The 1927 New York Yankees were the greatest team of all time. They won 110 games to set an American League record, but there was much doubt with respect how they would fare against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series.
The Yankees had lost three of their previous four World Series encounters.
In 1921 and 1922, the New York Giants handled them easily. In 1926, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Yankees in seven games. The Yankees lone World Championship was at the expense of the New York Giants in 1923.
The Pirates won the pennant in 1903 but lost the inaugural World Series to the Boston Americans They won the pennant in 1909 and defeated Ty Cobb’s Detroit Tigers. In 1925, they beat Walter Johnson’s Washington Senators.
The Pirates were confident they could beat the Yankees.
They had a record of 94-60, batted .305 and averaged 5.24 runs a game.
Paul Waner led the league with a .380 average, 237 hits, 131 RBIs, 18 triples and 342 total bases.
Waner’s brother Lloyd batted .355/.396/.410, while Pie Traynor hit .342/.370/.455 with 106 RBIs.
The Pirates had a veteran pitching staff led by Ray Kremer (19-8 with a 167 ERA+), Carmen Hill (22-11 with a 127 ERA+ and Lee Meadows (19-10 with a 121 ERA+).
The Yankees had to win.They were identified as a franchise that lost the World Series.
Miller Huggins realized that his managerial record was outstanding, but losing the most important games of the season was becoming too common. He was non-committal when speaking to reporters before the Series.
“We ought to win, but you never can tell. The Pirates may win four straight; we may win four straight. World’s series are too uncertain.”
Pirates manager Owen Bush brimmed with confidence. “We are going to win,” he told the writers, “and I don’t mean if, but or maybe.”
Many Pirates fans looked to the distant fences at Forbes Field as their team’s lifeline. They felt that the fences would stop Babe Ruth. Lou Gehrig and the other Yankees sluggers. What foolish fans.
Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) manager Wilbert Robinson realized that the Yankees were superb. They could hit, field and had outstanding pitching. He predicted they would have little trouble with the Pirates. He was right.
The Yankees became the second team to sweep the World Series, matching the 1914 Miracle Boston Braves defeated the Philadelphia Athletics in four games.
Waite Hoyt, Wilcy Moore, Herb Pennock and George Pipgras held the Pirates to a total of 10 runs in the four games. They had a WHIP of 0.917 against a team that had scored 817 runs during the season.
Ruth hit .400 with a pair of home runs and seven RBIs, Interestingly, it was the only two home runs the Yankees hit. The Yankees batted .279 and scored 23 runs.
The Yankees offense in 1927 was so great that many individuals assume that it dominated in the World Series. It was good, but it was pitching that beat the Pirates.
References:
Sports of the times. (1927, Oct 05). New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. 21. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/104059427?accountid=46260
Yanks are superb, declares robinson. (1927, Oct 08). New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. 9-9. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/104018582?accountid=46260
Harrlson, James R. “Yanks, Favored 7-5, Face Pirates Today in World Series.” New York Times. 5 Oct. 1927. p. 1.