Taylor Douthit started things off with a single off of Yankees’ starter Urban Shocker and he moved to second on Billy Southworth’s single. Rogers Hornsby bunted them both over which set up Jim Bottomley’s two run single that tied the game up 2-2. Les Bell popped up and Chick Hafey and Les Bell flew out to end that inning with no further damage.
From that second inning, Alexander was nearly unhittable. The Yankees touched him for a run in the third inning, but from that point on, he retired the next 21 batters in succession in a pitching clinic. He finished the game with ten strikeouts and he struck out the side in the fourth.
In the meantime, the Cardinals went down in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. It wasn’t until the seventh inning when the Cardinals finally struck gold.
Bob O’Farrell led off the seventh with a double. Tommy Thevenow then moved him over to third on his single and then the Cardinals ran into trouble. Alexander popped out and Douthit flew out to left and was unable to score O’Farrell. With two outs, Billy Southworth came to plate and hit a huge three run homerun that gave the Cardinals their first lead of the series.
The Cardinals scored another run in the ninth on Tommy Thevenow’s inside the park homerun but it was unneccesary because of Alexander’s strong pitching. It was the first World Series victory in Cardinals franchise history.
It’s somewhat ironic that both Southworth and Alexander were the key drivers in this win. Neither started the season with the team but both played instrumental roles once they were picked up.
