The 1908 World Series matched the defending champion Chicago Cubs against the Detroit Tigers in a rematch of the 1907 Series. In this first-ever rematch of this young event, the Cubs won in five games for their second consecutive title.

The 1908 World Series is significant for being the last World Championship the Cubs have won to date. The Cubs would go on to appear in seven World Series in the years , , , , , , and , losing each time. The Cubs had one of baseball's most dominant teams in the early 1900s. This was the year of the infamous "Merkle's Boner" play that allowed the Chicago Cubs to reach the World Series after beating the New York Giants in a one-game "playoff", actually the makeup game for the tie that the Merkle play had caused.

The Series was anti-climactic after tight pennant races in both leagues. Ty Cobb had a much better Series than in 1907, as did the rest of his team. The final two games, in Detroit, were shutouts. This was also the most poorly attended Series in history, with the final game drawing a record-low 6,210 fans. Attendance in Chicago was harmed by a ticket-scalping scheme that fans accused the club's owner of participating in, and the Series was boycotted to some degree.

For the first time, four umpires were used in the series, in alternating two-man teams.

Summary

Matchups

Game 1

Saturday, October 10, 1908 at Bennett Park in Detroit, Michigan

With Detroit leading 6 5 in the top of the ninth, the Cubs broke out with six straight one-out singles against Ed Summers, scoring five times and winning the first game.

Game 2

Sunday, October 11, 1908 at West Side Grounds in Chicago, Illinois

Game 3

Monday, October 12, 1908 at West Side Grounds in Chicago, Illinois

It was in this game that Ty Cobb enjoyed the finest World Series outing he ever had. The 21-year-old Georgian rapped three singles and a double in five at bats and stole two bases. In the ninth inning he singled and promptly stole second and third, but then the hyped-up boy wonder pressed his luck and was out trying to steal home.

Game 4

Tuesday, October 13, 1908 at Bennett Park in Detroit, Michigan

Game 5

Wednesday, October 14, 1908 at Bennett Park in Detroit, Michigan

The attendance during Game 5 (6,210) was the smallest crowd in World Series history.

Orval Overall became the first pitcher in World Series history to strike out four batters in one inning, in the first inning of Game 5. Overall remains the only pitcher in World Series history to accomplish this impressive feat.

Boss Schmidt, who made the last out of the 1907 Series with a popup to shortstop, also made the last out of this Series by grounding out catcher to first.

Composite box

1908 World Series (4 1): Chicago Cubs (N.L.) over Detroit Tigers (A.L.)

Notes

References

External links

es:Serie Mundial de b isbol de 1908 ja:1908